Excellent interview! I love Matt and have learned so much from him, he sparked my journey of understanding logical fallacies and sound epistemology during a trying part of my life, in an abusive relationship, where every conversation left me feeling further lost.
Christopher Hitchens made me realize I was an atheist… but Matt Dillahunty was and is instrumental in helping me form a sound epistemology. He makes understanding logic easy. Keep up the great work… I now watch The Line religiously!😉
I'd never believed in any god, but I was caught in the definition trap. "Atheism" had always been described to me as the certain belief that there are no gods and I recognized that wasn't a claim I could defend. At the same time, I don't believe in any gods, so the term "agnostic" always felt a bit wishy-washy. Then, one day on the Atheist Experience, Matt pointed out that agnosticism is actually subset of atheism and not a completely separate category of belief. (if you don't know if there is a god or not, then you don't believe in a god. If you don't believe in a god, then you're an atheist.) Had you been sitting next to me, you probably would have heard the mental click that happened in my brain. While some in the atheist community don't care for the term "agnostic atheist" (for technical reasons), I found that the prima facie understanding of the term summed up my position perfectly. Since then, I've described myself as an atheist and if pressed, an agnostic atheist. Thanks Matt! Hitchens was the most eloquent and erudite atheist/anti-theist in my lifetime. He is sorely missed.
Same foe me. I’m 62 and when I first came across a video of Christopher Hitchens, only 2-3 years ago, I realized I was an atheist through and through after five decades of calling myself skeptic. Then came the ACA videos and Matt shone above all the other hosts but with a different style. I’m glad to see so many channels dedicated to unveil the lies religions are based on.
When I began my deconversion journey back in 2018 Matt was one of the first few people I stumbled across on YT. Listening to him, Dan Barker and Jerry Dewitt made me realize that my endeavor was a positive project and not to fear. I thank Matt very much for his devotion and assisting with helping people find the truth.
Dang me too, my deconversion started February last year, and Matt popped up on my TH-cam feed, and I watched it hoping the Christian callers would prove these athiests wrong, and it back fired on me. And Matt was the first one I listen to and now I’m completely out. Oh the freedom I felt as a Christian was nothing compared to the freedom I felt leaving it, no more “imaginary gun” in my head running my life.
I live in southwest Michigan. Everything I hear from atheist is online. Would love to hear a speaker or go to a debate if one comes to this area. Would love to hear Matt speak in person. Any recommendations on schedules Websites or such. I',m a senior. Apparently most my age are not atheist
Matt Dillahunty and Aron Ra are the two end bosses of atheism. Insurmountable in debate, both together form the most powerful bulwark against unreason and continue to make a significant and inspiring contribution to humanity.
haha. They are two blind fools. They both do not know biochemistry, chemistry, development biology, and evolutionary biology, nor cosmology, physics, philosophy, or theology. they are willful ignoramuses. I debated them both several times.
Despite being a Christian, I am immensely in love with Matt Dillahunty and Aron Ra. Their arguments tear apart every single position that believers holds. I use their lines, analogies, debating skills in my everyday life. They taught me to be reasonable and logical thanks to both of them
While, I had already found myself to be an atheist before discoving Matt, I found that his approach to logic and skepticism has help explain my justifications. They made sense to me internally, but I was ill equipped to communicate it. Now, I find myself in the position of being able to have official debates on the subject.
I have learntt so much from this man in the last 6 years..I am 68 years old now..not so much the atheism, because i dumped all that 40 years ago. But the Scepticism and how to think criticality .. Thank you Matt I should have been taugjt it when i was a Teenager..every one should, I am certainty passing it on to my children and grandchildren ❤
@@eyemnew2991 atheism…disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God or gods. all atheists are different atheism is not a worldview. It is one specific question about one specific thing that is all. some atheist feel free using the term some do not…
Thank you, glad to have found the channel. Refreshing to hear an interviewer let the interviewee talk uninterrupted and answer each question fully, a true conversation. Looking forward to watching more!
Thank you sooo much for your interview with my #1 atheist in the world... this year 2023 will be my 2nd year calling myself an atheist and thanks to Matt Dillahunty I have learned soo much about the bible that I dint know before (because I never questioned the bible)... im a closeted atheist but 1 day I will come out to my religious family... I do fear rejection but I just can't pretend anymore
I find it VERY weird that me and Matt had nearly the exact same upbringing and stages of deconversion. But it also warms my heart as the first grandson of a pastor to have went through the same bull and sort of “awakening” as Matt. Matt’s been a kind of role model in regard to critical thinking. And at 22, I’m hoping I can grow a whole lot more
This was great! Even though I’ve heard Matt’s story many times in the 15-16 years I’ve been watching him, your interview was so thoughtful and allowed him to expound a bit more regarding his earlier years. I’ve met him a few times and was on stage at his Magic and Skepticism show in Jacksonville. He’s exactly who he is “on TV”, in person, although a bit more laid back and relaxed. Lol! Excellent interview!
Glad to have discovered your podcast! I grew up around a community of people who only spoke of Christianity in a fully supportive context. Matt Dillahunty was the first person I'd ever heard speak of Christianity in a critical way. It was incredibly therapeutic to hear.
Matt is now officially old and wise. No need to keep waiting … write that book Matt!!! The time is right and so many would benefit. I like your topic about explaining atheism to your family.
I love Matt and all of the friends ... people chock full of integrity and generous enough to share their hearts wit us. Lucky lucky ducks we are for witnessing their lives.
The first time I viewed Matt on TH-cam I thought he was vulgar it was not after meeting Paulagia and others that were atheist that I finally cycled back to him and never looked back it was liked someone hooked me up to a jolt machine his skepticism cut troughs all the bull (thank you Matt).
That was a great interview. The first time that I the saw atheist experience was the classic episode with Matt and Jeff Dee where a woman called in to tell them they were going to Hell and then got all offended when Matt dropped the F bomb 🤣🤣 If you missed it, go find it. I was then hooked purely for the entertainment but have learned a lot about critical thinking that challenged some of my views and beliefs (not that one).
Since we're having a trip down AXP memory lane, any Tracie Harris fans might want to go find her podcast "At Home In My Head". She had Jen Peebles on a couple of weeks ago, great show. Hope it's ok to plug that here Janice.
Matt is the main reason I even found this whole community, and for that I'm eternity thankful 🙏 Thanks Matt you are really out there "doing God's work" 😆 🤣 😂 😹
Great interview. As a child, I stopped believing in Santa Claus when I was like 6 or 7 years old. When I was about 9, 8, or 10 years old I was talking to my friend who still believed in Santa Claus. I was like "Should I tell him?" but I never did...but he did say something that really interested me and kind of "hit a nerve" with me. He told me that he thought Santa Claus WAS in fact god. I was like "What?" and he was like "Think about it. He watches you all the time. Knows when you've been good or bad. He's magic." and I clearly had a case of cognitive dissonance, because deep down....I KNEW he was right...but I didn't want to believe it. I didn't want to accept it. But that was the first time I realized "this aint true. This aint real., but I'm gonna choose to lie to my self. Everyone believes in god, right?!" Eventually around 17 or 18 years old I became an atheist and I'll tell you why; my exposure to the creationist movement. I didn't even know what evolution was, that's how badly I was taught about evolution. I learned about evolution because of creationists. Far more about evolution then I ever did in school and I was like "Wow....these people claim to speak for god but they are massive liars." What the creationists were saying was nothing BUT lies. Ya, that doesn't make the religion look good. To me it would be like trying to deny gravity, then you look at the science of gravity from an objective point of view and go "Wow. All these gravity deniers are blatant liars." Another reason was....SLAVERY?! God condones slavery?! God condones all these barbaric immoral acts in the bible?! Sorry but no god would allow slavery under any circumstances UNLESS he was evil. Then you got the pseudo science of bats are birds and rainbows are a reminder from god that he won't flood the world again. NOT a reflection and refraction of light...which would imply that BEFORE the flood there were no rainbows...but how can that be if it's a result of a natural phenomena of reflection and refraction of water? From an objective point of view, FROM THE OUTSIDE looking in the bible looked like a superstitious book written by primitives who didn't know anything and were just trying to justify their morality, their culture, their way of life, and explain the world the way they thought it was and this was blatantly obvious to me. So when I would have discussions with christians asking them for answers...the answers I found to be incredibly...not only incredibly poor, but pathetic. Laughable. I was raised in a christian house home, but my mom wasn't too religious. I didn't go to church, except for when I was younger. When I was like 4, 5, and 6. I did have a bible and I had a couple copies of a children's bible. But I didn't really have any connection to any christian group or anything like that. Was never into Christian apologetics. Never was introduced to creationists. Never watched pastors or preachers, etc. And in a way....I am curious in terms of "What if I did?" Because would I of become an atheist even faster? LOL. So thanks to fundamentalist christians for turning me into an atheist,lol. Couldn't of done it without ya. So ya, I watched several debates. Looking at both sides and each time going "the christian responses are grossly inadequate." I mean how can you reconcile learning about what evolution ACTUALLY IS...then listen to creationist TALK about what evolution is.....I mean how can you not go "That isn't what evolution is. YOUR LYING! Evolution doesn't say we came from a rock! Evolution doesn't say that! Your strawmanning! Your slandering!" And how can you reconcile "Bats are birds' when we all know bats are clearly NOT birds. I mean the bible doesn't even accurately describe thunder and lightning. If the bible was true.....wouldn't the bible accurately depict how thunder and lightning is created? If the bible was true and MORAL.....then why does it condone, advocate, endorse deeply immoral things? I basically became an atheist because of the bible being sexist, misogynistic, promoting immorality, non scientific, and believers such as creationists who were blatant liars. Also the fact that I learned you had to have FAITH. That was another reason. Really? I need faith to believe in god? Then how can I say it's real? I don't have faith in the existence of trees. I don't have faith in gravity, or the sun. And all of the answers by christians just sounded like pathetic excuses. Like a child trying to justify why Santa Claus and the Easter bunny exist. During my Christmas movie marathon last year I watched this movie where a little girl thinks she found one of Santa's Reindeers. This little girl who is about 7 year old is talking to her friend and this scene really stood out to me. Friend: The problem is Jessie...I don't believe in Santa Claus anymore. Jessie: What? Friend: I mean, think about it. How can one man climb down all the chimneys in the world in one night? Jessie: He's magical, Carol. Friend: It doesn't make sense. Jessie: Well, Carol not everything in the world can be explained. Friend: I've never seen Santa Claus and I've done a lot of looking. Jessie: Well, you've never seen god either. Does that mean there's no god? Friend: Well, how do we know about that for sure? Talk about a kind of childhood flashback of "Santa claus is god...I mean think about it." and realizing "He's right....but Santa Claus isn't real....maybe god isn't either...*cognitive dissonance* Oh no!"
This was excellent! I'm a big Matt fan. I also like the production of this show. I like how you cut back and forth between the host and guest, yet mainly keep the camera on the guest. Other atheist call-in shows just show the split screen, which gets old REAL QUICK. This was refreshing. Plus, Janice is hot. ;)
Just subbed I did my deconstruction and recovery alone , it wasn’t easy, found Matt and the atheist community late , like early covid times and even though my deconstruction wasn’t thanks to the community, after listening and learning from the community, I’m at least more aware and have a basis for my arguments and morality . Thank you all whether or not you’ve helped I’m actually better because the community
Although Matt was and has been kind of rough on some callers (mostly deservedly so!), he is one of the people who took me out of my angry-atheist phase.
My dear mom was the best apologist. She had the child-like faith recommended in the Bible. When any of us had a doubt, she would say,”When we get to Heaven, we’ll ask Jesus.” End of conversation.
Religious trauma and abuse plagues our world. For example, my mormon aunt and uncle covered up my two cousins (siblings) engaging in an S relationship when they were young teenagers. They then ignored and punished my little cousin Emily from being S/Ad by church officials from the age of 6 to 16. Both my older cousins who were engaging in sibling S are either alcoholics and drug addicts. My younger cousin Emily committed suicide at the age of 25. That's just the tip of the sick as F iceberg
@Conference On Religious Trauma I barely made it out. My mother finally realized the horrors as Abrahamic ideologies she still was kind of stuck in the beliefs. I personally was sent to a mormon run straight camp as a teenager. But after being there for 6 months, she finally saw the damaging effects. But that's just my story. My other families cousin Justin is a servere method addict because he was gay too. But his abuse at the straight camps was far worse than mine. While I was only subjected to humiliation, starvation, sensory deprivation and extreme physical work. Justin was literally F'd in you know what till his rectum prolapsed. The message was this is what little boys who like other little boys deserve. Abrahamic religions are nothing but sex cults for adult perverted males. I wasn't kidding when I said that's just the tip of the iceberg of my family's mormish horrors. Thanks you for everything you do because so many people are still stuck in this cyclical hell. A true hell indeed
I know I did! And for the verses that made me uncomfortable, it was "Who can know the mind of God?" or "God's ways are higher than man's!" Now I take it all as myth, poetry, and revenge fantasies.
I knew Matt and I had a lot in common, but wow. Fortunately my parents were not entrenched in pentacostalism. Mom said they were nuts. Dad took us to sunday school but t hey rarely attended. In 3rd grade a missionary led me to believe I had to be a missionary. Yeah 3rd grade. That hung Ober my head until 10 years ago. I'm 65. Talk about guilt and misery.
Mom was agnostic and didn't want me to be forced to go to church. I can only remember a few times that I had to get dressed up and wear a clip on tie. I didn't really have any knowledge or feelings about religion. I live in Louisiana, so I got asked about Christianity alot. As an avid reader, I eventually read a bible. It was terribly written about many crappy characters and less believable than the fantasy books I liked reading. JRR Tolkien, Robert Jordan, & Stephen King were way better and fake, the bible didn't have a chance of convincing me. I didn't know about the terms atheist or agnostic until several years later and then figured out I qualified as an atheist. I loved watching Dr Carl Sagan, Red Dwarf, Dr Who, and anything about space. I can't disprove all gods but I'm certain I can disprove all religions. A god seems the least likely scenario so I seriously doubt there are any. I've been an atheist for about 34 of my 44 years on our tiny speck of star dust. I remember being blown away that something like The Atheist Experience existed and that I wasn't as alone in reality as I thought.
Its too bad there are so many closet Atheist's because if they all spoke up there might be a tipping point in the United States and the house of religious cards may crumble. I personally would like to see politicians be honest in their Atheism because I believe they are out there.
If I don't want to be a human being I probably don't want to be an atheist or a theist either. I probably don't want to be in a position of having to be anything at all. I come by feeling that way honestly. Choice had nothing to do with it.
I'm always interested in reading about people who have had so profound a deconversion experience when my own experience is so different. I never really had this singular aha moment. I was raised Catholic and perhaps earlier than most, I began to see flaws in the doctrine, contradictions and things that just didn't add up. It was more of just a drifting away rather than a hard break. I just kind of gradually realized I didn't believe any of it. And I'm not militant about my atheism. You want to be a believer, fine with me. Doesn't affect me in the slightest.
I think you’ll find that most deconversion stories are gradual and not all at once. For me, it took me ten years from the time I began questioning to realizing I no longer believed. I didn’t have one singular a ha moment- I had many little “a ha” moments.
What it boils down to is all religion is death denial, primates coping with grief. As a ex Jehovah Witness now a born-again atheist I find death very comforting ,I get to sleep in for centuries and what's so bad about that, a bit of peace and quite for eternity and that's my heaven .Justin Porter ex jw ❤️
I'm a big fun of Matt. It was a great video about his experience leaving religion. We all had to make sacrifices and go through so much issues. I'm an ex muslim atheist. I was born in a strict religious family and have been sent to be educated in islamic theology. I always doubted the religion one way or another. I never fasted because I'd get such bad headaches...I mean why would a 10 years old boy should fast when his body and brain are growing, but I had to act like I'm fasting...but secretly I'd eat anything and drink water. I had to act like I'm praying because you can not imagine what would they say or do to me. Years passed and I completely lost faith in islam while reading extensively about religions specially islam. I've become an atheist, and I had to leave home for good. My family threatened to kill me in the worst possible way. I never talked to them ever since...it's been 8 years I guess. I've translated many books about religion from english to my native language and shared them with others just to help others leave islam. I'm working on writing a few books. I have 3 unfinished books with very interesting issues and titles.
Firstly, I respect Matt greatly. He is a great debater and a very well informed individual. That said, I take issue with calling him the godfather of atheism. Have you not heard of Sagan, Hitchens, Harris, Dawkins, Hawking, etc???? Again, I repeat, Matt is brilliant and I watch his debates and call in shows daily. Keep up the good fight. One day man will be free of religion.🤞🤞🤞🤞
very nice. Atheist Experience show is now not as interesting as it used to be. i used to hang out for my Monday morning dose of Matt and co-hosts. It's still watchable but not the draw card it used to be.
Matt Dillahunty was traumatized because he was not making much money trying to be a Baptist preacher, so he became a preacher for atheism where he could make more money.
In Genesis 6:6 we learn that the Lord repented that he had made man, in particular, this man. Which is very odd, when you think about it. He's planning to cast him in a furnace for ever and ever. If I had spent half a day making a beautiful pot, I would put it in the fire for about 10 hours, max.
@@ComeToCORT Don't you think it's odd that God repented that he had made man ? God created everything very carefully and God knows the future (he is omniscient). So how could God do something for which he later repents ? It's not logical.
@@ComeToCORT And instead of going back to the drawing board, he decided to destroy man and all the animals. He's like a child who isn't satisfied with his painting, so he rips it to pieces. That kind of behaviour is really not becoming of the God we all respect.
@@ComeToCORT Imagine a perfect potter, making perfect pots. Why would he later smash all his pots in a temper ? You would have to question his competence.
The godfather of atheism? Not sure that Matt would want to be given a title that suggests any kind of authority. Is that supposed to be a play on words?
@@ComeToCORT I, too am annoyed by giggling. But that’s a ME problem, not a YOU problem! I am also annoyed when people try to tell other people what to do! I quickly got past giggling when I realized that when you spoke you had great things to say and your questions were good. So I hope you continue doing what you do and thank you for this interview!
@@netplayer23 Many thanks! I hope I'm improving my interview skills as I go along. I was very nervous for this interview, and it apparently showed through some unexpected giggles. Live and learn, as they say! Thank you for your understanding and kind words.
Excellent interview! I love Matt and have learned so much from him, he sparked my journey of understanding logical fallacies and sound epistemology during a trying part of my life, in an abusive relationship, where every conversation left me feeling further lost.
Wow! Thanks for sharing how Matt has made a positive contribution to your life.
If he is the Godfather, atheism is in really bad shape.
@@thegodtalk8217 lmao that is some weapons-grade copium you're sniffing
@@thegodtalk8217
Atheism isn’t a religion or group that can be in good or bad shape. It is simply not accepting the single claim that a god exists.
@@roems6396 did i ask you about the meaning of atheism ? stop boring people.
Christopher Hitchens made me realize I was an atheist… but Matt Dillahunty was and is instrumental in helping me form a sound epistemology. He makes understanding logic easy. Keep up the great work… I now watch The Line religiously!😉
Yes, Matt is a gem for the contributions he makes towards helping folks understand critical thinking and reason. Thanks for watching and commenting!
I'd never believed in any god, but I was caught in the definition trap. "Atheism" had always been described to me as the certain belief that there are no gods and I recognized that wasn't a claim I could defend. At the same time, I don't believe in any gods, so the term "agnostic" always felt a bit wishy-washy.
Then, one day on the Atheist Experience, Matt pointed out that agnosticism is actually subset of atheism and not a completely separate category of belief. (if you don't know if there is a god or not, then you don't believe in a god. If you don't believe in a god, then you're an atheist.)
Had you been sitting next to me, you probably would have heard the mental click that happened in my brain.
While some in the atheist community don't care for the term "agnostic atheist" (for technical reasons), I found that the prima facie understanding of the term summed up my position perfectly.
Since then, I've described myself as an atheist and if pressed, an agnostic atheist.
Thanks Matt!
Hitchens was the most eloquent and erudite atheist/anti-theist in my lifetime. He is sorely missed.
Same with me it was Hitchend then Matt who showed me the light I can't thank him enough
@@silentotto5099 beliefs aren't claims by definition. I believe no gods exist, it's a claim about what I believe, it's no a claim that no gods exist
Same foe me. I’m 62 and when I first came across a video of Christopher Hitchens, only 2-3 years ago, I realized I was an atheist through and through after five decades of calling myself skeptic. Then came the ACA videos and Matt shone above all the other hosts but with a different style. I’m glad to see so many channels dedicated to unveil the lies religions are based on.
When I began my deconversion journey back in 2018 Matt was one of the first few people I stumbled across on YT. Listening to him, Dan Barker and Jerry Dewitt made me realize that my endeavor was a positive project and not to fear. I thank Matt very much for his devotion and assisting with helping people find the truth.
YES! Glad you found your way out, too.
Dang me too, my deconversion started February last year, and Matt popped up on my TH-cam feed, and I watched it hoping the Christian callers would prove these athiests wrong, and it back fired on me. And Matt was the first one I listen to and now I’m completely out. Oh the freedom I felt as a Christian was nothing compared to the freedom I felt leaving it, no more “imaginary gun” in my head running my life.
@@paulolosi1452 Exactly. No more self imposed guilt for being a human being and having a human nature. Life is much less stressful for me now.
@@Bbarfo you got it.
I live in southwest Michigan. Everything I hear from atheist is online. Would love to hear a speaker or go to a debate if one comes to this area. Would love to hear Matt speak in person. Any recommendations on schedules Websites or such. I',m a senior. Apparently most my age are not atheist
Matt Dillahunty and Aron Ra are the two end bosses of atheism. Insurmountable in debate, both together form the most powerful bulwark against unreason and continue to make a significant and inspiring contribution to humanity.
Agreed! They are both much appreciated.
Mike, I strongly agree. I use their lines all the time.
haha. They are two blind fools. They both do not know biochemistry, chemistry, development biology, and evolutionary biology, nor cosmology, physics, philosophy, or theology. they are willful ignoramuses. I debated them both several times.
Despite being a Christian, I am immensely in love with Matt Dillahunty and Aron Ra. Their arguments tear apart every single position that believers holds. I use their lines, analogies, debating skills in my everyday life. They taught me to be reasonable and logical thanks to both of them
@@morbeladolukak9921 i disagree a 100%. There is nothing reasonable with naturalism.
While, I had already found myself to be an atheist before discoving Matt, I found that his approach to logic and skepticism has help explain my justifications. They made sense to me internally, but I was ill equipped to communicate it. Now, I find myself in the position of being able to have official debates on the subject.
Wow! It seems like your praise of Matt is warranted! Well done - and thanks for commenting.
I have learntt so much from this man in the last 6 years..I am 68 years old now..not so much the atheism, because i dumped all that 40 years ago.
But the Scepticism and how to think criticality ..
Thank you Matt
I should have been taugjt it when i was a Teenager..every one should,
I am certainty passing it on to my children and grandchildren ❤
Amazing! Thank you for sharing.
@@ComeToCORT Sorry..and Thank you...Liked and Subscribed...
(Never stop learning )
“My atheism is secondary to my skepticism and humanism.”-Matt Dillahunty
Love it!
💯
@@eyemnew2991 atheism…disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God or gods. all atheists are different atheism is not a worldview. It is one specific question about one specific thing that is all. some atheist feel free using the term some do not…
@@eyemnew2991 I don’t understand why you don’t understand this
Thank you, glad to have found the channel. Refreshing to hear an interviewer let the interviewee talk uninterrupted and answer each question fully, a true conversation.
Looking forward to watching more!
Thanks for the encouragement; podcasting is still new to me, and I am doing my best. Glad you enjoyed this episode with Matt.
Thank you sooo much for your interview with my #1 atheist in the world... this year 2023 will be my 2nd year calling myself an atheist and thanks to Matt Dillahunty I have learned soo much about the bible that I dint know before (because I never questioned the bible)... im a closeted atheist but 1 day I will come out to my religious family... I do fear rejection but I just can't pretend anymore
Glad you enjoyed our interview. Matt is great! Good luck with your family.
I find it VERY weird that me and Matt had nearly the exact same upbringing and stages of deconversion.
But it also warms my heart as the first grandson of a pastor to have went through the same bull and sort of “awakening” as Matt.
Matt’s been a kind of role model in regard to critical thinking. And at 22, I’m hoping I can grow a whole lot more
Wonderful! Thanks for watching and commenting. Way to grow!
This was great! Even though I’ve heard Matt’s story many times in the 15-16 years I’ve been watching him, your interview was so thoughtful and allowed him to expound a bit more regarding his earlier years. I’ve met him a few times and was on stage at his Magic and Skepticism show in Jacksonville. He’s exactly who he is “on TV”, in person, although a bit more laid back and relaxed. Lol! Excellent interview!
Very kind of you, thanks Lori!
I love Matt for being so generous with his time! Great Podcast! I have liked and subscribed!
Thank you! And I agree - it was very generous of Matt to be my guest.
Glad to have discovered your podcast! I grew up around a community of people who only spoke of Christianity in a fully supportive context. Matt Dillahunty was the first person I'd ever heard speak of Christianity in a critical way. It was incredibly therapeutic to hear.
I'm glad Matt contributed to your own growth. Thanks for watching and commenting.
Another excellent interview, thank you so much!! Matt is incredible, always enjoy his content. My best regards to everybody to have a wonderful 2023.
Glad you enjoyed our chat. Thanks for commenting, and may you also have a wonderful 2023.
Matt is now officially old and wise. No need to keep waiting … write that book Matt!!! The time is right and so many would benefit. I like your topic about explaining atheism to your family.
Thanks for watching and leaving this encouraging comment. I agree, it's time for him to write a book!
I love Matt and all of the friends ... people chock full of integrity and generous enough to share their hearts wit us. Lucky lucky ducks we are for witnessing their lives.
Thanks for watching and commenting.
The first time I viewed Matt on TH-cam I thought he was vulgar it was not after meeting Paulagia and others that were atheist that I finally cycled back to him and never looked back it was liked someone hooked me up to a jolt machine his skepticism cut troughs all the bull (thank you Matt).
What a great comment! Thanks for watching.
"No matter what the cost" sounds like even if you die. Then the "love dad and mom" at the end was just brutal!
Yeah, family relationships definitely get more complicated when some members are religious and others aren't. Thanks for watching.
It's so good to see Matt here. 😊
Agreed! He was a pleasure to interview.
That was a great interview.
The first time that I the saw atheist experience was the classic episode with Matt and Jeff Dee where a woman called in to tell them they were going to Hell and then got all offended when Matt dropped the F bomb 🤣🤣
If you missed it, go find it.
I was then hooked purely for the entertainment but have learned a lot about critical thinking that challenged some of my views and beliefs (not that one).
Awesome! It is sadly easy to offend fundamentalists, I'm afraid. Glad you've learned from and been challenged by Matt. Way to grow!
Since we're having a trip down AXP memory lane, any Tracie Harris fans might want to go find her podcast "At Home In My Head".
She had Jen Peebles on a couple of weeks ago, great show.
Hope it's ok to plug that here Janice.
Thank you ✌️
Thanks for commenting!
It's fun listen to
Great video! Matt's use of logic is inspiring!
Agreed! Thanks for your comment.
Matt is the main reason I even found this whole community, and for that I'm eternity thankful 🙏
Thanks Matt you are really out there "doing God's work"
😆 🤣 😂 😹
Ha ha Truly! Matt has contributed a lot to the atheist community, for sure.
Great interview! Thanks!💙
You're very welcome. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Great interview.
As a child, I stopped believing in Santa Claus when I was like 6 or 7 years old. When I was about 9, 8, or 10 years old I was talking to my friend who still believed in Santa Claus. I was like "Should I tell him?" but I never did...but he did say something that really interested me and kind of "hit a nerve" with me. He told me that he thought Santa Claus WAS in fact god. I was like "What?" and he was like "Think about it. He watches you all the time. Knows when you've been good or bad. He's magic." and I clearly had a case of cognitive dissonance, because deep down....I KNEW he was right...but I didn't want to believe it. I didn't want to accept it. But that was the first time I realized "this aint true. This aint real., but I'm gonna choose to lie to my self. Everyone believes in god, right?!"
Eventually around 17 or 18 years old I became an atheist and I'll tell you why; my exposure to the creationist movement. I didn't even know what evolution was, that's how badly I was taught about evolution. I learned about evolution because of creationists. Far more about evolution then I ever did in school and I was like "Wow....these people claim to speak for god but they are massive liars." What the creationists were saying was nothing BUT lies. Ya, that doesn't make the religion look good. To me it would be like trying to deny gravity, then you look at the science of gravity from an objective point of view and go "Wow. All these gravity deniers are blatant liars." Another reason was....SLAVERY?! God condones slavery?! God condones all these barbaric immoral acts in the bible?! Sorry but no god would allow slavery under any circumstances UNLESS he was evil. Then you got the pseudo science of bats are birds and rainbows are a reminder from god that he won't flood the world again. NOT a reflection and refraction of light...which would imply that BEFORE the flood there were no rainbows...but how can that be if it's a result of a natural phenomena of reflection and refraction of water? From an objective point of view, FROM THE OUTSIDE looking in the bible looked like a superstitious book written by primitives who didn't know anything and were just trying to justify their morality, their culture, their way of life, and explain the world the way they thought it was and this was blatantly obvious to me.
So when I would have discussions with christians asking them for answers...the answers I found to be incredibly...not only incredibly poor, but pathetic. Laughable.
I was raised in a christian house home, but my mom wasn't too religious. I didn't go to church, except for when I was younger. When I was like 4, 5, and 6. I did have a bible and I had a couple copies of a children's bible. But I didn't really have any connection to any christian group or anything like that. Was never into Christian apologetics. Never was introduced to creationists. Never watched pastors or preachers, etc.
And in a way....I am curious in terms of "What if I did?" Because would I of become an atheist even faster? LOL.
So thanks to fundamentalist christians for turning me into an atheist,lol. Couldn't of done it without ya. So ya, I watched several debates. Looking at both sides and each time going "the christian responses are grossly inadequate."
I mean how can you reconcile learning about what evolution ACTUALLY IS...then listen to creationist TALK about what evolution is.....I mean how can you not go "That isn't what evolution is. YOUR LYING! Evolution doesn't say we came from a rock! Evolution doesn't say that! Your strawmanning! Your slandering!"
And how can you reconcile "Bats are birds' when we all know bats are clearly NOT birds.
I mean the bible doesn't even accurately describe thunder and lightning.
If the bible was true.....wouldn't the bible accurately depict how thunder and lightning is created?
If the bible was true and MORAL.....then why does it condone, advocate, endorse deeply immoral things?
I basically became an atheist because of the bible being sexist, misogynistic, promoting immorality, non scientific, and believers such as creationists who were blatant liars.
Also the fact that I learned you had to have FAITH. That was another reason. Really? I need faith to believe in god? Then how can I say it's real? I don't have faith in the existence of trees. I don't have faith in gravity, or the sun.
And all of the answers by christians just sounded like pathetic excuses. Like a child trying to justify why Santa Claus and the Easter bunny exist.
During my Christmas movie marathon last year I watched this movie where a little girl thinks she found one of Santa's Reindeers. This little girl who is about 7 year old is talking to her friend and this scene really stood out to me.
Friend: The problem is Jessie...I don't believe in Santa Claus anymore.
Jessie: What?
Friend: I mean, think about it. How can one man climb down all the chimneys in the world in one night?
Jessie: He's magical, Carol.
Friend: It doesn't make sense.
Jessie: Well, Carol not everything in the world can be explained.
Friend: I've never seen Santa Claus and I've done a lot of looking.
Jessie: Well, you've never seen god either. Does that mean there's no god?
Friend: Well, how do we know about that for sure?
Talk about a kind of childhood flashback of "Santa claus is god...I mean think about it." and realizing "He's right....but Santa Claus isn't real....maybe god isn't either...*cognitive dissonance* Oh no!"
Thanks for commenting.
This was excellent! I'm a big Matt fan. I also like the production of this show. I like how you cut back and forth between the host and guest, yet mainly keep the camera on the guest. Other atheist call-in shows just show the split screen, which gets old REAL QUICK. This was refreshing. Plus, Janice is hot. ;)
LOL! Aaah, your comment made my day. Thanks for watching and commenting.
Great interview! Can you get Matt on again? Thanks very much
Thanks for the suggestion! I really enjoyed talking with him. I hope he will join me again!
I discovered Matt Dillahunty from watching Seth Andrews. Seth was also how I discovered Aron Ra.
YES! Fans of all 3 of these humans! Thanks for commenting.
fantastic interview, i subbed.
AWESOME, thanks so much!
Thanks for sharing. Will keep an eye out for you in future.
Please do! I appreciate it. Thanks for commenting.
First time watching..loved it! I'm a big fan of Matt, and I'm looking forward to watching some of your other interviews. Thanks for this!
Welcome aboard! Thanks for the encouragement, David!
What a awesome interview! I loved it! Great job
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the encouragement!
Just subbed
I did my deconstruction and recovery alone , it wasn’t easy, found Matt and the atheist community late , like early covid times and even though my deconstruction wasn’t thanks to the community, after listening and learning from the community, I’m at least more aware and have a basis for my arguments and morality .
Thank you all whether or not you’ve helped I’m actually better because the community
This is so encouraging to read. Thanks for commenting.
It was Hitchens then Matt that brought me an understanding of my Atheism and strengthened my resolve in all things religious
Tremendous! Thanks for sharing.
I love this show ❤
Thanks for watching!
Matt is my hero
You're not alone, I'm sure. Thanks for commenting!
Can aetheists be canonised? No one deserves it more than Matt. 😂
Haha! You may be right!
I don’t really know any religious people so can’t relate but to me it’s so sad how people lose family because they don’t believe a claim
Yes, it is terribly sad how religious beliefs can poison people to the extent that they choose religion over relationship.
19:48 … not trying to one-up at all, but literally from earliest memories I could say the same thing.
Thanks for watching.
Although Matt was and has been kind of rough on some callers (mostly deservedly so!), he is one of the people who took me out of my angry-atheist phase.
How cool! Thanks for sharing.
Matt is roughly 30% responsible for my own atheism. Keep the faithlessness.
I love this! Thanks for commenting.
Thanks Matt for your work in PTSD awareness.
Stay Silly
It's the only life we know of.
Stay Safe and Stay Free 🌐
Thanks for watching.
Matt Dillahunty; a beautiful rational mind.
Agreed.
My dear mom was the best apologist. She had the child-like faith recommended in the Bible. When any of us had a doubt, she would say,”When we get to Heaven, we’ll ask Jesus.” End of conversation.
Thanks for watching!
👏🙂
Great interview.
Matt has been an inspiration to me for years even though I have a Muslim background.
Glad Matt has inspired you! Thank you for watching and commenting.
6:47 Matt mentions going a bit further on dates. Janice giggles and moves her hair with her hand. That's sweet.
*blushes* Thank you.
Love Matt 👍🏽
Me too! He's great.
Religious trauma and abuse plagues our world. For example, my mormon aunt and uncle covered up my two cousins (siblings) engaging in an S relationship when they were young teenagers. They then ignored and punished my little cousin Emily from being S/Ad by church officials from the age of 6 to 16. Both my older cousins who were engaging in sibling S are either alcoholics and drug addicts. My younger cousin Emily committed suicide at the age of 25. That's just the tip of the sick as F iceberg
I am sorry to learn of the suffering in your family due to religion - and I am extemely glad that you got out. Thanks for commenting.
@Conference On Religious Trauma I barely made it out. My mother finally realized the horrors as Abrahamic ideologies she still was kind of stuck in the beliefs. I personally was sent to a mormon run straight camp as a teenager. But after being there for 6 months, she finally saw the damaging effects. But that's just my story. My other families cousin Justin is a servere method addict because he was gay too. But his abuse at the straight camps was far worse than mine. While I was only subjected to humiliation, starvation, sensory deprivation and extreme physical work. Justin was literally F'd in you know what till his rectum prolapsed. The message was this is what little boys who like other little boys deserve. Abrahamic religions are nothing but sex cults for adult perverted males. I wasn't kidding when I said that's just the tip of the iceberg of my family's mormish horrors. Thanks you for everything you do because so many people are still stuck in this cyclical hell. A true hell indeed
😓
Great show!! My father dismissed the Old Testament similar to Matt’s mom. Believers tend to enjoy cherry-picking, at least the ones in my circle.
I know I did! And for the verses that made me uncomfortable, it was "Who can know the mind of God?" or "God's ways are higher than man's!" Now I take it all as myth, poetry, and revenge fantasies.
Matt is FABULOUS and so are you!
Peace🕊, Love💓 and Good Vibrations🎶🎉to All
From BanjoQueen🙋♀️🌹
Thank you so much!
@@ComeToCORT My Pleasure!🪕👸🏻💐
Matt! Afraid of public speaking! It’s madness!
Seriously! Hard to believe, I know.
The Godfather of Atheism. Brilliant!
He's a keeper, alright! Thanks.
I loved the segment that John Oliver did on trans rights that they mentioned. It was brilliant.
I am a HUGE John Oliver fan - and also a huge fan of Trans' rights! Thanks for commenting.
I knew Matt and I had a lot in common, but wow. Fortunately my parents were not entrenched in pentacostalism. Mom said they were nuts. Dad took us to sunday school but t hey rarely attended. In 3rd grade a missionary led me to believe I had to be a missionary. Yeah 3rd grade. That hung Ober my head until 10 years ago. I'm 65. Talk about guilt and misery.
That is a long time to bear an undeserved burden. Glad you see clearly now. Thanks for commenting.
Mom was agnostic and didn't want me to be forced to go to church. I can only remember a few times that I had to get dressed up and wear a clip on tie. I didn't really have any knowledge or feelings about religion. I live in Louisiana, so I got asked about Christianity alot. As an avid reader, I eventually read a bible. It was terribly written about many crappy characters and less believable than the fantasy books I liked reading. JRR Tolkien, Robert Jordan, & Stephen King were way better and fake, the bible didn't have a chance of convincing me. I didn't know about the terms atheist or agnostic until several years later and then figured out I qualified as an atheist. I loved watching Dr Carl Sagan, Red Dwarf, Dr Who, and anything about space. I can't disprove all gods but I'm certain I can disprove all religions. A god seems the least likely scenario so I seriously doubt there are any. I've been an atheist for about 34 of my 44 years on our tiny speck of star dust. I remember being blown away that something like The Atheist Experience existed and that I wasn't as alone in reality as I thought.
Awesome! Thanks for sharing your experience.
Same here.
Stay Safe and Stay Free 🌐
Its too bad there are so many closet Atheist's because if they all spoke up there might be a tipping point in the United States and the house of religious cards may crumble. I personally would like to see politicians be honest in their Atheism because I believe they are out there.
Agreed! Thanks for commenting.
Agree. Matt should be declared holy.
LOL!!!! St. Matt, Godfather of Atheism.
@@ComeToCORT Saint is the correct term
@@Ahuisnl I sit corrected. Thank you.
@@ComeToCORT St. Matthew, the atheist Godfather, that's beautiful.
If I don't want to be a human being I probably don't want to be an atheist or a theist either. I probably don't want to be in a position of having to be anything at all. I come by feeling that way honestly. Choice had nothing to do with it.
Okay. thanks for commenting!
55:09 Haha Matt said doodoo
*giggles*
He sure diddid!
I'm always interested in reading about people who have had so profound a deconversion experience when my own experience is so different. I never really had this singular aha moment. I was raised Catholic and perhaps earlier than most, I began to see flaws in the doctrine, contradictions and things that just didn't add up. It was more of just a drifting away rather than a hard break. I just kind of gradually realized I didn't believe any of it. And I'm not militant about my atheism. You want to be a believer, fine with me. Doesn't affect me in the slightest.
Thanks for commenting.
I think you’ll find that most deconversion stories are gradual and not all at once. For me, it took me ten years from the time I began questioning to realizing I no longer believed. I didn’t have one singular a ha moment- I had many little “a ha” moments.
@@patrickwoods2213 Yes, it took me a while as well.
What it boils down to is all religion is death denial, primates coping with grief. As a ex Jehovah Witness now a born-again atheist I find death very comforting ,I get to sleep in for centuries and what's so bad about that, a bit of peace and quite for eternity and that's my heaven .Justin Porter ex jw ❤️
Glad you got out, Justin! Thanks for commenting.
I'm a big fun of Matt. It was a great video about his experience leaving religion. We all had to make sacrifices and go through so much issues.
I'm an ex muslim atheist. I was born in a strict religious family and have been sent to be educated in islamic theology. I always doubted the religion one way or another. I never fasted because I'd get such bad headaches...I mean why would a 10 years old boy should fast when his body and brain are growing, but I had to act like I'm fasting...but secretly I'd eat anything and drink water.
I had to act like I'm praying because you can not imagine what would they say or do to me.
Years passed and I completely lost faith in islam while reading extensively about religions specially islam.
I've become an atheist, and I had to leave home for good. My family threatened to kill me in the worst possible way. I never talked to them ever since...it's been 8 years I guess.
I've translated many books about religion from english to my native language and shared them with others just to help others leave islam.
I'm working on writing a few books. I have 3 unfinished books with very interesting issues and titles.
Wow! Fascinating and heart breaking. I am glad you got out. Thanks very much for commenting.
Good for you ! Best wishes for your books and your future .
@@johnsnowdon4886 Thank you.
Firstly, I respect Matt greatly. He is a great debater and a very well informed individual. That said, I take issue with calling him the godfather of atheism. Have you not heard of Sagan, Hitchens, Harris, Dawkins, Hawking, etc????
Again, I repeat, Matt is brilliant and I watch his debates and call in shows daily. Keep up the good fight.
One day man will be free of religion.🤞🤞🤞🤞
Thanks for commenting.
@@ComeToCORT You are welcome. I am all about anyone or anything helping people question their incredible theistic beliefs.
very nice. Atheist Experience show is now not as interesting as it used to be. i used to hang out for my Monday morning dose of Matt and co-hosts.
It's still watchable but not the draw card it used to be.
Thanks for watching and commenting.
My uncle bought me a bible. Two years worth of excellent rolling papers.
Lol! Thanks for watching
When is Matt Dilahaunty is debate Jake the Metaphysician?
I don't know. Thanks for commenting, though!
matt is doing god's work! god bless him ;-)
LOL!
I don't think you understand how your god thing works.
@@Argeaux2 - I don’t think you understand how the humor thing works.
Yes he is doing good work alright, but you didn't spell good correctly though it has 2-o's.
Navy brat eh?
Hi comrade, I live in my foxhole.
24/7 health care after a failed suicide.
Thank you for your service mate.
Stay Safe
Stay Free 🌐 ❤
Thanks for watching.
Thanks for watching
Good interview. Glad I found your channel Semper Fi Nov 10th 69 to Sept 1st 72
Awesome! Thank you!
👍👍
Thank you!
Question: If Matt ever has a daughter what is the name he is least likely to name her?
I have no idea. Thanks for commenting!
@@ComeToCORT it’s Faith!
@@canbest7668 Or Mary.
@@jerrylong6238 😆😆😆😆👍
Thank you being clear that Jordon Petterson sells nonsense. I think Destiny is really a rightwing plant.
Thanks for watching.
Christopher Hitchens isn't the Godfather of atheism?
Don't get me wrong, I love Matt too.
No one can replace Hitch, that's for sure - but Matt is pretty awesome!
Matt Dillahunty was traumatized because he was not making much money trying to be a Baptist preacher, so he became a preacher for atheism where he could make more money.
Thanks for watching!
You are welcome. Let me know if you need to know what time church starts. @@ComeToCORT
😂 "Atheist Preacher" Hilarious! 😂
🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
Thanks, Chris!
In Genesis 6:6 we learn that the Lord repented that he had made man, in particular, this man.
Which is very odd, when you think about it. He's planning to cast him in a furnace for ever and ever.
If I had spent half a day making a beautiful pot, I would put it in the fire for about 10 hours, max.
Cheeky. Thanks for watching.
@@ComeToCORT
Don't you think it's odd that God repented that he had made man ?
God created everything very carefully and God knows the future (he is omniscient).
So how could God do something for which he later repents ? It's not logical.
@@ComeToCORT
And instead of going back to the drawing board, he decided to destroy man and all the animals.
He's like a child who isn't satisfied with his painting, so he rips it to pieces.
That kind of behaviour is really not becoming of the God we all respect.
@@ComeToCORT
Imagine a perfect potter, making perfect pots.
Why would he later smash all his pots in a temper ?
You would have to question his competence.
Matt Dillahunty is not the Godfather of Atheism he is just a very naughty boy.
Right you are! What should the title of the episode be?
@@ComeToCORT Matt is a very naughty boy.
The godfather of atheism? Not sure that Matt would want to be given a title that suggests any kind of authority. Is that supposed to be a play on words?
Entirely. I think his sense of humor will allow for it - this time ;)
LOL at explaining to Ray Comfort what a clown he is. Hee hee hee...
Hee hee! I thought that was funny, too.
I remember this Islamist apologist joker. Is he this a thing?
Hmmm... I don't believe he endorses any religions.
Your memory must be seriously faulty.
Kevin, maybe you’re confused.
It sounds Matt blames god for the the treatment of his parents. That’s not a religion problem, that is a people problem.
It is a religion problem when the parents - or culture - base their childrearing on the Bible.
Host, Stop giggling.
Thanks for watching.
@@ComeToCORT I, too am annoyed by giggling. But that’s a ME problem, not a YOU problem! I am also annoyed when people try to tell other people what to do! I quickly got past giggling when I realized that when you spoke you had great things to say and your questions were good. So I hope you continue doing what you do and thank you for this interview!
@@netplayer23 Many thanks! I hope I'm improving my interview skills as I go along. I was very nervous for this interview, and it apparently showed through some unexpected giggles. Live and learn, as they say! Thank you for your understanding and kind words.
"The REAL Bible, not the Catholic Bible" Really? 3 minutes in, and I'm already shaking my head.
LOL All versions are man-made.
Are you a certified psychologist?
Anyone can call themself a therapist. No training is required to do so.
She has a degree in applied psychology and counseling.
I have never claimed to be a psychologist. I am registered professional counsellor. Thanks for asking.
Christopher hitchens is the godfather of atheism
You mean were, he is dead?
Agreed
i was the 666th like!
LOL Well done!