I appreciate the depth and nuance you brought to this topic. I really hope some of these content creators you respond to actually listen and reflect on what you said. Also, your tangents are always pertinent and on point! And I love your podcast idea!!
Even as a Christian I thought the Christian persecution complex among North American Christians was ridiculous. I actually felt guilty about how easy my life was compared to what the Bible was telling me it should be.
that’s the whole point! christians will tell you you’re doing something wrong if you’re not persecuted, which will make you feel guilty, and so most christians will pretend they are persecuted to avoid that guilt
I would suggest that many of them actually do recognize the stark discrepancy between their privileged lives and the persecution the Bible promises. I think that fact makes them uncomfortable and insecure with their own salvation, so they work extra hard at identifying "persecution" to alleviate that cognitive dissonance.
If you define yourself exclusively through your faith, then I guess every disagreement is indeed a personal attack. In which case all I can say is, too bad - I still disagree.
Right. Ideas have to be open for critique. It's their responsibility to manage their feelings if they've entangled their identity with a specific set of beliefs. But that doesn't mean society isn't allowed to properly analyze the ideas within that belief system.
Especially if you're as anti intellectual and horribly immoral as Christianity is. You can't expect to hide those sins and vulnerabilities from the public forever, especially in the internet age
“Religious apologists complain bitterly that Atheists and Secularists are aggressive and hostile in their criticism of them. I always say: look, when you guys were in charge, you didn’t argue with us, you just burnt us at the stake. Now what we’re doing is, we’re presenting you with some arguments and some challenging questions, and you complain.” - A.C. Grayling
Where was that exactly? What kingdom allowed the church to carry out executive orders of capital punishment upon its citizens? Any judicial measures were always enforced and implemented by the state, not the church.
@gregsanich5183 there wasn't/isn't always separation of church and state. Ever heard of the Holy Roman Empire? The Spanish Inqisition? Jean Calvin's Geneva? The Salem Witch Trials? Present day United States?
@@gregsanich5183 I think you are splitting hairs somewhat. Separation of church and state is a modern construct, and by modern I mean a transition starting roughly with the Enlightenment. For most of history church and state are just different sides of a coin. Even today the Vatican has its own guard; popes and European bishops had their own armies through much of church history. In the 1209 massacre at Beziers, papal legate and abbot Armand Amalric, reportedly said, “Kill them. The Lord will know his own.” when asked about how to distinguish heretic from Catholic. About 300 Cathars (heretics) had intermingled with 20,000 Catholics at Beziers. Almaric was going about the business of eradicating Catharism for Pope Innocent III. The quote is possibly a reference to 2Tim2:19. Amalric was the direct commander of the troops. The Crusades, the Inquisition, Conquest of the New World and other grim events had church and state helping each other gain wealth and power or influence.
@@carlasmith9093 those are all examples of a secular executive authority. Whether or not they reflect or align with the will of the church, the power of those executive actions ultimately rests with the state, not the church. A better example that would have been applicable would be our old friend Henry viii, who broke this cardinal rule and created the church of England. Which is a perfect example that demonstrates exactly why distinct separation of church. & state was critical to the autonomy & sovereignty of the church.
When someone says "Jesus is lord". That's their belief and I even grant that it is their personal truth. But it's not my truth and definitely not an undisputed truth.
@@theunclejesusshow8260 Not agreeing on doctrines does not mean most christians don't believe in the trinity. Like that's one of the central doctrines common to the big denominations.
"Can't make this stuff up" --- Indeed. "some of the Party members sometimes interfere with our all-out deployment of anti-religious propaganda. If such members of the Party are expelled, then it is very good, because such members have no place in the ranks of our Party" (Joseph Stalin 1927) Soviet Union deaths --- 61,911,000 Nazis genocide--- 20,946,000 Imperial Japan deaths --- 50,000,000 Maoist China deaths - 80,000,000 Nigerian Christians killed since 2000 - 62,000 Current Abortions per day --- 200,000 etc & etc...
That first blurb is so telling. He says those things about his religion, but doesn't want pushback...and almost IMMEDIATELY goes to pushing back on the ideas of others. They simply will not see the utter derangement of my way is the highway, dont tell me it isn't, and by the way, your religion or lack thereof is totally wrong. It boggles the mind.
It's a pituitary reaction. People with little to no exposure to different ideologies mentally react the same way one would if they spotted a wild animal. I remember having a similar response when learning about things like solipsism as a kid. Maybe I was fortunate to have exposure at a younger age then most. With some older folks It's like they've had none at all.
@@tnghunter "a pituitary reaction" --- "observation really is mistaken for explanation. It has the fatal quality of leaving on many minds the impression that they do understand it and everything else” (G.K. Chesterton “The Everlasting Man” 1925)
Ultimately, it is about reciprocity. Are you demanding respect from others, that you are unwilling to return? Are you holding others to standards of behavior that you feel exempt from? Particularly, do you hold that criticism of your beliefs and opinions must be censured, while the beliefs of your fellowman have no special protection? Denial of the need for reciprocity is part of what we mean by the word “bigot.” If the shoe fits, wear it.
@@MindShift-Brandon If a man says he has never done wrong/sinned he is a liar, and the truth is not in him. Atheists are haters of the truth (Jesus Christ). Why do atheists hate the truth? Because he tells us the truth, that we are sinners in need of God's Grace and Mercy. Pride keeps a lot of people from believing that. Matthew 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
As someone who was a devoted Bible toting, church going, God fearing Christian for 25 years and only and atheist for the last 8 or 9 years, I have realized without a doubt that the general public dislikes atheists more than Christians. I was always proud to tell people that I was a Christian, but as an atheist I try to hide it most of the time because most people that I tell about it get judgemental and even aggressive sometimes.
I think there’s like one congressman who identifies as atheist. Just saw him in a video a few days ago or would’ve said none. Yet the nones (people who don’t claim a religion) is the highest growing “religious”affiliation. I personally would rather have atheists who logically form morals on their own, than all these religious creeps who claim without religion they’d be murderers and rapists. Especially since their god gives them a “get out of hell free” card or more, as long as they say they’re sorry and keep pushing the “good news”.
@TESTCHANNEL-qg8qn What do you mean with your last statement? What is "Brandon's paradigm" in this context? The video is a response to American Christians who are talking about America & American "culture." Brandon does not pretend that it's the same literally everywhere. He's acknowledged that in a few countries it's fair to even say Christians are actually persecuted...but that's not the countries these Christians are discussing. The experiences of atheists & Christians in America are totally relevant (and do not automatically imply that they are universal). The comment is a response to the mention of atheists at 2:45...during which Brandon explicitly states he does not adopt 'the same logic (or "paradigm") but reversed for atheism,' only that the arguments *could* be made, and *could* be made even better.
Same. I was told my whole life that the world was ruled by atheists, and that "the world" hated Christians. Then I became an atheist, and I was like, "Oh... Most people are Christians, actually. Even the less religious folk have biases against atheists. So reality is the exact opposite of what I was taught, then?" The persecution complex is so strong, these people can't tell how good they've got it. In America, Christianity is the default. They hold all the political power, and yet they act like they are the underdogs. How are they so deluded?
Growing up as an Evangelical Christian I got the whole "We are persecuted by the world" thing a lot. But I never saw any evidence of that in my whole life. Preachers would often say, "The world hates us because we love Christ." But as I became older, I came to realize that when people " hate" Christians, it's usually because we came across as obnoxious, bigoted jerks. It was one of the many reasons that I eventually became an atheist.
Except it's true, you'd know that if you bothered to look at history. Also it's you anti-theists who are the bigoted jerks, you hate anyone who simply says they're a Christian.
They aren't in most places, but they don't talk about when they do the persecution, where Christianity is majority it can persecute other religions, I'm Brazilian and we have African diasporic religions and some Christians destroy their congregations places and offers, sometimes beat the people and say they have demons, in places where Christianity is the minority it is sometimes persecuted, it's more about power than anything else.
As a former catholic I would be thrilled if you would continue secular Bible study beyond the Protestant canon into the deuterocanonical books and maybe even into the non canonical realm
I agree! He should cover the Orthodox and Catholic books not in the Protestant Canon. One of my favorites is 4 Maccabees, which is only in the Orthodox Church.
Except, perhaps, for a superficial overview, I don't think this would be time well spent. In my mind, the best thing about Mindshift's textual analyses is he presents what is written and then his experience of how it's interpreted and the implications to lived life. He would have to research the varied interpretations and implications and it would simply be an academic exercise. Maybe that interests Mindshift, but presenting material outside of his experience would be a very different channel.
I think ANY treatment of non-canonical writings of the biblical eras would be fascinating-especially as those writings relate to how the Bible came to be, and why certain non-canonical writings were excluded. As well, the apocrypha would be very interesting for many protestants as well. To me, it all fits under the banner of "It's all manmade."
@Febr7 Brandon is an avid reader, and he does his research well. I will not hold it against him if he decides not to do it, but if he does decide to do it, I would welcome his insights.
I don’t think calling someone a bigot or ignorant is dehumanizing. I’ll advocate for everyone’s free speech rights even if I disagree, and I certainly wouldn’t take away rights to life or liberty for bigots. But I hear theists say that everyone else is denying god in our unrighteousness because we want to sin and that this world doesn’t matter because eternity is all that’s important and materialists think human life has no value and that god will sort us out in the afterlife so it doesn’t matter how we get there…. THAT’S dehumanizing
You're a bigot and willfully ignorant and you need to get over yourself. Also those Christians were right as far as I'm concerned. Also look up the definition of dehumanize (what your kind does).
To me, my big issue is that basically: If someone tells me they are a cultist: They are telling me that they endorse evil, immoral child graping deaf cultists. As: *Most* of the time, they deny that. BUT: Then make excuses for a pastor that "made a mistake" or similar. Most of them are just massive hypocrites that demands you look the other way when *they* do bad things.
"Jeffrey Dahmer would go to heaven if he repented on his death bed. But you, a good person who tries to not harm others and help as much as possible, are going to hell because you didn't believe in MY deity as the one true deity. Not because we have any evidence of that but because we said so."
@@suicune2001 Not to mention: Going by THEIR own book: He did *nothing* wrong. (Assuming the victims weren't chrsitan) People join cults to be evil and immoral. They don't quit them to do so. Since theirs come with a free excuse book.
@@suicune2001 Because christianity has nothing at all to do with morality - despite the arrogant claims, despite all their demands to control everyone else, despite all their wailing about how other people live their lives - in the christian religion one's conduct has precisely nothing to do with one's eternal destiny.
@@suicune2001 Not a single human is good unless his name is Jesus. The wickedness of the obvious doesn’t remove your crimes in the hidden. Without God, who will open his gates of heaven? Cause your hands can’t do it.
Knock Knock! Me: “Who's there?” “Jesus!” Me: “OK, what do you want?” Jesus: “Let me in.” Me: “Why?” Jesus: “So I can save you.” Me: “Save me from what?” Jesus: “From what I'm going to do to you if you don't let me in.”
@mirandahotspring4019 Satan: "And they say I'm Evil. I just want worship like my father." Evil: "Ha ha ha ha... I love the humans thinking Satan is me. Especially YHWH, who inevitably serves me by destroying eternal souls of humanity... ... ... The God Hands will enjoy this world."
@@suicune2001 It's kinda worse than that... "We love you, but unless you follow our rules you're going to hell, and we don't care if following those rules makes your life miserable so long as you shut up about it and pretend it doesn't make you feel miserable. Not pretending it doesn't make you miserable is also going to send you to hell. Part of pretending it doesn't make you miserable also involves giving us money."
There is a word where you are putting someone down by being kind. I can't remember what it was. It's like saying: "Well I think you smart and beautiful in your own special way"
I think adding broader topics podcasts is a good idea. Religion doesn't exist in a vacuum so pulling out to give a larger context of what it is to be human, how we think, how are values are chosen and affect us...all necessary elements in religious analysis. I hope you still keep the more focused videos on christianity as well since I see that a large part of your audience benefits from these as they face deconversion. Pretty exciting stuff, Brandon!
I don't hate them. I hate how they look down on me and treat me as less than. I have no problem calling them out on it. But at the end of the day if you are going to treat me that way because i don't believe what you do. Then you are the one hating me and i have a human right to defend myself against that. But the best point if the video. Thank god that most Christians don't actually follow the bible. Love your videos, so much to unpack. If my disbelief equils hate, that is a logical phalicy. I don't believe in Santa Claus. So by their standards i must not believe in santa claus because i hate santa claus. I have a lot of cognitive dissonance understanding how you are makeing that kind of connection. How can i, and why would i, hate something I don't even believe exists. Even the practise doesn't always bother me. Back to the Santa Claus thing. I don't believe in santa but i don't hate the practice of Christmas. I like presents too. Now if people still practised the Krampus part of Christmas. I might dislike being beaten by thorns and then shoved into a basket. I would still like the presents side of it. But i would not like the being beaten by switches part of it. But that still wouldn't make me hate Santa claus, just the krampus. Im glad that they took that part of christmas off the books.
I hear that, but again I think it comes down to individuals. Many Christians do exactly as you say, and not liking them is more than justified, but saying something like all secular people hate and dehumanize Christians is just such an insane statement. Again, you didnt say this, just brining in the video.
Not to mention: A LOT of cultists are fake nice. They start off all "bless you!" but if you haven't converted within a few weeks, they instantly turn on you and start being nasty.
I live in the Bible Belt and I've never experienced hate from Christians for being Atheist. I've had some seriously long conversations with them and it never came down to " Well, you are going to Hell" and they storm off. My neighbors are Christians and they know I'm atheist. They don't exclude me from anything and vise-versa. I'm sure there are 'Those" kinds of people out there... I just haven't run into them here in SC.
@@59master60 Unbelief is the only reason souls go to hell. Rejection of the truth (Jesus Christ). Unbelief is the opposite of faith. Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
While I don't mind podcasts and would love to listen to you talk with other people, I hope we don't lose hearing your own thoughts in solo videos (even solo podcasts). I often subscribe to channels because I like the host and can get annoyed if a channel gives so much airtime to other people, that I don't really get to hear the hosts fleshed out thoughts anymore. I think having a good balance of the two types of content is a great idea and will let us all explore new and exciting content. And who knows. Maybe we will like the new content better! I would also still love more general philosophy videos if you are still interested in making that content as well. It's nice of you to ask for our input! Ultimately, you should be happy with the channel you are making no mater what. Keep doing you because you are awesome!
Some recent polling has around 70% of the US population identifying as Christian and higher than that in government. If there is legitimate "Christian" persecution, it's among Christians. Denominational persecution might be more accurate term.
I remember worrying bc I wasn't persecuted, even though as a woman I dressed like a traditional xtian (hair, long dresses, no make up/jewellery). I told people about my faith when they asked, and always refused participating in anything secular, and yet all non-believers acted like I was their favourite person. The fact is, in my heart I secretly abhorred all the bigotry that was taught to me, and treated everyone with love and respect that way I understood god to want me to. A loving, polite and respectful person will be welcomed everywhere, regardless of their quirks and weird beliefs
Christianity is resilient. Jesus said that everyone would hate him and his followers. So they can say the most outrageous, hateful, vile things and when people react to them in the way they deserve, they can both play the victim AND the victor - "see, its just like Jesus said, we're doing it right, we're winning because the world hates us!" When you are IN the belief system it is a completely closed circuit that self-reinforces at every turn. But in the real world, I mean, I live in Southern CA. Not LA county, but still. And I still have to hear, everywhere I go - "have a blessed day!" and see signs everywhere that say "prayer changes things." They own the culture here.
"When you are IN the belief system it is a completely closed circuit that self-reinforces at every turn."--- Indeed. Soviet Union deaths --- 61,911,000 Nazis genocide--- 20,946,000 Maoist China deaths - 80,000,000 Abortions per day --- 200,000
In Malaysia over here, even as Christians here hear the rhetoric stated by Muslim political leaders, many Christians here still adhere to values of unity and solidarity, even including Muslims who criticize their religious leaders. Ironically I heard more antilgbt preaching than I did against Islam in Malaysia. As for a rhetoric Christians use, being able to predict what people will say about your religion doesn't make you right. That Christian's projection by claiming he is being dehumanized, while believing in a system of separating believers and non believers is so ironic. I really have to ask who is being dehumanized, when one believes all go to the same fate, while the other believes in deserving eternal torment. Like shit man imagine Putin claiming Russophobia because the world doesn't like what he's doing to Ukraine. Oh, wait...
Dehumanizing is the term a sinner uses when knowing that a true born again Christian has told them they have broken God's moral law, the 10 commandments like everyone else, and are under the condemnation and wrath of Almighty God. (John 3:18 & John 3:36) That is why everyone desperately needs the Savior Jesus Christ to save and rescue them from all their sin.
@@I-am-bruno And the gospel brings the "good news" that the lost and blind sinner so needs to hear to be saved and rescued from their helpless and hopeless condition of sin. So, Jesus brings true "humanization" back to the a person' s life.
@@I-am-bruno If you don't appreciate my comments, then you can just move on to the next one. And if I desire to be blessed of The Lord, I do not take your counsel. (Psalm 1:1) Jesus is your only hope of salvation.
1) For sure I will come along! 😀 2) a) yep, l like the idea b) yes, I would be interested in additional / other directions as well c) I don't think there would be a problem with using your developed presence as MindShift to simply evolve further and branch out to more topical width. But for I know nothing about youtube I think there is a technical-tactical component that might be important for answering this question properly
I'd add that there's 2 types of ignorant people. The first doesn't know something (or a lot of things, depending on the exact situation). The second ignores knowledge. They're told that the road is one-way, that evolution doesn't mean one animal giving birth to a new species, that the universe is very old, that the Bible instructs people on how to own slaves or get away with particular violence against women. You show them. And they refuse to acknowledge it. They ignore it. I have little problem with the first category and they're often a lot of fun when you get to share something cool, like bringing them into your hobbies or favourite music. The second group cause problems. One of them nearly ran me off the road today because he ignored my car was in the lane and he felt entitled to push in, even to the point of causing an accident. Others embrace conspiracies of all sorts, preferring the feeling of being special over accepting facts, like Flerfers.
@@TheMahayanist they also can’t learn if they think they know enough. “Yeah, I don’t know biology but who cares? Evolution is still stupid and wrong” They can be aware that they don’t know something but refuse to learn anything. Like William Lane Craig and his lying about cosmology. He was in a debate with an actual cosmologist telling him he’s wrong on cosmology but Craig persists in saying the same lies years later. So much for Craig and Reasonable Faith!
"the Bible instructs people on..." --- As a youth, I happened upon my older sister's medical textbook one day. The volume was opened, much to my horror and dismay, to a full-color plate depicting a facial avulsion. I began flipping through the book questioning within myself what on earth it was that my sister had been reading all this time. Later of course, I came to learn the purpose of that text, and my sister's noble aspirations in studying it so assiduously. I had, of course, confused description with prescription.
Atleast with the first one I can sit down and explain it to them. It's the second ones who are willfully ignorant that really anger me because you have been given the knowledge and you chose to ignore it
@@andrewferg8737 Leviticus 25:44-46 is a prescription. And so is the one where the man who violates a woman must marry her for life. The Bible is more horrific than any medical text.
Given the judgemental aspect of Christianity, it wouldn't surprise me if some people were openly hostile to Christians. As an atheist, I have no logical reason to condemn people, via divine law quotes. I have no evidence-backed reason to believe in heaven, or in hell. Nobody of any faith is going to be judged guilty, because nobody can be judged guilty.
@@margotpreston *_nihilism:_* the rejection of all religious and moral principles, in the belief that life is meaningless. Clem has left absolutely no room for any moral principles, only moral opinions. If nobody can be judged guilty, then all that is left is tyranny. Put a murderer in jail? Tyranny, because you are not upholding justice, you are simply imposing your (entirely baseless) opinion that murder is wrong on someone who believes that murder is right.
That is incorrect. Jesus spoke much about judgment. Righteous judgment. (John 7:24) Also He said, "For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth-those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation." (John 5:26-29) "He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him- the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day." (John 12:48) It is clear...judgment is based in the truth of the Word of God.
Absolutely great philosophy as always Brandon. I've been thinking that your presence and brand would suit a podcast format for awhile now. In regards to you changing your podcast name I think that's a good idea for a few reasons. 1. If you're aiming for flexibility then continuing the mindshift brand might not allow that much as your branding here conveys something a bit more specific. A new brand for your podcast even if it only slightly diverges still opens you yp for the potentiality of diversification. 2. In mindshift for the most part the format is typically you conversing. A podcast format especially if you'll have guests or something of thag nature frequently could be confusing for someone who likes your current format of just hearing you mostly. 3. Your interests (psychology, philosophy, etc.) are great in that they're broad and narrow enough to go in any direction. Meaning you can discuss a new subject in philosophy thay interests you and it have nothing to do with what the mindshift brand has going on thus leading to diversification. 4. This podcast approach may work better as a dual funnel strategy thus expanding both. Whereas having the podcast merely be an extension of the channel more or less just gives it the same punching power of the channel. If you were to slightly rebrand the podcast you'd have a lot more potential to acceleratw both ventures. For one you'd be going into this new podcast with a bit more of a fanbase than many podcasters start with which is a great boon. But also it allows you to sort of take up more real estate in a sense. And with more real estate means more opportunity in every direction. This also means the load on you to have to create in depth quality content would also be lessened as your guest would be holding up the conversational burden with you and also funneling things into other people's work. 5. If you change the branding up a bit it could lead to your work being shared more which as I said funnels back to your channel ans vice versa. People like me with relatives that I think could hear your work and at least become more aware of new and interesting perspectives before I even explained atheism would make the overall spectrum of your content more palatable. As it stands this channel is a philosophical tour de force. It would likely only attract argumentative theists and atheists who already are motivated towards your claims however. While I'm sure you've managed to actually teach many Christians the irony is by being palatable via a podcast you open up your doors to more than just Christians who may or may not be doubting. You would be providing insulation to various people who just aren't religious who have the potential of being prayed upon by the religion and that brings me to my last and most important point. 6. Up until now you're strategy of defense is the best offense has been phenomenal. Your logic has been great and your takedowns have also been great. But since you know psychology you know that logic is one of the worst persuading tools. (Trust me I'm a logician myself) Logic almost always takes a backseat to rhetoric especially when people are trained that way by their religion. I digress what this new podcast could allow you to do is allow people to simply ingratiate in your presence without necessarily feeling like their beliefs are threatened. This has many benefits but for mainly it means that when they inevitably funnel down to Mindshift they'll be significantly more receptive to your logic. That's mainly all I wanted to say. You do amazing philosophy!
Thanks for another Tuesday takedown, these videos are definitely my favourites :3 It always amazes me that Christians don't only see the persecution everywhere, but also are so unhappy with it. First, their own Bible teaches them that they're blessed when they're persecuted (as you mentioned in the video). Second, they have such a great opportunity to prove that they've been transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit showing love towards their persecutors, but they miss this opportunity and blame them instead! I remember the day when I was reading a book and there was a story told by the Dalai Lama about Chinese invasion of Tibet. I was astonished when the Dalai Lama said that he felt compassion for Chinese invaders. He said sth like: "They did much harm to the people from my country, but we still should try to feel compassion for them cause they actually did harm to themselves too". Such a perspective was mind-blowing for me. I've never heard anything like this from a Christian. So much for loving your enemies. As for the podcast, I think it's a great idea! It'd be nice to discuss other topics apart from Christianity. I also hope that the Dissecting the Divine series will also come back soon.
I am not sure if I have the credentials to be on the podcast, but our conversation on Deep Drinks Podcast was one of my most enjoyable in recent memory. If you ever want me on, just let me know! 🖐🤭
I really like your podcast. To me it seems like conversations over a beer or other EtOH libation are more productive than debates when it comes to engaging with people who have perspectives than differ from yours. It seems people are more relaxed and open. Was going to suggest this to Brandon but since you are here……
A lot of things happen to people that can be misinterpreted as personal, both positive and negative. This misinterpretation can support a belief in persecution.
It’s always best to have a back up in place for TH-camrs in case they shut down your channel if Christian Trolls start sending false reports on your videos. You can do like some have done and video the podcast and then post to TH-cam afterward. And there’s a way go live on both simultaneously, I just don’t know how. 👍🏻
Do you think he will be shut down? I honestly doubt that considering all the comments I make about my beliefs in God being deleted at will. It happens to me all the time especially when I talk about how dangerous sin is and how detrimental it is to Society at large.
@@christophergibson7155 I feel saddened that so many former Christians now Atheists are giving such a bigger platform that reaches around the world to malign and explain away God because they walked away from God. Instead of walking away from God they go on further and try to explain away God for countless others instead of just realizing they are one lone Soul who only had one voice and walked away from God THEMSELVES! But because of Social Media they get to project themselves upon others and try to convince others that God does not exist and don’t even know the eternal danger they bring to themselves . I believe in God and believe God to be very real but these days were prophesied in the Bible to occur and so they are occurring and just point to the times we are living in.
@@davidrexford586 That doesn't mean you're being targeted for being religious. My comments that have nothing to do with religion get deleted constantly. TH-cam is just jank.
It's interesting how in American society over the last thirty years every group or individual wants to play the victim card. Even those who have enjoyed privileged status for a long time.
The series are a good foundation. New people can always go back and listen to them but, it is natural as you and the channel grow and mature in you knowledge about the history of religions in the near east and even remote parts of the world you would want to explore philosophy, geology, anthropology and psychology. Religions are intertwined with every aspect of human history and the development of cultures. Expansion into conversations and education on all of those topics are valuable, interesting and necessary! Keep growing and expanding your topics!! Love it! 💕
The risk of branching out into different topics on a channel like this is if viewers don't watch all of them, then youtube will stop recommending your channel to people who otherwise would have been interested in the Christian content. If you're going to do a general debate anything goes type thing, then I recommend making a sister channel purely for that type of content. EDIT: If you do make a new channel, you could call it "Mindshifter" lol
I think the world needs to hear you so I am excited that you are branching out into other platforms and areas! I am happy you’re keeping the TH-cam as I find it easier to access for myself anyway. As far as the name, if you went with something like you said, “Keep Thinking,” it’s more descriptive and withdraw a larger crowd, perhaps. Charge on! 🥰
1.) I love the idea to move your videos to audio. In the brief 3 years in a church I was annoyed that my church avoided angels and demons and the nephelim so I ended up finding the late Dr. Michael Heiser who I really admire! It was his website I would binge his audios ♡ 2.) Yes, I would like it if you were to venture out from specific Christianity BECAUSE the idea is tugging at you and it's your passion that drives this channel (IMO). Best wishes in your home life and TH-cam life.
Hey this is Anna who did the interview with Tim from Harmonic Aithiest!... I love the idea of a podcast and you expanding your channel more! I would listen to every episode! Personally I think you should keep it on mind shift because the entire process and experience is a mind shift and as your channel expands into different realms that would perfectly encapsulate the mind shift journey.
• Everyone of us is responsible for writing his own book, a personal philosophy, that is kept within us and that's where it should remain. • Any religion or personal philosophy that intentionally, and outwardly, sets itself up above all others is dangerous.
I feel like a "yes man" here, but I like your idea just the way you phrased it. I would enjoy having a podcast from you that explores those other topics that you're interested in, and I feel that naming it the Keep Thinking podcast keeps it close enough to your branding that we know it's you, but we will anticipate slightly different content. I'd listen to it!
That's why I don't follow any groups or any tribe and stay the hell away from cliques or political groups etc.. I'm very picky on who I let in my Life.
To answer your questions: 1. I don't listen to podcasts, but I watch/listen to TH-cam. 2. Curious on other directions? sure. 3. how do you find time for all of this? You must be stretched out with all you do (or only sleep one hour a night!).
thanks for the feedback! and i do like to think i am a master of my time. Hoping that a 2 hour convo twice a month wont be the straw that breaks the camels back. Thank you!
One or the things I never liked about The Christian Faith is how much it amd The Bible stresses Christian Persecution, Suffering, and even Martyrdom. In fact when ever my Church would spotlight Christian Suffering by spotlighting Personal Histories of Christian Converts or Missionaries who were being Persecuted and even violently martyred in other countries It was meant to be inspiring But it always made me angry and depressed and it would stress me out about the possibility of going thru it myself.
Any podcast you plan to do I am sure will be fascinating. You are great at this and you know your stuff but are humble at the same time. Personally I would live a podcast to listen to while out and about
I don't hate Christians. In fact I live just fine among them and have for 58 years. I don't even hate theology in general. I DO hate how many people are indoctrinated into a belief, to the point that my not being of their religion is a problem for them. An ideology that says you're either with us, or against us. Not all Christians feel that way, so I don't want to overgeneralize, but in order to `not` feel that way, they have to twist into contortions to make sense of it. How does that go again? "Love the sinner, not the sin?" We see how that works in practice.
I love your idea of diversifying! I'm not sure if this was the direction you were thinking in, but I know a lot of deconstructed christians and exchristians still retain the dehumanization and fear of other religious practices/still believe the ethnocentrism of american christianity. Interviewing people from those demonized backgrounds and people groups would go a long way towards humaizing them for those open to listening.
I wholeheartedly agree with expanding your content. You have already made many significant points about the veracity of the bible. I look forward to your future videos about other subjects.
I said something like this to you several months back when your channel was first starting, but I'm really impressed with how smooth and natural your delivery is. Out of curiosity, and I understand if you don't want to share, but how much of your talk do you have scripted out, or do you just do the whole thing off the cuff? It's just unusual to see someone who is this informative and simultaneously delivers the information so naturally. So glad to see your channel still growing!
So kind. Thank you! I dont script anything ever. For Tuesdays, I turn the camera on and talk, but thats not to say i dont have to edit out a lot. For Thursday and Sunday i gather notes and research and make myself an outline. I wish i could script but its just too time consuming
There's nothing wrong with a bit of re-branding and stretching out into other things. Most youtubers end up doing something similar for the same reasons. There's no reason to lock yourself in a box. I like the sound of the Keep thinking Podcast. I think it fits the whole theme that you have built for yourself up to this point.
Anyone who claims to know anything for sure really puts a target on their back, especially when they "shout it from the rooftops" We are all going somewhere (or nowhere) together, at least I think, but of course, I cannot be sure
Christians really need to stop talking about "culture" and "the culture", and learn to just say "people" or "society" - or better yet, be _more_ specific and say "American secular society". Culture is an abstract concept, and reifying it to the point that you're essentially claiming a whole society of people shares the same motives is wildly batshit. _And guess what? Christians have their own culture too._ So claiming that there's this supposed ideological monolith, but only ever identifying it in the most generic, non-specific, and non-concrete of terms is some absolute cult nonsense.
I love your thorough and balanced approach to this topic. Regarding your podcast, I think it would be great to interview other atheist TH-camrs like Seth Andrews, AronRa, Paulogia, or Alex O'Connor. Branching out, maybe interview Ryan Holiday to discuss stoicism. If you wanted to venture into politics, I think Brian Tyler Cohen would be an excellent guest. There are really so many topics that you could cover and I look forward to your podcast.
Sorry I partially disagree. Only because there is a large amount of hate towards Christianity, and I honestly just think well this is just the effect of centuries of hate from Christianity, the religion is getting what it had had coming to it from society, you just happen to be in it, don’t take it personally unless you have done bad things. The truth is, most of the world doesn’t wanna deal with it or hear about it anymore, and doesn’t care to be “fair”.
I don't hate Christians or any other religious people but as soon as you force your beliefs onto me and persecute me for not having those same beliefs, then I have a problem. "Thou shall keep thy religion to thyself." - George Carlin
I love your videos for how good you are at formulating sentences. I feel like every sentences is well thought through and hitting the nail on it's head. I also love how well your videos are structured and the fact that you so often stick close to the bible to "defeat itself". In a live setting this isn't possible in the same manner. I generally prefer scripted content over non-scripred. Especially podcasts I find boring to be honest. Similar opinions can be found under Alex O'Connor's latest community post. I also wouldn't be nearly as interested in anything not relating Christianity, that's what I am here for, and I think that's fair. Of course all of this is just my opinion, but that's the point. But as long as there isn't a reduction in the frequency and quality of the other videos, I don't care.
Not a Christian, but I have noticed some groups who seem to dislike or despise religious people in general. Plus it’s not as if the New Atheists didn’t act like a bunch of intolerant jerks. I remember watching videos of people just relentlessly tearing into religious folks, even if it was just a regular discussion. That being said I’m well aware of the religious people who act just as intolerant and hateful. I think most people are terrible and need to do better at being charitable to people they disagree with.
You’re welcome, @@MindShift-Brandon! You’re a bad (meaning good) dude, brother. Your precise, near surgical take downs and commentary, coming from a place of actual knowledge and years of experience,make your presentations very difficult for believers to push back in kind. I hope whatever you decide to do reachers a broader audience. I’m starting to become more physically involved as well. I feel like, for me, being silent is irresponsible with a soft edge of complicity. If everything goes to hell, I need to know that I did something, no matter how small, to ensure that it did not. Voting is not enough. Be safe out there, brother. And keep the internet thinking.
Most atheists that care about it enough to be outspoken come from a religious background. And that usually means that they have family and friends that are still in it. I don't hate Christians. I still love my Christian mom and sisters and I wasn't a bad person when I was one either. I was wrong, but I wasn't evil.
I hear that many walk away but were never born again of the Spirit because unless you are Born Again you cannot see the Kingdom of God John3v3. Does it matter? Absolutely unless you just wanted to know but thought maybe God wouldn’t mind if you didn’t approach him the way God desires those to approach him? We must worship God in the Spirit and Truth John 4v24. How else can you know God but by worship and the truth? We go to God by Faith and we are all given it as a tool to understand God with and it’s giving to us Romans12v3. So we go or we don’t and none can take anyone to the Cross and beyond the veil which was torn so that all may enter and the Priests have all drawn back So we go beyond the veil and what will we find ? Go and find out for yourself
@@davidrexford586 Thanks, but I already spent 40 years going and finding out for myself and it's all man made stories and control mechanisms that make about as much sense as your comment.
@@misterdoctor9693 All humans are sinners at birth, we inherit a sinful nature from Adam. That's not dehumanizing, that accepting the truth. Unbelievers hate the truth because they would have to admit they are a sinner in need of God's Grace and Mercy. Read your bible the answers are in there; one just needs to want to know the truth (Jesus Christ). Unbelief is the only reason souls go to hell. Rejection of the truth (Jesus Christ). Unbelief is the opposite of faith. Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
@@paulgemme6056 I already admitted to being a sinner when I spent almost my whole life as a Christian. That was actually far easier than accepting my mortality and that I was believing in a bunch of fairy tales. Humanity is not 6,000 years old. The bible is not in harmony with science and the opposite of faith is critical thinking. Christians think God gave me the ability to think and is going to send me to hell for using it. That is not a god I would have any respect for.
I think if you went away from religion or similar skeptic topics I would lose interest. There are many psychology podcasts hosted by experts in psychology for example. I wouldn't stop following, but I would probably pick ans choose. This happened wirh Sam harris and several others when they strayed too far from the original subject matter. On that though, and using the same example, I would love to see videos or podcasts of psychology but still focused on religion.
Appreciate your insights as usual. I've also sent several people to your channel that have started their deconstruction journey after getting going on their decentering men journey (turns out when you worship a male deity, it instills a lot of patriarchal conditioning at the same time so there's a big overlap there). As far as the podcast, personally I think you should still use the MindShift name because it sounds like you are still seeking to explore ideologies and use logic, reasoning and data along with discussion to dig into those topics. You might have like a sub heading - MindShift: Examining Beliefs (but better and more specific to your idea) to differentiate it from the YT channel, but personally I think you should keep the sort of brand name and make the podcast a subsection of it vs a whole other thing. Just an opinion, though.
Honestly, mainstream culture in a lot of Western countries is INCREDIBLY generous to Christianity, even those parts of it that are self-isolating, extremist cults that constantly shout and make noise, try to influence politics and constantly spout values that are antithetical to said mainstream ones. Their hate got grandfathered in and manages to evade a LOT of scrutiny that other groups would never get away from. Muslims in the West are already expected to be model citizens if they don't want to get all sorts of accusations and calls for their human rights to be taken away and everyone just accepts that.
I think you could do a slightly different name for the broader-topicked podcasts like, IDK MindExpansion or something still connected to Mindshift. I love the idea of the regular discussions (preferably still with video rather than audio alone) on broader topics. I would definitely be interested in listening to the broader set of topics as well as the current Mindshift content. I think they are all related and connected. I'm honestly torn between whether I think you should have a separate channel for this or not.
Unfortunately this man isn't aware of his passive condemnation, when he claims his love for christ. Cause let's face it, Christ's love is "Yaweh or the highway." Judging from his complaining he's part of the very culture he condemns. The very culture that condemns him right back.
I think you should take 10 or 20 of your highest streaming TH-cam episodes, and convert them to podcasts. See how it goes. If those transfers prove successful, maybe do a few exclusive podcast episodes to test the waters. I love the channel here on TH-cam, but listening at work or driving, in the podcast medium, would be awesome.
Let's be brutally honest here. Hatred happens. I would actually argue that it's not even necessarily a bad thing in all contexts. Should you hate the person who murdered your child? I would say absolutely, unequivocally yes. I think the differentiator is whether its justified and fair. But that's a significantly longer conversation. I will say that whenever people say something along the lines of #stopthehate or #nohatehere what they actually mean is #hatethesamethingsIdo. And literally everyone does this. Liberals. Conservatives. Christians. Atheists. We all do.
Reality hates Christianity. Just imagine the cognitive dissonance experience by a Christian student when he/she attends science classes. Statements made by his/her pastor are often at odds with what is written in the textbooks and taught in class.
Hiya Brandon, I don't mind your idea, I think, though I'd have to see how you do it, perhaps.. Want to call it "Further Shifts" or something? Just not "paradigm shifts" please , those are really old marketing I've heard way too often.. Good luck!
Love the podcast idea! Many podcasts simply have the name of the host. People know who it is and that it's somehow different from other channels. Would be great if it's easy to distinguish audio only episodes from audio versions of YT Videos. Maybe numbers for full episodes and just the titles for YT audio.
But the problem with the Canaanite genocide is not that God did it (which would be problematic in itself) but that God commanded others to do it for him. Remember the verse that Christians like to quote: To obey is better than sacrifice? How many people who quote that verse are aware of its context? We are now told that blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy, but when King Saul showed mercy towards a people that God, speaking through the prophet Samuel, allegedly told him to destroy his throne was taken away from him and given to David. And Samuel said to Saul, "to obey is better than sacrifice." I have often asked Christians who like to cite this verse and who defend Biblical genocide "because" these were wicked people, if God told YOU to kill ME because there was something about me that was so awful that death is the only answer I get a lot of uncomfortable hemming and hawing. Mainly "that is Old Testament and God doesn't do that anymore." Really? Are you sure? And if he did command you to do this, what would be your reaction? Would you obey, like Abraham did with Isaac? Some years ago there was a Uber driver in Kalamazoo, Michigan who went on a shooting spree that killed several people and wounded others. His defense was that he was told to do this by an entity that took over his cell phone. Now you can laugh at that idea all you want, you can say that it was not God that told him to do it (and he himself said that it was Satan), BUT, HE DID NOT QUESTION what he was being prompted to do, regardless of who or what told him to go around shooting people. HE DID NOT ARGUE with this invisible voice in his head. HE OBEYED! He took his gun out and started shooting randomly at people as he drove around the city between passengers. He killed a father and son who were looking at cars in a car lot. He killed a woman and severely injured another at a restaurant parking lot. Why did the voice in his head tell him to do this? He never said. He just blindly did what he thought he was being told to do. The voice said "Shoot this person" and he shot. Well, don't worry, he won't be driving for Uber anymore and he's in a place where I doubt he's going to have access to firearms so he won't be able to carry out any more commands of that nature. But it is this aspect of the case that I find the most frightening, that someone would be willing at the drop of a hat (or an app on his phone) to go around taking the lives of people he didn't even know, had never met or spoken to and not have that little lightbulb go off in his head that this is WRONG, WRONG, WRONG. Now the news articles did not make mention of his religion but I think it is fairly safe to say this man was not an atheist or even an agnostic. He had some kind of belief system in invisible supernatural entities (good or evil) who must be obeyed no matter what. Where did he get that idea from? And how many others are out there who are like him?
I think you are confusing being religious with being schizophrenic. Schizophrenics often include religious elements in their delusions, but its their mental illness that is the issue, not their religion. There are plenty of atheistic schizophrenics whose delusions involve mind-control lasers, CIA gangstalking, and aliens. Schizophrenics just grab random things in their environment and incorporate them into their delusional complex. If they don't have religion to draw on, they draw on science fiction, or whatever is handy.
Happy Tuesday! Glad to be here and hope you enjoy today's video.
Be nice if you commented on the LDS $200+Billion hedgefund antics and SEC fines and the prosperity cult...one helluva rabbit hole though!
Another good one brandon. My comment lost your like because I edited some spelling errors lol. Not that I care just thought you should know.
I appreciate the depth and nuance you brought to this topic. I really hope some of these content creators you respond to actually listen and reflect on what you said.
Also, your tangents are always pertinent and on point!
And I love your podcast idea!!
@@carlasmith9093 Thank you for always being so encouraging, Carla!
The "love" sign has some dark origins we are not allowed to talk about.
Even as a Christian I thought the Christian persecution complex among North American Christians was ridiculous. I actually felt guilty about how easy my life was compared to what the Bible was telling me it should be.
that’s the whole point! christians will tell you you’re doing something wrong if you’re not persecuted, which will make you feel guilty, and so most christians will pretend they are persecuted to avoid that guilt
I would suggest that many of them actually do recognize the stark discrepancy between their privileged lives and the persecution the Bible promises. I think that fact makes them uncomfortable and insecure with their own salvation, so they work extra hard at identifying "persecution" to alleviate that cognitive dissonance.
@move_i_got_this5659 ummm, what do you mean and how do you know that?
@carlasmith9093 It's probably related to the psychic powers they get from the Holy Spirit.
@@TonyLambregts presumably lol
If you define yourself exclusively through your faith, then I guess every disagreement is indeed a personal attack. In which case all I can say is, too bad - I still disagree.
perfect.
Right. Ideas have to be open for critique. It's their responsibility to manage their feelings if they've entangled their identity with a specific set of beliefs. But that doesn't mean society isn't allowed to properly analyze the ideas within that belief system.
Especially if you're as anti intellectual and horribly immoral as Christianity is. You can't expect to hide those sins and vulnerabilities from the public forever, especially in the internet age
Couldn't have said it better.
When there are negative social consequences after you treat people around you how they repeatedly ask you not to treat them, that’s not persecution.
“Religious apologists complain bitterly that Atheists and Secularists are aggressive and hostile in their criticism of them.
I always say: look, when you guys were in charge, you didn’t argue with us, you just burnt us at the stake. Now what we’re doing is, we’re presenting you with some arguments and some challenging questions, and you complain.” - A.C. Grayling
love that!
Where was that exactly? What kingdom allowed the church to carry out executive orders of capital punishment upon its citizens?
Any judicial measures were always enforced and implemented by the state, not the church.
@gregsanich5183 there wasn't/isn't always separation of church and state. Ever heard of the Holy Roman Empire? The Spanish Inqisition? Jean Calvin's Geneva? The Salem Witch Trials? Present day United States?
@@gregsanich5183 I think you are splitting hairs somewhat.
Separation of church and state is a modern construct, and by modern I mean a transition starting roughly with the Enlightenment. For most of history church and state are just different sides of a coin. Even today the Vatican has its own guard; popes and European bishops had their own armies through much of church history.
In the 1209 massacre at Beziers, papal legate and abbot Armand Amalric, reportedly said, “Kill them. The Lord will know his own.” when asked about how to distinguish heretic from Catholic. About 300 Cathars (heretics) had intermingled with 20,000 Catholics at Beziers. Almaric was going about the business of eradicating Catharism for Pope Innocent III. The quote is possibly a reference to 2Tim2:19. Amalric was the direct commander of the troops.
The Crusades, the Inquisition, Conquest of the New World and other grim events had church and state helping each other gain wealth and power or influence.
@@carlasmith9093 those are all examples of a secular executive authority. Whether or not they reflect or align with the will of the church, the power of those executive actions ultimately rests with the state, not the church.
A better example that would have been applicable would be our old friend Henry viii, who broke this cardinal rule and created the church of England. Which is a perfect example that demonstrates exactly why distinct separation of church. & state was critical to the autonomy & sovereignty of the church.
When someone says "Jesus is lord". That's their belief and I even grant that it is their personal truth. But it's not my truth and definitely not an undisputed truth.
Calling that "personal truth" is an abuse of the word "truth".
Also,Which Jesus? They can't even agree on doctrines
@@theunclejesusshow8260 Not agreeing on doctrines does not mean most christians don't believe in the trinity. Like that's one of the central doctrines common to the big denominations.
I just say he never existed so I don't care
@@Eric-cj8sb you literally have to do 10 seconds on google to find that what you just said is false.
The people who have the most cultural privileges in the world claim the culture hates them. Can't make this stuff up.
Well, maybe the Culture does hate them. But they don't seem to operate in our galaxy, so i don't know why that would matter.
"Can't make this stuff up" --- Indeed.
"some of the Party members sometimes interfere with our all-out deployment of anti-religious propaganda. If such members of the Party are expelled, then it is very good, because such members have no place in the ranks of our Party" (Joseph Stalin 1927)
Soviet Union deaths --- 61,911,000
Nazis genocide--- 20,946,000
Imperial Japan deaths --- 50,000,000
Maoist China deaths - 80,000,000
Nigerian Christians killed since 2000 - 62,000
Current Abortions per day --- 200,000
etc & etc...
Amazing how the powerful whine about being powerless.
That first blurb is so telling. He says those things about his religion, but doesn't want pushback...and almost IMMEDIATELY goes to pushing back on the ideas of others. They simply will not see the utter derangement of my way is the highway, dont tell me it isn't, and by the way, your religion or lack thereof is totally wrong. It boggles the mind.
YUP!
Yeah. It's just because you are wrong and we are going to tell you you are wrong.
It was really just "how dare they call me out on my behaviour!"
It's a pituitary reaction. People with little to no exposure to different ideologies mentally react the same way one would if they spotted a wild animal.
I remember having a similar response when learning about things like solipsism as a kid.
Maybe I was fortunate to have exposure at a younger age then most. With some older folks It's like they've had none at all.
@@tnghunter "a pituitary reaction" ---
"observation really is mistaken for explanation. It has the fatal quality of leaving on many minds the impression that they do understand it and everything else” (G.K. Chesterton “The Everlasting Man” 1925)
Ultimately, it is about reciprocity. Are you demanding respect from others, that you are unwilling to return? Are you holding others to standards of behavior that you feel exempt from? Particularly, do you hold that criticism of your beliefs and opinions must be censured, while the beliefs of your fellowman have no special protection? Denial of the need for reciprocity is part of what we mean by the word “bigot.” If the shoe fits, wear it.
well put!
You don’t make any sense since Christians put themselves and others to the same laws.
@@MindShift-Brandon If a man says he has never done wrong/sinned he is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
Atheists are haters of the truth (Jesus Christ). Why do atheists hate the truth? Because he tells us the truth, that we are sinners in need of God's Grace and Mercy. Pride keeps a lot of people from believing that.
Matthew 10:22
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
As someone who was a devoted Bible toting, church going, God fearing Christian for 25 years and only and atheist for the last 8 or 9 years, I have realized without a doubt that the general public dislikes atheists more than Christians. I was always proud to tell people that I was a Christian, but as an atheist I try to hide it most of the time because most people that I tell about it get judgemental and even aggressive sometimes.
I've seen both sides. It's not unique to religion and non religions.
I think there’s like one congressman who identifies as atheist. Just saw him in a video a few days ago or would’ve said none. Yet the nones (people who don’t claim a religion) is the highest growing “religious”affiliation. I personally would rather have atheists who logically form morals on their own, than all these religious creeps who claim without religion they’d be murderers and rapists. Especially since their god gives them a “get out of hell free” card or more, as long as they say they’re sorry and keep pushing the “good news”.
@TESTCHANNEL-qg8qn Yes. I live in the USA and so I am talking about my experiences in the USA only.
@TESTCHANNEL-qg8qn What do you mean with your last statement? What is "Brandon's paradigm" in this context? The video is a response to American Christians who are talking about America & American "culture." Brandon does not pretend that it's the same literally everywhere. He's acknowledged that in a few countries it's fair to even say Christians are actually persecuted...but that's not the countries these Christians are discussing.
The experiences of atheists & Christians in America are totally relevant (and do not automatically imply that they are universal). The comment is a response to the mention of atheists at 2:45...during which Brandon explicitly states he does not adopt 'the same logic (or "paradigm") but reversed for atheism,' only that the arguments *could* be made, and *could* be made even better.
Same. I was told my whole life that the world was ruled by atheists, and that "the world" hated Christians. Then I became an atheist, and I was like, "Oh... Most people are Christians, actually. Even the less religious folk have biases against atheists. So reality is the exact opposite of what I was taught, then?" The persecution complex is so strong, these people can't tell how good they've got it. In America, Christianity is the default. They hold all the political power, and yet they act like they are the underdogs. How are they so deluded?
Growing up as an Evangelical Christian I got the whole "We are persecuted by the world" thing a lot. But I never saw any evidence of that in my whole life. Preachers would often say, "The world hates us because we love Christ." But as I became older, I came to realize that when people " hate" Christians, it's usually because we came across as obnoxious, bigoted jerks. It was one of the many reasons that I eventually became an atheist.
Except it's true, you'd know that if you bothered to look at history. Also it's you anti-theists who are the bigoted jerks, you hate anyone who simply says they're a Christian.
Because if you read your Bible, Jesus even said that we would be persecuted by the world
thought provoking, there is no christian persecution in america, the idea there is seems laughable.
They aren't in most places, but they don't talk about when they do the persecution, where Christianity is majority it can persecute other religions, I'm Brazilian and we have African diasporic religions and some Christians destroy their congregations places and offers, sometimes beat the people and say they have demons, in places where Christianity is the minority it is sometimes persecuted, it's more about power than anything else.
As a former catholic I would be thrilled if you would continue secular Bible study beyond the Protestant canon into the deuterocanonical books and maybe even into the non canonical realm
I would really appreciate that also.
I agree! He should cover the Orthodox and Catholic books not in the Protestant Canon. One of my favorites is 4 Maccabees, which is only in the Orthodox Church.
Except, perhaps, for a superficial overview, I don't think this would be time well spent. In my mind, the best thing about Mindshift's textual analyses is he presents what is written and then his experience of how it's interpreted and the implications to lived life. He would have to research the varied interpretations and implications and it would simply be an academic exercise. Maybe that interests Mindshift, but presenting material outside of his experience would be a very different channel.
I think ANY treatment of non-canonical writings of the biblical eras would be fascinating-especially as those writings relate to how the Bible came to be, and why certain non-canonical writings were excluded. As well, the apocrypha would be very interesting for many protestants as well. To me, it all fits under the banner of "It's all manmade."
@Febr7 Brandon is an avid reader, and he does his research well. I will not hold it against him if he decides not to do it, but if he does decide to do it, I would welcome his insights.
I don’t think calling someone a bigot or ignorant is dehumanizing. I’ll advocate for everyone’s free speech rights even if I disagree, and I certainly wouldn’t take away rights to life or liberty for bigots. But I hear theists say that everyone else is denying god in our unrighteousness because we want to sin and that this world doesn’t matter because eternity is all that’s important and materialists think human life has no value and that god will sort us out in the afterlife so it doesn’t matter how we get there…. THAT’S dehumanizing
Agreed!
You're a bigot and willfully ignorant and you need to get over yourself. Also those Christians were right as far as I'm concerned. Also look up the definition of dehumanize (what your kind does).
Well congrats, you know your terms and services provided by the Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
What’s your excuse now?
@@justice8718why would I need an ‘excuse’
if god exists and is truly loving, he’d understand my unbelief is from a place of skepticism and honesty
@@Davie-jx4rh Did your mankind predict the future?
To me, my big issue is that basically: If someone tells me they are a cultist: They are telling me that they endorse evil, immoral child graping deaf cultists.
As: *Most* of the time, they deny that. BUT: Then make excuses for a pastor that "made a mistake" or similar. Most of them are just massive hypocrites that demands you look the other way when *they* do bad things.
"Jeffrey Dahmer would go to heaven if he repented on his death bed. But you, a good person who tries to not harm others and help as much as possible, are going to hell because you didn't believe in MY deity as the one true deity. Not because we have any evidence of that but because we said so."
@@suicune2001 Not to mention: Going by THEIR own book: He did *nothing* wrong. (Assuming the victims weren't chrsitan) People join cults to be evil and immoral. They don't quit them to do so. Since theirs come with a free excuse book.
@@suicune2001 Because christianity has nothing at all to do with morality - despite the arrogant claims, despite all their demands to control everyone else, despite all their wailing about how other people live their lives - in the christian religion one's conduct has precisely nothing to do with one's eternal destiny.
@@suicune2001 Not a single human is good unless his name is Jesus. The wickedness of the obvious doesn’t remove your crimes in the hidden. Without God, who will open his gates of heaven? Cause your hands can’t do it.
@@justice8718 You should read Matthew 15 again. lol. Jesus was far from kind.
Theists: "Believe or suffer."
Us: [In Dr. Evil voice] "How 'bout 'No'!?"
Preyz Gord
Knock Knock!
Me: “Who's there?”
“Jesus!”
Me: “OK, what do you want?”
Jesus: “Let me in.”
Me: “Why?”
Jesus: “So I can save you.”
Me: “Save me from what?”
Jesus: “From what I'm going to do to you if you don't let me in.”
@mirandahotspring4019
Satan: "And they say I'm Evil. I just want worship like my father."
Evil: "Ha ha ha ha... I love the humans thinking Satan is me. Especially YHWH, who inevitably serves me by destroying eternal souls of humanity... ... ... The God Hands will enjoy this world."
Anti-theist bigotry
@@MetaKnight964- Disagreeing with theists is not bigotry.
My Pentecostal minister said Christians love me despite of being gay. I replied I don't give a damn who they love or not.
"We love you but you're still going to hell. Now, please give us money."
@@suicune2001 It's kinda worse than that...
"We love you, but unless you follow our rules you're going to hell, and we don't care if following those rules makes your life miserable so long as you shut up about it and pretend it doesn't make you feel miserable. Not pretending it doesn't make you miserable is also going to send you to hell. Part of pretending it doesn't make you miserable also involves giving us money."
There is a word where you are putting someone down by being kind. I can't remember what it was.
It's like saying: "Well I think you smart and beautiful in your own special way"
@@hamobupatronizing?
@@jonathanyoung8109 I believe it's slightly different than patronizing but maybe I'm wrong.
Recognizing Indoctrination is not Hateful, it's Frustrating ,especially after being in it for 40plus years and escaping 12years ago
From what I can tell, anything you talk about will be very interesting and enlightening. Expand, expand...we'll be there with you.
Thanks so much!
Yup.
I think adding broader topics podcasts is a good idea. Religion doesn't exist in a vacuum so pulling out to give a larger context of what it is to be human, how we think, how are values are chosen and affect us...all necessary elements in religious analysis. I hope you still keep the more focused videos on christianity as well since I see that a large part of your audience benefits from these as they face deconversion. Pretty exciting stuff, Brandon!
Thanks for the great input, Maggie!
I like what you are saying, Maggie.
@@DLB-m3g thanks :)
Agree 100%
I don't hate them. I hate how they look down on me and treat me as less than. I have no problem calling them out on it. But at the end of the day if you are going to treat me that way because i don't believe what you do. Then you are the one hating me and i have a human right to defend myself against that.
But the best point if the video. Thank god that most Christians don't actually follow the bible.
Love your videos, so much to unpack. If my disbelief equils hate, that is a logical phalicy. I don't believe in Santa Claus. So by their standards i must not believe in santa claus because i hate santa claus. I have a lot of cognitive dissonance understanding how you are makeing that kind of connection. How can i, and why would i, hate something I don't even believe exists. Even the practise doesn't always bother me. Back to the Santa Claus thing. I don't believe in santa but i don't hate the practice of Christmas. I like presents too. Now if people still practised the Krampus part of Christmas. I might dislike being beaten by thorns and then shoved into a basket. I would still like the presents side of it. But i would not like the being beaten by switches part of it. But that still wouldn't make me hate Santa claus, just the krampus. Im glad that they took that part of christmas off the books.
Well said friend
I hear that, but again I think it comes down to individuals. Many Christians do exactly as you say, and not liking them is more than justified, but saying something like all secular people hate and dehumanize Christians is just such an insane statement. Again, you didnt say this, just brining in the video.
Not to mention: A LOT of cultists are fake nice. They start off all "bless you!" but if you haven't converted within a few weeks, they instantly turn on you and start being nasty.
I live in the Bible Belt and I've never experienced hate from Christians for being Atheist. I've had some seriously long conversations with them and it never came down to " Well, you are going to Hell" and they storm off. My neighbors are Christians and they know I'm atheist. They don't exclude me from anything and vise-versa.
I'm sure there are 'Those" kinds of people out there... I just haven't run into them here in SC.
@@59master60 Unbelief is the only reason souls go to hell. Rejection of the truth (Jesus Christ). Unbelief is the opposite of faith.
Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
While I don't mind podcasts and would love to listen to you talk with other people, I hope we don't lose hearing your own thoughts in solo videos (even solo podcasts).
I often subscribe to channels because I like the host and can get annoyed if a channel gives so much airtime to other people, that I don't really get to hear the hosts fleshed out thoughts anymore.
I think having a good balance of the two types of content is a great idea and will let us all explore new and exciting content. And who knows. Maybe we will like the new content better!
I would also still love more general philosophy videos if you are still interested in making that content as well.
It's nice of you to ask for our input! Ultimately, you should be happy with the channel you are making no mater what. Keep doing you because you are awesome!
Thanks so much for all these thoughts and the support!
Excited for the podcast!!!
Thanks!
From this side of the Atlantic, it looks as if US culture is extraordinarily tolerant towards Christians. (And Christian's, too.)
Indeed it is
Unfortunately.
Some recent polling has around 70% of the US population identifying as Christian and higher than that in government. If there is legitimate "Christian" persecution, it's among Christians. Denominational persecution might be more accurate term.
Mindshift and Keep Thinking sounds like a great idea.
Thank you!
Yup
Keep thinking podcast I’m all in brother let’s go 👊🏿👊🏿💪🏿
Thank you!
I was that idiot!
Congratulations on the Mindshift!
@@BeccaYoley Well me, I subscribed
@@michaelbell3181 Great!😀
I remember worrying bc I wasn't persecuted, even though as a woman I dressed like a traditional xtian (hair, long dresses, no make up/jewellery). I told people about my faith when they asked, and always refused participating in anything secular, and yet all non-believers acted like I was their favourite person. The fact is, in my heart I secretly abhorred all the bigotry that was taught to me, and treated everyone with love and respect that way I understood god to want me to. A loving, polite and respectful person will be welcomed everywhere, regardless of their quirks and weird beliefs
Christianity is resilient. Jesus said that everyone would hate him and his followers. So they can say the most outrageous, hateful, vile things and when people react to them in the way they deserve, they can both play the victim AND the victor - "see, its just like Jesus said, we're doing it right, we're winning because the world hates us!" When you are IN the belief system it is a completely closed circuit that self-reinforces at every turn.
But in the real world, I mean, I live in Southern CA. Not LA county, but still. And I still have to hear, everywhere I go - "have a blessed day!" and see signs everywhere that say "prayer changes things." They own the culture here.
100%!
"When you are IN the belief system it is a completely closed circuit that self-reinforces at every turn."---
Indeed.
Soviet Union deaths --- 61,911,000
Nazis genocide--- 20,946,000
Maoist China deaths - 80,000,000
Abortions per day --- 200,000
In Malaysia over here, even as Christians here hear the rhetoric stated by Muslim political leaders, many Christians here still adhere to values of unity and solidarity, even including Muslims who criticize their religious leaders.
Ironically I heard more antilgbt preaching than I did against Islam in Malaysia.
As for a rhetoric Christians use, being able to predict what people will say about your religion doesn't make you right.
That Christian's projection by claiming he is being dehumanized, while believing in a system of separating believers and non believers is so ironic.
I really have to ask who is being dehumanized, when one believes all go to the same fate, while the other believes in deserving eternal torment.
Like shit man imagine Putin claiming Russophobia because the world doesn't like what he's doing to Ukraine. Oh, wait...
One thing I noticed when talking to xtians, they don't know what "dehumanizing" means.
Dehumanizing is the term a sinner uses when knowing that a true born again Christian has told them they have broken God's moral law, the 10 commandments like everyone else, and are under the condemnation and wrath of Almighty God. (John 3:18 & John 3:36) That is why everyone desperately needs the Savior Jesus Christ to save and rescue them from all their sin.
@@christophergibson7155 dehumanizing (oxford) - depriving a person or group of a positive human qualities
@@I-am-bruno And the gospel brings the "good news" that the lost and blind sinner so needs to hear to be saved and rescued from their helpless and hopeless condition of sin. So, Jesus brings true "humanization"
back to the a person' s life.
@@christophergibson7155 I don't need your "humanization." I don't believe in your "saving". Keep your jsus to yourself. No preaching. Let me be.
@@I-am-bruno If you don't appreciate my comments, then you can just move on to the next one. And if I desire to be blessed of The Lord, I do not take your counsel. (Psalm 1:1) Jesus is your only hope of salvation.
1) For sure I will come along! 😀
2) a) yep, l like the idea
b) yes, I would be interested in additional / other directions as well
c) I don't think there would be a problem with using your developed presence as
MindShift to simply evolve further and branch out to more topical width. But for I
know nothing about youtube I think there is a technical-tactical component that
might be important for answering this question properly
Thanks so much!
Projection is so annoying
I'd add that there's 2 types of ignorant people. The first doesn't know something (or a lot of things, depending on the exact situation).
The second ignores knowledge. They're told that the road is one-way, that evolution doesn't mean one animal giving birth to a new species, that the universe is very old, that the Bible instructs people on how to own slaves or get away with particular violence against women. You show them. And they refuse to acknowledge it. They ignore it.
I have little problem with the first category and they're often a lot of fun when you get to share something cool, like bringing them into your hobbies or favourite music.
The second group cause problems. One of them nearly ran me off the road today because he ignored my car was in the lane and he felt entitled to push in, even to the point of causing an accident. Others embrace conspiracies of all sorts, preferring the feeling of being special over accepting facts, like Flerfers.
Yup. A constant of Zen Koans is that someone can't learn anything if they think they already know everything.
@@TheMahayanist they also can’t learn if they think they know enough. “Yeah, I don’t know biology but who cares? Evolution is still stupid and wrong” They can be aware that they don’t know something but refuse to learn anything.
Like William Lane Craig and his lying about cosmology. He was in a debate with an actual cosmologist telling him he’s wrong on cosmology but Craig persists in saying the same lies years later. So much for Craig and Reasonable Faith!
"the Bible instructs people on..." ---
As a youth, I happened upon my older sister's medical textbook one day. The volume was opened, much to my horror and dismay, to a full-color plate depicting a facial avulsion. I began flipping through the book questioning within myself what on earth it was that my sister had been reading all this time. Later of course, I came to learn the purpose of that text, and my sister's noble aspirations in studying it so assiduously. I had, of course, confused description with prescription.
Atleast with the first one I can sit down and explain it to them.
It's the second ones who are willfully ignorant that really anger me because you have been given the knowledge and you chose to ignore it
@@andrewferg8737 Leviticus 25:44-46 is a prescription. And so is the one where the man who violates a woman must marry her for life.
The Bible is more horrific than any medical text.
You do you, we'll be here. We aren't going to bail on you over some changes.
Thanks so much!
@@MindShift-Brandon Thank you. You put a lot of work in for everyone.
Given the judgemental aspect of Christianity, it wouldn't surprise me if some people were openly hostile to Christians. As an atheist, I have no logical reason to condemn people, via divine law quotes. I have no evidence-backed reason to believe in heaven, or in hell. Nobody of any faith is going to be judged guilty, because nobody can be judged guilty.
Nihilism is not the cool, edgy and rational stance you think it is.
That’s not what nihilism is mate.
@@margotpreston *_nihilism:_* the rejection of all religious and moral principles, in the belief that life is meaningless.
Clem has left absolutely no room for any moral principles, only moral opinions. If nobody can be judged guilty, then all that is left is tyranny. Put a murderer in jail? Tyranny, because you are not upholding justice, you are simply imposing your (entirely baseless) opinion that murder is wrong on someone who believes that murder is right.
That is incorrect. Jesus spoke much about judgment. Righteous judgment. (John 7:24) Also He said, "For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth-those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation." (John 5:26-29) "He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him- the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day." (John 12:48) It is clear...judgment is based in the truth of the Word of God.
Absolutely great philosophy as always Brandon. I've been thinking that your presence and brand would suit a podcast format for awhile now. In regards to you changing your podcast name I think that's a good idea for a few reasons.
1. If you're aiming for flexibility then continuing the mindshift brand might not allow that much as your branding here conveys something a bit more specific. A new brand for your podcast even if it only slightly diverges still opens you yp for the potentiality of diversification.
2. In mindshift for the most part the format is typically you conversing. A podcast format especially if you'll have guests or something of thag nature frequently could be confusing for someone who likes your current format of just hearing you mostly.
3. Your interests (psychology, philosophy, etc.) are great in that they're broad and narrow enough to go in any direction. Meaning you can discuss a new subject in philosophy thay interests you and it have nothing to do with what the mindshift brand has going on thus leading to diversification.
4. This podcast approach may work better as a dual funnel strategy thus expanding both. Whereas having the podcast merely be an extension of the channel more or less just gives it the same punching power of the channel. If you were to slightly rebrand the podcast you'd have a lot more potential to acceleratw both ventures. For one you'd be going into this new podcast with a bit more of a fanbase than many podcasters start with which is a great boon. But also it allows you to sort of take up more real estate in a sense. And with more real estate means more opportunity in every direction. This also means the load on you to have to create in depth quality content would also be lessened as your guest would be holding up the conversational burden with you and also funneling things into other people's work.
5. If you change the branding up a bit it could lead to your work being shared more which as I said funnels back to your channel ans vice versa. People like me with relatives that I think could hear your work and at least become more aware of new and interesting perspectives before I even explained atheism would make the overall spectrum of your content more palatable. As it stands this channel is a philosophical tour de force. It would likely only attract argumentative theists and atheists who already are motivated towards your claims however. While I'm sure you've managed to actually teach many Christians the irony is by being palatable via a podcast you open up your doors to more than just Christians who may or may not be doubting. You would be providing insulation to various people who just aren't religious who have the potential of being prayed upon by the religion and that brings me to my last and most important point.
6. Up until now you're strategy of defense is the best offense has been phenomenal. Your logic has been great and your takedowns have also been great. But since you know psychology you know that logic is one of the worst persuading tools. (Trust me I'm a logician myself) Logic almost always takes a backseat to rhetoric especially when people are trained that way by their religion. I digress what this new podcast could allow you to do is allow people to simply ingratiate in your presence without necessarily feeling like their beliefs are threatened. This has many benefits but for mainly it means that when they inevitably funnel down to Mindshift they'll be significantly more receptive to your logic.
That's mainly all I wanted to say. You do amazing philosophy!
Amazing feedback. Thanks for so much to think on!
Thanks for another Tuesday takedown, these videos are definitely my favourites :3 It always amazes me that Christians don't only see the persecution everywhere, but also are so unhappy with it. First, their own Bible teaches them that they're blessed when they're persecuted (as you mentioned in the video). Second, they have such a great opportunity to prove that they've been transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit showing love towards their persecutors, but they miss this opportunity and blame them instead! I remember the day when I was reading a book and there was a story told by the Dalai Lama about Chinese invasion of Tibet. I was astonished when the Dalai Lama said that he felt compassion for Chinese invaders. He said sth like: "They did much harm to the people from my country, but we still should try to feel compassion for them cause they actually did harm to themselves too". Such a perspective was mind-blowing for me. I've never heard anything like this from a Christian. So much for loving your enemies.
As for the podcast, I think it's a great idea! It'd be nice to discuss other topics apart from Christianity. I also hope that the Dissecting the Divine series will also come back soon.
Thank you for these thoughts and feedback!
@dmitrykup8867 in line with budhhist teachings
I am not sure if I have the credentials to be on the podcast, but our conversation on Deep Drinks Podcast was one of my most enjoyable in recent memory. If you ever want me on, just let me know! 🖐🤭
I really like your podcast. To me it seems like conversations over a beer or other EtOH libation are more productive than debates when it comes to engaging with people who have perspectives than differ from yours. It seems people are more relaxed and open. Was going to suggest this to Brandon but since you are here……
@@dantallman5345 Thankyou :)
Loved our talk. Geeked for more!
Certainly keep the same branding. It makes sense to you to change it, but that’s only because you’re so close to it
A lot of things happen to people that can be misinterpreted as personal, both positive and negative. This misinterpretation can support a belief in persecution.
It’s always best to have a back up in place for TH-camrs in case they shut down your channel if Christian Trolls start sending false reports on your videos. You can do like some have done and video the podcast and then post to TH-cam afterward. And there’s a way go live on both simultaneously, I just don’t know how. 👍🏻
Do you think he will be shut down? I honestly doubt that considering all the comments I make about my beliefs in God being deleted at will.
It happens to me all the time especially when I talk about how dangerous sin is and how detrimental it is to Society at large.
@@davidrexford586 That's a very good point David.
@@christophergibson7155 I feel saddened that so many former Christians now Atheists are giving such a bigger platform that reaches around the world to malign and explain away God because they walked away from God.
Instead of walking away from God they go on further and try to explain away God for countless others instead of just realizing they are one lone Soul who only had one voice and walked away from God THEMSELVES!
But because of Social Media they get to project themselves upon others and try to convince others that God does not exist and don’t even know the eternal danger they bring to themselves .
I believe in God and believe God to be very real but these days were prophesied in the Bible to occur and so they are occurring and just point to the times we are living in.
@@davidrexford586
That doesn't mean you're being targeted for being religious. My comments that have nothing to do with religion get deleted constantly. TH-cam is just jank.
What if religions were treated like secret societies, Instead of letting anyone and everyone in?
I don't think they would make a lot of cash that way, but it's a great idea.
It's interesting how in American society over the last thirty years every group or individual wants to play the victim card. Even those who have enjoyed privileged status for a long time.
_Especially_ those who have enjoyed privileged status for a long time.
Using "every" might be overstating it,but when even those that have a position of privilege play it, it sure looks that way
The series are a good foundation. New people can always go back and listen to them but, it is natural as you and the channel grow and mature in you knowledge about the history of religions in the near east and even remote parts of the world you would want to explore philosophy, geology, anthropology and psychology. Religions are intertwined with every aspect of human history and the development of cultures. Expansion into conversations and education on all of those topics are valuable, interesting and necessary! Keep growing and expanding your topics!! Love it! 💕
Thanks for all the understanding and support!
The risk of branching out into different topics on a channel like this is if viewers don't watch all of them, then youtube will stop recommending your channel to people who otherwise would have been interested in the Christian content. If you're going to do a general debate anything goes type thing, then I recommend making a sister channel purely for that type of content. EDIT: If you do make a new channel, you could call it "Mindshifter" lol
All hail the algorithm. Long videos on a second channel where view time takes a hit. Excerpts on this channel that are short and have punch.
I think the world needs to hear you so I am excited that you are branching out into other platforms and areas! I am happy you’re keeping the TH-cam as I find it easier to access for myself anyway. As far as the name, if you went with something like you said, “Keep Thinking,” it’s more descriptive and withdraw a larger crowd, perhaps.
Charge on! 🥰
Thanks, Kristi!
A) Yes!
B) Yes!
C) Keep Thinking and MindShift are both awesome. I can’t decide which I like more.
Ha! Thanks so much, Sarah!
1.) I love the idea to move your videos to audio. In the brief 3 years in a church I was annoyed that my church avoided angels and demons and the nephelim so I ended up finding the late Dr. Michael Heiser who I really admire! It was his website I would binge his audios ♡
2.) Yes, I would like it if you were to venture out from specific Christianity BECAUSE the idea is tugging at you and it's your passion that drives this channel (IMO).
Best wishes in your home life and TH-cam life.
thanks so much for this kindness!
Hey this is Anna who did the interview with Tim from Harmonic Aithiest!... I love the idea of a podcast and you expanding your channel more! I would listen to every episode! Personally I think you should keep it on mind shift because the entire process and experience is a mind shift and as your channel expands into different realms that would perfectly encapsulate the mind shift journey.
• Everyone of us is responsible for writing his own book, a personal philosophy, that is kept within us and that's where it should remain.
• Any religion or personal philosophy that intentionally, and outwardly, sets itself up above all others is dangerous.
Clicked on this by accident but I had a good time! Might sub.
Lol! I might just be thankful.
I feel like a "yes man" here, but I like your idea just the way you phrased it. I would enjoy having a podcast from you that explores those other topics that you're interested in, and I feel that naming it the Keep Thinking podcast keeps it close enough to your branding that we know it's you, but we will anticipate slightly different content. I'd listen to it!
thanks for this feedback!
That's why I don't follow any groups or any tribe and stay the hell away from cliques or political groups etc.. I'm very picky on who I let in my Life.
To answer your questions: 1. I don't listen to podcasts, but I watch/listen to TH-cam. 2. Curious on other directions? sure. 3. how do you find time for all of this? You must be stretched out with all you do (or only sleep one hour a night!).
thanks for the feedback! and i do like to think i am a master of my time. Hoping that a 2 hour convo twice a month wont be the straw that breaks the camels back. Thank you!
One or the things I never liked about The Christian Faith is how much it amd The Bible stresses Christian Persecution, Suffering, and even Martyrdom. In fact when ever my Church would spotlight Christian Suffering by spotlighting Personal Histories of Christian Converts or Missionaries who were being Persecuted and even violently martyred in other countries It was meant to be inspiring But it always made me angry and depressed and it would stress me out about the possibility of going thru it myself.
Any podcast you plan to do I am sure will be fascinating. You are great at this and you know your stuff but are humble at the same time. Personally I would live a podcast to listen to while out and about
too kind, thank you!
I don't hate Christians. In fact I live just fine among them and have for 58 years. I don't even hate theology in general. I DO hate how many people are indoctrinated into a belief, to the point that my not being of their religion is a problem for them. An ideology that says you're either with us, or against us. Not all Christians feel that way, so I don't want to overgeneralize, but in order to `not` feel that way, they have to twist into contortions to make sense of it. How does that go again? "Love the sinner, not the sin?" We see how that works in practice.
Yeah, that saying, 'Love the sinner, hate the sin' works even better with 'Love the religious, hate the religion'!!
I love your idea of diversifying! I'm not sure if this was the direction you were thinking in, but I know a lot of deconstructed christians and exchristians still retain the dehumanization and fear of other religious practices/still believe the ethnocentrism of american christianity. Interviewing people from those demonized backgrounds and people groups would go a long way towards humaizing them for those open to listening.
Thats a great idea. Thank you!
I wholeheartedly agree with expanding your content. You have already made many significant points about the veracity of the bible. I look forward to your future videos about other subjects.
I said something like this to you several months back when your channel was first starting, but I'm really impressed with how smooth and natural your delivery is. Out of curiosity, and I understand if you don't want to share, but how much of your talk do you have scripted out, or do you just do the whole thing off the cuff? It's just unusual to see someone who is this informative and simultaneously delivers the information so naturally. So glad to see your channel still growing!
So kind. Thank you! I dont script anything ever. For Tuesdays, I turn the camera on and talk, but thats not to say i dont have to edit out a lot. For Thursday and Sunday i gather notes and research and make myself an outline. I wish i could script but its just too time consuming
There's nothing wrong with a bit of re-branding and stretching out into other things. Most youtubers end up doing something similar for the same reasons. There's no reason to lock yourself in a box. I like the sound of the Keep thinking Podcast. I think it fits the whole theme that you have built for yourself up to this point.
Thanks for this!
Love the idea! Looking forward to it.
Thank you!
Yes to the alternate podcast. I love it. Call it “conversation shift” or some kind of shift variation?
Ohhh good point. They want that cake and they want to eat it and they want your cake too.
Anyone who claims to know anything for sure really puts a target on their back, especially when they "shout it from the rooftops" We are all going somewhere (or nowhere) together, at least I think, but of course, I cannot be sure
Christians really need to stop talking about "culture" and "the culture", and learn to just say "people" or "society" - or better yet, be _more_ specific and say "American secular society". Culture is an abstract concept, and reifying it to the point that you're essentially claiming a whole society of people shares the same motives is wildly batshit.
_And guess what? Christians have their own culture too._ So claiming that there's this supposed ideological monolith, but only ever identifying it in the most generic, non-specific, and non-concrete of terms is some absolute cult nonsense.
Yeah, there is many different cultures within the wider one, specially in a place like the US.
I love your thorough and balanced approach to this topic. Regarding your podcast, I think it would be great to interview other atheist TH-camrs like Seth Andrews, AronRa, Paulogia, or Alex O'Connor. Branching out, maybe interview Ryan Holiday to discuss stoicism. If you wanted to venture into politics, I think Brian Tyler Cohen would be an excellent guest. There are really so many topics that you could cover and I look forward to your podcast.
Appreciate all this so much. Thanks!
“I know we have persecuted countless people over the centuries, but it really hurts my feelings when this persecution is exposed.”
Sorry I partially disagree. Only because there is a large amount of hate towards Christianity, and I honestly just think well this is just the effect of centuries of hate from Christianity, the religion is getting what it had had coming to it from society, you just happen to be in it, don’t take it personally unless you have done bad things. The truth is, most of the world doesn’t wanna deal with it or hear about it anymore, and doesn’t care to be “fair”.
I don't hate Christians or any other religious people but as soon as you force your beliefs onto me and persecute me for not having those same beliefs, then I have a problem.
"Thou shall keep thy religion to thyself."
- George Carlin
I love your videos for how good you are at formulating sentences. I feel like every sentences is well thought through and hitting the nail on it's head. I also love how well your videos are structured and the fact that you so often stick close to the bible to "defeat itself".
In a live setting this isn't possible in the same manner.
I generally prefer scripted content over non-scripred. Especially podcasts I find boring to be honest.
Similar opinions can be found under Alex O'Connor's latest community post.
I also wouldn't be nearly as interested in anything not relating Christianity, that's what I am here for, and I think that's fair.
Of course all of this is just my opinion, but that's the point.
But as long as there isn't a reduction in the frequency and quality of the other videos, I don't care.
thanks for that. Yes conversations will always have pros and cons.
for some reason I don't see this video in my subs tab D:
my impressions and view counts have been way, way down lately. Not sure whats going on, but thanks for finding your way to me anyways.
Not a Christian, but I have noticed some groups who seem to dislike or despise religious people in general.
Plus it’s not as if the New Atheists didn’t act like a bunch of intolerant jerks. I remember watching videos of people just relentlessly tearing into religious folks, even if it was just a regular discussion.
That being said I’m well aware of the religious people who act just as intolerant and hateful.
I think most people are terrible and need to do better at being charitable to people they disagree with.
agree many sides can error here.
Whatever you do, staying on brand or coming up with something new, it will be outstanding!
Thank you so much for that!
You’re welcome, @@MindShift-Brandon!
You’re a bad (meaning good) dude, brother. Your precise, near surgical take downs and commentary, coming from a place of actual knowledge and years of experience,make your presentations very difficult for believers to push back in kind.
I hope whatever you decide to do reachers a broader audience. I’m starting to become more physically involved as well. I feel like, for me, being silent is irresponsible with a soft edge of complicity. If everything goes to hell, I need to know that I did something, no matter how small, to ensure that it did not. Voting is not enough.
Be safe out there, brother. And keep the internet thinking.
Most atheists that care about it enough to be outspoken come from a religious background. And that usually means that they have family and friends that are still in it. I don't hate Christians. I still love my Christian mom and sisters and I wasn't a bad person when I was one either. I was wrong, but I wasn't evil.
I hear that many walk away but were never born again of the Spirit because unless you are Born Again you cannot see the Kingdom of God John3v3.
Does it matter? Absolutely unless you just wanted to know but thought maybe God wouldn’t mind if you didn’t approach him the way God desires those to approach him? We must worship God in the Spirit and Truth John 4v24. How else can you know God but by worship and the truth?
We go to God by Faith and we are all given it as a tool to understand God with and it’s giving to us Romans12v3.
So we go or we don’t and none can take anyone to the Cross and beyond the veil which was torn so that all may enter and the Priests have all drawn back
So we go beyond the veil and what will we find ?
Go and find out for yourself
@@davidrexford586 Thanks, but I already spent 40 years going and finding out for myself and it's all man made stories and control mechanisms that make about as much sense as your comment.
@@misterdoctor9693 All humans are sinners at birth, we inherit a sinful nature from Adam. That's not dehumanizing, that accepting the truth. Unbelievers hate the truth because they would have to admit they are a sinner in need of God's Grace and Mercy. Read your bible the answers are in there; one just needs to want to know the truth (Jesus Christ).
Unbelief is the only reason souls go to hell. Rejection of the truth (Jesus Christ). Unbelief is the opposite of faith.
Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
@@paulgemme6056 I already admitted to being a sinner when I spent almost my whole life as a Christian. That was actually far easier than accepting my mortality and that I was believing in a bunch of fairy tales. Humanity is not 6,000 years old. The bible is not in harmony with science and the opposite of faith is critical thinking. Christians think God gave me the ability to think and is going to send me to hell for using it. That is not a god I would have any respect for.
I'm very interested in your ideas on everything. Signed up for the podcast on Spotify
Hey thanks so much!
@@MindShift-Brandon thank you my friend
Good idea about the podcast (with guests) . I like the idea about other topics as well (other religions, philosophy, culture, secular buddhism...).
Exactly. Thanks!
I think if you went away from religion or similar skeptic topics I would lose interest. There are many psychology podcasts hosted by experts in psychology for example. I wouldn't stop following, but I would probably pick ans choose. This happened wirh Sam harris and several others when they strayed too far from the original subject matter.
On that though, and using the same example, I would love to see videos or podcasts of psychology but still focused on religion.
Thanks so much for the feedback.
I'm down for the podcast. It sounds so interesting
It's mind-blowing how this guy doesn't realize he justifies hating others by dehumanizing them.
Great video, sir.
Great points as always!
Thanks!
Appreciate your insights as usual. I've also sent several people to your channel that have started their deconstruction journey after getting going on their decentering men journey (turns out when you worship a male deity, it instills a lot of patriarchal conditioning at the same time so there's a big overlap there).
As far as the podcast, personally I think you should still use the MindShift name because it sounds like you are still seeking to explore ideologies and use logic, reasoning and data along with discussion to dig into those topics. You might have like a sub heading - MindShift: Examining Beliefs (but better and more specific to your idea) to differentiate it from the YT channel, but personally I think you should keep the sort of brand name and make the podcast a subsection of it vs a whole other thing. Just an opinion, though.
Thanks for all this!
Honestly, mainstream culture in a lot of Western countries is INCREDIBLY generous to Christianity, even those parts of it that are self-isolating, extremist cults that constantly shout and make noise, try to influence politics and constantly spout values that are antithetical to said mainstream ones.
Their hate got grandfathered in and manages to evade a LOT of scrutiny that other groups would never get away from. Muslims in the West are already expected to be model citizens if they don't want to get all sorts of accusations and calls for their human rights to be taken away and everyone just accepts that.
The Culture reminds me of the books by Iain M. Banks. (Great stuff!)
I think you could do a slightly different name for the broader-topicked podcasts like, IDK MindExpansion or something still connected to Mindshift.
I love the idea of the regular discussions (preferably still with video rather than audio alone) on broader topics. I would definitely be interested in listening to the broader set of topics as well as the current Mindshift content. I think they are all related and connected.
I'm honestly torn between whether I think you should have a separate channel for this or not.
Thanks for the feedback. yes not sure the best way forward.
great stuff !
I 100% support the idea of you branching out into ALL of those topics, Brandon. Go for it!
Many thanks!
On 1:21, dude for real. When that second guy started talking I was just confused. It seemed like two unrelated clips bolted together.
Don't try to start an argument with anyone that will never be convinced.
DarkMatter2525 did a funny video on William Lane Craig's claim of the Canaanite genocide "not being a genocide".
Unfortunately this man isn't aware of his passive condemnation, when he claims his love for christ. Cause let's face it, Christ's love is "Yaweh or the highway." Judging from his complaining he's part of the very culture he condemns. The very culture that condemns him right back.
I think you should take 10 or 20 of your highest streaming TH-cam episodes, and convert them to podcasts. See how it goes.
If those transfers prove successful, maybe do a few exclusive podcast episodes to test the waters.
I love the channel here on TH-cam, but listening at work or driving, in the podcast medium, would be awesome.
Thanks for that!
Let's be brutally honest here. Hatred happens. I would actually argue that it's not even necessarily a bad thing in all contexts. Should you hate the person who murdered your child? I would say absolutely, unequivocally yes. I think the differentiator is whether its justified and fair. But that's a significantly longer conversation. I will say that whenever people say something along the lines of #stopthehate or #nohatehere what they actually mean is #hatethesamethingsIdo. And literally everyone does this. Liberals. Conservatives. Christians. Atheists. We all do.
9:20 THIS.
Reality hates Christianity. Just imagine the cognitive dissonance experience by a Christian student when he/she attends science classes. Statements made by his/her pastor are often at odds with what is written in the textbooks and taught in class.
Hiya Brandon, I don't mind your idea, I think, though I'd have to see how you do it, perhaps.. Want to call it "Further Shifts" or something? Just not "paradigm shifts" please , those are really old marketing I've heard way too often.. Good luck!
Thanks!
Hi Brandon I absolutely love the idea of these new podcasts and I would love to see Bart ehrman
Thanks!
Thank you and I had another thought Seth andrews
Love the podcast idea! Many podcasts simply have the name of the host. People know who it is and that it's somehow different from other channels.
Would be great if it's easy to distinguish audio only episodes from audio versions of YT Videos. Maybe numbers for full episodes and just the titles for YT audio.
Thanks for the feedback!
But the problem with the Canaanite genocide is not that God did it (which would be problematic in itself) but that God commanded others to do it for him. Remember the verse that Christians like to quote: To obey is better than sacrifice? How many people who quote that verse are aware of its context? We are now told that blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy, but when King Saul showed mercy towards a people that God, speaking through the prophet Samuel, allegedly told him to destroy his throne was taken away from him and given to David. And Samuel said to Saul, "to obey is better than sacrifice."
I have often asked Christians who like to cite this verse and who defend Biblical genocide "because" these were wicked people, if God told YOU to kill ME because there was something about me that was so awful that death is the only answer I get a lot of uncomfortable hemming and hawing. Mainly "that is Old Testament and God doesn't do that anymore." Really? Are you sure? And if he did command you to do this, what would be your reaction? Would you obey, like Abraham did with Isaac?
Some years ago there was a Uber driver in Kalamazoo, Michigan who went on a shooting spree that killed several people and wounded others. His defense was that he was told to do this by an entity that took over his cell phone. Now you can laugh at that idea all you want, you can say that it was not God that told him to do it (and he himself said that it was Satan), BUT, HE DID NOT QUESTION what he was being prompted to do, regardless of who or what told him to go around shooting people. HE DID NOT ARGUE with this invisible voice in his head. HE OBEYED! He took his gun out and started shooting randomly at people as he drove around the city between passengers. He killed a father and son who were looking at cars in a car lot. He killed a woman and severely injured another at a restaurant parking lot. Why did the voice in his head tell him to do this? He never said. He just blindly did what he thought he was being told to do. The voice said "Shoot this person" and he shot. Well, don't worry, he won't be driving for Uber anymore and he's in a place where I doubt he's going to have access to firearms so he won't be able to carry out any more commands of that nature. But it is this aspect of the case that I find the most frightening, that someone would be willing at the drop of a hat (or an app on his phone) to go around taking the lives of people he didn't even know, had never met or spoken to and not have that little lightbulb go off in his head that this is WRONG, WRONG, WRONG. Now the news articles did not make mention of his religion but I think it is fairly safe to say this man was not an atheist or even an agnostic. He had some kind of belief system in invisible supernatural entities (good or evil) who must be obeyed no matter what. Where did he get that idea from? And how many others are out there who are like him?
I think you are confusing being religious with being schizophrenic. Schizophrenics often include religious elements in their delusions, but its their mental illness that is the issue, not their religion. There are plenty of atheistic schizophrenics whose delusions involve mind-control lasers, CIA gangstalking, and aliens. Schizophrenics just grab random things in their environment and incorporate them into their delusional complex. If they don't have religion to draw on, they draw on science fiction, or whatever is handy.