Thanks for posting all of these for those of us who couldn't attend. It was particularly nice to get a face to attach to the voice of the Thinking Atheist. Looks like it was a really interesting convention.
Thanks for uplaoding the last one, all presentations were great. And got to say, as much as I like Matt and AronRa, yours was the best of the three. :)
15:30 ish, church buldings - Here in my little town in Australia we had something weird like ten or fifteen churches and only a thousand people. Many of the older church buildings, especially those near the business center area, are now community centers or other public-use halls. The buildings themselves are maintained, even to still keeping much of the stained glass and similar. But the actual number of working churches has dropped to only three or four despite the population being around eight thousand. I think one of them was turned into the school that my parents went to, and is now a museum. This in my opinion is progress and I think it's something Matt would like hearing about. There's an old cathedral down in Melbourne that was turned into a public hall and when I was going past last was hosting a rave all done up in gothic style, given that the building itself had heavy gothic influences. The building had been left to run down but was bought and done up again to be used. It's a magnificent building. Just because it was built to be a church doesn't mean the building isn't nifty. And turning it into a goth nightclub is amusing.
5:10 Being wrong - Fun quote. "I'm always right! I thought I was wrong once, but I was mistaken." To my fellow pedantic-type-peoples, yes there's a difference between being incorrect and being mistaken, but that's just extra depth to the quote for you to consider. You're welcome.
I'm glad that I took two Philosophy classes, as I had already known about Pascal's Wager, confirmation bias, and other argument forms and elements before I watched this.
I believe in an outside world, a world that exists independently from my consciousness and I believe that using senses I can learn how this world works. I need no other declaration of faith
I think his speech was amazing!! He didn't just explain why Christianity is false or something boring, he said only relevant things and thank you so much, Seth, for posting this here. :D And also on itunes. I listened to the first half hour then enjoyed the rest here visually. :P
3:40 Pascals Wager and choice - Just in case anyone actually believes that belief is a choice, or if you know anyone who thinks that, try this. Chose to believe there is a chicken sitting on your head. ... ... See? Thought can certainly influence belief, and we can of course largely direct thought, but when it comes right down to the wire we can't control belief. Only influence it at best.
The way I escaped the fear of hell during my deconversion was the rationalization that no loving god would ever create hell (so for me, I destroyed hell while I was still a believer of sorts). So when I finally rationalized away god and eventually heaven, hell was already long gone.
I get Matt's point about 12-step addiction programs, and it's valid in the sense of "jesus cured my drinking problem!" I think what he might be missing is the neurological nature of addiction; it's effectively a negative feedback loop, where in extreme cases the more a person tries to stop the harder it becomes (and the more they fail). All the 12-step stuff, including "higher power", is about getting the person to "stop trying" (in the same way) -- to fundamentally change their neurochemistry.
@AdUtrumquePeratus76 Yeah, the Phelps cult doesn't live that far away; it blew an opportunity to picket this conference. When ACT reaches at least 500 members, it should see about getting its own place and holding regular meetings there.
@kainen789 Looks like a full house in the other vids. To quote Matt, and be specific, "I don't know", but it's a hell of alot more people than most would expect to show up at an Atheist event in Tulsa OK. I live about 2 hours away and wanted to attend, but could not clear my schedule. For each person in the audience, I'll bet there are at least 2-3 more that wanted to go, but couldn't get there.
A good answer to Pascal's wager is to simply go through all the rituals of the world's religions and then live life as a decent and moral person. and have a fact based worldview.
Let's do this!! Turn it up to 11. More conventions, in the South especially. More local atheist groups need to spring up and march in parades, protest our politicians when they endorse a religion. I have been waiting over 45 yrs for this movement and I want to die knowing I did my best at helping people escape their delusion. Tell your friends on FB how you think when they quote their holy texts, invoke a deity for their good fortune or ask you to pray for something. Be not afraid.
That was a great question Matt asked about the media. I wonder if the organizers forgot to send out a press release or if the local media chose to ignore it. Local reporters seem to love stirring up controversy by interviewing 5 or more theists about what they think of atheists holding a meeting, but here they missed a great opportunity.
@willpoire Keep me posted. SE Kansas can be a lonly place. It would be nice to have an active somewhat lical community to meet up with on a regular basis.
I'd like to see ACT buy its own building in Tulsa and open the state's first atheist center. Paul Kurtz suggested calling such places "eupraxotheques," but that idea never caught on. An atheist center should freak out the town's preachers even more than the billboards and the well attended conference.
Yeah I was raised Muslim and I have amassed a mountain of proof against religion in general, but I still have these nagging doubts and fears at the same time.
Nice speech. All of them. But it's sad that they are obviously only watched by people, who already agree. There should be a way to post video replies from other channels than ones own.
Pleeeeease center the picture on the person's head, not the wall, and pan BEFORE they go off screen. Don't put the head in a corner or at the top of the frame.
Matt Dillahunty Matt Dillahunty (Which is the right one?) At time stamp 6:00 where you talk about how people claim that God changed them and made them a better person, I decided to pause the video and say something about that. It has been my observation that this concept of being "born again" actually does something for people that does not require an actual god, but that our society tends not to allow them to do without giving "God" the credit. There is no accepted concept of an "ex-sinner" but there is a very well known and well accepted concept of a "born again Christian" who USED TO BE a sinner... and of course still is a sinner because by Christianity's definition all people are sinners... but that's another story. My point is, if someone decides what they are doing is wrong, people in our society will not tend to believe they are any different unless they announce that they are "born again" or "converted" or "saved" or "baptized" or transformed in some other RELIGIOUS way.... and if the do claim such a thing, they can go right on doing what they were doing before without having to worry as much about people suspecting it... until of course our society starts to wake up.
Why does Matt think TV executives don't like secular shows? Wikipedia has a whole page titled "List of fictitious atheists and agnostics," and at least three of the MythBusters have openly discussed their nonbelief, along with an number of better known celebrities.
Not being raised in a religious household, I just can't relate to this talk of Hell. Even when I was very young and I assumed that I was, by default, a Christian the thought that I might go to Hell never had any affect on me.
A recovering addict or alcoholic has a "higher power: Not god. I'm in recovery and sober almost 5 years. God is just a word that people use instead of higher power. If it wasnt for the fellowship in AA I would have never gotten straight. And my "higher power" was "your Honor", ( judge in my case). Its a great place to start for many, but unfortunately only around 7% make it usually because of psych prob's and unwillingness to be honest.
what ever i was i still am. i had my doubts. but God showed me himself little by little. then a big happened that took away my doubt. it's none of your bussiness what thoses things were. AA did not help me with my drinking like God did with my believing. it was his gift 2 me. maybe i'm the only 1 and sometimes it seems like christians R fake too. but my God is real he showed his love to me. and this feeling almost an adrinaline feeling. but different. you hear His voice without a doubt u know.
If you keep doing the same thing over and over it is "insanity" and becomes habitual, coupled with physical addiction. You either get tired and want something more then the numbness offered by the drugs. I'm am Atheist to the core. I live in Oklahoma, (bible belt), I get tired of hearing "Praise jesus" all the fukin time!!! But it took a group of experienced sober guys to get me there, not "God", but at that point they were more of a "higher power" then me. And I''l be forever grateful for that
I was atheist until this video. Now I know....Matt is God. Jesus is his son. And Matt came back as the son of his son, as the second-coming, in order to fix the issues that he himself, as his Son, managed to not correct. Yes. that's it. Praise Jesus...or....God...or....Matt!
"...Atheist's that don't think Activism has any value" Was that a hit at the Amazing Atheist? lol I Stopped watching Amazing Atheist after he made his stupid and demonstrated wrong comment about Activism.
I was kind of disappointed with Matt - half his speech was just about him - I, me, my etc ... I understand he is famous and self aware person but he could have made the speech a little more interesting rather than wallow is his ego. I agree with his atheism and logic but was a little let down.. he should have asked "what would Jesus do?" ... just kidding guys (about jesus) I am an atheist too.
Thank you for uploading these videos. They are well produced and a special opportunity for those of us who weren't able to make it out.
Thanks for posting all of these for those of us who couldn't attend. It was particularly nice to get a face to attach to the voice of the Thinking Atheist. Looks like it was a really interesting convention.
Part 2! Yeah!! Thanks so much for posting this. Listening now.
Thanks for uplaoding the last one, all presentations were great. And got to say, as much as I like Matt and AronRa, yours was the best of the three. :)
Friggin' thank you for these speeches man! I enjoyed them so much!
15:30 ish, church buldings - Here in my little town in Australia we had something weird like ten or fifteen churches and only a thousand people. Many of the older church buildings, especially those near the business center area, are now community centers or other public-use halls. The buildings themselves are maintained, even to still keeping much of the stained glass and similar. But the actual number of working churches has dropped to only three or four despite the population being around eight thousand. I think one of them was turned into the school that my parents went to, and is now a museum. This in my opinion is progress and I think it's something Matt would like hearing about.
There's an old cathedral down in Melbourne that was turned into a public hall and when I was going past last was hosting a rave all done up in gothic style, given that the building itself had heavy gothic influences. The building had been left to run down but was bought and done up again to be used. It's a magnificent building. Just because it was built to be a church doesn't mean the building isn't nifty. And turning it into a goth nightclub is amusing.
All speakers of OFC have been awesome!! Seen them all now :)
Thank you so much for uploading this, Seth!
Nice ending with a Spinal Tap reference. :)
Thanks TTA for the videos.
Best way to spend easter is to listen Aron, Matt and co. :D
Thanks again for posting the vid TTA!
5:10 Being wrong - Fun quote. "I'm always right! I thought I was wrong once, but I was mistaken."
To my fellow pedantic-type-peoples, yes there's a difference between being incorrect and being mistaken, but that's just extra depth to the quote for you to consider. You're welcome.
good job Matt and thank you for your hard work
I'm glad that I took two Philosophy classes, as I had already known about Pascal's Wager, confirmation bias, and other argument forms and elements before I watched this.
Way to go Matt! Keep up the good work, and keep fighting the good fight!
I believe in an outside world, a world that exists independently from my consciousness and I believe that using senses I can learn how this world works.
I need no other declaration of faith
I could listen to more.
Wow... thanks for posting! :P
"We have to turn it up to 11." Nothing like a This is Spinal Tap reference to end a speech
Liked, Favorited, Incredibled. We to go Matt. I hope to see you speak publicly more often!
Great presentation!
Matt is da man.
"we have to turn it up to eleven"
Anyone who makes a Spinal Tap reference earns a few cool points in my book :D
"PEOPLE have done good things, and credited RELIGION with those good things."
well said.
I think his speech was amazing!! He didn't just explain why Christianity is false or something boring, he said only relevant things and thank you so much, Seth, for posting this here. :D And also on itunes. I listened to the first half hour then enjoyed the rest here visually. :P
Awesome talk, Matt!!!!!
Damn. I want to live in Matt's ideal world.
@JunkMale57
the new term is 'coercive persuasion'.
It applies more aptly in most cases.
3:40 Pascals Wager and choice - Just in case anyone actually believes that belief is a choice, or if you know anyone who thinks that, try this. Chose to believe there is a chicken sitting on your head. ... ... See? Thought can certainly influence belief, and we can of course largely direct thought, but when it comes right down to the wire we can't control belief. Only influence it at best.
The way I escaped the fear of hell during my deconversion was the rationalization that no loving god would ever create hell (so for me, I destroyed hell while I was still a believer of sorts). So when I finally rationalized away god and eventually heaven, hell was already long gone.
That's a good way to live life: If everyone did this, what would the world look like?
In essence, it's very easy too.
Thanks, Matt!
@willpoire I hope you can get a good deal on some place with room for expansion, like the old Eastland Mall.
@jhlovingiii
I am sorry for your loss.
15:01
That's the only good that has ever come out of religion: The art, the architecture, and the music.
@Salger12 They disappear over time, what amazes me is that now im an atheist (about 10 years now) the fear of death has gone.
I get Matt's point about 12-step addiction programs, and it's valid in the sense of "jesus cured my drinking problem!" I think what he might be missing is the neurological nature of addiction; it's effectively a negative feedback loop, where in extreme cases the more a person tries to stop the harder it becomes (and the more they fail). All the 12-step stuff, including "higher power", is about getting the person to "stop trying" (in the same way) -- to fundamentally change their neurochemistry.
he has said what i cannot articulate.
The only way to go out - on Spinal Tap.
@AdUtrumquePeratus76 Yeah, the Phelps cult doesn't live that far away; it blew an opportunity to picket this conference.
When ACT reaches at least 500 members, it should see about getting its own place and holding regular meetings there.
His voice is almost identical to Michael Moore.
@kainen789 Looks like a full house in the other vids. To quote Matt, and be specific, "I don't know", but it's a hell of alot more people than most would expect to show up at an Atheist event in Tulsa OK. I live about 2 hours away and wanted to attend, but could not clear my schedule. For each person in the audience, I'll bet there are at least 2-3 more that wanted to go, but couldn't get there.
@kainen789
Roughly 300. With over 350 tickets sold, only 318 came through the doors.
Word.
A good answer to Pascal's wager is to simply go through all the rituals of the world's religions and then live life as a decent and moral person. and have a fact based worldview.
Let's do this!! Turn it up to 11. More conventions, in the South especially. More local atheist groups need to spring up and march in parades, protest our politicians when they endorse a religion. I have been waiting over 45 yrs for this movement and I want to die knowing I did my best at helping people escape their delusion. Tell your friends on FB how you think when they quote their holy texts, invoke a deity for their good fortune or ask you to pray for something. Be not afraid.
RICK FROM PAWN STARS! YES!
That was a great question Matt asked about the media. I wonder if the organizers forgot to send out a press release or if the local media chose to ignore it. Local reporters seem to love stirring up controversy by interviewing 5 or more theists about what they think of atheists holding a meeting, but here they missed a great opportunity.
For my part, I organize a secular humanist meetup group. We are small, but growing, and are looking for opportunities for activism.
I gotta get involved!!!
@willpoire Keep me posted. SE Kansas can be a lonly place. It would be nice to have an active somewhat lical community to meet up with on a regular basis.
Does Pascal's Wager mean that we go to heaven through random chance?
I loved Matts closing speech, ..but i would have loved to have heard Al Pacino (aka, his rousing speech in Scent of a woman), say it. Hoo Haaaa!!
Matt dont like everything he says,but hes damned good at making points crystal clear.
he said "by and large" so many times lol
I don't know if it's possibly for someone to top AronRa, but it looks like Matt Dillahunty may have done that here.
We need amps that go to 11!
@TheThinkingAtheist
thanks for making these!
have you noticed the "...and I'm a Mormon" videos?
could you make some "...and I'm an Atheist" videos?
great video
omg Spinal Tap reference
1 dislike? who could possibly dislike this video?
you should use the Creative Commons License on these videos so we can share them on our TH-cam pages
@MoonwalkerWorshiper My father traded the bottle for his faith. I traded faith for mood stabilizers.
Now my biggest problem is that I'm canadian and I don't have many christians to debate with.
He looks a little like Hardy from Laurel & Hardy.
I'd like to see ACT buy its own building in Tulsa and open the state's first atheist center. Paul Kurtz suggested calling such places "eupraxotheques," but that idea never caught on. An atheist center should freak out the town's preachers even more than the billboards and the well attended conference.
Really, TH-cam? A trailer for "Son of God" on an atheist video? Give me a break.
Yeah I was raised Muslim and I have amassed a mountain of proof against religion in general, but I still have these nagging doubts and fears at the same time.
@AdUtrumquePeratus76 How many people have to join the Atheist Community of Tulsa to make the local preachers nervous?
@WizardPlayHD Ya Goddamn Right! LMGDAO!!
@tgseason12 Hell yeah.
Nice speech.
All of them. But it's sad that they are obviously only watched by people, who already agree.
There should be a way to post video replies from other channels than ones own.
@KenMacMillan Guidance ? That's a bit vague. What the heck do you mean by that ?
@2eelShmeal That's how religions get started.
finally
Pass the MattDillahuntoast?
yay...last one?
Pleeeeease center the picture on the person's head, not the wall, and pan BEFORE they go off screen. Don't put the head in a corner or at the top of the frame.
He should totally get that xmas atheist shirt made and sold!
Matt Dillahunty Matt Dillahunty (Which is the right one?) At time stamp 6:00 where you talk about how people claim that God changed them and made them a better person, I decided to pause the video and say something about that. It has been my observation that this concept of being "born again" actually does something for people that does not require an actual god, but that our society tends not to allow them to do without giving "God" the credit. There is no accepted concept of an "ex-sinner" but there is a very well known and well accepted concept of a "born again Christian" who USED TO BE a sinner... and of course still is a sinner because by Christianity's definition all people are sinners... but that's another story. My point is, if someone decides what they are doing is wrong, people in our society will not tend to believe they are any different unless they announce that they are "born again" or "converted" or "saved" or "baptized" or transformed in some other RELIGIOUS way.... and if the do claim such a thing, they can go right on doing what they were doing before without having to worry as much about people suspecting it... until of course our society starts to wake up.
@nadude4 Sounds like a cool t-shirt
A, turn it up to 11
@steviemgallacher Jebus?
This is like bloody mary by South Park :)
does anyone know how many people are in the audience?
Why does Matt think TV executives don't like secular shows? Wikipedia has a whole page titled "List of fictitious atheists and agnostics," and at least three of the MythBusters have openly discussed their nonbelief, along with an number of better known celebrities.
@ChechireYeti consider yourself lucky, I am canadian and my entire family is christian.....
Not being raised in a religious household, I just can't relate to this talk of Hell. Even when I was very young and I assumed that I was, by default, a Christian the thought that I might go to Hell never had any affect on me.
Funny, FightingAtheist was one of the main youtube users that converted me to atheism.
are there any slides
That toast made be a Christian again. That right I no longer believe in logic or reason because of TOAST.
I think it would make you a Dillahuntian
Is that T-shirt for sale?
A recovering addict or alcoholic has a "higher power: Not god. I'm in recovery and sober almost 5 years. God is just a word that people use instead of higher power.
If it wasnt for the fellowship in AA I would have never gotten straight. And my "higher power" was "your Honor", ( judge in my case). Its a great place to start for many, but unfortunately only around 7% make it usually because of psych prob's and unwillingness to be honest.
what ever i was i still am. i had my doubts. but God showed me himself little by little. then a big happened that took away my doubt. it's none of your bussiness what thoses things were. AA did not help me with my drinking like God did with my believing. it was his gift 2 me. maybe i'm the only 1 and sometimes it seems like christians R fake too. but my God is real he showed his love to me. and this feeling almost an adrinaline feeling. but different. you hear His voice without a doubt u know.
If you keep doing the same thing over and over it is "insanity" and becomes habitual, coupled with physical addiction. You either get tired and want something more then the numbness offered by the drugs. I'm am Atheist to the core. I live in Oklahoma, (bible belt), I get tired of hearing "Praise jesus" all the fukin time!!! But it took a group of experienced sober guys to get me there, not "God", but at that point they were more of a "higher power" then me. And I''l be forever grateful for that
I was atheist until this video. Now I know....Matt is God. Jesus is his son. And Matt came back as the son of his son, as the second-coming, in order to fix the issues that he himself, as his Son, managed to not correct. Yes. that's it. Praise Jesus...or....God...or....Matt!
I have a man-crush on Matt.
I love how the promoted video on the list at right for me is "And I'm a Mormon". Religious propaganda.
Such an interesting juxtaposition.
I'M THE 950TH PERSON 2 LIKE THIS VIDEO!!!! DID I WIN ANY THING? LMAO
"...Atheist's that don't think Activism has any value" Was that a hit at the Amazing Atheist? lol I Stopped watching Amazing Atheist after he made his stupid and demonstrated wrong comment about Activism.
@TheSeanoftheBread
I thought your kind was a myth..you know..like pink unicorns..D=
I was kind of disappointed with Matt - half his speech was just about him - I, me, my etc ... I understand he is famous and self aware person but he could have made the speech a little more interesting rather than wallow is his ego. I agree with his atheism and logic but was a little let down.. he should have asked "what would Jesus do?" ... just kidding guys (about jesus) I am an atheist too.