Left Behind
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 ก.ย. 2024
- Do not allow or perpetuate the further stigmatization of non-religious people. We've been told that we need religion to survive, but in actuality it's now the opposite. In the modern world, religion hasn't saved the destitute, nor has atheism condemned the prosperous.
Many thanks to Momma Atheist for playing the role of the mother. She is a former astrophysicist who is currently a climate scientist working on ecosystem preservation. Her channel covers a variety of topics, including the religion debate. She’s new to TH-cam and very knowledgeable, so let’s elevate her voice. Thanks! Her channel:
/ @palebluemomma1879
If you'd like to support my channel, these are the best ways:
/ darkmatter2525
www.subscribes...
/ darkmatter2525
This animation is an analogy about how I've often thought of religion. What once may have helped us, is now a detriment. I've also thought of it like never removing a cast after breaking a bone. Since religion has been fairly ubiquitous, maybe it once had some evolutionary benefit, probably rooted in tribalism, safety in numbers. I see that as doing more harm than good in modernity though, a vestigial organ like an appendix, waiting to burst. We no longer have to team up to keep predators at bay, so now we team up against each other. What once united now divides.
A huge thank you to Momma Atheist for playing the role of the mother. Momma Atheist's channel:
th-cam.com/channels/Af2cbItkSXKxueiQOvhEjA.html
Glad you’re still on TH-cam
It was a nice one
I think religion is just early attempts at science
Hey did you check out my podcast are you interested in being in episode 2
@@generationxpvp the worst attempts ever.
"But if they fall down, nobody will be there to catch them."
"They figured out how to pick themselves up if they fall down."
This is one of the best motivational videos I've ever seen.
I was just about to put that quote in the comments! Those are definitely words to live by!
I am reminded of the Batman quote from Alfred.
"Why do we fall sir? So that we can learn to pick ourselves up."
@@darkscot1338 Alfred was lowkey the true hero of the Batman franchise.
This video could be valid. If there is God then God would not force us to believe or use trickery to keep us believers and would achieve (God works in mysterious ways) differently aka properly but if there is no God then it is just some outdated mind control system to keep people in check but if they are limited in their actions due to holy books they will not achieve their actual potential. Society can deal with those who misbehave anyway.
Unless your a communist. Then it's, "Why did you fall down?"
"Because the bourgeoisie are keeping the proletariat down in chains and we must kill everyone with private property."
The day my little girl asked me to remove the training wheels was an amazing landmark. I told her, 'You will crash, and you will get hurt'. She said, 'I know'. After teaching her, I left her on her own. She came back later with minor scratches on her knee. No sniffles. No tears. Just asked me to clean it and put a band-aid on it, and out the door for more. Great kid. Oh, and I don't think we ever had a discussion about religion... ever. She did learn a lot of science from me tho.
All the best! Another child being raised to become an independent person, that's always good! :-)
My father just removed the wheels when he thought I didn't need them. When I went back out I went up and down the road a few times without them or noticing they were gone. Kinda how life removed the religion from me before I noticed.
@@formlesscorvid5336 I was lucky enough to have never been indoctrinated. One thing my parents did right.
I can actually remember being excited about falling down and being able to get back up when I was learning how to ride a bike (I learned pretty late- I was seven or eight, I think.) I felt very tough and strong every time I picked myself back up and started riding again. Same experience in learning how to ski- the thrill of falling, and being able to get back up and go again, is so important to our development as autonomous, healthy people.
cus balance bikes are better
"If things change, they might get worse."
"But if things don't change, they'll never get better."
These words aren't only about religion. Some people really fear change, not wanting to risk what they already have. Change can be scary and unpredictable and many people aren't willing to take that step outside what they're used to.
But some people Think Change Means throwing it all away and make anew. They think that instead of the Bicycle, they should use a Unicycle or motorcycle. However, while The Unicycle requires talent and is slower, The motorcycle Does not and is much faster.
I’ll give you a change... turns out quantum physicists have proven that consciousness is a singularity. That means our brains do not produce their own consciousness but connect to it like wifi. That means we’ve all literally been the same person this entire time. What we’re calling “empty space” is an energy spectrum, that our eyes can’t see like UV light.
@@addamriley5452 part of me wants to believe this, another part of me knows that psychopathic pieces of shit exist, as do individuals on the opposite end of the spectrum.
Right, Change can be beneficial to humanity and as well scary as well. That's why we need small gradual changes in the span of decades to help people grow, adapt, and accept the next change, little by little.
But we have a conflict with both extremes. The people that doesn't want to change (or want to go back like before) and the people that want to change everything, all at once, right now (without thinking of the costs of abrupt changes)
@Kid 50 Actually, organic food itself is about the same conventionally grown food, but organic farming practices are bullshit. Penn & Teller did an episode about it.
Mother is very reasonable, listening to her son, instead of overshouting him with threaths of danmation and disownment.
Because mother's role was played by an atheist
God gave humanity free will knowing beforehand what the consequences would be.
God wants man to sin
and He reserved a special place in hell for those who do.
What a guy.
@@JamesRichardWiley Remember, that's just dribble invented by humans. Like god is.
@@JamesRichardWiley I beg to differ. Adam and Eve did not know better what they were doing just like little kids when teased by adults and were kicked out of Eden for being deceived yet Jesus knew(why else would say something like "forgive them for they do not know what they are doing"?) better therefore was not deceived and prevailed. See difference aka unequal situation or unfair fight similarity. Therefore that version of God is flawed(your God behaves like AI from TV series Person of Interest and only thinks is Creator). Closest thing to being to actual God for humans is virtual reality designing. If we limited beings can create similar pixel worlds where falling and rising even if exist is way more properly designed then actual Deity should also be capable of designing this world either as a Matrix type simulation(for actual Allknowing Allpowerfull and Allcaring entity that would be more than possible) where good and bad does not exist therefore sin also does not exist(supports that idea that this world is test) or definition of good and evil is different and both are needed. In both situations infinite punishment for fininite crimes should not exist. It should have been either ancient prank or social experiment to see what people would do and how they would behave when convinced that eternal hell&heaven exist. Also search George Carlin Religion on youtube for similar valid points.
@catz64 That idea fits Gnosticism 1:1
I like how you left parts of the training wheels on after he broke them off. Religion can leave scars...
Yes you are right Secular thought does leave it scars when a person allows it to creep into their minds. Fortunately for me I was able to break free of the limits, bonds and chains of Secular, materialistic thought. Holding onto Secular, materialistic thought was slowing me down quite a lot even though at one time in my so many years ago Secular, materialistic thought gave me some level of stability and help me to stay up. I have to let it go now and so I have but dam that secular materialistic thought sure left it scars in my life.
@@cosmicphoenix162 Are you in the wrong place and confused, or am I missing something ?
You miss tithing to the tax shelters that condemn 95% of people, preach sharing while sitting on worthless treasures ?
@@cosmicphoenix162 Who knows? Maybe these videos will convince you to become skeptical of all axioms; after all, dogmatism exists in all fields, and skepticism is the shield by which we protect ourselves from ideological stagnancy.
So whats the theological equivalent of a wrench?
Xanatrix Zadare Yes in fact I grew up in a secular none religious home, no Church, no Bible, no prayers before meals or any of that. I have seen life from both sides of the tracks and I have learned to be sceptical of all ideologies, and ultimately it is my life so I like every one must do what works best for me(like everyone must do for themselves) I find that when I am living a Christ focused, Christ centred life I perform at my highest and best, and just like in the end of this video instead of being left behind all the time(like I am when I live with a secular mindset) I am ahead of the pack passing everyone else, and most people struggle to keep up with me.
So you tell me what to do good sir, is it better to be running at the back of the pack struggling to keep up and always getting left behind, or at the front passing everyone and most are struggling to keep up with me? Well according to this video it is better to be at the front. And I agree, so I took those “Secular Training wheels” off, and they are staying off forever! This time, never going back on, ever again.
Johnny just doesn't represent an individual person, he represents humanity as a whole.
So what would humanity be reaching towards, and why would it matter?
@@kingchickenwing4887 Whenever those kinds of questions are brought up I sometimes equate humanity to a missile:
The missile knows where it is at all times. It knows this because it knows where it isn't. By subtracting where it is from where it isn't, or where it isn't from where it is, whichever is greater, it obtains a difference, or deviation.
Humanity chooses its own targets. It matters because this way it can know where it is, by knowing where it isn't.
@@kingchickenwing4887 Humanity is casting aside the influence of religion, something, that has divided us for millennia by now, surely, in one era, we might've needed it, but in our era, to progress forward, to achieve greater wonders as a race, we must cast it behind us. It is time for us to cast aside supernatural explanations, and think rationally, think scientifically, as Weber said. We can move on from centuries of hatred and conflict caused by religion. And we can work together for a better future.
@@killme2675 Call me cynical, but I don't think that would happen.
@@thoughtaddict2739 I agree. Even if it was to happen, it would take centuries.
Thanks for having me, DarkMatter. This was a lot of fun!
I guess at the end you could say he went “Godspeed”.
Light speed
you! Black Emperor
"Goodspeed"?
Or perhaps "He went plaid"?
@@bodan1196 i see what you did here :3 nice one.
No, he was stuck at only Godspeed before he took the training wheels off: slower than everyone else and frequently stopping to be told things he's already heard before.
Yeah, this really hit home for me. I just realized that I have been dealing with ADHD my whole life and due to the cult I was raised in and other factors at the age of 30 I am finally doing something about it. I know that my mom was just trying her best by indoctrinating me into what she thought would help. But in the end, it left me with so much internalized hatred for being myself (gay, left handed, a-neurotypical, dyslexic) that it really f*cked me up. and now that I am slowy pulling off all of the masks that I put on out of shame and fear i am starting to almost feel like myself.
How backwards of a community do you have to live in for left handedness to still an issue (outside of sizzors)?
Wishing you well friend.
I hope you've got a great support network! It won't be easy, but I guarantee people will be cheering for you!
All 4 you’re probably super intelligent or at least very good at certain types of academics or jobs
Dyslexia and ADHD are normal; these conditions do not cause harm, but stigmatization of them does. Same or similar goes for alternate sexualities, lefthandedness, and a wide variety of neuro-atypical conditions.
I think that the lesser damage done to you was in blaming yourself, and the greater damage done was in trying to be someone you're not, who you never had an actual need to be in the first place.
(Sorry if I'm hard to understand. I have an opposing condition in which my speech may be confusing to people with dyslexia.)
When 'good' religious people find out I'm an Atheist they still often disassociate themselves from me, independence can be very lonely.
Sometimes, if one would travel furthest, one may have to travel alone!
The Old Philosopher
That's why you look for "True" Specialists/Opened Minded people.
Since they will accept you for who you are.
The Legend himself is once again has delivered a quality work!
I agree! Great videos.
Superstition free zone. No legends. Humans.
Indeed I did not care much for the recent videos of the last 4months where it was caricatouring some characters over a static background. I hope power corrupts continues with new episodes
Indeed he has
FOOLISHNESS.. VANITUY RIGHT
Funny thing, I almost got run over by a car as a kid because of training wheels. I was learning how to ride a bike, and I was going down the sidewalk just fine, going fast enough from a push where I didn't need the damn wheels at all. But then, because I had them, I assumed they had to be touching the ground too, so I tilted my bike over to the right. The training wheel hit the sidewalk. The bike went off the sidewalk. The car that was coming straight for me barely had time to stop before it slammed into the front wheel.
I would've been fine without the training wheels. I'm only alive because (I think) the driver slowed down enough just in case I fell over. I'd mostly forgotten about that. I don't even remember if it was my first time riding a bike or not, I just know that the damn training wheels almost got me killed. Funny to see that mirrored in a DarkMatter video.
@Austin Martín Hernández Unison is really just ordered chaos.
@Austin Martín Hernández It means there will always be patterns in even the must chaotic and unpredictable parts of the universe.
@Austin Martín Hernández I actually agree with you, I was just simplifying it, because most people don't actually get what I mean by that. Since everything is just a reaction of something else, no wonder patterns manage to show up everywhere in the universe, even in the most chaotic parts.
@Austin Martín Hernández Thats how life was made, ordered chaos.
My sister had a bike with training wheels that kept on turning over. I never learned to ride a bike because my balance is too poor so I just walk everywhere. I would probably lose my bike anyway if I had one.
Former pentecostal preacher here. You are doing the good work sir! KEEP IT UP! You have truly inspired me and many others! Thank You So Much!
Are you an atheist now?
Man “Do you remember why you put them on in the first place?”
Mom, “I didn’t want you to be left behind, and I wanted them to help you learn to ride yourself.”
Man, “They have served their purpose, now I can ride on my own, and as you can see, they are now holding me back.”
Even though I don’t think children need religion, I was brought up religious, and do remember it did go along with what my parents taught me from a young age. Help others if you can, treat others how you’d like to be treated, don’t lie, cheat, steal, or kill.
It wasn’t until I got older that they started teaching the BS about religion.
But religion is like Santa at a young age. Something to reinforce behavior deemed good by society.
But like Santa, most people are actually pretty good on their own, most people don’t need make believe stuff to do the right thing. As your video points out, some seem to be afraid to take the training wheels off. But if more people would, I am sure they would find they can be good people without the burden.
You say that, but Santa brings you presents. God just tuts disapprovingly if you touch the wrong parts of your body when you're washing yourself in the shower. I believed in Santa, but I NEVER thought God was real. I always assumed it was just some game adults played, that everybody participated in out of habit or tradition. So, really, Santa is a fun game adults play at the expense of children, whereas God might cause improper hygiene, at best.
One must learn how to be like a child to enter the kingdom of God
I think the bigger picture is how mankind used religions long ago to structure society, not necessarily that religion is any good for the youth.
@@thegreatgmantheguy Right. And children have everything done for them with no responsibility. I'll pass :D
@@thegreatgmantheguy " One must learn how to be like a child to enter the kingdom of God " So you're saying that God wants us to give up critical thinking abilities, advanced scientific knowledge, and fine motor skills?
Another masterpiece. Ironically, these videos give me a spiritual experience that is hard to find.
Its not a spiritual experience, as there are no such things as spirits.
You mean to say that that these videos opened your eyes, enlightened you somehow.
Morpheas agreed. It is not supernatural, but it is what a supernatural experience should feel like.
@@morpheas768 “ 'Spirit' comes from the Latin word 'to breathe'. What we breathe is air, which is certainly matter, however thin. Despite usage to the contrary, there is no necessary implication in the word 'spiritual' that we are talking of anything other than matter (including the matter of which the brain is made), or anything outside the realm of science. On occasion, I will feel free to use the word. Science is not only compatible with spirituality; it is a profound source of spirituality. When we recognize our place in an immensity of light years and in the passage of ages, when we grasp the intricacy, beauty and subtlety of life, then that soaring feeling, that sense of elation and humility combined, is surely spiritual. So are our emotions in the presence of great art or music or literature, or of acts of exemplary selfless courage such as those of Mohandas Gandhi or Martin Luther King Jr. The notion that science and spirituality are somehow mutually exclusive does a disservice to both.”
- Carl Sagan, ‘The Demon-Haunted World’
I think redefining 'spiritual' is an effective way to help coalesce religion-effected people to feel more comfortable with the truth of their desires mostly being a façade.
Just wanna help the algorithm, don't mind me!
*K*
@@Abrahem968 Careful with all that pure potassium. Don't think turning water into wine would stop it from exploding.
@@personalRCH Ha! Ha! Ha!
My child you're so funny
@Lost Hero thats actually not a bad idea, because people will probably comment back since this is primarily an athiest viewership. Thats one way to rig the algorithm
A Corner of The Internet This happened on the latest Jimmy Snow video
I've known cultists who think good things only happen to fellow Jebus cultists.
@Zatchooze Naut something about mysterious ways
There’s always extremists
michael marshall
I think they will say something like “god is testing them” or “their faith was not strong enough” or again the “mysterious ways”. It’s always one of those...
Hello sir! Do you have a minute to talk about our lord and saviour Lorgar Aurelian?
I've had people tell me that good things only happen to Christians and then tell me that good things mostly happen to non-Christians in the same hour, and attribute both of them as proof of God's perfect glory.
Maintaining the level of quality you have for as long as you have is an accomplishment in itself.
Finally some one gets it. I'm crying tears of joy because someone expresses what I felt and thought deeply all this time:
Religon is not the source of good, but in reality holds progress only back.
Actually religion and science is like ☯. Even Einstein said something similar.
@@Edzhjus You know what they say, citation needed.
@@ИльяИшикаев Just because they say does not mean we should do.
@@Edzhjus
You shouldn't have anything to back your words with? If you say so. I'm above that, though, so I'll pass.
@@ИльяИшикаев What is this? Google Yahoo Bing exist.
“Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.” A. Einstein
I'd seen Momma Atheist in the stream chat but knew nothing about her. Thank you for all that you do for our environment!
i heer der an lawt of ppl tryna wership me er sumthin
am ur lrod n saviur jezuz crust
That's very kind, thank you!
She hasn't really accomplished much
Love this for us. The message here is *god* tier.
i heer der an lawt of ppl tryna wership me er sumthin
am ur lrod n saviur jezuz crust
Jezuz Crust herly shrit iz jezuz crust
You need to capitalize the LAWD WHEN TOU SPEK HES NAM
So the message is non-existent?
Ok ok, I know thats not what you're saying....
@@morpheas768 Okay, you sir have done a, as the kids call it, "power move".
And this will go over the heads of most religious people.
Instead, they'll probably go "HAH! You can't shake my faith!"
@@axfdfaad1800 It went over the heads of 101 already....
Religion does not hold people back. And no. The message did not go over my head. I appreciate the message in this video. On that note however. I have met many people. Who have found peace through faith. God is real. Something created us. It just had to. With all the complexity in the world. In the universe. We could not have possibly just spontaneously popped up.
@@wondergazers2004
And it had to be your god that did it.
After reading the bible it is clear the evil god on those pages is incapable of creating anything.
This video is more of a focus on Religions that *do* hold people back, perhaps your sect of Christianity does not beat people over the head with a constant need to worship god lest they be sent to hell, in which case, I admire such a thing, it is good that religion can help people find peace, and bring people up from their low points in life, but when Religions start to hold people back, that's when they start to be a problem.
I've been going through a pretty intense existential crisis for the last year or so, it's been building since my partner died several years back, and watching your videos helps hugely.
I doubt you'll see this, but if you do, thank you. You've helped me more than you could know.
The videos must take ages and they have had such an enormous impact on me. I regularly re-watch them, the awe-inspiring series of course but also the hilarious, smart and insightful God/Jeffrey standalone videos, and anything else on this channel really. I always find something that suits my mood & helps me navigate things. Maybe gets me through a day where I question whether life is worth living, or whether I am a good enough person.. or just makes me smile & laugh even on the worst of days.
Not sure how to end this so thank you, I hope you and your family stay safe during this crazy time & I just hope you know how important your art is to so many of us.
🌌🪐🖤
I'm sorry I'm not Darkmatter but I wanted to say I'm sorry for your loss and I wish you the best, from one stranger on the internet to another♥️
Your animation has come a hell of a long way since I first started watching you, well done!
This was pretty damn powerful. I've had these same thoughts myself. I can't speak for anyone but myself. I left my religion behind 3 years ago. It was a light grasp anyway for the last 10 years, and the harder I tried to hold onto it, the faster and faster the training wheels came off. Eventually I had to face the reality that the god I was convinced of, didn't exist.
Thank you for putting the struggle it took me a decade to push past into perspective. My life is happy, and productive now because I decide what I want, and answer the the people around me.
So why do you do anything if you don't believe in any objective meaning? If everything is meaningless, and everyone doesn't matter, why do anything?
You don't face reality tho. The reality is not that God does not exists but that we don't know if God exists.
@@kingchickenwing4887 because why not make good memories and cool milestones with the only life you have. Jackie Chan said it best to live forever is through other People doing something so great it can never be forgotten
Instead of blasting past the other riders at the end, it would've had greater impact to have him fall down and get back up.
It would have more meaning to see him struggle at first since he is really used to having wheels, but at the same time it is a short video so there was not much time to build narrative.
Exactly!
Even just being equally paced with the rest of the pack would've fit better with the narrative. He got rid of what was holding him back, and so he was finally able to keep up with everyone else.
It was to show how he not only freed himself but his rapid recovery and his need to get back up to speed with those who have passed him along the way. We who have left faith, have had to catch up and that process can be slow or very fast... depending on the individual.
@@EditDeath He had more to strive for then the unencumbered.
"When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, and I thought as a child. But when I became a man, I put away childish things." (1 Corinthians 13:11)
The Sky Pixie can hardly condemn us for following his own instructions. 😉
Yet your comment is childish. You have actually proven the opposite of what you wanted to prove. That it's not faith that makes you childish.
Blind belief disguised as faith, yes. Real faith is something you actually know exists in reality like a parent, and you put your faith in them as an infant even though you've had no previous experience with anything.
I've always used the analogy of crutches. Just imagine a society where everyone is on crutches. When you learn to walk, the lesson includes information on how the crutches work. You spend your whole life there being told that, without crutches, you'll fall over. And then one day, you see someone WITHOUT crutches. Being concerned for their safety, you try to help them by giving them crutches, because you can't comprehend the nonsense they're spouting about walking without them, even when you see the proof with your own eyes.
"You're so worried about what might be you forgot to worry about what is"
Oof, I felt that. I left religion behind with other childish things when I grew up... years and years ago, yet even I'm still guilty of this. I was so bussy coming up with a contingency plan, to the contingency plan, to the contingency plan... that I failed to implement the plan when it's time had come, and didn't have a contingency for that... Sometimes it's best to just live in the moment. Thanks for the reminder.
Basically my parents not wanting to let me go although I'm in my late 20s. They want me to follow them. They are afraid to see me live alone and think for myself.
"You're so worried about what might be, you're not worried about what is"
This puts the reactionary mentality in such simple terms. Thanks for the vid.
I was surprised when I discovered I could function perfectly well without reading the Bible
or without believing an invisible man with three personalities was hiding in his magic kingdom in the clouds above Mt Sinai.
Thank you for the message at the end. I love my family, including my overly religious mother, but I wish she would let me make my own moral decisions. No matter how hard things get for me, or how heavily she hits me with her faith, I will never stop loving her. I just need her to let me be me. 😌
This guy's biggest issue isn't the wheels, it's him standing around talking to his mother during a bike race
Good observation.
Damn. So accurate. The exact same thoughts ran through my head while I was questioning "God" back in 2015.
Your videos really helped me during those tough times of nihilistic thinking. Even when I was a Christian back in 2012 and stumbled on your videos, I thoroughly enjoyed them and I keep coming back to them.
Your animation has really improved. Keep up the great work. 💜
Darkmatter at it again..luv from 🇰🇪😎
Thank "the heavens" I grew up.
Thank GodIessness
I guess you could say "thank the heathens" xD
When religion becomes a silly game for children and childish adults.
@@JamesRichardWiley
God is a chiId, he never grows up.
"You're so worried about what might be that you're not worried about what is". Pretty much my parents' problem, which is why they're still in the cult and were afraid to accept me for who I am and have thus lost me forever. The fear holding them was and is too great. It was a big blow to me, but I've gotten stronger.
Like a baby bird have been learning to fly and getting more confident, stronger, more independent, and one day I will soar, but they, like eagles with broken wings are vulnerable and being starved not just of development but of life, despite the power and lofty privilege and elevation they've clung to in their lives keep them safe from what they see as beneath them.
I will never be more thankful for this one guy in summer camp who said "but how can YOU believe in god". Nobody ever asked me that question. It was always up to the athiest to disprove Gods existence. When he put the question back on me like that, it made me question from then on.
Man, those wheels must have had so much drag. The guy is a prodigy! Look at him go!
That reminds me I need to learn how to ride a bike already lmao
Same!
Once you learn, you never forget.
Literally the first day i removed my training wheels i fell over. then the day after my body suddenly knew how to ride a bike
@@squeaky1963 I never even tried to learn because I got the lazy lmao
@@kingkazma3246 Not for me unfortunately.
Your animation's getting really good. The legs especially were really smooth in this
Training wheels are a great metaphor. I remember as a kid making the decision to remove mine and things got so much easier - those things were in the way and were only there because of my fear holding me back. It was much scarier going slowly and risking falling over than just committing and coasting. I had a similar experience when I was older and learned to ride a motorcycle beyond trying to manoeuvre at slow speeds around obstacles in a parking lot. And a similar experience in making decisions to finally be myself and move away from the cult and a conservative life that held me back from being my true self and seeking and knowing truth and freedom.
The analogy of this is amazing. As someone who is an atheist yet a part of a religious family, I can relate to this a lot. Every mistake, problem and casualty they always tell me to pray and ask for forgiveness so I can be a better person; To me it seems like lazy parenting.
I'm still doubtful on becoming an atheist because it didn't seem to benefit my mental health. I understand and try to know better but then I burden myself of what's to come after death, the feeling that everyone and everything I've seen will all disappear is sorrowful and, for me, unfathomable. I'm a 16 year old who is afraid of getting older. I calculate and plan my life, it is then I see how short my life is; I reach the age of 45 even before I get an 18 year old child because my mother only allows me to get married at the age of 30.
Despite considering myself an atheist, I always think that a religious person has it better. Live freely and die only thinking about reuniting with your loved ones after death. It is enviable, because after all the pondering I've done, it came to my conclusion that the only thing that matters in life is our emotions, to live a life without guilt. A life you are proud of.
Thank you for posting this video, the misery seems to clear my mind for now.
Honestly the best compromise in the comment section
The man, the Myth, THE NEXT LEVEL CHAD has blessed us yet again
with awesome TRUTH, thank you so much
Gives Virtual * HUG *
I can relate to this perfectly. I didn't leave home until I was 23 (while several folks I graduated high school with had already gone to college, gotten full-time jobs and were able to live independently, etc.), because my mom was clingy and held me back. My sister and a few lifelong family friends were doing the same thing, but my mom was the worst. She held me back because she was scared of "not being able to protect me" and "didn't want me to get hurt" by mean people who might take advantage of me, or whatever else (turns out my mom herself is also a big giver and people pleaser, so gee I wonder where I get the excessive niceness from LOL).
Guess what though? I had already been hurt by mean unfriendly people, many times! A lot of those times, it was at school. Had my mom wanted to protect me from those kind of people while I was still growing up, as badly as she did after I had grown up and was ready to make the most of it, she would've pulled me out of public school and had me home-schooled.
I love my mom and those friends with all my heart, but the fact that they were so clingy for so long when I was ready to make the most of having grown up...you know what I mean, right? LOL In fact, I even moved to a different part of the country after completing my enlistment in the US Army, because I downright refuse to move anywhere near closer to my hometown (or at least I strongly prefer not to).
I fell like his animations keep getting better and better
I'm atheist and have struggled through depression and social anxiety. I overthink lots of things, I have trouble making friends, talking to girls. Many times I've asked what is the meaning and purpose of life. I am the only atheist in my family and they all seem to talk behind my back. Saying that bad things happen to me because I walked away from the faith. That many girls don't think like me and that's why it will be hard for me to fall in love. I have lifelong habit of overthinking things and running away from problems. I've been diagnosed with mild depression and anxety, mild bipolar disorder and among other things. I really wanted to be successful at one point and was in college studying for my bachelor's but halfway through everything fell apart. Everything.
I wish I could share my entire story with someone who would listen and help me take steps to achieving the life I want and deserve. How can I turn the spineless child that I am into a proud independent man. One who can be happy and not have a care in the world what others think? How can I find meaning in life as an atheist? What is the point of doing anything?
I tried different reasons but I'm just not motivated to do anything anymore after I became atheist. I also don't want to go back to religion , partly out of pride. At this point I don't care about either point of view I just wish I was happy and successful.
I don't know what I ask, or what I want. I just feel lost and wish things would end already. I've had dreams of my deaths and everytime I would embrace it. But when I wake up I feel amazed yet disappointed at how I reacted in that simulation. Any near death experience I ever had in the last two years I have embraced eagerly. I'm 22. And I hate everything some days. Not all days. I try to learn how to appreciate what I have. I seek mental help. I struggle with people, I feel distant from them. I am trying to be positive. And it's difficult. I hear that most people aren't happy with their lives. So few make it past that door. I used to think that passegeway was guaranteed to me as my rite of passage.
I don't know what it is I want in life.
I am just confused
If I use the analogy of the video, it sounds like you're someone who always used the extra wheels, but recently and abruptly lost them, and now, you have to learn how to bike by yourself on a stony path. It's hard, it hurts, and sometimes it feels like you're never gonna make it.
But you're gonna make it. As long as you don't give up, someday, you're gonna make it.
Just like you learned how to use a bike when you were a kid.
I don't know what will help you, since I'm just a stranger, but maybe a therapist could help (if you don't already see someone of course)? They're here to listen and help you take steps to achieving the life you want and deserve, after all. And, I'm not a professional, but if you're really not motivated by anything then there's a chance you have a serious depression and need the help of a doctor.
Also, I don't know if you're interested, by I know a TH-cam channel that talks about psychology, mental health, and give tips and resources for those in need: th-cam.com/channels/kJEpR7JmS36tajD34Gp4VA.html and another one that gives tips to be more confident and better at social interactions: th-cam.com/channels/U_W0oE_ock8bWKjALiGs8Q.html maybe it can help, I don't know.
I tend to over-analyze and I have a strong social anxiety as well, so I struggle with socializing too. I'm not gonna say I understand your situation, but I think I can understand some of your struggles. And I can say that, for me at least, it gets better. It takes time, but now I have a psychologist who helps me deal with my anxiety, a few groups of people where I feel like I belong, and things that make me happy to be alive.
I hope this helps. I don't think I can do much, but if you want, I can listen if you need to talk, or tell you more about my personal experience. Don't hesitate to tell me, and I wish you the best.
The metaphor of religion being a set of training wheels is perfect. Thousands of years ago, our species created and used religion as a tool, our way of maintaining some degree of order in our civilization. A placeholder to comfort our fears, doubts and insecurities about the unknown. But now, I feel like we have reached our "teenage" years as a species. Our minds, behaviors, and beliefs are *starting* to evolve, as a natural result of our explosion of communication technology (such as the internet where you are reading this), and we are riding this wave of enlightenment from the application of the scientific method. Science isn't a replacement for religion, or an enemy of it, any more than a bicycle is the enemy of a tricycle. Science, reason, and questioning have proven more valuable to us than religion ever has. Gotta admit though- We should thank Christianity for giving us gorgeous, gigantic, badass architecture. Cathedrals, man. Cathedrals. Thanks, Jesus!
Secularism did a lot of things wrong. But their grand architecture was never one of them
@47 IQ The mass media is itself divided and contradictory. We are amidst strange beings, in a strange land. The very fabric wavers, and opinions shift and obscure. Why not join together, and fight alongside one another amidst this perilous journey?
I have to smile at the message of this video. I made one addressing the same thing years ago on my channel. It is one of my favorites.
Kinda reductive don't you think.
This is really good 👍
As an Atheist I also see that religion gives hope (false hope, but hope) and keeps the some of the psychopaths from acting out. It is now on the decline however it is been replaced by Critical race theory and Postmodernism which appears almost a religion with their presuppositional thinking.
I was brought up in a religious household and it taught me a lot of useful things that I still hold true to this day. "Love all and treat them with kindness, don't judge anyone remorselessly, live and let live... It's not anyone's place to look down on someone for believing differently than anyone else, however it is everyone's place to treat others how we would want to be treated. Bring harm to none, do what you will. Look inward to your own self before looking into others. Know thyself and to thine own self be true." These are teachings from a variety of faiths from across the world. I was never able to let go of the concept of an unseen power and I've been trying to for a long time. I've seen experienced too much to just throw away the concept of that. I've seen too many coincidences, synchronicities and unexplainable freak occurrences to just throw aside the concept of some form of supernatural power within the universe, be it a god of some kind or something similar to The Force of Star Wars. I guess I'm more of an agnostic than an atheist. Your videos are great nonetheless. Thank you.
Beautiful -
Those lingering fragmented training wheels where absolutely Touching
Thanks, Dark Matter! What an awesome illustration to describe how religion may AND may not benefit humanity. Like those training wheels, I personally used and then outgrew my family religion.
Now my family shuns me.
But I could never return to those "training wheels" if I want to grow and learn.💗
I am from Pakistan and live in a very religious Muslim society. My grandfather was a prominent Islamic cleric my mother and wife are also very fundamentalist Muslims. I do act like I am good Muslim but from inside I totally disagree Muslims teaching I spent more than 4 years in a religious school (madrassah) before starting proper schooling now i am 35 years old and in these years I only worship God five times prayers daily, countless other daily rituals prescribed by our religious teachers. I destroyed my life I could learn other valuable skills and become a valuable citizen but these religious teachers destroyed my youth . I have a job and a family but I am empty and frustrated I want another life in which I will learn advance sciences and help humanity .
Moral of the story: religion was stopping him from taking performance enhancing drugs.
It's just a joke. Excellent message.
This might be my favorite comment ever.
That's MY mom playing the mom on my favorite atheist channel! This is soooooo cool! You rock, DarkMatter!
Yessssss Dark Matter. Thank u so much for these videos. It took me 38 years to leave the cult I was born into. Now I’m starting my life all over again.
I'm from Nigeria, the top religions here are Christianity and Islam, if you're anything different you're an outcast, I've been taught to fear a lot of things, last year I became agnostic because things weren't making much sense to me, I get scared of crossing over to the atheist side because of the fear instilled in me, but when I watch some of your videos, it encourages me to be brave and break free, thank you from a 19 years old female Nigerian ❤️
I'm a 14 year old Nigerian what u said is so true I personally think some people don't believe but are too afraid to tell people sha
@@hushpupilavish5115 first of I'm proud of you for breaking free, even if it's just a little bit, that takes courage ❤️. Stay safe, if you're in the northern area, please be extra safe😅❤️
Good analogy, I had this concept in the back of my head and I'm glad to see it expressed in this video
I would extend this metaphor beyond just the reactionary ideology of Abrahamic religion. The training wheels are also an apt metaphor for capitalism, which has served a useful purpose in developing the industrial capacity needed to climb out of the Malthusian poverty trap but has now outlived that purpose and has held humanity back for decades.
"If things don't change, they'll never get better."
But first we must find a better system because although capitalism is shitty we dont have a better alternative.
@@erikburzinski8248 agreed. Socialism only works when all of the workforce is automated, and we're not quite there yet. 'Slave' Class is somewhat necessary to maintain any system other than Capitalism. Capitalism is at least self-sufficient.
Lmao comrade
Bro this video just about made me fucking cry. I'm a grown ass 29 year old man and don't ever cry. Recently deconverted and this is extremely moving. Thank you brother. I will be a patron from now on people need to see your work.
I usually come to your channel to laugh (and think), not to cry. DarkMatter2525, that was beautiful.
It is sad that almost anything good or useful in life I've learned on my own. Those kids that have parents that teach the ins and outs of life have a huge advantage over those who's parents just force them into church.
I love the comparison of training wheels to people believing in gods.
religion provided us cohesion, laws, and a sense of purpose when we were first emerging from the caves and woods and began to cultivate crops and build cities for the first time. it kept humanity together when nothing else but brute force could. but now, humanity is no longer inches from collapse back into the stone age, we no longer need religious law or religious fulfillment because we have more than just the clothes on our backs, a measly grain ration and a crumbling mud hut that floods in storms. we have advanced beyond it, yet by it's very design it was meant to be extremely resilient to change. that was the point, after all. to design a social system that was stable and very, very difficult to break. while that was once a great strength of religion it is now it's most fundamental flaw and causes so much bloodshed today.
Αριστούργημα! I am very pleased that I discovered you. Much Love from Greece 🇬🇷🇪🇺💙
Wow!! This is so so wonderful!! Thanks a lot DarkMatter!
Beautiful allegory, both in images and script.
Special mention to the power-line pole. ;)
For any of you wondering what the music is, it’s “Breath In The Light” by Stellardome
You are my hero! I was wonderung and Shazam couldn`t find it :)
Thanks, I was searching for this song.
Dammit how dare you make me cry with a less than 4 mins video, idk if also relating that i never was able to bike without the training wheels was a factor
An amazing quote....so powerful. I read when the lockdown was at its peak....."All the preachers, God-men, healers are waiting for the Covid-19 situation to end, so that they can start their miracles again" Haha!
So awesome that he had to BREAK the training wheels off, as opposed to having them properly removed. That is exactly how it is breaking free from religion, especially high-control cults.
I have no words to describe my admiration for this genuis of a man! Darkmatter, dude for me you're one of the wisest men on earth! My own youtube "oracle"😉
Best wishes and regards from a huge fan from germany!!!❤
Finally you are back. We have been waiting for this for months.
NO THUMBS DOWN,GUESS PAT ROBERTSON HASNT BEEN ALERTED TO NEW VIDEO LMAO
Guess someone send him an alert because there's 54 dislikes now lol
Slowed to 64
But 3.9k 👍
Great analogy, and I love the fact you used sustainable transport and not something like a bike to a car or an old sub-compact to a modern SUV.
When I first saw the title and thumbnail I thought it was going to be on the subject of how great it would be if the rapture actually happened, and with all the fish sticker toting trucks, SUVs and soccer mom minivans off the road how unpolluted the air would be and how pleasant it would be to cycle everywhere!
You're a true genius, man. I'm in tears at the end of Power Corrupts Part 16 right now because you are a true superhero. Do not underestimate the work you're doing! You're making the truth more palatable and entertaining for newcomers and motivating other fighters against ignorance! We will see to it somehow that your work is preserved!
1:24 Wow. I like the way how Darkmatter2525 symbolized it. How creative. 👍
43 seconds in and already lovin it
The video could have just ended there and it would have been perfect haha
JustOneQuestion oh definitely
As a life long cyclist, this is great. 👍
These videos are something else. I stumbled upon him because of the Amazing Atheist collaboration and I believe this channel was in the middle of the “power corrupts” series. I was an atheist since I was a child. Something never quite sat right with me about it. Then I asked myself a simple question, “if one says certain gods aren’t real what makes the ones of the Abrahamic religions real.” Then as I got older I became more staunch in these beliefs. It’s thanks to this channel over the years I’ve been able to put things into words for people in ways I couldn’t before. So thank you for teaching me and helping me grow not only as person but as a someone who isn’t afraid to think and challenge the norms of society.
Brilliant, but simple analogy. In my case, it was more like I was dragging a breeze block. The weight has been lifted.
Freedom from religion is all I ask for.
Despite my own religious beliefs, I cannot argue against an atheist worldview. I respect you, DarkMatter, and all other atheists out there, because I cannot prove my gods exist, just as you cannot disprove it. Let secularism dictate the bigger things in the world; religion must be personal, so that everyone may enjoy life to it's fullest.
I like the way you think
Missed u bro!
Thank you, this is the kind of higher intellectual thinking that I know and love from your site.
Today on September 15th my best friend decided to end our 9 years and 15 days friendship because nothing was holding us together exept habit. I belive it's for the better since as I was holding him back, he was holding me back either. Today my life is changing and I feel freed from the out-of-date friendship. The path ahead me is unknown though walking it is necessary for change, even if this video is a metaphor for religion it bears a permanent truth about closing old chapters to begin a new life and I'm thankful for that.
Thank you DarkMatter. I wish that you and everybody in the world will find their own, new path in life.
Yes but what are they riding to finish? The race will never end and it was all pointless... The wheels and the bike in general never mattered in your universe.
Might want to throw a couple of non-abrahamic symbols on there. I've noticed that an increasing number of people seem to be making the mistake that it's only some religions that are harmful. There's 8 on your training wheel, so the pentagram, dharmachakra, om, yin-yang and khanda would be the most important additions IMO.
My biggest fear was being left behind on judgment day
Now I fear my friends being left behind in humanity's awakening
Love your work as always DM! Always impressive with the detail you put into all of these clips. I always wondered how the best way to commumicate this exact sentiment to religious people without making them feel attacked personally.
Many thanks to YOU for this piece of art.
As a Latin American, in a region where religion is pushed down everyone's minds, brainwashing kids since they're little by the school or their families, in media, in everyday activities, in the government, etc. Religion always kept me just like this cycler. And if being atheist is already horrible here, it's worse being a lesbian. After leaving supernatural feelings and beliefs behind, and getting each time closer to truth and knowledge, your life truly changes for the better. There's no one manipulating you into believing what they say so just because they say it's true, into shaming you for every little part of your life, into using fantasy beliefs to justify hatred and marginalization. Liberation from religion, therefore myths and supernatural beliefs, it's truly liberating.
This episode was a piece of Art. Bravo man, bravo.
I see DarkMatter, I click right away
Yes, always waiting for his videos
Dude didn't even properly remove them lol.
Short and sweet. Definitely one of your most shareable videos. Simple concept to understand with good execution.
One of the most inspiring videos out there.
Religion aside. It applies to most things in your life.
Really thought provoking short animation.
Darkmayyer do more of those too.