Once you establish that organized religion is a con....which, of course, it is.....then you have to address the next question: why are these con artists operating in a tax free environment? It's long past time for that to stop.
because most gov is religion. they use to be in the same building. then they evolved to keep the rule by violence and rule by shame as two separate corporations. They both exploit ignorance, fear, uncertainty, control of education, identifty-politics, and apathy
What mean of life if there no God what the point of it ... why not just start killing stealing whoever annoys u and taking whatever u want . Everything is grey now... without God there no boundaries who makes up boudaries and why the fuck shouldn't there just civil war and let the strongest smartest ppl rule
Yup! Man made global warming is a perfect example fools! The beaches of FL are just as dry today as they were 30 years ago and the polar bear population is greater now than it's been in 60 years. These were the two main items they used to scare the *%)$ out of you to start the con. You've been fooled fools.
As a 12 year old Roman Catholic altar-boy I already had serious doubts about religion. I mean, within 1 square kilometre of my suburb in Kimberley, South Africa, there were a dozen-odd churches, temples and mosques and it all appeared totally nonsensical to me, observing every adherent walking around with a sense of superior religious bearing over others. Thanks to Galileo's recantation under threat of death by The Inquisition - during an assignment on astronomy in my 10th Grade - I completely gave up on religion. I believe every person should find his/her own relationship with God/Nature/Providence. This way nobody can bag and label you. All that matters is that you find a spiritual construct that works for you, that makes you live a meaningful and useful life. People should be judged on their societal behaviour and not on their spiritual beliefs. Children are possessed of this free spirit, until their parents coerce them into their religious system. Religion is a big scam.
That’s about the age when most children realize the hypocrisy, the lies and outright insanity of teaching hate via religion. Don’t teach your children to hate the other and follow the golden rule. Now someone please incarcerate maga lardo.
Your doubts about religion are reality. If there was a real God, he would love us; not punish us. We would not suffer with wars, famine, accidents, sickness, etc. Money would be abundant and we would have robots do all the hard work for us.
@@timothypachonka8642 Do you mean that religions have a worse reputation for killing the so called 'infidels'? Historically this would be true (thinking about the Christian crusades). But in modern times religious killing seems limited to Muslim extremists.
No, I meant that once a cult leader dies, however the reason, if the followers continue to successfully recruit new adherents and perpetuate the ideology, it can turn to a religion. I don’t mean this as a knock on those who seek something deeper in life, but remember most people early on in the region thought of Christianity as a cult. When did the Mormons shift from one to the other? What did the Zoroastrians or Akkadians think of the Hebrews originally? I wasn’t implying violence perpetrated by a cult.
@@timothypachonka8642 You assume that the cult leader 'knows it is all BS'. I'm not sure this is always the case. I think, that some of them suffer from a serious messiah complex.
Exactly! Look at the Mormons… total outcasts from “mainstream” until they grew in membership size, financial assets and political power. Then they are considered Christians by the big power aggregators in our society. This is glossed over with “rank and file” and dealt with at the top only.
The last time I attended a church service was in 1967.... when I was eighteen. One Sunday morning, our Minister was a no-show. The congregation was getting anxious to know what happened to our preacher. We all found out about a week later. The church's building fund account at the local savings and loan had been zeroed-out. Our preacher was gone and so was $250,000 ! He was apprehended by the U.S. Border Patrol trying to escape into Mexico. Talk about a con artist.... this guy had over 150 people totally convinced that he was truly "a man of God".
@@markbeale7390 - don't know the outcome of this case... I had moved to San Diego by then and never asked my parents what happened to the $$. This preacher had been siphoning off money from the Savings & Loan acct for years. I do remember that they said he was indicted and prosecuted. There are so many bad apples in organized religion that nobody ever hears about..... it''s nearly always about the "big fish" - see my comment below....
What a surprise? I remember in Conyers, GA, the Church in the Now, was like a movie theater. I went there because my neighbor invited is to go. Next thing you know my neighbor was writing a check to the church for 10% of her last paycheck. I had a bad feeling about the preacher. Long story short, 3 years later, the preacher resigned after a scandal where he was having sex with several women in his parish to heal them and sav them. I only go the the Greek Orthodox church at Easter to get to see all the luxury vehicles parked outside the church. Inside the church, the owners of those cars only put in $1.00 in the tray that is passed around. Most don't pay dues or tithe. The church makes most of their money from the annual Greek Festival, so all we need to do is put in 6 hours of our time to help once a year and all our expenses for the church are paid for. Plus, our church looks nicer than all other churches in our town. Greeks are financially savvy. Americans should learn from that. The Greek church is a social hall, ha ha!
There are bad actors in every walk of life… bad cops, doctors, lawyers, firemen, accountants, and politicians…..clergymen are no different. There are lots of anecdotals of bad clergy, but scientifically it is not a measure of the entire cohort. Just like with any walk of life, most of the practitioners are as genuine as they can be, however there is a smaller but significant percentage of faulty actors. Thus, there are misconceptions among the many ppl postings here; meaning that whether or not there are crooked clergymen does not argue for or against the existence of a higher being. One is independent of the other.
I read a book in college called "The Evolution of God". Long story short, the book goes into a deep analysis of the origins of religion. Something that I took away from is very similar to what she is saying. Religion was and is manipulated by humans to reap some advantage wether that is political, financial, or emotional.
Matthew Morton The bible lol I used to be really into religion (Evangelical Christian) before college. As much as even leading bible study groups. I guess i grew out of it. The evol of god book was for a philosophy class that focused into the idea of god. I think that when you follow a religious dogma it can be taboo to even mention other ideas or beliefs.
"God all powerful" doesn't handle money at all. Human beings do. Likewise, Science does precisely nothing by itself. It takes a scientist to weaponize microbes and develop ways to incinerate millions of people.
Nope. The Bible sets a standard of a tithe, ten percent in the Old Testament. In the New Testament, the standard is to be generous, not just to the church but to the poor, the sick, and the helpless. And the giving is voluntary. Government on the other hand, uses force and always has its hand reaching deeper into your wallet.
@@TheBeverly7 Obviously you aren't either a Bible reader or a giver so why do you care? Giving to a church, like any other nonprofit is a voluntary activity. Before you get all self righteous, you should actually check out the budgets of churches. There are s lot of things that churches support outside of the Sunday morning sermon: homeless shelters, food pantries, battered women's shelters, hospitals, orphanages, schools, universities, drug rehab programs, and a at least a couple of hundred other ministries.
@@ThatGuy-zu7ze I don't think wisdom is exclusive to age. You can be wise and young or wise and old. Its up to your perception. But wisdom in itself defined doesn't relate to age, it relates to knowledge... the problem with the statement in an of itself is implying that there aren't wise people who are religious. I would go with that next time. Lol
@@ThatGuy-zu7ze It couldn't have anything to do with the demise of religion in the last 60 years, and the mass of infomation available to expose, and question religious lies in todays world . It has always been the case the more educated a person is the less religious one is, and people are more informed today, if not better educated. I also think as you get older, and you have to face your own mortality your more inclined to except Pascal's wager.
great video. Very thought provoking and I recognized many parallels between religious con artists and the con artist who held office recently. he made people feel better. he gave a waning majority meaning and importance again and they're willing to burn everything down for that meaning and feeling. Also, you said we need bonding and trust for a healthy society. Many in power are working to undermine that American bond and break us up to create an unhealthy society that will keep them enriched and in power. Well done!
Outstanding, thx! Actually most anything that gives folks a sense of 'meaning' and purpose' is fine... the 'problem' starts when they *_demand_* that everyone else must also have the same 'purpose'.
Don't you think it is disturbing that NOT ONE MORAL OR PHILOSOPHER ASKS WHAT THIS PURPOSE IS? Philosophers constantly wonder why we are here, what is the purpose of life, but NONE ask what is the purpose of an eternal existence sponging off a Sugar daddy being - sitting about doing nothing NOT ONE ASKS WHAT THIS GRAND PLAN OF GOD IS ALL ABOUT There are more than just religious nuts pushing these ideas - that is frightening
I agree. I have met people who are exemplary on so many levels because religion is their rock. I admire and envy them. BUT, when I see the atrocities many people suffer, even at the hands of their own religion or someone else's, I can't believe a kind, omnipotent being can allow these atrocities because there is a greater spiritual motive that we don't understand. Saw Jim Baker on some religion channel hawking survivalist supplies. What a grifter.
@@geraniaceae4470 Have come to the conclusion that 'Freedom' scares the hell out of a lot of folks... so they actually *_want_* a 'Strong Leader', a kinda 'Daddy' figure who'll make them feel 'safe & secure'. And so much the better if he can also boost their self-esteem by making 'em feeling 'Special'... Saved, The Chosen, Winners, whatever.
Bad, corrupt religious leaders have a long, dark history feeding on the carcasses of their followers. But that says nothing about the root of religion. All the religions of God were pure and good at their start. They became corrupt and rotten because man added his own crap to it.
God already had you figured out long ago.... 1 The fool has said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that does good. 2 The LORD looked down from heaven on the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. 3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that does good, no, not one. AKJV - Psalm 14:1 - AKJV - Psalm 14:3
@@HiggaionSelah_EWFMG what does he say about the majority of the people in the world who don't know anything about this god? does he have them figured out also?
@@phishfearme2 yes I highly recommend 'Conflict of the Ages' series of five books by Christian Author Ellen G. White..... "Patriarchs and Prophets" "Prophets and Kings" "The Desire of Ages" " The Acts of the Apostles" "The Great Controversy between Christ and Satan" Ellen G.White, 1888, rev.1911
@@phishfearme2 in the End.. there will never be a good excuse to feign Ignorance.... 1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows his handiwork. 2 Day to day utters speech, and night to night shows knowledge. 3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. 4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them has he set a tabernacle for the sun, 5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoices as a strong man to run a race. 6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit to the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. 7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. 8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, yes, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 11 Moreover by them is your servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. 12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse you me from secret faults. 13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. 14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. AKJV - Psalm 19:1 - AKJV - Psalm 19:14 Read my recommended writings ❕
Don't automatically be polite and always ask, "Why is this person saying this to me, or doing this?" Trust is earned only by consistent actions over time. What's astonishing is how many people who'd divorce their spouse at the first betrayal will accept endless betrayals from their church or cult leader yet remain utterly loyal and devoted.
History, one of the most important courses in school but sadly also the most neglected one. It exposes so nice the many lies people have invented to achieve and hold power.
If DJT had not been propped up by the voters on the extreme right wing and found himself in the office of POTUS.... he could have opted for a Televangelist (he almost achieved that status on his Apprentice show). But.... failing politics.... he could just go back to Real Estate Development in NYC.... where he had a 50 year record as COofNYC.....!
@@auseryt I am pretty sure you can cover a lot of issues with, for example, philosophy. It is just a different approach. History, as we all know, is about to repeat itself. Knowing about it rarely helps, otherwise we would not still have wars etc. That's mainly because a bunch of information isn't doing anything yet, you also need to interpret that, conclude from that and work out alternative paths. That's a LOT of brain work and usually nothing of that is taught in history class. You actually need many of those other courses, starting with your language and ending with things like philosophy and ethics. Virtualyl everything else will be used as well, for example knowing geography helps understanding what advantages and disadvantages countries have which shapes their geopolitical motivations. Psychology plays ALOT into decision making, perception and whatnot and that's a class you don't get offered in school at all. No single class will ever be more important than others in a world where everything is connected.
Philosophy is questions that may never be answered. Religion is answers that may never be questioned. "Most sermons sound to me like commercials - but I can't make out whether God is the Sponsor or the Product." ~Mignon McLaughlin, The Second Neurotic's Notebook, 1966
interesting indeed, everyone sells some meaning n purpose ... everyone has a commercial made for his product ... some even sell "there is no purpose and there should be no purpose" ... orange is new black
“Religion has actually convinced people that there is an invisible man, living in the sky, who watches everything you do, every minute of every day; and the invisible man has a special list of 10 things he does not want you to do; and if you do any of these 10 things, he has a special place, full of fire and smoke and burning and torture and anguish, where he will send you to live and suffer and burn and choke and scream and cry, forever and ever, until the end of time. But he loves you. He loves you. He loves you and he needs money.” - George Carlin
And these are the top religions of the 21st century - with Gods who act like Putin, Saddam - "Support me I will reward you, do not, I will make you suffer" Imagine that - in the 21st century the top Gods of the FREE WORLD are Putin & Saddam! The very same words coming out of Putin's or Saddam's mouth and bright minds say, "What a disgusting person" The very same bright minds when they hear these same words coming out of religious people say, "Praise the Lord!" So much for all our education, intelligence and morals
@@nikolayilyin1819 Carlin was being sarcastically honest. Religions are always asking for money for their god as apparently this "all knowing and all powerful" diety is always demanding money from its followers. These gods always demand money for admission to their cults. Really the money is used to support their "spokespersons" many times opulent lifestyles. Televangelists are some of the biggest con men and women in the world.
I’ve said for a long time that “Man’s fear of death is what allows religions thrive.” Remove that fear and need or desire for religion completely collapses.
And the material world has a surprising amount of those. Weird paradoxes abound in science and everyday wisdom. Example - the best way to help somebody with a continuing alcohol problem is to stop paying for their daily needs.
@@ixlnxs "It (Bible) is full of interest. It has noble poetry in it; and some clever fables; and some blood-drenched history; and some good morals; and a wealth of obscenity; and upwards of a thousand lies." Mark Twain
@@AtamMardes I was talking about the earlier quote. That was used long before. But Americans are like that: if they don't know who said something, they will atribute it to Twain. The rest of the world uses Gandhi.
@@domeonce9006 No. All religion is silly, but I do like Ra. Ra rocks. Well, Thor and Zeus are pretty cool too. Abrahamic religions kinda suck. Mostly just ripoffs of previous religions with very little new material. Boring. I prefer mythologies that are original. Scientology is like a really lame sci-fi story (surprise?), but at least it's all new material.
I think Star Trek is a great religion. Spock is the only religious leader that is not a con artist. Heck, have you ever seen his cartoons on fallacious arguments? Trumpers need to be reprogrammed with these cartoons.
@@domeonce9006 I don't think she's saying religion is "bad". Just that it's not true - a con. Religious belief is actually good for many people. It makes them happier and guides them to make better life choices. It's just not providing true (reality-based) answers to questions of causality.
I once spent an entire year in a Christian rehab. And I asked my counselor, "So, if you die without claiming your allegiance to Jesus, you won't get into heaven?" His answer was, "No. No, you won't." And then I asked him, "Well, what about tribes who have never been exposed to Christianity? Even though they were created by God they have never ever seen the bible." His answer: "God needs to fill Hell with somebody." Unlike the bible, this is a true story.
And an answer like that is one of the many reasons I could never follow a God that does not reward good souls and good deeds simply because they did not believe in its specific religion. And considering there have been an estimated 80-100 billion people who have ever lived and possibly a good half of them having existed since before Christianity, that's a lot of humans in hell because God waited until a little over 2000 years ago to create the ONE TRUE FAITH. Also, that's a douche answer from that counselor no matter which way you look at it.
Such a God would be unjust and should not be worshipped. He would be burning billions people for all eternity for a crime they didn’t know they were committing. What’s more there are 45,000+ denominations of Christianity today (and one more tomorrow), most of whom are saying they’re the only ones that are right. So not only is such a God burning people for a crime they don’t know they’re committing, he’s burning billions for a crime they are actively trying not to commit, but don’t know they are doing it wrong! Live a good and virtuous life. If there is a God and he is good, then he will not care how pious and devout you’ve been, but will welcome you to heaven when you die based on the virtues by which you’ve lived your life. If there is a God and he does care which denomination of which religion you belong to, then he is an unjust God who burns billions for not worshiping him in exactly the way he wanted to be worshiped, and you should not worship him in the first place. The ultimate proof against the propaganda of such a God’s goodness would be to send an otherwise virtuous person to Hell for not being a sycophant. If there is no God, then when you die you will be gone, but you will be remembered by those who knew you when you were alive, those who live in after you die. Your legacy will be shaped by the values by which you lived your life. Don’t you want your legacy to be a good one?
This is the same issue that started my disassociation from organized religion. We (as Christians) we’re charged with spreading the Word to the world, but if we failed to reach someone in Africa or Asia, that someone would pay the price by going to hell for eternity. That disgusting and illogical reasoning made no moral sense.
@@joanfregapane8683 The very idea of Hell makes no moral sense. It's an infinite punishment for finite offences. And what's the purpose of punishing people who can never atone, be forgiven, or be rehabilitated? It's pointless cruelty.
I saw a lot of fundamentalist recruiting back in my College days (Campus Crusade for Christ), and I argued with them about people who shared similar views about the unconverted, even if they lived a good and moral life. I wasn't particularly religious, but my parents attended church on a semi regular basis, and we went to Sunday School as kids. I saw several of my high school friends get sucked down the rabbit hole and the results were premature marriages, educations cut short, and in general missing out on the richness of life. A lot of them were like me, bright but socially awkward, and I seemed to be the target of everyone on campus looking to "Save Souls". I felt guilty about not being a True Believer, but I knew enough about the history of religion and of all the wars and atrocities committed in the name of organized religion. After being away from church for years, I gave church a couple of tries, but each time the once familiar rituals of my mainstream Protestant upbringing seemed more strange and alien looking in from the outside. I also saw the hypocrisy, and how it seemed the most faithful were the ones most screwed over by fate.I also saw firsthand that the church wasn't the altruistic institution it tries to make itself out to be. I saw examples of scholarships going to well-off families that contributed heavily to the church, or to students going to Seminary rather than the deserving and needy, but I think the last straw was the Sunday after September 11, and the thoughts and prayers and platitudes being offered. I was devastated as anyone by what happened but after reflection of my own thoughts I gave up trying to rationalizing it in a religious context. In 2008 I had what people call a Near Death experience coming out of brain tumor surgery. Against all odds I recovered mostly intact, and stayed cancer free, now going on 15 years. I really found it hard to thank God for my recovery, if he was so merciful why did I get this scourge to begin with? Everybody offered their thoughts and prayers I was polite and indulged them and I admit I said a quite a few to myself. My Mom had gone through a similar experience when she had a miscarriage prior to having me saying she thought her soul was going to heaven but God told her to go back and finish her work. All I know is I blacked out when my heart stopped, and as I came back to, my consciousness slowly returned as blood fresh blood made its way into my brain. I wish I could believe, but pretending to believe is being dishonest. I am afraid that God is Dead, and I grieve over that.
She is a writer with expertise in psychology, Sherlock Holmes and poker, not in religion nor history. As she has a hammer, she only see nails. Martin Luther King Jr., the Dalai Lama, Pope Francis, anyone? The Rohingya people?
@@jan2000nl Aren't you aware that many people opposing Trump are religious, including pastors? That the only GOP senator that voted for his conviction did it for religious reasons? And most of all, that Trumpist evangelicals aren't the measure of all the American Christians, and NOT the measure of all religious people in the world?
I stopped being religious from being raised that way the moment I learned about cults and put 1 and 1 together. It's really not that hard. Nowadays I see people going over the deep religious end mostly when they lose a loved one - They might have been hard sinners before, but the moment they just can't accept that the person is gone - There's the preachers telling them: "Hey! It's okay - You will see them again in the next life. Now give me your money!" And then of course they completely and utterly reject me if I express my own opinions. They just can't let go.
I learned about cults and cultism in bible college. Talk about irony. Seriously, if more people talked about irony I think they would understand it better. We should have irony colleges.
Makes me curious why one person is susceptible and another is not. I lost my only child and religion's nonsense about seeing him again in the afterlife has no pull on me whatsoever. I know religion is a con and would rather live in the real world--how can some people swallow that crap?
Humans are born empathetic creatures. And... they need to be nurtured by parents to bring out those empathetic qualities. If the parents don't do that, they risk raising psychopathic or sociopathic children. The "Golden Rule" many assume is in the Bible for a reason. But it is also what needs to be taught to children at the youngest ages..... to bring out those natural empathetic qualities of youth.
I'm not religious but I think that actually religion has helped giving humans a way to control our instincts and our worse behaviors and helped to promote compassion and altruism
Don't you think religion is the best and longest-running ponzi-scheme? "he loves you and he wants you to join his religion, then he will reward you with pleasures of the flesh for eternity. But if you don't support him, he has to burn you in hell! Do you want to end up in hell?" Amazing to see so many not get incredibly offended that their life means nothing, who they are means nothing - only their religion matters So we have billions of Atheists, Hindus, Buddhists - old people, children, even babies? pregnant women - all set apart based on belief and dumped into gas chambers in hell That is exactly what happened to the Jews under the Nazis Who they were as people did not matter - all that mattered was their belief & that got them dumped into gas chambers But religion can PROMOTE THE SAME NAZI IDEAS OPENLY! Simply amazing! NOT ONE MEDIA MEMBER OR EDUCATED PERSON ASKS WHY IS GOD ACTING LIKE A PUTIN, A SADDAM? "VOTE FOR ME I WILL REWARD YOU, IF YOU DO NOT YOU WILL SUFFER"???? AMAZING! NOT ONE PERSON!
There is a good way to test whether the answers for your questions are legitimate. Ask yourself, "Does this answer pave way for new ideas and more questions, or does it close me off from new opportunities?" If it closes you off, then it's wrong.
Agree. I've said, the following he has developed is amazingly cult-like. He said it himself and we laughed "he could shoot someone" and not lose any followers. Absolutely TRUE. Nuts, but true.
@@Lifeistooshort67 Greed and Power are his religion.... and, he has been practicing his religion for the past 50+ years developing Real Estate in NYC and elsewhere..... and developing his narcissism personality disorder....
Excellent! I would add that once your realize you’ve been coned it’s okay to feel shame, sadness, and anger. It is then, you can move on and learn to trust yourself and help others to be aware of cults, cons, and religions.
I have tried with spectacular failure! I keep asking - What does one DO In Heaven? Is heaven like one vast Retirement Home? People just shuffling about, chatting with angels - and what exactly does one chat? There is nothing going on! And then what about the people down here? Their loved ones - could they be suffering/starving/homeless/jobless/sick? Do these people not care anymore? And when I ask these questions, theists just run away! They prefer to remain blind to these questions! prefer to live in a fantasy! WHAT IS MORE SHOCKING TO ME IS THAT THE MEDIA & THE EDUCATED AS WELL AS THE MORAL ARE IN THIS PONZI-SCHEME! NOT ONE MEDIA PERSON WILL ASK THE QUESTIONS THAT I AM ASKING! They ask questions that religious people are happy to answer - will we be happy in heaven? Will i see my loved ones again? Just 2 questions asked over and over!
The “trust” part of this strikes hard. I have a daughter that was taken from her bio mom at an early age. That she will not “trust” is such a huge (and understandable) fault in her maturing. Don’t trust mom, dad, sibs, teachers, therapists, ... Imagine
how does a religion differ from a cult? VOLUME, VOLUME, VOLUME. numbers matter - if only a few people believe supernatural crap, it's a cult. millions believing makes the same supernatural crap a religion
My favourite definition of "cult".......Scholar Megan Goodwin defined the term cult, when used by the layperson, as often being a shorthand for a "religion I don't like."
@@billgreen576 It doesn't - small numbers and the dominant religions of today that preach hate against any other faith quickly dub it as a cult & start abusing their members We see it happening with Tom Cruise and Scientology Meanwhile an organization that looked the other way as its members abused young boys is a religion & it is gets a lot of respect If this was a small religion, everyone would be avoiding the top guy instead of giving him respect
At the age of 14 I read all the words of the hymn "All things bright and beautiful". It convinced me that the Church of England is one big con. I have spent the last 63 years researching religion and looking for God. All I have found is liars and fools who believe the lies.
I was never someone who bought into religion. From the 3rd grade on I always felt uncomfortable singing religious Christmas carols about Jesus. But at one point when I was unhappy with my life I decided to try becoming a believer. At the same time I started writing a book. One day I would be in a Bible study group, the next I’d be writing my story and the two were at opposite ends of the spectrum of possible beliefs. But the book was my rational mind and the Bible group was the opposite. One night during a study of Romans, it hit me. I told my wife “I am not capable of suspending my rational mind and believing this. That was the last time I worried about “faith” which is another word for “they can’t prove it, but believe it anyway”.
beautiful, concise and accurate, I'm totally grateful to live in this era that people like Maria Konnikova lives and disperse their wisdom through the world. Young generation please don't fool by religious; it took thousands of years and innumerable blood shed for humanity to reach here. religious don't have anything to offer, except division, pain and lies in a holy package.
the difference between cults and religions are the number of followers. There is a Web that religion has, it needs to evolve beyond beliefs and more use as religion is on the decline
Slight correction: the difference between cults and religion are the number of *living* followers, as we call ancient religions whose followers have died out mythology.
Excellent concise statement. We are inquisitive creatures and when we can't explain something, especially about our purpose, destiny or the finite nature of our existence, rather than give the honest answer ie I don't know, we gravitate to supposed explanations which have literally zero evidence to support them.
Those that asked questions were killed off in the past - they still do in Islamic countries like Pakistan and most recently in Bangladesh God is viewed much the same way prostitutes/gigolos/leeches/freeloaders view their rich Sugar Daddy - their ticket to an eternal life of ease & comfort Any threat to such a Sugar Daddy is a threat to such a life & so they rape, torture and kill! What a sad statement of us that these are the top religions of the day Doesn't say much for our intelligence, education and morality
I AT 84 PLEASANTLY SURPRISED AT THE DEPTH & AWARENESS OF SO MANY COMMENTS I VIEWED HEREIN. I STROVE TO PRACTICE CATHOLICISM UP UNTIL ABOUT AGE 20. NOW NOMINALLY AN AGNOSTIC. ALL Be Well
“One of the saddest lessons of history is this: If we’ve been bamboozled long enough, we tend to reject any evidence of the bamboozle. We’re no longer interested in finding out the truth. The bamboozle has captured us. It’s simply too painful to acknowledge, even to ourselves, that we’ve been taken. Once you give a charlatan power over you, you almost never get it back.” ― Carl Sagan
Screw all the religious B.S! My philosophy is: More often than not, sh!t just happens. So, there's no point in trying to find some deeper meaning, just suck it up or deal with it. This has actually helped me through some pretty dark times & I'm still here & still able to laugh.
As an atheist I absolutely agree with some of this. People need meaning, and religion appears spontaneously all over the world. But she makes it up that religion itself is a con, and its leaders are con artists. This is not always the case. Religion as metaphysics is inadequate to explain the world around us, an as a power organization it is often violent in protecting its power (Crusades, Inquisition, etc.). But the religious community if can foster can be really beneficial to society - especially before the modern law enforcement and safety nets. Religious leaders can help with that, when they are emphasizing people helping each other to get through hard times. Sure, this does not scale well when it grows. Inevitably religion gets tangled in politics when its power grows. Conmen find megachurches, religious TV shows and so on lucrative. But on a small scale it is not always a con.
I gave up on religion in my early teens when I realised I was being told a pack of lies. None of it made sense, none resonated with me in any way related to the world I was living in, I was profoundly bored with the rituals of the Church and refused to go and sit through it each week. It appeared, and still appears, to be an attempt to control me, to keep me in my place. I began to question 'who benefits from my compliance' and the whole edifice crumbled. I have remained a convinced atheist for over 60 years now and firmly believe that the world would be a better place without it.
“Religion has actually convinced people that there's an invisible man living in the sky who watches everything you do, every minute of every day. And the invisible man has a special list of ten things he does not want you to do. And if you do any of these ten things, he has a special place, full of fire and smoke and burning and torture and anguish, where he will send you to live and suffer and burn and choke and scream and cry forever and ever 'til the end of time! But He loves you. He loves you, and He needs money! He always needs money! He's all-powerful, all-perfect, all-knowing, and all-wise, somehow just can't handle money!” ― George Carlin
considering that 85% of the world has some religious faith... it's pretty safe to use the word we. We are most definitely susceptible to what religion has to offer, so much so that we renounce logic and fact in exchange for peace of mind.
"We" is indeed correct. It takes the wisdom of experience or observant knowledge for us to look past such cons. Sure, have pride if you, in particular, haven't fallen for some. However, don't let hubris be your downfall. The idiom of "only human" exists for a reason.
+Medical Cannabis Spain you are applying your view point universally as if atheism is a majorty, but it's not. Religion is an integral part of human history and speaks volumes about our needs and susceptibilities to such things as false prophets and promises of an afterlife, etc. We seek explanations to everything and the gaps of our curiosity are often filled with that which explains the unexplainable...faith. This is not an argument of atheism vs religious belief, it is about human psychology and the fulfilment/meaning that religion offers us as humans. We may be hard wired to blindly step in this pitfall we call religion. Hence its appearance in very early human history and it's reoccurrence to this day.
The first "religions" came about as deep in our human past we needed to make sense of the natural world. The cataclysms of floods, earthquakes and fierce storms. Life and death. Birth. The con artists came after...
Religion, and it's precursor Spirituality, have existed for at least ten millennia. These have been the way that leaders have been able to control and subjugate the minds of those they want to rule. Hammurabi and Gilgamesh were both smart enough to know that most minds are pretty simple and endowed themselves with a Divine Right to rule and that set the tempo for societies to come.
From childhood to present I've always questioned things, beliefs etc. But there are people that don't and that always baffled me. Why would you let others have power over you?
Brava for telling it like it is. Most people want certainty in an uncertain world. "That's what con artists do, they sell meaning and they sell purpose."
Maria, thank you for your silent logic about religion that needs to be said and you do it clearly and very convincingly. Please take on the subject of evangelism in one of your formats. When you talk about con artists and weak followers, you are talking about evangelism.
I still can't get over the fact that even the brightest of minds gets big smile on their faces when these ponzi-schemeres make their promises of an eternal life of pleasure, ease & comfort & all they have to do is join this religion! God is a Putin, a Saddam, a Hitler - support him, he will be pleased and he will let us have have the life of a prostitute/gigolo/leech/freeloader lives down here - sit around doing nothing while enjoying self-gratification Amazing, just amazing!
@@ramaraksha01 I agree! Man's version of God is the problem! God's version of God is not the God of Christianity. Christianity is a 15th century religion where God is Judge, not our Father. If God is our Father, there is instantaneous love because fathers love their children. We do not need to earn His love!!!!!
As a young adult it became apparent that the church was focused on money. Every week they printed what their collection was and what they required to pay their bills. Every time they made their goal, the requirement went up. I went to a church where the largest donors were mob. It cemented this money centric idea. Then I started studying history and saw that religion was used to control the masses with fear. When I questioned war, capital punishment, etc.vs. Thou shall not kill, I was told that's different. I then looked at other religions and found the same cash and control theme. I don't need anybody telling me how to be a decent person. If there is a god like in religions then it will judge me by my actions and not some man made arbitrary set of rules. Fear turns off rational thought.
Being a decent person by following your personal "moral compass" makes you a better person than someone who is only decent because he fears going to hell.
she started this off wrong.. whenever you have a discussion, presenting first the facts objectively is not only preferable.. it's strategic, because you never give your audience a chance to rule you out based on the position you hold.. for example, if she had started out making the comparison between child learning and what religion provides, rather than pulling the 'con artist' card so early.. she would have been persuasive in her argument..
Spirituality = our innate personal relationship with Spirit, God, Creator, etc. It's beautiful and it's sublime. Religion = human made organizations and belief systems to bring communities of people into line, think a certain way, and donate money. Go into nature and by yourself and commune with your Creator. It's a beautiful experience and you will get conversations, signs, and answers. In my experience, God is all ears.
If someone convinces themselves leprechauns exist and that they're "all ears" and the leprechauns seem to listen to them...is there any actual evidence of leprechauns existing in that situation? Well how are _your_ beliefs different from that person who's convinced themselves of a falsehood? (They too consider it a beautiful experience. They too _interpret unexpected things in reality_ as being the "leprechauns' response" to a "conversation".)
A somewhat simplistic explanation of a big,complicated subject. The subtle, sometimes absurd, sometimes profound part that faith has played in human affairs from the very beginning is as central to being human as every other component of culture,as much as language,music,art or social customs. This barely scratched the surface.
Simple primitive ideas of God from Simple primitive people who clearly made God in the image of the most powerful man of their day, the King/Dictator - men who demanded obedience & loyalty(belief) & rewarded(heaven) & punished(hell) accordingly What is amazing is to see today's highly educated &intelligent people not having a clue that they are praying to long dead-kings, to Putin's, to Saddam's of today! Pretty amazing!
It's not a doctoral thesis and seriously what more is there to know? *Faith is not a good thing - religion has killed countless millions and destroyed entire civilisations from the Aztecs, Inca, native Americans, Australian aborigines, the Polynesian civilisations etc, etc. Faith kills.* "Faith' is belief without proof - which is why it has been exploited by religion to subjugate and enslave the ignorant for millennia.
Read her book then. This was a very brief synopsis. Religion is the ultimate pyramid scheme. People keep putting money into it but only the people at the very top profit.
“Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.” ― Buddha Siddhartha Guatama Shakyamuni
Keeps people from feeling so small, it gives reason to good and bad, tells you who to follow, who is wrong and who is right. All of the well known and followed religions have the same stories copied from one or more past books, stories, or cultures. Whoever is the smartest to realize they can manage others lives starts a new one looking for members.
This is so true. Personally I have not not do I intend in falling into this delusion. People since the dawn of time have search for meaning, ways to explain the universe. Religion give them an easy way out by saying, there is a creator. Never thinking for themselves but rather following blindly.
As Mark Twain once commented, "Some loony's dream and hallucination often make a religion, and fools start following it in due course." Humanity should be the only faith to save this world from animosity and hatred created and preached by other religions as they only spawn distrust and factionalism in their pursuit of supremacism. "Religion begins when the 1st scoundrel meets the 1st fool"- Voltaire
A word of advice from a designer. Don't put your thumbnail title in the bottom right. It's getting covered by the vid duration box. I've noticed that in almost all of your vids, but this vid made me intervene cause the question's most important word was located right behind the "4:54" frame.
Not necessarily religions, MLMs, doctors, and a lot of education teachers basically live by conning. Maybe some people can't have a normal life, they need to reach the top very fast and without putting in the work. It is indeed an art I guess.
Would one call Martin Luther King a con artist when he advocated for social justice in the name of "religion"? One can con people also by pretending to be a scientist. There is no exclusive link between being conned and religion.
@@woodygilson3465 Actually, she did. The first priest she described knew there was no meaning, etc. She implies no religious leaders have any genuine faith.
@@SusannaBarrett After more than a week, I'll have to take your word, but sounds logical. And con artists play a role, they needn't be religious to work a religious con. I'm 48 years old and until just a couple years ago, I was a total believer, lifelong preacher and clergy. Started preaching as a kid, did some time in seminary, went from Southern Evangelical to Messianic Jew to Noahide, studying for more than a decade for conversion to Orthodox Judaism. I studied Talmud, Rabbinic literature, Chassidus, Kabbalah, Mussar... I believed God was with me, spoke to me, usually through signs, had two theophanic experiences, more than a few shared experiences. Then one day, quite by accident, dots connected all at once and I saw it for the delusion it was. Shattered my whole fkn reality. I'm in a good place now, and that's taken so much work, and it's been worth it. But that's the thing about delusion, isn't it? The deluded are the always the last to know. Far as I knew, God was as real and present as anyone. I didn't just believe that. I "knew." Of course there are con artists and predators among clergy. That's a no-brainer. The rest, however, are not. For better or worse, they're just people living their lives according to, what is in their minds, "reality."
Religions are 100% man-made, tailored to offer eternal life, forgiveness of imaginary sins and a vague, fable like theory of creation ! Thanks for confirming what we have guessed since childhood !
Fables - are stories. Humans are born empathetic beings - We need love and tactile feelings, primarily from the mother. As we grow and mature in our nurturing, we begin to respond with our own stories.... and we end life with all of those experiences of a lifetime... again, with stories. And it is this need to verbalize with other humans that makes us accept their stories. And.... some of the best story tellers are preachers and "holy" men. We just wanna believe their stories. [see a book by Sara & Jack Gorman - "Denying to the Grave ]
@@dhutch71 Thanks I still believe in a Supreme Creator, so holly that we may not ever see his form shape or even face , not as the human depictions of God.
The thing about selling promises about heaven, hell and life after death is that even if you could get get buyer's remorse it would be too late to do anything about it because you're dead
I was with her up until she made the jump from people look for meaning to that being the basis for con artists. Most con artists prey upon greed, not the search for meaning. They take people's desire for easy gains and turn it against them. (Not all cons, mind you. There are also fake charities which prey on compassion. But the biggest and most profitable cons are the ones that promise big financial returns.) I think the search for meaning in life is more likely to lead to superstitions. People who wear lucky socks or knock on wood weren't told to do this by people asking for money, and most of the people who teach us religion genuinely believe it themselves. Now, this isn't to say that there aren't religious con artists out there. There are televangelists, there are cult leaders, there is Scientology, etc. But these only make up a tiny sliver of the Venn diagram of con artists and religious groups.
Don't agree. Religion relies on greed and fear to keep its followers compliant. Greed for rewards in the "afterlife" and fear of eternal punishment. Ethics and morals do not require a god to worship. Most people obey these religious cons for those 2 reasons. They think they can buy their way to spiritual salvation and that gives them psychological comfort. Basically, religions are just giant pyramid schemes.
I think I got this from David Gerrold (in a book about the making to The Trouble with Tribbles): A salesman is someone who gives you something of tangible value in return for your money. If the value is intangible, he's a con man." It's probably been 40 years since I read that, but I didn't want to claim the quote as my own.
Trust is a situational thing. There may be times when you will trust a total stranger with your life (because there is not alternative), and times when you will not give your best friend your e-mail password (because he doesn't need it).
According to legend, God gave his only son for a world that HE CREATED that was wicked before, during and well after his son's life. I got a little pushback when I questioned that.
While the figure of Christ is admirable in character, the entire purpose for him being born and dying “for our sins” is nonsensical considering God, as the creator of EVERYthing, is ultimately responsible for humans being sinful in the first place. So he sent his son to save us from himself for something he created. But he punishes humans for sin… makes perfect sense. 🙄 The God of the Bible, if real, is just fucking with all of us for his own sadistic amusement.
@@loganleatherman7647 Today, there is a lot of concern about AI. What will an autonomous machine do if it is given free will? The military is leading the charge on that direction, but that's another subject. Let's talk about the real story of creation from the Bible. God began to create at some point in time. His first creation was an image of himself. Together, the two of them created other beings like themselves: intelligent, self aware, autonomous and powerful. These were what we know as angels. Genesis 1:1 begins with "in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." The "heavens" could refer to the galaxies or the angels; it doesn't matter. The rest of Genesis chapter one deals with making the earth habitable, terraforming it, and putting living things made out of molecules on it. First, sea creatures, then flying creatures, land animals and finally "Let us make man in our image..." We have no idea how long all of this took. The phrase "in our image" does not mean God has five fingers on each hand or two arms and legs. It means that for the first time intelligent and sentient beings were made out of molecules instead of whatever the angels were made from. Now, the rest of the story includes details about the humans and how they were given the job of cultivating the garden and extending its boundaries to the ends of the earth. They were also given a command to stay away from the fruit of one tree, and ignoring this would result in death for them. Early on, there is a record of a conversation with a certain serpent and the woman about whether what God had said was really true. This led to both the woman and the man breaking the law and receiving the penalty of death. This penalty was passed along like a genetic defect to their offspring. So, we all die. Now, what most people do not know is that the serpent was merely a hand puppet for an angel who had been given the responsibility to care for the human couple. The Catholic Jerusalem Bible calls him the "guardian angel" at Ezekiel 18:4. So, the Devil, the original serpent, decided that rather than serving humans, he would have them serve him. He may have reasoned that since the couple were supposed to fill the earth, God would not be able to execute the death penalty. Jesus' perfect human life was given in exchange for the one Adam squandered. This information is not provided to bolster the position of the churches. Religion is a snare and a racket. That does not mean that there is no God. It just means that men have hijacked the whole idea of God to serve their own interests.
I agree that people get ahead through social connections, but in exchange, the majority of those people that help you want to control you. And that's why I pull back.
Humans don't just desire meaning, we need meaning. A function in our unconscious creates dreams laden with meaningful archetypal symbols. These symbols are universal and transcend religion. What part of us is creating these ancient archetypal symbols? One part of us is a participant in our dreams, like an actor playing a role in a movie, another part of us is watching or witnessing the dream (our evolving soul), and yet another part of us is creating the dream for our edification and growth (our Spirit). Why are we here then? To evolve, grow as people, to learn, and to experience life. Earth is a school...a touch point. We are not "from here". We are from another dimension of our reality. This becomes apparent in meditation.
Both have college majors that way too many people major in, and then they can't get jobs and they have to take a minimum wage dead-end job as a store greeter?
***** And then they live at their parent's house until their 34 so that they can save up enough money to get an education that's worth their time, but they can't decide what to major in, so they decided that they need some time to "find themselves." Then they go to some foreign country where they barely speak the language, and when they get back to their home country, they have a different sexual orientation.
youre the ruling power in the world. the implication follows that youre better than everyone else. for instance, i have seen the scenarios you both talked about above played out in at least four US tv shows - friends, sex in the city, how i met your mother and the office. all the episodes relate how a trip overseas, to reinvent or "find yourself" goes terribly wrong, other cultures are more primitive/less sophisticated/too "arty". in the end, the moral goes, dont try to be different. stay american.
Once you establish that organized religion is a con....which, of course, it is.....then you have to address the next question: why are these con artists operating in a tax free environment? It's long past time for that to stop.
***** ? How are those related?
sadly, our cultural evolution lags behind our technological progress.
Religion is kindergarten compared to politics !!!
Who wouldn't fall for the commies vs nazis, or globalists/Soros vs Putin/Lubavitch fake opposition ?
because most gov is religion. they use to be in the same building. then they evolved to keep the rule by violence and rule by shame as two separate corporations. They both exploit ignorance, fear, uncertainty, control of education, identifty-politics, and apathy
What mean of life if there no God what the point of it ... why not just start killing stealing whoever annoys u and taking whatever u want .
Everything is grey now... without God there no boundaries who makes up boudaries and why the fuck shouldn't there just civil war and let the strongest smartest ppl rule
And a corollary: "It is easier to fool people than it is to convince them they are being fooled" - Mark Twain
Mark Twain was a wise man.
That has been proven, over and over again, in America, especially over the last 5ish years.
And again with cvd...
@@callicordova4066 Perhaps the wisest of wise Americans of his generation.
Yup! Man made global warming is a perfect example fools! The beaches of FL are just as dry today as they were 30 years ago and the polar bear population is greater now than it's been in 60 years. These were the two main items they used to scare the *%)$ out of you to start the con. You've been fooled fools.
Wow! That is really true!
As a 12 year old Roman Catholic altar-boy I already had serious doubts about religion. I mean, within 1 square kilometre of my suburb in Kimberley, South Africa, there were a dozen-odd churches, temples and mosques and it all appeared totally nonsensical to me, observing every adherent walking around with a sense of superior religious bearing over others.
Thanks to Galileo's recantation under threat of death by The Inquisition - during an assignment on astronomy in my 10th Grade - I completely gave up on religion.
I believe every person should find his/her own relationship with God/Nature/Providence. This way nobody can bag and label you. All that matters is that you find a spiritual construct that works for you, that makes you live a meaningful and useful life. People should be judged on their societal behaviour and not on their spiritual beliefs.
Children are possessed of this free spirit, until their parents coerce them into their religious system.
Religion is a big scam.
You seem very wise.
That’s about the age when most children realize the hypocrisy, the lies and outright insanity of teaching hate via religion. Don’t teach your children to hate the other and follow the golden rule. Now someone please incarcerate maga lardo.
Very thoughtful comment! 👏🏿
Hmm good start..
But what is a spirit? You still got some nonsense in your believing stuff. 😉
Your doubts about religion are reality. If there was a real God, he would love us; not punish us. We would not suffer with wars, famine, accidents, sickness, etc. Money would be abundant and we would have robots do all the hard work for us.
When a cult grows big enough people will start calling it a religion 🤔
The difference between a cult and a religion is the person who knows it is all BS is still alive in a cult.
@@timothypachonka8642 Do you mean that religions have a worse reputation for killing the so called 'infidels'?
Historically this would be true (thinking about the Christian crusades). But in modern times religious killing seems limited to Muslim extremists.
No, I meant that once a cult leader dies, however the reason, if the followers continue to successfully recruit new adherents and perpetuate the ideology, it can turn to a religion. I don’t mean this as a knock on those who seek something deeper in life, but remember most people early on in the region thought of Christianity as a cult. When did the Mormons shift from one to the other? What did the Zoroastrians or Akkadians think of the Hebrews originally? I wasn’t implying violence perpetrated by a cult.
@@timothypachonka8642 You assume that the cult leader 'knows it is all BS'.
I'm not sure this is always the case.
I think, that some of them suffer from a serious messiah complex.
Exactly! Look at the Mormons… total outcasts from “mainstream” until they grew in membership size, financial assets and political power. Then they are considered Christians by the big power aggregators in our society. This is glossed over with “rank and file” and dealt with at the top only.
The last time I attended a church service was in 1967.... when I was eighteen. One Sunday morning, our Minister was a no-show. The congregation was getting anxious to know what happened to our preacher. We all found out about a week later. The church's building fund account at the local savings and loan had been zeroed-out. Our preacher was gone and so was $250,000 ! He was apprehended by the U.S. Border Patrol trying to escape into Mexico. Talk about a con artist.... this guy had over 150 people totally convinced that he was truly "a man of God".
Did you get the money 💰 back.
@@markbeale7390 - don't know the outcome of this case... I had moved to San Diego by then and never asked my parents what happened to the $$. This preacher had been siphoning off money from the Savings & Loan acct for years. I do remember that they said he was indicted and prosecuted. There are so many bad apples in organized religion that nobody ever hears about..... it''s nearly always about the "big fish" - see my comment below....
What a surprise? I remember in Conyers, GA, the Church in the Now, was like a movie theater. I went there because my neighbor invited is to go. Next thing you know my neighbor was writing a check to the church for 10% of her last paycheck. I had a bad feeling about the preacher. Long story short, 3 years later, the preacher resigned after a scandal where he was having sex with several women in his parish to heal them and sav them. I only go the the Greek Orthodox church at Easter to get to see all the luxury vehicles parked outside the church. Inside the church, the owners of those cars only put in $1.00 in the tray that is passed around. Most don't pay dues or tithe. The church makes most of their money from the annual Greek Festival, so all we need to do is put in 6 hours of our time to help once a year and all our expenses for the church are paid for. Plus, our church looks nicer than all other churches in our town. Greeks are financially savvy. Americans should learn from that. The Greek church is a social hall, ha ha!
There are bad actors in every walk of life… bad cops, doctors, lawyers, firemen, accountants, and politicians…..clergymen are no different.
There are lots of anecdotals of bad clergy, but scientifically it is not a measure of the entire cohort. Just like with any walk of life, most of the practitioners are as genuine as they can be, however there is a smaller but significant percentage of faulty actors.
Thus, there are misconceptions among the many ppl postings here; meaning that whether or not there are crooked clergymen does not argue for or against the existence of a higher being.
One is independent of the other.
So, why are you surprised that "a man of god" is a con artist? I thought it was one of the prerequisites.
I read a book in college called "The Evolution of God". Long story short, the book goes into a deep analysis of the origins of religion. Something that I took away from is very similar to what she is saying. Religion was and is manipulated by humans to reap some advantage wether that is political, financial, or emotional.
no not really you should read more books,but it's true in some cases
don't blame religion if a con artist used it to manipulate humans :)
its like blaming democracy for more taxes n end of civil liberties ...
Darth Vader you are my hero, don't blame the religion on the mistake of it's followers
Matthew Morton The bible lol I used to be really into religion (Evangelical Christian) before college. As much as even leading bible study groups. I guess i grew out of it. The evol of god book was for a philosophy class that focused into the idea of god. I think that when you follow a religious dogma it can be taboo to even mention other ideas or beliefs.
Darth Vader Lord vader, your logic is sound. +1
"God all powerful can't seem to handle money. Always need more". From George Carlin.
So true lol
You would think God could use math, apparently not
"God all powerful" doesn't handle money at all. Human beings do. Likewise, Science does precisely nothing by itself. It takes a scientist to weaponize microbes and develop ways to incinerate millions of people.
Nope. The Bible sets a standard of a tithe, ten percent in the Old Testament. In the New Testament, the standard is to be generous, not just to the church but to the poor, the sick, and the helpless. And the giving is voluntary.
Government on the other hand, uses force and always has its hand reaching deeper into your wallet.
@@TheBeverly7 Obviously you aren't either a Bible reader or a giver so why do you care? Giving to a church, like any other nonprofit is a voluntary activity.
Before you get all self righteous, you should actually check out the budgets of churches. There are s lot of things that churches support outside of the Sunday morning sermon: homeless shelters, food pantries, battered women's shelters, hospitals, orphanages, schools, universities, drug rehab programs, and a at least a couple of hundred other ministries.
"The commoner views religion as true, the wise view religion as false, and the powerful view religion as useful."
Odd only wisdom comes with age, and it's the elderly who believe most in religion... so that would make your "quote" innately false lol
@@ThatGuy-zu7ze I don't think wisdom is exclusive to age. You can be wise and young or wise and old. Its up to your perception. But wisdom in itself defined doesn't relate to age, it relates to knowledge... the problem with the statement in an of itself is implying that there aren't wise people who are religious. I would go with that next time. Lol
Hence, Donald Trump- perfectly used religion and it's followers. He laughs behind their backs and they don't have a clue!!
@@Grandpa_Boxer Yeah, I remember his inaugural speech... very absolutist. Slightly terrifying
@@ThatGuy-zu7ze It couldn't have anything to do with the demise of religion in the last 60 years, and the mass of infomation available to expose, and question religious lies in todays world .
It has always been the case the more educated a person is the less religious one is, and people are more informed today, if not better educated. I also think as you get older, and you have to face your own mortality your more inclined to except Pascal's wager.
great video. Very thought provoking and I recognized many parallels between religious con artists and the con artist who held office recently. he made people feel better. he gave a waning majority meaning and importance again and they're willing to burn everything down for that meaning and feeling.
Also, you said we need bonding and trust for a healthy society. Many in power are working to undermine that American bond and break us up to create an unhealthy society that will keep them enriched and in power.
Well done!
Outstanding, thx! Actually most anything that gives folks a sense of 'meaning' and purpose' is fine... the 'problem' starts when they *_demand_* that everyone else must also have the same 'purpose'.
Except that some movements, beliefs, etc are not fine because they can have very terrible meaning and purpose.
Don't you think it is disturbing that NOT ONE MORAL OR PHILOSOPHER ASKS WHAT THIS PURPOSE IS? Philosophers constantly wonder why we are here, what is the purpose of life, but NONE ask what is the purpose of an eternal existence sponging off a Sugar daddy being - sitting about doing nothing
NOT ONE ASKS WHAT THIS GRAND PLAN OF GOD IS ALL ABOUT
There are more than just religious nuts pushing these ideas - that is frightening
I agree. I have met people who are exemplary on so many levels because religion is their rock. I admire and envy them. BUT, when I see the atrocities many people suffer, even at the hands of their own religion or someone else's, I can't believe a kind, omnipotent being can allow these atrocities because there is a greater spiritual motive that we don't understand. Saw Jim Baker on some religion channel hawking survivalist supplies. What a grifter.
@@geraniaceae4470 Have come to the conclusion that 'Freedom' scares the hell out of a lot of folks... so they actually *_want_* a 'Strong Leader', a kinda 'Daddy' figure who'll make them feel 'safe & secure'.
And so much the better if he can also boost their self-esteem by making 'em feeling 'Special'... Saved, The Chosen, Winners, whatever.
Are you sure that "con artists" and "religious leaders" are not synonyms?
Yes, I am sure they are the are the same. Close to 50% of clergy have been known to make sexual passes toward a member of their congregation.
I'm not so sure. Maybe the religious leader fell for his own trick?
Spirituality is cool... but religions are (mostly) a crock of sh*t..
Bad, corrupt religious leaders have a long, dark history feeding on the carcasses of their followers. But that says nothing about the root of religion. All the religions of God were pure and good at their start. They became corrupt and rotten because man added his own crap to it.
Yes, since a con artist is seen as an awful person while the religious leader is a terrific person
"religion emerged when the first scoundrel met the first fool" - a brilliant line
God already had you figured out long ago....
1 The fool has said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that does good.
2 The LORD looked down from heaven on the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.
3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that does good, no, not one. AKJV - Psalm 14:1 - AKJV - Psalm 14:3
@@HiggaionSelah_EWFMG what does he say about the majority of the people in the world who don't know anything about this god? does he have them figured out also?
@@phishfearme2 yes
I highly recommend 'Conflict of the Ages' series of five books by Christian Author Ellen G. White.....
"Patriarchs and Prophets"
"Prophets and Kings"
"The Desire of Ages"
" The Acts of the Apostles"
"The Great Controversy between Christ and Satan" Ellen G.White, 1888, rev.1911
@@HiggaionSelah_EWFMG yes?? really?? how exactly do you know??
@@phishfearme2 in the End..
there will never be a good excuse to feign Ignorance....
1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows his handiwork.
2 Day to day utters speech, and night to night shows knowledge.
3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them has he set a tabernacle for the sun,
5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoices as a strong man to run a race.
6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit to the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, yes, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is your servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse you me from secret faults.
13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. AKJV - Psalm 19:1 - AKJV - Psalm 19:14
Read my recommended writings ❕
The fact that there is no meaning, is the greatest gift. It allows us to create our own. But many will allow there gift to be robbed.
Most of the meaning we "create" comes from innate subconscious propensities within us.
@@bobs182 you're not allowed to use logic or real words against religious people
@@thebigbean8783 Every time I engage a religious person I regret it.
Don't automatically be polite and always ask, "Why is this person saying this to me, or doing this?" Trust is earned only by consistent actions over time. What's astonishing is how many people who'd divorce their spouse at the first betrayal will accept endless betrayals from their church or cult leader yet remain utterly loyal and devoted.
Well said!
EXACTLY GENE!!!!!!
Sounds like followers of Qanon and Drumpf.
History, one of the most important courses in school but sadly also the most neglected one.
It exposes so nice the many lies people have invented to achieve and hold power.
If DJT had not been propped up by the voters on the extreme right wing and found himself in the office of POTUS.... he could have opted for a Televangelist (he almost achieved that status on his Apprentice show). But.... failing politics.... he could just go back to Real Estate Development in NYC.... where he had a 50 year record as COofNYC.....!
Most courses say that of themselves. There is just too much to learn.
@@Puschit1 i disagree. in all courses i heared the teachers agreed that history is the most important.
And I am not an historian as well.
@@auseryt I am pretty sure you can cover a lot of issues with, for example, philosophy. It is just a different approach. History, as we all know, is about to repeat itself. Knowing about it rarely helps, otherwise we would not still have wars etc. That's mainly because a bunch of information isn't doing anything yet, you also need to interpret that, conclude from that and work out alternative paths. That's a LOT of brain work and usually nothing of that is taught in history class. You actually need many of those other courses, starting with your language and ending with things like philosophy and ethics. Virtualyl everything else will be used as well, for example knowing geography helps understanding what advantages and disadvantages countries have which shapes their geopolitical motivations. Psychology plays ALOT into decision making, perception and whatnot and that's a class you don't get offered in school at all.
No single class will ever be more important than others in a world where everything is connected.
@@Puschit1 i am pretty sure philosophy of one of the most overestimated in human history.
The only philosophy with use so far is mathematics.
“When one person suffers from a delusion, it is called insanity. When many people suffer from a delusion it is called Religion.”
― Richard Dawkins,
SpaceTime AboodMaxwell Yes, I'm excited to see him talk this October : )
lol. Can you PROVE GOD? Till then go cry for mommy in your own corner.
P.s. You have to show ur ass for us to dig it. Dummy.
He's one to talk! Evolutionism is the worst delusion of all! "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth" (Genesis 1:1, KJV).
Ivan Drago can you disprove unicorns; fairies and leprechauns? See the fallacy here?
jriden I think is extremely difficult and frustrating but not impossible. We have to at least try to get them to reason
Philosophy is questions that may never be answered. Religion is answers that may never be questioned.
"Most sermons sound to me like commercials - but I can't make out whether God is the Sponsor or the Product." ~Mignon McLaughlin, The Second Neurotic's Notebook, 1966
God is definitely the product.
interesting indeed, everyone sells some meaning n purpose ... everyone has a commercial made for his product ...
some even sell "there is no purpose and there should be no purpose" ... orange is new black
god is not the product, god is the martketing tool. the product is money, lots of money and power .. it always is.
amojak Churches are selling power or money to people; they're selling God for those.
kokofan50 they are taking money from the people they sell god to. same as any cult.
Every skeptical conference needs to invite Maria to speak.
“Religion has actually convinced people that there is an invisible man, living in the sky, who watches everything you do, every minute of every day; and the invisible man has a special list of 10 things he does not want you to do; and if you do any of these 10 things, he has a special place, full of fire and smoke and burning and torture and anguish, where he will send you to live and suffer and burn and choke and scream and cry, forever and ever, until the end of time. But he loves you. He loves you. He loves you and he needs money.” - George Carlin
And these are the top religions of the 21st century - with Gods who act like Putin, Saddam - "Support me I will reward you, do not, I will make you suffer"
Imagine that - in the 21st century the top Gods of the FREE WORLD are Putin & Saddam!
The very same words coming out of Putin's or Saddam's mouth and bright minds say, "What a disgusting person"
The very same bright minds when they hear these same words coming out of religious people say, "Praise the Lord!"
So much for all our education, intelligence and morals
.... And he is apparently particularly interested in what you do with your genitals....
Yeah? I don't know about the "he needs money." part, but the other parts of what he said aren't that crazy.
@@nikolayilyin1819 Carlin was being sarcastically honest. Religions are always asking for money for their god as apparently this "all knowing and all powerful" diety is always demanding money from its followers. These gods always demand money for admission to their cults. Really the money is used to support their "spokespersons" many times opulent lifestyles. Televangelists are some of the biggest con men and women in the world.
U guys are killing it today with George Carlin quotes
I’ve said for a long time that “Man’s fear of death is what allows religions thrive.” Remove that fear and need or desire for religion completely collapses.
You are spot on, Lonnie.👍
"Religion is the outcome of unresolved contradictions in the material world." Hitchens
And the material world has a surprising amount of those. Weird paradoxes abound in science and everyday wisdom. Example - the best way to help somebody with a continuing alcohol problem is to stop paying for their daily needs.
@@theboombody terrible advice repackaged as 'everyday wisdom'. Religion in a nutshell?
No it isn't.
"Religion was invented when the first con man met the first fool."
Mark Twain
Long ago con artist and fool were joined :)
No, not a Mark Twain quote at all. It was used long before him. Voltaire is the earliest known source.
@@ixlnxs "It (Bible) is full of interest. It has noble poetry in it; and some clever fables; and some blood-drenched history; and some good morals; and a wealth of obscenity; and upwards of a thousand lies." Mark Twain
@@AtamMardes I was talking about the earlier quote. That was used long before.
But Americans are like that: if they don't know who said something, they will atribute it to Twain. The rest of the world uses Gandhi.
Mark Twain also said, it isn't what I don't understand about the Bible that bothers me, but what I do understand.
A good example of Con artistry and religous leadership: Scientology
@@domeonce9006 No. All religion is silly, but I do like Ra. Ra rocks. Well, Thor and Zeus are pretty cool too. Abrahamic religions kinda suck. Mostly just ripoffs of previous religions with very little new material. Boring. I prefer mythologies that are original. Scientology is like a really lame sci-fi story (surprise?), but at least it's all new material.
I think Star Trek is a great religion. Spock is the only religious leader that is not a con artist.
Heck, have you ever seen his cartoons on fallacious arguments? Trumpers need to be reprogrammed with these cartoons.
@@domeonce9006 I don't think she's saying religion is "bad". Just that it's not true - a con. Religious belief is actually good for many people. It makes them happier and guides them to make better life choices. It's just not providing true (reality-based) answers to questions of causality.
@@domeonce9006 false ideas=bad ideas
And all cons thrive in environments of unquestioning faith.
I once spent an entire year in a Christian rehab. And I asked my counselor, "So, if you die without claiming your allegiance to Jesus, you won't get into heaven?" His answer was, "No. No, you won't."
And then I asked him, "Well, what about tribes who have never been exposed to Christianity? Even though they were created by God they have never ever seen the bible."
His answer: "God needs to fill Hell with somebody."
Unlike the bible, this is a true story.
And an answer like that is one of the many reasons I could never follow a God that does not reward good souls and good deeds simply because they did not believe in its specific religion. And considering there have been an estimated 80-100 billion people who have ever lived and possibly a good half of them having existed since before Christianity, that's a lot of humans in hell because God waited until a little over 2000 years ago to create the ONE TRUE FAITH.
Also, that's a douche answer from that counselor no matter which way you look at it.
Such a God would be unjust and should not be worshipped. He would be burning billions people for all eternity for a crime they didn’t know they were committing. What’s more there are 45,000+ denominations of Christianity today (and one more tomorrow), most of whom are saying they’re the only ones that are right. So not only is such a God burning people for a crime they don’t know they’re committing, he’s burning billions for a crime they are actively trying not to commit, but don’t know they are doing it wrong!
Live a good and virtuous life. If there is a God and he is good, then he will not care how pious and devout you’ve been, but will welcome you to heaven when you die based on the virtues by which you’ve lived your life.
If there is a God and he does care which denomination of which religion you belong to, then he is an unjust God who burns billions for not worshiping him in exactly the way he wanted to be worshiped, and you should not worship him in the first place. The ultimate proof against the propaganda of such a God’s goodness would be to send an otherwise virtuous person to Hell for not being a sycophant.
If there is no God, then when you die you will be gone, but you will be remembered by those who knew you when you were alive, those who live in after you die. Your legacy will be shaped by the values by which you lived your life. Don’t you want your legacy to be a good one?
This is the same issue that started my disassociation from organized religion. We (as Christians) we’re charged with spreading the Word to the world, but if we failed to reach someone in Africa or Asia, that someone would pay the price by going to hell for eternity. That disgusting and illogical reasoning made no moral sense.
@@joanfregapane8683 The very idea of Hell makes no moral sense. It's an infinite punishment for finite offences. And what's the purpose of punishing people who can never atone, be forgiven, or be rehabilitated? It's pointless cruelty.
I saw a lot of fundamentalist recruiting back in my College days (Campus Crusade for Christ), and I argued with them about people who shared similar views about the unconverted, even if they lived a good and moral life. I wasn't particularly religious, but my parents attended church on a semi regular basis, and we went to Sunday School as kids. I saw several of my high school friends get sucked down the rabbit hole and the results were premature marriages, educations cut short, and in general missing out on the richness of life. A lot of them were like me, bright but socially awkward, and I seemed to be the target of everyone on campus looking to "Save Souls". I felt guilty about not being a True Believer, but I knew enough about the history of religion and of all the wars and atrocities committed in the name of organized religion.
After being away from church for years, I gave church a couple of tries, but each time the once familiar rituals of my mainstream Protestant upbringing seemed more strange and alien looking in from the outside. I also saw the hypocrisy, and how it seemed the most faithful were the ones most screwed over by fate.I also saw firsthand that the church wasn't the altruistic institution it tries to make itself out to be. I saw examples of scholarships going to well-off families that contributed heavily to the church, or to students going to Seminary rather than the deserving and needy, but I think the last straw was the Sunday after September 11, and the thoughts and prayers and platitudes being offered. I was devastated as anyone by what happened but after reflection of my own thoughts I gave up trying to rationalizing it in a religious context.
In 2008 I had what people call a Near Death experience coming out of brain tumor surgery. Against all odds I recovered mostly intact, and stayed cancer free, now going on 15 years. I really found it hard to thank God for my recovery, if he was so merciful why did I get this scourge to begin with? Everybody offered their thoughts and prayers I was polite and indulged them and I admit I said a quite a few to myself. My Mom had gone through a similar experience when she had a miscarriage prior to having me saying she thought her soul was going to heaven but God told her to go back and finish her work. All I know is I blacked out when my heart stopped, and as I came back to, my consciousness slowly returned as blood fresh blood made its way into my brain.
I wish I could believe, but pretending to believe is being dishonest. I am afraid that God is Dead, and I grieve over that.
At age 66, I live for the sort of Truths that this woman expounds.
Thank You.
She is absolutely correct.
Of course it is. If you need proof loot at how evangelical have taken to Don the Con; serial adulterer, cheat and liar. 10 commandments; huh?
She is a writer with expertise in psychology, Sherlock Holmes and poker, not in religion nor history. As she has a hammer, she only see nails. Martin Luther King Jr., the Dalai Lama, Pope Francis, anyone? The Rohingya people?
@@jan2000nl Aren't you aware that many people opposing Trump are religious, including pastors? That the only GOP senator that voted for his conviction did it for religious reasons? And most of all, that Trumpist evangelicals aren't the measure of all the American Christians, and NOT the measure of all religious people in the world?
@@MariaMartinez-researcher exactly
Thats true too
I stopped being religious from being raised that way the moment I learned about cults and put 1 and 1 together. It's really not that hard. Nowadays I see people going over the deep religious end mostly when they lose a loved one - They might have been hard sinners before, but the moment they just can't accept that the person is gone - There's the preachers telling them: "Hey! It's okay - You will see them again in the next life. Now give me your money!"
And then of course they completely and utterly reject me if I express my own opinions. They just can't let go.
I learned about cults and cultism in bible college. Talk about irony. Seriously, if more people talked about irony I think they would understand it better. We should have irony colleges.
Well said sir .
Makes me curious why one person is susceptible and another is not. I lost my only child and religion's nonsense about seeing him again in the afterlife has no pull on me whatsoever. I know religion is a con and would rather live in the real world--how can some people swallow that crap?
@@nancyaustin9516 you are a sensible woman.
Humans are born empathetic creatures. And... they need to be nurtured by parents to bring out those empathetic qualities. If the parents don't do that, they risk raising psychopathic or sociopathic children. The "Golden Rule" many assume is in the Bible for a reason. But it is also what needs to be taught to children at the youngest ages..... to bring out those natural empathetic qualities of youth.
one big con? Yes, yes it is.
*Internet high-five*
*Internet high-ten*
+james wasda awesome
GREATEST INTERNET COMMENT I'VE EVER SEEN
I'm not religious but I think that actually religion has helped giving humans a way to control our instincts and our worse behaviors and helped to promote compassion and altruism
The way to escape con artists is when you are offered some "great opportunity", think "how does he profit from me accepting this great opportunity?"
Don't you think religion is the best and longest-running ponzi-scheme?
"he loves you and he wants you to join his religion, then he will reward you with pleasures of the flesh for eternity. But if you don't support him, he has to burn you in hell! Do you want to end up in hell?"
Amazing to see so many not get incredibly offended that their life means nothing, who they are means nothing - only their religion matters
So we have billions of Atheists, Hindus, Buddhists - old people, children, even babies? pregnant women - all set apart based on belief and dumped into gas chambers in hell
That is exactly what happened to the Jews under the Nazis
Who they were as people did not matter - all that mattered was their belief & that got them dumped into gas chambers
But religion can PROMOTE THE SAME NAZI IDEAS OPENLY!
Simply amazing!
NOT ONE MEDIA MEMBER OR EDUCATED PERSON ASKS WHY IS GOD ACTING LIKE A PUTIN, A SADDAM? "VOTE FOR ME I WILL REWARD YOU, IF YOU DO NOT YOU WILL SUFFER"????
AMAZING! NOT ONE PERSON!
Excellent presentation on religion and cult mentality… Very true.. spread the knowledge and the truths! Thank you!
"...spread the knowledge and the truths!" ...... I believe that same line has come out of many churches, too.
There is a good way to test whether the answers for your questions are legitimate. Ask yourself, "Does this answer pave way for new ideas and more questions, or does it close me off from new opportunities?" If it closes you off, then it's wrong.
So now I sort of understand why t-Rump has gained such a cult following. He’s a huge con!
And the best part is he is not the least bit RELIGIOUS. LOL
Agree. I've said, the following he has developed is amazingly cult-like. He said it himself and we laughed "he could shoot someone" and not lose any followers. Absolutely TRUE. Nuts, but true.
Trump is a HUGE con! Literally as well as figuratively.
@@Lifeistooshort67 Greed and Power are his religion.... and, he has been practicing his religion for the past 50+ years developing Real Estate in NYC and elsewhere..... and developing his narcissism personality disorder....
Oh please. Leftism is much more of a religion than anything Trump created.
This is very well thought out and presented.
Excellent! I would add that once your realize you’ve been coned it’s okay to feel shame, sadness, and anger. It is then, you can move on and learn to trust yourself and help others to be aware of cults, cons, and religions.
I have tried with spectacular failure!
I keep asking - What does one DO In Heaven? Is heaven like one vast Retirement Home? People just shuffling about, chatting with angels - and what exactly does one chat? There is nothing going on!
And then what about the people down here? Their loved ones - could they be suffering/starving/homeless/jobless/sick? Do these people not care anymore?
And when I ask these questions, theists just run away!
They prefer to remain blind to these questions! prefer to live in a fantasy!
WHAT IS MORE SHOCKING TO ME IS THAT THE MEDIA & THE EDUCATED AS WELL AS THE MORAL ARE IN THIS PONZI-SCHEME! NOT ONE MEDIA PERSON WILL ASK THE QUESTIONS THAT I AM ASKING!
They ask questions that religious people are happy to answer - will we be happy in heaven? Will i see my loved ones again? Just 2 questions asked over and over!
The “trust” part of this strikes hard.
I have a daughter that was taken from her bio mom at an early age.
That she will not “trust” is such a huge (and understandable) fault in her maturing.
Don’t trust mom, dad, sibs, teachers, therapists, ...
Imagine
how does a religion differ from a cult? VOLUME, VOLUME, VOLUME. numbers matter - if only a few people believe supernatural crap, it's a cult. millions believing makes the same supernatural crap a religion
My favourite definition of "cult".......Scholar Megan Goodwin defined the term cult, when used by the layperson, as often being a shorthand for a "religion I don't like."
Fucking naive religious people..it astounds on a daily how they continue to operate the way they do their entire lives
HOW DOES A RELIGION DIFFER FROM A CULT?
@@billgreen576 It doesn't - small numbers and the dominant religions of today that preach hate against any other faith quickly dub it as a cult & start abusing their members
We see it happening with Tom Cruise and Scientology
Meanwhile an organization that looked the other way as its members abused young boys is a religion & it is gets a lot of respect
If this was a small religion, everyone would be avoiding the top guy instead of giving him respect
@@billgreen576 In a cult there's always somebody at the top who knows it's a scam. In a religion that person is dead.
Religion began when the first scoundrel meet the first fool”
Love it .
At the age of 14 I read all the words of the hymn "All things bright and beautiful". It convinced me that the Church of England is one big con. I have spent the last 63 years researching religion and looking for God. All I have found is liars and fools who believe the lies.
I was never someone who bought into religion. From the 3rd grade on I always felt uncomfortable singing religious Christmas carols about Jesus. But at one point when I was unhappy with my life I decided to try becoming a believer. At the same time I started writing a book. One day I would be in a Bible study group, the next I’d be writing my story and the two were at opposite ends of the spectrum of possible beliefs. But the book was my rational mind and the Bible group was the opposite. One night during a study of Romans, it hit me. I told my wife “I am not capable of suspending my rational mind and believing this. That was the last time I worried about “faith” which is another word for “they can’t prove it, but believe it anyway”.
beautiful, concise and accurate, I'm totally grateful to live in this era that people like Maria Konnikova lives and disperse their wisdom through the world. Young generation please don't fool by religious; it took thousands of years and innumerable blood shed for humanity to reach here. religious don't have anything to offer, except division, pain and lies in a holy package.
"you don't get ahead on your own..." You just explained my life
even if you have to depend on a made up entity
the difference between cults and religions are the number of followers. There is a Web that religion has, it needs to evolve beyond beliefs and more use as religion is on the decline
until religion has a replacement
+Amanda Vadon religion kind of on decline. the thing about religion is they are make more babies than rational people.
Ahh, I have none
Science. Logic. Reason.
Slight correction: the difference between cults and religion are the number of *living* followers, as we call ancient religions whose followers have died out mythology.
Excellent concise statement. We are inquisitive creatures and when we can't explain something, especially about our purpose, destiny or the finite nature of our existence, rather than give the honest answer ie I don't know, we gravitate to supposed explanations which have literally zero evidence to support them.
Those that asked questions were killed off in the past - they still do in Islamic countries like Pakistan and most recently in Bangladesh
God is viewed much the same way prostitutes/gigolos/leeches/freeloaders view their rich Sugar Daddy - their ticket to an eternal life of ease & comfort
Any threat to such a Sugar Daddy is a threat to such a life & so they rape, torture and kill!
What a sad statement of us that these are the top religions of the day
Doesn't say much for our intelligence, education and morality
I AT 84 PLEASANTLY SURPRISED AT THE DEPTH & AWARENESS OF SO MANY COMMENTS I VIEWED HEREIN. I STROVE TO PRACTICE CATHOLICISM UP UNTIL ABOUT AGE 20. NOW NOMINALLY AN AGNOSTIC. ALL Be Well
“One of the saddest lessons of history is this: If we’ve been bamboozled long enough, we tend to reject any evidence of the bamboozle. We’re no longer interested in finding out the truth. The bamboozle has captured us. It’s simply too painful to acknowledge, even to ourselves, that we’ve been taken. Once you give a charlatan power over you, you almost never get it back.”
― Carl Sagan
As someone raised as a Catholic, I have to say that if I ever need spiritual advice, I would talk to a Rabbi first.
If you decide you don't need that spiritual advice then maybe you'd be better off talking to a rabbit 🐇🐇🐇!
Screw all the religious B.S! My philosophy is:
More often than not, sh!t just happens. So, there's no point in trying to find some deeper meaning, just suck it up or deal with it.
This has actually helped me through some pretty dark times & I'm still here & still able to laugh.
As an atheist I absolutely agree with some of this. People need meaning, and religion appears spontaneously all over the world.
But she makes it up that religion itself is a con, and its leaders are con artists. This is not always the case. Religion as metaphysics is inadequate to explain the world around us, an as a power organization it is often violent in protecting its power (Crusades, Inquisition, etc.). But the religious community if can foster can be really beneficial to society - especially before the modern law enforcement and safety nets. Religious leaders can help with that, when they are emphasizing people helping each other to get through hard times.
Sure, this does not scale well when it grows. Inevitably religion gets tangled in politics when its power grows. Conmen find megachurches, religious TV shows and so on lucrative. But on a small scale it is not always a con.
I gave up on religion in my early teens when I realised I was being told a pack of lies. None of it made sense, none resonated with me in any way related to the world I was living in, I was profoundly bored with the rituals of the Church and refused to go and sit through it each week. It appeared, and still appears, to be an attempt to control me, to keep me in my place. I began to question 'who benefits from my compliance' and the whole edifice crumbled. I have remained a convinced atheist for over 60 years now and firmly believe that the world would be a better place without it.
“Religion has actually convinced people that there's an invisible man living in the sky who watches everything you do, every minute of every day. And the invisible man has a special list of ten things he does not want you to do. And if you do any of these ten things, he has a special place, full of fire and smoke and burning and torture and anguish, where he will send you to live and suffer and burn and choke and scream and cry forever and ever 'til the end of time!
But He loves you. He loves you, and He needs money! He always needs money!
He's all-powerful, all-perfect, all-knowing, and all-wise, somehow just can't handle money!”
― George Carlin
It does bug me when people put 'we' as in 'Why We Fall for It'. Less of the 'we' more of the 'some' ;)
considering that 85% of the world has some religious faith... it's pretty safe to use the word we. We are most definitely susceptible to what religion has to offer, so much so that we renounce logic and fact in exchange for peace of mind.
"We" is indeed correct. It takes the wisdom of experience or observant knowledge for us to look past such cons.
Sure, have pride if you, in particular, haven't fallen for some. However, don't let hubris be your downfall. The idiom of "only human" exists for a reason.
not me, therefore it's 'you'
lol, now that just sounds like a Brexiter :p
+Medical Cannabis Spain you are applying your view point universally as if atheism is a majorty, but it's not. Religion is an integral part of human history and speaks volumes about our needs and susceptibilities to such things as false prophets and promises of an afterlife, etc. We seek explanations to everything and the gaps of our curiosity are often filled with that which explains the unexplainable...faith. This is not an argument of atheism vs religious belief, it is about human psychology and the fulfilment/meaning that religion offers us as humans. We may be hard wired to blindly step in this pitfall we call religion. Hence its appearance in very early human history and it's reoccurrence to this day.
Douglas Adams covered all this in Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, nothing new here.
So long, and thanks for the fish.
What do con artists and religious leaders have in common? EVERY THING!
“Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful.“ -- Lucius Seneca
The first "religions" came about as deep in our human past we needed to make sense of the natural world. The cataclysms of floods, earthquakes and fierce storms. Life and death. Birth. The con artists came after...
You are awesome Maria Konnikova!
“If a man really wants to make a million dollars, the best way would be to start his own religion.” ~L. Ron Hubbard
If I had followed his advice years ago, I would have had income property by now.
If Maria starts a religion, count me in as a believer.
A religious person is kind to others because God tells them to. I am kind to others because my heart tells me to. Who is the actual good person?
Religion, and it's precursor Spirituality, have existed for at least ten millennia. These have been the way that leaders have been able to control and subjugate the minds of those they want to rule. Hammurabi and Gilgamesh were both smart enough to know that most minds are pretty simple and endowed themselves with a Divine Right to rule and that set the tempo for societies to come.
Well said, Chris.👍
From childhood to present I've always questioned things, beliefs etc. But there are people that don't and that always baffled me. Why would you let others have power over you?
Questioning things does not mean a person logically comes to the conclusion there is a God.
This is just an opinion she says . How do you all muslims having dreams and switching to christianity or jews recognize jesus as their messiah?
Brava for telling it like it is. Most people want certainty in an uncertain world. "That's what con artists do, they sell meaning and they sell purpose."
Maria, thank you for your silent logic about religion that needs to be said and you do it clearly and very convincingly.
Please take on the subject of evangelism in one of your formats. When you talk about con artists and weak followers, you are talking about evangelism.
I still can't get over the fact that even the brightest of minds gets big smile on their faces when these ponzi-schemeres make their promises of an eternal life of pleasure, ease & comfort & all they have to do is join this religion!
God is a Putin, a Saddam, a Hitler - support him, he will be pleased and he will let us have have the life of a prostitute/gigolo/leech/freeloader lives down here - sit around doing nothing while enjoying self-gratification
Amazing, just amazing!
@@ramaraksha01 I agree! Man's version of God is the problem! God's version of God is not the God of Christianity.
Christianity is a 15th century religion where God is Judge, not our Father.
If God is our Father, there is instantaneous love because fathers love their children.
We do not need to earn His love!!!!!
As a young adult it became apparent that the church was focused on money. Every week they printed what their collection was and what they required to pay their bills. Every time they made their goal, the requirement went up. I went to a church where the largest donors were mob. It cemented this money centric idea. Then I started studying history and saw that religion was used to control the masses with fear. When I questioned war, capital punishment, etc.vs. Thou shall not kill, I was told that's different. I then looked at other religions and found the same cash and control theme. I don't need anybody telling me how to be a decent person. If there is a god like in religions then it will judge me by my actions and not some man made arbitrary set of rules. Fear turns off rational thought.
Being a decent person by following your personal "moral compass" makes you a better person than someone who is only decent because he fears going to hell.
"Is organized religion a con?"
A self answering question.
I'm not sure that I've gotten all I can from this video. I need to watch it a few more times.
Religion is the greatest piece of art ever made.
Thousands of years later, it still engages giant swaths of those looking for entertainment.
she started this off wrong..
whenever you have a discussion, presenting first the facts objectively is not only preferable.. it's strategic, because you never give your audience a chance to rule you out based on the position you hold..
for example, if she had started out making the comparison between child learning and what religion provides, rather than pulling the 'con artist' card so early.. she would have been persuasive in her argument..
Spirituality = our innate personal relationship with Spirit, God, Creator, etc. It's beautiful and it's sublime. Religion = human made organizations and belief systems to bring communities of people into line, think a certain way, and donate money. Go into nature and by yourself and commune with your Creator. It's a beautiful experience and you will get conversations, signs, and answers. In my experience, God is all ears.
If someone convinces themselves leprechauns exist and that they're "all ears" and the leprechauns seem to listen to them...is there any actual evidence of leprechauns existing in that situation? Well how are _your_ beliefs different from that person who's convinced themselves of a falsehood? (They too consider it a beautiful experience. They too _interpret unexpected things in reality_ as being the "leprechauns' response" to a "conversation".)
The answer to your question is YES
listing the differences would take less time.
A somewhat simplistic explanation of a big,complicated subject. The subtle, sometimes absurd, sometimes profound part that faith has played in human affairs from the very beginning is as central to being human as every other component of culture,as much as language,music,art or social customs. This barely scratched the surface.
Simple primitive ideas of God from Simple primitive people who clearly made God in the image of the most powerful man of their day, the King/Dictator - men who demanded obedience & loyalty(belief) & rewarded(heaven) & punished(hell) accordingly
What is amazing is to see today's highly educated &intelligent people not having a clue that they are praying to long dead-kings, to Putin's, to Saddam's of today!
Pretty amazing!
How much depth did you expect from a 5-minute video?
It's not a doctoral thesis and seriously what more is there to know?
*Faith is not a good thing - religion has killed countless millions and destroyed entire civilisations from the Aztecs, Inca, native Americans, Australian aborigines, the Polynesian civilisations etc, etc. Faith kills.*
"Faith' is belief without proof - which is why it has been exploited by religion to subjugate and enslave the ignorant for millennia.
Read her book then. This was a very brief synopsis. Religion is the ultimate pyramid scheme. People keep putting money into it but only the people at the very top profit.
@@wizardsuth exactly .... Geesh. It continued a conversation and met its goal
It's hard to be religious with a PhD in Computer Science.
“Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.”
― Buddha Siddhartha Guatama Shakyamuni
Thanks for sharing that quote. :)
Keeps people from feeling so small, it gives reason to good and bad, tells you who to follow, who is wrong and who is right. All of the well known and followed religions have the same stories copied from one or more past books, stories, or cultures. Whoever is the smartest to realize they can manage others lives starts a new one looking for members.
Thank you, this is the first occasion to hear someone name a spade a spade. Religion is a huge and damaging con
This is so true. Personally I have not not do I intend in falling into this delusion. People since the dawn of time have search for meaning, ways to explain the universe. Religion give them an easy way out by saying, there is a creator. Never thinking for themselves but rather following blindly.
Can you fix your thumbnail designs please? The video length covers the text on it
You don't even need to say "organized religion", because religion by itself is already organized.
As Mark Twain once commented, "Some loony's dream and hallucination often make a religion, and fools start following it in due course." Humanity should be the only faith to save this world from animosity and hatred created and preached by other religions as they only spawn distrust and factionalism in their pursuit of supremacism.
"Religion begins when the 1st scoundrel meets the 1st fool"- Voltaire
"I will be able to elicit donations. I will be respected. I will be a person of great esteem."
I will get babes.
A word of advice from a designer. Don't put your thumbnail title in the bottom right. It's getting covered by the vid duration box. I've noticed that in almost all of your vids, but this vid made me intervene cause the question's most important word was located right behind the "4:54" frame.
Its not just religion -- it is also politics, caste, racism, sexism, etc.
Not necessarily religions, MLMs, doctors, and a lot of education teachers basically live by conning. Maybe some people can't have a normal life, they need to reach the top very fast and without putting in the work. It is indeed an art I guess.
Would one call Martin Luther King a con artist when he advocated for social justice in the name of "religion"?
One can con people also by pretending to be a scientist. There is no exclusive link between being conned and religion.
No one said anything about the religious being con artists, only that they're the victims of the con of religion.
@@woodygilson3465 Actually, she did. The first priest she described knew there was no meaning, etc. She implies no religious leaders have any genuine faith.
@@SusannaBarrett After more than a week, I'll have to take your word, but sounds logical. And con artists play a role, they needn't be religious to work a religious con.
I'm 48 years old and until just a couple years ago, I was a total believer, lifelong preacher and clergy. Started preaching as a kid, did some time in seminary, went from Southern Evangelical to Messianic Jew to Noahide, studying for more than a decade for conversion to Orthodox Judaism. I studied Talmud, Rabbinic literature, Chassidus, Kabbalah, Mussar...
I believed God was with me, spoke to me, usually through signs, had two theophanic experiences, more than a few shared experiences. Then one day, quite by accident, dots connected all at once and I saw it for the delusion it was. Shattered my whole fkn reality. I'm in a good place now, and that's taken so much work, and it's been worth it. But that's the thing about delusion, isn't it? The deluded are the always the last to know. Far as I knew, God was as real and present as anyone. I didn't just believe that. I "knew."
Of course there are con artists and predators among clergy. That's a no-brainer. The rest, however, are not. For better or worse, they're just people living their lives according to, what is in their minds, "reality."
Religions are 100% man-made, tailored to offer eternal life, forgiveness of imaginary sins and a vague, fable like theory of creation !
Thanks for confirming what we have guessed since childhood !
Fables - are stories. Humans are born empathetic beings - We need love and tactile feelings, primarily from the mother. As we grow and mature in our nurturing, we begin to respond with our own stories.... and we end life with all of those experiences of a lifetime... again, with stories. And it is this need to verbalize with other humans that makes us accept their stories. And.... some of the best story tellers are preachers and "holy" men. We just wanna believe their stories. [see a book by Sara & Jack Gorman - "Denying to the Grave ]
@@dhutch71
Thanks I still believe in a Supreme Creator, so holly that we may not ever see his form shape or even face , not as the human depictions of God.
The thing about selling promises about heaven, hell and life after death is that even if you could get get buyer's remorse it would be too late to do anything about it because you're dead
I was with her up until she made the jump from people look for meaning to that being the basis for con artists. Most con artists prey upon greed, not the search for meaning. They take people's desire for easy gains and turn it against them. (Not all cons, mind you. There are also fake charities which prey on compassion. But the biggest and most profitable cons are the ones that promise big financial returns.)
I think the search for meaning in life is more likely to lead to superstitions. People who wear lucky socks or knock on wood weren't told to do this by people asking for money, and most of the people who teach us religion genuinely believe it themselves.
Now, this isn't to say that there aren't religious con artists out there. There are televangelists, there are cult leaders, there is Scientology, etc. But these only make up a tiny sliver of the Venn diagram of con artists and religious groups.
Shawn Ravenfire you need to read her book son (I did) so you can understand it right.
The search for meaning, has the most loop holes for a con to enter and be elevated without any skill other than the con
It's both, when they find someone who seems lost in life, then they will take advantage of that. Someone who has nothing to lose is easy target
Don't agree. Religion relies on greed and fear to keep its followers compliant. Greed for rewards in the "afterlife" and fear of eternal punishment. Ethics and morals do not require a god to worship. Most people obey these religious cons for those 2 reasons. They think they can buy their way to spiritual salvation and that gives them psychological comfort. Basically, religions are just giant pyramid schemes.
I think I got this from David Gerrold (in a book about the making to The Trouble with Tribbles): A salesman is someone who gives you something of tangible value in return for your money. If the value is intangible, he's a con man." It's probably been 40 years since I read that, but I didn't want to claim the quote as my own.
Trust is a situational thing. There may be times when you will trust a total stranger with your life (because there is not alternative), and times when you will not give your best friend your e-mail password (because he doesn't need it).
According to legend, God gave his only son for a world that HE CREATED that was wicked before, during and well after his son's life. I got a little pushback when I questioned that.
While the figure of Christ is admirable in character, the entire purpose for him being born and dying “for our sins” is nonsensical considering God, as the creator of EVERYthing, is ultimately responsible for humans being sinful in the first place. So he sent his son to save us from himself for something he created. But he punishes humans for sin… makes perfect sense. 🙄
The God of the Bible, if real, is just fucking with all of us for his own sadistic amusement.
@@loganleatherman7647
Today, there is a lot of concern about AI. What will an autonomous machine do if it is given free will? The military is leading the charge on that direction, but that's another subject.
Let's talk about the real story of creation from the Bible. God began to create at some point in time. His first creation was an image of himself. Together, the two of them created other beings like themselves: intelligent, self aware, autonomous and powerful. These were what we know as angels.
Genesis 1:1 begins with "in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." The "heavens" could refer to the galaxies or the angels; it doesn't matter.
The rest of Genesis chapter one deals with making the earth habitable, terraforming it, and putting living things made out of molecules on it. First, sea creatures, then flying creatures, land animals and finally "Let us make man in our image..."
We have no idea how long all of this took. The phrase "in our image" does not mean God has five fingers on each hand or two arms and legs. It means that for the first time intelligent and sentient beings were made out of molecules instead of whatever the angels were made from.
Now, the rest of the story includes details about the humans and how they were given the job of cultivating the garden and extending its boundaries to the ends of the earth. They were also given a command to stay away from the fruit of one tree, and ignoring this would result in death for them.
Early on, there is a record of a conversation with a certain serpent and the woman about whether what God had said was really true. This led to both the woman and the man breaking the law and receiving the penalty of death. This penalty was passed along like a genetic defect to their offspring. So, we all die.
Now, what most people do not know is that the serpent was merely a hand puppet for an angel who had been given the responsibility to care for the human couple. The Catholic Jerusalem Bible calls him the "guardian angel" at Ezekiel 18:4.
So, the Devil, the original serpent, decided that rather than serving humans, he would have them serve him.
He may have reasoned that since the couple were supposed to fill the earth, God would not be able to execute the death penalty.
Jesus' perfect human life was given in exchange for the one Adam squandered.
This information is not provided to bolster the position of the churches. Religion is a snare and a racket. That does not mean that there is no God. It just means that men have hijacked the whole idea of God to serve their own interests.
how come he never sent his daughter. Even God was a mysognist
But the man in the sky really does want you all to send me all your money !
The fairies at the bottom of my garden ask the same question. I tell them to piss off.
@@garysergeant9086 you should ask the fairies if when they run does the grass tickle their balls let me know what they say lol
@@christopherbibb6000 no they just screech in pain as there's no grass .only stones
all religions accept all denominations of $, no problem.
I agree that people get ahead through social connections, but in exchange, the majority of those people that help you want to control you. And that's why I pull back.
Humans don't just desire meaning, we need meaning. A function in our unconscious creates dreams laden with meaningful archetypal symbols. These symbols are universal and transcend religion. What part of us is creating these ancient archetypal symbols? One part of us is a participant in our dreams, like an actor playing a role in a movie, another part of us is watching or witnessing the dream (our evolving soul), and yet another part of us is creating the dream for our edification and growth (our Spirit). Why are we here then? To evolve, grow as people, to learn, and to experience life. Earth is a school...a touch point. We are not "from here". We are from another dimension of our reality. This becomes apparent in meditation.
Yeah, L.Ron said close to the same thing before starting his cult!
That's like asking what do water and H2O have in common.
We all just need to meditate, take shrooms and acid and liquidate all reserve banks
HAAAA
I don’t need anyone around me to pray to God, whatever power that may be , to help me see things as they are and always in a better light.
L. Ron Hubbard said if you really want to make money you start a religion. What I don't understand is when the government gives them tax free status.
Throw the Government in there too
Separation of Church and State bro.
n CIA also :p
Also ISIS
😃james wasda
***** illuminati.
LOL I read the title as "what do artists and religious leaders have in common" oh man I got a good laugh after.
Both have college majors that way too many people major in, and then they can't get jobs and they have to take a minimum wage dead-end job as a store greeter?
***** And then they live at their parent's house until their 34 so that they can save up enough money to get an education that's worth their time, but they can't decide what to major in, so they decided that they need some time to "find themselves." Then they go to some foreign country where they barely speak the language, and when they get back to their home country, they have a different sexual orientation.
have to admit i was sad when you both ran out of trite cliches. is that the product of your sophisticated american culture?
7kurisu Wait, has anyone ever actually claimed that American culture is sophisticated?
youre the ruling power in the world. the implication follows that youre better than everyone else. for instance, i have seen the scenarios you both talked about above played out in at least four US tv shows - friends, sex in the city, how i met your mother and the office. all the episodes relate how a trip overseas, to reinvent or "find yourself" goes terribly wrong, other cultures are more primitive/less sophisticated/too "arty". in the end, the moral goes, dont try to be different. stay american.