ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.ค. 2024
- Consider Supporting MindShift - / mindshiftskeptic
This is a special video for me. I have finally taken the time to put to words a concept that has long bothered me within religious belief. The Christian is forced to take on a split personality, to be both saint and sinner. I believe the weight of trying to live this out is a root cause of so much mental distress and harm for believers. Here's a short attempt to articulate that idea. Hope you enjoy it.
Sub! → Turn on notifications for 3 new videos every week!
Connect! → Email - MindShiftSkeptic@gmail.com
Give! → Patreon - / mindshiftskeptic
Share → Show A Friend - / @mindshiftskeptic
My Playlists → www.youtube.com/@MindShiftSke...
My Other Channel → / @brandonsbookshelf
Other Resources For You:
- Freedom From Religion Org - ffrf.org
- Recovering From Religion - recoveringfromreligion.org
- Dare To Doubt Mental Health Resources - www.daretodoubt.org/resources
- Ex Christian Resources - / resources
- Secular Student Alliance - secularstudents.org
-The Humanist Society - thehumanistsociety.org
Chapters
0:00 Split Personality Scriptures
1:10 The Extremes Of This Belief System
3:45 Why I Care
4:49 A Real Look At The Christian Landscape
7:25 Historical And Theological Perspective
10:35 Psychological And Emotional Impact
13:56 Societal And Cultural Influence
16:37 Clarifying Ideas
18:59 Final Thoughts
#divinedichotomy #dualityoffaith #atheism #mindshift #atheist #christianmentalhealth - บันเทิง
![ความรักไม่ได้น่ากลัวขนาดนั้น (TRUST ME) - LYKN [ OFFICIAL MV ]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/9np-lAtCRpQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Morning all! Im really eager to hear everyones thoughts and experiences on this topic. I’ll be out a while this morning but back on to respond this afternoon. Hope you enjoy!
Oh and you are spot on. Cheers to our guilt free lives.
@@kurtwhite8503 I feel guilt now, real empathic and self-evaluation guilt. But when I was indoctrinated into Christianity and “excused theism” I felt not as much guilt when it came to hurting others, it was just chosen slop hurting unchosen slop so it didn’t matter… only Yahweh’s views on my as a “good to have chosen” slop mattered, society did not… although it was a society that was pushing that indoctrination into me.
The "chosen" people you refer to are the Israelites. The Bible is a collection of stories - the first half of which (the Hebrew Scriptures aka the Old Testament) are a history of the Jewish people and the introduction of the idea of the Messiah. Christians aren't "God's chosen people"; humans aren't "God's chosen people". That's a failure to understand the book and the faith you're critiquing.
Your understanding of 'Christian' is held way too tightly. There are many, many ways to be Christian, but you've decided on one definition and then argued against it. The fact that Christianity is expressed through a multitude of denominations should alert you to the fact there are a multitude of beliefs held by the billion or so people who call themselves Christian.
This approach makes me think of my father, an atheist who hated God. I could never understand why he put so much effort into hating something he didn't believe in.
Perhaps your argument is with a specific denomination or belief expressed by some Christians. In that case, it would be helpful to know which church you're talking about and where you heard this belief professed.
It’s so sad to see people become slaves to their religion because they believe they have another life of perfection as long as they live this certain way smh 🤦♂️ I was so fucking ripped apart in how I thought as a kid and it was just because I truly thought there was a chance I would have to spend eternity in hell and sadly I was just lied to because people believe this wild story rather than believing in evolution 😂
@@MsThebadmen yes there are a multitude of beliefs held by Christian’s who use the Bible as evidence here are a few great examples of what Christians believe their Omni benevolent god says:
Anyone who beats their male or female slave with a rod must be punished if the slave dies as a direct result, 21 but they are not to be punished if the slave recovers after a day or two, since the slave is their property. - exodus chapter 21:20-21
Oh yeah great Christian belief here is another great Christian belief
Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery luke 16:18 L take lowkey maybe there is a better verse
Behold, the Lord will bring a great plague on your people, your children, your wives, and all your possessions,and you yourself will have a severe sickness with a disease of your bowels, until your bowels come out because of the disease, day by day.
2 chronicles 21:14-15 I believe no one should believe that book is the inspired text of a god lol
One of the most damaging concepts for me as a child is that one must forgive and love their abuser. To turn the other cheek. If not, then it is me that is the bad person. That is incredibly manipulative and controlling
Another quote taken entirely out of context just to manipulate people. There's a Roman Law reference there, and I don't have the documentation tonight, but it was basically inciting police brutality to get your captors in trouble with their superiors. It's rather delightful in full context, but it's used to mask abuse today, which is very uncool and hugely damaging to people.
Well said.
Christianity blames God’s creation for being the way that God intentionally and knowingly created it to be.
Calvinism is not Christianity.
@@VACatholic - Are there any denominations of Christianity that don’t adhere to the doctrine of “original sin”? God, as the sovereign, omnipotent, omniscient creator of literally everything that exists (other than himself, I suppose) is ultimately responsible for making human nature the way that it is.
@@TestMeatDollSteak The Religious Society of Friends is rooted in Christianity (individual Friends may or may not identify as Christians) but puts less emphasis on Biblical interpretations much more emphasis on listening to the Inner Light as a path forwards towards peace. It's possible to see humans as biologically apes with no need for a transgressive origin story while still wanting a personal relationship with something bigger than ourselves.
@@joelpartee594 - I don’t see how you could root anything in Christianity without ultimately rooting it in the gospels, because the gospels are the only available sources for literally everything that is known and/or assumed about Jesus.
@@VACatholic
Yes it is. One of 41,000+ variations of Christianity.
Thanks for the No True Scotsman fallacy.
🫤
I became an extremely self hating Christian. “If all sin is equal, then if I look at a woman and lust then…ya da ya da ya da” I’ve gotten to the point that even though I no longer believe, simply finding a woman attractive feels…wrong. Then they ask “where’s the girlfriend?” “When you getting one?” Feels like I’ve been set up.
Man, I remember getting the Christian sex talk as a kid and even then sort of marveling at the doublethink that requires. 😅 How you're predisposed to lust, basically, but lust is sinful. You can find women attractive, but I guess only in the way you find a statue attractive. If your eyes dare alight on her "bosom", then you're def being lustful, never mind the biological reasons behind it. Which is weird, because women's value (doctrinally speaking) only comes from maternity and homemaking, so you would think that maybe a little physical evaluation beforehand would only be logical, but nope, lustful. I don't think you can win. 😆
Oh man i can sympathize. Just in direct opposition to our base nature too. Think about every pubescent make that has ever been and the shame for the christians ones
This is one of the teachings that has caused me so much inner anguish. Slowly getting out of it.
Welcome to the truth! Its a hard journey out, man but so worth it.
Speaking as a Christian, I cannot understand how you can hate yourself. We were created with sexual desire. We need it to survive as a species. Finding women attractive seems absolutely right to me. I remain faithful, however, to the woman I chose to marry. Adultery is destructive, and God was right to condemn it.
A true Christian doesn't just seemed diseased, he seems possessed (by madness)!
Sure, if you call progressively pure, deep, reliably-unconditional, and self-sacrificing love, as revealed in the first century, madness. Shows whether you've done your due diligence, you know, checked the Bible's criteria for what constitutes a true Christian.
St.Paul was accused if insanity, and even Jesus's family thought he was "out of his mind". With their illustrious company I am happy to reside in the madhouse of Christianity (even if some of the other occupants seem deranged).
@@AighEnoughAlready So if your love is reliably unconditional, you will accept me as I am, a gay man married to another gay man, unconditionally, even if it's something you would not choose to do yourself? If not, then you're not practising what you preach.
@@mikenash7049 Why settle for accepting you as being of such a relatively-insignificant and subjective value, when I can love and accept you as being of infinite value, made so by Jesus' infinite sacrifice, His second death in your place?
In other words, why see you as a married gay man, when God sees you as far more, what you can eventually become through Jesus' grace imparted to you every day for the rest of your life: like Him with a morally perfect character, forever safe for and able to enjoy His pure and holy home?
But why also expect me to equate unconditional love with acceptance of your choice of lifestyle beyond your likely lack of choice of sexual preference/orientation (although a few seem to choose it), if that choice will harm you in the end?
I know you can't see it now because of our modern culture, but like it or not, believe it or not, God's ideal for us, in His infinite wisdom, really was, and still is, that of a man and a woman living together happily ever after.
Just know that the teaching of eternal torment is the easiest teaching to disprove as unbiblical, and the recent PC notion of eternal separation is the result of a few translators adding the word "apart" or "away" to "from the presence of the Lord" in 2 Thessalonians 1:9.
All you have to do to know that the Bible does not teach that God will torment or quarantine the unrepentant forever is consider the three points in God's reason for banishing the pair from Eden and Rev. 22, that:
1) God put a tree of perpetual life in Eden and Heaven, confirming the notion of an immortal soul to be a foreign/unbiblical/platonic notion
2) access to it is only given to the lovingly obedient, and cut off from the disobedient
3) our holy God has no desire or intent to perpetuate sin, especially blasphemy, forever
And Ezekiel 28:18-19 and Malachi 4:3 disprove the assumption that Rev. 20:9 and 10 are different, consecutive events. They are one and the same event. It was the papacy, not Jesus, who invented the monstrosity of eternal torment, the direct result of paganism merging with Christianity early on.
And make sure you don't blind yourself to the conclusive evidence for God in Daniel 2, and the fact that Christianity was all laid out in the sanctuary service long before Jesus disciples had the supposed opportunity to invent it.
Finally, if that IS your identity, may I encourage you to check out this group of same-sex-oriented Christians who have come to see and identify themselves not merely as gay, but instead as Jesus sees them?
If you take such pride in your identity that you're unwilling to consider this other view, this far superior view, believe it or not, you'll only be offended by it and hate on them and attack them as others like you have.
But if you're truly open-minded enough, humble enough, and courageous enough to check out and seriously consider and take to heart what they present, then the sky will be the limit for you, even if it won't be easy at first. You will find a level of inner peace, meaning, and purpose your relationship can never hope to offer.
If the latter, check out their mission page first, then their presentations: comingoutministries.org/mission
I wish you the very best God has to offer you, Mike: redemption of your morally-weak character and ever-more amazing and blissful eternal life with your Maker, Provider, and Constant Sustainer. I really do.
I just hope and pray that you'll be humble enough, open-minded enough, and courageous enough to take and embrace His offer.
@@AighEnoughAlready because of our modern culture? It's mentioned in the bible, a book written thousands of years ago, this has always been a part of nature... your only evidence that it's morally wrong comes from a book...
it's very likely that on the other hand you will not be let into heaven because you knew some people were gay and you didn't do what your bible tells you to do... so that gives you something to think about, you're just using that bible as an excuse to allow you to pretend your fear for the unknown and disgust for those who are different is justified... although it's just simply... none of your business...
"Born sick. Commanded to be well." -Christopher Hitchens
Lmao precisely
I was raised with this message. My dad especially pounded the idea in from the time I can remember that I am a worthless sinner. I remember when a baby would start to kick and cry for some reason he would say “born a sinner!” And I really started to
Shift into a lighter prettier version of my Christianity when my daughter was born and I realized I didn’t want her to feel the way I felt and I didn’t want her around my parents too much. Eventually I realized that if I actually read the Bible for what it is. It’s speaks for itself and it doesn’t need a preacher to dress it up and put some spin on it. When I stripped all of those things away, I couldn’t find a good God. It was devastating…but I am so thankful I had the strength to leave, to change my mind on my own. My whole world was within Christianity, my family, friends and community were Christian’s. My dad denies that he says these things even though he still does! It is insane that he can look at
Me and say he never said
That. I told him, it was daily! How could You Forget?! There’s so much denial.
Man i am so sorry to hear this but also so glad and proud of you for breaking the cycle and being brave enough to follow truth
It is TRULY amazing the way some people can filter out their poor behavior.
I can't even imagine hearing someone I care about telling me that their spouse or significant other was constantly telling them how worthless and broken they were and therefore how lucky they were to have them(the spouse or s.o.). We would and should never tolerate that kind of abuse from another person, so how much less sense does it make to hear that from a supposedly perfect and all-loving God. Truly gross.
100%! My friend
I watched my mother live a lifetime struggle of existential angst of being inherently tainted, filthy for being born human, responsible for every second of the perfect loving Jesus' mortal suffering. It was horrifying to grow up under the weight of her yearning to die to escape her the pull of the flesh, her very humanity, only to burn in hell.
Great video.
"Thank you, o Lord, that I'm not like that terrible tax collector over there......." the cognitive dissonance is un-ending.
I'm sorry for your mother. It's astounding to me how people call Christianity a «loving religion» when a lot of it relies on self-hatred and shaming.
This is a tragic but exact example of what i am talking about. Thanks for sharing.
This is tragic. God does not call us to struggle. The love of Jesus has set us free from condemnation, and because of his willing sacrifice the most flawed human being is pure and beautiful in his sight.
@@ChrisSmith-xh9wb That abuse doesn't work on us, dude. We don't believe we're sinful disgusting creatures who need a savior. You can't sell us the cure to a made up disease we don't have.
same reason islam is called the religion of peace... even as they stone people even as theyre comunities tear apart frightened young girls whos only crime was having rumors of theyre deconversion spread by people who hated them... these comunities the girls very family will act like mad savage dogs and beat her to death in theyre total depraved insanity becuase that is rightiousness to them... that is religion... the religion of peace they say even as they throw gay people from buildings... or burn people alive in cages... religions is one of the most evil things ever made by man, or any other animal for that matter, it fiths people with joy even as they sluaghter theyre fellow man... for the highest of cuases justifies the deepest sacrifices....@@joaomelo7794
This one explains the anxiety I have had since early childhood.
Anxiety, depression, ego, narcissism, bigoted. The list goes on of all the different ways our psyche reacts to these “truths”. So sorry to hear your affect. I hope its getting better or that you are getting help. And thank you for being here.
I have this image that it's like they make you believe that you're standing on a ledge, and one wrong move and you'll fall, while actually the abyss you see is just a false perspective, as an atheist, you take the step forward to realise this... there is no sin if it's not also crime.
@@marcdc6809 Exactly how we felt our whole childhoods! It was abuse by a non-existent entity.
You are what is needed in this space. You articulate and develop your points without hostility while leveraging logic and reason.
Thanks for your passion and hard work. There is a mindshift, Freudian slip, happening and those seeking questions around religion need to be treated with kid gloves others the defenses come up. Saving minds not souls!!! Please don't stop❤
What a wonderful compliment. Thank you very much, Kurt. Appreciate all that encouragement!
I like it when you get a little worked up and passionate about the things you are saying. You don’t need apologize for it.
Ha. Well thank you
Dude, I can't tell you how cathartic your rant towards the end was for me. Thank you so much! You said you weren't going to be so polemical in future videos, and that it isn't your style generally, but I do hope that it will be the case at least every once in a while. To me, you weren't even polemical, you were a bright, impassioned young man who knows what he's talking about because he's been through it himself. And you also seem to have, which is quite rare for an American tbh ;), a sense of MODERATION!
Oh wow! Thank you for that kindness and your encouragement. I just got to your first comment. Type talking btw so sorry for all the errors ha. You have me all wound up to tackle those issues. I plan on making more videos on what you brought up or again would love to discuss with you for a video sometime if you’d prefer since they were tour points. Again, thanks for being here and the very kind support!
The harm I did to my children in their youth when I still believed is something I still feel I haven't apologized to them enough for.
At least you realized! Far and above so many
I grew up in a very Christian household, mainly my father was the enforcer of it. I am 21 now, and have not “come out” as atheist, and I can no see myself ever.
»
I suppose I could tell my mom, she is always a kind and understand person. She did not skip a beat when I came out for another thing when I was younger. I think she might feel confused and sad, if she thinks I am doomed. But my father would probably be horrible, he would probably be so disappointed and would probably want to interrogate and grill me and preach to me.
»
There was a conversation about religion when we were watching a television show together. A woman said she’s an atheist (she also probably grew up that way) and has not seen a reason/evidence to believe in god. My father got kind of nasty about it. I said that atheism is not a positive claim, and that atheism does not necessarily say god absolutely does not exist. He said atheists are people that hate god. I said what are people that never were taught about god? He changed the point to the definition of atheism being an absolutely rejection, and I tried to explain how the definition has changed. He asked who says this, that’s now how it was when he grew up in a catholic school. I said words change. People that are atheists say this is the definition. He could not accept either of those facts. He got a bit angry and asked me to provide an example of words changing definitions. I tried to explain a few examples and he said those are different and not what I was saying. I think he still thinks atheists are horrible and possibly evil. My best friend is an atheist, she has said she did not grow up religious because her mom (who was brought up catholic) wanted her to decide for herself. I am pretty sure my dad does not like that. I know neither of my parents like how vulgar she can be sometimes. Our families are so different. It is a culture shock when I go between them.
»
When I first realised that Christianity (or any religion) does not make any sense and that there is no evidence and that there are a million contradictions, I talked through it with my best friend. There were so many things I had to unlearn and let myself forget. My mind felt so much safer without something in it, listening to me constantly and judging me for intrusive thoughts or my many mental illnesses. I felt free, but also naked, that is to say, unprotected. It has been a few years now, and I do feel more healthy in the realm of spirituality. It has been a hard journey.
I’m feeling your pain as I read this. Thank you for sharing that and I hope that writing it helped you get some of those feelings out. I remember the look of fear and anger on my moms face when I said, “Yes, I’m an atheist”. She had asked me because she was collecting my mail while I was out of town and one of my quarterly “Freedom From Religion Foundation” newsletters had been delivered. Her reply was, “I didn’t raise you like that!” The look on her face showed the fear of me going to hell and the anger caused by that fear. We’ve gotten past that now but it sounds like you’ve got a tougher road ahead of you. You are the atheist I admire. The one that was WAY more indoctrinated than I was, yet you’ve still managed to see yourself free of religion. Please give yourself a ton of credit for that. You’re amazing!!
Thanks for sharing. Its so sad that this group of supposedly loving and accepting people are so hateful and judgmental if you dont believe the exact false thing they do. Only you know if its worth coming out but i hope sanity snd health for you. Its very hard in general but with parents its the hardest i think. I was terrified of telling my mom for years.
I am the atheist many people rail against. I hate religion and I know we’d be better off without it. Science and religion can NOT coexist. What religion has done to society is reprehensible. Just look at the bigoted, anti-choice, racist, classist laws that are going into effect. They’re ALL based on religious beliefs. What makes it worse is that none of the religions are true and atheists like me are being forced to live with these laws. There is absolutely nothing good we can do that must have religion connected to it. I am an angry atheist but I feel like I have many good reasons to be that angry. I just love your channel. Thank you for letting me rant!
Count me as an angry atheist too. I don’t even know if it’s constructive to be an angry atheist, but it’s a fact that I am one. I don’t know how else I’m supposed to feel about such a horrid mind virus.
Yes the angry atheist term is just a way for the christian to establish us bad, them good, us angry, them peaceful and happy. Its bs! People are allowed to be not just angry but outraged. I try to stay away from it a bit just to be more effective on the channel as a point of peaceful showcasing and inviting place for dialogue. Plus christians cant seem to understand the difference between angry at god and angry at the outcome of religion. etc
@@MindShift-Brandon I appreciate you dampening your anger for your channel. It's not easy, but I think it's pretty clearly more effective.
Thank you for that
Mahayana Buddhism is true.
The Christians I knew who were the most assured of their salvation were always, and I mean always, the ones least knowledgeable on the bible and most willing to use their feelings as evidence of God speaking to them. You show me a Christian who sincerely seeks God, as in genuinely wants to find God and thus is constantly learning as much as they can about the bible and reevaluating themselves according to it, and I will show you one that struggles with doubt about their salvation.
This is a wonderful point. It rings true when i think about so many believers in my life that are so sure and its not because of their studying its what god made them feel in prayer this morning etc.
In have been studying the Bible for years. Its content and its provenance. I am always seeking to reevaluate my understanding according to what it says. So far it has only reinforced my assurance of salvation.
@@ChrisSmith-xh9wbYou are annoying. Does the Abi or no say ‘pride comes before the fall’. You should be worried.
I love your channel. I made my mother stop talking to me about religion a year or so ago; I was sick of not being able to talk about the problems in my life without her bringing up how I needed to come to Christ. I intend to extend to her the same respect that I expect her to extend to me, but I really wish I could bring up so many of your arguments.
thanks so much! and man do i understand.
Thank you for your work. The more I learn about the religious abuse, the more I value such content.
Appreciate that! Thanks for watching
This sort of dissonance is what led to me falling out of Catholicism at around 8-10 years old. The ones that particularly stand out as memorable are the importance placed on going to Mass despite Jesus advocating for praying in secret (Matthew 6:5-6), and the idea of intercessory prayer and actually hearing God answer but never hearing anything except my own voice. I decided at that point to rely on others that I knew could help me instead of this vague notion that things might get better if I put enough effort into simply asking for it. At this point I still had a vague belief in a higher power, but Catholic doctrine seemed very paradoxical and hypocritical. It wasn't until a few years later that I truly realized I didn't believe in anything anymore.
Well glad you found the truth in the end. Thanks for being here!
@@MindShift-Brandon My parents are both conservative talk-radio listeners, and I went to private Catholic parochial school for K-8, so I didn't exactly have a solid philosophical basis for rejecting belief in God 17 years ago, haha. I only knew that the things I was being told were contradictory and the cruelty conflicted with the kindness that was supposedly espoused.
I think that says a lot. If left to our own devices m, even without all the big philosophical issues and arguments…most of us can still sense it as off or incorrect. But that same lot of us is stuck in it or to afraid too leave or manipulated or indoctrinated further etc
It's a psychology of dependence and submission. Yep, it is pathological to be a believer.
Religious belief in general is so curious from a psychological level but specifically the christian system seems so much worse.
Thanks again for a wonderful thoughtful presentation. What a wonderful feeling for me when I realized as an atheist I can never sin. Sin is a religious construct to keep believers scared of not believing in a certain dogma or god.
Yup! I can make decisions and actions that are less beneficial or might result in natural consequence but thats it. Freeing. And not to just go do harm but more so to effectively have autonomy that i can utilize.
I lived for thirty years without any concept of sin. Now I understand it. It is not a religious construct. Anyone who says they are not a sinner has not taken an honest look into the depths of their own soul. Fortuntately we have a loving God who can save us from its consequences.
Just because you think you don't sin doesn't mean anything. You are now making up your own truth. Do you think Holy God will allow you in heaven. I pray you will read God's Word and then you will know the truth. God's truth will set you free. Have a blessed day.
@@faithcomesbyhearing724go get mental help
@@ChrisSmith-xh9wbAs I understand it, a "sin" is any thought or act that God (specifically the Abrahamic god) judges and condemns. The concept of sin is not to be confused with making mistakes or doing wrong under any other code of ethics or laws - it is strictly a construct of a particular religious worldview. You sin when you break God's laws (wearing ribbons in your hair, eating shellfish, and not praying enough or whatever are all sins). Sinning is not the same as behaving unethically or being imperfect (although there can be overlap between them). No one is saying they never make mistakes or unethical decisions. But to "sin" specifically - that is a religious concept, created by religion for religious people to contemplate and adhere to.
An atheist claiming they do not sin is not being dishonest with themselves - they are working with a different set of definitions to describe their thoughts, behaviors, and motivations. You cannot have the concept of sin without having the concept of God dictating what it means to sin. I hope that clarifies the terms for you.
Hope this guy keep making videos daily. I agree with his message but would've never thought of it that way.
Glad to bring a new perspective for you! 3-4 videos per week though not daily ha. Thanks for being here
@MindShift OK, I lose track. Lol. All I know is that when I see a new post, I go 'Oh Oh!!
Ha. Love that. Thank you.
I look back on my journals as a Christian and this concept played out exactly as Brandon described it.
Hey Jared. For some reason your comment got stuck in spam. Yes my journals and bad teenage poetry point to a lot of sickness stemmed from this belief. Glad I’m representing our experiences accurately.
Thanks again Brandon! We need this kind of light shone into the darkness.
As much as i can. Thanks!
The inconsistencies are so strong. I’m glad you covered this topic.
Thank you, sir. Its glaring.
I love all of your videos. I am bi polar, and whenever I am depressed I start fearing hell again even though I realize how irrational it is. Your videos are a very huge help to me. Thank you very much!
So glad to help! Thanks for being here
Ha! I found your channel and subscribed a few days ago. I was a "weak" Christian until about 30 years ago when I made it a mission to actually read the Bible, which I did religiously until completing it over 3 years later. Since then I got obsessed with the Dead Sea Scrolls and have studied the Bible in more depth. Fwiw, I'm still on my journey and consider myself an agnostic. The reason i'm still considering a god is I just had this conversation with a good friend of mine (stating what you eloquently did) so I consider this divine providence. 😁 Lol, as the kids say.
Ha. I am all for agnosticism in regards to a creator or any super natural being. But the gods we have claimed so far from these “holy books” those i know we can dismiss. Thanks for being here!
Your channel is one of my favorites! Thank you for all of your hard work!
My pleasure. Thanks for that!
I suffered from anxiety and depression from being taught that Christ is going to come back for "The Chosen" and everyone else left behind. This was drummed my head. This was presented as FACT. So several times I came home to an empty house and became terrified that I was left behind because I was a sinner, that I wasn't good enough even though I was baptized. I had nightmares for years. At age 30, I realized this is a bunch of bull after hearing several times that Jesus was going to come back in the 70s but never did, then the 80s another no-show. For sure Jesus was coming back in 2000, another no-show.
It's my opinion that religion, specifically Christianity, has a few positives. However, I can see from a historical standpoint how it has tainted U.S. politics, policies. Christian Nationalism is a serious threat on many levels. There is a book by Barbara Kingsolver called The Poisonwood Bible. I recommend listening or reading this book. It's based on a true story. Here's the short version: Missionary goes to Africa, tells them we'll help you if you convert to our religion.
Thank you, sir. Very cathartic. At 42 I have finally achieved my life goal of being "good enough" after I started deconstructing.
oh man, I am so sorry to hear that, but you made it!
I was in the faith for a majority of my life and even now in my 30s-many years after leaving the faith-I am still unpacking the way my thinking, identity, and self worth were desolated by it. I appreciate you speaking overtly about the psychological harm of Christianity. I think too often in deconstructionist content or commentary on Christianity, there’s a caveat added that “some Christians are not like this” as if it’s JUST the western evangelical sect that is bad because of bigotry alone … its never met with the required follow-up that the Bible itself and the ease with which it can be weaponized in culture and in the theology is a problem and the way that cognitive dissonance warps your thinking can’t be understated. It ruins people’s lives but it also erodes critical thinking skills in favor of an apologetics approach of confirmation bias to every single problem.
Preach! So well said. Thanks for adding in!
Catholics and Orthodox are the same way, they're just more tolerant. The underlying ideology is no different.
I didn't leave until my mid 40s - I feel your pain, and had a lot to unpack (especially growing up Catholic). I'm still recovering from the cognitive dissonance, but I feel better than I ever did as a Christian. Not only that, but family and friends that are still Christian comment on how much happier I seem.
Congrats on an excellent channel. May it grow immensely
Thank you much!
This one definitely hits home. Without knowing, it looks like my unbeliever path started at a young age. I went to church and sunday school. I will always remember that the teacher told us the story of Noah's Arc. I was always told that god/jesus was good, he loved us and forgave us so this story confused me and scared me so much. Here he was, sending a flood and killing people and animals except for those on the arc. I had already been going through traumatic issues so I know this is what added to my feeling of being unworthy and bad. What a conflict! As a kid, we may not be able to ask questions or know which ones to ask. We may not be able to express our horrible fear. After that, I wasn't even listening anymore but I still had to be there. That's definitely cognitive dissonance. The teacher made the story seem so lovely. I refused to go to church at 14 and it wasn't taken well, of course. That's when I started to do research on my own which led me out. I know so many people who are educated and would not have this cognitive dissonance in other areas of their life, except for religion. People I love who have such hate for the marginalized. It's just ugly. Although I know in my head why this is, it still baffles me. Many pick and choose what seems good to them and ignore the other horrible parts. I could not do that in that good conscience. For example, I think that believing, actually condones all the bad stuff that other people do, even if it's not done by them personally, for example violence toward others. Those who remain silent about those things, don't help victims, they encourage the oppressors. I get the negatives from this too. At this point, I ignore it and expect it but move on. It's not easy sometimes to live in reality and logic but this is the best choice for me. Thank you for this one! I wish that things could be different in religion.
If you’re a Christian watching this, and have a generally fulfilled life, turn back now. A few years ago I was a confident, successful, naive believer writing in my journal (purchased at Mardel), attending church and small groups, praying, living God’s wonderful plan for my life.
Then realities hit me like a couple of rounds with Mike Tyson. One day I asked “Why am I a Christian?” That question was, to quote Gandalf, “Like a small stone that started an avalanche in the mountains”.
As I sit alone in this dark room, financially broke and mental broken, I long for those blissfully unaware days before I started asking questions. Once I did, everything that Brandon has shared in these videos became a realization with me.
There is a real bliss to the ignorance. Its impossible to unsee. I am sorry to hear things went so sour for you though
It took years to get rid of the guilt I was forcibly immersed in since birth. What a disgusting instrument of control!
Glad to hear you're doing better than. Same here!
I am impressed by your honest critique of your worldview.
Thanks Matt, appreciate that. My only goal is truth. I dont care what it ends up being.
@@MindShift-Brandon that is admirable. Hopefully we all share the same goal to believe as many true things as possible.
Being a Christian was so stressful for so many reasons, it's amazing that so few people escape it. Thanks for your help with this. Wish you were around what I was escaping!
Appreciate that! Glad you made it out!
I grew up in a mild and fairly progressive church -- and I sure got the message that we are sinful from birth. Not pounded in; just absorbed with all those stories and hymns and sermons and Sunday school lessons, so that I told myself that there was something really wrong with me that I needed to hide and/or repair, so I could be perfect.
Its just terrible!
Thank you for sharing this, the discrepancies are mind and emotional riddles that have us all confused and wanting.
My personal experience over 40 years has been one of the lowest self esteem that wasn’t worth anything and treating others first with things I didn’t deserve. Oh boy this passionately explained has completely hit it on head. Starting to properly treat myself better and show my children there isn’t a non- choice with eternal consequences.
Brandon I hear you, was a hard journey. I appreciate this so VERY MUCH
Thank you so much, thats just beyond kind.
Thanks for sharing your Knowledge, MindShift. Cheers🥃.
Cheers, Peter! Thanks for watching
Wonderful video. Brings up many things that aren’t often discussed.
Thanks, Daynia, appreciate you being here!
Bravo! This is the level of honest assessment of Christianity that we need more of. I am tired of the false deference we give to religion.
Thank you very much!
Living as a Christian in a country where the majority of people are atheists, I have never experienced any kind of "deference". Just antagonism at worst, or a wary, distrustful tolerance at best. There may be some deference to Islam in high places, though, probably induced by a fear of jihadists.
I could have used this video years ago when I was struggling with self hatred from my ultra-conservative catholic upbringing. I think you explained everything perfectly. Thanks!
Thanks so much!
First off, thanks for the informative, structured (finally someone on YT who gets how important that is!!) and thoroughly researched content. I hope your channel will grow, but for the time being I appreciate it being small enough that I might still reasonably hope to get an answer to my comment :). As a former Roman Catholic, I'm still healing from my traumatizing religious experience. Also, I don't understand why skeptic/atheist TH-camrs are always required by the other side to prove that they're not angry at God or at religion in general. I know I still am, that doesn't change anything about the fact that I now regard the chance of the Christian's God existence as close to nill. It also doesn't prevent me from kicking the other side's butt in terms of purely argumentation or logical consistency. But that's just a minor point I wanted to express. My main point pertains to the fact that it seems to me that most of you atheist TH-camrs in the West criticize Christianity out of an Anglo-Saxon (mostly American) Protestant tradition. I, however, have had an entirely different education, especially when it comes to how Catholics view Man (and I am also in and from Europe, where people are MUCH more moderate about their religious positions and how it shapes their lives; even most of our biggest religious nuts would probably be just ordinary genuine believers by US standards lol). I was taught that Man is born in Sin, in need of accepting Christ's salvific sacrifice, but that he was not that totally wicked creature which can only sin, but that we can and are expected to participate in JC's life of grace by doing good works of the spirit and/or the body, because at his death on the cross he didn't atone for everything I did, rather he left a little "room" for me that I had to fill out (metaphorically speaking ofc) by doing good because Man, though fallen, is still capable of doing good. So salvation through Faith and Good Works and not just Faith as is the case with Protestants (though the same feeling of never knowing if you're really saved or not also remains in Catholicism, both in theory, actually, and in practice). I was wondering if, trying to leave the biases from your own former religious culture and tradition aside, you would say that this is, overall, a more sensible approach to a Christian anthropology than the one you might have experienced at home? The second point I would have liked you to comment upon is the other rebuttal Catholics might have had for your argument on how ridiculous it was for God to let the Fall of Man happen in the first place, since he is omnimax and everything. We were told, as an answer to this objection, that God permits Evil to happen because we have free will and he respects our choices, but also, and mainly, because he will use the occasion of this particular evil to make an even greater good out of it later on, much better than the good we'd have done by doing the right thing initially. So with the fall, the greater positive accomplished would have been the coming of JC because, instead of living on the perfect plane of original creation we now get the opportunity to live with him in heaven forever, which is WAY better, and because we get to receive the body of Christ (Eucharist), which we were told makes even the angels jealous of us. Thank you for your great video and I hope you can get back to me about these objections :). Thanks!
Thank you for this well thought out comment and the effort it took to write it. You are right. There are many, especially non US based, sects of christianity that are not as extreme. I am mainly reacting to my country and my upbringing which is where my knowledge lies but also i believe is a more accurate view of what the bible teaches. Just because others have watered it down or rationalized the bad parts away does not solve it. The source material is beyond faulty and harmful. The very fact we have 10000 sects with infighting is proof of that. Thats my quick take though more could and should be said. As for the catholic answer about a necessary amount of suffering, I could talk for days ha. First and main point is supposedly it wasnt gods original plan. So this all feels like a coping mechanism and excuse for god. Did he want us to fall and sin or not? He cant have it both ways. And the sheer amount of suffering here cannot be compensated in my opinion by eternal life in heaven especially without consent. Id be down for a discussion to reallly iron out all these points though! Thanks again!
@@MindShift-Brandon Thanks man! I'll contact you with proof that it's me.
Another fear that goes through your mind as a child is the absolute terror of thinking you’ll be left behind in the rapture. My husband and I both had that fear as children.
Same here. Is so harmful
Absolutely - you knocked it out of the park with this gem :)
Really good video and shows Christianity’s cognitive dissonance for what it is.
Why they don't see it - but then I did not so education is so important and helped me escape.
Your work will help so many.
Thank you very much and yes i too was so lost and tied up in it for so long. Can only hope to help reach others.
I recently de-converted, and actually just "came out" to my parents this last weekend that I am no longer a Christian, and that I have discarded all of those beliefs. My mom is 70 right now and has been struggling with depression, strong anxiety and has been having panic attacks for the last year. My dad is a staunchly fundamental Christian and would sooner lose his wife than turn his back on his faith. For years, I have watched her get torn up mentally and emotionally due to this dualistic thinking that you're talking about in this video. It's so hard to watch, knowing that she would probably explore the fantastic world outside the narrow, imprisoning confines of Christianity, but she doesn't because she would lose her marriage, her family, her friends. Christianity is a disgusting cancer.
So happy for you and so sad for your mom. Its such an ugly trap!
Love to you Brandon, and thanks for all the work you put into these excellent videos.
Puts a smile on my face. Thank you so much!
I’d really appreciate if you could make more videos about the personal harm done to one’s psyche by being indoctrinated, from birth, with Christianity. Really love your content, perspective, and personality.
Thanks so much Kathryn. I have a video on the 7 things that kept me in religion. Thats the closest ive come to really diving into what you are talking about. Appreciate you being here
I think this duality is showing God’s narcissistic traits. The good being love bombing and the bad being devaluation. And I realized it caused me to live my life through the lens of guilt, shame and fear.
This is exactly it!
I'm with ya. I really wouldn't care that much what religion folks practice, but as others have said "your beliefs inform your actions". Too much In-group versus Out-group thinking.
Yes sir!
You make so much sense....these are the thoughts I had in church while feeling guilty for having them...it was so confusing. How...I wondered...could God give me a mind that could ask these questions yet not give me a way to have answers that made sense.. It still affects me...years later...even though it has been years since church. I still have this Christian dogma running in the background all while hating and despising the behavior of Christians on the political scene. I agree totally that Christianity is harmful on such a deep level that we can barely understand what it has done to us even as we try to deconstruct it. I hope you can save your children from it.
I hope you continue to find more and more clarity with all this. Thank you for the compliment and for watching!
What I get from Christianity is acceptance by God, freedom from guilt, and a source of love that I can freely share with others;. I am sorry that you had a different experience. Never stop asking questions , and never doubt that the answers are there to be found.
The anxiety this caused me is what led me out of the faith.
its not fair for sure to expect of mere humans.
I really appreciate that, as this video demonstrates, your channel is not just "preaching to the choir" of atheists but is addressed to an audience of Christians. As much as apostate atheists need to hear this to make sense of who we were and what we went through, Christians need to hear this, badly, to make sense of how their religion makes them think and act, and why it pits them against the rest of the world. I also appreciate that you cite the Bible so often, so thoroughly, and with such care about context and interpretation, and that you handle naysayers fairly in your rhetoric. Going to bat with people on their own turf, while sidestepping disdain, is a smart way to show them the problems with their faith and mindset.
I absolutely love how you explain your thoughts. They are so spot on. I'm listening and shouting "yes, exactly!"
I haven't seen much about how your deconversion has affected your relationships. Your wife. Your kids. Your parents. Your friends. I hope the best for you and your relationships. I'm lucky. My wife is awesome and never been so deep in religions to reject me. My own family has never been religious. But I love hearing how people work it out. Hopeful it is good.
Hey thanks for watching. yes I mention it briefly in my deconversion video, but I will expand on that aspect for sure in its own video. Thank you for the well wishes and glad to hear about your own.
Thanks again for sharing your perspective & your anger at an atrocity that continues all around the world!
It was cathartic for me, so thanks for watching!
This is surely one of your best videos , thought provoking cutting thru the BS and again getting right to the heart of the matter. Since leaving the church last january I have listened to many bible scholars and they all caused me to keep looking and gradually I was able to question my long held beliefs and to realize that I had been indoctrinated and manipulated into a false belief system which has caused me a lot of grief and anxiety over my lifetime. . Finally I was able to break free and use my intellect and reason to safeguard me from staying in that deluded mindset called Christianity. So much of what you have to say resonates so strongly with me and my heart rejoices to have found your channel which is so empowering and you have supplied all the missing details and answers that I never got by my own reasoning because it is so DEEP and complicated and I was never able to figure it out on my own. your channel has filled in the last few pieces of the puzzle for me and I cant thank you enough for sharing your knowledge and reasoning that cuts thru like a knife. Finally I am starting to feel at peace with myself , you have helped set this captive free and for that I Thank you profusely!!!! Stay on it brother, you are the Voice of Reason!!!
I am so happy for you and also thrilled to have helped at all! Thank you!
Keep these vids coming.
You are helping a lot of people.
Thank you very much, David. Appreciate that!
The flaw with the Bible is that God blames humanity for things that he did. He supposedly created satan knowing he would become evil. Then God tempts his children to disobey him. In the Noah story God says that he regrets ever making humanity and that he would destroy them and start over. Why did he not have this thought about Satan? He wants to destroy humanity but not destroy Satan? Then the story of the Fall is just bizarre. Either God created the snake to specifically tempt them to disobey him or he let satan into the garden of eden. Plus adam and eve did not have the knowledge of right from wrong because that was contained within the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. It's like this God is a sadistic bastard. He knew what would happen, since he is all-knowing but still did the test. When they fail his manipulative test this all-loving, all forgiving god doesn't say, "You made a mistake and yet I forgive you, because you are my creation and I love you." He tells them they are cursed and throws them out of the garden. I think there is a good analogy for the Fall. It's like a parent putting a set of knives in a toddler's room and telling the kid to not touch the knives. Then the parent brings someone into their room to specifically tell them to touch the knives. The Bible says humanity is like dirty rags, but that applies way more to the Biblical god. Most humans, if given the power, would instantly destroy a being like satan or give out the cure for cancer. Yet this God, in all his wisdom, doesn't agree.
Love all this. Excellent points. Thanks for taking the time.
Well said!!!!
@@MindShift-Brandon Same to you man.
Excellent point on the 90s. Here’s a photo of that pope shaking hands with Hitler. Hitler is no atheist, but he was certainly a pragmatist. That doesn’t mean a darn thing, he got a nation of “Christians“ to ignore unspeakable horrors. Case closed. Forget Stalin. That’s a great point.
Thank you and thanks for being here.
I think it is really brave of you to speak up about this topic. Well done! Please keep up your excellent videos. Thank you ever so much.
Thank you for that!
Religion does not have to be factual, coherent, or morally grounded, because in the end, it is not a process of intellectual endeavor; it is a product of enculturation. Cultures are subject to an evolutionary process that is similar, but not identical, to biological evolution. The only thing that matters is that a belief, ritual, attitude, or behavior has the ability to perpetuate itself across generations.
Yes well said. And this religion is perfect for perpetuating itself. Fear of hell and endorsed child indoctrination is a great method.
I cannot believe how much I struggle with after 50 years of indoctrination. It has only been about four years since I started questioning what I had been taught. But I really shouldn't be surprised. After 50 years it just may take my another 50 years to undo it all. Hopefully not, but still, I shouldn't be surprised. Trauma is that way. Remember the song we were taught as children? "Jesus loves me this I know, for the bible tells me so..." Then you get older and it changes to, "Jesus love me this I know...but I suck as a human being. Fry like a crispy piece of bacon, Jesus love me even so...unless I don't love him back....then I burn for eternity."
Man. So glad you made it out. It wont take 50 though. I get better every day still
This video is a rollercoaster - and I don't mean that in a bad way. This video shows the depth of knowledge you have into Christian theology, as well as demonstrating your very personal frustrations that you share with religion and specifically Christianity.
My heart bleeds for you and the others that have been harmed.
I want to share a story with you that illustrates my perspective on the duality you presented.
My wife and I decided that we wanted to adopt a couple of cats. One cat, we call him Bub, was as sweet as could be. Very affectionate. A bit skittish, but very happy to have a home and be out of the shelter. He adapted very quickly to us.
A few months later, we got another cat which we call Lady. She loved us the instant she saw us in the shelter. And when we brought her home, Bub and Lady got along very well immediately.
They both got along very well. They loved to snuggle. They were both very sweet, very affectionate, shared toys. It was very sweet.
After a few months, Lady started attacking Bub out of nowhere. And not just regular play-fights from cats. These attacks were vicious, with intent to kill. She would chase and pursue Bub to the end of the house. We still don't know what caused it. But it happened more than once.
After these attacks happened, Bub's personality changed drastically. He'd hide under our bed and wouldn't come out. He'd hardly eat. He wasn't affectionate anymore. He was terrified of everything. All the progress we made was gone.
Of course, we, loving both the cats, were distraught. What were we going to do? We can't just live our entire lives keeping them separated. It was not right to leave Bub terrified. Yet, at the same time, we couldn't keep this going. If Lady kept attacking Bub, we'd have to get rid of a cat.
The worst part is, Bub loved Lady, too. He was so sad when he couldn't be around her. He'd cry at the door she was at because he wanted to spend time with her.
My heart was torn. I loved my cats, both of them. But one of them was causing such turmoil that I had to do something. And none of my options seemed good.
It wasn't a power issue. I had every power to stop her from hurting him.
It wasn't a knowledge issue - my wife was working from home and knew what was going in.
The issue was, unless Lady relented of her desire to attack Bub, nothing could change. If she didn't stop, I'd have to separate them for good.
But my wife and I were patient. Over time, the attacks lowered in frequency. We tried more interaction methods to get them to be friends again. It worked. And Lady never had to be separated from Bub again.
At no point did I ever stop loving Lady. But boy, was I frustrated because I thought my only realistic option was to get rid of her because I couldn't change her heart. She had to.
I share this story to show you how, even if I don't have divine perspective, how my mind makes sense of the issue.
Thanks for your insight. Have a good one.
i appreciate the kind words and the real sympathy, but i think the analogy is quite false. You were dealign with things outside your control. Would you have bought both cats if you knew the pain it would cause each and to you and your wife. I am guessing not. Well God knew, he went ahead with the whole thing anyways.
@@MindShift-Brandon I'm not saying it's exactly analogous. (: Obviously, there's a huge amount of differences between a hypothetical omnipotent, omniscient God and me - who has no control over my cat's internal faculties.
Knowing the outcome of everything that has happened so far? Yeah, I'd do it again. Because the payoff was worth it. Both of my cats are the biggest highlight of my day.
No, but rather, my point was this:
I simultaneously adore my cat while still recognizing that she was being a menace that I would potentially have to get rid of.
I chose this creature. She was mine to care for and love. She was my family. This is not too dissimilar to the notion of being in "God's image".
And even still, I could recognize that this cat was causing active and real harm to my other car and potentially my wife. This is quite analogous to the concept of "sin".
Obviously, it's not precisely identical, but it's not meant to be.
My point was that, if I can hold these beliefs simultaneously, surely, an omniscient God can *also* have reasons for holding a similar set of beliefs simultaneously.
I'm not expecting you to be "convinced" by the story. By no means. It's not a logical objection and doesn't quite provide a sufficient answer for the problem.
Just sharing my thoughts, is all.
Any type of bitterness I have is just how bad I feel for how many people are in this state of believing both positions and it creates a depressive cycle that can lead to just wanting the next life to come when this life is probably all there is😢 another fantastic vid homie and I hope your channel keeps growing like you deserve
Yes sadness is right. Missing out on the here and now! Thanks, Chris.
@@MindShift-Brandon I’ve seen so many people stuck in this loop where they are “never good enough” to god and lose hope in their passions
Just found your channel and jumped on board very quickly!
This video was fantastic!
Loved the way you started it.
Thank you for this
My pleasure!
Great video.
Thank you so much for doing these.
My pleasure! Thanks for watching
Thank you so much Brandon ❤
My pleasure!
The description on the first minute is just perfect.
Ha! Thank you! Glad to have you here.
There is no good evidence to support the belief in any god.
One of my favorite channels! You are so smart!! ❤
Thats very kind. Thank you!
Spot on!!
Thank you much!
Ah. You have brilliantly articulated my struggle through the insidious web of Christianity. Thank you so much for creating and posting this and many of your other videos.
Really enjoying your channel, glad the algorithm found me!
Me too then, my friend. Welcome to the family. Glad to have you here as part of the early group!
Two good uploads in a row. You knocked this one out of the park and got yourself another subscriber
Oh nice. Thank you much! Glad you’re appreciating the content.
U should have more views than that u speaking facts good job
Thank you, much. Maybe some day! Ha
Thanks!
Thanks so much Sandra!
Hey man! Great video once again. I love your rants. Keep 'm coming!
ha! thank you so much. Will do!
The fact that you obviously care is why I watch your channel. Nothing wrong with a little righteous indignation!
this has helped me strengthen my faith. thank you
How so?
Because they are wilfully ignorant and think this comment (that I've seen hundreds of times on similar videos) is edgy.
Yup. I get them often. Its like a memo went out to christians on best responses to atheist content.
Oh I thought it helped to strengthen his faith that Christianity is bullshit.
Top 3 vids of yours for sure. Still love the one on jesus sacrifice and your deconversion help one. Killing it!
Ha this is awesome to hear. Thank you.
13:00 okay i asked about this on previous videos.the self-esteem issue is of vital interest
Man i was definitely on the more negative end of the spectrum which led to so much self-loathing and loathing for others. Yet everytime i talked to people about this, they would duck and dodge and invalidate my feelings.
Respect 👍
Thank you!
Blind faith is not in and of itself the main hazard of religion. Blind loyalty that is instilled with the pillars of blind faith, dogma and fear is the true danger to society.
Thats a great clarification!
Well thought out presentation as always.
Btw
You ever notice that an atheist's passion often is describe by Christians as anger? Yet a hate preachers anger is described as passionate? Dare I say it, this narrative bleeds into the political arena where, unfortunately, the political discourse in the USA has been steered where basic human rights have been successfully demonized.
Yes 100! The preacher being hateful is not just passionate, hes anointed, thats the holy spirit at work in that man, etc. yuck!
That “w worthlessness” is what I carry.
You pointed out the contradictory nature of religious condition i think you should expand on this and make a major film on thus and cover society as a zeigiest!
Yeah I got really tired of the constant emotional flagellation. When I was a young child I went to a Christian school, and I remember one time when one of the teachers was instructing us on some Scripture (the teacher was female btw, so I wish I had known enough back then to call her down 😂) and the teacher was like, "We must strive each day to be like Christ, though never can we achieve this." and the kid beside me said, "Then why try?" Only years later did I realize the logical legitimacy of that simple question. 😅
However, there are benefits to viewing yourself as incapable of perfection. I think that's why atheistic societies often result in totalitarianism, because they implement systems which humans aren't actually capable of upholding (and really shouldn't anyway). But then again religious societies have done the same, so I guess it's a crapshoot. 🤷♂😂
I don't think there's any value in saying "atheistic societies often result in totalitarianism". I'm not aware of evidence backing this up broadly - the few cases I can think of that seem to support this are in line with the more general trend of authoritarian governments being hostile to any sort of non-aligned existing power structure. It's a very common claim among American theists, and should be viewed with skepticism.
@@joelpartee594 Russia, China, Cuba, North Korea, etc. They're all countries that implemented Marxist policies, which are usually atheistic in nature. I'm not saying that any country that doesn't have a national religion will become totalitarian, but rather any country that tries to do away with religion altogether probably will. There's a difference between secular and atheist. America, France, England, most western nations are (at least nominally) secular, meaning that they don't or at least aren't supposed to promote one religion over another, but allow their citizenry to adhere to whatever faith they choose. But like the Soviet Union was a staunchly atheist nation, meaning they didn't recognize the validity of any religion, and they were notoriously tyrannical. Because many if not most religions teach that humans are imperfect, and therefore cannot support certain modes of thought and government which require a level of perfection that humans cannot render. Now, like I say, I'm not into the whole beat yourself up endlessly because you're such a worthless wretch kinda outlook, but it doesn't hurt to remember that their are limits inherent to humans, and that whether or not you believe in any god(s), it's important to believe that humans *aren't* gods.
I think its important to distinguish though that atheist isnt a belief system or ideology or philosophy. There are many secular countries haven’t done those things. Its just people being people and getting to different results but religion often does these things in the name of their belief.
@@MindShift-Brandon You're right, and like I say, I use secular to mean not aligned with any religion, but recognizing all religions, and atheistic to mean the nonrecognition of all religions. Nations that don't recognize the right of people to practice their own religions will likely become totalitarian to some degree, because that in itself is a step towards it. Look at what China does to their Muslim population. But yes, many religious societies have done the same, but most western nations have given way to governmental secularism, which seems most humane. I guess what I'm trying to say is that there's a happy medium. Theocracies are obviously bad, but too far in the opposite direction has historically seemed to lead to many of the same problems.
For sure. I think we have yet to see a good system but we can start rooting out the bad ones. Religion sucks and i think creates the issues it produces meaning i dont think it could ever work. Lets move forward as a society to find the correct way without invisible gods in the sky.
That intro. 😂😂 Religion is so confusing.
Side note, you honestly deserve more subscribers. Your videos are good.
confusing to say the least, ha. And thank you! very kind. We are growing slow and sure.
“Thankfully, since God killed himself for a couple days” HILARIOUS. So true oml. Love your stuff man.
There are places in the Bible where it tells you how to identify false prophets, false teachings, false scripture etc. I think it would be amazing to see a video where someone finds all of those, then uses them to rule out and eliminate books of the Bible to see what's left.
Wow, I'm so fascinated by this video. Christianity is mainly a cult that is filled with dogmas, traditions, and always feeling you are not good enough/ always feeling like you living badly. I'm currently 17 and was raised in a pentecostal church as a Christian and i "gave my life to christ" (as they say) at 14 and i do feel it was all just a feeling of acceptance because the "people" around you are doing it you should fit in and do it as well. I remember that time i felt so accepted by everyone around me...but now that im 17 ive seen many things that is just messed up in the bible and how they view god and the requirements to be a christian. I always feel im going to hell/be condemned no matter what i do. Its very scary and toxic. Ive come to belief that im an atheist and i believe that the universe is god because of the fact that the Big Bang theory is how the earth came together.
Speaking of what atrocities far too many children get stuffed with - no idea about your musical taste and preferences, but in case you haven't given Nightwish a try so far, I'm sure you'll love at least the lyrics of "Weak Fantasy" (go with the lyric video) 🥰🤘
Ill check it out!
This is why I love Buddhisms idea of non duality
I remember even as a kid despising one of the most beloved hymns Amazing Grace. Nothing encapsulates the Christian message more than that: we are wretches that are blind and lost and can only be saved through Jesus. What a horrible message to push on children who have done nothing wrong in their lives!
The cognitive dissonance factor needs to be discussed often and honestly. The Christian feels at once completely worthless and deserving of eternal torture for simply being born, yet he/she also believes that the creator of the universe died to have a personal relationship with him/her. It's mind boggling.
Mind boggling indeed. Amazing grace is a great example.
@@MindShift-Brandon Thanks as always. Can't wait to watch your other channel Brandon's Bookshelf. Looks like plenty of great videos there too.
It's also dangerous. If everybody deserves eternal torture, then abusing a child is no big deal, they deserved worse anyway. I think that's why the catholic church protects the priests that abuse children, to them the only problem is that the priest couldn't control his desires and sinned, the children deserve far worse than being abused so there is no need to feel sorry for them.
@@Zift_Ylrhavic_Resfear I had never heard that theory discussed in relation to the priest SA scandal. That was always thoroughly denounced but an emphasis was placed on it being "a few bad apples." Where the excuses were made tended to be with the abuses of the native peoples, especially in relation to the conquistadors killing infants immediately after baptism. The explanation was that, while this seemed horrid to us, the conquistadors actually did the children a mercy since dying after baptism ensured that their souls would remain saved and go straight to heaven.
Yes, even as a child, that disgusted the freak out of me. But using religious logic, it completely made sense. Just shows how religion can warp our humanity.
A lot of the evidence you posited and more is why i left the faith in the first place.
Brandon, you should really consider doing an interview for Harmonic Atheist. Your positions are aligned, and I'm sure he'd love to hear from you. It would help to 'spread the word' and would boost subscriptions for both channels: win-win.
Hey Grant, i would love to. I have reached out to him a couple times and never heard back. Don't want to be pushy. Hopefully one day!