Seth Andrews: The Mystery Letter
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 พ.ย. 2016
- Seth Andrews shares a very personal story about his days as a fundamentalist Christian, his escape from indoctrination, and the beauty he discovered beyond the narrow walls of religious bigotry.
It's an inspiring story about friendship, freedom, humanism, and humanity.
An Excellent Axiom: "When you're in a position of privilege, equality feels like oppression."
That would be a good reply to Feminism...
Aladin Darkness: or any kind of privilege. BLM. Trump. You name it.
That is just ignorant. Privileged people want equality for others. This sounds like leftist, SJW bullshiit
@@ClassicRock1973
Even by your own logic that does not make any sense the root of in of inequality is that people are not satisfied with equality do you really think there are poor starving people out there rejecting charity going "no no please buy yourself another yacht you deserve it"
They also have THAT 28:57 very same attitude concerning Judaism - speak ill of it and your "racist" a "nazi" an "anti-semite" and the sort.
Seth is getting better at what he does and he's a fundamentally good and decent man. We are more lucky to have him than we probably realize. I wish him ever increasing success with his noble mission of enlightening the world.
The atheist community is truly *_blessed_* to have public speakers like Aron and Seth!
Yeah.Seth's really charismatic.
Not blessed, but, fortunate.
I'll take "blessed." Thanks, Cloe. ;) - Seth
finitekosmos The indoctrination that some of us went through may be something that will take the rest of our lives to get over. It would be helpful if people try not to worry about our old ticks and habits, and be unduly pedantic about that which doesn't really matter.
Nacasius
"finitekosmos The indoctrination that some of us went through may be something that will take the rest of our lives to get over. "
That may very well be the case, but has little bearing on my short comment. I have made no assumptions about the person who made the initial comment I responded to and my comment is something that I think is correct. The community is fortunate to have Seth and Aaron Ra. However, I feel the community would do better if it spent a bit more time supporting the movement of people out of religion rather than attacking its own, as you are doing now over my "unduly pedantic" comment.
"It would be helpful if people try not to worry about our old ticks and habits, and be unduly pedantic about that which doesn't really matter."
You are making a number of assumptions that can’t be justified or verified based on the content of the initial comment that was made; and/or the commenter who made it. Essentially, it’s not possible to determine if the original comment was made by a person who is currently a Christian, or a former Christian or even of a different religion altogether (blessings are not limited to monotheistic doctrines either) there is also the potential that the person posting the comment may even be trolling (it happens); but based solely on the one comment that was made and, the one I replied to there is not enough to determine any one of those. I therefore, did not make any such assumption in my response.
I also fail to see the problem, it’s a simple 4 word statement of fact. Which is neither derogatory, insulting nor judgmental. Unlike your remark Nacasius.
It simply serves as a gentle reminder that atheists do not count blessings. Nor are we blessed. But we are very definitely fortunate! .Having said that I up-voted Seth’s reply because I liked it, filing it under the banner of “fair enough”. ^_^
As a gay man, and a former Theist, Who has made a very similar journey as Seth’s, thank you very much for the story. It really meant a lot to me.
@3RD Werks Triggered the insecurity in ya, did it?
@3RD Werks Good day to you as well!
@3RD Werks homophobe bigot.
@3RD Werks I'm a gay man. You are obviously insecure and take it out on others.
@3RD Werks come out of the closet then you won’t be such an asshole
"The Goat Herder's Guide to the Universe". Gold.
Excellent, isn't it? I'll be using that in the future.
It was funny the first few times but he says it in every video I’ve seen so far.
@@kemsubias5953 Yeah, and McCartney still sings "Hey Jude" at every single concert... It's a classic, what's your point?! ;-)
@@robertcartier5088 Enjoyed that response. Kudos.
They also have THAT 28:57 very same attitude concerning Judaism - speak ill of it and your "racist" a "nazi" an "anti-semite" and the sort.
"When in a position of privilege, equality feels like oppression"
this quote hit me hard
When you are in a position of privilege, equality feels like oppression.
Wow. I wasnt expecting this. I knew that it would be a great presentation but this quote changed the way i see my states social issues at 6 am in the morning.
As always, a great video sir. Greetings frım Turkey.
I love that video by Nate Phelps entitled "Something Beautiful". Seth Andrews wrote it, but Nate Phelps recited it. It made me cry listening to what he said. *"Why are we so quick to see the ugly when we stand before the beautiful? Why have we declared that those who are different than us are separate from us?"* I can see a song being made from this.
Jason Carpp Same here.
And I rarely ever cry. It has to be particularly *emotionally touching* for me to cry.
As a trans person: Thank you for doing this presentation and thank you for making this video.
Darling (or should I call you mate?), you be what your body tells you to be. It's got bugger-all to do with anyone else.
Hoagie Vlogs Things As a black woman, 5'4, Brown eye with a gluten allergy, I agree.
M a person who loves equality too,so m against the Bible,I always think everyone and everyperson is a human and has equal rights so I left Christianity.
You're Breathtaking!
@3RD Werks Well, I guess you didn't watch the video, then.
35:15 -- Looks like 'trans' is in the DNA, too... Oops! ;-]
As someone who grew up in a predominantly secular society where religion was never encouraged or discouraged, it's very interesting and rather horrifying to hear these talks - not to mention how difficult it must be to break so many years of indoctrination.
*"Is such a waste to look at all others, and hope to only see ourselves...
To stand upon the claims of primitive times, and primitive minds,
declaring that times and minds should never change,
and holding in contempt the very people we should be holding in our arms."*
Nailed it!
i do see myself in every human face...beautiful differences..we all crave love. my love for humanity is much stronger after throwing off the hatred of christianity
lllllllllllllllo
Beautiful, insightful, inspiring...
Thank you, Seth.
This very old video is....Something Beautiful, thank you!
Charismatic, erudite and witty, a born communicator, with a truly enlightening message. Thanks Seth, keep them coming.
Thanks for that Seth. It was the perfect way to end my day, sending me to bed with a positive (and beautiful) message in my mind.
Was probably always atheist just didn't realise it for many years, didn't give a damn about gays or lesbians until I joined the British army mid eighties a different time a different ethos and I hope it's better now and I pray to the great spaghetti monster that it has changed. But for ten plus years 1986 to 1996 I was homophobic what a crazy idea a fear of homosexuality, really scared ? no simply indoctrinated into hatred based on a fear maybe but of no logic. I am better now reformed improved more enlightened not sure the right words but I am proud of my reformation just depressed about who I was and what I said and did.
Awesome video and lecture Seth love your podcasts and videos.
I swear I can listen to him, Matt, or Aron for hours. then again, I do the same for the Drunken Peasants.
DragonCharlz Hey, everyone needs different voices to listen to on any subject.
Oh, Seth, you made me laugh, then, you made me cry...........again
Tom Hall same. Such a beautiful but sad but beautiful story.
Thank you for being a straight ally of the LGBT community! I grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma too, but as a gay child and a gay man, even going to the University of Science and Arts in Chickasha, OK.
I moved to West Hollywood almost 20 years ago, and although I had a wonderful time in Oklahoma, with a large group of lifetime friends there, when I arrived in West Hollywood, I realized for the first time what it really felt like to belong to a society.
I will probably move back to help my aging parents as they become more infirm, and I dread moving into the middle of the backlash against our recent federal rights under a president Trump. I'm afraid our country is moving backward. We shall see.
I've been gay and out in Oklahoma 15 years. I've never had any major problems.
I live in Tulsa currently and hate life in Oklahoma. I soooo want to move back to Seattle
@@codynewman9720 that's lucky. I live in CO (close by, but far more accepting). I saw the horrors of being ostracized by a community in multiple gay friends of mine. One had a devoutly religious family that disowned him at 13 when they found out. And he was such a kind and caring guy. My best friend from middle school is gay, and I knew he was gay before I even knew what gay meant (it was pretty apparent when he stood up in class and threw up his arms touting how he wanted to be a fashion designer at 8). Yet he lost almost every friend he ever had when he came out.
I've had 6 lesbian friends in the last 10 years or so. I remember the worst instance for one was going to church again at the urging of her parents, and to be told that the woman she had been with for 10+ years and herself were going to hell. How she cried over being told she was bad or wrong yet wanted to go to church so badly to be with her family. That church broke up not only that couple, but left their 4 children confused and upset. They got her to marry a nice Christian man, who has now beat her so many times, she's lost all feeling in one leg (not to mention broken at least 6 bones).
So if you haven't experienced the pain of being ostracized there, you're pretty lucky I'd say.
Overall I think it's getting better, it's just it goes on a winding path as it goes up. Keep being you bro
@@ruthie8785 Wow! Small world! When were you there? I was there from 1988 to 1992...graduated in '92.
Love the short film at the end, and the lines "It`s such a waste to look at all others and hope only to see ourselves ... holding in contempt the very people we should be holding in our arms" Beautiful.
How does this not have a million views and a million likes?
Why is it Seth always triggers my "allergies"? Amazing talk, yet again.
An extremely similar thing happened to me. however I was the one who came out. (as an atheist and trans..) we still haven't talked in years and it really hurts sometimes. I miss the good times we had together honestly but I dunno. it's been so long.. I don't regret telling the truth but I wish I wasn't completely forgotten about by people who I thought cared about me because of the truth.
Dam that sucks, keep on being strong. Fuck them hateful human beings
4:35 I laugh but my parents refused to let me watch The Golden Compass because it had "daemons" in it. _They were oddly fine with Harry Potter though, probably because they read it obsessively too._ I almost envy how much they can be logically inconsistent and it never bothers them.
I can see my sunburnt neck in the crowd! It was excellent to watch this live and meet Seth in person. Just a bit that's not in the video, there was a man in the crowd during the Q&A that was confused because he thought Seth was a Muslim lol
As a man, I sometimes think about this idea of "I find the idea of getting physically intimate with a man repulsive. How can any guy find another guy attractive?" But then how can any woman find a guy attractive? Isn't this just as baffling (to a straight male)? And if not, why not?
this should be shown in every school. as usual Seth delivers the message loud and clear with a good amount of humour. Great video
He sounds like a preacher but he's preaching reason...
Thank you Seth, as always great food for thought.
Seth is always good. This is one of his best!
After watching a few of your videos yesterday with my family, I had a dream and I think it sums up Christianity pretty well. In the dream, I realized that the Bible is written specifically to encourage hatred. It is an us vs them mentality throughout with a few pages about love thrown in the middle. My brain being very visual then gave me the lovely dream image of a candy pressed into a fresh dog turd. Love your videos.
Thank you for being such an outspoken ally of the LGBT community!
I, too, grew up in Oklahoma, but I am gay. I graduated from Broken Arrow High School and went to the University of Science and Arts in Chickasha, graduating with an English Literature degree. I lived in OKC for a number of years with my boyfriend and then finally moved off to West Hollywood.
I can truly say that, while my life in Oklahoma was rich with lots of wonderful friends and many celebratory moments, I first realized what it felt like to truly belong to a society when I moved to West Hollywood 20 years ago. I did little things I could never have done back in Oklahoma, such as hugging my boyfriend or holding his hand as we walked down one of the busiest streets in LA. Those gestures of expression seem small, but feel huge when one can finally do them publicly. It just felt so good not to always feel as if I were running counter to the whole society in which I lived.
I will need to move back to the Bible belt as my parents are ill and in need of help, but I have to say I don't feel so secure thinking about the recent Christian backlash that's been happening all over the country with the introduction of federal equal rights counter to the wishes of these small-minded societies.
I fear this backlash and the emboldened bigots that have been crawling out of the woodwork since the Trump/Pence election and the white supremacist appointments and homophobic bigots they have been filling the cabinet with. It's almost surreal, and I fear we could lose many of the domestic human rights advancements we have made in the last 8 years. So, it is with great trepidation that I return.
The play of King in yellow is part of the cthulhu mythos.
He who shall not be Named
Hastur? Oh shi-
Chris Nemnich Eldersign!
No, you have to do it two more times, like this: Candleja
johnmburt1960 neat!
I want to put on the play! Whos with me! :D
I'm grateful for these videos, Seth, this one especially. You're a real gem to the freethought movement.
Damn Seth. You got me right in the feels...you hit all the emotions. Great presentation!
Part of the beauty of this touching story of friendship is the possibility that some friendships may be restored because you have inspired them to reach out. There is little in this world as rewarding as the love of a true friend. Thank you, Seth.
I have seen this many times as I revisit your lectures and talks many times, it is comforting to hear an adult of my parents age (well, they've got about a decade on you but still) speak so simply and kindly about people like me, transgender and gay, to hear them renounce a faith that kept them from the ones they love because mine have not done that yet. They emptied the bank account that was supposed to be the money they saved for my wedding (my three sisters are already married, two christians and one a proud atheist engineer) and told me to my face that they would rather have a suicidal, alcoholic, pill-popping, homeless daughter who ate out of garbage cans and slept in the cold rather than the sober, well-adjusted son that they could have now because God. Because if I was still their daughter, if I died I would go to heaven. Even today, four years after coming out and hearing the words 'we cannot and will not choose you over our faith' spoken by people i thought would never abandon me, even though they had so often when I struggled with substance abuse or was going days without eating, 'we won't give you money for groceries, we're afraid you'll spend it on your hormones'. We keep each other at arms length, them because I disgust them and me because I'm afraid of them after trying to have me involuntarily committed for being different. That video you made at the end, no matter how many times I have seen it and heard the words, breaks me down to my core, the extreme desire to be held and loved by those who were supposed to love me, the pain of cutting those I once loved out of my life and the realization that they want no part in the pieces of my life that make it worth living, my partner, my sobriety, any children we might have, nothing can compare to the ache deep inside. Family is what you build it to be, but one cannot help but look back on the first model and just wish it had worked out, that the foundation had been strong, the walls sturdy, the windows clean and the doors wide open. Your words are truer than you will probably ever realize and they expose those like my parents for what they are, bigots born of ignorance who put a facade of love on to oppress and control. Thank you, Seth, from the bottom of my heart and any other organs, for giving me hope for the future, my parents and people like them are a dying breed and though it is painful, I celebrate my liberation from the shackles of 'fitting the mold' and embrace living my truth, as an atheist and a transgender gay man..
I am your Brother... what a great Tee Shirt that would be! Another great vid Seth :)
Absolutely superb talk. Thank you.
A really well presented experience from someone, his realization, that changed its (confined) views drastically!!!
We need more realization!
I used to be a natural-born Mormon. I have to admit, the transition to atheism for me was probably easier than it would be for your average fundie. Mormonism is so deep into the rabbit hole that shallower such holes are easy to avoid! My soul brother-Aron Ra.
A gentle good man , if religion had men like him , if you saw the light and ended up like him the world might stand a chance .it costs nothing to be nice .
When Seth starts talking about the King in Yellow, I was getting True Detective/Lovecraft vibes. What a way to start a video.
Absolutely Lovely.... something beautiful!
oh,man, right in the feels! wonderful!
Thank you Seth, you’re an anchor for us.
A truly wonderful 4 minute short film, with a message that transcends time, thank you Seth
Just for fun, whenever I stay in a hotel room, I find the Gideon Bible, I go to Genesis 1, and I cross out “In the beginning” and write “Once upon a time.”
When I was a younger person I gravitated toward religion because I felt like such an outcast among my family and peers. Initially it seemed to fulfill a need to belong and be accepted. Who wouldn’t want that friend who “sticks closer than a brother?” But in time I discovered it wasn’t so much a relationship as it was an ideology. I’m so glad Seth chose the better path and remained true to his friend.
What a great presentation!
The Nathan Phelps speech at the end, was crushing. I'm snotty and crying at those beautiful words. Thank You both Seth and Nathan.
I started watching this dudes videos today and I gotta say Thank You!
a wonderful gift. thank you...
Dang, that speech you wrote, narrated by Phelps...
I'm a 55 y/o (metalhead since my teens), a pretty much macho-couldn't-care-less kinda guy. Full on atheist, since my late teens, in a non theistic nation of the world (Sweden). You had me in tears you a-hole!
I wish for a world were every sentence of this could come true, instead of having to be this cynical nihilist I've become. Cuz somewhere deep down, somewhere at the core. I'm not really that hard hammered. I'm a softie. I talk babytalk with my very small dogs, and I get a beautiful warm sensation in my being when people are good to each other. I'm at the core, not really the bad guy I am too readily presenting to the outside world.
Beautiful! Just beautiful.
Beautiful and thoughtful lecture. So glad Seth was asked to overcome his Christianity and salvage a valuable friendship!
You have saved me from Christmas shopping for this year! Thank you! My brother in law is going to be so confused!
The God's Not Dead films are an insult to humanity ! I really enjoyed watching your latest video Seth great speech !
Thanks Seth. Really needed to hear your voice today. And about this subject.
Another fantastic presentation, Seth.
I didn't know that Jeff Goldblum was such an elequent speaker
Have you ever heard Jeff Goldblum speak? He's actually quite eloquent.
Joke ruined. *mic drop*
I know this is 2 years old, but Seth, I must say, you have the best stories ever!
I admire all of the atheist community who try to normalize atheism, who try their best so our modern societies get rid of ancient shackles of superstition and bigotry, and everyone has his own way of doing it.
But when it comes to real-life, human stories and experiences, you are THE MAN! We can spend days talking about scientific and philosophical aspects of religious beliefs, get all tangled in various logical arguments, but rarely stop to think the actual consequences of those beliefs in our daily lives and in our interactions with live human beings with all their complexity and diversity.
This is what really matters!
Keep up fighting the good fight!
Thank you, Seth. “Something Beautiful” was just beautiful.
That reading is amazing. There should be a gofundme set up to turn it into a national commercial.
the speech at the end of this presentation was powerful. Thank you for your leadership
Praise be unto The Holy Lamb of God. Praise be unto King Jesus.
"Something Beautiful" is fantastic and applies even now in 2020. Excellent Seth, and kudos to Nathan Phelps for his voice work, respect to both of you, and all others involved in the production of the video!
I could listen to Seth speak all day We need more compassionate, intelligent people like him in our society.
I just got the chance to watch this video...better later than never! I loved it , it moved me to tears . Our words can be so important to the level of saving a life, improving its existence. Here is on thing that stuck in my heart since Sunday school,
As always, thank you Seth. Your mastery at storytelling is legend, your voice is soothing, and your intonation is always spot on. That which you share is magical and always makes me smile, laugh, and sometimes cry. I remember the first time I saw your "Something Beautiful" video in another discussion you produced on TH-cam and it made me cry then. Still makes me cry today. Love it.
I can see the emotion in you when you finished talking about Corey, and how much you would have missed had you written him off. That was a powerful moment, for we viewers as much as you I think.
Thank you for all you do, and for who you are.
The only time I use the term “THE POWER OF CHRIST COMPELS YOU” is when talking to country fans.
I grew up in a small town in NC. My mom was Christian, or at least she believed in god. She didn’t go to church as a child and had never read the Bible. My father considered himself a Sikh, Sikhism is a religion from a small part of India called Punjab and is sort of a combination of the major religions Judaism (sorry Christians and Muslims, but you’re all Jewish), Hinduism, and Buddhism, but didn’t practice it. We were a transplant family, my mom from Ohio, my dad from Singapore, and moved to NC from LA when I was 3, so we weren’t entrenched in the community. My parents expected my sister and I to believe in god, but they didn’t force it on us. I came to reject any religion because I got sick of my gender being an evil or the reason for all evil, when I was 12.
Even as a Christian I remember my mom telling my sister that if we were asked by our friends if we went to church to say yes. I made it a point to never talk about religion. However, when I was in my sophomore year of high school one of my classmates said that he was an atheist . The popular guys in my class then decided to grill him about why he wasn’t Christian. I’d like it to be clear that they weren’t threatening him they just wouldn’t leave him alone about it. Finally, I told them I was also an atheist. After that another girl in my class admitted, as if it were a crime, that she too was an atheist.
The guys then started to ask us why we were Satan worshippers. I asked them how I could worship Satan when I didn’t believe he existed. After a pause and blank looks they started again. This time threatening us by telling us that if we didn’t believe in god or Jesus we would go to hell. We then asked why we would care about the threat of hell if we didn’t believe it existed. I asked them if they were afraid they would go to Tartarus when they died because they worshipped a god other than Zeus. More blank looks and silence. After that they went back to their own seats and class went on.
After that I was open about being an atheist and time and again I was asked why I worshipped Satan and if I was afraid I would go to hell. I think it’s funny that those were the only two options for them in that small town. Funny that they didn’t know what to do when it was pointed out that what they feared was irrelevant to us.
Although, it was hard to never talk about what I believed I’m glad now that I didn’t talk about it. It gave people, who would never have judged me fairly if they had known I was an atheist beforehand, a chance to know me as a person. It gave me a chance to know them and realize they weren’t ignorant hicks for believing in a god.
Some atheists I’ve met start to think of themselves as better than theist. They think that because they have decided for themselves that there is no sentient creator that anyone who does believe in one are stupid sheep. I feel that religion can be good. It gives people hope in their darkest hour. It gives them comfort when faced with death, both their own and a loved ones. It gives them a reason for morality that they may not have been taught otherwise. Just because I don’t believe I’m not better than someone who does. I’m just a person and so are they. And as long as they don’t try to force their religion on me I won’t force my lack of religion on them.
Thinking that we’re better than them just because we’ve found a truth that they can’t see will make us just as ignorant as we assume they are.
Thanks for posting this. Give us a distraction from the Election and Polls.
💕💓 Thank you for being our voice. 🙏
As I'm getting old in my years each day I get to wake up informs me more and more of the salient value of every human life and that we all belong to one ultimate tribe called the human race. Our time on this world is much to short to be wasted on hatred and bigotry!! Thanks Seth for a powerful video, the last four minutes were more moving then anything religion ever could conjure up!!
I love all the different and 'weird' people in my life- they've molded me into who I am. I really think there's '__________' I don't know the word for it? a built in chip in people. Either you're gonna HATE or EMBRACE all that is different. Nurture, culture, upbringing yes...I still think the determiner is within your own soul.
That video at the end of Seth's presentation is incredibly powerful and beautiful.
Probably my favorite podcast yet! Brilliant presentation, it truly touched my heart.
Inspiring and beautiful. Thank you SO much.
Hey, my name is Cory and I'm lgbt and this story just breaks my heart, I lost a friend too and I'm so happy Cory didn't have to go through what I went through.
Just got the chance to see it, finally. Loved it! Liked it, shared it.
This made me cry...thank you!
The scrambled television totally takes me back. :-) How I tried to unscramble it in my mind!
This was great. Thank you.
Another great show, Seth! As far as the opening theme, I know a few of long running shows that have kept the core original theme but have updated or changed a few small things. (Doctor Who, Game of thrones, etc)
I think the combination of the original and some new stuff makes people comfortable about the old stuff and excited about new stuff.
Hell yes! Archon! That brings me back....
I have enjoyed watching your videos so much since I discovered your channel the other day. I have shared every one that I have watched. Today is my 35th birthday and it is the first one I have had since dropping my belief in the almighty sky fairy. I feel liberated in a way I've never felt before.
The one thing I enjoy about the Bible are the proverbs.
The film at the end was beautiful. I hope You're friend and you became friends again!
I saw this talk years ago and sent my friend Mysterious Package for Christmas that year. She about went mad but it was worth it. Thanks Corey!
7:20 - When I was a Jehovah's Witness, I did exactly the same thing to a good friend who I recently found out was gay. I feel so embarrassed about it.
I'm happy to say that we've since reconnected. I apologised profusely for my judgemental ignorance and he forgave me 🥰
Thanks for who you are and what you do.
Wow.....I really needed this today. Thanks.
As a gay man, who has lived with AIDS for near 30 years, I applaud Seth for his courage and strength of Character. You are Something Beautiful.
Again well done my man 👏👏👏👏👏👍
Seth, you're such a breath of fresh air to reality. Thank heavens ('cuse me) for you, I want to hear more from you?
Yet another beaut, Seth! _Molte grazie!_
squee!!!!!! I was there in the second row :D Oh, thank you for uploading this one! ~Rebecca your favorite mobile wine bottler :)
The rundown of the overabundance of Christianity in America is spot-on. What's alarming is that if you were to ever question a believer ON their beliefs, they will likely get defensive and claim that it's their 'right' to believe and it's 'personal' to them. Well, which is it? It needs to be everywhere and in everyone's faces or it's a very private unexplainable choice and experience? I'm completely fine with a person's personal beliefs as I don't feel 'thought crime' is a punishable offense. Once it's organized, pushed upon our legislative body, then becoming a wholly influential force in all avenues of human existence, THEN I have issues with it.
Almost perfect. Being taller than or shorter than are ways to be different to, not different than. Shared on facebook and shown to friends. Thankyou Seth.
That last short video made me tear up a little. It was beautiful.