Born into a mormon family in Louisiana so living in the Bible Belt i had a heavy dose of mormonism AND Christianity. I believed in all that stuff with a little doubt and skepticism here and there which only grew more and more AFTER i left the mormon church and joined a non denom church. Today i call myself agnostic.
Great to see Jerry DeWitt out and about after stories of some recent unpleasantness. You've got a lot of friends, Jerry. Friends you've never met. Friends that are part of your community. Friends that are ready to help, if asked. Know that you are loved, Brother Jerry.
Thank you Dan, Annie, and Jerry for exposing religion as the harmful waste of time it is. Because I grew up at a time without internet I didn’t know there were others with the same questions and doubts I had. The quality of life is so much better without religion and knowing the skeptical community is growing. Superstitious beliefs will forever be irreconcilable with reality.
Such a powerful story. I too really believed and it took me about ten years to admit to myself I didn't believe, never mind my family. Thank you for sharing 🤝
I was raised Roman Catholic, I was 14 the first time I attended a service with a neighbor and saw someone fall on the floor speaking in tongues, I thought he was having a medical emergency and panicked. I tried to hold him still so he wouldn't hit his head and was about to make sure his airway was clear when he snapped out if it and stated yelling at me, the congregation was not amused. I left through the side door and was not invited back.
I dated a deconverted Apostolic Christian. This is the church that Jerry Dewitt belonged to. She hadn’t watched television in 3 years, never cut her hair, etc, I have never before or since met a person who was so suppressed inside. Our relationship didn’t work out, but she is a great person and still working out the damage done by the church. Her father who is a pastor disowned her and she wasn’t even allowed to have contact with her younger siblings. It was a terrible situation.
He's brave for doing this. I live about 20 minutes from where deridder is. I have never told anyone here I'm an Atheist. I did at another place before I moved here that was still in the same Parish. I had threats of harm just for saying I didn't believe. I didn't argue religion. Just for the statement I had threats and harassment until I moved to another town across the parish. I'm still here but stay silent because of how some people would react to it.
To me it was an easy thing to shake off religion. But I can see the difficulty in Ethans situation and therefore I look up to his bravery and ability to open up his mind to reason. A true hero in my book!
Great show, everyone. Very interesting. 👍 👍 👍 However, Pentecost (from the Greek) means "fiftieth," not "forty/fortieth." Pentecost refers to the Jewish festival fifty days after Passover (Feast of Weeks, or The Feast of Fifty Days, in rabbinic tradition). Just to clarify.
I grew up Mormon -and was fundamentalist even by Mormon standards (now atheist). Mormon meetings are EXTREMELY serious affairs -I think funerals have more humor in them than Mormon meetings. A Catholic friend wanted to attend a Mormon meeting, so I took her to one. Her comment afterward was to the effect of "compared to a Mormon meeting, a Catholic meeting is a noisy R&R concert". Anyway, I used to play highland bagpipes and had the kilts. A friend wanted me to play pipes at her church -Pentecostal! Boy did I get an education! I wound up quietly crawling out on all fours with the pipes in their box and RAN! A few years later I did the same for her, though not kilted. It must be interesting to see a 319 lb man running a few blocks in snow. The expression which best describes my feelings is "stark terror". A few years ago I was going to a food bank sponsored by another Pentecostal minister. He got quite pushy about I should attend his church, so I quit going to his food bank. I read Jerry's book a few years ago and must admit to wanting to commit an indiscretion; I've wanted to put my copy of this book on said food bank minister's church doorstep -hee-hee!
Wonderful and poignant presentation. Very inspirational and uplifting, too. Thank you. (Parody of "The Sound Of Silence" by Simon & Garfunkel) Hello, Science my old friend You have enlightened me again A hopeful vision that's worth keeping Waking up a world that is still sleeping Clinging to ancient outdated lies So unwise Let's hear the sound of Science In darkness we lived for many years Our lives ruled by superstitious fears With clerics and their hateful preaching Kept us from the stars that we're now reaching Till our eyes were opened with a flash of intellect Now we accept The truthful sound of Science Though naked we once this earth roamed Since that dark time we have grown People learning constantly seeking People no more afraid of speaking People refusing to be controlled by myths and lies For we are wise To hear the sound of Science Fools will never ever know Why the seasons come and go While in fairy tales they're still believing Unaware of every religion's deceiving How they threaten all the skeptics with fires of Hell Lies they do tell in the name of Science And the people bowed and prayed With docile minds so quickly swayed By the many gods that they have created For freedom humanity has for so long awaited But this freedom can in a moment be won or lost And at what cost If we don't heed the sound of Science (C) 2015
Many are religious because they enjoy it, the whole experience of ritual and community. They know some of their beliefs are unreasonable, indefensible, but they go along because the rest of the experience is fulfilling. Frustrating, no?
Oh my gosh that 'can I get a Darwin' clip was amazing! I felt the reason brother! Also, that 'love yourself first' is really hard. Almost 3 years of being an atheist and I still have that feeling that I'm not good enough and deserve bad things (not hell thank goodness, but still have a similar feeling even though I know there is no deity punishing anyone, at least, I have no reason to think there is). I still feel 'broken'. I hate what religion made me feel and made me treat others (I lost a friend because I preached to him about his homosexuality. I thought I was trying to save him. Thankfully I apologized to him and said my views have changed greatly and he accepted. I didn't tell him I'm an atheist because he's a Christian. But yeah, there's a lot of baggage that religion gives you. My wife who has several medical issues VERY much still feels like she's broken. She's more an agnostic than atheist, even slightly deist that maybe there's something out there.
It amazes me how church members turn on you so quickly, even family. I enjoyed this interview so much, thank you!
A faith healer who healed himself of faith.... classic line!
Born into a mormon family in Louisiana so living in the Bible Belt i had a heavy dose of mormonism AND Christianity. I believed in all that stuff with a little doubt and skepticism here and there which only grew more and more AFTER i left the mormon church and joined a non denom church. Today i call myself agnostic.
Love this guy's courage.
Great to see Jerry DeWitt out and about after stories of some recent unpleasantness. You've got a lot of friends, Jerry. Friends you've never met. Friends that are part of your community. Friends that are ready to help, if asked.
Know that you are loved, Brother Jerry.
We can’t unsee and un-know what we have seen and now know.🌹
Thank you Dan, Annie, and Jerry for exposing religion as the harmful waste of time it is. Because I grew up at a time without internet I didn’t know there were others with the same questions and doubts I had. The quality of life is so much better without religion and knowing the skeptical community is growing. Superstitious beliefs will forever be irreconcilable with reality.
Such a powerful story. I too really believed and it took me about ten years to admit to myself I didn't believe, never mind my family. Thank you for sharing 🤝
👍Really enjoy hearing other people's journey to the same destination!❤🤗
I was raised Roman Catholic, I was 14 the first time I attended a service with a neighbor and saw someone fall on the floor speaking in tongues, I thought he was having a medical emergency and panicked. I tried to hold him still so he wouldn't hit his head and was about to make sure his airway was clear when he snapped out if it and stated yelling at me, the congregation was not amused. I left through the side door and was not invited back.
Lol. It was an attack of ‘religious epilepsy’!
I dated a deconverted Apostolic Christian. This is the church that Jerry Dewitt belonged to. She hadn’t watched television in 3 years, never cut her hair, etc, I have never before or since met a person who was so suppressed inside. Our relationship didn’t work out, but she is a great person and still working out the damage done by the church. Her father who is a pastor disowned her and she wasn’t even allowed to have contact with her younger siblings. It was a terrible situation.
Thank you for having Jerry on the show. This was a very satisfying interview. I wish you guys all the best.
He's brave for doing this. I live about 20 minutes from where deridder is. I have never told anyone here I'm an Atheist. I did at another place before I moved here that was still in the same Parish. I had threats of harm just for saying I didn't believe. I didn't argue religion. Just for the statement I had threats and harassment until I moved to another town across the parish. I'm still here but stay silent because of how some people would react to it.
@@13abcde I’d prefer looking for a better social circle, there must be others with smilar thinking.
One thing I really respect about Jerry is that he’s very honest about his beliefs. He’s very genuine.
I’m glad this man was able to come to the side of Reason.
To me it was an easy thing to shake off religion. But I can see the difficulty in Ethans situation and therefore I look up to his bravery and ability to open up his mind to reason. A true hero in my book!
Brother Jerry Good to see him again
Jerry has been an inspiration to me.
Great show, everyone. Very interesting. 👍 👍 👍
However, Pentecost (from the Greek) means "fiftieth," not "forty/fortieth." Pentecost refers to the Jewish festival fifty days after Passover (Feast of Weeks, or The Feast of Fifty Days, in rabbinic tradition).
Just to clarify.
We need more Dan”s and Laurie’s in life they deliver
Great to see Jerry. Another Louisianian here. Thanks for having him on.
I grew up Mormon -and was fundamentalist even by Mormon standards (now atheist). Mormon meetings are EXTREMELY serious affairs -I think funerals have more humor in them than Mormon meetings. A Catholic friend wanted to attend a Mormon meeting, so I took her to one. Her comment afterward was to the effect of "compared to a Mormon meeting, a Catholic meeting is a noisy R&R concert". Anyway, I used to play highland bagpipes and had the kilts. A friend wanted me to play pipes at her church -Pentecostal! Boy did I get an education! I wound up quietly crawling out on all fours with the pipes in their box and RAN! A few years later I did the same for her, though not kilted. It must be interesting to see a 319 lb man running a few blocks in snow. The expression which best describes my feelings is "stark terror". A few years ago I was going to a food bank sponsored by another Pentecostal minister. He got quite pushy about I should attend his church, so I quit going to his food bank. I read Jerry's book a few years ago and must admit to wanting to commit an indiscretion; I've wanted to put my copy of this book on said food bank minister's church doorstep -hee-hee!
"LOVE YOURSELF FIRST!" Darwin!
I bought Jerry Dewitts book, "Hope After Faith," after watching this video.
Love you Annie and Dan. Jerry Dewitt is one of my faves too. Great interview.
Wonderful and poignant presentation. Very inspirational and uplifting, too. Thank you.
(Parody of "The Sound Of Silence" by Simon & Garfunkel)
Hello, Science my old friend
You have enlightened me again
A hopeful vision that's worth keeping
Waking up a world that is still sleeping
Clinging to ancient outdated lies
So unwise
Let's hear the sound of Science
In darkness we lived for many years
Our lives ruled by superstitious fears
With clerics and their hateful preaching
Kept us from the stars that we're now reaching
Till our eyes were opened with a flash of intellect
Now we accept
The truthful sound of Science
Though naked we once this earth roamed
Since that dark time we have grown
People learning constantly seeking
People no more afraid of speaking
People refusing to be controlled by myths and lies
For we are wise
To hear the sound of Science
Fools will never ever know
Why the seasons come and go
While in fairy tales they're still believing
Unaware of every religion's deceiving
How they threaten all the skeptics with fires of Hell
Lies they do tell in the name of Science
And the people bowed and prayed
With docile minds so quickly swayed
By the many gods that they have created
For freedom humanity has for so long awaited
But this freedom can in a moment be won or lost
And at what cost
If we don't heed the sound of Science
(C) 2015
Love the Parody!! Thank you for sharing and will definitely be passing it on!
Where can I find this paody couldn't get it on Google?
Great show as always.
Good for him.
You go Jerry!
Ron Reagan? wow!
10 STARS‼️
You guys are amazing. From the UK
HIS STORY IS DEEP
Many are religious because they enjoy it, the whole experience of ritual and community. They know some of their beliefs are unreasonable, indefensible, but they go along because the rest of the experience is fulfilling. Frustrating, no?
loved Kristina's segment!!!
Oh my gosh that 'can I get a Darwin' clip was amazing! I felt the reason brother!
Also, that 'love yourself first' is really hard. Almost 3 years of being an atheist and I still have that feeling that I'm not good enough and deserve bad things (not hell thank goodness, but still have a similar feeling even though I know there is no deity punishing anyone, at least, I have no reason to think there is). I still feel 'broken'. I hate what religion made me feel and made me treat others (I lost a friend because I preached to him about his homosexuality. I thought I was trying to save him. Thankfully I apologized to him and said my views have changed greatly and he accepted. I didn't tell him I'm an atheist because he's a Christian. But yeah, there's a lot of baggage that religion gives you. My wife who has several medical issues VERY much still feels like she's broken. She's more an agnostic than atheist, even slightly deist that maybe there's something out there.
It would be interesting to see how “Pentecostal” atheist talk or debating a Theist. I am open-minded when people say how they got out of
the pulpit.
the hosts remind me of ray finkle's parents.
I thought Pentecost meant 50th day.
Are you sure there is no god? I mean with time standing still for Annie Laurie and her apparent lack of signs of aging.
Jerry is one very handsome man!
Can I get a Darwin?