Seth Andrews takes a fresh look at the world's most popular religion, revealing how culty (and often creepy) Christian traditions and rituals truly are.
I was a catholic once. Then, I realized that I had been a catholic for so long, i had basically eaten an entire Jesus. I immediately went on a diet and am now theologically abstinent.
My father, a knights of Columbus catholic ran off with another woman and left my mother with six kids. I was the youngest (2) so I never got the pleasure of knowing much about the catholic church as my mom wasn't a follower. We lived in a catholic neighborhood, and therefore we were the 'bad' kids because my mother was a 'divorced woman' and everyone was always whispering about us. I never went to church. Once, my friend had me go to mass with her family. The church terrified me. A bloody guy with a thorny thing on his head that was nailed to a cross, a lady (Mary) had an exposed heart, which was also gross. I was terrified and became dizzy from all the sitting, kneeling, standing, nasty smelling incense that a priest (in a dress) was waving a pot on a rope with smoke bellowing out. Also, mass requires no breakfast alowed before either. So I fainted. I thought I was being punished ond going to die because I didn't go to church. (guilt they hold over you) 😳 As a child I could see how scary church was and never went back. They ALL have weird stuff too.
Hey I went to a Catholic school in NW Indiana in the 60s and 70s and for most of those eight years we had to go to mass EVERY day before classes began. Add Sunday and that's six days a week of that merciless brainwashing.
Uh, just wondering how your dad was accepted to be a knight of Coumbus with a wife he could not convince to be a Catholic and remain a knight while running off with another woman. Also, your Catholic neighborhood sucks as religious pretenders who would not help an abandoned mother with six kids! Where was the charity that religion is supposed to teach and practice? From your background as a child new to the Catholic church, the horrors you observed practiced inside the the church might have scarred you for life.
Back in college, one of my Christian philosophy professors made it seem like I was dishonestly making a caricature out of Christianity when I spoke of a vampire god who wanted blood. To this day, it seems to me that my "caricature" was closer to a photograph. Thanks for the added evidence, Seth.
Thank you, Seth. I've been subbed for years, but recently some stuff has happened. TLDR: pulmonary embolism, rush to ER, life flight to the BIG hospital, both legs amputated, genius surgeons Roto rooting my arteries, and now living in the recovery hospital trying to get to a state where I can return home. Facing the possibility of 62 years being what I have left is kind of a bitch, I must admit. Your humor and kindness has been one of my great comforts up in here. You don't realize how much you may be reassuring complete strangers. Keep it up. Have some granny hugs for yourself, your wife, your pets, and anyone else who could use them. 👵🤗💖
Warmest hugs to you too and I know that you are a great and very warm person. I'm sure that you are an inspiration to others. Go well and take good care and most of all, keep smiling.
When my daughter was about 3 years old, we were visiting my mother (extremely devout RC) for Easter. Mom had some passion movie on TV and my little girl was freaking out "Why are they hurting that man?" with tears in her eyes. I asked Mom to change the channel but she wouldn't. Because Jesus. My husband and I took our daughter to the park. We were both furious but their was no reasoning with Mom. JEEZZZUSSSS.
I m more interested in how that went over with your daughter? Did you explain it to her? was she just freaked out or maybe intrigued? Is there a chance your mother will babysit her unsupervised?
@@fritzhaselnuss7852 She was only 3 at the time and quickly forgot about it. She's 29 now and seems to have turned out OK! Mother learned a long time ago to leave religion out of it (done with love and respect on both sides!)
My wife was weirded out by the idea of blood everywhere in the Bible and during church services. Especially when we sang “Are you washed in the blood of the lamb”. I never thought it was strange until she opened my eyes to it. My biggest question now is why. Why the sacrifice was needed? Answer: atonement. But, no one can explain the atonement. What was it about? Why? Christians have many answers but they disagree. There are literally 1000s and 1000s of Christian writings out there trying to explain it. We all learn whatever our denomination taught us and then we accept it as fact - - never knowing about all the other alternative theories. Thanks for posting the video!
The atonement thing comes from a time where people thought they had to please the Gods, e.g. that no storm is happening or that the crops grow well, and because of confirmation bias they thought it helped. The christian god started as 2 different Gods smushed together that was part of a pantheon (1. commandment: Thau shalt not have other Gods before me) and that could be appeased by sacrifices. There are so many reasons why the christian God can't exist, and this is one of them. And it shows how insane today's rituals are and that they are simply done because of tradition and routine.
Worse than atonement, it is substitution magic. There are many stories of offsetting the sins or wrongdoing of a person, group or tribe onto animals (rarely people) and then sacrificing it to rid yourself of the sin. The scapegoat was an example of this. Offset the sin of a community onto an animal, then drive it off into the desert to die. So 2 questions. If Jesus was supposed to be the scapegoat, why would god have to sacrifice him to appease himself? Why the middleman? More importantly, if god is supposed to have created the universe, why create a version of the universe where there is such an absurd idea as people AVOIDING the consequence of their actions by magically transferring it onto another INNOCENT VICTIM? If this transference is to work, there must be a magical system in place for people to make use of. God thought that was a good, reasonable idea? Don't seek forgiveness, don't make amends or learn to accept the consequences for what you have done, no, pull a sneaky magical trick to shift your sin onto a goat, or chicken (Jews still do this one I've heard). And then GOD does it as well. The superpowered, intergalactic, infinitely powerful, infinitely compassionate Sky Santa takes all the sin accumulated by humans behaving exactly the way HE MADE THEM and slams it onto some human construct of himself to make it possible for him to forgive them (for behaving the way he made them). Yeah, it's ridiculous. Bronze age superstitious thinking. It's like Christians avoiding their god's wrath by SPELLING out naughty words. Because apparently god can't spell, either.
With all this talk of blood rituals etc. in the Christian bible, it seems that the similarities between the satanic rituals they despise and their own are a lot closer than they’d ever like to admit.
I suffered from extremely low-self esteem, depression and a pervasive sense of emptiness for decades as a pastor’s kid…took me until my twenties after I spontaneously deconstructed from the faith and became estranged from my devout family to realize that those feelings came from the brainwashing from birth into a doctrine that continually told me how worthless and flawed I inherently was without christ. Well I don’t need to be a part of a death cult any longer to find value in myself or life itself, and that is a beautiful thing even though it has come at the cost of a connection with my blood family.
Thanks for your post. I have OCD tendencies, and I think Christianity is causing them to be exacerbated. I can't do anything to be seen as good in God's eyes. Never kind enough, never generous enough, can't censor every thought, not loving enough as a person or husband. Yes, I understand God doesn't see my worthlessness and sin because of Jesus, but deep down I know how he REALLY feels about me. How can I want to be with a God who designed me to be imperfect and screw up, tell me I deserve to burn for these imperfections, but will "look past" all of my worthlessness and "hold his nose" when I'm around if I just accept Jesus? My rational brain wants to go pop. Can anyone relate to these feelings?
Seth, you've done it again! You are absolutely the best at juxtaposing the humor and the horror of religion. Thank you, sir. Please never stop doing your thing.
An excellent presentation of the idiocy of mainstream religion. Unfortunately, Seth here is preaching to the converted at AANC. The very title of the convention would exclude any commited Christians.
@@gerry343 1) It has utility because it can help reframe the discussions for attendees engaging Christians and 2) my target isn't commited Christians; it's those who are starting to become dissatisfied or, at the very least, curious. And there are many.
@@TheThinkingAtheist I am your target audience. Just this year, after being a committed Christian for over 40 years, I can no longer defend the faith. I can no longer ignore the cognitive dissonance. This path I am on is frightening and lonely, but I am unable to continue living a lie.
"Washed by the blood of Christ" seems like it would make you dirtier. How about "washed in the soap and water, then dried with the fluffy towel of Christ?"
Being told constantly that you're "broken" or "bad" at your core, and it's "sin" that causes it, sets you up to seek a "fix" psychologically. You can't deny that you think bad things at times, make poor or narcissistic choices and that plays into the fear mongering that religion throws at you to make you feel lost.
It's sooo true. I'm a Ukrainian, we have this so-called Orthodox christianity, not mandatory though. When I was almost 6 y.o., my grandmother took me to the local church for the first time, to "prepare me for school" (they usually take kids to church before any significant event, such as the start of school study). There I saw that horrible painting, probably it was the John baptist's head on the plate. Very realistic. I mean, very. I kept telling myself "look at the floor, don't look around!" I was freaked. Imagine my shock. Never ever in my life have I attend a church since that scary day. Luckily, most people here do not force their kids to go to church. There are a bunch of very religious fellas who follow the scripture like crazy, but they are the minority. And I used to think that my country was too religious! Now, after watching videos like this one, I'm really shocked, and I'm thankful for living here. I'm also thankful to my late Dad, who, in spite of being super-religious, would never force me to follow his believes. We would argue a lot, but he never crossed the line of my rights. Never.
"I saw that horrible painting, probably it was the John baptist's head on the plate. Very realistic. I mean, very. I kept telling myself "look at the floor, don't look around!" I was freaked. Imagine my shock. Never ever in my life have I attend a church since that scary day" -- Should your grandmother have presented you with a glorified vision of evil? Dead children trampled in the mud are insufficient to dissuade us from war, yet you recoil from a painting of a holy martyr. The painting is not intended to be pleasant. You dislike Christianity because it shines light into the darkness? The darkness is indeed scary. Christ is not.
@@andrewferg8737 I believe you're smart enough to understand that was not my reason to leave the religion. Children are not supposed to see bloody paintings! And, still, the religion is bloody itself and Yahweh is evil. This is my reason, and I'm perfectly fine with it, as an agnostic.
@@Viky.A.V. "Yahweh is evil" --- The ineffable Mosaic Hebrew theonym יהוה (YHWH) is derived from the existential verb hayah meaning 'to be'. YHWH means "existence in and of itself". The name Jesus means " יהוה saves ". Existence in and of itself, to be, truth, goodness, justice, or logic are ontological synonyms for the transcendent: that which is without beginning or end and which cannot 'not be' as is demonstrated through antinomies such as "there is no truth" or "nothing is", etc. Existence in and of itself, or any of its synonyms, is the singularly self-evident axiom from which all else is derived. That is the referent for the term God in classical theology. The term "evil" indicates a privation, as darkness is an absence of light. Evil is of no substance, but a privation of the good. God is existence in and of Himself. To be without God is "evil", to be deprived of existence either partially or in full. "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I Am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10) "Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, יהוה hath sent me unto you... this is my name forever" (Exodus 3) "and you shall call His name JESUS (יהוה saves) for it is He who will save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1) "I am יהוה -- apart from Me there is no Savior" (Isaiah 43) Peace be with you.
@@Viky.A.V. "Children are not supposed to see bloody paintings!" --- There is certainly an appropriate age at which particular topics should and should not be addressed. Children are innocent and cannot therefore comprehend evil. The bloody horror of the Cross indeed makes no sense the innocents, nor should it make sense to them. "Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18)
@@Viky.A.V. "the religion is bloody" --- The Cross of Christ is a bloody and unnecessary horror. Evil is never required for Goodness to shine. Mankind invented the horror of the Cross. God humbled Himself to suffer that choice for mankind. "for I was but a little displeased, but they helped forward the affliction" (Zechariah 1)
"If you have to distance yourself..." EXACTLY, thank you for saying this. I can't stress that enough and I hate when people claim that Christianity and Islam are religions of peace, and then ignore everything that makes them the exact opposite and when you point out why they aren't peaceful, they claim it's being interpreted wrongly or look at the 10 commandments and so on.
Jesus explicitly said in Matthew 10:34 - 36: : "Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man's foes will be those of his own household." So it's rather clear that by' own words, the Christian faith is not one that will bring peace. Which then begs the question: Why is Jesus called the Prince of Peace?
It is at this point where I bring up the horrific fact that something like 95% of new born human males or circumcised at birth. Religion has made it possible to mutilate the genitalia of new born baby boys without a second thought to the sheer horrific nature of the actual act. This is done for absolutely no good reason what so ever. foreskin wasn't a problem back then, and it certainly isn't a problem now (with ubiquitous indoor plumbing including both cold and hot water). There is absolutely NO reason we ought to be doing this. Basically a group of jews living in the desert 6 thousand years ago were incredibly bored so they started making up a bunch of shit, one of them being circumcision, others being Adam and Eve, global flood and two of every animal. They were BORED is all.
So I was a Christian child until my late 50s, but I was so brain washed , i was raped by a freind got pregnant married him , the pain and suffering I went threw was horrifying, I finally divorced him and set my self free, I’m no longer a Christian, my mom still is she’s the apitamy of very evil things to the day, she has no love and is very rude and hateful, looks like she’s representing the evil wicked god she worships. I have no contact with her at all. I’m free
Yes, I literally believe that "Yahweh" is Angra Mainyu, meaning satan. I am a Zoroastrian, and I serve the great Ahura Mazda, who is a god of wisdom and compassion, unlike "Yahweh" who is a god of war. "As both man or woman know the duty (to God) so let him, or her, declare it and fufill it, O Mazda"- Yasna 35.6
@@TheMilitantMazdakite The recent display of a latent Gene from the worshippers of Dionysus in congress is due to their M aenade T railer G enes being inflamed when their rites were threatened. The descendants of Maenade's or M.T.G.s now serve Donnysays.
Looking at all of these wine products had me wondering what Jesus would do if he entered a marketplace and found his blood being sold in single-serving packets. My guess, based on the Christian mythology, is that he would overturn the tables of the cashiers and chase vendors around with a bullwhip.
of all the sects out there, the 'prosperity gospel' Christians infuriate me the most, but probably because I'm also a socialist living in an American capitalist hell-scape.
My favorite Tallulah Bankhead story. She was attending a Catholic high mass. As the procession passed her swinging the incense, she remarked "Love your gown dear, but your purse is on fire."
This was a lot of fun! It was quite educational. When my baby was born I finally understood that original sin was a lie. A horrific one at that. My baby's birth was a big part of my deconstruction. My 5 second old newborn had no evil inside. Only innocence
Incredible!!! Such love, I am sure you are a great mother. ❤❤❤Thank you for seeing their innocence... Ah man I'm crying 😭😭😭😭. Now I feel like getting a child
Yes and no … Humans do have an innately defective, narcissistic nature that shows itself as babies develop into children. Religions are manmade, but humanity as species is anything but “innocent”.
this is by far one of the most uplifting speeches whilist at the same time remaining rooted in reality, and you got a life lone viewer buddy. great speech.
I remember getting wine as a child and we all drank from the same chalice, not from individual cups. Yup, and these are the same people accusing our teachers of indoctrination and child grooming.
The cannibalistic overtones of Christianity always weirded me out, even as a kid. My parents took me to church once and I remember the priest going on about eating drinking the blood and flesh of Christ and having a nightmare that evening of Jesus carving off pieces of his flesh and giving it to people to eat. Disgusting.
As the son of a Baptist preacher, growing up in south Alabama in the 1950's, I've been saved many times, thank god none of them took.🤣 Somewhere between 5 and 8 YO the things I was hearing just didn't make sense. Me and my older brother used to love it when daddy did baptisms at the local creek, we would always go swimming, *_Upstream._*
I have converted a few out of this nonsense, but I give credit to DarkMatter 2525 for converting my mother. She was 74 at the time and had spent decades trying to drag me back to the church. But she was the sort of person who could laugh at her own religion sometimes. Just for fun, I showed her a couple of his funniest when she was visiting me. Well, she tended to be up and active around 4 am, and for the next couple of days, I woke up to find her watching his videos. By the time she left, she had stopped believing, and she admitted that she knew for years it was nonsense, but the baby who would have been my older brother died 36 hours after his birth. She never got to hold him or say she loved him, and she needed to believe that someday she would be able to do that.
@@pdoylemi correct.. I googled it and thats where i got the last name cos couldnt remember... thanks for the correction........ but the writer and the lady are a great watch... stay safe
The anthropology of the sacrifice goes back at least 150,000 years when Homo Sapiens were hunters following the great herds in Africa. When a predator, like a cheetah, stalks it's prey the entire herd gets anxious and runs. Once the predator makes its kill the herd calms down a settles back into calm grazing as if nothing happened. Our species, from observing this phenomena, adapted it to itself. It saw the killing by a predator of one of our own as a sacrifice that saved the entire tribe. A saviour. This evolved over time into all the weird human and animal sacrifice religions of humankind including Christianity.
nope! only those of you who lack the sensation that the rest of us have can claim that religion is "madness." the majority of humans can sense that there us something beyond our understanding, and that sensation is where religions come from. you and other athiests lack that sense, and therefore it is not your place to tell those of us who DO experience that sensation about our deeply personal experiences.
@@dianeaishamonday9125 Serie killers experience a sensation when they kill people, should we stand aside and and not call out their behavior as bizarre. This blood cult focus is exactly that , a bizarre ritual that really doesn't make any sense except to those brainwashed to accept it.
@@dianeaishamonday9125 To be fair, that's not necessarily the case, though... Atheists can be quite spiritual, too. 🙂 But the difference between spirituality and religion is that you can explore your own spirituality autonomously, within or outside of religion, however you choose. And at its core, the spiritual is something metaphysical that can't be artificially constructed in and of itself (other consumable things can be, and they can be sold on the loose basis of "spirituality" in a consumerist culture for sure, but real spiritual growth can't be bought or sold). But through religion, any set of religious dogma will dictate what and how you can and can't believe, as prescribed to members of that religious group - otherwise, by definition, you wouldn't truly belong to that religion if you don't abide by certain principles they impart onto you and society. And most Atheists, on a scale of 0 to 10 of certainty as to whether or not there's a higher power/higher powers with 0 being completely unsure and 10 being absolutely sure, most Atheists won't give a 10 (I'd personally give a 9.99 lol, but even some of the most skeptical and most prominent Atheist figures usually give about a 7, 8, or 9 on it). But the bottom line is that most of us will admit that there does indeed remain the slight possibility for something to exist over us in that sense and that we can't possibly know for 100% certainty, but that it doesn't mean we'll adhere to a religion (especially not with 100% confidence in that specific practice of that one religion among thousands globally and throughout human history just on the basis of it being what we were taught by our parents and our community we were born into) without evidence or reason to do so, and especially when we can often see the harms of that blind faith (or what most could also call authoritarianism) practiced in the real world socially and politically. And even the most devout followers of the Christian god will oftentimes find themselves in doubt sometime or another. Any individual can change on that scale at any given time, whether they're Atheist, Agnostic, Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Scientologist, you name it. This also doesn't mean that all Atheists are Agnostic necessarily either, however, though I could see some making a case for that. I wouldn't say they're completely wrong, but I also would disagree personally because the two terms are used in difference circumstances for a reason. Agnosticism is more about someone doubting, being unsure what to believe, or questioning their belief system or that of others, whereas Atheists believe nothing exists and would likely maintain that belief unless presented with evidence to demonstrate otherwise. An Agnostic might not know what they believe, an Atheist knows what they don't believe. But going back to the original point, sorry, lol... You can be extremely religious and not spiritual, just as you can be extremely spiritual but not religious - or both, or neither, and there's a huge difference between the two despite how both terms (religion and spirituality) are often used interchangeably. Many Christians might practice religion super heavily, but they can be spiritually depraved. Some Christians might be super spiritual, but not very religious at all and barely considered Christian by other observers. And if you identify as Christian, chances are that your spiritual beliefs are shaped by the impressions left on you about what spirituality means, from clergy, your family, other followers, etc. But also, whereas Christians tend to view themselves as "freed" through the power of Jesus or God or the Holy Trinity or what have you, many Atheists feel that there is no spiritual freedom from within the narrow confines of any given religion, regardless of the belief system, because being told how to think, feel, act, etc. is anything but freedom.
I can't help feeling disheartened when I find - in this occasion as well as in many other atheist events I was involved in or was otherwise witnessing - such sparse attendance despite the fact that the arguments dealt with are so rationally sound and embraceable as in the present case. It always made me feel uneasy to find myself, as an atheist, somewhat secluded in a kind of secret society, reduced to covertly trying to hinder the invasive plague of stubborn, superstitious and irrational but sadly outnumbering believers out there, while I would rather have expected to be them the ones forced to hide in the catacombs to perform their weird rituals, while the normal people outside is living free from indoctrination and oppressive biases. And moreover, atheists are expected to do their best with fairness and respect so to avoid causing offence to the 'moral majority' and thus implicitly acknowledging its supremacy and right to interfere in social, ethical and political issues, in the name of a supposedly owed 'live and let live' kind of tolerance I'm fed up practicing by now. Enough with mild dialogue, Brandolini's law demonstrates how arduous and unbalanced is the effort needed to refute bullshit compared to that needed to produce and spread it. So, militant atheism from now on, screw kindness! ...And forgive my english, I'm from Italy 😁
One that always mortified me was the first Christian bedtime prayer every child in the south is taught: "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep and if I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take".! As a child I couldn't sleep for worry it'd lead to death!😖😒
I feel bad saying Seth has the perfect "pastor" speaking voice. For a deconstructing former Christian. I hope others get the humor in my statement. Bc I am sooo glad he is talking about the Kookiness of christianity.
Hey, I WAS an 8th day Independent Fundamental Baptist Evangelism Explosion Door Knockin Soul Winning Christian for 40plus years and Escaped The Candy Coated Blood Guilt Cult about 10years ago. I learned the hard way too 💯
@@robertwysocki2073 Christian view is ridiculous because most refuse to put themselves in the Actually Stories of Blood Sprinkling and Blood Sacrifices and all the other ridiculous rituals in between.
I grew up in a Lutheran church. They believe the bread and wine are actually the flesh and blood of Jesus. I always found this to be ridiculous and vile.
And yet Christians do not read their Bible where God in the Torah says he absolutely hates human blood sacrifice and God blood sacrifice and he says not to put a reputation of a human being or anything upon him and yet they still do it. 🙃
I thought Lutherans believed it was symbolic. The Catholics thought it was literal. That's why they've been fighting for 500 years over logic and reason. Still sick and ritual cannibalism.
Lutherans do NOT believe that the bread and wine in the Eucharist are literally changed in the body and blood of Jesus. What they do believe is......the spirit of Jesus is present in the bread and wine in what they term as sacramental union. This differs from the Roman Catholic position that the Eucharistic bread and wine literally change into the blood and flesh of Jesus which they term transubstantiation. Now, you will have to apologize to every Lutheran you see coming and going......OK?
As I said the prayer of Bran while eating rice, tomato sauce and chicken, my food turned into the flesh and blood of Bran! Thank you Bran! I have been made whole!
I grew up in Italy, as Catholic for the first 18 years of my life! I received the first communion and continued to take it more or less regularly, maybe once a month or more! So 1st there is no wine for the common worshippers (too expensive, not hygienic). You can get a cracker (Ostia in Italian) only from the thumb and index finger of the priest. 2nd in spite of all the blessings, the Ostia remained a piece of thin wafer, that tragically tended to get stuck to your upper palate and cause you a lot trouble, because you were supposed to swallow it whole, because you know… you aren’t supposed to crunch on Jesus flash and bones
It's "host" in English and wow, your experience mirrors mine back in my childhood in Indiana. Except that at my Catholic school we had to go to mass every goddamn day! Such meaningless, nonsensical rituals repeated daily ensured that I and many of my classmates grew up to loathe everything about Catholicism and about religion in general.
It's funny, even when I was a Christian the whole "washed clean in the blood" rhetoric weirded me out. I went to a pretty bland church and I remember distinctly encountering that type of Christianity in middle school when other students were talking about it and all I could think was "I don't think we believe in the same Jesus". Little did I know at the time that that was true for basically all Christians, even the ones going to the same church, lol
Let's do a children's murder play! Reminded me of the scene where Wednesday Addams does the "other" version of Thanksgiving. “We cannot break bread with you. You have taken the land which is rightfully ours. Years from now, my people will be forced to live in mobile homes on reservations. Your people will wear cardigans and drink highballs. We will sell our bracelets by the roadsides. You will play golf and enjoy hot hors d’oeuvres. My people will have pain and degradation. Your people will have stick shifts.”
My family was Catholic but not especially observant. I was the youngest child and by the time I came along, they had basically given up except to go to Mass on holidays. But we still had a Bible prominently displayed (no one ever read it of course) and prayers were said over Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. Since I received no religious instruction, the silliness of it all was in stark relief to me before I was even an adolescent. None of it made sense and it only got more absurd as time went on. I always thought this stuff sounds nutty to me and I'm a kid. How do you adults makes any sense out of this? I am grateful I was sort of inoculated against this crap early on and I've never really struggled with having to shake off the myths and fables.
_"Pavlovian conditioning"_ As you alluded to you were exposed to the concept of religion as a child by your parents - Catholicism in your case - though apparently not "excessively so". Neurobiologists have a term for such exposure = _"priming."_ Thus the seed was planted in your mind which you accepted - because small children being immature and hence lacking insight instinctively trust the adults around them as a survival instinct - and going forward that conditioned belief can be systematically reinforced in a culture replete with religious references. Moral of the story: religious belief in our culture is ubiquitous primarily owing to the conditioned nature of how it is perpetuated. Generation after generation simply continues to "go along" with what happened with those before it - usually without question. It is only when children are not pushed into religion and/or upon maturation as adults when they achieve a level of education and insight = that some begin to question it. If we but stopped pushing young children into religious belief then I would surmise that within a few generations mankind would see a marked reduction in adherence to theism. Religions should be DADT: _"Don't Ask - Don't Tell."_ Upon reaching adulthood - only then should people be given a choice to follow a religion or not. 🤔
I don't disagree with you but it does seem that starting in the second half of the twentieth century, at least in the US (earlier in most of Europe), that a lot of young people stopped accepting the religion of their parents. Thanks to improved and secular schools becoming more prominent.
Cult + Time = Religion. Only an apostate knows and can tell you exactly how true this equation holds. I was in the closet as an Antitheist for 20 years, since I was 19 years old. I spent the first 19 years of my life as a conflicted and suspicious believer in Shiite Islam; but then I went to college and majored in Molecular Bio with a minor in Philosophy (actually closer to a dbl major by the time I was done). I was completely 100% in the closet... until 2019, when I came out as a very militant Antitheist. I was instantly Persona Non Grata to my family. I instantly was reminded of this equation. My uncle, who was like a second father to me and practically raised me as a child, told my cousins to stop associating with me. It was at that point that I fully understood what this equation was really trying to say....It had become astoundingly clear to me. Religion never-ever stop being a cult. It was a bat-shit crazy, ridiculous, asinine, archaic dooms-day cult then, and it's a dooms day cult today. Christianity is still a blood sacrifice cult extremely dirty hands and Islam is still a dooms-day cult. What I dont get is how that is not enough for believers to realize that the whole enterprise is corrupt and that the religion is most obviously full of shit with absolutely nothing devine about it. It's a scam, a con, the most successful scam ever perpetrated on humanity. Its a virus of the mind, a memeplex that needs to be eradicated from the species before it leads to our extinction.,
lmao no sweetie 🤣 the majority of humans experience the sensation of something beyond their understanding. this sensation is where religions come from. since we are in the majority, we will always have spiritual experiences and understandings. cope.
@@dianeaishamonday9125 the writing is on the wall. The future is secular. It’s just is. Membership in religion is at an ALL TIME low and people are Fleeing church like the Taliban are coming. Just consider that less than 150 years ago, I won’t just be put to death, end of story. And I’m done parts of the world, that is true to this day (for the vast majority of history, believers dealt with skeptics and none believers by simply killing them. Many a ppl were burned at the stake. And you would be shock to find out how many god loving and god fearing individuals were were executed (I.e. MURDERED) by their fellow believers. Religion has slipped enough in Society that y’all can’t just be killing ppl like believers have done for at Least the past 5000 years. You think religion. Will be able to survive everyone having a supercomputer in their pocket and fact-checking the preacher during his sermons. We weren’t even supposed to be able to read right now. They wanted to make it like Hinduism where only a select class could read the text and no one would have the ability nor the means to even attempt to read scripture. But a happy lucky chance of events led Guttenburg to come up with the printing press which thru a huge monkey wrench in that plan and course of events. No Hindu can read their “holy” books. It’s written in Sanskrit which was an extinct, obscure and extremely esoteric language when supposedly Aberham was building the Kabbah in Mecca (that black box all Muslims pray toward)🤣🤣🤣 I truly wanted the narrative I was told as a child to be true and for us to go on to this magical amusement park for good ppl when we die while other ppl (you might know) go to this other really bad amusement park but it’s more like punishment park. There are objective facts that will always be true no matter what and those object, axiomatic facts Are absolutely devastating to your entire framework, worldview, system of belief, outlook etc. you either face the facts a deal with the fact that you’ve been lied to since you were born and that if you truly go looking you will be shocked at what you find. You need to approach this entire topic objectively, dispassionately, completely unbiased, with the intension to only be ruled by reason and logic and rationality and evidence (feelings are a piss poor method arriving at anything let alone the truth and true nature of reality. And also you can’t seriously build an argument around “I know it in my heart of heart” 🤣🤣🤣. You will need all your faculties if you want to crack this nut. But what ever you may find we can agree that bc a conciliation and a coming to terms will need to take place either way, there’s no getting around that. I’m reminded of the heuristic “Honesty is the best police” and it will be crucial if you want a shred of integrity to be left intact. There is no way to argue against an objective truth (unless your severely deluded and very gullible) you just have to accept them and make your mind Up. I was indoctrinated also. I know how much this sucks. There will be alot of anger and a lot feeling very stupid that you even fell for it in the first place. Reprogramming has to occur if you want be unbiased. There are 2 kinds of ppl in the world those that only care about the truth,and the truth alone, regardless of anything else. Then there are those that just want to maintain the status Que and could give a shit about what is true and what ain’t. What you find will depend on what kind of person you are. Lastly you talked about why religion was invented, but you got it wrong. The real reason religion was invented by man was a means by which the nobility (I.e. the king)could keep the masses from storming the castle a la “let them eat cake” infamy. You have to imagine that if you were the king living in an opulent (obscenely) castle will literally EVERYONE else live in the muck and myrrh. I would imagine that worrying about when the masses will get hip to the gross and immoral levels of inequality present in feudalism and come for your head. They need insurance. It would be maddened knowing that at any minute somebody can stand up and say “Hey, THIS IS ALL BULLSHIT. and there is nothing saying that things have to be this way (feudal), we can dismantle and rebuild a whole new system if government. This is why at some point in history, a ruler stated paying for the “services” of a Shaman. A lot like a partnership. I’ll pay you to tell the masses that ther is an ultimate punisher that will punish you for thought crimes and “coveting”. You tell the people that those that rule, rule by divine right; and that they are living their best lives in a huge castle while your family lives under a tree BECAUSE GOD WANTS IT THIS WAY. SO who are you to go against gods Devine plan. BLASPHEMY!!!!! They created religion because they could. Because when you have a gullible, ignorant population that is easily manipulated and convinced of the preposterous with out the ability to think critically or even to read. Mohammad came up with his own religion because he could. It’s like trump realizing that these ppl will believe whatever comes out of mouth hook, line, sinker. You would have to be an idiot to not take advantage of a highly gullible population. Thats why feelings ought not to come into the equation when evaluating such things You have to ask yourself, if all believers are employing faith (because I they all are, asking any believer and they will say faith is what they are using to arrive at their conclusion. But if everyone is using faith. And faith is leading people to all sorts of VERY WEIRD PLACES. 9 times out of ten, faith leads ppl, what you would consider “astray”. So then what good is faith really? especially when trying yo get to the truth. Seems like faith is incapable at get your to the truth. Faith can only lead you astray.
The vampires are not the only undead. They are the only fictional ones. Religions, aristocracies, banks and other corporations live at the cost of the blood of human beings, and do not die except by being slain or starved out of existence. They eat each other, too.
Simply incredible! Gave me all the words I needed to explain this myself but you did it soooo much better. It’s an incredible sermon! Haha If he led a group, I’d follow him simply because of how he ended this presentation. Children are perfect and traumatized as a young child thinking they are not good enough. We are all born with the power to live how God intended. Organized religions are no different than a cult as they follow someone they believe is all knowing. This made my day and it’s only 8am!
I’ve read that being ‘washed in the blood’ originated in the Mithraic religion of classical times. In order to be initiated into Mithraism the initiate would climb down into a large hole in a cave, the hole would be covered by a grid, and a bull sacrificed over the grill. The blood would cover the initiate who was therefore ’washed in the blood’ of the sacrifice. Must have been terrifying.
No, it's just when they add gods and priests. I'm not a cricket player, and I'm a Scot, but I think the English objection "That just isn't cricket." is a good and valid religious observation.
One bumper sticker that always makes me realize how backwards religion can be is the one that has a cross with an equal sign and the word “love” or a heart next to it. Or, logically translated, torturing someone to death is equal to love. Good Grief, what dope came up with this equation?
I’ve never been a Bible reader so, even though I noticed the story conflicts when I was young and thought that the hymns we sang made no sense, your exposition on the Christian rituals is a true eye-opener. And as for kids dressed up to kill Jesus, what about this: I have a vague memory of participating in a church play when I was a teen in the early 60’s and I had to wear a RED dress because I think I was supposed to be the “scarlet woman.” I had no idea what the red dress was supposed to mean, and definitely knew nothing about prostitutes. I stuck to The Book of Knowledge set instead.
I make Ytube videos that expose 'Myths in so-called Christianity', so have much sympathy with other exposes. However the RCC is pagan and unbiblical so you may still be missing out on the truth, as Seth is not trying to give you the truth only stopping you look for it. It is the pagan world that was bloody on thr Holy Bible, and the blood of Jesus is only symbolic as there is no bloodiness in the religion started with Abraham, and it is not God's plan that is being exposed here. Much makes no sense in teaching and in that I relate to you, and why I studied deep and found the truth, and have my own teaching true to scripture. The Holy Bible encourages wisdom and knowledge seeking and I see as an asset, but much can be ridiculed as contradictory or irrational.
I didn't read the bible either, nor was my family fundamental, but I also thought from a young age that this stuff makes no sense and this "god" certainly doesn't act like a "real" god should. I did try to believe because that's what my family expected, but I couldn't.
@@venlakirahvi If I may interject as someone who also never read the Holy Bible, but did let myself be influenced against it, while at the same time as my 'Christian' schooling believing I must be good. I now as a believer would say it should be read, but where do you start? 66 books written with one Supercontext which contains one story, but you have to find it either yourself as I did or trust others. But who? Now I know the story I would start with Matthew as you join a story in time that focuses on the hypocrisy of those running the church of God, which is the prime topic of the Holy Bible alongside of redemption, and the cause of Jesus.
@@simonskinner1450 Of course, always interesting to hear about other people's perspectives and experiences! I am actually aware there are also "good" lessons and ideas in some of the stories in the bible (I do have a rough idea of the contents and some direct examples, both "good" and "bad"). The problem for me is that you need to do some serious cherry picking and possibly differential interpreting, according to whatever your values and moral compass are like, to determine which parts you want to take inspiration from. There are also parts in the book that at least for me make no sense morally, or are even clearly wrong according to my personal values. So that's why I personally prefer to entertain myself with and learn new perspectives from other literature and content, with stories where I still get to think and be critical, and to broaden my understanding, but that doesn't demand the same extraordinary level of cherry picking, like with the stories in the bible. Of course as you say I might want to read some parts that for example other people with similar values have recommended, in the purpose of reading them like stories. So thanks for your recommendation! But I would never practice a religion that is based on this book.
@@venlakirahvi I completely understand and sympathise as you can see my Ytube videos are about Myths in so-called Christianity. Cherry-picking is only trumped by hypocrisy, yet neither are the fault of the objective truth within it and the true religion of Abraham, and you are better off not wasting your time and efforts to be in a false religion. I know I have the truth, not just because the others call me a heretic, but because I am honest, and maybe I can revive interest in time.
It's about time that something like this should finally go viral on tv to liberate minds from the horrors of their religion being taught as normal and acceptable to civilized society! ThanK you, Seth, for this liberating video, liberating to those enslaved by the fear taught by their church as they ask for your money!
Being Jamaican, I initially thought the title said something else. 😂 Seth, your presentations are legendary. Thanks for what you do. The headless Brawn was awesome 😎
My idiot ex decided to tell our 5 year old daughter about the crucifixion and she was terrified that she was going to be crucified. When I confronted him about it, he became irate and said “I will teach my daughter about my religion.” When I told him how terrified she was, he just had this stupid look on his face. Robert the idiot.
I'm very happy that you were able to distance yourself from that person. It must be hard to still have to make necessary interactions with this guy. I hope you can protect your daughter from the dangerous influence he has in her. I wish you good luck in your journey!
How to traumatized a kid for live; Hey kid you are evil from the womb so Jesus needed to offer himself in a bloody sacrifice to pay for the sins you haven’t committed yet in order to his father don’t burn you In hell forever, you need to follow exactly all religious mesures of the church or you will burn in hell anyways,
I have always been appalled at the "sacred" rite of make-believe cannibalism which is the Eucharist. After being raised in an atmosphere of Christian dogma and myth, it was shocking to realize, even as a young man, that my religion was a cannibalistic death cult.
Nintendo wasn't allowed to publish games that originated in Japan and converted and sold to US audiences if they contained any religious imagery (at least not without redaction). Yet the blood fountain in front of the church is fine and clearly getting a lot of "likes" on Twitter. Funny.
Worse to me is the emotional manipulation they do to scare children into joining their cult. Recently as introduced to these two-faced rag dolls women make for mission trips. The doll is sad and sinful on one side and happy and loves jesus on the other and these people don't see that as cruel manipulation because Christianity will save them, right? It's disgusting.
Thank you Seth for your video why religion is ruinous for humanity. Imagine a world with peace, prosperity, tolerance, scientific, logic and artistic advancements and we can achieve this world for humanity by getting rid of religion.
The only problem with that is humans are by nature territorial and covetous. If religion was eliminated we would still fight over borders, resources, etc. As a species, we kind of suck
you'll never have it. the majority of humans experience the sensation of something beyond their understanding. this sensation is where religions come from. people like you, who lack that sensation, are in the minority. thankfully.
When my son was young and he noticed all the displays of Jesus on the cross displayed all across France, he commented, if you didn't know the Christian story, you would think this was some guy they really hated and they are displaying his gruesome death as an example for others. Maybe he wasn't too far off the mark.
Always thought the star of Bethelem would be a better symbol for Jesus. Not only does it signify his birth and therefore a celebration of his life, but is far less gruesome than the crucifix. A star is an image of light and hope, rather than something painful and bloody such as the cross. And I hate going into churches where there's a dummy Jesus covered in red paint with an agonized expression nailed to a cross above the altar, I just end up walking back out again! 😅 Must be very frightening for children to see that
I know you are oftentimes crushed by the absurdity and horror of religion, enough for to make you want to throw up your hands and fall silent . . . but I hope that NEVER happens. If you experience moments of frustration and despair over theistic lunacy, imagine how we feel. Humanity needs your voice . . . more than any other time. THANK YOU.
Except that he did not tell you what next after you die. If there is no life after life, then what is the point of being good, caring and so forth. Everyone--good, better, best, bad, worse, worst-- will die eventually. So what? You cant blame criminals, immoral people, worst of any kind to do harm on you. By Seth's standards, prison, judge, police, etc., are just merely atheist forms of oppressions to those "bad" apples. Notice that "bad" notion is your atheist's sort of cult defnition. By judging others as bad, Seth sets his own religion. Can you dig it?
Excellent presentation as usual Seth. You are a gifted public speaker. Your presentation also reminds me of a funny situation from my past. My ex wife was Japanese. My family are all Evangelicals. My mother especially hoped and prayed my ex would convert. As I objectively explained my family’s religion and try to convince her to “go through the motions” just to get my family to shut up (we were moving to Tokyo in a few months anyway) but my ex, a lackadaisical Nichiren Buddhist at best, said she couldn’t because if she became a Christian it would doom her already dead grandparents to Hell. Like it was some kind of religious exchange program. Maybe I could’ve changed her mind, but I found the whole thing so laughably ludicrous and entertaining I just dropped the whole subject and we moved on with our lives. Amazing how convoluted religious thinking can be.
I actually understand where she is coming from. Its not a matter of whether her grandparents are going to hell, it would be a change of HER perspective that they are roasting in hell. Japan is really big on the honoring of one's ancestors, so the attitude that they are burning for having the wrong religion in life would be considered an extreme dishonor for people she loved dearly. I've always believed that attempting to convert someone to another person's religion has always been one of the cruelest things you can do to someone, and unfortunately history backs me up on that.
He's totally right about religious comment sections. It sometimes seems like all the comments are written by the same person. I guess there are only so many kinds of comments one could write, but the utter sameness and vapidity of them all is a bit creepy.
I grew up in a literal evangelical cult and I never felt like it was anything other than creepy. Even as a child I noticed the bizarre nature of it all.
You do realize that this problem is unique to Christianity. I even converted to Zoroastrianism because I found that it is much more resilient against these kinds of criticisms.
The use of frankincense as a ritual associated with the Catholic Church had another use. Yore centuries past, the faithful flock that gathered were, well, to put it bluntly, reeked to high heaven and the frankincense was used to mask the odor. Another insightful presentation Seth Thank You
What has(as a recovering catholic) confused me is the obsession with the blood, but over and over and over in the bible it states for you to not consume blood. Everything, from Leviticus to Deuteronomy, tells you over and over not to take of it. Yet what do they do...BLOOD EVERYWHERE!
I was a catholic once. Then, I realized that I had been a catholic for so long, i had basically eaten an entire Jesus. I immediately went on a diet and am now theologically abstinent.
lmao
My father, a knights of Columbus catholic ran off with another woman and left my mother with six kids. I was the youngest (2) so I never got the pleasure of knowing much about the catholic church as my mom wasn't a follower. We lived in a catholic neighborhood, and therefore we were the 'bad' kids because my mother was a 'divorced woman' and everyone was always whispering about us. I never went to church. Once, my friend had me go to mass with her family. The church terrified me. A bloody guy with a thorny thing on his head that was nailed to a cross, a lady (Mary) had an exposed heart, which was also gross. I was terrified and became dizzy from all the sitting, kneeling, standing, nasty smelling incense that a priest (in a dress) was waving a pot on a rope with smoke bellowing out. Also, mass requires no breakfast alowed before either. So I fainted. I thought I was being punished ond going to die because I didn't go to church. (guilt they hold over you) 😳 As a child I could see how scary church was and never went back. They ALL have weird stuff too.
Hey I went to a Catholic school in NW Indiana in the 60s and 70s and for most of those eight years we had to go to mass EVERY day before classes began. Add Sunday and that's six days a week of that merciless brainwashing.
Uh, just wondering how your dad was accepted to be a knight of Coumbus with a wife he could not convince to be a Catholic and remain a knight while running off with another woman. Also, your Catholic neighborhood sucks as religious pretenders who would not help an abandoned mother with six kids! Where was the charity that religion is supposed to teach and practice? From your background as a child new to the Catholic church, the horrors you observed practiced inside the the church might have scarred you for life.
Back in college, one of my Christian philosophy professors made it seem like I was dishonestly making a caricature out of Christianity when I spoke of a vampire god who wanted blood. To this day, it seems to me that my "caricature" was closer to a photograph. Thanks for the added evidence, Seth.
The god of the Jew's bible is a homicidal, psychotic monster.
"God always demands a sacrifice" Stephen King in the stand. A Guy who knows horror.
Or a cannibalistic cult that eats their human god and drinks his blood.
Thank you, Seth. I've been subbed for years, but recently some stuff has happened. TLDR: pulmonary embolism, rush to ER, life flight to the BIG hospital, both legs amputated, genius surgeons Roto rooting my arteries, and now living in the recovery hospital trying to get to a state where I can return home. Facing the possibility of 62 years being what I have left is kind of a bitch, I must admit. Your humor and kindness has been one of my great comforts up in here. You don't realize how much you may be reassuring complete strangers. Keep it up. Have some granny hugs for yourself, your wife, your pets, and anyone else who could use them. 👵🤗💖
You are one incredibly brave person. I hope your remaining years are so much better than you could possibly imagine.
@@deconry Awww, thanks! Have some granny hugs too. I have an endless supply. 👵🤗❤
Warmest hugs to you too and I know that you are a great and very warm person. I'm sure that you are an inspiration to others. Go well and take good care and most of all, keep smiling.
I'll say a prayer for you. Go with god and be a piece. That will be $5.
@@justmenotyou3151 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
When my daughter was about 3 years old, we were visiting my mother (extremely devout RC) for Easter. Mom had some passion movie on TV and my little girl was freaking out "Why are they hurting that man?" with tears in her eyes. I asked Mom to change the channel but she wouldn't. Because Jesus. My husband and I took our daughter to the park. We were both furious but their was no reasoning with Mom. JEEZZZUSSSS.
I m more interested in how that went over with your daughter? Did you explain it to her? was she just freaked out or maybe intrigued? Is there a chance your mother will babysit her unsupervised?
@@fritzhaselnuss7852 She was only 3 at the time and quickly forgot about it. She's 29 now and seems to have turned out OK! Mother learned a long time ago to leave religion out of it (done with love and respect on both sides!)
@@randomnotes I'm glad you were able to set that boundary. It can be really hard to get family to leave the religion out of babysitting.
What is RC?
@@L_Train Roman Catholic
My wife was weirded out by the idea of blood everywhere in the Bible and during church services. Especially when we sang “Are you washed in the blood of the lamb”. I never thought it was strange until she opened my eyes to it. My biggest question now is why. Why the sacrifice was needed? Answer: atonement. But, no one can explain the atonement. What was it about? Why? Christians have many answers but they disagree. There are literally 1000s and 1000s of Christian writings out there trying to explain it. We all learn whatever our denomination taught us and then we accept it as fact - - never knowing about all the other alternative theories. Thanks for posting the video!
The atonement thing comes from a time where people thought they had to please the Gods, e.g. that no storm is happening or that the crops grow well, and because of confirmation bias they thought it helped. The christian god started as 2 different Gods smushed together that was part of a pantheon (1. commandment: Thau shalt not have other Gods before me) and that could be appeased by sacrifices.
There are so many reasons why the christian God can't exist, and this is one of them. And it shows how insane today's rituals are and that they are simply done because of tradition and routine.
According to the Bible, God sacrificed his son. What was HE atoning for?
ME: Hey, god, why do YOU require death and a blood sacrifice in order to forgive?
GOD: Look, I don't make the rules here.
Before they can give you the key, they have to convince you that the lock exists and is a dire problem.
Worse than atonement, it is substitution magic. There are many stories of offsetting the sins or wrongdoing of a person, group or tribe onto animals (rarely people) and then sacrificing it to rid yourself of the sin. The scapegoat was an example of this. Offset the sin of a community onto an animal, then drive it off into the desert to die.
So 2 questions. If Jesus was supposed to be the scapegoat, why would god have to sacrifice him to appease himself? Why the middleman?
More importantly, if god is supposed to have created the universe, why create a version of the universe where there is such an absurd idea as people AVOIDING the consequence of their actions by magically transferring it onto another INNOCENT VICTIM? If this transference is to work, there must be a magical system in place for people to make use of. God thought that was a good, reasonable idea? Don't seek forgiveness, don't make amends or learn to accept the consequences for what you have done, no, pull a sneaky magical trick to shift your sin onto a goat, or chicken (Jews still do this one I've heard). And then GOD does it as well. The superpowered, intergalactic, infinitely powerful, infinitely compassionate Sky Santa takes all the sin accumulated by humans behaving exactly the way HE MADE THEM and slams it onto some human construct of himself to make it possible for him to forgive them (for behaving the way he made them).
Yeah, it's ridiculous. Bronze age superstitious thinking. It's like Christians avoiding their god's wrath by SPELLING out naughty words. Because apparently god can't spell, either.
With all this talk of blood rituals etc. in the Christian bible, it seems that the similarities between the satanic rituals they despise and their own are a lot closer than they’d ever like to admit.
Yes cause both come from hellywood are a fantasy play
I think we have a chicken and an egg problem.
it's because they satanic rituals were invented as a mockery of the True Faith
I suffered from extremely low-self esteem, depression and a pervasive sense of emptiness for decades as a pastor’s kid…took me until my twenties after I spontaneously deconstructed from the faith and became estranged from my devout family to realize that those feelings came from the brainwashing from birth into a doctrine that continually told me how worthless and flawed I inherently was without christ. Well I don’t need to be a part of a death cult any longer to find value in myself or life itself, and that is a beautiful thing even though it has come at the cost of a connection with my blood family.
This is me lol a pastor child too
Same feelings I had growing up LDS
Me too
Thanks for your post. I have OCD tendencies, and I think Christianity is causing them to be exacerbated. I can't do anything to be seen as good in God's eyes. Never kind enough, never generous enough, can't censor every thought, not loving enough as a person or husband. Yes, I understand God doesn't see my worthlessness and sin because of Jesus, but deep down I know how he REALLY feels about me. How can I want to be with a God who designed me to be imperfect and screw up, tell me I deserve to burn for these imperfections, but will "look past" all of my worthlessness and "hold his nose" when I'm around if I just accept Jesus? My rational brain wants to go pop. Can anyone relate to these feelings?
Seth, you've done it again! You are absolutely the best at juxtaposing the humor and the horror of religion. Thank you, sir. Please never stop doing your thing.
An excellent presentation of the idiocy of mainstream religion. Unfortunately, Seth here is preaching to the converted at AANC. The very title of the convention would exclude any commited Christians.
@@gerry343 then again, it's uploaded to UA-cam, where some actual commited christians may watch it, so not completely useless after all
@@gerry343 1) It has utility because it can help reframe the discussions for attendees engaging Christians and 2) my target isn't commited Christians; it's those who are starting to become dissatisfied or, at the very least, curious. And there are many.
Every once in a while, it's more relaxing to socialize among ourselves.
Fox does it everyday.
@@TheThinkingAtheist I am your target audience. Just this year, after being a committed Christian for over 40 years, I can no longer defend the faith. I can no longer ignore the cognitive dissonance. This path I am on is frightening and lonely, but I am unable to continue living a lie.
"Washed by the blood of Christ" seems like it would make you dirtier. How about "washed in the soap and water, then dried with the fluffy towel of Christ?"
That would be way more welcoming :)
🤣🤣🤣🤣
"Jump in the spring, swim about for a bit and air dry on the Rock of Jesus, with a nice breeze on a warm Summer day.", you heathen.
No, you need to smear Jesus' blood in your eye sockets reeeeal good and you'll be cleaned ❤
🤣
Being told constantly that you're "broken" or "bad" at your core, and it's "sin" that causes it, sets you up to seek a "fix" psychologically. You can't deny that you think bad things at times, make poor or narcissistic choices and that plays into the fear mongering that religion throws at you to make you feel lost.
Abusive partners use the exact same tactics.
Still deconstructing from the harm that Christianity has done to me for a ⅓ of my life
It's sooo true. I'm a Ukrainian, we have this so-called Orthodox christianity, not mandatory though. When I was almost 6 y.o., my grandmother took me to the local church for the first time, to "prepare me for school" (they usually take kids to church before any significant event, such as the start of school study). There I saw that horrible painting, probably it was the John baptist's head on the plate. Very realistic. I mean, very. I kept telling myself "look at the floor, don't look around!" I was freaked. Imagine my shock. Never ever in my life have I attend a church since that scary day.
Luckily, most people here do not force their kids to go to church. There are a bunch of very religious fellas who follow the scripture like crazy, but they are the minority.
And I used to think that my country was too religious! Now, after watching videos like this one, I'm really shocked, and I'm thankful for living here. I'm also thankful to my late Dad, who, in spite of being super-religious, would never force me to follow his believes. We would argue a lot, but he never crossed the line of my rights. Never.
"I saw that horrible painting, probably it was the John baptist's head on the plate. Very realistic. I mean, very. I kept telling myself "look at the floor, don't look around!" I was freaked. Imagine my shock. Never ever in my life have I attend a church since that scary day" --
Should your grandmother have presented you with a glorified vision of evil?
Dead children trampled in the mud are insufficient to dissuade us from war, yet you recoil from a painting of a holy martyr. The painting is not intended to be pleasant.
You dislike Christianity because it shines light into the darkness? The darkness is indeed scary. Christ is not.
@@andrewferg8737 I believe you're smart enough to understand that was not my reason to leave the religion. Children are not supposed to see bloody paintings!
And, still, the religion is bloody itself and Yahweh is evil. This is my reason, and I'm perfectly fine with it, as an agnostic.
@@Viky.A.V. "Yahweh is evil" ---
The ineffable Mosaic Hebrew theonym יהוה (YHWH) is derived from the existential verb hayah meaning 'to be'. YHWH means "existence in and of itself". The name Jesus means " יהוה saves ".
Existence in and of itself, to be, truth, goodness, justice, or logic are ontological synonyms for the transcendent: that which is without beginning or end and which cannot 'not be' as is demonstrated through antinomies such as "there is no truth" or "nothing is", etc.
Existence in and of itself, or any of its synonyms, is the singularly self-evident axiom from which all else is derived. That is the referent for the term God in classical theology.
The term "evil" indicates a privation, as darkness is an absence of light. Evil is of no substance, but a privation of the good.
God is existence in and of Himself.
To be without God is "evil", to be deprived of existence either partially or in full.
"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I Am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10)
"Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, יהוה hath sent me unto you... this is my name forever" (Exodus 3)
"and you shall call His name JESUS (יהוה saves) for it is He who will save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1)
"I am יהוה -- apart from Me there is no Savior" (Isaiah 43)
Peace be with you.
@@Viky.A.V. "Children are not supposed to see bloody paintings!" ---
There is certainly an appropriate age at which particular topics should and should not be addressed.
Children are innocent and cannot therefore comprehend evil. The bloody horror of the Cross indeed makes no sense the innocents, nor should it make sense to them.
"Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven"
(Matthew 18)
@@Viky.A.V. "the religion is bloody" ---
The Cross of Christ is a bloody and unnecessary horror. Evil is never required for Goodness to shine.
Mankind invented the horror of the Cross. God humbled Himself to suffer that choice for mankind.
"for I was but a little displeased, but they helped forward the affliction"
(Zechariah 1)
"If you have to distance yourself..."
EXACTLY, thank you for saying this. I can't stress that enough and I hate when people claim that Christianity and Islam are religions of peace, and then ignore everything that makes them the exact opposite and when you point out why they aren't peaceful, they claim it's being interpreted wrongly or look at the 10 commandments and so on.
Jesus explicitly said in Matthew 10:34 - 36: : "Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man's foes will be those of his own household."
So it's rather clear that by' own words, the Christian faith is not one that will bring peace. Which then begs the question: Why is Jesus called the Prince of Peace?
@@darlenegriffith6186 Yeah exactly. It doesn't make sense and the only thing I can think of is that they ignore or talk away these verses.
It is at this point where I bring up the horrific fact that something like 95% of new born human males or circumcised at birth. Religion has made it possible to mutilate the genitalia of new born baby boys without a second thought to the sheer horrific nature of the actual act. This is done for absolutely no good reason what so ever. foreskin wasn't a problem back then, and it certainly isn't a problem now (with ubiquitous indoor plumbing including both cold and hot water). There is absolutely NO reason we ought to be doing this. Basically a group of jews living in the desert 6 thousand years ago were incredibly bored so they started making up a bunch of shit, one of them being circumcision, others being Adam and Eve, global flood and two of every animal. They were BORED is all.
@@abdul8685 95% of human newborns is not correct
@@abdul8685 a lot of the stuff they have they took from the zoroastrian religion
The church is against other groups performing magic rituals but if it's their magic rituals I guess it's ok. Thanks for the great talk Seth.
Just yesterday some televangelist on UA-cam put a "curse" on Disney Corp.
@@brentwalker3300 🤣📖🦸♀️🤩👍
A death Wish
@@brentwalker3300 Isn't that just so special of them.
Yes ! Critical thinking!
I was just talking to a friend recently about how there are still modern Christians who believe the rapist should be required to marry the victim. WOW
So I was a Christian child until my late 50s, but I was so brain washed , i was raped by a freind got pregnant married him , the pain and suffering I went threw was horrifying, I finally divorced him and set my self free, I’m no longer a Christian, my mom still is she’s the apitamy of very evil things to the day, she has no love and is very rude and hateful, looks like she’s representing the evil wicked god she worships. I have no contact with her at all. I’m free
I just sent this to my Christian family. My dad is a pastor. This should spice up Sunday services a bit. 💀😬😆
😂😂😉
What a joke, spend your time doing something more useful
Did he watch it?!
@slade8863 Don't you own a mirror?
Dumb! You don’t want them doing that to you
In every fantasy trope, the individual or group practicing Blood Magic is always the antagonist. Any D&D nerd knows this shit is bananas.
indeed!
Yes, I literally believe that "Yahweh" is Angra Mainyu, meaning satan. I am a Zoroastrian, and I serve the great Ahura Mazda, who is a god of wisdom and compassion, unlike "Yahweh" who is a god of war. "As both man or woman know the duty (to God) so let him, or her, declare it and fufill it, O Mazda"- Yasna 35.6
@@TheMilitantMazdakite The recent display of a latent Gene from the worshippers of Dionysus in congress is due to their
M aenade
T railer
G enes being inflamed when their rites were threatened. The descendants of Maenade's or M.T.G.s now serve Donnysays.
@@dthomas9230 ???
D&D is satanic confirmed! (/s)
This is wild, every time I see this I'm so happy I'm no longer religious!
SAME
Same here we’re freeeeeeeee
"you have value on your own terms" is something I have never heard before as a deconstructed fundamentalist. Thank you
it’s child abuse to teach young people about superstitious religious nonsense! they should be reported to CPS.
Looking at all of these wine products had me wondering what Jesus would do if he entered a marketplace and found his blood being sold in single-serving packets. My guess, based on the Christian mythology, is that he would overturn the tables of the cashiers and chase vendors around with a bullwhip.
in a round about way that would be interesting to see,lol!
of all the sects out there, the 'prosperity gospel' Christians infuriate me the most, but probably because I'm also a socialist living in an American capitalist hell-scape.
That is actually 100% accuate.
My favorite Tallulah Bankhead story. She was attending a Catholic high mass. As the procession passed her swinging the incense, she remarked "Love your gown dear, but your purse is on fire."
This sounds apocryphal but I really hope she did say that. It's brilliant! 😂
This was a lot of fun! It was quite educational. When my baby was born I finally understood that original sin was a lie. A horrific one at that. My baby's birth was a big part of my deconstruction. My 5 second old newborn had no evil inside. Only innocence
Not so fast......those babies who mess up 25 diapers per day.....do have a touch of evil!
Incredible!!! Such love, I am sure you are a great mother. ❤❤❤Thank you for seeing their innocence... Ah man I'm crying 😭😭😭😭. Now I feel like getting a child
@@heavyfe4788 Ahh thank you!🐸🐸
Yes and no … Humans do have an innately defective, narcissistic nature that shows itself as babies develop into children. Religions are manmade, but humanity as species is anything but “innocent”.
Then why is it going to die?
this is by far one of the most uplifting speeches whilist at the same time remaining rooted in reality, and you got a life lone viewer buddy. great speech.
I remember getting wine as a child and we all drank from the same chalice, not from individual cups. Yup, and these are the same people accusing our teachers of indoctrination and child grooming.
I think with Covid they switched to individual disposable cups.
Sounds like a false memory. You saw adults drinking from a chalice and then conflated it with your memory of the ritual.
Why would that be child grooming ?😂 it's just unhygienic and gross.
"Bran Flakes" -- Dried flakes of Bran's blood boxed as a cereal.
If nothing else, they help keep you regular! 💩
@Stiggy Oh man! you just made me laugh hard which hurt because i am recovering from a hernia surgery. but it was damn funny so i forgive you! ;D
The cannibalistic overtones of Christianity always weirded me out, even as a kid. My parents took me to church once and I remember the priest going on about eating drinking the blood and flesh of Christ and having a nightmare that evening of Jesus carving off pieces of his flesh and giving it to people to eat. Disgusting.
Same here
You nailed it. Sitting in church as a kid i was so grossed out by communion. Glad im not the only one.
"Here's what the priests did to the babies in the name of God."
Words you never want to hear.
What that priest did to that baby was pure child abuse!!
As the son of a Baptist preacher, growing up in south Alabama in the 1950's, I've been saved many times, thank god none of them took.🤣 Somewhere between 5 and 8 YO the things I was hearing just didn't make sense. Me and my older brother used to love it when daddy did baptisms at the local creek, we would always go swimming, *_Upstream._*
LMAO 👍😉
👍
@@helpyourcattodrive Toonces the driving cat!
I was born and still live in ft Smith AR.
Trump town
"thank god none of them took" is as good as Randolph Churchill's "Gawd, what a shit God is" when he took up a challenge to read the whole Bible.
Christian: What are you doing?
Bathing in blood.
Christian: Are you worshiping Satan or what?
Nah, it's Jesus's blood.
Christian: Oh! Carry on!
I have converted a few out of this nonsense, but I give credit to DarkMatter 2525 for converting my mother. She was 74 at the time and had spent decades trying to drag me back to the church. But she was the sort of person who could laugh at her own religion sometimes. Just for fun, I showed her a couple of his funniest when she was visiting me. Well, she tended to be up and active around 4 am, and for the next couple of days, I woke up to find her watching his videos. By the time she left, she had stopped believing, and she admitted that she knew for years it was nonsense, but the baby who would have been my older brother died 36 hours after his birth. She never got to hold him or say she loved him, and she needed to believe that someday she would be able to do that.
luv DarkMatter... cartoons for idiot christians.. hahah... humorous but so succinct...
and Betty Powers videos.. brilliant ...
@@johnkerr1113
True, but it is "Bowers".
@@pdoylemi correct.. I googled it and thats where i got the last name cos couldnt remember... thanks for the correction........ but the writer and the lady are a great watch... stay safe
So sad the way the Christians hold people hostage with the false hope of seeing loved ones after death.
The anthropology of the sacrifice goes back at least 150,000 years when Homo Sapiens were hunters following the great herds in Africa. When a predator, like a cheetah, stalks it's prey the entire herd gets anxious and runs. Once the predator makes its kill the herd calms down a settles back into calm grazing as if nothing happened. Our species, from observing this phenomena, adapted it to itself. It saw the killing by a predator of one of our own as a sacrifice that saved the entire tribe. A saviour. This evolved over time into all the weird human and animal sacrifice religions of humankind including Christianity.
Does that make god a predator?
Fascinating insight. Gonna fact-check this out for myself.
That's a really fascinating idea. I've never heard it before, I'll have to look into more about that.
Interesting
Bread and Wine = spring and summer.
If we are all honest and take a step back, we can all agree religion is pure madness on so many levels.
nope! only those of you who lack the sensation that the rest of us have can claim that religion is "madness." the majority of humans can sense that there us something beyond our understanding, and that sensation is where religions come from. you and other athiests lack that sense, and therefore it is not your place to tell those of us who DO experience that sensation about our deeply personal experiences.
@@dianeaishamonday9125 Serie killers experience a sensation when they kill people, should we stand aside and and not call out their behavior as bizarre. This blood cult focus is exactly that , a bizarre ritual that really doesn't make any sense except to those brainwashed to accept it.
@@dianeaishamonday9125 i suggest you put down the crack pipe and stop doing meth right now....
@@dianeaishamonday9125 RELIGIONS ARE MASTERS OF DECEPTION. Superstition. Hypocrisy.
@@dianeaishamonday9125 To be fair, that's not necessarily the case, though... Atheists can be quite spiritual, too. 🙂 But the difference between spirituality and religion is that you can explore your own spirituality autonomously, within or outside of religion, however you choose. And at its core, the spiritual is something metaphysical that can't be artificially constructed in and of itself (other consumable things can be, and they can be sold on the loose basis of "spirituality" in a consumerist culture for sure, but real spiritual growth can't be bought or sold). But through religion, any set of religious dogma will dictate what and how you can and can't believe, as prescribed to members of that religious group - otherwise, by definition, you wouldn't truly belong to that religion if you don't abide by certain principles they impart onto you and society. And most Atheists, on a scale of 0 to 10 of certainty as to whether or not there's a higher power/higher powers with 0 being completely unsure and 10 being absolutely sure, most Atheists won't give a 10 (I'd personally give a 9.99 lol, but even some of the most skeptical and most prominent Atheist figures usually give about a 7, 8, or 9 on it). But the bottom line is that most of us will admit that there does indeed remain the slight possibility for something to exist over us in that sense and that we can't possibly know for 100% certainty, but that it doesn't mean we'll adhere to a religion (especially not with 100% confidence in that specific practice of that one religion among thousands globally and throughout human history just on the basis of it being what we were taught by our parents and our community we were born into) without evidence or reason to do so, and especially when we can often see the harms of that blind faith (or what most could also call authoritarianism) practiced in the real world socially and politically. And even the most devout followers of the Christian god will oftentimes find themselves in doubt sometime or another. Any individual can change on that scale at any given time, whether they're Atheist, Agnostic, Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Scientologist, you name it. This also doesn't mean that all Atheists are Agnostic necessarily either, however, though I could see some making a case for that. I wouldn't say they're completely wrong, but I also would disagree personally because the two terms are used in difference circumstances for a reason. Agnosticism is more about someone doubting, being unsure what to believe, or questioning their belief system or that of others, whereas Atheists believe nothing exists and would likely maintain that belief unless presented with evidence to demonstrate otherwise. An Agnostic might not know what they believe, an Atheist knows what they don't believe.
But going back to the original point, sorry, lol... You can be extremely religious and not spiritual, just as you can be extremely spiritual but not religious - or both, or neither, and there's a huge difference between the two despite how both terms (religion and spirituality) are often used interchangeably. Many Christians might practice religion super heavily, but they can be spiritually depraved. Some Christians might be super spiritual, but not very religious at all and barely considered Christian by other observers. And if you identify as Christian, chances are that your spiritual beliefs are shaped by the impressions left on you about what spirituality means, from clergy, your family, other followers, etc. But also, whereas Christians tend to view themselves as "freed" through the power of Jesus or God or the Holy Trinity or what have you, many Atheists feel that there is no spiritual freedom from within the narrow confines of any given religion, regardless of the belief system, because being told how to think, feel, act, etc. is anything but freedom.
I can't help feeling disheartened when I find - in this occasion as well as in many other atheist events I was involved in or was otherwise witnessing - such sparse attendance despite the fact that the arguments dealt with are so rationally sound and embraceable as in the present case.
It always made me feel uneasy to find myself, as an atheist, somewhat secluded in a kind of secret society, reduced to covertly trying to hinder the invasive plague of stubborn, superstitious and irrational but sadly outnumbering believers out there, while I would rather have expected to be them the ones forced to hide in the catacombs to perform their weird rituals, while the normal people outside is living free from indoctrination and oppressive biases.
And moreover, atheists are expected to do their best with fairness and respect so to avoid causing offence to the 'moral majority' and thus implicitly acknowledging its supremacy and right to interfere in social, ethical and political issues, in the name of a supposedly owed 'live and let live' kind of tolerance I'm fed up practicing by now.
Enough with mild dialogue, Brandolini's law demonstrates how arduous and unbalanced is the effort needed to refute bullshit compared to that needed to produce and spread it.
So, militant atheism from now on, screw kindness!
...And forgive my english, I'm from Italy 😁
One that always mortified me was the first Christian bedtime prayer every child in the south is taught: "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep and if I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take".! As a child I couldn't sleep for worry it'd lead to death!😖😒
I feel bad saying Seth has the perfect "pastor" speaking voice. For a deconstructing former Christian. I hope others get the humor in my statement. Bc I am sooo glad he is talking about the Kookiness of christianity.
Try Aron Ra's. That dude about makes you see the revival tent.
Hey, I WAS an 8th day Independent Fundamental Baptist Evangelism Explosion Door Knockin Soul Winning Christian for 40plus years and Escaped The Candy Coated Blood Guilt Cult about 10years ago.
I learned the hard way too 💯
There is at least one video of him teaching Sunday school (from the atheist perspective, of course).
@@robertwysocki2073 Christian view is ridiculous because most refuse to put themselves in the Actually Stories of Blood Sprinkling and Blood Sacrifices and all the other ridiculous rituals in between.
@@robertwysocki2073 : Yes, that one is very good!
I sat at the edge of my chair throughout your speech. Fascinating, didactic and exquisitely entertaining!! Great thanks. 😊
I grew up in a Lutheran church. They believe the bread and wine are actually the flesh and blood of Jesus. I always found this to be ridiculous and vile.
athiests have such weak stomachs lmao. I'm a witch now, but I'm honestly so glad I was raised Christian just so i can laugh at squeamish weaklings
And yet Christians do not read their Bible where God in the Torah says he absolutely hates human blood sacrifice and God blood sacrifice and he says not to put a reputation of a human being or anything upon him and yet they still do it. 🙃
I thought Lutherans believed it was symbolic. The Catholics thought it was literal. That's why they've been fighting for 500 years over logic and reason. Still sick and ritual cannibalism.
Lutherans do NOT believe that the bread and wine in the Eucharist are literally changed in the body and blood of Jesus. What they do believe is......the spirit of Jesus is present in the bread and wine in what they term as sacramental union. This differs from the Roman Catholic position that the Eucharistic bread and wine literally change into the blood and flesh of Jesus which they term transubstantiation. Now, you will have to apologize to every Lutheran you see coming and going......OK?
As I said the prayer of Bran while eating rice, tomato sauce and chicken, my food turned into the flesh and blood of Bran! Thank you Bran! I have been made whole!
I grew up in Italy, as Catholic for the first 18 years of my life! I received the first communion and continued to take it more or less regularly, maybe once a month or more! So 1st there is no wine for the common worshippers (too expensive, not hygienic). You can get a cracker (Ostia in Italian) only from the thumb and index finger of the priest. 2nd in spite of all the blessings, the Ostia remained a piece of thin wafer, that tragically tended to get stuck to your upper palate and cause you a lot trouble, because you were supposed to swallow it whole, because you know… you aren’t supposed to crunch on Jesus flash and bones
Thank you1 What good is eating the flesh of the saviour if you can't chew on it?
It's "host" in English and wow, your experience mirrors mine back in my childhood in Indiana. Except that at my Catholic school we had to go to mass every goddamn day! Such meaningless, nonsensical rituals repeated daily ensured that I and many of my classmates grew up to loathe everything about Catholicism and about religion in general.
It's funny, even when I was a Christian the whole "washed clean in the blood" rhetoric weirded me out. I went to a pretty bland church and I remember distinctly encountering that type of Christianity in middle school when other students were talking about it and all I could think was "I don't think we believe in the same Jesus". Little did I know at the time that that was true for basically all Christians, even the ones going to the same church, lol
I don't think Jesus believed in that Jesus either.
So good to see another presentation here, Seth! Thank you for the upload!
Great talk Seth thanks for all you do. You helped me leave religion behind for good.
"How fucked up is that?"
Me: *almost spitting my drink across the room because I wasn't expecting it*
I spat blood everywhere
Jesus is frowning at you bigtime.....!!
And now I've seen this 4 different times! Once at AA Con, once at BETTER, once at NaNoCon... and now here... Am I officially a groupie now, Seth?
Wouldn't you be his disciple first?
I am SO glad I discovered you Seth! Keep up the awesome work!
"It's easier to fool someone than it is to convince them that they have been fooled ". Mark Twain
Thanks Seth for another very on point discussion on the weirdness of Christianity.
Weird does not nessesairly mean bad.
Let's do a children's murder play! Reminded me of the scene where Wednesday Addams does the "other" version of Thanksgiving. “We cannot break bread with you. You have taken the land which is rightfully ours. Years from now, my people will be forced to live in mobile homes on reservations. Your people will wear cardigans and drink highballs. We will sell our bracelets by the roadsides. You will play golf and enjoy hot hors d’oeuvres. My people will have pain and degradation. Your people will have stick shifts.”
That’s leftist propaganda. No human owns the earth - it belongs first and foremost to nature and the animals - we are the destructive intruders here.
Excellent educational video. Thank you for what you do for everyone.
My family was Catholic but not especially observant. I was the youngest child and by the time I came along, they had basically given up except to go to Mass on holidays. But we still had a Bible prominently displayed (no one ever read it of course) and prayers were said over Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. Since I received no religious instruction, the silliness of it all was in stark relief to me before I was even an adolescent. None of it made sense and it only got more absurd as time went on. I always thought this stuff sounds nutty to me and I'm a kid. How do you adults makes any sense out of this? I am grateful I was sort of inoculated against this crap early on and I've never really struggled with having to shake off the myths and fables.
_"Pavlovian conditioning"_ As you alluded to you were exposed to the concept of religion as a child by your parents - Catholicism in your case - though apparently not "excessively so". Neurobiologists have a term for such exposure = _"priming."_ Thus the seed was planted in your mind which you accepted - because small children being immature and hence lacking insight instinctively trust the adults around them as a survival instinct - and going forward that conditioned belief can be systematically reinforced in a culture replete with religious references.
Moral of the story: religious belief in our culture is ubiquitous primarily owing to the conditioned nature of how it is perpetuated. Generation after generation simply continues to "go along" with what happened with those before it - usually without question. It is only when children are not pushed into religion and/or upon maturation as adults when they achieve a level of education and insight = that some begin to question it.
If we but stopped pushing young children into religious belief then I would surmise that within a few generations mankind would see a marked reduction in adherence to theism. Religions should be DADT: _"Don't Ask - Don't Tell."_ Upon reaching adulthood - only then should people be given a choice to follow a religion or not. 🤔
Magnificent insert "no one ever read it of course" !
I don't disagree with you but it does seem that starting in the second half of the twentieth century, at least in the US (earlier in most of Europe), that a lot of young people stopped accepting the religion of their parents. Thanks to improved and secular schools becoming more prominent.
Cult + Time = Religion. Only an apostate knows and can tell you exactly how true this equation holds. I was in the closet as an Antitheist for 20 years, since I was 19 years old. I spent the first 19 years of my life as a conflicted and suspicious believer in Shiite Islam; but then I went to college and majored in Molecular Bio with a minor in Philosophy (actually closer to a dbl major by the time I was done). I was completely 100% in the closet... until 2019, when I came out as a very militant Antitheist. I was instantly Persona Non Grata to my family. I instantly was reminded of this equation. My uncle, who was like a second father to me and practically raised me as a child, told my cousins to stop associating with me. It was at that point that I fully understood what this equation was really trying to say....It had become astoundingly clear to me. Religion never-ever stop being a cult. It was a bat-shit crazy, ridiculous, asinine, archaic dooms-day cult then, and it's a dooms day cult today. Christianity is still a blood sacrifice cult extremely dirty hands and Islam is still a dooms-day cult. What I dont get is how that is not enough for believers to realize that the whole enterprise is corrupt and that the religion is most obviously full of shit with absolutely nothing devine about it. It's a scam, a con, the most successful scam ever perpetrated on humanity. Its a virus of the mind, a memeplex that needs to be eradicated from the species before it leads to our extinction.,
Tell us how you really feel ....
Couldn't agree more.
The 2nd biggest scam is the fiat money system
lmao no sweetie 🤣 the majority of humans experience the sensation of something beyond their understanding. this sensation is where religions come from. since we are in the majority, we will always have spiritual experiences and understandings. cope.
@@dianeaishamonday9125 the writing is on the wall. The future is secular. It’s just is. Membership in religion is at an ALL TIME low and people are Fleeing church like the Taliban are coming. Just consider that less than 150 years ago, I won’t just be put to death, end of story. And I’m done parts of the world, that is true to this day (for the vast majority of history, believers dealt with skeptics and none believers by simply killing them. Many a ppl were burned at the stake. And you would be shock to find out how many god loving and god fearing individuals were were executed (I.e. MURDERED) by their fellow believers. Religion has slipped enough in Society that y’all can’t just be killing ppl like believers have done for at Least the past 5000 years. You think religion. Will be able to survive everyone having a supercomputer in their pocket and fact-checking the preacher during his sermons. We weren’t even supposed to be able to read right now. They wanted to make it like Hinduism where only a select class could read the text and no one would have the ability nor the means to even attempt to read scripture. But a happy lucky chance of events led Guttenburg to come up with the printing press which thru a huge monkey wrench in that plan and course of events. No Hindu can read their “holy” books. It’s written in Sanskrit which was an extinct, obscure and extremely esoteric language when supposedly Aberham was building the Kabbah in Mecca (that black box all Muslims pray toward)🤣🤣🤣
I truly wanted the narrative I was told as a child to be true and for us to go on to this magical amusement park for good ppl when we die while other ppl (you might know) go to this other really bad amusement park but it’s more like punishment park.
There are objective facts that will always be true no matter what and those object, axiomatic facts Are absolutely devastating to your entire framework, worldview, system of belief, outlook etc. you either face the facts a deal with the fact that you’ve been lied to since you were born and that if you truly go looking you will be shocked at what you find. You need to approach this entire topic objectively, dispassionately, completely unbiased, with the intension to only be ruled by reason and logic and rationality and evidence (feelings are a piss poor method arriving at anything let alone the truth and true nature of reality. And also you can’t seriously build an argument around “I know it in my heart of heart” 🤣🤣🤣. You will need all your faculties if you want to crack this nut. But what ever you may find we can agree that bc a conciliation and a coming to terms will need to take place either way, there’s no getting around that. I’m reminded of the heuristic “Honesty is the best police” and it will be crucial if you want a shred of integrity to be left intact. There is no way to argue against an objective truth (unless your severely deluded and very gullible) you just have to accept them and make your mind Up. I was indoctrinated also. I know how much this sucks. There will be alot of anger and a lot feeling very stupid that you even fell for it in the first place. Reprogramming has to occur if you want be unbiased. There are 2 kinds of ppl in the world those that only care about the truth,and the truth alone, regardless of anything else. Then there are those that just want to maintain the status Que and could give a shit about what is true and what ain’t. What you find will depend on what kind of person you are.
Lastly you talked about why religion was invented, but you got it wrong. The real reason religion was invented by man was a means by which the nobility (I.e. the king)could keep the masses from storming the castle a la “let them eat cake” infamy. You have to imagine that if you were the king living in an opulent (obscenely) castle will literally EVERYONE else live in the muck and myrrh.
I would imagine that worrying about when the masses will get hip to the gross and immoral levels of inequality present in feudalism and come for your head. They need insurance. It would be maddened knowing that at any minute somebody can stand up and say “Hey, THIS IS ALL BULLSHIT. and there is nothing saying that things have to be this way (feudal), we can dismantle and rebuild a whole new system if government.
This is why at some point in history, a ruler stated paying for the “services” of a Shaman. A lot like a partnership. I’ll pay you to tell the masses that ther is an ultimate punisher that will punish you for thought crimes and “coveting”. You tell the people that those that rule, rule by divine right; and that they are living their best lives in a huge castle while your family lives under a tree BECAUSE GOD WANTS IT THIS WAY. SO who are you to go against gods Devine plan. BLASPHEMY!!!!! They created religion because they could. Because when you have a gullible, ignorant population that is easily manipulated and convinced of the preposterous with out the ability to think critically or even to read. Mohammad came up with his own religion because he could. It’s like trump realizing that these ppl will believe whatever comes out of mouth hook, line, sinker. You would have to be an idiot to not take advantage of a highly gullible population. Thats why feelings ought not to come into the equation when evaluating such things
You have to ask yourself, if all believers are employing faith (because I they all are, asking any believer and they will say faith is what they are using to arrive at their conclusion. But if everyone is using faith. And faith is leading people to all sorts of VERY WEIRD PLACES. 9 times out of ten, faith leads ppl, what you would consider “astray”. So then what good is faith really? especially when trying yo get to the truth. Seems like faith is incapable at get your to the truth. Faith can only lead you astray.
The vampires are not the only undead. They are the only fictional ones.
Religions, aristocracies, banks and other corporations live at the cost of the blood of human beings, and do not die except by being slain or starved out of existence. They eat each other, too.
This was one of your best presentations Seth. Thank you for all that you do! I love you man!
Simply incredible! Gave me all the words I needed to explain this myself but you did it soooo much better. It’s an incredible sermon! Haha
If he led a group, I’d follow him simply because of how he ended this presentation.
Children are perfect and traumatized as a young child thinking they are not good enough. We are all born with the power to live how God intended. Organized religions are no different than a cult as they follow someone they believe is all knowing.
This made my day and it’s only 8am!
I’ve read that being ‘washed in the blood’ originated in the Mithraic religion of classical times. In order to be initiated into Mithraism the initiate would climb down into a large hole in a cave, the hole would be covered by a grid, and a bull sacrificed over the grill. The blood would cover the initiate who was therefore ’washed in the blood’ of the sacrifice. Must have been terrifying.
Wonderful speech, thanks for sharing to those of us who couldn't be there.
Religion is such a poison, a dehumanizing threat for our happiness on this planet.
No, it's just when they add gods and priests. I'm not a cricket player, and I'm a Scot, but I think the English objection "That just isn't cricket." is a good and valid religious observation.
One bumper sticker that always makes me realize how backwards religion can be is the one that has a cross with an equal sign and the word “love” or a heart next to it. Or, logically translated, torturing someone to death is equal to love. Good Grief, what dope came up with this equation?
So, are you an atheist now or just an anti-Christian bumper sticker bigot?
That Easter fountain looks like something out of a horror movie 😮 totally inappropriate 😂
I can't say what I really wanna say here....
Seth, you are an asset to humanity. The way you put it all together, first class ! More of the world needs to hear you. Huge fan here.
I’ve never been a Bible reader so, even though I noticed the story conflicts when I was young and thought that the hymns we sang made no sense, your exposition on the Christian rituals is a true eye-opener. And as for kids dressed up to kill Jesus, what about this: I have a vague memory of participating in a church play when I was a teen in the early 60’s and I had to wear a RED dress because I think I was supposed to be the “scarlet woman.” I had no idea what the red dress was supposed to mean, and definitely knew nothing about prostitutes. I stuck to The Book of Knowledge set instead.
I make Ytube videos that expose 'Myths in so-called Christianity', so have much sympathy with other exposes. However the RCC is pagan and unbiblical so you may still be missing out on the truth, as Seth is not trying to give you the truth only stopping you look for it.
It is the pagan world that was bloody on thr Holy Bible, and the blood of Jesus is only symbolic as there is no bloodiness in the religion started with Abraham, and it is not God's plan that is being exposed here.
Much makes no sense in teaching and in that I relate to you, and why I studied deep and found the truth, and have my own teaching true to scripture. The Holy Bible encourages wisdom and knowledge seeking and I see as an asset, but much can be ridiculed as contradictory or irrational.
I didn't read the bible either, nor was my family fundamental, but I also thought from a young age that this stuff makes no sense and this "god" certainly doesn't act like a "real" god should. I did try to believe because that's what my family expected, but I couldn't.
@@venlakirahvi If I may interject as someone who also never read the Holy Bible, but did let myself be influenced against it, while at the same time as my 'Christian' schooling believing I must be good.
I now as a believer would say it should be read, but where do you start? 66 books written with one Supercontext which contains one story, but you have to find it either yourself as I did or trust others. But who?
Now I know the story I would start with Matthew as you join a story in time that focuses on the hypocrisy of those running the church of God, which is the prime topic of the Holy Bible alongside of redemption, and the cause of Jesus.
@@simonskinner1450 Of course, always interesting to hear about other people's perspectives and experiences!
I am actually aware there are also "good" lessons and ideas in some of the stories in the bible (I do have a rough idea of the contents and some direct examples, both "good" and "bad").
The problem for me is that you need to do some serious cherry picking and possibly differential interpreting, according to whatever your values and moral compass are like, to determine which parts you want to take inspiration from. There are also parts in the book that at least for me make no sense morally, or are even clearly wrong according to my personal values.
So that's why I personally prefer to entertain myself with and learn new perspectives from other literature and content, with stories where I still get to think and be critical, and to broaden my understanding, but that doesn't demand the same extraordinary level of cherry picking, like with the stories in the bible.
Of course as you say I might want to read some parts that for example other people with similar values have recommended, in the purpose of reading them like stories. So thanks for your recommendation! But I would never practice a religion that is based on this book.
@@venlakirahvi I completely understand and sympathise as you can see my Ytube videos are about Myths in so-called Christianity.
Cherry-picking is only trumped by hypocrisy, yet neither are the fault of the objective truth within it and the true religion of Abraham, and you are better off not wasting your time and efforts to be in a false religion.
I know I have the truth, not just because the others call me a heretic, but because I am honest, and maybe I can revive interest in time.
It's about time that something like this should finally go viral on tv to liberate minds from the horrors of their religion being taught as normal and acceptable to civilized society! ThanK you, Seth, for this liberating video, liberating to those enslaved by the fear taught by their church as they ask for your money!
What I don’t like about the more reasonable christians is the fact that they always dismiss fundies as “no true christians”.
All of the talks at this year's American Atheist convention were good.
Super good talk, Seth! Kept me mesmerised to the screen all the way through.
Great stuff...sad when the lecture finished.
Being Jamaican, I initially thought the title said something else. 😂
Seth, your presentations are legendary. Thanks for what you do.
The headless Brawn was awesome 😎
As a Jamaican myself....I see it😂😂😂😂
@@tradergirljamwhat blood clot?
Holy smokes, what a great presentation. I was raised Catholic so I get a lot of the rituals. I only regret that I took so long to leave religion.
In the words of Cheech from Ghostbusters 2: "Better late than never". ☺
The story of him losing his faith following the horrific death of his friend is very sad. Hard to regain faith after something like that.
My idiot ex decided to tell our 5 year old daughter about the crucifixion and she was terrified that she was going to be crucified. When I confronted him about it, he became irate and said “I will teach my daughter about my religion.” When I told him how terrified she was, he just had this stupid look on his face. Robert the idiot.
Child indoctrination is child abuse!
I'm very happy that you were able to distance yourself from that person. It must be hard to still have to make necessary interactions with this guy. I hope you can protect your daughter from the dangerous influence he has in her. I wish you good luck in your journey!
How to traumatized a kid for live; Hey kid you are evil from the womb so Jesus needed to offer himself in a bloody sacrifice to pay for the sins you haven’t committed yet in order to his father don’t burn you In hell forever, you need to follow exactly all religious mesures of the church or you will burn in hell anyways,
Bran was a classic, I had to replay it ten times over! Very fantastic analogy. This is a Good one!!!
As usual a brilliant presentation!!
I have always been appalled at the "sacred" rite of make-believe cannibalism which is the Eucharist. After being raised in an atmosphere of Christian dogma and myth, it was shocking to realize, even as a young man, that my religion was a cannibalistic death cult.
None of it ever made sense to me, even as a child.
Nintendo wasn't allowed to publish games that originated in Japan and converted and sold to US audiences if they contained any religious imagery (at least not without redaction). Yet the blood fountain in front of the church is fine and clearly getting a lot of "likes" on Twitter. Funny.
Hypocrisy has ALWAYS been the name of the game.
Japanese, Christian, Buddhist, or Islam? I'd make an exception for the Japanese.
Seth is a hero. This is a wonderful speech. Almost brought tears to my eyes.
Missed ya since I left Facebook, Seth! How glorious it is to be seeing/hearing you again, my friend. You still ROCK, brother.
Congrats on leaving fb. A very wise decision.
Worse to me is the emotional manipulation they do to scare children into joining their cult. Recently as introduced to these two-faced rag dolls women make for mission trips. The doll is sad and sinful on one side and happy and loves jesus on the other and these people don't see that as cruel manipulation because Christianity will save them, right? It's disgusting.
Seth, you are such a talented speaker. What a delight to listen to your podcasts and lectures!
Thank you Seth for your video why religion is ruinous for humanity. Imagine a world with peace, prosperity, tolerance, scientific, logic and artistic advancements and we can achieve this world for humanity by getting rid of religion.
The only problem with that is humans are by nature territorial and covetous. If religion was eliminated we would still fight over borders, resources, etc. As a species, we kind of suck
you'll never have it. the majority of humans experience the sensation of something beyond their understanding. this sensation is where religions come from. people like you, who lack that sensation, are in the minority. thankfully.
@@dianeaishamonday9125 sensation that their parents brought them up with or that they developed on their own
@@dianeaishamonday9125 you're only religious because you've been indoctrinated
Yay
When my son was young and he noticed all the displays of Jesus on the cross displayed all across France, he commented, if you didn't know the Christian story, you would think this was some guy they really hated and they are displaying his gruesome death as an example for others. Maybe he wasn't too far off the mark.
Always thought the star of Bethelem would be a better symbol for Jesus. Not only does it signify his birth and therefore a celebration of his life, but is far less gruesome than the crucifix. A star is an image of light and hope, rather than something painful and bloody such as the cross. And I hate going into churches where there's a dummy Jesus covered in red paint with an agonized expression nailed to a cross above the altar, I just end up walking back out again! 😅 Must be very frightening for children to see that
Outstanding presentation!!!!! Kudos to you, Seth
This moved me to tears Seth. Great job.
You are a god-damned gem. Colloquial terms aside, truly your wit and coordination with both audience and crew are astounding, keep it up.
Unfortunately your right.
Don't join him.
I know you are oftentimes crushed by the absurdity and horror of religion, enough for to make you want to throw up your hands and fall silent . . . but I hope that NEVER happens. If you experience moments of frustration and despair over theistic lunacy, imagine how we feel. Humanity needs your voice . . . more than any other time. THANK YOU.
Well said, well presented. Great job 👏
Damn it, Seth. Now I need a guillotine necklace, bumper sticker, and t-shirt! 😂
I wanna go in business selling guillotine necklaces
An Atheist with the best preacher voice ever.
You have to love Seth and his amazing work, thanks so much.
All the best Mr Andrews - Gray from the UK.
Finally got a chance to watch in its entirety. Seth's final words made my eyes teary.
Seth is so spot on about the craziness of what the religious believe! Scaryyyyyyy their everywhere
Except that he did not tell you what next after you die. If there is no life after life, then what is the point of being good, caring and so forth. Everyone--good, better, best, bad, worse, worst-- will die eventually. So what? You cant blame criminals, immoral people, worst of any kind to do harm on you. By Seth's standards, prison, judge, police, etc., are just merely atheist forms of oppressions to those "bad" apples. Notice that "bad" notion is your atheist's sort of cult defnition. By judging others as bad, Seth sets his own religion. Can you dig it?
cope and seethe. we're not going anywhere
Christians rule over you. Seth Andrews giving a small speech isn't going to change that.
Excellent presentation as usual Seth. You are a gifted public speaker. Your presentation also reminds me of a funny situation from my past.
My ex wife was Japanese. My family are all Evangelicals. My mother especially hoped and prayed my ex would convert. As I objectively explained my family’s religion and try to convince her to “go through the motions” just to get my family to shut up (we were moving to Tokyo in a few months anyway) but my ex, a lackadaisical Nichiren Buddhist at best, said she couldn’t because if she became a Christian it would doom her already dead grandparents to Hell. Like it was some kind of religious exchange program. Maybe I could’ve changed her mind, but I found the whole thing so laughably ludicrous and entertaining I just dropped the whole subject and we moved on with our lives.
Amazing how convoluted religious thinking can be.
I actually understand where she is coming from. Its not a matter of whether her grandparents are going to hell, it would be a change of HER perspective that they are roasting in hell. Japan is really big on the honoring of one's ancestors, so the attitude that they are burning for having the wrong religion in life would be considered an extreme dishonor for people she loved dearly. I've always believed that attempting to convert someone to another person's religion has always been one of the cruelest things you can do to someone, and unfortunately history backs me up on that.
At least chanting I believe is good for the brain
He's totally right about religious comment sections. It sometimes seems like all the comments are written by the same person. I guess there are only so many kinds of comments one could write, but the utter sameness and vapidity of them all is a bit creepy.
The prayer hand spam is what I always see
I grew up in a literal evangelical cult and I never felt like it was anything other than creepy. Even as a child I noticed the bizarre nature of it all.
Another great speech, Seth! I hope you continue...you are great at illustrating the ridiculousness of religion!
You do realize that this problem is unique to Christianity. I even converted to Zoroastrianism because I found that it is much more resilient against these kinds of criticisms.
The use of frankincense as a ritual associated with the Catholic Church had another use. Yore centuries past, the faithful flock that gathered were, well, to put it bluntly, reeked to high heaven and the frankincense was used to mask the odor.
Another insightful presentation Seth
Thank You
It was also used to mask the odor emanating from corpses during funerary rites in several religions.
Thanks for sharing!
What has(as a recovering catholic) confused me is the obsession with the blood, but over and over and over in the bible it states for you to not consume blood. Everything, from Leviticus to Deuteronomy, tells you over and over not to take of it. Yet what do they do...BLOOD EVERYWHERE!
Just got the Amazon audible copy of your new book. Christianity made me talk like an idiot is one my favorite videos on UA-cam