This is why we do it!
I haven't been very good about posting comments like this one — for you beautiful people to see. But this is why we do it, innit? Few things in life mean as much to me as comments like this. Knowing we're helping people like Rick liberate themselves from the muck and mire is just the best feeling!!! It's like watching one of those videos where a baby elephant is stuck in the mud and the whole town comes out to help rescue her. That's us!!! We're the whole town!
I'll say it for both rickskeptical and me... thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!
P.S.: This is from "WOTM: The Surprising Rebirth Of Belief In God," which I released on YouTube today.
Comments (8)
yep. bri bri, seth andrews, darkmatter2525, evid3nc3, matt dillahunty, and other greats helped me bust up and sweep out what was left of my religious belief once it finally initially cracked and shattered almost 10 years ago. the initial rupture took so little: just a little serious thought about something i'd never thought much about before. the institutionalized r*pe and abuse fomented by/in the catholic church drove me out of that religion, whose tenets were clearly valueless if this was the result, but i still didn't fully deconvert until i found myself in an abusive relationship with an evangelical and saw first hand not only the institutionalized abuse and hypocrisy but also the absolutely insane beliefs. i finally realized that all of it was complete bs, thank hitch.
To rickskeptical and anyone else who'd like a brief discussion of some of Christianity's biggest problems, I'd like to offer my "Two-Minute Christianity: 50 Big Ideas Every Christian Should Understand." It's online and free here: https://2minutechristianity.com/ .
I had deconstructed before I found youtube and all the great atheist spaces there. Thank you for making what community you can Brian. I'm very happy to be a part of it.
I've been thinking a lot lately about the process of deprogramming. Having had conversations with fellow graduates of a prestigious technical school who should be on the track of evidence and logic. But the emotional commitment to a belief system seems to supersede that. How does one break through that wall of the belief system and deprogram. Sitting around and waiting for them to self realize may not be enough these days. (think elections....)
I grew up in a Southern Baptist church. It took many years for me to deprogram myself. My left brain told me my dogmas were wrong, and I think my right brain kept twisting them into Excusegist pretzels in a desperate attempt to keep my World-Bubble of Delusion from breaking. Or something. I think the tipping point was Archaeopteryx. It was still a slow journey after that. Anyway, my mother eventually figured out I had lost my faith several years ago. She asked me why I didn't believe. I cited the lack of evidence, but she was unconvinced at that time. I recently moved to live closer to her. I asked her why she had stopped going to church, as she had been active previously. She admitted to me that she didn't believe any more. I am so happy for her, especially at this late stage of life (octogenarian)! What a "blessing," if you'll allow me to Excusegize for the expression! 🥳
My mother knows, but I don't ever discuss "faith" with her. Despite raising me as a fundamentalist, she is a great mother and loves me to death. She deserves her peace. I did get on her hard about voting Trump/Republican. At least she saw the light on that front.
I too try and let you know how much I appreciate the job you do and to just say thanks. I will be set with low bar bill jokes for many years!
That's so nice. Thank you.