The Atheist Experience/ Matt Dillahunty

[ianb321red]

Anyone ever watched this before on You Tube?

What do you make of the guy who presents it - Matt Dillahunty?

 

[tonybeer]

I discovered it a couple of years ago and listen to it most weeks. It used to be better as it had more Theist callers so consequently more debate. They prioritise Theist callers, but they seem to be rarer these days.

I'd love to hear one of the resident Theists on here phone in. A challenge for you Ian!

 

[ianb321red]

I discovered it a couple of years ago and listen to it most weeks. It used to be better as it had more Theist callers so consequently more debate. They prioritise Theist callers, but they seem to be rarer these days.

I'd love to hear one of the resident Theists on here phone in. A challenge for you Ian!

What do you think of the lad that presents it though? Solid?

 

[tonybeer]

I think he's the best of the presenters, though most of them are good.

He was a Christian for a long time, and was going to become a minister so has a better background in Christianity than most.

 

[Bungle_Bear]

What do you think of the lad that presents it though? Solid?

Knows his bible in far more depth than most of the callers.

 

[Paradoxum]

I've watched it before. He seems okay, though a bit too confrontational for me at times.

I prefer Tracie. She makes reasonable points, but is less harsh.

 

[tonybeer]

I've watched it before. He seems okay, though a bit too confrontational for me at times.

I prefer Tracie. She makes reasonable points, but is less harsh.

Tracie is excellent too.

I don't mind the presenters being abrupt/harsh. They only do it when people start stating things without evidence, use terms like supernatural with no definition, or are just plain dishonest.

 

[Robban]

I think he's the best of the presenters, though most of them are good.

He was a Christian for a long time, and was going to become a minister so has a better background in Christianity than most.

What was it that got in the way then?

 

[tonybeer]

What was it that got in the way then?

Well, to quote his bio

"I was raised in a loving, Southern Baptist home and was a fundamentalist Christian for over 20 years. After 8 years in the Navy and several years in the hi-tech game, I set out to re-affirm my faith with designs on attending seminary and continuing with a life in the ministry. What began as an attempt to bolster my faith became a continuing investigation into more topics than I ever suspected I'd enjoy. After the first couple of years, reason forced me to acknowledge that my faith had not only been weakened by my studies - it had been utterly destroyed. The thoughts, writings and wisdom of people like; Robert Ingersoll, Voltaire, Dan Barker, Richard Dawkins, Farrell Till and many others, helped free my mind from the shackles of religion without a single moment of despair. I continue to study philosophy, religion, science, history and the many other topics which have helped me to understand reality and enjoy my life.
Having spent the majority of my life compartmentalizing my religious beliefs to keep them safe from skepticism, it's thrilling to leave the critical, investigative, hungry portion of my brain turned "on". While my own pursuit of knowledge is a powerful driving force in my life, I'd also like to prevent others from wasting another day on irrational beliefs. Education is the key ...and if my work manages to educate even one person, I'm satisfied."

 

[ianb321red]

Just reading about Matt Dillahunty and the Atheism + who har:

Something Surprising: Latest on Atheism+ ... Matt Dillahunty's rare error

Bit of a howler, no??

 

[tonybeer]

What is Atheism+ ?

 

[Robban]

Well, to quote his bio

"I was raised in a loving, Southern Baptist home and was a fundamentalist Christian for over 20 years. After 8 years in the Navy and several years in the hi-tech game, I set out to re-affirm my faith with designs on attending seminary and continuing with a life in the ministry. What began as an attempt to bolster my faith became a continuing investigation into more topics than I ever suspected I'd enjoy. After the first couple of years, reason forced me to acknowledge that my faith had not only been weakened by my studies - it had been utterly destroyed. The thoughts, writings and wisdom of people like; Robert Ingersoll, Voltaire, Dan Barker, Richard Dawkins, Farrell Till and many others, helped free my mind from the shackles of religion without a single moment of despair. I continue to study philosophy, religion, science, history and the many other topics which have helped me to understand reality and enjoy my life.
pent the majority of my life compartmentalizing my religious beliefs to keep them safe from skepticism, it's thrilling to leave the critical, investigative, hungry portion of my brain turned "on". While my own pursuit of knowledge is a powerful driving force in my life, I'd also like to prevent others from wasting another day on irrational beliefs. Education is the key ...and if my work manages to educate even one person, I'm satisfied."

An extremist then, going from one extreme to another.

Not so sure the One above likes extremes,

I have Heard it said that, "Life is like the edge of a knife, too far to the left there is an abyss, too far to the right there is an abyss."

Though what do I know, not much, well a little, I know how to sew on a button, for example.

 

[Bungle_Bear]

Just reading about Matt Dillahunty and the Atheism + who har:

Something Surprising: Latest on Atheism+ ... Matt Dillahunty's rare error

Bit of a howler, no??

Not really. I'm not sure how you can blame Matt for other people over-reacting.

 

[ianb321red]

Not really. I'm not sure how you can blame Matt for other people over-reacting.

He shouldn't really have posted on that forum under 2 ID's - i can see how people might (over) react to that....

 

[ianb321red]

What is Atheism+ ?

It's basically a composite of atheism and feminism:

Atheism Plus - RationalWiki

 

[tonybeer]

Ah ok. Living in the UK where Atheists are treated pretty much equally nowadays I don't really see the need for a movement.

In America where in some states it is mandatory to be a Christian to hold public office, or worse countries where you could be thrown in prison I see a much greater need. I'm not sure why you'd wrap feminism up in it all.

This could all be wrapped up in a religious freedom movement, where people should have the right to practice any religion, or have none at all.

 

[ianb321red]

Well from what I was reading earlier, the A+ movement has limited appeal, has roundly rejected the likes of Hitchens, Dawkins and of course Dillahunty, and really it's days as a movement are numbered - primarily because it lacks and credibility and any credible spokesperson(s) to front the movement....

 

[Paradoxum]

Tracie is excellent too.

I don't mind the presenters being abrupt/harsh. They only do it when people start stating things without evidence, use terms like supernatural with no definition, or are just plain dishonest.

He at time seems to jump to cutting people off too quick. I'm not saying it's terrible, but I'm not totally comfortable with that style.

 

[ianb321red]

Well, to quote his bio

"I was raised in a loving, Southern Baptist home and was a fundamentalist Christian for over 20 years. After 8 years in the Navy and several years in the hi-tech game, I set out to re-affirm my faith with designs on attending seminary and continuing with a life in the ministry. What began as an attempt to bolster my faith became a continuing investigation into more topics than I ever suspected I'd enjoy. After the first couple of years, reason forced me to acknowledge that my faith had not only been weakened by my studies - it had been utterly destroyed. The thoughts, writings and wisdom of people like; Robert Ingersoll, Voltaire, Dan Barker, Richard Dawkins, Farrell Till and many others, helped free my mind from the shackles of religion without a single moment of despair. I continue to study philosophy, religion, science, history and the many other topics which have helped me to understand reality and enjoy my life.
Having spent the majority of my life compartmentalizing my religious beliefs to keep them safe from skepticism, it's thrilling to leave the critical, investigative, hungry portion of my brain turned "on". While my own pursuit of knowledge is a powerful driving force in my life, I'd also like to prevent others from wasting another day on irrational beliefs. Education is the key ...and if my work manages to educate even one person, I'm satisfied."

2 observations on this:

- has similarities with what happened with Bart Ehrman - a solid albeit fundamentalist Christian early life leading to a more serious element of theological study, leading to loss of faith

- tellingly he refers to the "shackles of religion" - NOT the shackles of being a saved Christian or the shackles of a relationship with Jesus Christ.

 

[Bungle_Bear]

2 observations on this:

- has similarities with what happened with Bart Ehrman - a solid albeit fundamentalist Christian early life leading to a more serious element of theological study, leading to loss of faith

- tellingly he refers to the "shackles of religion" - NOT the shackles of being a saved Christian or the shackles of a relationship with Jesus Christ.

For most of us, any attempt to differentiate Christianity from religion holds no water.