Richard Dawkins Interviews Creationist Wendy Wright

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"The Story of Suzie" (REVISED)

Last night, at about 4:00 in the morning (MST), I downloaded everything thing I've ever posted to Facebook. I've been wanting to do this for a while. Now that I have actually had a chance to get some sleep, I'm starting to review the things that I've posted to there in the past year. I posted this video from the Thinking Atheist as my status update on Facebook exactly one year ago today. Part of what surprised me about posting it on my FB wall is exactly how little attention it received from my FB "friends". I'm sure many of my FB "friends" never even saw this or chose to just ignore it.

In looking at the comments for this video on YouTube, it is curious to note how defensive and angry some of the reactions to it are. It is clear that the point of the video is to show how ridiculous the world view of many modern Christians is in regards to how they think prayer works and how blissfully and/or willfully ignorant they are of the almost certain ineffectualness of praying for a supernatural entity to improve our planet. I was once a believer. In fact, I was once a "Suzie". But, coming to the realization that there is probably no interventionist god at work in the world didn't make me angry at those that were pointing it out. It made me angry at myself for allowing myself to be duped by those who had used the concept of an interventionist god to extort money from me.

I also find it curious that this video, as of this writing, only has slightly over 101,000 views. Many of the videos that question religion and religious thinking seem to have much higher view counts than this. I can't help but wonder if this is because this video is so painful for the "Suzies" of the world to watch. I'm not saying that that is the reason, there's a definitely a flew other plausible scenarios for this video not having had more views. (Note: I just noticed that there is note from the author saying that the original edit, which had a more graphic version of the pastor being shot, was "wildly popular", so it could be that by the time this edit was posted, this video was just old news at that point- so much for my theory.)

At any rate, what a fun way to start the new year- review all of my past FB posts and to rediscover a very thought provoking and provocative short film. Here's to hoping that in 2011 a few more "Suzies" will see this video and start to question the idea of an interventionist god at work in the world.

Daniel Everett: Endangered Languages and Lost Knowledge

This hour and a half video from fora.tv featuring Daniel Everett speaking about his experiences with the Piraha people of Brazil is absolutely fascinating. Not only does this tribe only believe in things for which they have evidence, or someone they trust can testify about, but they also do not have words for numbers and may even bring into question the idea of recursive language. Interestingly, even though they won't believe something without evidence, they apparently aren't without superstitions. They still consider Mr. Everett to be some sort of spirit being. This video is well worth the time it takes to watch.

Note: To watch the full hour and a half presentation, click on "Watch Full Program", you'll be taken to the fora.tv site.

10 questions that every intelligent Christian must answer

A classic example of critical thinking from the creator of Why Won't God Heal Amputees? For those that think that there is an interventionist god operating in our lives and the world we live in, this should be requisite viewing.

TheThinkingAtheist - Divine Protection

I actually have mixed feelings about the following video. It makes a great point, and one that is really lost on the believer (well, it was lost on me when I was a believer, and also on many that I still know). But, I would have liked it more had it not been made so much like one of those late election political ads. You know the ones I'm talking about, where they have the tense music with the concerned sounding narrator saying things like, "Congressman Smith wants to feed your children nuclear waste for school lunch. Congressman Smith also has a body hiding in the trunk of his car right now. Do you really want to elect someone who wants to feed kids nuclear waste and has a body in the trunk of his car? Neither do we." Like I said, the point of this video is great, but I'm not sure that I'm 100% in love with the style. But, obviously I still think it's good or I wouldn't have posted here. Now, if only a few more, non-critical thinkers will see stuff like this and maybe, just maybe start to reflect on it...

ZOMGitsCriss - Muhammad tells it like it is

This woman is funny. She is also articulate, well argued and just a joy to watch. In the following video she gives Muslims a "New Sharia Law" to follow, one that includes women's rights and respecting individual freedoms. I will be posting more her videos.

Edward Current - Checkmate Atheists

Edward Current has been posting hilariously funny YouTube videos for several years now. This is one of his classics, where he lists 10 irrefutable arguments against atheism. Enjoy.