The Atheist Experience

Welcome back to the show! In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Shannon Q is joined by Secular Rarity!Our first caller today is Charles from Canada who claims that the big bang model is consistent within the story of Genesis.Next is Kevin from NV who is very persuasive in converting people to their beliefs, but is concerned about bigoted acts being committed by these people after deconverting.Bob from VA is convinced that “all” Atheists are just making arguments from personal incredulity. Your definitionally significant God is realistically insignificant and has zero explanatory power.Next up is Emily from MA who is wondering if mental illness increases the likelihood of a person becoming religious or increasing the religiosity of an individual.Aaron from IL claims to have a clear argument with straight forward evidence for the claim that God, a supernatural being, is biologically natural.Our final caller Andrew from ME wants to tell us that there is an equal amount of evidence for evolution as there

Welcome back to the show! In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Kenneth Leonard!Our first caller today is Michael from MI who believes that mathematical imaginary numbers can prove the existence of well– their definition of God at least.Denver from VA wants advice on how to introduce skepticism to their very unskeptical girlfriend who believes in significant amounts of woo including astrology and alternative “natural” medicine. While the caller doesn’t want to interfere with their right to do these medical procedures on their own body, they are concerned about the future if they happen to have a kid.Ralph from FL is calling to demonstrate the existence of a God but claims that you must accept it first then look for evidence. Alright then, the initial singularity that the big bang originated from was actually a hot dog, just accept it. I don’t know what goes into modern hot dogs, maybe this one contained all of the matter in the universe, trust me.Tyler from MD asserts that

Welcome back to the Atheist Experience everyone! Today, here to kick off our first episode back in the studio are your hosts, Jim Barrows and Christy Powell!Our first audience question is from Aaron from TX who is wondering how our host’s ended up volunteering here at the ACA?Rodney from MI is calling to prove the existence of the Christian God. Their evidence is that they believe in Jesus and his life story, and the likeness of the near-death experience accounts.Next is Gohan from TX who wants to know when it is ok to force someone else’s to use their body without their permission? This person is like the magic eight ball of anti-abortion arguments, always wrong.Next is Andrew from TX who asks why theist apologists continue trying to use the non-interactive deistic “nothing” god as a stepping stone to get to their own interactive god.Up next is Vàclav from the Czech Republic who is calling to tell us about the biblical stories and mythological claims that convinced them in the past.Next up is Larry from TX g

In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Jim Barrows is joined by Kenneth Leonard!First up is Kevin from FL who compares our relationship to God, as a child’s to their parents. From this, the caller claims that God’s past actions and “rules” about morality are disagreeable to us because we are incapable of understanding his reasoning in a similar manner to how a child doesn’t understand why playing video games all day can be detrimental.Marcus from KY apparently has a miraculous survival story after getting attacked by a black bear. What about the story indicates a miracle occurred?Jay from MO asks our hosts about evil atheists and if they would want to live in a sin filled, evil atheist world filled. I’m not necessarily saying the framing of the question is underdeveloped, but, I’m definitely saying that.Jody from DC is coming in with a plan to prove God’s existence with metaphysics and ontology. I am looking for an oasis of a single relevant point in this expansive desert of ideas.Next is Mohammed in t

In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Dave Warnock is joined by Forrest Valkai!First up is Devon from CA who asks our hosts why tragedies, big or small, influence people’s position on the God belief either one way or the other? Why do bad things happen to good people, and vice versa?Next up is Daniel from NJ who recently had a conversation about evolution with their creationist father, and felt scientifically unequipped to rebut the creationist claims. Creationism itself is a claim that requires evidence, and the truth of evolution is entirely irrelevant to proving creationism.Gabe from KY acknowledges that since their deconversion from Mormonism, they have struggled to put the magical thinking they utilized while religious behind them and engage in critical, skeptical thinking. The caller wants advice on how to rectify this, and apply skeptical thinking practically.Patrick from FL claims Atheism is a faith. Is it faith to say “I don’t believe you,” to a claim? Patrick sure thinks so.Next is Timothy f

In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by JMike!First up is John from CA who says that there are multiple pathways to reaching the truth about God’s existence, and that a pathway available to one person might not be accessible to another.Next up is Dean from CA who believes that science doesn’t require methodological naturalism, but does require philosophical naturalism. So scientists get to use unmeasurable supernatural phenomenon to create new theories? Seems legit.Questioning Theist from WA finds the host’s arguements for God relatively convincing, but doesn’t think their credible due to the caller’s disagreements with the host’s other positions. So if we both agree that the sun causes skin cancer, but you don’t like my position on a women’s rights to bodily autonomy, therefore you won’t be a pro-sunscreener like me? Wut?Next up is Brandon from WA who claims that the time doesn’t exist in the subconscious, and uses the perceived time before death as evidence of this.Serge f

In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Forrest Valkai!First up is Christian from the UK who has a hypothetical argument for the existence of a God or a divine being.Next up is John from India, who has found a connection between Anti-Natalism and Anthropodicy and has concluded that the only justification for having children in this imperfect universe is universal salvation.Next is John from TX claims to have scientific, historical, and testimonial evidence for God. When the hosts push for the scientific evidence, the caller continually wants to return to their personal testimony instead.Declan from Australia is calling to ask why atheists don’t believe in the Christian God when he’s made the caller’s life, and apparently everybody’s life, better?Alex from CA is a deist who believes that a non-interactive intelligent creator-God can be demonstrated through perceived coincidences? Wouldn’t coincidental creation imply that things weren’t intelligently designed?Mr. Warlight from

In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Secularity Rarity is joined by Apostate Prophet!First up is David from Canada who is calling to argue for a necessary uncaused first cause for the universe, ie a creator god.Next up is Kevin from UT who is calling to ask for advice on how to help comfort religious family members who are grieving the death of a family member. The caller is out as an atheist, so they are unsure of how to approach them without potentially triggering a confrontation.Ben from AK makes an argument for something, in theory about a necessary first cause being. If anyone watching can piece this puzzle together, please let us know on the Facebook group.Next is Kevin from GA who is against the support for trans individuals because they don’t understand how someone knowing their trans is any different than someone claiming to have spoken with God in the bedroom.Up next is Ahmad from WA is calling to talk about the anchor point for objective theistic morality, and the lack of one when it comes

In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Secular Rarity is joined by Dave Warnock.First up is Sebastian from IL who is calling to voice their disagreement with Matt’s bodily autonomy abortion argument.Next up is George from MD who is looking for advice for talking to their girlfriend who is a Young-Earth Creationist & biblical literalist. The caller wants to know how to go about approaching them about this subject to potentially start them changing their mind.Next is Karol from Europe who apparently has a certain set of conditions that apparently, somehow, help indicate that heaven and hell “might” be real. Loving these odds so far.Up next is Nikki from OR who is once again calling to tell everyone that they believe in God now after years of being Atheist, but still refuses to answer the host’s question regarding why they believe.Vincent from UT is calling to discuss the relationship between humans and our flavor of consciousness, to use Secular Rarity’s term, compared to other animals, and whether t

Hello everyone and welcome to another episode of The Atheist Experience. This week, Shannon Q is joined by the one and only Forrest Valkai!First up is Anthony from VA who is calling to argue that the body of God is the universe. The argument is founded on the idea that complex arrangements of atoms can lead to consciousness, and solar systems look similar to atoms and they might be the atoms of God?Next up is Noah from CA, a deist who claims that we are born and are currently living in hell. They abhorrently suggest that all of the sufferings that occurs in the world is just the waiting room to get to the perfect place, and is something that we can all laugh about later once we get to the other place after spending years being hazed by this bully of God. Piss off!Next up is Jeffrey from PA who believes that God created two genders. The idea of two genders is a very antiquated western viewpoint that is not reflected by other cultures. Thank you for being a great caller Jeffrey.John from Canada is the less plea

In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by @Paulogia!First up is Issac from Israel who presents an argument for the truth of Judaism and its version of God by using the continued existence of the Jewish people.Next up is Clarence from OH who is confused about the laws of identity, non-contradiction, and excluded middle.Kevin from NY has a claim that will help our hosts find God. What’s the claim? The book of Enoch apparently describes supermassive black holes, but only if you interpret the text correctly. Whatever you say dude...Next up is Jonathan from CO who questions why Atheists would choose to help others and make the world a better place if there is no God to motivate them. Please keep believing in a God.Up next is Shiela from KY who had a recent confrontation with a family member who used their husband’s declining health as leverage to bring the caller back into religion.Next is Mercy from China is wondering what Matt’s position on assisted suicide and death with dignity

Welcome to another episode of The Atheist Experience. Today we have Apostate Prophet in the host chair alongside Shannon Q, this is going to be a good one!First caller Gregory in AZ asks how to talk with muslims about hijabs and other face coverings as he feels it’s outdated. We mainly have a problem with islam societies mandating wearing hijabs. Try arguing against the idea that it empowers women.Eric in NH claims god exists and is the foundation for all reality and is an omnigod, and other word salad. How can one summarize this call when Eric can’t seem to agree on his definitions. Yeah no, lucid dreaming is not a pathway to understand physics or to prove god. Ahmet in OH continues on the hijab call claiming it’s a human rights issue. We agree people can wear what they want but we disagree with making it mandatory. Some muslim women feel it’s subjugating and not actually a choice. Ben in AK believes god is the universe and we have to forget everything we know about the universe. God, a young solar system, S

Welcome to another episode of The Atheist Experience. This week, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Dave Warnock!First up is Aiden from IL who is calling to update our hosts on their life since their previous call about dying with dignity.Next up is Cody from TX who wants to talk about the importance of the Secular Student Alliance and its role in normalizing atheism and providing opportunities for atheists to find community.John from Canada is calling to express their opinion on the overturning of “Roe vs Wade.” Your opinion has been noted; we thank you for your business. Next customer, please.Art from PA is calling to present an argument that Jesus isn’t actually God. Flawed premises equal a flawed conclusion.Oh, Mykil from Canada is mad. Really mad.Next up is Tory from IL, an ex-Jehovah's Witness who lost everything when they departed the organization.Up next is Victor from TX who claims that God cannot be demonstrated by using reason, but can be using intuition.Next is David from AZ who is apparently super pro-

Welcome to another episode of The Atheist Experience. This week, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Forrest Valkai!First up is John from Georgia, who has been asked by others in their community the classic question, “If we came from monkeys, why are there still monkeys?” The caller wants to know if our hosts have a better response to that question than they do.Next up is John from CO who is wondering how Matt could have possibly lost faith when the truth of the Bible is apparently as obvious as math.Dan from FL believes that abortions are murders and that there should be a penalty for those who get one.Joseph from the UK believes that mathematics provides evidence for a creator through the use of probability calculation.Next up is Tony from CA, who is wondering if biological evolution has any connections to societal evolution and the widespread tribalistic polarization we see today?Next is John from the UK who engaged a creationist on a forum, and has questions for our hosts regarding abiogenesis and the origins of

Welcome to another episode of the Atheist Experience! This week, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Shannon Q!First is Larry from VA who is curious to know what parts of our brain are utilized when a person speaks or listens to someone speaking in tongues?Next up is Rosalind from FL who doesn’t understand how Atheists can be moral since their morality can be anything.Next is Anthony from VA who says you can still have Christianity without Christ.Up next is Mark from PA who believes that theists are mentally ill and that society should not be tolerant of them. Take it away Shannon.Next is Jay from MO who asks if Atheism is a mental illness, among other enlightening questions.Next up is Gary from CT who asks what makes a real, “insert group label here,” and what type of evidence is acceptable.Next is Luke from FL who believes that xenophobia and racism don’t occur naturally, but are generated through science.Our final caller is Victor from TX who seems to have invented their own God with their chosen qualities, but c

In today’s episode of The Atheist Experience, Matt is joined by Everyday_Atheist to see how capable callers are answering questions this week.First caller is Dane in KS who is suggesting that a bracelet that dates back to the 14th century BCE is proof that the Bible is true. How does this bracelet confirm the Biblical stories in a way that proves god? In 2,000 years, when NY City is dug up, will it confirm that Spider Man is real?Next caller is Jamaal from CA who believes that our consciousness is our soul since we don’t have a scientific explanation for consciousness. He believes that consciousness can affect the brain state and that the supernatural explains experiences. If we don’t have an explanation, you don’t get to make something up. Labels that religions tie to a soul are emergent properties of the brain. You can’t solve a mystery by appealing to a bigger mystery. Can you prove that consciousness is magic and that it exists? How do you know that consciousness is a soul?James in SC brings up how othe

Welcome to another episode of the Atheist experience! This week, Jim Barrows is joined by Forrest Valkai!First up is Alex from Israel who wants to talk about lucid dreaming and its possible naturalistic explanatory power for out of body & near death experiences.Next is Nate from CA who identifies as an atheist, but takes a 50/50 confidence stance on the true/false claim that a God exists.Next is Brett from MO who asks us if Atheism is an objective position or subjective?Up next is Matthew from SC who doesn’t understand what makes someone biologically transgender, versus someone just “choosing” to identify as a sex they weren’t born as.Next up is Theodore from PA who reasons that after death, our consciousness continues onward via the consciousness of others. So is consciousness like an organic version of distributed computing?Next up is Jay from TX who claims to have had a near death experience, and believes it to be evidence of the afterlife.Finally, Jay from MO is calling in to present the standard “it’

In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Shannon Q!First up is Dominic from CA who claims to be able to prove the existence of God using the concepts of “Objective Morality” & “Karma.”Tim from CA is calling to see if our hosts agree with their assessment that religious belief is a psychological disorder.Next up is John from Sweden who wants to know what motivates someone who does not believe in a God or afterlife, why care about creating a better world if we are just going to die and not get to experience it?Isaiah from NV is calling to present a definition of spirituality. I am convinced that spirituality is necessarily first person at this point because I’ve yet to hear a single, consistent definition for that word. “The Mind is everything...” O_oNext is Anthony from VA who wants to take a crack at arguing for intelligent design via a hypothetical, and an appeal to probability.Anthony from FL is calling to argue that there is a proto-consciousness within all matter in t

In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Apostate Prophet!First up is Samuel from UT who is calling to suggest that Matt’s chess model of secular morality is incomplete and needs to be expanded on.Anthony from VA is calling back to present a new and “improved” argument for intelligent design.Next is John from Sweden who wants advice from AP on how express their dwindling faith in Islam to their close family.Javier from IA calls to ask our hosts why they are called transphobic & islamophobia by others. I think we can figure out why.Next is Nikki from OR who was formerly an Atheistic Jew who found Jesus, but won’t tell us what the experience was or at least where Jesus was hiding.Henri from Estonia believes that God doesn’t physically exist, but exists metaphysically within humans?Patrick from FL claims that Matt caused them to develop faith, but they don’t know what the God they believe in actually is.Jacob from TX claims that they were once an Atheist, but was convinced l