Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Seeker2000 · 07-06-2006, 10:53 AM

I just stumbled upon this video by accident: http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...30973829223853

It's amazing how one-sided this video is. I didn't see it in its entirety, just skipped through its various sections, but I think I got a good overview.

They paint a picture of the world that makes it appear as if almost all scientists of today are theists and as if the existence of God is proven today. Of course they may have some points correct, e.g. with the occurrence of the big bang and with the current discussion about fine-tuning, but they make it appear as if the existence of a supernatural creator (God) is the only thinkable explanation for it.

They even make it appear as if the theory of evolution has been disproven and intelligent design has "won", although the theory of evolution is still a big part of modern biology and what most scientists believe today. Then they go on about psychology and Freud and talk about modern insights about how religion and spirituality can be helpful for the human psyche. This may be correct, but is it a proof of God? Also, while many of Freud's claims are no longer part of modern psychology, one can still say that he was an important person and has made important advances.

After that it becomes really ridiculous and the video goes on about failed atheist ideologies like communism or fascism and the Third Reich. Of course those ideologies were of an atheist nature, but what does this say about atheism itself? They even talk about Nietzsche and about how he and Heidegger were the main sources of inspiration behind Nazi Germany, although it is known today that the understanding of Nietzsche's work during Nazism is mostly based upon forgeries of his work done by his nationalist sister, while he himself even opposed nationalism and anti-Semitism. At the end they even go on about evil hippies and the sexual revolution! It appears as if they want to make the point that atheist philosophies lead to absolute evil, which is simply ridiculous...

(Of course there exist also one-sided claims on the atheist side e.g. about how the existence of a god has been disproven with absolute certainty, while I don't think this is possible, but this particular video is really ridiculous IMO, at least at the end.

)

Jabu Khan · 07-06-2006, 10:55 AM

Fascism is ultra religious not atheistic. I've never met an atheist hippy. Most would say Jesus is just alright with them...oh yeah. But anyways this is just more spin like McDowell's "New Evidence"
that tries to project most of the attitudes of the religious conservatives off on atheists and make them the blame for all the evil in the world.

Seeker2000 · 07-06-2006, 10:58 AM

Why this? Actually I don't think that there is a necessary connection between fascism and religion, either for or against religion.

Jabu Khan · 07-06-2006, 11:16 AM

Well then tell me of a fascist leader who didn't use religion widely in his propaganda. I hardly think Hitler fits with a cross on everything and "God is on our side" printed on the belt of every soldier.

Seeker2000 · 07-06-2006, 11:21 AM

Well, Hitler tried to exploit religion for his philosophy, although this didn't work very well with the Christian churches. Communism was completely atheist and didn't use religion.

555 · 07-06-2006, 11:36 AM

Honnestly soviet national anthem is the best anthem ive ever listen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88GZG...viet%20Anthems

general_koffi · 07-06-2006, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Well, Hitler tried to exploit religion for his philosophy, although this didn't work very well with the Christian churches. Communism was completely atheist and didn't use religion.

It worked great with the Catholic Church.

Communism is not fascism. They're both ultra-authoritarian, but on different ends of the economic spectrum.

Seeker2000 · 07-06-2006, 01:51 PM

Okay, you're right about that, but authoritarianism plays a big role in fascism and in communism as well.

MythFree · 07-06-2006, 02:05 PM

YES it will be a great day when we rid the English language of the word 'theist'
and 'theism' and all it's derivatives, and non 'believers' will just be known as
normal intelligent humans!

Malintent · 07-06-2006, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jabu Khan

I've never met an atheist hippy

Pleased to meet ya!

My fellow 'hippy' friends are Humanists / Naturalists / Druids (LOL)

But by no means are they traditional 'Theists'. I am an Atheist Hippy, but some may disagree depending on how they define 'Hippy'.

Two of my hippy friends were former theists. One a Jew, the other a born-again (what a cult!).

07-06-2006, 10:53 AM	#1
Seeker2000 Regular Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Germany Posts: 393	The Collapse of Atheism I just stumbled upon this video by accident: http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...30973829223853 It's amazing how one-sided this video is. I didn't see it in its entirety, just skipped through its various sections, but I think I got a good overview. They paint a picture of the world that makes it appear as if almost all scientists of today are theists and as if the existence of God is proven today. Of course they may have some points correct, e.g. with the occurrence of the big bang and with the current discussion about fine-tuning, but they make it appear as if the existence of a supernatural creator (God) is the only thinkable explanation for it. They even make it appear as if the theory of evolution has been disproven and intelligent design has "won", although the theory of evolution is still a big part of modern biology and what most scientists believe today. Then they go on about psychology and Freud and talk about modern insights about how religion and spirituality can be helpful for the human psyche. This may be correct, but is it a proof of God? Also, while many of Freud's claims are no longer part of modern psychology, one can still say that he was an important person and has made important advances. After that it becomes really ridiculous and the video goes on about failed atheist ideologies like communism or fascism and the Third Reich. Of course those ideologies were of an atheist nature, but what does this say about atheism itself? They even talk about Nietzsche and about how he and Heidegger were the main sources of inspiration behind Nazi Germany, although it is known today that the understanding of Nietzsche's work during Nazism is mostly based upon forgeries of his work done by his nationalist sister, while he himself even opposed nationalism and anti-Semitism. At the end they even go on about evil hippies and the sexual revolution! It appears as if they want to make the point that atheist philosophies lead to absolute evil, which is simply ridiculous... (Of course there exist also one-sided claims on the atheist side e.g. about how the existence of a god has been disproven with absolute certainty, while I don't think this is possible, but this particular video is really ridiculous IMO, at least at the end. )

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

07-06-2006, 10:55 AM	#2
Jabu Khan Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: the impenetrable fortress of the bubbleheads Posts: 1,308	Fascism is ultra religious not atheistic. I've never met an atheist hippy. Most would say Jesus is just alright with them...oh yeah. But anyways this is just more spin like McDowell's "New Evidence" that tries to project most of the attitudes of the religious conservatives off on atheists and make them the blame for all the evil in the world.

07-06-2006, 10:58 AM	#3
Seeker2000 Regular Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Germany Posts: 393	Why this? Actually I don't think that there is a necessary connection between fascism and religion, either for or against religion.

07-06-2006, 11:16 AM	#4
Jabu Khan Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: the impenetrable fortress of the bubbleheads Posts: 1,308	Well then tell me of a fascist leader who didn't use religion widely in his propaganda. I hardly think Hitler fits with a cross on everything and "God is on our side" printed on the belt of every soldier.

07-06-2006, 11:21 AM	#5
Seeker2000 Regular Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Germany Posts: 393	Well, Hitler tried to exploit religion for his philosophy, although this didn't work very well with the Christian churches. Communism was completely atheist and didn't use religion.

07-06-2006, 11:36 AM	#6
555 Banned Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Japan Posts: 1,148	Honnestly soviet national anthem is the best anthem ive ever listen. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88GZG...viet%20Anthems

07-06-2006, 01:51 PM	#8
Seeker2000 Regular Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Germany Posts: 393	Okay, you're right about that, but authoritarianism plays a big role in fascism and in communism as well.

07-06-2006, 02:05 PM	#9
MythFree Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: US Posts: 543	YES it will be a great day when we rid the English language of the word 'theist' and 'theism' and all it's derivatives, and non 'believers' will just be known as normal intelligent humans!

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.