The Atheist Experience 28.04 with JMike and Jim Barrows
Jan 29, 2024
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JMike and Jim Barrows discuss atheist communities and the role of oral traditions in religions. They also explore the concept of gravity and its existence. Other topics include the need for evidence in god claims, finding a community for Jewish atheists, the reliability of human thinking and reasoning, and the power of fairy tales and movies in teaching concepts.
Human pattern recognition prioritizes survival over truth-seeking and is not infallible in discerning complex reasoning or truth.
Critical thinking and scientific inquiry are necessary to overcome cognitive biases and improve our understanding of the world.
Religious faith is typically based on personal beliefs or subjective experiences rather than empirical evidence, highlighting the limitations of using faith as a basis for claims about a higher power.
Religious beliefs may have originated as cautionary tales or guidelines to navigate uncertain situations, and religion may have fostered social cohesion and cooperation within communities.
Deep dives
The limitations of human pattern recognition and reasoning in relation to evolution
Humans have developed pattern recognition as a survival mechanism, allowing us to quickly identify potential threats and respond accordingly. However, this pattern recognition is not always accurate or reliable when it comes to complex reasoning or discerning truth. It is a more simplistic form of thinking that prioritizes survival over truth-seeking. While our brains have evolved to be efficient in certain areas, such as basic pattern recognition, they are not designed to be infallible truth detectors.
The need for critical thinking and scientific inquiry to overcome cognitive biases
Given the limitations of human pattern recognition and reasoning, it is important to rely on critical thinking and scientific inquiry to overcome cognitive biases and improve our understanding of the world. By subjecting our ideas and beliefs to scrutiny and empirical evidence, we can strive for greater objectivity and accuracy in our knowledge. This is why science, with its emphasis on rigorous testing and peer review, has been successful in advancing our understanding of the natural world.
The distinction between faith and evidence-based beliefs
In Tim Keller's argument for theism, he suggests that human evolution may have led to our ability to survive, but it does not necessarily confer reliability in discerning truth. However, it is important to recognize that religious faith is typically based on personal beliefs, subjective experiences, or teachings, rather than empirical evidence. While faith and belief may guide individual actions and perspectives, they do not provide objective evidence for the existence or nature of a higher power.
The importance of skepticism and critical examination of claims
Given the limitations of our cognitive abilities and the subjective nature of belief, it is important to approach all claims, including those about the existence or non-existence of a higher power, with skepticism and critical examination. This allows us to evaluate the evidence, motivation, and reasoning behind such claims, and to make informed judgments based on the available information. By maintaining intellectual humility, challenging our own biases, and seeking reliable evidence, we can strive for a more accurate understanding of the world.
The Evolution of Religious Beliefs: Survival and Cautionary Tales
Religious beliefs may have originated as cautionary tales or behavioral guidelines to help humans navigate dangerous or uncertain situations. The use of storytelling and vivid narratives may have served as a way to remember and pass down important information. For example, dietary restrictions in certain religions could have originated from observations that certain foods were unhealthy or unsafe to consume. These cautionary tales and religious teachings may have provided a sense of order and guidance in uncertain times.
The Role of Fear and Reward in Religion
Humans are wired to pay more attention to negative or fearful stimuli, as it helped our ancestors survive in dangerous environments. Religion and religious institutions could have capitalized on this psychological tendency by creating stories and belief systems that stimulate fear or promise rewards for adhering to certain behaviors. For example, stories about a punishing or benevolent deity may have served as a way to motivate and control societal behavior.
Religion as a Tool for Social Cohesion
Religious beliefs and practices could have also played a role in fostering social cohesion and cooperation within a group or community. By endorsing a shared belief system and common values, religion can provide a sense of identity and promote a sense of belonging. This social cohesion may have been particularly important for early human societies, helping them to survive and thrive in challenging environments.
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Jim Barrows and JMike find Jewish atheist communities to help not trust their brains for the truth while they travel into the past to discover that oral traditions are partly the root of religions and to finally confirm that gravity is real.
Chuck in HI is that humans are here to provide a dwelling place for Jehova and gravity is not real. If he is omnipotent, why can’t he provide his own dwelling place? How would he be omnipotent if he does not know who he is dwelling in? Where do you get your god claim if we do not have the sensors to detect him and you do not have evidence? Whining about things that fly in the face of science does not meet the criteria to make them true. Try and bring your A game next time.
Richard in NY is looking for a community of Jewish atheists. Jim points out that both Judaism and Islam are as much a culture as they are a religion and how people have a hard time accepting that. Mike mentions that it is not that weird to grow up never thinking about god. There are many social media platforms available, and if you don’t find what you need, you can create one.
Katelyn in WA asks why we should trust our brains for truth when the basis is to survive. Jim explains how we know that our thinking is faulty with the pattern recognition leading to cognitive bias. This and the need to reason better is why we developed science. We build machines that do better things than we do and see that god’s design is flawed. We are most fascinated about why you believe in a god; what is the reason? Why does god not stop suffering or allow us to survive off just sunlight? Why does god not have the ability to make a world where people do not choose evil? Would the most important message in the world be shrouded with ambiguity?
Colin in the USA wonders if the religions made laws because they were easier to remember as stories through oral traditions prior to the written word. We like tales and stories, but this is not the only reason why religions made laws.
Thank you for tuning in this week! Question of the week is: Name one of god’s unpopular opinions.
