The Atheist Experience

Recorded in front of a LIVE studio audience in Austin, TX!Join The Atheist Experience with Jamie Boone and Christy Powell and work through issues, lack of evidence for god, and religious trauma challenges. Caleb in OH, believes the Big Bang is evidence for god, and asks the hosts if atheists believe there is no evidence for god. Evidence that is meaningful, compelling or that stands up to scientific rigor has not been observed yet. The universe having a beginning is consistent with many religions. How is your religion any different?  Why would an all powerful and all loving god not show us something on this show? Call back with one good argument that is overwhelming. Yetmas in FL makes an analogy about god, people, and ants, and then asks why we are searching for god evidence when we have not even mapped 25% of the ocean floor. This is 25% more than before there was science. AJ in MN asks the hosts what they used to justify the Bible when they used to believe. Christy described having to read a chronological Bible that noted the numerical differences realizing it was not inerrant. Jamie never looked into the claims, and when he finally did, he became an atheist. How many talking animals do you need in a story before you realize it is not literally true? Terry in NY wants to know how to bat away the indoctrination and fear of hell. Why would we lose sleep over the Christian hell if we are not worried about the Hindu hell? Your nervous system does not need to be argued with and it is okay to struggle with this distress. Adult logic may not work with your first early childhood concept of hell. Recognizing this conflict is the first step to acceptance. Is it fear or is it guilt that is so scary? A book called, Leaving the Fold, by Marlene Winell is a good place to start along with Recovering from Religion where they are trained to help through this struggle.  Jon in Canada says that the 10 Commandments are necessary for society to function and prove the existence of god. How can you tell me that they eradicated slavery? How do you explain the basis of Chinese civilization before the Ten Commandments?Katie in OK is trying to determine if she has religious trauma or if it is being raised in a hetero culture. Living in a religious society is almost certain to cause cuts and scars. Having to pretend to believe in something you don’t believe in can be traumatizing. If it hurts, you are allowed to have compassion on yourself and do something about it.Barry in GA says that faith is the basis for believing along with the word of god. Where does faith come from? What does it mean if something that you read moves you? What other creation stories from other faiths have you read? Why do you use faith for the Bible but not anything else? What would you say to someone that has faith in Allah?Josef asks the hosts their opinion on the scriptures that condemn homosexuality. Jamie disagrees with the verses. Christy finds these verses to be a big problem and is what caused him to challenge Christianity. If you remove a person's exposure to a type of person, it is easier to make them hate that type of person. Thank you for tuning in! Question of the week: Missing from the Sermon on the Mount is, Blessed are the ___.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-atheist-experience--3254896/support.

In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Jim Barrows and Armin Navabi sort through evidence for a designer, Barnum statements, and upholders of consciousness.   Ameen WA is contemplating reasons to come out as an atheist to his Muslim parents. What would be the two main costs and benefits to making this decision? Considering this will upset your mom, how long will it take for her to get over it? What will you do if the costs outweigh the benefits? What can be done to help fill the void your mother would feel? Showing support to your family is not the same as believing something. Sometimes you need to play a little peek at a boo with the mask. Don’t do it fast and get them scared. Andrew in FL says that Armin failed to debunk the slippery slope argument about sexual relationships being allowed that have no potential for harm. How can you claim a failure when you don’t know everything that was said? The potential for harm with incest is much higher than it is with LGBTQ, that is why it is not fair to compare on to another. Incest will have the problem of power dynamics that makes it hard to demonstrate consent. The emotional harm can’t be prevented as easily as STDs can. Bjorn in Norway has research that connects consciousness with god and every real life moment has to have the potential of becoming a realization. If you are trying to prove god’s existence, please define god beyond a name. What is god? How would you demonstrate this? How can we connect all these random sentences together and tell us why consciousness is necessary? How do you know that something can’t exist alone? Why do we care about things that are potential but not probable? How do you know what happened before the Big Bang?Jason in WI has a prophetic message from god about things that will happen. What will happen specifically and what is the exact date and time? Making Barnum statements is not the same as prophecy. Don’t waste our time. Jake in AR says the world would be better off without religion. Would a society that has closer beliefs to reality have a better chance of prospering than one that does not have true beliefs? As Forest would say, all models are wrong, and some models are useful.Lucy in Lithuania says that religiosity can breed toxic positivity. We agree and this is also a way for religious governments to take advantage of people. Josef in MI asks what god the hosts have an issue with and uses DNA as an example of why he believes god exists. We have a problem with all claims without evidence. Your interpretation of an experience is going to be heavily influenced by the culture in which you are raised. What do you think a good standard for god is and are we there? It must be proven the designer exists before we can prove that things were designed. Why would we assume that the supernatural or god has anything to do with our existence more than chemicals? Why would DNA being fascinating be an argument for the existence of god? How do we find the creator of the body like we can find the designer of a car?Thank you for tuning in! Question of the week is: Why is Satan competing for god’s followers?Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-atheist-experience--3254896/support.

Welcome to the full Atheist Experience where JMike and Secular Rarity(SR) take on the resurrection, complaints of atheists, and people being saddened by the truth before Kelley Laughlin takes over for JMike battling the allegation that atheists have no will and the fear of hell. James in OH has evidence for the resurrection that has been heard before and is Biblical based. Why would it need to be a supernatural cause if Jesus did in fact resurrect? You must make your case for this with an argument because just stating it doesn't cut it. How can this be done without just adding more miracles? Giving reasons and evidence will move people closer to your position. What is the earliest date of the earliest gospel? Michael in FL asks why atheists complain that Christians can’t agree on issues when atheists can’t even agree on what atheism is. SR reminds the caller that Christians inherently have the same idea of the deity while atheists do not have any idea of a deity. JMike points out the problem of interpretation agreeing with god’s principle with Christians, and still has yet to complain about it. How do two people have a relationship with an entity and be so wrong on the  most basic aspects of it? Does god love the LGBTQ people or does god want them to be murdered in the streets the way the Bible says? Chloe in MI, one of our more honest and engaged callers, is a theist who responded to the chat poll with atheists should NOT be persecuted for their lack of belief in god. She added some good reasoning behind this; one of which is that god is love. Is love the reason why billions of infants die? How do you reconcile your two concepts of love?Jon in Canada looks at the sky and wonders how all this came about by accident. Just because something is not intentional, doesn’t make it an accident. Why is it okay to let people believe untrue things that may end up killing them? Would you rather have people who are sad because they learned the truth, or people who believe in an imaginary deity that makes them feel broken? Take the risk of bumming people out by telling them the truth when the alternative is how the Bible considers them worthless. Leonard in Germany says that atheists have no will or drive. SR explains how he has been involved in starting up several non-profit organizations, and Kelley runs his own business. How is this not a sense of will? There is a common thread of religions being political, where politics is not a part of atheism, however, individual atheists can be politically active. Every group of people will have bad people within the group. Why do we find justification in the core doctrine of religions to do atrocious things? The crusades, inquisition and conquest of the Americas are examples of this. Make friends with an atheist to get an idea of how they live and treat other humans. Autumn in MD asks how to calm the fear of hell in her partner. Be patient and be a support system. Reach out to Recovering from Religion and the Secular Therapy Project.Thank you for tuning in this week; question of the week is: Why did god wipe out the dinosaurs? Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-atheist-experience--3254896/support.

In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Secular Rarity and Armin Navabi, question the universal theist answers and someone figured out that Jesus is the Devil, but not to worry, it is all in the mind because the experience is having us not believe that god is true because of cultural longevity. James in OH asks if the hosts think atheists have more questions than theists. Theists may have more answers, but many of those answers are wrong. Would you agree that having more answers is not necessarily correct? A lot of times, answers that are given on the non-religious side do not unravel more layers of questions. Why would you use the Bible as a method to demonstrate god? What would you do to prove that Abraham almost slaughtered his own son and that the Bible is a good source for this claim? What information has been given to you that makes the supernatural a viable option?John in CA claims that Jesus Christ is the Devil and quotes something that he calls a parable from The Book of Revelation to try and prove it. Why does this “parable” bring you to your conclusion? Is the Devil the good guy or the bad guy? Why is it that nobody else has figured this out? Why are you one of the few or the only one that has solved this puzzle?Mark in MN says that the proof of something is in a person’s own mind. Accepting a belief is up to the individual, but that does not change the facts. What is your best evidence for god being real? Lets pray! God please provide us atheists proof of your existence! Amen! Okay now everyone get off your knees, you are released from the magical spells.Josh in MT says that Jesus awakened a truth about people’s experience of the world. Most of the universe is not experiencing anything. Michael in CA says that it is important to believe in god because god has always been a part of human culture. Would this be a good justification for the conclusion if we used another word instead of god? Why would longevity make it reasonable to believe in god? If you believe in something, and good things happen because you believe this, would the good things happening justify believing it is true? What if it is a lie? Where is the tomb now? How easy do you think it was for fraudulent claims and lies to spread thousands of years ago?Thank you for tuning in and be as blasphemous as you need. Don’t forget Atheist Day on March 23. Question of the week: Name a time that God unfairly blamed someone. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-atheist-experience--3254896/support.

Exploring technological singularity, AI advancements, societal impacts, faith deconstruction, embracing kindness, humor in atheism, Genesis vs. evolution, gender identity, embracing biological complexity, frustration with climate change debates, evolution of beliefs on abortion, and biblical perspective on pro-life vs. pro-choice arguments.

In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, JMike and Jim Barrows once again debunk the presumption that god exists as we realize the Range Rover has not found cities on Mars as callers describe their pursuit of truth about god. Mike in SC says there will never be enough proof of Jesus to convince the hosts. We are cool with Jesus existing as a human being, but have never seen a supernatural explanation supersede a natural explanation. How do we know that water being turned into wine was not a common magic trick? What are the things that raise the probability for you to believe that these supernatural claims are true? What do you think about things within The Gospels not lining up? When a god says he is unable to explain his ways to you, what does that say about his omnipotence? James in MI believes that there was a city found on Mars. What research led you to believe there was a city on Mars and why didn’t they drop the Mars Rover on it? Kites in GA dreamed about a friend who died the same week as that friend died, and this is the reason for him to believe in Jesus. Why do we need to assign something supernatural to connect these events? How does this bring us to the conclusion that god exists? How has Jesus helped millions of people around the world? What good is positivity when there are children starving? Is god a good explanation for when we don’t understand something? If god has the power to feed all the starving children, and does not do so, why would he not be a moral monster? Just what kind of lessons do starving babies need to learn? The ends just do not justify the means. Chloe in MI explains how Christians can have communication issues and has seen many theists bully and bash others for not believing. If this is so, why do you believe and why do you maintain this belief? If you were born in Saudi Arabia, do you think you would be a practicing Muslim? Why does god allow people to have trauma if he loves them? Why does god allow pain and suffering? Why do parents not allow their children to touch a hot stove? If the parent allows the child to suffer so they can suffer along with the parent, is that a good parent or a bad parent? What do you think about the similarities between toxic relationships and the Christian god’s relationship to his followers? Finite fathers provide what infinite fathers won’t. Baked Alaska in NY presents the transcendental argument for god and that is god is a necessary precondition for knowledge. We don’t accept this premise because we don’t believe in god. Present a new argument where this premise is the conclusion of that argument. Thank you for joining us this week! Question of the Week: I was crucified and sent to hell, and all I got was (blank). Put your answers in the comments! Call the show on Sundays 4:30pm-6:00pm CT: 1-512-991-9242 or use your computer 💻 http://tiny.cc/callaxp and tell us what you believe and why!We request pronouns as part of the call screening process on our shows, and we display the pronouns our callers provide. If you see a caller with no pronouns indicated, this is because they chose not to provide us with any, and we respect that decision.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-atheist-experience--3254896/support.

In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Secular Rarity and JMike float above their bodies as they look at the chat in order to prove they exist as an all knowing god does illogical things with free will. Jeff, with no location disclosed, believes in Jesus because he experienced floating above his body right before someone took him to church. Why does this give you creedence to believe? How do we justify this content in your head? What does “demonstrated by love” mean? Asking questions does not mean we are disrespecting you, it just means we want to understand the methodology used to arrive at your beliefs.George in TX asks the hosts if they can see the chat. And then he just left with a classic troll mic drop of running away. Ali in VA asks the hosts if they can prove that they themselves exist. Available views can be compared to demonstrate how we exist and views that have less explanatory power lose out on justification abilities. Of the two following questions, which will have more justifications in the answers? “Why am I seeing a tree rather than anything else?” Or “Why am I seeing a tree rather than not a tree?” If you received words from Allah directly, would you accept that is Allah speaking? Abe in NJ asks the hosts about god being all knowing and having free will at the same time. It feels like these ideas clash with each other hard. An open theist might say that knowing the future is not a propositional attitude. This contradiction can reveal some theological and scriptural concerns. Thank you for tuning in today everyone! Question of the day is: Name a time that god had not chills. Put your answer in the comment section.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-atheist-experience--3254896/support.

Exploring topics like information needing a mind to exist and the relationship between DNA and design. Debating on the idea of spiders evolving wings, the benefits and drawbacks of such mutations. Discussing the implications of God's design in nature, the fairness of punishment, and the concept of sin. Delving into debates on free will, morality, and religious dogma, challenging blind acceptance of suffering and punishment.

In today’s episode of The Atheist Experience, Jim Barrows and Armin Navabi challenge religious claims and societal norms. They confront CS Lewis's flawed logic, dissect the reliability of religious texts, and explore the deep-seated reasons why beliefs persist, even when unsupported by evidence.Becky in CO asks if gospels are firsthand accounts, prompted by her granddaughter's reaction to religious imagery. Jim and Armin explain historical methods, citing differing writing styles, manuscript comparisons, and late authorship attribution. They discuss how memories fade and stories evolve, much like a "game of telephone." Why do religious narratives receive such uncritical acceptance?David in WA, a gay man, calls to discuss Jim’s past comment regarding homosexuality not being "natural." He highlights its prevalence across animal species, but more importantly, the political weaponization of the "unnatural" argument to deny LGBTQ+ rights. Jim clarifies his views have evolved, affirming support. Armin asks if "naturalness" should even matter if no harm is done. The conversation emphasizes the terrifying political climate.Chris in NC describes being socially ostracized in his hyper-religious town after his ex-spouse outed him as an atheist during their divorce. His neighbors, for whom he'd performed medical services, now avoid him. Jim suggests secular support groups, while Armin recommends a "charm offensive" to normalize atheism and change perceptions in the community. How can individuals navigate such intense, localized religious intolerance?Guo in CO defines God as the "laws of nature," such as physics and entropy, arguing they are real and we are forced to live by them. Jim and Armin clarify that while these laws exist, using "God" for them causes communication issues, as the common definition of God implies a conscious, willful creator. They liken it to calling a cat "God." Does redefining common terms clarify or obscure understanding?Dawn in CA seeks recommendations for anti-theism studies, logical fallacies, and constitutional law, questioning the reliability of gospels and societal "retrogression." Jim suggests Andrew Seidel's books on church/state separation and studying religions to combat them. Armin emphasizes learning logical fallacies and recommends his book "Why There's No God." The discussion also touches on Bart Ehrman for biblical contradictions and the general regression of society.Carson in OK struggles with religious terminology in sobriety groups, feeling alienated by the constant talk of a "higher power." He seeks secular alternatives for community and support, finding Buddhist meetings more palatable than AA. Jim suggests seculartherapy.org, recoveringfromreligion.org, and online communities. Armin proposes starting a secular group. Can one reinterpret "higher power" or is a fully secular approach necessary for atheists in recovery?.Marco in Holland asks why belief persists if God was conceived from a lack of scientific knowledge. Armin explains religion often serves as a "membership card" and identity, making deconversion scary due to loss of community. Jim adds that many see science as explaining how God created things. Marco also notes religion’s universal "solution for death" as a powerful meme for survival. Thank you for joining us this week! We will see you next time!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-atheist-experience--3254896/support.

In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Secular Rarity and Jim Barrows walk callers through logical fallacies, getting out of faith mindsets, and ways to learn more about evolution. Luke in AZ states that the existence of god is a rational necessity because everything will be meaningless if god doesn't exist. Why does some god’s opinion of what is meaningful have anything to do with anyone else’s? Lack of knowing what is behind everything does not mean there is a god and shows the fallacy of incredulity. Do you accept this same reasoning for anything else in the world?Art in PA regards god as the ultimate ground of existence. How do you define the “ultimate ground of existence”? Does existence have to exist and is pure philosophical nothing possible? If there was a number other than 17 frequencies to use, what does this do for your concept of god? What do we care about what theology says about science? If your god is the same as “existence”, how does calling “existence” god not lead to problems? What is the difference between Spinoza’s god and a hurricane?Jack in MD argues that the universe was created because it needs an uncaused cause, and free will is the only uncaused cause. We have not been able to rule out all the potential causes so therefore this is an argument from incredulity. What is an example of free will existing without a brain and how do you get to this being an uncaused cause? Does someone with a traumatic head injury that has lost their ability to eat have free will? We do not need to assume free will to make progress, but we do need to assume logic. Patrick in SC would like to know how to get out of a faith mindset. You ask yourself how you know things and why you think they are true. This is not done overnight but is constant because we are always learning new things. Ask yourself if you could get to any conclusion using the same method you use to get to god. Olivia in NJ asks if god was created to cope with the uncertainty of death and to explain what we don’t know. We need to make sure we are not presenting this as if the first believers were doing this maliciously. Humans like telling stories and we need to assign agency to random events. Adam in TX is looking for hardcore evidence for evolution. Start by defining what evolution is, and then must prove that either genes don’t exist, or must prove their frequency does not change over time. Watch the science journals for all the ways that evolution happens. Check out the content by Erika Gutsick Gibbon and Forrest Valkai for helpful information. You can also check out Crash Course for bit size chunks that will help broaden your understanding. Denny in MI went through conversion therapy that did not work and is considering telling his parents who he really is. Your safety and security needs to be weighed along with how hurtful it may be to your parents. Contact Recovering From Religion for help with ideas on how to deal with this. Thank you for tuning in folks! Question of the week is: What is an example of god’s sense of humor?Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-atheist-experience--3254896/support.