The Atheist Experience

Welcome to another episode of AxP. Matt and Jim are back together again!First up is Mr. Warlight, who claims to have a test for souls. Sadly, it involves desecrating a statue in a cemetery, so we’re gonna move on.Mike in Texas has More (-mon) bad arguments for God. The universe is a big place, and therefore, a universe creating entity is possible. Matt and Jim point out that possibility is not probability, and this is as good an argument for gods as it is for butt monkeys. Just listen, it’ll make sense.Next is Jasmine who’s going to take us from the Bible to… entropy? Jim reminds us that the Bible is the claim, not the evidence, and gives our caller a quick lesson in thermodynamics. Matt points out that just because order came from chaos, that doesn’t mean God did it.Brazilian Bruno is next, who takes a very long time to say… God could prevent evil, but doesn’t, so HIS God is a neutral one. Jim gives a great Hell metaphor, and Matt tries to show Bruno where he’s erred.Lightning round with Earl, who ha

Welcome to another episode of AxP. Matt’s guest this week, on loan from Truth Wanted, is MD Aware!Dan in Indiana asks how absurd a claim has to be before one can summarily dismiss it. MD points out that scientists don’t use a yardstick of absurdity, they do experiments and test claims!John is a believer, he states that since the existence of gods can’t be proven or disproven, atheists and theists are in the same position. He then says he CAN prove gods are real in a different way, but, sadly, he doesn’t. MD and Matt remind him that you can’t write deities into existence, real life isn’t a screenplay.Michael in Florida asks our hosts about a psychiatrist who claims to also be an exorcist. Matt doesn’t think demons have been shown to be real, and MD Aware reminds us that psychiatric diagnoses aren’t quantitative, and offering a hidden entity as a cause of mental illness is irresponsible.Next up is Allen, who suggests that Christianity is an atheist religion, because their god died. We’re not sure if you’r

In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Jim Barrows is joined by Dave Warnock! Happy 2022!Our first caller is none other than Matt with a post-surgery and recovery update! Good luck with the rest of your recovery!Next up is Aidan from IL who was diagnosed with MS last year, and has concerns with their religious family member’s position regarding death with dignity.Up next is Paul from PA! Paul, first off...if you want to advertise your book, go and pay for ad space on (insert popular social media platform) or something. Next up, narrative sequels act as a continuation of an existing work. Sequels, by themselves, do not IN ANY WAY serve as evidence for the truth value of the original story. You can’t use the original work to prove the truth of the sequel, or vice versa.Next is Nick from CO who asserts that “fine-tuning” is justified by physics. This call quickly becomes 2022’s first case of the argument from incredulity. Just because we aren’t able to investigate before Planck time, doesn’t mean that a c

The Atheist Community of Austin Holiday Trivia Challenge - Championship - Year End SpecialWe are pre-recording this challenge so that we could give you something interesting to watch over the holidays, but also give our hard working hosts and crew some time off to spend with their family and friends.This will be a 5 part series, with one episode appearing on each of our AEN Network shows. The schedule is as follows:The preliminary rounds will consist of 5 questions each, and will be shown on the Secular Sexuality channel on Thursday, December 23rd at 7pm Central: http://tiny.cc/ytssThe first two Quarter Final rounds will consist of 7 questions each, and will be shown on the Truth Wanted channel on Friday, December 24th at 7pm Central: http://tiny.cc/yttwThe second two Quarter Final rounds will consist of 7 questions each, and will be shown on Talk Heathen on Sunday, December 26th at 1pm Central: http://tiny.cc/ytthThe two Semi-final rounds will consist of 7 questions each, and will be shown on The Non-Prophe

In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Shannon Q is joined by Arden Of Eden.First up is Wraith from NY whose religious beliefs are actually a mosaic of the truths found across many religions. The caller also asserts that non-eternal things intrinsically have less value and are borderline worthless.Next is Arnie from WA who asks why some of the hosts utilize Mormonism as the token example of a “ridiculous” religion. Each host’s reasons are different, but some include the relative recency of its creation compared to the more popular religions, or as Shannon says, it can be used to highlight epistemic faults that both Mormons and members of other theistic denominations fall victim to.Next up is Joshua from NC who is struggling to understand the Pro-Choice position. Just because the fetus may be granted full human rights, does not mean that we can assign it special rights that supersede the rights of the woman.Next up is Abdullah from NY who asks why we, Atheists, can’t accept the existence of a creator. T

In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Jenna Dave Warnock.First up is Mike from IN who asks how is blindly trusting experts any better a pathway to the truth than trusting in religion and God. No one should blindly trust anyone merely because they claim to be an expert, but should look at the data presented by said expert and compare it to other colleagues of their field. Religions rarely, if ever, present any data to justify their claims, so trusting them is by definition, necessarily blind.Next is Gohan from TX who wants to challenge secular moral positions. If you are calling in to have a useful conversation with the hosts, address the views they actually hold without referencing superheroes or other people that you are not talking to. You are either straw-manning the hosts or making what-if assertions that don’t even have addressable data.Next is Tyler from NC who has a series of yes/no statements they want to present to the hosts. The statements are inconsistent with t

Welcome back to the Atheist Experience. This week, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Genevieve!First up is Manuel from Puerto Rico who wants to know what our hosts think is the best way to educate yourself and others about critical thinking. The first step is recognizing where we are suspending critical thinking, and then going back through and asking questions that put that previously accepted idea on trial to see whether the belief was truly justified.Next is Setuf from Spain who asks our hosts what the difference is between Speciesism, Racism, & Sexism. All three are biases that are each relevant to the level that they operate at (e.g. Species, Race, and Sex/Gender).Next is Steven from WA who would like advice on how to discern good sources of truth from sources that may have undisclosed conflicts of interest. If we use Matt’s definition of “truth” in that it comports with reality, then we can look at a source’s track record, their own testing data (if available), as well as any other peer-reviewed sources

In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by ObjectivelyDan.First up is Joel from AL who claims they have a philosophical argument that debunks materialism. Apparently there is something below subatomic particles that is spirit rather than material. Don’t have evidence to back that up, come back when you do.Next is Andrew from Thailand who believes that because Christianity can offer positive benefits to members or its ideology, that it should still be followed even if it doesn’t conform to reality. Once again the subjective issue of filtering out the bad and keeping the good comes into play, especially when those same moral positions can be reached via other non-christian belief systems.Up next is Jacob from AL who accepts creation as a part of deism. If you don’t have any evidence that draws the connection between human language and a god, then belief in that connection is unwarranted.Next is Setuf, le sigh...sure it is... from Spain who claims that Matt is irrational. Once aga

SHOW NOTESIn today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Shannon QFirst up today is Mr. Warlight from AK who wants to question the host’s views on spirituality. Just like last week, the caller has nothing to present.Mohammed from NE believes that spirits are not tangible, but internal conceptual projections of a person’s mind. Since we can’t tell whether those projections are actually related to the existence of spirits or just a part of a person’s imagination, how does this help us prove that spirits truly exist in reality?Next is Setuf from Spain who doesn’t understand the point the of Violinist analogy. It’s about bodily autonomy, not consent as consent can be revoked.Up next from California is Raul who has a question regarding free speech versus free action. As the conversation unfolds, the caller’s points begin to drift towards the advocation of thought crimes.Next is Rob from VA who claims that emotions are irrational. Our hosts respond that emotions themselves are not necess

Welcome back to another episode of The Atheist Experience. This week, Kenneth Leonard and JMike take AXP by force!Today’s first caller is “Leopold” from Canada who demands that the Atheist Experience apologizes for the harsh statements it has made against the Catholic Church in the past. Either engage with the hosts you are talking to and justify your position or call again after you think it back over.Next is Tim from TN who asks if someone who believes a God exists has the same burden of proof as someone who claims to know a God exists. It comes down to the much finer acceptances of claims. If they both accept that Jesus walked on water, superficial confidence levels aside, the implication itself requires an equal burden of proof from both parties.Up next is Alvin from NC claims that it is probable that the Bible is true. The caller mentions a number of improbable improbabilities and asserts them as evidence for their claim. They then site their webpage, which apparently finds mathematic patterns in random

Welcome back to The Atheist Experience! This week Matt is joined by Arden Hart.Our first call today comes from Jake in Canada, who wants to ask about original sin, and how the Christian notion of substitutionary atonement is morally corrupt. We feel ya Jake.Second up is Andrew in New York, offering his understanding of paganism. Matt would rather hear from paganism from a pagan, and Arden points out that not all folks who identify as “pagan” share the same set of beliefs. Moving on!Mike from Texas stampedes out of the queue with a quick lecture about alternate theist views, before being lassoed in by Matt to talk about what HE believes. We hit on the problem of the source of consciousness, a bit of naturalism, and a touch of solipsism. Mike makes his case for the supernatural with a whole lot of five-dollar words, but Matt & Arden aren't impressed. Robin from DC believes that if one rejects a claim, one assumes the contrary position. Our hosts explain that it’s possible to be unconvinced of both s

In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Jim Barrows!First is Joey from the UK who asks if following God’s commands, even if they are immoral, for the sake of self-preservation is justified. This brings us back to the mafia boss analogy as acting differently than you would if not under threat in no way justifies the immoral behavior of the one holding a position of power.Next up is Carson from KS who worships and personifies nature. Other than because it seems appealing to do, why do this if as the caller claims, it's just atheism with some extra steps?Next is John from IN who is struggling to grieve the loss of a loved one without the comfort provided by religion.Next is Brandon from NJ who claims to have evidence of ghosts. Turns out the caller saw and heard a thing somewhere and determined that it was a Ghost. The caller also attempts to use the anomalies found in camera footage that could not be seen with the naked eye as support for the supernatural.Up next is Juan from

In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Dave Warnock!First up today is Mark from OR who has a question about the difference between the scientific consensus and a fallacious appeal to authority.Next is GB from CA who wants to argue that the bible argues for divine hiddenness. How can we differentiate between God’s desire to remain hidden, or whether they exist at all.Up next is Andre from MI believes that there is something greater than us and claims they can prove it. The caller’s interpretation of how the universe around them functions, (i.e. the need to breath & and squirrels killing one another), indicates to them that there is a greater will/Next up is DJ from Canada who claims to have made contact with a soul. How do we know that the electrical feeling experienced by the caller is actually dead people, let alone a specific soul. As of right now we have no evidence to support the idea that consciousness carries forward after death.Drew in CA wants to correct Matt’s

In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Jim Barrows!Our first caller today is Mark from GA. The caller claims that time robs the ability for information to be communicated, and that god will solve this by fulfilling the great commission through connecting our brains to computers.Next is Holy Rebel Movement from FL who claims that he received a prophecy from God of Joe Biden’s inauguration, after we knew Joe Biden had won the election. The caller also states that they have 6 to 7 more of these mundane prophecies.Next up, Arnie from WA is calling back to report the current status of his deconversion process, and how he has transitioned away from his mormon indoctrination. After their previous call to the show, Arnie has since come to the conclusion that they no longer have a good reason to believe.Jim from Canada asks our hosts if the possibility of consciousness disappearing after death either disappoints or scares them.Next up is Kim from the UK who wants to talk about the p

In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Shannon Q is joined by Johnny P. Angel!First up is Writer from NY who perceives time as a measurement of the distance that a second-hand takes to move, and that this perception aligns with the attributes of their accepted God. The caller also claims to have spoken to and visited Heaven with this God.Next is Joshua from Canada who wants to offer testimony on why they converted. If Revelation is a personal experience and not applicable to everyone, then by definition it’s not going to be convincing to those who haven’t experienced it. At this point, it’s just a claim.Up next is Charlie from TX who is questioning the host’s acceptance of naturalism since the only way to falsify it would be to present something unnatural. The caller believes this creates a problem where naturalism is accepted without proper justification.Mr. Batman, the “Dark Knight Of Logic” calls in with a misunderstanding of science and his script in hand to present a convoluted spiel for the exist

In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Jenna Belk. Welcome back to the co-host chair Jenna!First up is Mohammad from NE who defines god as any conscious entity that is capable of influence celestial objects beyond our (modern humans) comprehension. Nothing presented by the caller contains anything relevant to a scientific argument.Next up is Tommy from IL who wants to know if our hosts are still searching for an answer to a God question, or if they have gotten to where they have reached a point of certainty in their current position.Robin from DC is calling in to tell us about some slick new labels for Atheism: Local & Global. Local Atheism refers to someone who doesn’t believe that a subset of Gods exist, but accepts others. Unfortunately, Robin asserts the only way that a person can determine whether one subset exists and the other doesn’t is through God’s revelation.Up next is DJ from CO who is worried about leaving their child under the care of a religious family me

SHOW NOTESHello everyone! Welcome to our fun episode of The Atheist Experience with Matt Dillahunty and Jim Barrows.First up is Ram from India who started to believe in god again six months ago because he met someone who says science does not explain everything, and that lots of people accept there are multiverses. Scientists are not saying god is the reason for this. God is not a valid, reasonable hypothesis for the universe. Can you name one thing that is demonstrably true and violates logic? Don’t give up on reality so you can have less pain and sadness. Next we have Jordan in VA who is starting to have doubts of his faith, but does not want to give it up. He wants to raise children with the Christian foundation but has concerns with the Bible. If you raise kids this way, you are telling them they are broken and flawed. Teaching kids about hell is child abuse and so is following what the Bible says to do. It is difficult to teach kids to think for themselves in a Christian household. Kevin in AZ thinks tha

Hey everyone and welcome to another episode of The Atheist Experience! This week Matt Dillahunty is joined by Mandisa Thomas from Black Nonbelievers!First up is Sam from TX who says that he believes in a god for the same reason that our hosts don’t believe that there is a god.Next up is Jaime from CO who claims to have photographic evidence for god. How do you know that what you captured in the photo is actually the face of God, or just a cloud?Up next is GB from TX who is curious why Matt states that if a God exists, it is the most important fact that anyone could ever know due to the repercussions that the existence of one would have on our reality. However, until one is demonstrated to exist, acting as if one does and legislating laws that are asserted to align with it is dangerous and irresponsible.Next Cathy from NM who believes that Matt’s approach is rude and unproductive, and that he sets up strawman with religious callers including those from this very show.Next is Hamid from the (UK) who wants to sh

In today’s episode of the The Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Arden Of Eden.Our first caller today is Andrew from PA. The caller is beginning to question their beliefs and is wondering how our hosts became comfortable with pushing back against their past indoctrination. Unless you have good reason to believe in a particular god, then worrying about any threats or boons derived from believing in that God isn’t justified.Up next is Sam from NE who believes that because there are things about the universe that we cannot explain today, that it must be supernatural. Sam also had some “important” information he wanted to bless the audience with.Next up is Aiden from FL who is looking for advice on how to manage their relationship with their family with regards to their opposing views of religion. There is probably no single argument that will help your family become accepting of your atheism, but this single disagreement isn’t the whole relationship with your family or how they feel about you as a

SHOW NOTESIn today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Shannon Q is joined by Jenna Belk!Our first caller is Narder from Australia who claims that there is physical evidence for God. Unfortunately, we are not presented with the physical evidence we were promised, but a philosophical argument.Next is Nigel from New Zealand who is wondering if our hosts do not accept Christianity because of a lack of evidence or because of the inconsistencies within the religious doctrine. The answer obviously varies from atheist to atheist, but depending on someone’s background, it may end up being a combination of each.Up next is Joe from Canada who wants to know how our hosts dealt with the fear of leaving religion after years of being indoctrinated to fear hell.Next is Ryan from NY who presents a list of reasons why they aren’t an atheist. Presenting incohesive ideas in this format isn’t a conversation, especially when they don’t go anywhere.Next is Phillip from OH wants to correct Shannon on a previous terminology mistake