Non-Prophets 11.12Matt Dillahunty2024-10-22 | Non-Prophets 11.12Atheist Debates - Debate Review vs Muslim Apologist Daniel Haqiqatjou Part 1Matt Dillahunty2023-09-29 | This debate review covers the pre- and post-debate planning and events, along with coverage of one incident from within the debate.
The three 1-hour segments will be reviewed next month, in 2 or 3 additional videos as there's a lot to be said about each hour of the debate.Atheist Debates - What if the universe is young AND old?Matt Dillahunty2023-09-03 | Whoaaaa! What if God created the universe 6-10k years ago, but made it look billions of years old? Bong-hit apologetics at its most amusing.Atheist Debates - That should be ILLEGAL!?Matt Dillahunty2023-09-02 | Should Mormon Proxy Baptism be illegal? What about free speech? What about someone praying for you? What about adding your name to the member list of an organization that you're opposed to?Atheist Debates - HopeMatt Dillahunty2023-09-01 | Hope - what is it? Are humanists hopeless? Does Christianity offer realistic hope for an afterlife?Atheist Debates - BAHACON presentationMatt Dillahunty2023-08-31 | I was unable to attend BAHACON due to health issues so I recorded the talk I had planned to give and wanted to share it with Patrons and the rest of the world.
The atheist, freethinker, secular humanist movement must continue - and must do so while addressing more issues than merely religion.Atheist Debates - The Highlander argument against ChristianityMatt Dillahunty2023-08-01 | TW: Highlander 2
A quick, mostly for-fun, deconstruction of swords and angels in the Bible and in the stories tied to the Bible and how absurd they are.Atheist Debates - Debate Review - Is Christianity True? W/Trey JadlowMatt Dillahunty2023-07-31 | This is a review of this debate on Modern Day Debates: youtube.com/watch?v=muqjLttmmYA
Trey wasted all but 30 seconds of his opening on what he wasn't going to talk about and then wasted the first hour on desperately trying to get me to concede a very specific point about contingency - while presenting a flawed argument, being unwilling to accept "I don't know" as an answer and more.
So, in the review, I attempt to rehabilitate his LONE argument to something that is better and gets closer to the point he seemed to want to make.Atheist Debates - How did Judas die?Matt Dillahunty2023-07-02 | Is there a contradiction in the accounts of how Judas died? Who was he? Is there a way to resolve this?Atheist Debates - Is Christs Ascension reasonable?Matt Dillahunty2023-07-01 | The opening statement from a debate that was scheduled for today - but has been postponed or canceled.
If the debate occurs, a slightly shortened version of this statement will likely be used.Atheist Debates - Review - Is Christianity True? W/Cliffe KnechtleMatt Dillahunty2023-06-30 | Debate at Modern Day Debates: youtube.com/watch?v=aAg3H1LU1Yw
There's more to the debate than I could cover here and it gets even MORE heated after the first 45 minutes I've reviewed here.Atheist Debates - May 2023 Q and AMatt Dillahunty2023-06-04 | A collection of themes from patron and listener questions.Atheist Debates - Genesis 1 and 2 - are they contradictory?Matt Dillahunty2023-06-03 | A handful of potential contradictions from Genesis 1 and 2, how apologists deal with them...and what which problems should we care about.Debate Review vs Perspective PhilosphyMatt Dillahunty2023-06-01 | Debate: youtube.com/watch?v=13PnL6QyMEw
Perspective Philsophy was to defend "Is Christianity True" with specific emphasis on the Athanasian creed, the soteriological requirement of belief in the resurrection and the truth of the resurrection.
That's not what happened.Atheist Debates - Jesus was Trans?Matt Dillahunty2023-05-05 | I was presented with an intriguing but flawed argument in support of trans rights. I appreciate the attempt, but much like previous arguments about Jesus being trans because he must have had XX chromosomes, this one is also flawed.Atheist Debates - Debate Review, Is Islam True w/HusseinMatt Dillahunty2023-05-05 | Full debate: youtube.com/watch?v=i0Lih590It0&t=1039s
From DebateCon 3.1, I debated Hussein on whether Islam is true. He presented slides with versions of a contingency argument along with supposed scientific findings in the quran and evidence for Muhammed being a prophet.
During the Q&A, virtually every question was for him. Which would almost say more than I could say - but I had some important findings from this debate which I've included here.Atheist Debates - DebateCon 3.1 Debate reviewsMatt Dillahunty2023-05-01 | I attended and participated in DebateCon 3.1 and while I don't typically post reviews of other people's debates - I decided to briefly address the 3 other debates that took place at this event.Atheist Debates - Debate Review - Is Islam True with Perfect DawahMatt Dillahunty2023-04-03 | A review of a debate with a muslim apologist who is considerably more liberal and yet less capable of defending his positions.
With 3 tenets to defend, he failed to present a defense of any of them...telling me that he believes them because he doesn't believe they could possibly be untrue.Atheist Debates - Claims arent evidence?Matt Dillahunty2023-04-03 | I've been called out, repeatedly, for my position that claims aren't evidence. So it's time to clear up what I mean, and why.
In short, claims can contain evidence but they aren't evidence for what they're claiming. "I saw x happen" isn't evidence for x happening...because I could be lying or incorrect. It's the claim's consistency with the facts of reality that matter and it's the facts of reality, not the mere claim, that counts as evidence FOR the claim.Atheist Debates - Atheism, the Null HypothesisMatt Dillahunty2023-04-02 | Some atheists disagreed with my take on atheism as the null hypothesis, primarily on the grounds that the Null is typically associated with robust statistical analysis.
But it's the principle of the Null Hypothesis that I was referring to - and a small or empty data set is a problem for the alternative hypotheses, not the null.Atheist Debates - Debate Review: How cool are beavers?Matt Dillahunty2023-03-04 | In a recent debate against Ahmed Eshrah on Does God Exist:
The primary argument for god was that beavers "know" how to build complex dams even when not taught by their parents - and that this "information" could only come from a god.
So, let's look at the Baldwin effect, our own ignorance and arrogance and how that prevents us from understanding instinct and intution.Atheist Debates - Review - Is Christianity Rational? vs PoshMatt Dillahunty2023-03-02 | Another debate at MDD, watch the entire debate here: youtube.com/watch?v=v79C2YIRbrs&t=3713s
This debate was requested by Posh and we scheduled it about 24 hours before it happened. If you've seen the debate on Pascal's wager where my opponent barely addressed the subject in his opening remarks - this opponent addressed the subject even less, which is odd as he set the topic and could have requested a topic that he was honestly intested in debating.
Here are my thoughts on the debate include some information that might actually be useful to people who find themselves in a similar situation, debating with someone ill-prepared and desperate to avoid the topic of the debate.Atheist Debates - Jesus loves all transgender people?Matt Dillahunty2023-02-04 | This was tweeted by Inspiring Philosophy and prompted some discussion...
But the love he's talking about is as pointless as the Jesus he's claiming to hold it. It's propaganda. It's abuse. It's stereotyping and bigotry and we need to move the world beyond the simplistic Christian concept of 'sin' and the perverse love that arises from it.Atheist Debates - Debate Review - Is Christianity Rational? vs Stuart KnechtleMatt Dillahunty2023-02-03 | The entire debate is available at Modern Day Debates: youtube.com/watch?v=d0S_Ul-kRwQ&t=6s
Curiously, this debate seemed, at times to focus more on 'Is Matt Rational' than 'Is Christianity Rational?"... but there's still a lot to learn in this one.Atheist Debates - Calling Christianity a myth is offensiveMatt Dillahunty2023-02-01 | Myth: "a collection of myths especially one belonging to a particular religion or cultural tradition" 'a book disucssing Jewish and Christian mythology'
More colloquially, it's used to describe beliefs that we, generally, feel are antiquated, untrue or shouldn't be believed. As Christians have the core of their identity tied to their religion, calling it a myth can be offensive.Gaming, Q&A and Promoting Epic Loot ExoticsMatt Dillahunty2023-01-04 | Old Skool Old Gamer gets pwned in ValorantAtheist Debates - Debate Review - Mariology w/William AlbrëchtMatt Dillahunty2023-01-01 | Please, go watch this debate at the channel where it was hosted. I'd like to continue to encourage smaller channels to host debates and grow:
This debate did not go well, but at least one good thing came out of it. I cover the problems in William's position, as well as the problems with the debate format and the attitudes with which we both entered this debate.Atheist Debates - Debate Review - Is Islam True? 2 debatesMatt Dillahunty2022-12-31 | Over the span of a month, I debated two different muslims on the subject "Is Islam True?" - one in person, and one online.
This review covers the similarities and differences between those debates and suggestions on how to dig in against claims that the Quran is impressively accurate on scientific statements and that this, somehow, means the religious doctrines are true.Atheist Debates - Is Islam True Matt Dillahunty Vs Nadir AhmedMatt Dillahunty2022-12-20 | This video is uploaded here, with permission, specifically because Nadir Ahmed "dared" me to do it...he seems to think he demolished me and that atheists will be interested in doing damage control.
Please watch the original video at: youtube.com/watch?v=1doadhe5gD4Atheist Debates - Debate Review - Is Bodily Autonomy Sound - With DestinyMatt Dillahunty2022-12-05 | A brief overview of my debate/discussion with Destiny on whether the Bodily Autonomy argument for abortion is sound.
My thoughts on the proposed "vice" of gambling and how the very notion of vices is rooted strongly in religious moralizing - impacting even those who don't adhere to any religion.Atheist Debates - Debate Review - Did a perfect mind create the universe?Matt Dillahunty2022-11-02 | The debate can be watched here: youtube.com/watch?v=FUPOouj5jNg&t=3s
Zac defends, to varying degrees, the notion that a perfect being created the universe, by defining perfect as 'not subject to arbitrary limits' and 'having maximal greatness'. But how can a perfect mind do something or make something imperfect? What would it do - at all? How can our imperfect mind ever identify a perfect mind?
We take a look at some of these problems and why they haven't been and likely won't be, overcome.Atheist Debates - California Dreamin - misheard lyrics and flawed assumptionsMatt Dillahunty2022-10-31 | The classic song "California Dreamin" by John and Michelle Phillips of The Mamas and The Papas...contains a lyric that I misheard for many years because of religious indoctrination and flawed assumptions.
The nature of the song is fundamentally changed by mishearing a single word - how many other, and MORE significant errors have I made because of religious indoctrination?Simul-Stream: The Hang-Up with Matt Dillahunty and Jimmy SnowMatt Dillahunty2022-10-27 | For full resolution and to hangout in the livechat click this link: youtu.be/4bttxnkfiU8Why I left the ACA and whats next...Matt Dillahunty2022-10-09 | During The Atheist Experience on Sunday, October 2nd, I announced that it would be my final show and that I would be leaving the Atheist Community of Austin.
This live stream, scheduled for 4pm Central on October 9th will address the story behind this decision as well as what comes next.
Some reminders: 1. I'm not asking anyone else to leave the ACA or stop supporting the ACA, you do what you feel is best. Support me, them, both, neither...but I'm giving my reasons for why I'm no longer supporting them.
2. No one should harrass or bother the ACA about this, no matter how you feel about the information. There are still great people there, doing good, even if it's an organization I no longer wish to work with.
3. My former cohosts are AMAZING people - do not call in to ACA shows and ask the presenters to weigh in on this issue. The presenters on AxP were informed that I was leaving and, in part, why...but presenters on other shows were not informed and do not know all of the isseus (part of the problem).
4. I'm not sure if I'l be taking questions or not - the delay makes it difficult. But I do not have plans to address this issue after today. Getting back to work is the primary goal.Early test before 4pm Central streamMatt Dillahunty2022-10-09 | I'll be going live today at 4pm to talk about my departure from the Atheist Community of AustinAtheist Debates - Religion and ChildrenMatt Dillahunty2022-10-07 | A discussion this mornign prompted a lot of thought and discussion and I'm intrested in your feedback on this:
How much "meddling" is permissible in response to someone else's children being taught religion and/or blatant bigotry? What would YOU say if a kid came up to tell you that their parents taught them that god thinks gay people are "of the devil"?Atheist Debates - Using Church as a BabysitterMatt Dillahunty2022-10-06 | A lot of parents, both theists and nontheists, use church as a babysitter and teacher. Whether it's from fear of messing up or avoiding responsibility or just flawed assumptions that this is 'the good thing to do', there's a better option - humanism.
We need to help foster a generation that STOPS sending kids to church as the "norm"...and this will help end much religious privilege.Atheist Debates - Mental Illness disproves God?Matt Dillahunty2022-10-03 | This video is a direct appeal to apologists of any religion who hold to a "divine judgment" model, where we will all be judged based on our words and deeds, the content of our mind and character...or even our 'soul'.
How do you judge someone with strong mental illness/defects? How do you know when a soul is steering a person or when a defective brain is? How could a god possibly judge people with cognitive impairments?Atheist Debates - God is just pretendMatt Dillahunty2022-10-01 | How one of my favorite T-shirts went from "won't wear in public" to "frequently worn in public"...a slight shift inperspective on public-facing atheism and the nature of a positive assertion like "God is just pretend"Atheist Debates - Surprise!Matt Dillahunty2022-09-03 | Surprise can be a wonderful feeling. Pleasant surprises aren't always as desirable as the seem, but comedy and magic and other forms of entertainment are often built around surprise.
But what happens when you find yourself regularly surprised about facts of the world, in ways that aren't pleasant and have serious impact on one's well-being?Atheist Debates - Fear is the mind killerMatt Dillahunty2022-09-03 | A Facebook post about the evil "Energy attachment" of Pokémon prompted questions about demon possession and playing games with 'magic' involved.
Spellcasting +1Atheist Debates - What did Jesus sacrifice?Matt Dillahunty2022-09-02 | Even if we assume the stories are true, where is the sacrifice? What was given up? If someon is GOD, before and after, was there really any sacrifice?Atheist Debates - Deut 22:13-21 - Non-virgin bridesMatt Dillahunty2022-09-02 | This passage offers instructions to stone non-virgin brides to death...and how to fine those who falsely accuse a bride, 100 shekels.
The Bible is mysoginistic at nearly every turn, and there simply is no excuse for supporting passages like this one.Atheist Debates - Mailbag - Abortion in the Bible and Buddha predicts Jesus?Matt Dillahunty2022-07-30 | The ordeal of Jealousy in Numbers 5 is, undeniably, a Biblically approved description of the termination of a pregnancy on the grounds of adultery. Given that it's the only explicit treatment of abortion in the Bible - why is there so much Christian opposition to abortion?
A commenter on another video sent me off to investigate an earthquake in 33AD - and more. Spoiler alert: None of their claims have any credibility.Atheist Debates - Why Philosophy cant find God...Matt Dillahunty2022-07-30 | A commenter replied to my recent video on Why Science Can't Find God..and accused me of several errors, preached the absolute truth and supreme confidence of 'metaphysics' and how there are over 100 valid and sound arguments that prove a god exists.
I am, understandably, unmoved - but let's address his points.Atheist Debates - Foundherentism 101Matt Dillahunty2022-07-29 | As a response to a viewer, a quick introduction to Foundherentism.
A combination of two epistemologies, Foundationalism and Coherentism, Foundherentism acknowledges that neither of the former is complete or as robust as combining them.Atheist Debates - Skepticism and EpistemologyMatt Dillahunty2022-07-29 | A response to a viewer's question about whether or not skepticism is "an epistemology" and why I list "foundherentism" as my epistemology rather than skepticism.Atheist Debates - Why Science cant find God...Matt Dillahunty2022-07-03 | "Science is for the natural world, which is why it can't find god"
This concept is an admission that god belief is irrational, unwarranted, and unworthy of consideration until someone develops a reliable methodology for exploring god claims.Atheist Debates - Constellations arent realMatt Dillahunty2022-07-03 | While some Christians have cited the constellations as obvious evidence for a god, they fail to see the real complexity of the celestial sphere and the amazing capacity of our brains to find patterns and to inject those patterns with significance that simply does not exist.Atheist Debates - Mariology??Matt Dillahunty2022-07-02 | I debated some Catholics who proudly described themselves as Mariologists - experts in the study of Mary, the mother of Jesus.
Given the paucity of information on her, what is there to study? Why is this a discipline, at all?