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[_Dr. Shades]

I'd rather not have to sit through all 29 minutes of it, so will you be so kind as to summarize its salient points for us?

[_MrStakhanovite]

I'd rather not have to sit through all 29 minutes of it, so will you be so kind as to summarize its salient points for us?

Long ago, lots of people worshiped Zeus. Now, nobody worships Zeus because we don't think he exists. That makes everyone an atheist.

He's still reading Dan Barker and thinking it is awesome. He literally brings out the old trope, "The atheist believes in one less God than you do" at around the 13 minute mark, and the look on his face makes me think that is some kind of awesome point to make.

ETA: This is sliding into village atheism now. When Celcus accused early Christians of being atheists, Shirts is reading in a modern definition of the term into a foreign context. Christians were atheists because they didn't particpate in civil religion and were accused of trafficking in "black" magics.

[Guest]

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[Guest]

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[_DrW]

Watched for just under 20 minutes. That was more than enough.

Wish he would have made this video a long time ago. Then I would have been able to determine for certain that he has a poor grasp of facts (and doesn't seem to care). Could have saved myself the time wasted watching his apologetic videos.

His comments on "the realities of the universe" including his claim that the sun shines because of nuclear fission, and his explanation of the mechanism of charge separation in thunderstorms, etc., were so ridiculous that it was embarrassing to even watch him.

Admitting that one is an amateur is no excuse for not checking the facts before attempting to "teach" others.

I have come to the (evidence based) opinion that Bro. Shirts just likes to hear himself talk. Seeing himself on video is probably a bonus.

[Guest]

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[_Aristotle Smith]

Watched for just under 20 minutes. That was more than enough.

Wish he would have made this video a long time ago. Then I would have been able to determine for certain that he has a poor grasp of facts (and doesn't seem to care). Could have saved myself the time wasted watching his apologetic videos.

His comments on "the realities of the universe" including his claim that the sun shines because of nuclear fission, and his explanation of the mechanism of charge separation in thunderstorms, etc., were so ridiculous that it was embarrassing to even watch him.

Admitting that one is an amateur is no excuse for not checking the facts before attempting to "teach" others.

I have come to the (evidence based) opinion that Bro. Shirts just likes to hear himself talk. Seeing himself on video is probably a bonus.

I've got to admit I've always found him to be an eccentric character, but I haven't managed to sit through the whole of a single video before this one. The only reason I could is because he made such a u-turn on pretty much everything.

Do you think village Mormonism produces village Atheism?

Thanks,

Hasa Diga Eebowai

Absolutely.

[_MrStakhanovite]

You have to give credit where credit is due, Shirts is really evaluating the other side, is doing his best to understand it, and is so enthusiastic about learning it is kind of infectious.

Dan Barker is an intellectually dishonest and Shirts’ enthusiasm for him is what troubles me the most. I just hope Shirts doesn’t just stop there, but continues on to read better stuff, from all sides.

[_Cicero]

You have to give credit where credit is due, Shirts is really evaluating the other side, is doing his best to understand it, and is so enthusiastic about learning it is kind of infectious.

Dan Barker is an intellectually dishonest and Shirts’ enthusiasm for him is what troubles me the most. I just hope Shirts doesn’t just stop there, but continues on to read better stuff, from all sides.

I agree. I was once essentially where Kerry is today (although nowhere near as sure of myself) and it took me several years to really think through all of this. It's a start. What Kerry is most vulnerable too right now is the whole Kuhnic/post-modernist schtick of folks like mfbukowski or Kevin Christensen (I know because they had me convinced for quite a while too).