Do You Believe in God?
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- čas přidán 21. 06. 2011
- In which Hank discusses that all too common question and why he doesn't like it and so rarely answers it.
What does the answer tell you? Really? Is it like a blind man asking my skin color? Is it someone trying to legitimize their own beliefs? Is it built into our genes?
Don't get me wrong, we're built to categorize. Being truly exceptional pattern recognizers is one of the reasons why we are the dominant species on the planet. We seek patterns my nature, but it's something that we should work against. When we are going out of our way to pull data points so that we can more easily shove people into little boxes, that's even worse than your normal sort of prejudice.
Frankly, upon meeting someone, I'd rather not know their politics, their religion, their upbringing.
We build our vision of other people from scratch, and when we pull these flawed first impressions from pattern bias, prejudice, and in-group / out-group bias, we do ourselves and those people significant disservice.
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A Bunny
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These guys should be politicians. Their question dodging skills are uncanny.
lmao
John has answered this before. He was an atheist when he was younger but is now a Protestant Christian.
MrPigeonTeeth Would be great if they answered the question on, ya know, the video it's actually about.
+EnigmaHood it wasn't a video to answer the question. it was a video to discuss the nature of the question.
but if you're interested in answering it or discovering somebody else's answer, you're free to play.
do you believe in god?
***** " it wasn't a video to answer the question."
And yet the title of the video specifically asks the question.
"do you believe in god?"
No, do you?
13 is the number of times Hank adjusted his glasses.
lmfao, you are a legend. that's exactly why i came to this video
He probably needs better fitting glasses then
Damn you. Now I can’t stop paying attention to him adjusting his glasses.
I was just wondering 😀
Popcorn doesn't exist.
*grabs god*
***** no iz fact ur dum
***** no ur super dum
***** no u
+Phoenix Bush You took the bait hardcore man.
+Garen Crownguard I brought popcorn into my life a few weeks ago and it has really changed my life. I've gained at least 10 pounds, found a dollar on the ground the other day, and my grandma was brought back to life. Anyone who claims that popcorn doesn't exist is ignorant. Popcorn will always have love for you when you let them in. Love popcorn
Hey, Hank has the same beliefs as me... Baby Unicorn blood is so hard to come by nowadays
+TheEnmineer Try using baby goat blood it's easy to find! :P
+Doge ` Not here. Here baby cow blood is much easier to find.
here if you try to touch a cow you are gonna be bashed up by other people
That last part scared the living crap out of me!
Ikr me too
+Abhyuday Skywalker ikr
I watch these in the background while doing other stuff, and I don't really fully pay attention but I sorta listen to them while I work on stuff in another tab and that happened and i was like "WAHT THE SHIT"
ditto.
I thought it was hillarious.
Well, the ending was quite unexpected.
Gregg Johnson And you were wondering why that video had a weird thumbnail
I wasn't wondering that at all. Blue faces are completely normal.
+Gregg Johnson I'm high as fuck and that was terrifying
+XTheGamingBossX best comment.
+Gregg Johnson But funny as hell
I am an atheist, but I have a very strong interest in religions. Doesn't matter how old they are, if there are still people who practice them and from which culture. People find that odd, because if you happen to have some sort of stronger interest in religion and mythology you must -somehow- believe in them, otherwise you wouldn't waste so much time learning about them.
My fascination for religion and mythology mostly comes from my deep love for fantasy literature and imagination and art in general. I mostly see religions as a kind of escapist coping mechanism that various cultures have developed, first and foremost to explain the world with their rather limited knowledge they had before the advent of empirical science in the age of enlightenment; but also as a way to distance yourself from the exhaustive and dangerous nature of life.
I personally feel that in this day and age we do not need religious dogma (or rules) created by people who call themselves messengers of god(s) on earth. But I do think we still need escapism and stories. And I can see why some people find solace in the interesting world of old myths. As much as religions have also caused war and trouble, they have also given birth to the earliest and most well known stories and pieces of art. See the Gilgamesh epic or the Illiad and Odyssey, the Nibelungen and many more. All of these writings, narratives and scriptures had a huge influence on art and literature and so many of their tropes and imageries have been carried over even into the most recent works of art (see Tolkien and how much Lotr was inspired by celtic and germanic mythology).
And I think we need to treasure these thinks as important achievements and cultural heritages of humanity. That does also include the bible.
I love what you just said, but I'm an atheist too not that it should matter
i could kiss your mind just now!! that is so extremely well said, bravo!
to that i'd also add architecture. i have always been astonished by churches and cathedrals. i do think that some churches/cathedrals are the most impressive buildings man has ever built. it's amazing that those buildings came to life 'only' as a manifestation of the belief in the existence of a higher power.
and finally, i'm convinced that the act of believing itself (in general; not in god or anything in particular) is very important and religion was always a good 'training ground' for that.
I'm a Christian, but I do find other religions fascinating. I agree that one does not have to believe in a religion to find the practices, culture, and psychology of them to be interesting.
The rest... I'll just leave it at that ;)
Asteria I feel the same way, and my family refuses to believe I am an athiest, and very confident in my lack of religious beliefs, simply because I do so much research on different religions.
maybe you know there is something out there to believe in and you are trying to verify this before making the next. it is possible that you know there is a truth but you simply cant find it because you're looking for your best interest. Here's a thought. it Can't hurt to ask God to open your eyes even if you don't believe. It's worth a try. Verify your disbelief
It's been 5 years and he still looks the same
Vampire
That's not a long time
It's been 8 years now and yeah still same
@@abhijit_b Different glasses tho!
Nah, he's got a new haircut.
Hey, so I recently watched John's video "on religion" and it actually did the opposite of that putting you in a box thing. I felt like I suddenly got slapped in the face with the knowledge that I was becoming a bigot against Christians. It really snuck up on me, under my normal daily thoughts. I see that phony senator, or evangelist yelling about how I'm going to hell unless I become just like them. I see their hate, and their ignorance, their lack of empathy, and think "Religion teaches people to hate me. Religion sucks people's brains out." Then I realize that some very intelligent, empathetic, apparently good people (who's vlogs I watch) are religious, and aren't represented by those loud, hatful people. To someone who generally feels like defending herself against religion, you guys are representing it well with your few mentions of it. Thanks for helping me not be a bigot (not something I say every day).
Would it be okay if I shared your comment on social media (with, or without attribution)?
@@wade8813 If they don't reply, I'd suggest paraphrasing and capturing the spirit of their words. At that point, attribution is pretty much up to you.
Did you end up avoiding becoming a bigot against Christians?
This is being good IN SPITE of religion. Not the other way.
@@alexlink4623 Do you have any evidence of that?
I look at the comments and all I see is bunch of people making fun of other religions. I, as an atheist, am completely cool with what you believe. I mean, I would ask anyone who started to talk with me about this to go drink coffee and talk about it. I do not wanna destroys your beliefs
+GranadaFelish this just this. you sir are an example of how Atheists and secularists should behave.anyhoo. I feel that the disconnect as people between those of religion and atheists is in the modes of thought when discussing heated topics (like religion).
+GranadaFelish u sire is a genteman,now may ik what is ur viewpoint of islam?
Nero Vuk everyone can speak against anything,provided that,,it is done in a CIVILIZED manner and WITHOUT argument.Only by this,one can establish his/her point
Nero Vuk ask yourself.There's a reason for everything!
Nero Vuk life's got no fun if u know everything...figure it out
He did a really good job of tip toeing around the question.
Yeah!I was thinking the same thing.
What was.... the entire point.
He should become a politician ;)
He was talking about why he wasn't going to answer that question. He intentionally left it unanswered for the reasons that he lists in the video. You would have caught that had you paid any attention to the video at all.
Nicole Chung don't be condescending you silly little teenager. Obviously we all watched it, but your comment doesn't take anything away from how pointless it was.
I just wish that I have the Green Brothers as my professors. Jeez, I’d go to school everyday and be attentive af.
They are awesome.
Note: Don't watch youtube when you are sleep deprived and slightly drunk, because that end demonic thing scared the living hell out of me.
I'm just going to reinforce what Hank has said and do away with all the pretentious nonsense in these comments:
Belief in God or lack thereof is a personal choice and is something you need to decide for yourself. Not all Christians, Atheists, Satanists, etc think alike.
In conclusion, be good to each other and stop acting like you're better than someone because your ideology is different from someone else's.
Can I get a shoutout from all the normal, moderate Christians, Atheists and Satanists (LeVayan and Spiritual) out there?
You are the first commenter I've seen so far that didn't make me hate humanity. I applaud you, sir! If only everyone thought about religion this way...
Heck yeah!
Well said, Bryan Reyna. I identify as Christian (since, y'know, I follow the teachings of Jesus Christ), but I've gotten *so* much crap from too many conservative Christians because I'm progressive and liberal. Like John Green, I probably have a lot more in common with liberal folks of other faiths than with conservative Christians who claim the same faith that I do.
I've been re-watching VlogBrothers videos about religion lately... and I've figured something out. I'm gonna go out on a limb and say:
Religion does *not* make people do bad things. Also, religion does not make people do good things either (not sincerely good things, anyway). People generally fall into two categories, in my experience. They are either Awesomes or they are Fartbags. Awesomes will say their religion calls them to be an Awesome. Fartbags will say their religion calls them to be a Fartbag. Awesomes who choose no specific set of beliefs will say that's why they are an Awesome. Fartbags who choose no specific set of beliefs will say that's why they are a Fartbag.
A lot of things (like lived experiences and childhood upbringing) will cause a person to be either an Awesome or a Fartbag. But existential beliefs? Generally, those are just used to support a person's choice to be either an Awesome or a Fartbag.
Your Mileage May Vary, Of Course. :)
Religious or not, a good person is a person. Likewise, a shitbag is a shitbag. When people stop looking at a person's religious belief or lack thereof being indicative to that person's behavior, and just accept that that particular person's behavior is indicative of themselves AND NOT their beliefs, this world won't be as divided as it is.
Just be a good person of moral and ethical character and everything will fall into place.
Bryan Reyna Exactly. Like, let's allow a person's behavior and observations of how they treat fellow humans be the barometer by which we measure what kind of person they are.
Also, don't forget to be awesome (you seem to be doing a good job of that).
I am watching this at like 1 in the morning and am really tired. When I saw the ending I literally screamed and woke my parents and my brother up. Thanks Hank.
I'm a happy atheist. Please keep your hell threats within your own congregation...if people don't think hell is a real place, then what is the point of trying to scare them with it? That's an empty threat and frankly, it's a waste of your time and my time. I know in society we're supposed to be polite when someone walks up to you with a Bible, but I lock my doors and pretend I'm not home. I have better things to do than listen to threats from loving, peaceful religions.
FoleyTheDuck That could very well be the oddest response I've ever gotten. I hope DarkMatter2525 sees this one...it's a doozie.
Foley I like how you categorized Jehovas Witnesses right after you accused Make-Make of categorizing Christians.
Edit:
...OH I SEE. You were intentionally being stupid to satirize hypocrites. LOL. :)
As a Christian Atheist, that's the new thing... Aren't social norms that create morality? Therefore whatever science justifies and religion defend depends on social acceptance? Is there any good impact religion has. Can Atheism stand for itself without sarcasm and antagonism? In American culture the social norm is to criticise everything and judge everything and make fun of it, hence you tube comments. Atheism is here because it is socially acceptable and religion as well. So what it "does"is what it is allowed. Should we limit it's power? Yes as well as we limit sciences' power nd governm power based on social norms. That sound most moral to me.
Who created you and all the other creations and the whole universe who gave you mind to think and search for him and gave you enough time to do that
"They have not appraised Allah with true appraisal "
Qur'an
@@FoleyTheDuck Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t say “you’re possessed by the Devil if you don’t believe in God”! *sighs* Have you even ever had any real-life interactions with those people? They use the Bible to show people that there is hope for mankind, and that suffering, death, bad things, etc. are not here to stay… but that God has promised through His Word that he’ll soon put an end to them.
Please, do your research well instead of forming your opinions off what some people say and/or claim.
Dodged the question yet I'm still satisfied with the answer. Well done sir, well done.
Thanks God for making such a cool Earth for us humans to live on. 70% of our planet is undrinkable sea water. And don't forget the uninhabitable deserts! Thanks also for the tornadoes, hurricanes and ice ages. Thanks for the countless viruses, diseases, cancers and especially parasites, He gets so creative with those! A worm that can live in our eyeball? How come I never thought of that!!!
To be fair, deserts aren't totally uninhabitable. There are species, even humans, that can survive and even thrive in the desert. And entire ecosystems are dependent on deserts. It's a bit on the dry side for most humans though.
Same thing for seawater. Undrinkable to humans (without purification), but many animals (like sea turtles) are adapted to hydrating via the saline solution.
And all in all, I will say that the Earth is a cool place for us to live on. Perfect? Not by a long shot. Made by a god? Probably not, at least not an all powerful flawless one that is also all loving. But cool? Hells to the yeah. But of course, this is coming from somebody who is majoring in Wildlife Biology.
I actually think one of better ideas was to threat every human with eternal suffering if they don't worship him. Just shows how all loving and rational he is, totally not arrogant and selfrighteous.
What about the good things? You're alive, and breathing; your yourself; you have your friends and your family. By the way, not telling you to believe in a god but just try to see the good things in life. As well as the bad to cherish the good ones.
Well Earth is not made up of 70% water.... water is actually less than 1%. Water is 70% of the Earths CRUST.
Ryan Quinn
Isn't most of the earth made of platinum and nickel?
I just don't like people who are religious without thinking about it. I don't want to go to church every week or pray multiple times a day just because that's what I'm supposed to do. I want to figure out what religion is, what it means, what the next step is supposed to be. I've found that a lot of smart people who are religious have a different concept of God, something that makes more sense and connects more deeply to the human condition. People who would just hate me for not following their religion never get to see that, and I feel bad for them for that fact.
Blind faith is the most dangerous thing there is.
DaaaahWhoosh true. Find the truth
DaaaahWhoosh on your first half... why can’t you just respect that some people do want to go to church and pray and stuff? Why don’t you like them just because their beliefs are different than yours?
DaaaahWhoosh being in religion and believing in God is two different things matey
I would recommend checking out woodland hills church's sermons. They tend to go a little deeper into the why of believing.Shane Clayborn's books are interesting as well, and they talk a bit more about how to live out faith.
Hope this helps!
SPOILER: He doesn't answer.
I don't understand why science and religion fight. The two are not mutually exclusive. It may very well be that God does not exist, but it's equally as possible that God does exist and created science as a way for us to better understand his creations. I'm not religious, but this is just applying common sense and logic. Whether you're a man of science or of God, shutting out possibilities is ignorant and will only lead to a stagnant mind.
I shall thumbs that up...(???) Weird syntax and made up words aside I think you got it. There are some many permutations on how we can look at the world, religious, non-religious, religiously leaning...the list goes on...BUT science and religion can lean on each other for mutual benefaction. In my little world in my little brain I like to think of science as explaining stuff and giving hard proof and then religion steps in to give things "meaning". For example, I am made of matter which in turn is made of atoms and electrons and all sorts of science stuff but religion gives the collection of atoms that is me a little bit of meaning, I have a place in the Universe and if I play my cards right the collection of matter that is me might do something good. It's weird, esoteric thinking but I think A LOT about stuff like this.
how long does god have to be MIA before we call back the search party? 2000 years? 10 000? if he ever existed, then he is dead now.
Jindorek woah...existential...is any of this real!?
Science is a religion of itself: it can never be proven correct. The heart of science is falsifiability so theories can only be "more likely" to be true, so scientists have to believe that the foundation of science is likely to be true. The problem with god is that because its existence cannot be falsified with current technology, there is no way we can discuss about it in scientific ways; just like science can't prove or disprove the existence of extraterrestrial intelligence (Richard Feynman's lecture covering this topic uploaded on youtube is fairly informative). So I thinks it's not a battle between "science" and "religion" but rather "non-religious people who want to deny the existence of god in the name of science" and "others".
琴音板谷 what? science is a religion? I do't think that word means what you think it means. The word "BELIEVE" has more than one meaning. if i believe that the icecream truck is on its way to my house it is a hypothesis based on my previous experiences, of the icecream truck showing up at some point, the fact that the icecream truck has not been spotted in the area yet and that at some point in it's path lies my house. when it eventually shows up the hypothesis is true and it becomes a theory of ice cream delivery stating that until you have seen the ice cream truck and providing you didnt nap thru the afternoon, you will see the icecream truck.
If instead he doesnt pitch up, it could be because you napped thru his earlier visit, or because he changed routes or broke down. in that case you do some research, alter your hypothesis and try again with more experimentation.
If instead you believe that the icecream truck is a magical box with wheels that teleports in from another dimension with no warning and completely on a whim, with no external signs that it just teleported, and without any noise, then well, no experimentation will yield results because there is no way you can test this hypothesis.
Believing something is likely to happen because it can, is not the same as "having faith" that a magical box with wheels will teleport in from another dimension when u need icecream.
I deny god because believing that an invisible all powerful creature that refuses to appear or manifest in any way shape or form, is real, is preposterous. the simplest answer prevails. there is no god.
crash course philosophy ep 0
I hate this idea that all Christians are deluded, or simply following their parents beliefs. My Dad was an atheist until he was about 18, then became a Christian. He has had a successful career in science, is interested in philosophy, ethics, politics and history. He is by all accounts intelligent and rational.
Indeed. Many atheists assume all Christians have their faith thrust upon them by their parents and forced to believe in it. There are many like your dad who happen upon it and adopt it. Barack Obama is another person who adopted Christianity later in his life.
Neocasko Then again, most Christians have their faith thrust upon them by their parents. Forced to believe is a bit strong there. The truth is two-fold: children naturally try to emulate their parents, and children are generally never given any other option. You could say they were forced, since there isn't any other option, but as someone who was raised that way it certainly doesn't feel forced.
Note that this applies equally to children raised in atheist homes. Sadly, because atheists tend to be extremely critical of non-atheists, it's often more emulation of their parents than an actual internal recognition that you don't/no longer believe in something. A child of an atheist is far more likely to choose a religion than their parent. It's just a crap-shoot which one gets them. In the US, some form of Christianity almost certainly. In the Middle-East it's going to be Islam unless you're in Israel, where Judaism shoots up. In China you might become Buddhist, which is really cool since it's still atheist.
I was raised in a strict, protestant community which gave absolutely no compromise on issues like the literal nature of the creation story, the age of the earth, etc. Since I was also taught to think critically by a few select professors in high school and college, that belief structure eventually shattered. The best analogy I can give for what it would take to believe in the Judeo-Christian god again is to think about what it would take to believe in Santa Clause again. If I got to ride in Santa's sleigh on Christmas Eve and see how he delivers billions of presents around the world in a single night, then I could believe again. Of course, then I'd have some really hard questions for him, like why he hates poor kids so much. I'd need a similar level of evidence. A funny feeling and some coincidental good thing happening just when I need it to isn't going to cut it.
Jeffery Wells Agreed. Many kids do have their faith thrust upon them at a young age. And many are like you in that they are forced to agree to fundamentalist beliefs. Me and my family do identify as Christians but we are willing to question beliefs and are nowhere near being fundamentalists. We look at things very differently from them.
We are also non-denominational as well. I also recall even as a kid not necessarily believing stories like Genesis were meant to be taken literally. I understood it as an allegory, along with many of the other stories.
Neocasko I don't think that's a case for saying Christianity is false though. My parents raised us as Christian and we've all reacted differently. One is very traditional, church every Sunday, kind of bloke. Next is my sister who isn't really sure which faith she follows, though is pretty sure God exists. Next is another sister who thought it was all bullshit, until she was about 20 when she became a very liberal Christian. Then there's me, who is a Christian, but didn't really decide to become one until he was 18 and that wasn't from pressure from my parents. In fact, my parents never push us to come to church, even on Christmas day. Maybe we're not typical though.
Pete Nicholson Interesting. Very interesting. Your family and my own prove that you can't put all Christians into boxes or make accurate generalizations of them. Thanks for sharing.
Many today do not believe in God and it is understandable with all the hypocrisy carried on by many who claim to believe in him. Some may point to the atrocities and bloodshed so called men of the cloth have carried out in the name of God and religion. But is it reasonable to deny God’s existence on the basis of what MEN have done? Would it not be like saying that the ruler of a certain country does not exist because people falsely claiming to be his loyal subjects, have misrepresented him? Would it be reasonable to let other people’s misrepresentations block the development of a relationship that could contribute to our own lasting happiness and welfare?
Yet others deny the existence of God simply because they do not want to be accountable to him. They want to set their own standards for living. They may invent arguments in an effort to no more than self-deception. But a person’s preferring to believe that God does not exist so as to lead a “free” life obviously does not cause God to disappear. He remains, and does in fact exist!
Reasoning on the subject, most people are moved to admit that there really must be a God. The awesome universe, its beauty and order, the abundance and variety of plant and animal life, man himself, all point to the existence of a masterful Designer, a Creator of life and matter. Based on what they can see, millions of thinking individuals throughout the world have also come to appreciate certain qualities of God. They agree with the inspired apostle Paul: “God’s invisible qualities are clearly… perceived by the things made.” (Romans 1:20; Acts 14:16, 17)
Yo man your point is strong! I want to say that this beauty is explained so well by science that we don't find a need for one. See the beauty of science is that the principles we discover for the small things works beautifully with the big. The laws' universality is mind blowing and lovely.
People like to live free because no one likes to know that someone is controlling their life. Not believing in God is a psychological relief. It doesn't mean you should commit sins. All it tells about the person is that he is a person who demands freedom or wants to believe different from others.
Mysteries are always there, science strives to prove them. There has been been no physical proof of God. No one has proof of seeing, hearing, smelling God.
Think about this, if all adults teach their children that the tooth fairy exists and suddenly all adults die. The generations following will all believe that it exists. But you and I know it doesn't? Our parents told it to us as a story and to keep us happy. Well isn't that the same with God?
Bullshit, Strong Heart; absolute bullshit. I do not believe in God(s) because no one has given me a reason to believe in God(s).
*That is it.*
I am every bit accountable for my actions as you are. The thing is, I take responsibility for them, and not just scapegoat them away on the shoulders of some iron age Jew in fear of being burned for eternity.
What's it like, I wonder; what's it like telling children to believe in the alleged creator of the universe in fear of eternal punishment? Because I wouldn't know, I'm not some fucked up sadomasochist.
I was impressed until I read your second and third paragraphs.
In the, second paragraph you act as if you know that your faith is accurate the way one knows a glass of water isn't poison. I can understand people's believing in a god but when you act as if you know because you've spoken to god or something that's where I lose faith in you.
In the third paragraph you seem to be referencing a specific religion (christianity or some form of it) which is a let down because I have yet to hear one good argument against my biggest issue with christianity. Which is, someone who today was born in a jungle and raised not ever knowing of the civilized world and who hasn't ever even heard of Jesus Christ couldn't possibly accept him as a lord and savior. This is because they have never been exposed to the idea therefore when they masturbate for the first time or have sex without marriage (because they're tribe doesn't marry) they are condemned to hell.
Lastly I would like to point out that believing in God because of the universe we see around us appears to make sense on the surface but when you think about it in regards to the universe there is obviously something happening beyond out comprehension at this point in time. However, just because we don't understand it doesn't mean there is a god responsible for it. There used to be a god for nearly every unexplained phenomena (sun, wind, tides).
I wish people's reasons for believing in god made sense but not many people's reasons do, at least not those that talk about them.
I'll make it short.
You say;
" But is it reasonable to deny God’s existence on the basis of what MEN have done?"
So it's any more reasonable to assume God's existence because of what men have done?
You know, these silly things like... What's it 'gain.. writing and translating the bibel?
It goes both ways, I daresay.
I must politely disagree. Personally, I do not believe in a god because I see no reason to. Holy books do not count. If I believed everything written in fictional books I'd be fearing Voldemort and worshipping (bad choice of words, I don't mean that religiously) Harry Potter. I see holy books as collections of stories, similar to how most of the world views Greek mythology.
In response to your second paragraph, I must disagree. I have very strong morals. The difference is that mine come from my heart/head, from thinking about the result of my actions, and from what I know in my heart is wrong. I see a problem if the only reason a person doesn't kill people is because the Bible says not to.
As for your final paragraph, I personally find that the beauty in our world is all the more incredible without the existence of a god. The universe is naturally beautiful. We have an incredible variety of species on Earth that are all beautiful, but they did not need a god to make them that way. Beauty is all the more awe-inspiring if it just is that way. I feel humbled to simply exist in such a magnificent world in which I am only a small part. I feel lucky that chance would have it that I am able to be here at all.
The absence of a god does not mean that human life has no meaning. It means that we get to choose what effect our lives will have on the world. We choose our meaning. We can strive to make it better, or we can destroy it, but it can all be done independently of a god.
I feel like this has aged well and remains relevant nowadays. Good job Hank.
This video was actually so influential to me as a middle schooler when I was questioning my religion. I'm 24 now. But when I think back on how formative the love of knowledge and curiosity promoted by Hank and John was and how grateful I was to have found them, I think about videos like this one. And I'm glad you guys are still out here promoting intellectual and emotional honesty and fostering healthy communities on the internet. Thank you so much, vlogbrothers. DFTBA.
I consider myself to be very religious. My religion is a huge and inseparable part of my identity, and I don't know where I would be without it. I love learning what other people believe, though. It's so interesting to talk to different people. You know, not even to debate about what's really true, just to discuss different beliefs.
Emily Caballero I don't really understand how you can't separate religion form self, If you have the time I'd like to discuss it with you. I see religion as something in important and as a means for escapism although I will admit my perspective is skewed
Replies might be sporadic, but I would like to discuss it...why do you see religion as something separate from the self? Because to me, the more my religion is a part of me, the more success I've had. Also, why do you say your perspective is skewed?
Emily Caballero that's it
c'mon I thought this wud be a long debate
both of u get in here
let's have it
Emily Caballero fore note - all of this is opinion but for the sake of simplicity I will state it as a truth
Religion is a construct, if you had never been introduced to it you would be fine and not see it as part of you.
My view is also skewed due to living in a liberal area and surrounding my self with fellow skeptics, and people who agree with me and have never really seen or heard an argument for religion
Kaba Jifika I have to disagree with religion being something humanity in general could avoid. The way I see it, people would start seeking deep meaning in life even if all religion vanished. I'm not saying everybody would, but religion would develop.
And I guess I'm pretty biased too. I've grown up in a very religious household in a generally religious area my entire life. I have met people who challenge my beliefs though XD
I feel like you skipped over a very obvious, but perhaps not very nice reason (which was very polite of you). 1. Information, 1.5 Affirmation, 2. Catergorisation, 3. Proving you wrong. It's very possible that when someone asks if you believe in God that they want you to say yes/no, you do/n't, which falls under 1.5. But it is also possible, that for some people, they actually want you to say no/yes so that they can prove you wrong. It's a terrible motive. But something I've noticed from both sides is that some people take a very real kind of joy in trying to prove you wrong. It's possible this also comes under 1.5 as it's personally affirming your beliefs by (trying) to prove others wrong, but it seems to be a much more sinister motive.
I think it's cool that we are all allowed to believe in whatever we want. God, nothing, or the Flying Spaghetti Monster. What I don't think is cool, is when people try to force their beliefs down other people's throats. Everyone is entitled to believe in whatever makes the most sense to them. To some people, God doesn't make sense, and that's OK. Some people believe that not having a God isn't logical, and that's okay. Some people believe in many Gods, and so on. So, it's fine to have faith in whatever, just as long as you aren't hurting someone else.
Your statement is spot on sir...
Cambria Weeden UPVOTE THIS!
This is a very good thing. I'm a Christian, and a strong believer that you should SHARE your faith with other people. SHARE, not FORCE. people can come to their own conclusions once they have seen all the sides of the argument, and that's what free will is for.
I agree, Christians do shove thing down people's throats, but don't atheists as well? I believe there is a God (in better words, I accept there is a God) and he created everybody for a purpose. Why can't there be science and God? Maybe science is just the way God created everything? I know that there is suffering and pain in Africa, but you have to think: are we really here by a 1 and a million chance? IMO, the world is just too complex and beautiful to be here by accident. You can even research it yourself scientist are starting to say there is a 72/100 chance that there is a "creator of the universe" and, of course, a 28/100 chance we are here by accident. They're both scary thoughts. We're either alone in the universe, or were not alone.
Corban Hanson
I fully agree with your sentiment about both christians and atheists shoving things down each other's throats, and how science and god can co-exist.
However, I disagree with statement about us being incredibly unlikely. Yes, on an individual planet we're unlikely, but with a billion stars per galaxy, and billions or trillions of galaxies, just in the observable universe, (a opposed to the massive sections too far for us to see) it's unlikely that there WON'T be life somewhere around.
Where'd you get those stats? I'd like to read about them.
The reason I ask the question "do you believe in god" or more accurately "what are your religious beliefs, if any" is that you can learn a lot about a person from their answer. It doesn't matter what somebody answers with, what matters is HOW they answer and what their REASONING is. I don't care if someone is Islamic, Atheist, Christian, some pagan religion, or undecided. All that I care about in asking that question is learning the person's thought processes behind that belief.
Someone who practices islam is Muslim. Also i usually say I'm not religious.
@@tumishoselowa6441 right, so when if ever should we say Islamic?
@@dustinhaas8538 Usually Islamic is used as an adjective at least as far as I know
@@tumishoselowa6441 lol, well they're both adjectives, but yeah I looked it up and Islamic is used when describing things about the religion, and Muslim is like you said when your refer to a noun like a person or people, I'm sorry but they always seemed interchangeable to me
when I ask if someone believes in God it is so i understand the other things he says in more depth. and with authors/creators it is so i get a deeper understanding of their work
I would never ask this, because I would personally be insulted by the expectation that I might believe in gods.
When this video was first uploaded in 2011 the thumbnail was just a normal image of Hank. So the creepy demon morphing effect scared. the. hell. out. of. me. The memory is so vivid it's shocking that it happened 9 years ago.
Hank. I for one have seen enough of your videos to know that you're one of the smartest and most entertaining people on CZcams. You have proven your worth to me already and I could not be discouraged from enjoying your videos no matter how you answered this question. I have no doubt that your answer would clarify exactly what it is that you do or do not believe and that you would have many intelligent things to say on the subject. I would like very much to see it become a topic of discussion. However, I know from my experience how ugly people can sometimes get when this topic is on the table, so I also respect your decision not to give us your answer and I thank you for at least giving us this video with your thoughts on the question itself.
That is incredibly well put. I completely agree.
Thumbnail for this video looked terrifying.
JEEZUS! I missed that ending first time and didn't get where the thumbnail came from. That was slightly creepifying.
***** Slightly is an understatement. I went breathless and almost jumped out of my chair while screaming like a stereotypical 5 year old female.
Thank you for this video Hank! & for addressing exactly the anxiety-inducing aspects of such questions 😅
As a Christian I often feel the weight behind such questions because I can sense the range of possibilities behind why such a question might be asked, & the implications for my life upon answering.
Humans are beautiful & complex & need to be given the space to be who they are irrespective of simplistic categories & patterned ways of thinking.
Honestly I don't care whether or not you believe in God. I would still watch you either way. I like you content and your channel(s). So whether or not you believe in God doesn't bother me because I have already formed my opinion on you and that opinion is that I like you and what your beliefs are in the end won't effect that at all.
This is why I subscribe to this channel. Candid, thoughtful, existential, and just plain old brilliant. Thanks for another great video.
I love youtube and as I read the comments it becomes clear to me how much people start thinking about everything once they watch your videos... this just makes me happy
I’ve never been jump scared by a Vlogbrothers video before
I’ll make sure to keep my newborn unicorn away from Hank, apparently that’s necessary to do
I think as human beings we can't deny wanting to have an emotional stability from another source. Sometimes understanding how someone else believes and hearing about they're experience with something as deep as spiritually, is beneficial and maybe even stress relieving to our mind. We often get confused in our thoughts and what we believe to be truth. It feels good to get someone else to express how they feel, shedding new light on the subject. And there's nothing wrong with that.
Thanks Hank for reinforcing my belief!
The picture for this video when it is under the related videos is pretty terrifying
Oh man, had to watch for the thumbnail, and the last 3 seconds did not disappoint...
Only just found this other channel of yours a few days ago... I think due to the COVID overload vlog... But am enjoying them all.
I love when the YTs put a 12yo video in my feed.
(If the video was from anybody but @vlogbrothers, the comment above might be sarcastic AF. But, since it is from my favorite Green brothers,, I’m 100% sincere.)
🤓
I am an agnostic atheist who believes in the great spirit of mesopotamia.
Just try categorizing me.
impressive
Um why would you need to put agnostic in there? It has almost nothing to do with theology since agnostic means the lack of knowledge. Why I say almost is because everyone is agnostic about everything, it's like saying your agnostic about unicorns, yes there is a chance that they exist but a very low one so most people say they don't exist.
Lucy Far I put agnostic because that is what I really am, I don't believe or disbelieve, and because the entire thing is a joke, so why you are reading this much into it, who knows
MrInvisibleJ Cool, but it's still inconvenient since your agnostic about everything since you can never know something for absolute. Also atheist means the lack of belief thus has sort of the same meaning as agnostic in your view since we don't know if god is or isn't real.
Lucy Far you are going off of the hyper correct definitions, I am using the words as I and my peers use them, agnostic meaning that I believe in something, just not something concrete, and atheist being the total lack of belief, often tied to science
I think it is extremely important that we talk about religion. Think about it, C.S. Lewis said "Christianity, if false is of no importance. If true, it is of infinite importance. The one thing it cannot be is of moderate importance".
The statement you quoted is a form of Pascal's Wager (look it up), which is, unfortunately, patently ridiculous, and to think like that leads to misunderstanding and bigotry. For example, if Christianity is true then atheists, no matter how well they lead their lives, are going to be punished for eternity for their disbelief. But if Islam is true then Christians will receive an equivalently awful treatment. Unless there is a way to determine which religion is more likely right, there is a much higher chance of picking a wrong one and suffering eternal consequences for your choice.
Think about this: if Christianity is false, there is still a chance that it is very important. As Richard Dawkins once said, "What if you're wrong about the great Joo-Joo up the mountain?"
And if this life is all you do get, then isn't it important to spend it as economically as possible?
I agree that it is indeed important that we talk about religion, but it must be an open minded search for truth rather than a fear-based search for something most likely to ward off eternal consequences. If we start from the assumption that it is bad not to believe a certain way, we are opening the doors to shortsightedness, a refusal to look plainly at the facts and potential hostility towards those who do not share our beliefs.
Best wishes.
Micah Peak Something has to be true though, right?
Is it wise to say that there are too many options and too much smoke and mirrors so I'm just going to pretend like the right answer is not there?
I do see what you are saying though, and to an extent I agree. BUT...from the research I have done christianity is the most logical choice. Now there may come a day when more evidence is provided and I turn to Islam, or evolution, etc...
But science is always changing, in 100 years we may learn that gravity is a farce (probably not) but science is a worldview (evolution) and I don't think it would be in my best interest to follow something that has no definite answer. Scientists say that the universe is definitely 4.4 billion years old but 60 years ago scientists said the universe was definitely eternal (steady state universe). What will come next?
Sorry that was a bit of a rant.
I think logically we can rule out eastern religions, buddhism and hinduism because they hold no scientific evidence.
Islam is filled with holes about Muhammad's visit from Gabriel but if that's not enough Allah may invite his followers into paradise at their time of death, unless he is not in the mood to do so in which he sends them to damnation.
BTW I am not sure how much you know about christianity.
C.S. Lewis said it would be odd if christianity had been invented by man because in every religion on earth man dies for God to go to heaven while in christianity God dies for man so man could go to heaven. Why would man create a religion in which God would do all the work? Plus Jesus was a real person, it's in the Roman record, and not only in the bible but secular writers also talked about him.
Sorry I wrote so much, I am not a gifted writer so the ideas may sound correct in my head but I am limited in the presentation.
Micah Peak "but it must be an open minded search for truth rather than a fear-based search for something most likely to ward off eternal consequences"
Why are you the arbiter of deciding whether or not or how we should concern ourselves with eternal consequences? Seems awfully close-minded to me to force pluralism on everyone. The here-and-now isn't everything, according to MANY belief systems.
There will always be hostility between those who believe differently. That's the story of human existence. Seems like you wish to forcibly relegate religious belief to mere encyclopedic knowledge and force everyone to examine what you believe are fairy tales through the prism of your belief system, which likely involves celebrating and deifying science. We get it, but not everyone agrees with you.
A Whether Moments Poet
Hi Poet, you seem to be mixing up atheism with evolution. The two are not the same.
Evolution is a process of change in frequency of traits within a population of organisms. We can show that evolution happens by studying the available evidence, such as in the fossil record, or by comparing the DNA of extant species. The current best explanation of how evolution happens is called the neo-Darwinian synthesis, which is the combination of Charles Darwin's ideas about natural selection, Gregor Mendel's ideas about heritability, and more recent ideas about genetics, genetic drift, mutations. It's a very interesting branch of biology.
Atheism is the rejection of the claim that a god exists, sometimes on rational grounds, sometimes on cultural grounds.
The majority of Christians accept evolution, including the leaders of Catholicism and Anglicanism. Also, some atheists reject evolution.
Asha, you're right.
I usually assume atheism and evolution go hand and hand and they usually do but not all the time.
Although you said that most christians accept evolution which is not true. Most christians still believe in the 6 day creation. I recently read about a study on Drudge report stating that 70% of Americans do not believe in evolution.
And the evolution that some christians believe in is a guided process which had a creator and a plan. Not the blind process Darwinian evolution promotes.
This is an amazing answer. People are all the time trying to fit others in niches, it’s annoying.
I find it interesting how catagorization also works the other way. Not only do people catogorize others, they also do it to themselves. I am refering to how is somone considers themself a (x) then they adopt the belifs and behaviors of other (x's). X can be any catogorization in which one would say I am a x. Such as American, concervative, Muslim, gamer, Cowboys fan, etc. We not only assume things about others with catogorization, we also bend ourselves when we catogorize ourself.
Everyone can have their own belief about how the earth came to be but the truth is know one really knows. A person can believe whatever they want to believe but what you shouldn't do is use your belief to defend your actions. The fact is religion has caused many problems in the world even today. People use religion as a way to defend themselves for murders, bombings, wars, etc. I'm not saying people should abandon religion, I'm just saying people should stop trying to use it in ways it was not meant to be used. Religion can give hope for people who are in a sad time in their life. I'm not trying to challenge anyone's belief or start an argument, I just want people to really think on how they view religion.
True.
Kasey Ball Wow... impressive!
Given the amount of thought he put into it, he's definitely at the very least agnostic.
Same conclusion I drew, though I might be projecting.
so if he put any thought into it he has to reach the same idea you did, this is why i don't take 99% of the atheist arguments seriously
Sarah medouni That he's giving equal weight to all ideas and still claiming that he's not an authority on the matter sota tips his hand though doncha think?
He's an atheist
It's just that belief in God is blind faith. As a man of science as he is, it makes no sense to take the word of a bunch of people with no evidence
I love the way you analyzed the question and the reason for it rather than answering it.
This video has so much meaning to it and so many applications its incredible. Especially when it comes to the reasons why somebody would be asking that question. Judging somebody by a 1 word answer is an incredibly ignorant thing to do. Judging somebody with out trying to get to know them is a scary thing and can cause so many problems, although it being human nature to do sometime. Although you my not realize but this video and tis channel mean a lot to me. I feel, every time i watch a video i can apply it to my everyday life and come out of it a more educated human being. I hope you and John keep doing videos like this in the future. Hank on a video you posted yesterday 9/26/14 you stated how grateful you are to us as viewers, but you feel you need to fake it sometime because you lose your motivation and that you don't know what to do. I hope that the feeling you have doesn't stay long. Im sure I am not the only one to think this but your videos help us (us being other Nerdfighters) get through difficult times and become better educated and more accepting people. Thank you for all you do. DFTBA
What does the fox say: I AM A SATAN WORSHIPER WHO FEEDS ON THE BLOOD OF NEW BORN UNICORNS! True story.
id have to agree
How was your 12th birthday last week?
....how did you know my 12th birthday was last week...? ^
As a Christian, I have to say to the context of this debate, this is the best response to and for this question. It doesn't impose on anyone's belief structure or give them cater to one side or the other.
I FREAKIN LOVE the last few seconds of this video!! The other parts are also pretty great.
8 years later and I still get nightmares about this thumbnail
He actually answers this question in other videos (including his most recent one). He doesn't believe in anything spiritual. In my opinion if Hank and John just got together and said Hank isn't religious and John is a Christian they would do a better job of showing that it doesn't matter what a person's religious views are.
I think they did an adequate job explaining that anyway.
What really bugs me the most is when people constantly bash upon others' beliefs. Atheists bashing on religions and vice versa is like saying, "You can't have an opinion. Mine is right and yours isn't." It's just something you don't do. It's a very sensitive subject, and I don't understand why some people are so committed to ruin someone else's beliefs.
I feel it's because people suck. If someone asks me "if there is no God then why live?" I think to myself, "you're right, can you give me a gun so I can shoot myself, because all I wanted to do was eat some cereal but you came along and just ruined my morning. GAH!!!!!". But seriously, I don't care about your beliefs and you don't care about mine if they make both of us happy (unless those beliefs cause people harm).
***** So you'd be okay if your son believed in Santa Clause until he's 60?
Gabriele Sessa I might disagree with my son, but as long as it doesn't cause harm to others, I can't do anything about it.
***** That's true. But what about the harm that he's causing to himself? You think it's okay to be deluded?
By the way, this is not why an Atheist would bash on religion.
An Atheist would bash on religion when it affects him/her directly or indirectly (like legislation, political/social climate, etc.).
I don't think that any Atheists are judgmental towards what people do in their house and inside of their heads.
On the other hand, many religious people seem to be extremely opinionated about what people do in their own house and with their own private lives, especially when it comes to genitals and things like abortions.
Now, that would annoy anyone, wouldn't it? Hence the bashing.
Gabriele Sessa I just wish people would get along in the first place.
1:22 That water thing is actually true and it's amazing to think about.
I really like this response and I also like a lot of these more popular comments. As a Christian, I never saw the use in the practice of evangelism, unless it's in a country or part of a country without any information on the subject. Me personally, I see no reason why God doesn't exist, and I try my best to avoid any conversations that point otherwise, as I'm perfectly happy with my beliefs. Sure it may be biased, and incredibly precautious, but it makes me feel more safe.
I respect Hank for his answer to this question.
He has obviously thought about this question, and analytically picked apart why many people may ask such a question, such as labelling and confirmation bias...
Fair play. Hank is indeed a clever chap.
When I ask a question similar to that one, it is to figure out if someone knows that they can't know whether gods are real or not.
A lot of theists believe they know the absolute truth, and so do a lot of atheists.
Wow. Tbh, I really appreciate this... it's unfortunately altogether too rare to see people who are this smart and this good of educators refuse to take part in the bickering that so often accompanies this subject. As a strong proponent of one of these parties myself, I still find it quite uncomfortable when people try to tear another apart for their beliefs or lack of beliefs. This is true whether the "winner" of that argument shares my viewpoint or not. It takes a certain kind of strength to remain aloof. ^_^ 10/10, Hank. I'm glad I watch this channel. :)
Sometimes it really surprises me how much I agree with you guys. I don't watch these much, but when I do I'm always like "whoa, I was just thinking about that the other day." Probably a good sign that I should watch more.
oh my gosh.
these guys.
i feel like my brain is not up to standards.
wow. he did an ENTIRE video about the questions without actually answering it.
amazing. :D
heh. THANK YOU. i declare i will always ask "why do you care?" whenever someone asks me this. :)
The last 3 seconds of that video are going to haunt my dreams...
Mmmm. Tasty unicorns...
Ditto. ;-;
I think there's a third reason for the question. For the sake of knowledge or just sheer curiosity. God is a really interesting thing to talk about, and learning how people think about god/religion/etc can challenge your own perspectives and help you learn. I love to hear how people define god. I think it's really enlightening, and it can show you an interesting side of a person that's not usually visible. Not in a 'classification' way, but as a way of seeing how someone thinks.
The way you answered this question says a lot about you, even if you skirted giving a yes or no answer. I wish it were a more socially acceptable question, and that it didn't so often lead to fights!
Love this response, it pretty neatly encapsulates the issue with the question as well as the lack of good reason to answer it, as well as a funny joke.
That was a joke right...
Well, now, I can't watch his videos, anymore! I can't support someone who feeds on the blood of newborn unicorns. That is just too much against my beliefs! #savenewbornunicorns
I'm a unicorn'.)
I also feed off unicorn blood. It's good to know I'm not the only one.
he who shall not be named.
.....Voldemort?
Hey Hank! This video is kind of old and I don't know if you'll actually ever read this, but I think it's good to put what I think about this out into the world.
I love asking this question to people, especially when I don't know them that well. Not because I want to know if they're atheists like me, or Christian, or catholic, or Muslim, or Jewish, but because I love asking why they believe or don't believe.
You would be surprised how beautiful the answers can be and it just gives me so much faith in humanity. This is because even when you encounter people like me who don't believe in God, when you ask them why the don't, you inevitably find what they do believe in. They believe in humanity or science or love or so many different things.
You see people go deep into their own minds, maybe even try to explain to themselves why they believe what they believe and that is probably what I love the most about human consciousness. Seeing people get so passionate about something like religion is seriously one of my favorite things in the world. Whenever I ask this question, I make it clear that it's not my intention to change their mind or to have them change my mind, but to learn about what we deeply feel inside us.
Hard questions are commonly and widely avoided in society and I understand why, I really do. But it also doesn't have to be that way. I agree that religion should be personal, but I don't see why you can't share it with others. My relationship with my boyfriend is also personal but I love talking about why I love him so much as well.
I understand the reasons why you avoid answering this question on CZcams or why other people who may be reading this comment avoid it IRL as well. But I can't stress enough how much I recommend people doing this with others. When done in a safe and respectful environment, it will lead you to have the best, most memorable conversations.
Anyway, that's just what I think. 😬😬
its beautiful how unbiased he is about this topic
HE ACTUALLY PUT IT IN TO WORDS.
No I didn't need sleep.
Still love you Hank
When it comes up, I ask people on their religious history instead of their religion. It lets me get a deeper understanding about the person and it's not so insensitive. I've even asked atheists and have had some of the best conversations in my life
Hank, man I love your videos. I love the crash course. You are a very intelligent man and also very wise. On this topic of believing in God, I'd believe anybody wants something proven before they believe, right?. So I dare you to ask God to prove himself in His own way and I promise you that you won't be disappointed. You're awesome man, I really love what you do but I really dare you. Today, Right now, try it. Without me trying to prove God to you, ask Him to prove Himself. I'll be praying for you. Take it easy Bro.
I think Hank missed the essential reason of why this question is asked. Because it is interesting, it's thought-provoking, it's fun to have an intellectual conversation with someone and it's completely okay to disagree on it. Why some people get so offended when politely questioned on their beliefs I will never know.
There is a reason why it is considered an "illegal question" to ask to job applicants. It is actually against the law in that situation. People can be biased like you couldn't believe. There would be no problem if intellectual conversation was guaranteed, and if it will have no bearing on important decisions.
Well, perhaps it would be more prudent to ask the question "What are your thoughts on religion?" rather than "Do you believe in God?" in order to provoke an intellectual exchange? Hank is right, the latter phrasing DOES have rather judgmental undertones. I'm not against a good thought-provoking conversation, to be sure, but in my opinion the first phrasing is a lot more neutral, and is therefore less likely to lead to any party getting offended.
Usually, believers don't get offended with that question.
Joseph Ang because other believers (the vast majority of Americans) will not think less of them when they answer.
I believe in God, the God who created man, not the god created by man.
spedop08 Who though. How can you be sure? Bible was written by human, translated by humans, controlled by humans(same as to other holy books). The church and any other religious communities were all created by humans. Organized religions were all created by humans, and humans gave their own opinions and interpretations about concept of their own beliefs.
man is a product of evolution
Pio, that's just your interpretation.
Michael Taylor What about YOUR interpretation? I was a protestant for many years and I became an agnostic. If "God's words" were not interpreted by humans, then why there are numerous religions and cults on earth.
What do you believe? The Mormon way? Eastern orthodox? Anglican? Catholic? Protestant? Judaism? Sunni Islam? Shia Islam? Baha'i? Church of the last testament? Jehovah's Witnesses? Satanism? Seventh-day Adventist?
Tell me which INTERPRETATION do you believe in.
Michael Taylor And why you believe in it. Also tell me what will happen to those who disagree with your beliefs.
Well we all know the answer. Seems like you think you know it all and claim to fully understand god, well I guess I will not disturb a sheep then. A sheep knows to fellow the shepard, whether the shepard is god himself or a blind priest/cult leader/corrupted catholic monarch....nobody will know.
Gosh! How I love watching Hank's videos! Really! Thank you for every single video! Thanks!
motivation 1)reinforce,2)categorization,3)to see how well or bad you answer the question to learn better eloquence.
as far as 2 you are agnosticism or something of that flavor?
as far as 1 you reinforce a agnostic view point.
Reason #3: I'm a human and I'm curious. It has nothing to do with my opinion of you, it's just that as a normal person, I'd like to know things that I don't know now. The whole reason I learned how to ride a bike was because there was a time when I didn't know how to ride one and then I decided I'd like to know another thing.. I didn't do it because it looks cool or anything like that.. Of course you are free to do what you want and answer or not answer, but I'd hate for the reason you don't answer to be that you believe we will assume things about you.. Hank, thanks for reading xD
I was in that same spot on the Political Compass
me too A LIBERAL COMMIE BWAHAHAHAHAHAAH!!!!
EWww move right you fucking Noam Chomsky worshipping anarcho-communist.
Alright it's been a year.. to the first person- Good! Sorry you say you "used to be" where I am.. but I'm glad you were at one point where I am. To the second person- I'm not a communist, I am a libertarian leftist. Communist are at the top left. To the third person- When you see someone you disagree with, rarely does being rude to them help you change their minds and it makes you look bad.
The real question is "does God believe in you"?
🌊🌊🌊👍🌊🌊🌊
Hank I’m barely awake watching YT videos at 2:16 in the morning and then you hit with that thumb nail just as my eyes are getting tired
Hank, I absolutely loved the ending XD I've been obsessively watching your channels for a few days now... I only recently discovered you and John because my girlfriend pointed your channel out to me. Keep making amazing content!
I overwhelmingly love all the content that the Green brothers put out however, I feel that I might disagree with Hank on one point. I agree with him that the phrase "do you believe in god" is too simple and doesn't leave room for one to elaborate on their beliefs in particular. It asks for a yes or no answer, a dangerously simple observation of this deep complex topic. That being said Hank mentioned that he can only see three reasons for someone asking someone if they believe in god. I don't understand this. My issue is with the first proposed reason (1:46). I think that one's personal system of beliefs is mainly sculpted through the influence of those they respect. If I respect someone and am genuinely interested in their opinion I see no issue with asking them about their religious beliefs (As long as this person has no problem sharing their opinion and I am not treading on their personal boundaries). Am I missing something?
+mason duboef It's not immoral, per say. He's just saying that one shouldn't base their worldview on what others think, but rather how they personally feel about that worldview. Simply subscribing to the view of your friends or peers is not critical thinking; its just following.
(Sorry this is long and ranty) I understand that but it wasn't the point I was making. I tend to think that our personal beliefs and opinions are shapes though exposure to the thoughts of others. I agree, you shouldn't just form your system of beliefs by copying and pasting the beliefs one guy. That doesn't breed individuality. That being said I see nothing wrong with influence from people you respect. This is one of the best things about the internet is that it gives people a platform to voice their opinions. Someone in rural Arkansas may not be exposed to the same diversity of beliefs and culture present on the internet. I see nothing wrong with that person going online listening to a variety of opinions and start to form their set of beliefs based on what they saw. Hank made the point that he wouldn't share his beliefs because he didn't want people idolizing him and taking his word as law. I respect his attention toward the individuality of others but he kind of ignores the vast majority of people who wouldn't take his word as law. Everyone who would ponder over, consider his opinion and perhaps be influenced by it in some way or another.
mason duboef Alright, I see what you're getting at. Perhaps he just thinks that the topic of religion deserves at least a series on its own to explain, and doesn't want to get in the middle of that kind of time-consuming controversy.
Yea that would make sense. He doesn't seem to hesitate on other platforms, where he has time to go in depth about it so.
"I look to a day when people are judged not by the colour of their skin, but by the content of their character" MLK
I think someone's faith is part of the 'content of [someone's] character'. If we DID know Hank and John's views on faith, we would not be wrong to judge them by it...
But I can also accept that they don't WANT to be judged, and keeping their views private is perfectly fine with me. We have no right to this information, and they have no responsibility to give it.
...I do have a sneaky suspicion though!
I'd hesitate to consider myself secular, but really I don't do a whole lot of religious things. However I am a born and raised Roman Catholic, a belief reinforced recently by events I am about to describe.
A few years ago in 6th grade, I had this major crush, I don't think it'd even have been a stretch to call it love. But I never told her until it was too late: by the start of 7th she was in Tallahassee, by the end in Buncrana (Ireland).
I beat myself up emotionally for a little while, and never 100% got over her until 8th grade, and even then it was only an illusion.
A little into 9th grade (this year) I associated my feelings with _What Hurts the Most_, a song I'd heard before but never made a connection with, and that was just furthering my pain. Then I got a piece of another song stuck in my head for inexplicable reasons, and I looked it up: it was the song I needed to feel better: _My Wish_. It still hurts, but that gift from the Lord above helped ease it.
I feel that a person's beliefs related to the meaning of life... whether there is a "God" being a part of that... they shape the way that person thinks about literally every other aspect of anything they think about. If I can grasp what you believe about something so significant in your belief system, I can better understand your beliefs on other topics.
But I also like the answer you give in this video. Very thought provoking.
Welp. That uh... that last part's going to give me nightmares.... *clears throat* Thanks, Hank...
I laughed and clapped lol its not a jump scare
Option three for asking this question: You are actually interested in hearing this, not for any of the other reasons, but because you find it genuinely interesting to listen to and ponder these things with other people...
I'm noticing some pretty cool stuff in his room/office, like the Oatmeal poster, Obi-Wan Pop Vinyl, and Watchmen graphic novel.
I clicked on the video for neither of those two reasons and i think/hope that a lot of other people did as well.
Religion is just one of the most interesting topics ever, like it has had probably the biggest impact on history out of any thing/concept ever and asking yourself the question "do I believe in god" and the arguments for why/why not is one of the most significant things in a human life imo. Having conversations about religion and hearing different personal stories about religious journeys is to me the most interesting and irresistible thing. Though of course you have to be unprejudiced for a constructive conversation, so i get why not everybody wants to share.
I'm an apatheist.
I believe in wabbits ~
I like tuttles.
I believe in Shrek. SHREK IS LOVE! SHREK IS LIGHT!
cheese is a lie
JoeNobody010101 I belive leaves created us bow to down to them
hank... youre right, ive never thought about that... i see now... whenever someone asks me that is like they want to make sure i say "the right answer" like finding out if that one thing, that as you said doesnt say anything about who i am, is ok in their eyes or not... i see now
I'm a new listener. I think you did the right things. The main preacher I listen to is always saying you have to be like the Bereans (Buh-ree'-ns). They listened to the word (this is before the Bible, mind you, and they still had believers) with all openness of mind, and searched the Scripture daily to see if it was true. Trust but verify. That's the kind of mom I was, too. I knew the exact moment my son was comfortable/stupid enough to hide drugs (pot) in his socks.
4 politically sensitive you usually don't talk about with someone unless you're really close to them: race, sex, religion, and politics.
And yet people here on youtube argue about all 4 everyday...
To hell with sensitivity.
why is the thumbnail like that?? I'm very inebriated and i saw the scary thumbnail and the title and i cried irl T-T
I agree entirely because I watched all of Crash Course Philosophy and I started thinking the same way LOL!! I think these brothers are the most unbiased intellectuals I have ever come across. While I may disagree with some of their insights, I genuinely think they try to be as objective as possible!!
Never really given this much thought, but I agree with everything he said. Asking that question of anyone is self reaffirming, and a misguided attempt to, I’ll say categorise rather than understand, someone. You should be able to ask someone their religious beliefs simply because it’s a part of who they are, but it actually tells you so little about someone and is so loaded with social and political baggage, that no one gets anything from it. Good video, as always.