Skeptic Generation

Skeptic Generation is excited to have a friend and co-host from another life, Kevin S join us today! We have some difficult things to discuss after the Roe v Wade decision news, but we also want to make sure we’re staying on course on our own mission: taking bad ideas to task.

Do you think your beliefs should be *our* beliefs? Do you believe in a globalist agenda, aliens, or other grand conspiracy? Call In! 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG.
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TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES

00:00 - Intro - Discussing This Horrible Week
06:44 - My Friend Believes in Demons - Chris (he/him) - UK
25:47 - Christians Need to Step Up! - Vishanti (she/her) - CA
37:47 - Is There Religious Persecution in the US? - Connor (he/him) - TX
47:40 - Give Less Credit To God! - Wolfos (he/him) - TX
52:25 - Bigots Deserve Your Platform! - Kay (he/him) - N/A
1:15:32 - What Are The Moral Obligations of Skeptics? - Preston (he/him) - TX

06:44
This caller used to believe some very “out there” evangelistic beliefs, and back in the day he converted his friend. Now the caller has deconverted, but his friend is still deep in it… and has gone even further. This friend now believes that they are demon possessed and cannot leave the house. How do you reckon with the guilt, and what can Chris do to help?

25:47
Repeat caller Vishanti is fed up with progressive Christians washing their hands of the radical Christofascist Right. What can they do to deal emotionally and practically with these bad actors, and what do we risk if they don’t? Speaking of bad actors, we dump on Mr. Delicieux for a while which is oddly cathartic.

If you want to share the cringe, check out the other week’s clip: https://youtu.be/gbdJHNknzyc

37:47
This religious caller is not a Christian, and feels threatened by the Christian nationalist agenda in the United States. Deeply scared, in fact. Special guest Kevin has some crucial takes on why things are so dark right now, and he isn’t afraid to call a spade a spade.

47:40
People have to be more willing to give themselves more credit, and give God less credit. You’ve done the thing yourself! Just a cheerful reminder from a repeat caller!

52:25
We discussed “debate bros” the other week. Now this caller wants to defend Destiny for being a champion for having the hard conversations. According to this caller, there is no such thing as “platforming a bad idea” and you should give everyone who wants to debate the rights of others a microphone. In general, he has lots of opinions on how we should run our show. Maybe he should start his own?

Watch our last conversation about debate bros: https://youtu.be/3NIk_KrTS8g
Check out a video that explains this issue better than we could with @F.D Signifier here: https://youtu.be/4y0nR0E8pk4

1:15:50
Do skeptics have any kind of moral duties or obligations? Does skepticism have any kind of “ought” statements? Eric gets really excited about this and dives right in. Ultimately, skepticism is not what you use to make moral judgments, but it *is* how you get the raw materials to make good moral judgments.
___________________
Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CT
Call on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774)
Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG

Love the show?
Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG
Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: tiny.cc/SG22Merch
Help with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist
Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord

To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com

Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

We've had enough sensational crap recently, let’s settle in and have a good conversation. Do you have a belief that could use a skeptical eye? Do you think we're gonna burn in the fiery depths of hell?

Call In! 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG.

Learn more about Juneteenth: https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/historical-legacy-juneteenth
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TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES

00:00 - Intro - Announcing a Special Guest Next Week
03:36 - The Romans 1:20 Conundrum - Will (he/him) - TX
09:32 - Deism vs. Agnosticism - Joe (he/him) - KS
29:27 - The Five Ways To Tell If Something’s True - Steven (he/him) - MI
35:24 - My Partner Is A Christian and I’m Not… Help! - Nathan (he/him) - PA
44:35 - Religion is Cultural, Not Revelatory - Allen (he/him) - MI
1:01:07 - Defending Debate Bros - Steve (any/all) - NY

03:36
Have you encountered the Romans 1:20 argument from theist friends, relatives, or apologists? If so, you may be entitled to compensation… or at least our empathy. How do you address this with someone, and is it a lost cause to try and counter it?

Romans 1:20: “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”

09:32
This caller deconverted from Christianity in his teens and is now a deist. Eric digs into the reasoning behind this stance: is it a God of the gaps argument? What is the motivation for holding onto a god belief, and is it something that necessarily needs to go?

29:27
How do you know what is true? This caller says there are five different methodologies regarding how you can know something is accurate. Why don’t we use all five all the time? Eric suggests that might lead to analysis paralysis, but for those big claims that influence our worldview… absolutely!

Check out the article discussed on this call here: https://kq.freepressunlimited.org/evidence/the-psychology-of-fake-news/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwkruVBhCHARIsACVIiOw5kmAPr4h1knJUil9QIAiUI7UjKrh2QtgQ39nGXalU-nvEdjeyu4oaAnqIEALw_wcB

35:24
How do you navigate a relationship if your partner is worried you’re going to hell? This caller is grappling with some heavy questions, and luckily he called the most compassionate host on an atheist call-in show. Eric gives relationship advice, and ends up (kinda) therapizing himself too…

44:35
Many religions claim they originated via divine revelation, but this caller thinks that religion is, in fact, cultural. His previous Baháʼí faith and missionary work led him to this realization: the issue isn’t with religion but with God. He lays out five points to prove this. (SG Kitty makes an appearance!)

1:01:07
Are debate bros unlikely heroes? Do we owe the current landscape of YouTube to cis white guys willing to have the uncomfortable debates? This caller seems to think so, but Eric isn’t so sure.

Vi is in the live chat pulling their hair out wanting to respond… so they call in too!

___________________
Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CT
Call on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774)
Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG

Love the show?
Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG
Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22Merch
Help with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist
Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord

To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com

Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

Should Eric have gotten a flight all night back from Portland to make it to the show at the last second? Probably not, but here we go! This host is flying solo this week and doesn't have a lot of fuse to burn.

Do you think you have the answers to life, the universe, or really anything? Call In! 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG.
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TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES

00:00 - Intro - Eric Has Had 3 Hours of Sleep
04:15 - Are We In Another Satanic Panic? - Chris (he/him) - UK
13:11 - But Is Atlantis Real Though? - Connor (he/him) - TX
28:38 - Eric Officially Disproves Ghosts - Chris (he/him) - UK
46:06 - This Repeat Theist Picked The Wrong Day To Call In… - Mr. Delicieux - CAN
1:08:40 - What Is Your Favorite Cryptid? - Alda (she/her) - SC
1:17:51 - There Are No Soulmates, and That’s OK - Joshua (he/him) - SC
1:27:09 - Far-Right Troll Gets Hung Up On - Jon (he/him) - CAN
1:32:48 - Superchats

04:15
Did the Satanic Panic ever really go away? Why are we seeing such a rise in conspiracy theories and fear mongering, especially as it pertains to “protecting the children” from “dangerous outsiders”? Eric and the caller discuss why we might be seeing similar problems arising today.

If you want more information about the Satanic Panic, check out Seth Andrew’s talk on the subject on @The Thinking Atheist channel: https://youtu.be/iW6UoIjy5F4

13:11
This caller wants to know why people are such skeptics when it comes to discussing the reality of Atlantis. Is it possible that ancient civilizations could have created a technologically advanced city on an undiscovered sunken land mass? When is believing this “accepting the evidence” and when is it “credulity”?

Check out a previous call about this topic here: https://youtu.be/IgxTaDVNIhU

28:38
In the most level-headed and incisive takedown of ghost lore on Skeptic Generation history, Eric guides this caller through a host of ways to disprove the existence of the paranormal realm. If you’re looking for a bunch of new, science-based ways to refute ghost claims, definitely check out this clip.

46:06
Mr. Delicieux is back… for the final time. This repeat theist caller picked the wrong day to call in, because a sleep-deprived Eric is an Eric with little patience for bullshit. Yes, it’s frustrating to listen to the smugness, but stick around to the end and listen to the sweet sound of that mic drop. We’re done here.

1:08:40
If you are a fan of mythological beasts of any sort, you are probably going to enjoy this call a lot. We discuss the Not Deer, wendigos, Nessie, and a whole host of other paranormal creatures, including where the legends come from. What is your favorite cryptid, and do you know its origin story?

1:17:51
Eric consoles a caller who has recently deconverted and is going through a time of grief without the comfort of a god to lean on. They discuss heartbreak, soul mates, and how to use skepticism not as a tool of nihilism but as a way to move forward and create meaning and hope in the future. Get out your tissues for this one!

1:27:09
Rarely have we seen Eric get so mad. We almost made it this week without a horrible, bigoted call from a Christian nationalist, but it wasn’t meant to be. Jon, if you’re reading this, please never call in again. We don’t like you.

If you are concerned about keeping children safe as we see a rise in gun violence across the United States, consider supporting March For Our Lives: https://marchforourlives.com/
___________________
Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CT
Call on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774)
Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG

Love the show?
Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG
Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22Merch
Help with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist
Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord

To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com

Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

Coming out of retirement to join Eric today, Russell is a veteran to the call in show format. We're sure this is gonna be good! Please call in to share your beliefs and talk to us about what you believe and why: 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG.

Follow Russell on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/RussellGlasser
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TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES
00:00 - Intro
03:12 - Russell Needs To Talk… about Roe v. Wade
33:04 - Are Atheist Religions & Rituals Good? - Steve (any/all) - NY
42:48 - Do Agnostics Have Impossible Standards of Evidence - Joe (he/him) - KS
59:19 - Russell Stomps Xeno’s God Claims - Xeno (he/him) - SK
1:17:03 - Magic Is True Because… Drugs? - David (they/them) - NC
1:29:03- Superchats

00:00
We welcome Russell Glasser back on live air, and he needs to talk. He does a deep dive on the Christian Right’s fight against reproductive choice, explaining how we got to the current leak regarding the Roe v. Wade decision will impact the United States.

Are you interested in doing something? Check out the community action idea generator that Vi built for inspiration: https://perchance.org/community-action-idea-generator

33:10
This caller asks whether atheists using religion and ritual to fight Christian extremists is a good thing. Eric thinks that it works well and is effective, while Russell wonders if it’s just a little too trolly. If you’re interested in the kinds of religions discussed here, check out some of the links below:

“Hail Satan?” documentary of the Satanic Temple: https://youtu.be/27RtJp-rhHk
Vi discusses the Church of Prismatic Light: https://youtu.be/Nnz3jeA_MPk

42:54
Do agnostics and atheists have an impossible standard of evidence? If requiring a modern autopsy of the dead body of Jesus Christ prior to his resurrection is the only thing that will convince you of Christianity, are you basically admitting your position is unfalsifiable? The hosts have thoughts… What would convince them?

59:42
The software programmers geek out… until one of them (spoiler: not Russell) says he thinks that God probably exists because “How can you know for sure He doesn’t?” This is a classic argument from ignorance, but Xeno will not be deterred! Eric makes some killer points, and Russell is profoundly unimpressed. This is cathartic.

Check out previous calls with Xeno:

- God is Like An NFT: https://youtu.be/kHcDKiWk_Ds
- I Can’t Prove God, But You Should Believe Anyway: https://youtu.be/PNNxwNF8Yns

1:16:40
Is magic like voodoo functionally true? Is there a difference between the supernatural and the preternatural? Is this linked to mental health in some way? What about drugs? We are all very confused, but we enjoyed the West World references.

General request: Please don’t turn mental illness or neurodivergence into “magical experiences,” that’s generally a really bad idea.
___________________
Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CT
Call on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774)
Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG

Love the show?
Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG
Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22Merch
Help with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist
Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord

To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com

Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

June is almost here, so that means if you want to catch Vi live on Sunday, now's your last chance for a while. Call in to share your beliefs and tell us why you think the way you do: 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG.
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TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES

00:00 - Intro - Where Is Vi Going?
09:25 - What If The True Religion Hasn’t Been Created Yet? - Relic (he/him) - TX
30:38 - Everyone Actually Believes In God - Sam (he/him) - TX
43:00 - How To Come Out - Sal (they/them) - OH
1:00:06 - Why Won’t Theists Change Their Minds? - Will (he/him) - TX
1:06:45 - The Ascension of Baháʼu'lláh? - Connor (he/him) - TX
1:15:27 - How To Avoid Fake News - Chris (he/him) - SCT

09:26
How do we know that the true religion won’t be created in the future? Repeat theist caller Relic calls in to explain why a perfect religion might address society’s issues. Vi points out the unlikelihood of a perfect religion existing, and Eric asks why a religion is needed at all.

30:47
This theist has called in to let Vi and Eric know that they actually *do* believe in God, and that they are doing the Lord’s work by building a studio and showing up every Sunday to debate His existence. The caller reassures the hosts that he can be trusted, as he is delivering a message straight from Jesus himself.

43:03
How is coming out as an atheist similar or different to coming out as LGBTQ+? This caller wants to hear how the hosts navigate the intersections of “coming out” as Pride month begins. What challenges have they faced, and what are they still grappling with?

1:00:21
Why not ask theists right away what will change their minds? This caller wants to learn more about the tactics of counter apologetics, and the hosts dive into their rationale when debating with theists. Eric hits the nail on the head: why assume that theists think there is value in changing their minds at all?

1:07:05
Another Baháʼí caller, this time someone who wants to share a bit about holy days and the ascension of their messianic figure. The hosts attempt to parse out how this caller navigates accepting the truth of all religions while determining what corresponds to reality. What do they do when two faiths contradict each other?

1:15:45
As someone who is raised in a religious environment, it can be difficult to know how to parse good and bad information. Vi discusses what this looks like from a journalism psychology perspective, and offers some practical tips to being more informed and avoiding the fake news funnel.

For more information on how to determine good information online, watch this clip from a few weeks ago: https://youtu.be/JBFPJL6QASc
___________________
Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CT
Call on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774)
Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG

Love the show?
Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG
Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22Merch
Help with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist
Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord

To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com

Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

The week of our birthday surprise episode is here: and it's a retrospective! We're going to be reviewing some of our favorite (or most cringe-worthy) clips from our first year as an independent live call-in show. Get ready to hear our thoughts on Robin, Chad, Jay, and Flat Earther Connor (among others). We won't be taking calls this week, so save your questions for next Sunday!

Also, make sure you check out our monster 4-hour livestream where Eric builds our production computer from the ground up, joined by Thomas Westbrook of Holy Koolaid! You can find that here (for now), before it moves onto Patreon: https://youtu.be/c2uST3EQrSU
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TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES

00:00 - Intro - Happy Birthday to SG!
13:51 - We Review Our Very First Episode: "We Were Panicking!"
25:06 - Vi Reviews Scott’s Call: “The Thing About C.S. Lewis…”
37:40 - Eric Reviews Jay’s Call: “What the HELL Was that?”
48:11 - We Review Flat Earther Call: “What Do You Mean, Pac Man?”
1:02:36 - Vi Reviews Robin’s Call: “A Livestreamer’s Worst Nightmare”
1:17:03 - Eric Reviews Chad’s Call: “Don’t Be A Troll”

WHERE TO FIND THE CLIPS FROM THE EPISODE TODAY
Want to watch the full clips from the episode today? You can find them here:

Our First Cold Open (S1E1): https://youtu.be/_cxzwxHGmVM
Why Aren't Atheists Convinced By Evidence? (S2E3): https://youtu.be/mIFeBeYF8vY
Eric Unloads on Theist Caller (S2E11): https://youtu.be/PR9D5g9_b_I
Flat Earther Has Proof Scientists Won't Look At (S1E20): https://youtu.be/0pY8TVpGwUE
Vi Versus A Darth Dawkins Clone (S1E7): https://youtu.be/vlx5E0tdweQ
This Troll Seems Very Angry (S1E22): https://youtu.be/jkHfa_zoeDs

__________________
Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CT
Call on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774)
Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG

Love the show?
Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG
Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: tiny.cc/SG22Merch
Help with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist
Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord

To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com

Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

This week we got a rave review from a fan, namely that we are more cringey, absurd, and touchy-feely garbage with each passing week. We're so excited to be making such consistent progress, and hope you'll join us this Sunday to witness us taking one more step toward greatness: call us at 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG.

SOME EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENTS

May 19th: Senior Patron Hangout on Discord
May 21st: Watch Eric Build Our Production Computer! (Limited livestream event)
May 22nd: Surprise Birthday Episode
Week of June 6th (TBD): Eric & Vi Are In Portland, OR!
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TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES

00:00 - Intro
05:11 - “Help! My Brother Is Watching Jordan Peterson” - Erika (she/her) - TX
23:06 - Theist Says THIS Makes Skeptics Look Silly - Joe (he/him) - KS
36:57 - Could You Identify God If You Met One? - Lucas (he/him) - BR
46:53 - Crypto Bro Proves God Using Empirical Evidence - Xeno (he/him) - SK
1:15:35 - Sex, Drugs, and Televangelists - Benji (he/him) - US
1:24:45 - This Call Gave Us Goosebumps! - Fancy Monkey (he/him) - GA

05:17
How do you have conversations with someone who thinks being a math teacher makes them qualified to debunk evolution? What if that person is your Christian brother? What if he has started listening to Jordan Peterson? This caller needs help figuring out family communication as a new skeptic.

This is the book that Vi recommended: https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/informal-logic-a-pragmatic-approach_douglas-n-walton/794396/item/4024815/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwyYKUBhDJARIsAMj9lkG7RD3zS794oZvRQRZ2R7mV_lu---2rIah9m47AIsI_Zt1a2FosPIkaAhqyEALw_wcB#idiq=4024815&edition=5988947

23:10
Repeat theist caller Joe asks why skeptics are so concerned about astrology and horoscopes. Aren’t they harmless fun most of the time? Eric points out some situations when relying on astrology could be really dangerous, and Vi highlights the underlying problem of magical thinking that normalizes accepting harmful claims.

37:09
Star Trek nerd alert on this one! This caller wants to know if the hosts would concede that an all-powerful or manipulative creature was a god. Well, what does being a god even mean? Why do we call things “god” in the first place? Eric approaches this from a linguistic perspective, while Vi highlights the moral and aesthetic baggage weighing down the word “god”.

47:00
Xeno calls back to teach us why God is real, using NFTs as an example. The only problem is, Vi and Eric remain resoundingly unimpressed. Eric especially is having none of it, and this caller ends up being hung up on after telling the hosts to “sit down and shut up.”

1:15:41
This caller is an atheist working undercover at an international televangelist organization. He is grappling with some guilt because while it pays well, he knows he’s helping the baddies. Should he quit his job? Publish a tell-all? Become a mole and report dirt to the government? Eric and Vi have some ideas, and also definitely want to read his future book.

1:24:55
This atheist caller tells the hosts about an answered prayer from his past, and it is genuinely a beautiful story. The three of them break down why it might be compelling for believers, why it probably was just coincidence, and how that doesn’t make it any less special.

___________________
Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CT
Call on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774)
Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG

Love the show?
Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG
Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22Merch
Help with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist
Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord

To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com

Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

Eric is very excited. Last week, we pulled the trigger on buying the pieces of what will be our new production computer. While there will be a whole livestream about this in the near future, we thought we'd give you a sneak peek. Then, we hope to hear all about what's got YOU excited (if it has to do with what you believe and why). Call us at 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG.

SOME EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENTS

May 19th: Senior Patron Hangout on Discord
May 21st: Watch Eric Build Our Production Computer! (Limited livestream event)
May 22nd: Surprise Birthday Episode
Week of June 6th (TBD): Eric & Vi Are In Portland, OR!
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TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES

00:00 - Intro - Eric Shows Us His Parts…. Not Like That
10:58 - Is “Love” a Religious Word? - Douglas (he/him) - ID
25:32 - Theist Says Atheists Can’t Understand Love - Jay (??) - MO
44:55 - Should I Join the Church of Prismatic Light? - Levi (he/him) - CO
51:38 - Why Are We Forced to Play By Different Rules? - Chris (he/him) - CT
1:10:29 - Atheist Defends Unconditional Love - Woflos (he/him) - TX

10:20
We have a few calls about love this week. This caller wants to know whether love is a word religious people use to manipulate, and how we can best reclaim the word so it cannot be used for harm. Vi references All About Love by bell hooks, and Eric speaks from personal experience regarding how religion used “love” to control.

Curious about more philosophy on love? Go buy the book All About Love: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17607.All_About_Love

25:38
Repeat theist caller Jay wants to give us the good news: we cannot understand unconditional love because we do not believe in God. After being confused about why this might be considered rude or condescending, Jay tries to pivot to challenging the hosts to accept God into their lives by “seeking” for 30 days. The hosts are not having it.

If you want to watch Eric vs Jay in another video, check this one out: https://youtu.be/PR9D5g9_b_I

45:09
Last week, we talked a bit about the Church of Prismatic Light, a new non–profit organization that is currently working to be recognized as a religion by the US government. The hope is that becoming a member of this church will protect the rights of LGBTQ+ folks that are quickly being stripped away. Levi asks: Should he join, or is relying on a religion for rights ceding too much?

Watch Vi’s explanation of the Church here: https://youtu.be/RNbwH6TCoyw
If you’re curious about becoming a Prismatist, follow this link: https://linktr.ee/churchofprismaticlight

51:47
How do we have “civil conversation” without lapsing into “civility politics”? This caller highlights this issue and how it manifests in atheist circles specifically, and the hosts share their tactics for demolishing dog whistles, educating others, and advocating for a bigger epistemological toolbox. This caller also has some zingers in here, so make sure to stick around for them!

1:10:32
Repeat caller Wolfos wraps up our conversation on love by saying that he experiences universal, unconditional love as an atheist. Eric is a bit confused by this and pushes back, while Vi points out how we simply do not have enough words to accurately describe our emotions. Wolfos and Vi also share some painful and evocative personal stories.
___________________
Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CT
Call on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774)
Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG

Love the show?
Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG
Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22Merch
Help with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist
Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord

To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com

Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

You read that right: this week Vi became a Prismatist. What is that, and is Eric worried? Call in to ask more about the Church of Prismatic Light or any other religious or spiritual topic! We're available at 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG.

Find out more about the Church of Prismatic Light here: https://linktr.ee/churchofprismaticlight
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TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES

00:00 - Intro - WTF Is a Prismatist?
11:25 - Vi vs Suicide Cult - Sawyer (he/him) - IN
42:52 - Atlantis Was Real! - Andy (he/him) - TX
58:37 - Theist Says Evolution Proves Fine Tuning - Gohan (n/a) - TX
1:25:05 - Founder of Atheopaganism Defends His “Faith” - Mark (he/him) - CA

00:00
We have a lot of announcements today, including some amazing fundraising news! We are also talking about the Church of Prismatic Light, a religion founded to push back against Christian extremism in US politics and protect the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals. Check out more about them in the description above!

11:25
TW: Discussion of the Heaven’s Gate mass suicide.

Heaven’s Gate apologists call in, and the hosts are thunderstruck. Vi is especially frustrated with their attempts to justify the mass un-aliving that took place in March of 1997. Apparently it wasn’t that bad, because they’re all up on a spaceship now. What, and we repeat, the actual fuck.

To learn a little more about Heaven’s Gate, check out this article: https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/heavens-gate-cult-members-found-dead

42:52
This caller wants to explain how Atlantis not only was real, but was a technologically advanced society responsible for the construction of the great stone structures around the globe. This means the pyramids, the Mayan temples, Stonehenge. Our caller says we can know this is true because Plato says so, but we have our doubts.

58:37
Gohan calls back to debate the fine tuning argument from a scientific perspective. Eric especially nails the arguments here, finding common ground and pinpointing where the assumptions this theist brings to the table fall flat on their face.

For a look at our previous calls with Gohan, check the links below:

- Theist Argues for Evolutionary Creationism: https://youtu.be/cTLksn_yeRw
- Another Bad Argument Against Abortion: https://youtu.be/TTq_sMHPNQI

1:25:05
Mark is the founder of atheopaganism, and has called in to discuss his worldview and correct some misunderstandings about the religion. Can one be an atheist and a pagan at the same time? Is it different from non-theistic paganism? Eric asks for more clarification, and Vi points out that while words don’t have prescriptive meanings, we do hold the responsibility to use them wisely.
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Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG

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We have a pretty exciting announcement this week: we have our first crew member. Tune in to say hello and fall in love as much as we have. And if you'd like to argue about anything, we're available at 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG.

If you want to see the inside life of Georgie and her two dads, visit her Twitter @TerranCat.

___________________
TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES

00:00 - Intro - Meeting Georgie the One-Eyed Cat
06:34 - This Theist Has Questions - Javier (he/him) - FL
28:57 - Apologist Wants to Talk About Genesis - Dean (he/him) - VA
1:03:26 - Debunking the Fine Tuning Argument - Allen (he/him) - MI
1:15:00 - Do Atheists Miss Out on Love? - Toby (he/him) - CO

00:00
Introducing her Royal Majesty, Emperor Philippa Georgiou, our newest crew member! She doesn’t have opposable thumbs, so she can’t do much, but she makes up for it by being adorable. Say hello, and go visit her on her own Twitter account: @TerranCat!

06:34
Repeat theist caller Javier has questions about deconverting. How does one do it? Should it be a fast process or a slow one? And how does one avoid circular arguments? Vi and Eric give some hard truths: it’s not possible to be fully objective, and you can’t really avoid circular arguments. Thanks, laws of logic! But the questions are worth asking anyway.

28:57
An apologist calls in to discuss the stories of Genesis, how the hosts view creationism, and whether it’s important to be a Young Earth Creationist in order to be a Christian. Vi shares their wild YEC upbringing and the tall tales they were told as a kid. Eric challenges our caller to even more probing questions: what about the Exodus? What about the Walls of Jericho? How much is true at all?

1:03:26
This caller wants help debunking the fine tuning argument. How do you respond to theists who try to say the universe proves God? Vi points out that relying on “the odds” is useless without other universes to compare against, and Eric challenges the basis of asking the question in the first place.

1:15:00
Does viewing love as “just a chemical reaction in the brain” cheapen it? Or is it the most romantic thing ever? Show this clip to anyone who is concerned that atheists miss out on love, or that naturalistic explanations of emotion somehow make them “lesser.”
___________________
Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CT
Call on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774)
Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG

Love the show?
Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG
Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22Merch
Help with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist
Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord

To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com

Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.