00:00 Intro
10:34 Eduardo - (BR) | Spiritism Is Better Than Science Or Religion
41:49 Robert - CA | Experience With The Holy Spirit
1:01:42 SB - (IN) | Atheist Morality On Abortion
1:24:13 Shaquille - (UK) | Why Would God Be Okay With Money?

SHOW NOTES

Thanks for joining us for this episode of Talk Heathen! Today, Scott Dickie, Dr. Ben, and Richard Gilliver tackle spiritism, the experience of the holy spirit, and the morality of abortion.
Eduardo in Brazil calls to say that spiritism offers the stability of religion and the openness of science and is a third option besides the two. He says that science is incomplete and is sold to people as a belief. But doesn’t that mean that science isn’t the problem, the people who represent it are? Eduardo has a hard time articulating what spiritism offers to get to the truth and what convinced him to believe the books he read about spiritism? Eduardo appeals to personal experiences, but says he knows that that’s not a good reason to believe in something. The hosts urge Eduardo to sit down and really formulate his argument so that they can have a more productive call in the future.

Robert in California says that the hosts put doubt about God in his heart, but God won and we all lost. What was the big thing that convinced him to stay a theist? On TikTok, Christians said that whatever questions you have about the bible, God will show you in heaven. The next day, he felt a renewed faith. He attributes this to an experience with the holy spirit. How did the holy spirit manifest itself? What was the sensory experience? How does he know that it was a certain god that did it? Robert continues to say that it was an experience that cannot be explained and you just have to believe that people who claim they have an experience with the holy spirit actually did so.
SB is an atheist but is still torn on the morality of abortion. He understands the bodily autonomy argument, but isn’t convinced. Doesn’t the right to life apply to the autonomy of the baby? If the baby or parent is at risk of serious harm, then abortion is moral. It’s not about the state of the fetus, it’s about the state of the pregnant person. Is it other people’s business what you’re going through medically? The argument for bodily autonomy is that no one besides the pregnant person and the doctor should have a say on what medical steps are taken. Pregnancy is incredibly dangerous even with a normal pregnancy.

Shaquille calls from England pondering why God would be okay with the concept of money at all if it’s the root of all evil? When it comes down to it, money is something that’s used in trade. Rather than trading goods, it acts as an intermediary. I don’t see why a God wouldn’t want to facilitate trade among the people. The “root of all evil” perspective may be similar to a concept in Buddhism where money and wealth becomes an attachment that prevents enlightenment. It could also be referring to the hoarding of wealth rather than simply the concept of money itself. 
Thanks for joining us this week! Talk Heathen to us in the comments: What is a smarmy reply to a cashier’s indignant “Merry Christmas”?



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Show notes upon reciept.

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Show notes will be posted upon receipt.

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Show notes upon receipt.

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00:00 Intro
13:04 Steven-NY | Magic Is Real For Things We Can't Explain
33:40 Jackie-MS | Kurt Gödel's Ontological Argument

SHOW NOTES

In today’s episode of the Talk Heathen, Sydness Davis (Dracula) Jr. Jr. and Scott Dickie (Rob Boss), discuss magic of the gaps, and a version of the ontological argument before enticing a keyboard warrior to call in the show. 

Steven, a repeat caller  in NY says that magic could be real because we are unable to give a reason for things happening with naturalism. Why do you think that body healing itself can’t be explained? We now have access to so many resources and can find the answers to a lot of these things. Why is magic being the answer so important to you?  If we provided proof to you, how would it impact your belief that magic is the reason?

Jackie in MS summarizes Kurt GödelKurt Gödel ontological argument. Explain in your own words how this explains the existence of god. This may be an interesting thought, but how does one thing being true or untrue prove god’s existence? Do the properties of an object not affect reality unless that thing exists? If god exists in one possible world then it must exist in multiple worlds? You need to first show that this god exists in at least one possible world. How do you know if this god exists in at least one possible world? If you can’t put an argument in your own words, why would that not be an argument from authority?

Richard Giilver joins to close out the show with some wise words for each of the callers before Dracula and Rob Boss bring us some love rings! Bruce, call in! Question of the week is: Why is god so jealous?


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Show notes upon receipt.

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In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Forrest Valkai and Doctor Ben tackle several fun issues. 

Jack in Canada asks the hosts about the problem of evil. If god made the rules, why would he choose to cause suffering when he is powerful enough not to? Why did god choose something that causes suffering? If your god is in charge of everything, why does he not fix childhood poverty? You are more moral than your god. 


Max in Russia wants to help but is unable to donate. Every action helps no matter how small and we appreciate you. Doctors without Borders must work legal negotiations before being able to enter a country. 


Mike in SC has a perception that atheists and theists are doing the same thing because atheists say god is evil, and theists say god is good. Is a bi-sexual trans man better off in hell? Why is it okay that someone is sent to Hell for being gay? What if another god says it is a sin to be heterosexual? Why is it okay for Christians to kick people out of their family for being queer? Imagine what it feels like to be told that because of this monster in the sky who treats you differently for being gay,  you deserve to be tortured forever. How is the lesson someone learns from the loss of the baby worth the baby’s life? Is freewill more important to god than protecting children? 


Kelvin in FL asks if the existence of transgender people goes against the societal push of deconstructing gender norms. Dr. Ben explains that the trans community is not about adapting femininity or masculinity, and how the trans community leans into gender abolitionism. There is societal pressure put on trans people to perform to those stereotypes. Forrest discusses how sex and gender are different, and how things in the 1400s that were considered manly are not manly today. 


Vic in TX believes in a creator, but does not believe in the New Testament or Jesus. How is the Bible considered to be morally good? Is it morally good to stone your children if they disobey? Why should this be accepted as an instruction manual when it instructs how to own and beat slaves? 


Jackie in MS wants us to dig into a bunch of philosophers to promote Christian values. What do you have to say about these values being carcinogenic to human minds? How does the function of an idea speak to the morality of an idea? What is one example where consciousness is independent of matter?


Nate in NY discusses his deconstruction before the last caller, Kevin in MA, brings the hosts into a discussion about sexual dimorphism. 

Thank you for calling in this week! 

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