Resource Resources for people stressed or abused by religion

[Ta555]

Hey everyone, seeing the positive reaction to my other thread about why we shouldn't worry about hell etc. I just want to list some resources that have been helpful to me on my path towards atheism.

YouTube channels:
-Theramin Trees. Calm, rational and extremely logical and compassionate analyses on the abuses of religion.
-Genetically Modified Skeptic. An ex-conservative evangelical Christian with wonderfully thoughtful and soothing videos on his experiences and how his ideas have changed.
-Atheist Experience, Non-Prophets, Truth Wanted etc. call in shows where religious people call in to try to prove their religion is real and the hosts deconstruct their arguments. Really useful. Just watch out that the hosts of Atheist Experience can be a bit abrasive at times. Not a gentle watch lol but can be quite entertaining.
-Cosmic Skeptic. Very intellectual and solid arguments. A very intelligent and thorough young man deconstructing religion.

Books:
-The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins. This is a great entry level atheist intro. Good read too.
-God Is Not Great by Christopher Hitchens. Very entertaining and insightful read.
-The End of Faith by Sam Harris. Was a long time since I read it but I remember really enjoying it.

What to watch on YouTube:
Basically search for any debates between the above three authors and theists. It will quickly become apparent how weak the religious arguments are. Also anything by Seth Andrews.

Other:
Recovering From Religion is an organisation that specialises in dealing with people suffering from religious trauma.

Finally if nothing else, watch this clip of Christopher. It always makes me laugh :)

 

[Onthe29th]

This is a great idea. Thank you for doing this.

 

[Fcukmylife392]

Following.

 

[whatevs]

I'm pretty sure losing religion has made people considerably more miserable. It's a recent anomaly, shunning spirituality in the name of skewed positivism. We have been spiritual for probably hundreds of thousands of years.

 

[Ta555]

I'm pretty sure losing religion has made people considerably more miserable. It's a recent anomaly, shunning spirituality in the name of skewed positivism. We have been spiritual for probably hundreds of thousands of years.

Going to strongly strongly disagree with you. Religion is a poison that has halted human progress and continues do deny human rights to people in areas like LGBTQ, abortion and euthanasia.
Spirituality is so broad it doesn't even mean anything. People have been "spiritual" because they couldn't explain basic natural phenomena. Also that feeling of awe or whatever can come from many things, like good music or sex or whatever. There's nothing mystical.

 

[whatevs]

It's not awe, it's the acknowledgement that we don't come from nothing nor we go to nothing. An instinct of trascendence. Religion is allegorical and symbolic, but most people are too dense to approach it from other angle than literalism.

 

[Ta555]

It's not awe, it's the acknowledgement that we don't come from nothing nor we go to nothing. An instinct of trascendence. Religion is allegorical and symbolic, but most people are too dense to approach it from other angle than literalism.

Well of course we don't come from nothing. We come from millions of years of evolution. And we don't go to nothing...hmm...I'd like to see evidence please

 

[whatevs]

Well of course we don't come from nothing. We come from millions of years of evolution. And we don't go to nothing...hmm...I'd like to see evidence please

Why did evolution start? Why there is something instead of nothing?

As per evidence of some kind of continuity after death, I have none. It's just that from observing life I can see that it's some kind of current or force that has a metaphysical element to it. It's sort of like seeing a cord that stretches across the whole horizon, you can't see where it started or where it ends, but it's being held by both ends, you just can't see them, but they can be inferred, since the cord is up there...

 

[Ticket 2 Heaven]

If there is a god, he made me ugly and born with disease.

 

[Ta555]

If there is a god, he made me ugly and born with disease.

There is no god. Don't worry.