You Can't "Act As If" God Exists

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This video came out 55 seconds ago and yet there are comments criticizing the arguments in it.

The whole idea that someone can "decide" what to believe is completely insane to me. If im not convinced of something there's not much i can do about it. Do people expect me to start pretending to believe something? Cause im not going to do that. I can't see how it even works.

When people say "act as if God exists" always perplexes me. Like I've always been in a situation where my biases actually DESIRED for God to exist, but I'd mindfully act skeptically in an effort not to be fooled. Ignorance cannot be bliss if one knows they're being being ignorant

We're figuring out the Dr. Manhattan argument slowly. "I'm just a puppet who can see the strings"

I had brought this up to a Christian awhile ago. I said to them that I understand why I should believe in God if heaven and hell are a thing, but I don't know how to believe in a god. All of them could explain why I should, but none of them had advice for getting over the 'how' hurdle. Glad to see someone intelligent has the same question as I do. Makes me feel less dumb.

Alex is such a thoughtful dude. I know people have been saying this your entire time on YouTube but we will be watching your career with great interest

Amen, and AMEN! Thank you for this succinct and clear video. As someone who left Mormonism and Christianity in 2018 to become an atheist, I appreciate your ability to articulate these thoughts so well. The ugly political climate in the USA, especially on the right with publicly professed Christians, proves your point that many don't actually believe what they profess. Their actions - lying, cheating, and dismantling democracy for ideology - contradict scriptural teachings about gaining heaven. American Christian nationalism opposes Jesus' teachings and threatens humanity's greatest system of government. Your discussion lends credible evidence exposing the hypocrisy of those claiming religious beliefs they don't uphold. I aspire to communicate these ideas as concisely as you have.

When you finally get around to removing all the clutter from your attic, your first thought should not be: "now how can I fill it up again with more clutter?"

So much to learn in a mere ten minute video from you than entire playlists from so many other channels.

This was a very thought-provoking clip. I'm adding this to my repeat playlist so that I can think about it more often. Thank you.

Isnt it nice when Alex is invited as a guest and allowed to speak

This was hands down, the best exchange I’ve seen in months, perhaps longer. Very interesting views given with useful analogies that gave clarity.

Props on the production quality and editing. Looks great.

self deception is never the best alternative

That's one of my issues with the "Act as if you do" type of advice. It reminds me of critics that tear down problematic art with the sentiment "It has dangerous ideas! Well, I can read them and I'm not susceptible to them, but the masses, and think of the children! They are susceptible!" Maybe built into the critical impetus is being way to willing to sell people short.

Petitioning for Alex to have a conversation with Forrest valkai. I think that would be a phenomenal discussion

Oh wow. I come from a creationist household. At least while growing up. Alex is a wonderful human being. Glad to see him and Chris having a chat!!

As a Christian, I appreciate this discussion. This is the problem I feel is an issue. Many Christians don't have to experience martyrdom, and we also refuse to work past our experience intellectually and spiritually. Many of us need a reason to get up in the morning, and so religion is important, but at the same time we wouldn't do the right thing even with those beliefs. It's awful. We need to be honest with ourselves with our comfort in modern society and not just keep parroting the same 20 arguments on the internet. We have a responsibility to offer something more than just absurdism and nihilism for people who do not have the minds built to handle such an existentially painful self dependent hopelessness.

We cannot choose what we do or do not believe. What we CAN choose is the degree to which we’re willing to scrutinize or investigate our beliefs. But we cannot choose our beliefs in and of themselves.