Turning a Theist Attack into a Chance for Their New Learning: “an open dialog”

by | Feb 22, 2016 | Blog

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

My Blog Post online: Turning a Theist Attack into a Chance for Their New Learning: “an open dialog” https://damienmarieathope.com/2016/02/turning-a-theist-attack-into-a-chance-for-their-new-learning-an-open-dialog/

“Damien question: how is it an open dialogue if it’s only a “Chance for Their New Learning” or is the ‘Their’ plural?” – Questioner (online to the post)

My response, Did you read the blog post to see what they said to me to start this?

*“Damien, shut the fuck up…. Just cause your atheist doesn’t mean you need to advertise it! Have fun condemned after death. I must admit I don’t know how to explain god, but I also don’t know how to explain, gravity, dark matter, the universe, or where it came from? Closed-minded piece of shit.” – Attacker

“Open Dialogue emphasizes listening, understanding, and engages social networking from the very beginning.” ref

“No, I didn’t – vile!” – Questioner (online to the post)

My response, And after I talked to him for a while using my style, he then said:

*”Damien, great response. Okay, I now agree and respect what you do. Your not a non believer …., you are just a realist, needing proof to back theory. And I respect that good debate.” – Attacker

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Philosophy to the Rescue: explaining Reason, Logic, Evidence, Truth, Certainty, Reality, and Science

The Attack

*“Damien, shut the fuck up…. Just cause your atheist doesn’t mean you need to advertise it! Have fun condemned after death. I must admit I don’t know how to explain god , but I also don’t know how to explain , gravity, dark matter, the universe, where it came from ? Closed minded piece of shit.” – Attacker

My response: If I or science, do not know something, what ever makes “magic” (supernatural), the justified answer, is my question to god-beliers saying this. You are a victim of arcane fear and the control dynamic that emerged from it called the belief in gods and I am both sorry for you as well as glad you reached out as you then have an opportunity to learn some real truth. I am not your enemy, in fact I am your champion willing to fight the odds and believe in your power of self mastery to see beyond the prison of lies that keep you bound. Are you willing to see the truth I lay at your feet, the open doorway to a life in the beauty of the godless natural reality, to often tarnished by the conspiracies of reality that are so prominent in religions and god beliefs. A closed mind is one talking about made up fairy tales that they were indoctrinated in as a child and not learning real facts about the world. Are you as open-minded as you think? Or are you already to see what is actually true? The question is how open are you really. I will guess you are some version of christain likely believing in jesus. So I will give you this blog post I made that could change your life if you read it with an open mind.

Debunking Jesus? https://damienmarieathope.com/2016/01/09/debunking-jesus/

*“Damien, wow … I’m sorry but just no … Your trying to turn atheism into a religion itself , please stop. You can believe what you do , sure .. But why advertise it ? You don’t see the rest of the world doing so (besides extremists).” – Attacker

My response: I have every right to express atheism on my page it’s you that is acting religious and close-minded coming on my page and spewing your discrimination. All the world doing what expressing how they think is what all humans do and have always done.

 

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

*“Damien, fair point, truthfully I don’t disrespect atheists , to each their own belief , unless your a Muslim -.- in which its proper to kill atheists (which is not right). My personal belief is that there is a higher power …. (Most likely aliens , but they love is as if a “God ” would.” – Attacker
My response, See we are all free to have and express our rights.
*“Damien, my point to you is that why are you so close minded :0 Most atheists have a middle ground. You are full blown in the deep end. I can admit I am a religious man , but at the same time I can agree lots of the bible is false / it was prob aliens or some crap. Where as you , can’t admit even 1 percent of any bible is true … Correct in assuming ?” – Attacker
My response, I can provide evidence it’s not even something you have asked for and when offered you rejected and you feel its right to call me the close-minded one are you sure you have that right.
*“Damien, I am positive , there is too many similarities between every bible to debunk it all.” – Attacker
My response, I have researched and written extensive things on the bible and other religions as well as you asking for evidence?
*“Damien, I read the article you provided , some good points but it doesn’t even make a dent in the iceberg.” – Attacker
My response, well I have many more such as,
“Let’s talk about Christianity” https://damienmarieathope.com/2015/11/13/lets-talk-about-christianity/
“Accurate Account on how did Christianity Began” https://damienmarieathope.com/2016/01/07/accurate-account-on-how-did-christianity-began/
*“Damien, I know but what your telling me is 100 different people from all locations of the earth — speaking all different laungages writing a damn close version of the same book. Umm ?? Ya not possible.” – Attacker
My response, ok here is another, “Archaeology Disproves the Bible”
https://damienmarieathope.com/2015/11/24/archaeology-disproves-the-bible/
*”Damien, you my friend are an extremist …. I find it sad when I see a religious / or athirst extremist …… It’s sad. Religious extremist = terrorist. I believe aliens exsist and they interacted with us in the past.” – Attacker
My response, I have info debunking ancient aliens as well.
*“Damien, you say aliens don’t exsist either ?? Don’t make me laugh, I am crying I am laughing so hard. What do you believe in ? Simple evolution ??? Fuck no somewhere along the lines of our evolution (basic humanoid’s) we were inhanced — bumped up so many generations of eve lotion Monkeys — as old a species as Us humans, so why are they still here?? Clearly it’s cause they were left behind . Today’s monkey represents where we humans should be at in our evolution. It’s PROVEN we have 1-3 (outta 30 or so idk ) alien genes in Us humans as a species. Why , oh why do you lead such a boring life ??? Closing all doors to the wonderful … And very real possibilities.” – Attacker
My response, I believe that which is supported by reason and evidence to believe. Here is a link debunking ancient aliens: http://www.itsokaytobesmart.com/post/33170062956/ancient-aliens-debunked-film
*“Damien, but your only looking at one side of the coin brother …. If you actually did some research trying to prove aliens exsist .. You would end your day beliveeing in them.” – Attacker
My response, Here is a blog post of mine addressing that, “Humans are Part of Evolution not a Special Creation”
https://damienmarieathope.com/2015/08/16/humans-are-part-of-evolution-not-a-special-creation/
*“Damien, people get PAID, (handsomely at that ) to de bunk anything and everything , they are clever , you’ve fallen victim to their ways.” – Attacker
My response, I have done extensive research in archeology, anthropology, and science; not wishful thinking and wild unfounded speculation.
*“Damien, I agree . The world would be much more peaceful with no religions / no talk of aliens , etc …. But that’s no reason to try and forget the truth by beliveeing a lye Lie ** Buddy … Your off the deep end :0 it’s quite bad :,(” – Attacker
My response, well here is an article by the National Academy of Sciences addressing “Is Evolution a Theory or a Fact?” Hint, it’s both. http://www.nas.edu/evolution/TheoryOrFact.html
*“Damien,  like not believing in religion is one thing. But to not believe in aliens ??? That’s just ? Lmao what? There is an infinite vast of space , we are not alone and it is simply stupid and close minded to think we are. But as for your atheist views , you did convince me to respect them. As for this aliens don’t exsist nonsense …. PFFFT! Balogana.” – Attacker
My response, there is an infinite vastness of space, we are not alone is a guess not built on the evidence, I do not say alien life out somewhere else is impossible, I say there is no proof.
*“Damien, no infinite vast of space / even other demisions have been proven already. As for no proof of life , I suppose there’s not , no BUT! Think of yourself as the higher species for a second , would you really wanna interfere with humans barbarism ? It’s my belief there are aliens that visit us regularly incognito, and it’s your belief that there is not / have not …. Both not proven by science , both speculation … So let’s just agree to disagree. You say I don’t have proof backing it , well you don’t either so let’s just agree to disagree. (You haven’t showed me any proof , just a possible debunk for all speculation ) I’m sorry , it’s just hard for me to think that people purposely try so hard to prove there’s no god / aliens when the fact is it’s just as likely there actually was ! Cause dang .. Most atheists at least be live in aliens , you don’t even believe in that :,( it’s sad .. Add some wonder to your life. Aliens don’t wanna show themselves cause they don’t wanna have to destroy us (cause we would shot them outta the sky before letting them talk, it’s sad) And in return t would start a war that earth would lose in like a day. lol My theory in heaven and hell is it’s the only 2 other dimensions , and you actually do go there after death . Which depends on how you lived , not what you believed. lol” – Attacker
My response, Here is a blog post of mine addressing, “Technological Advances in Evolution”
https://damienmarieathope.com/2015/12/05/technological-advances-in-evolution/
My response, look at that it’s all facts about how we advanced, there is only us and nature no ancient aliens and no after death, as we have no soul to live on after we die. Here are two blog posts of mine addressing that, “Near Death Experiences is Brain Activity, not Supernatural” https://damienmarieathope.com/2015/07/26/nde-is-not-supernatural/ and “So are Ghosts Possible, Because Energy Does not Die? Well, NO!”
https://damienmarieathope.com/2015/10/01/so-are-ghosts-possible-because-energy-does-not-die-well-no/
*“Damien, oh why you choose to believe such nonsense is BEYOND ME enjoy your life , I hope the afterlife decides to accept you anyway , your just simply confused is all and I hope whatever higher power there is reconizes that…. Why would you ourpisly chose to believe there’s no afterlife ?? Lmao BEYOND ME.” – Attacker

*“Damien, there’s also no good reason they wouldn’t exsist.” – Attacker

 

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

*“Damien, both of our judgment is sheer guessing, Both” – Attacker

 

My best Video talking about My thoughts on “Religion and Deity Evolution” with Questions and Answers

*“Damien, wow . Your smart , too bad your the one caught in a lie. I’m sorry I can’t continue this convo :0 your not even open to the slight possibilities.” – Attacker

My response, it is you who has been closed minded from the beginning, in fact you never meant to have a conversation but you meant an attack and it was my openness, “that you never offered” that sidestepped your beginning valueless attack. You must at least now be open-minded enough to realize the attack you made was turned around and then reformed into something new, becoming a chance for you to learn. Which you have and thus again it is my openness that has won the day, even over your closed minded beginning responses such as: “shut the fuck up” and calling me “a piece of shit.” Can you now see it is me and my open-minded thinking not you that was open to real conversation, as I rose above your thinking only offered as a close-minded attack.

*“Damien, at first I was close minded , agreed. You opened my mind to certain things. But whenever I share my side of the story you don’t even acknowledge it you just throw more anti religious shit at me. That is why I’m calling you close minded. Too be honest , at first the reason I called you a piece of shit etc is cause I thought you were a satanist. lol Atheists I don’t mind, satanists / terrorist Muslims I can’t stand.” – Attacker

My response, Cool, I am just an atheist, not a Satanist, nor terrorist Muslim.

*“Damien, ya , apologies for that , I do disagree with certain things you believe , but that doesn’t make you a piece of shit.” – Attacker

My response, here is my video on the religion’s evolution, “The Tree of Lies and its Hidden Roots” Discussing the Evolution of Religion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C65fVZcdVAM 

*“Damien, ok for me it’s not religion I care about so much. It’s the aliens. I agree highly unlikely one powerful figure from heaven was sent to us. But it is not hard at all to believe these powerful beings were advanced species visiting.” – Attacker

My response, cool I hope you keep searching for truth, I truly wish the best for you as people have value. Don’t forget, “People Have Rights, Ideas Don’t Have Rights” here is my video on that: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkxXIVuvLCU

*“Damien, as do I wish you the same.  I do respect your views , and even agree with some things.” – Attacker

My response, yes, we must analyze how is anger is the temporary emotion and response that triggers hate lasts longer and may start as an emotion but can and is usually sustained by becoming a kind of ideology that is not directly angry but can motivate anger and the risk of anger motivated behaviors. Anger is unavoidable in life whereas hate is more of a chosen response to things in life often an outgrowth of or connected to anger. Anger in life, thus, is what matters and how we navigate it effectively. Therefore, we should be concerned with the proper use of anger it’s ethical management and positive use.

*“Damien, but no aliens / higher beings ? No man … We’re not creative enough to make such a fictional book known as the bible. That’s why it’sy belief that it is a true story , but a “God” no … They were simply aliens.” – Attacker

My response, to me we need to learn to use anger as a way to know things are likely not right then use it to add contemplation about needed behavior or new thinking instead of unthinking behavior based more on or motivated by the emotion of anger. I am my best when I value myself and others. I am my worst when I forget to see the value in myself and others. Here is my blog on the religion’s evolution, “Did Neanderthals Teach Humans Religion Around 100,000 Years Ago?” https://damienmarieathope.com/2016/02/17/did-neanderthals-teach-humans-religion-around-100000-years-ago/

*“Damien, my theory is that we are basically a experiment — 10 aliens came and did the same types of miricales / and good deeds etc , so that they could research how each culture would interpret “God and religion@ Please read that, you don’t think that’s possible ??? This is true friend , and maybe “God” does take away from that … But at the same time (most religions anyway) teach good values so ehh. And what an experiment it was !!!!!! They are still to this day getting results from their experiment. It’s the only explanation that debunks the whole bible / is scientifically possible. And in Greece , with all mythological gods, I don’t even know what to think about them. Maybe aliens put on a play :,)” – Attacker

My response, what evidence do you have to support and validate the thinking that basically an experiment, furthermore, how can you even validate the thinking you offered that it is 10 aliens, not none or one or a thousand? What evidence do you have that anyone ever did any types of miracles? you need to first look at the facts to legitimately assess or propose a theory as to how culture would interpret “God and religion” do you know the first worship in the world was 70,000 years ago of a stone snake? Here is the link on that: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/offerings-to-a-stone-snak/

*“Damien, true , it is just a theory. Because there’s no proof possible to obtain. But I’m afraid so is your thinking , just theory because again there’s no actual hard evidence proving anything. Just theories worked out really well .. No actual proof.” – Attacker

My response, are you not reading, I provided you with actual hard evidence. Such as, how 350,000 Years Ago – Atapuerca (Spain), found evidence of a possible funeral rite in the form of a red quartzite handaxe among bones from 28 individuals classified as Homo heidelbergensis found at the bottom of a deep pit inside a network of caves. The stone choice seems to add to its believed possible funeral rite significance as color red is not a standard and was likely chosen because its color which we can theorize had some significance like that of red ochre later used in barrels. This pit of bones may represent some practice of burial as well as early evidence of the emergence of ritual and sacred symbolism responding to death beyond simple practicality. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atapuerca_Mountains
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/2885663.stm

My response, or check out my blog on the “Technological Advances in Evolution” and say we don’t have evidence: https://damienmarieathope.com/2015/12/05/technological-advances-in-evolution/

*”Damien, the last link shows humans evolving as they should. But is it possible they visited 70k years ago this starting religion? Idk it’s a headache to explain , but I truly believe we have either alien ties/ genes , or we are an experiment. Also , why is it that the humini(apes) still exsist ??? To this day? Sorry, pre humini our technological advances were BLOWN OUTTA THE WATER with the humini so is it too hard to believe that the humini were created by a alien species? And those left behind in the process are simply today’s apes. That’s not my favourite theory though, my fav theory is we are experiment with no alien genes.” – Attacker

My response, You are adding think not found or demonstrated whereas I stick to the facts as they present themselves and form my thinking from there. It’s an amazing world and wonderful facts so amazing just as they are no mythologizing is warranted.

*”Damien, your facts are not hard proof though , as much as a artifact from 100k years ago is cool , it’s not proof.” – Attacker

My response, asking why (apes) still exist if we come from apes natural selection, is demonstrating a lack of understanding science. All dogs come from wolves so you could also ask why is there still wolves? Simple they branch off to make something new just like how humans through artificial not natural selection created all the many dog breads we have. DNA findings say differently. All modern dogs are descendants of wolves, though this domestication may have happened twice, producing groups of dogs descended from two unique common ancestors. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/01/5/l_015_02.html

*”Damien, sigh , I really hope we get visited in our life time , your in for the biggest surprise of your life.” – Attacker

My response, I am open to truth I do fear it I welcome it as all true thinkers should be. If we get visited in our lifetime then and only then will I have reason to believe in them as there is 0 evidence up till now. We all have beliefs it’s unavoidable. The issue is having justified true beliefs that hold warrant or are valid and reliable because of reason and evidence. I follow the standard in philosophy JTB Justified True Beliefs. Justified / True / Beliefs? *To established justification I use the philosophy called Reliabilism. Reliabilism is a general approach to epistemology that emphasizes the truth-conduciveness of a belief-forming process, method, or other epistemologically relevant factors. The reliability theme appears both in theories of knowledge and theories of justification. *For the true part I use the philosophy called The Correspondence Theory of Truth. The correspondence theory of truth states that the truth or falsity of a statement is determined only by how it relates to the world and whether it accurately describes (i.e., corresponds with) that world. *For the beliefs part I use what philosophy calls The Ethics of Belief. The “ethics of belief” refers to the intersection of epistemology, philosophy of mind, psychology, and ethics. The central is norms governing our habits of belief-formation, belief-maintenance, and belief-relinquishment. It morally wrong (or epistemically irrational, or imprudent) to hold a belief on insufficient evidence. It morally right (or epistemically rational, or prudent) to believe on the basis of sufficient evidence, or to withhold belief in the perceived absence of evidence. It always obligatory to seek out all available epistemic evidence for a belief.

*”Damien, great response. Okay, I now agree and respect what you do. Your not a non believer …., you are just a realist, needing proof to back theory. And I respect that good debate.” – Attacker

Overall, my goal is to help change believers as I was once, in fact, I did not turn atheist until I was 36. I try to offer new reasoning when I can as I see fideists, theists, religionists as suffering a thinking disorder, I don’t all way have such patience sometimes I just block them.

*Ps. for any who want to understand my style better check out my blog, “Atheist Outreach Style” (REMS) Reason, Evidence & Methodological Skepticism: https://damienmarieathope.com/2015/11/05/atheist-outreach-style/

My Written Discussions, Responses and Debates

Truth Navigation: Techniques for Discussions or Debates

I do truth navigation, both inquiry questions as well as

strategic facts in a tag team of debate and motivational teaching.

My Hammer of Truth (i.e. ontology, epistemology, and axiology; three philosophies that I use methodologically) both builds and destroys: it aids in building accuracy towards truth and destroy bad claims that are untrue.

A General Thinking in all My Epistemology Theorizing is Justificationism

A general thinking in all “My Ontology, Epistemology, and Axiology theorizing” involves some expression of Justificationism. As in, I require a worthy argument, that is justified with a good warrant(s), quality rich with valid and reliable reason and evidence that is connected to the accuracy of the truth claimed.

Trying to Help Promote Knowledge: Philosophy and Science.

Dogmatic–Propaganda vs. Disciplined-Rationality

Belief-Etiquette

I value good Belief-Etiquette: reasoned belief-acquisitions, good belief-maintenance, and honest belief relinquishment. I am first always a rationalist, as reason is my only master. May I always be a truth seeker and not a blind faith believer. Thinking is good and one claiming otherwise is indeed a person erroring in reason. Which may I remind you is terrible since the most Base Presupposition in our understanding of everything begins in reason.

What we generally call “truth” is a “value judgment” of what we believe is the reality of the case. So, a claim of truth then like all claims needs some type supporting justification. The claim of truth’s integrity requires testing of what the theme of the offered truth involves if validly justified it should not be distrusted. However, if the claim of truth’s integrity is not justified then the term “Truth” has not been itself attacked rather it’s the using the word “Truth” that cannot substantiate the term that it should be distrusted because it is seemingly in error or a lie-pseudo truth. Therefore, the user/claimer of the improper use of the word “Truth” but believe in and promote pseudo-truth because it does not have a sound basis in logic or fact demonstrate the validity and reliability of their truth assertion. So, I love truth, its claims of the term “Truth” with no justification that I can’t stand because such claims are pseudo-truth. It’s like how science as a term is quite corrupted by pseudoscience right? Yes and No. Yes, because fake science is believed as real science where the user/claimer of the improper use of the word “Science” believe in and promote pseudo-science but because it does not have a sound basis in logic or fact demonstrate the validity and reliability of their truth assertion. However, we can know science from pseudoscience as the term is given other methodological structure to which to evaluate then prove true science or prove a claim as not science and in fact pseudoscience so to do we sadly have to a methodological structure to prove a claim as not truth and in fact pseudo-truth.

If you are a religious believer, may I remind you that faith in the acquisition of knowledge is not a valid method worth believing in. Because, what proof is “faith”, of anything religion claims by faith, as many people have different faith even in the same religion?

A shallow thinker quickly talks, often with boastful postulations, likely just as often are pushed strongly and loudly as if this adds substance, and they do this before fully understanding what’s is really involved or if actually confirmed as true or have a high likely hood to be soundly justified. Whereas, a Sound Thinker are truth seekers of actually confirmed as truth or things that have a high likelihood to be soundly justified. Thus, often a Sound Thinker first poses Questions to understand slowing down and assessing all the facts or factors involved and then builds their argument or ideas. Just remember a simple rule all beliefs need something to support them or they are at best unsupported accepted assertions, arguments or ideas. At worst completely baseless, misinterpreted confusions, or outright falsehoods. See it’s like this, if one feels something requires faith (unsupported cognition of acceptance) to see the thing as real; without realizing it, one has affirmed that such a thing is not likely a true part of reality.

A Sound Thinker: uses disciplined rationality

A Shallow Thinker: undisciplined, situational, sporadic, or limited thinking.

I Don’t Have to Respect Ideas

People get confused ideas are not alive nor do they have beingness, Ideas don’t have rights nor the right to even exist only people have such a right. Ideas don’t have dignity nor can they feel violation only people if you attack them personally. Ideas don’t deserve any special anything they have no feelings and cannot be shamed they are open to the most brutal merciless attack and challenge without any protection and deserve none nor will I give them any if they are found wanting in evidence or reason. I will never respect Ideas if they are devoid of merit I only respect people.

Truth Navigation and the fallacy of Fideism “faith-ism”

Compare ideas not people, attack thinking and not people. In this way, we have a higher chance to promote change because it’s the thinking we can help change if we address the thinking and don’t attack them.

My eclectic set of tools for my style I call “Truth Navigation” (Techniques for Discussions or Debates) which involves:

*REMS: reason (rationalism), evidence (empiricism), and methodological “truth-seeking” skepticism (Methodic doubt) (the basic or general approach)

*The Hammer of Truth: ontology, epistemology, and axiology (methodological use of philosophy)

*Dialectical Rhetoric = truth persuasion: use of facts and reasoning (motivational teaching)

*Utilizing Dignity: strategic dignity attacks or dignity enrichments (only used if confusion happens or resistance is present)

Asking the right questions at the right time with the right info can also change minds, you can’t just use facts all on their own. Denial likes consistency, the pattern of thinking cannot vary from a fixed standard of thinking, or the risk of truth could slip in. Helping people alter skewed thinking is indeed a large task but most definitely a worthy endeavor.

Hammer of Truth: Yes, you too, have lots of beliefs…

A General Thinking in all My Epistemology Theorizing is Justificationism

I don’t believe in religion, I believe in people. I don’t respect religion, I respect people. I attack bad thinking and bad behaviors, not people. I do not hate religious people, I hate the religion they are indoctrinated in and I speak out to stop the indifference to the harm religions can cause as well as the ignorance they support. Hell yes, I am against the fraud that is the world religions.

Why not be against the promotion of woo-woo pseudo-truth, when I am very against all pseudo-science, pseudo-history, and pseudo-morality and the harm they can produce. Along with the hate, such as sexism and homophobia are too often seen or the forced indoctrination of children. And this coercive indoctrination of the world religions, with their pseudo-science, pseudo-history, and pseudo-morality mainly furthered by forced Hereditary Religion (family or cultural, religious beliefs forced on children because the parent or caregiver believes that way). This is sadly done, even before a child can be expected to successfully navigate reason; it’s almost as if religious parents believe their “woo-woo pseudo-truth” lies will not be so easily accepted if they wait on a mind that can make its own choice. Because we do see how hard it is for the ones forced into Hereditary Religion.

It seems difficult for them to successfully navigate reason in relation to their woo-woo pseudo-truth, found in a religion they were indoctrinationally taught to prefer, because after being instructed on how to discern pseudo-truth as truth than just wishing that their blind servitude belief in a brand of religious pseudo-truth devoid of justified, valid or reliable reason and evidence. I care because I am a rationalist, as well as an atheist. Thus, this religious set of “woo-woo pseudo-truth” pushed on the simple-minded as truth bothers me greatly. So, here it is as simple as I can make it you first need a good thinking standard to address beliefs one may approach as a possible belief warranted to be believed. I wish to smash that lying pig of religion with the Hammer of Truth: Ontology, Epistemology, and Axiology Questions (a methodological use of philosophy).

Overall, I wish to promote in my self and for others; to value a worthy belief etiquette, one that desires a sound accuracy and correspondence to the truth: Reasoned belief acquisitions, good belief maintenance, and honest belief relinquishment. May we all be authenticly truthful rationalists that put facts over faith. Calling out a liar is not the same as lying.

I am a BIG fan of the truth.

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

My thoughts on Religion Evolution with external links for more info:

“Religion is an Evolved Product” and Yes, Religion is Like Fear Given Wings…

Atheists talk about gods and religions for the same reason doctors talk about cancer, they are looking for a cure, or a firefighter talks about fires because they burn people and they care to stop them. We atheists too often feel a need to help the victims of mental slavery, held in the bondage that is the false beliefs of gods and the conspiracy theories of reality found in religions.

“Understanding Religion Evolution: Animism, Totemism, Shamanism, Paganism & Progressed organized religion”

Understanding Religion Evolution:

“An Archaeological/Anthropological Understanding of Religion Evolution”

It seems ancient peoples had to survived amazing threats in a “dangerous universe (by superstition perceived as good and evil),” and human “immorality or imperfection of the soul” which was thought to affect the still living, leading to ancestor worship. This ancestor worship presumably led to the belief in supernatural beings, and then some of these were turned into the belief in gods. This feeble myth called gods were just a human conceived “made from nothing into something over and over, changing, again and again, taking on more as they evolve, all the while they are thought to be special,” but it is just supernatural animistic spirit-belief perceived as sacred.

 

Quick Evolution of Religion?

Pre-Animism (at least 300,000 years ago) pre-religion is a beginning that evolves into later Animism. So, Religion as we think of it, to me, all starts in a general way with Animism (Africa: 100,000 years ago) (theoretical belief in supernatural powers/spirits), then this is physically expressed in or with Totemism (Europe: 50,000 years ago) (theoretical belief in mythical relationship with powers/spirits through a totem item), which then enlists a full-time specific person to do this worship and believed interacting Shamanism (Siberia/Russia: 30,000 years ago) (theoretical belief in access and influence with spirits through ritual), and then there is the further employment of myths and gods added to all the above giving you Paganism (Turkey: 12,000 years ago) (often a lot more nature-based than most current top world religions, thus hinting to their close link to more ancient religious thinking it stems from). My hypothesis is expressed with an explanation of the building of a theatrical house (modern religions development). Progressed organized religion (Egypt: 5,000 years ago)  with CURRENT “World” RELIGIONS (after 4,000 years ago).

Historically, in large city-state societies (such as Egypt or Iraq) starting around 5,000 years ago culminated to make religion something kind of new, a sociocultural-governmental-religious monarchy, where all or at least many of the people of such large city-state societies seem familiar with and committed to the existence of “religion” as the integrated life identity package of control dynamics with a fixed closed magical doctrine, but this juggernaut integrated religion identity package of Dogmatic-Propaganda certainly did not exist or if developed to an extent it was highly limited in most smaller prehistoric societies as they seem to lack most of the strong control dynamics with a fixed closed magical doctrine (magical beliefs could be at times be added or removed). Many people just want to see developed religious dynamics everywhere even if it is not. Instead, all that is found is largely fragments until the domestication of religion.

Religions, as we think of them today, are a new fad, even if they go back to around 6,000 years in the timeline of human existence, this amounts to almost nothing when seen in the long slow evolution of religion at least around 70,000 years ago with one of the oldest ritual worship. Stone Snake of South Africa: “first human worship” 70,000 years ago. This message of how religion and gods among them are clearly a man-made thing that was developed slowly as it was invented and then implemented peace by peace discrediting them all. Which seems to be a simple point some are just not grasping how devastating to any claims of truth when we can see the lie clearly in the archeological sites.

I wish people fought as hard for the actual values as they fight for the group/clan names political or otherwise they think support values. Every amount spent on war is theft to children in need of food or the homeless kept from shelter.

Here are several of my blog posts on history:

I am not an academic. I am a revolutionary that teaches in public, in places like social media, and in the streets. I am not a leader by some title given but from my commanding leadership style of simply to start teaching everywhere to everyone, all manner of positive education. 

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

To me, Animism starts in Southern Africa, then to West Europe, and becomes Totemism. Another split goes near the Russia and Siberia border becoming Shamanism, which heads into Central Europe meeting up with Totemism, which also had moved there, mixing the two which then heads to Lake Baikal in Siberia. From there this Shamanism-Totemism heads to Turkey where it becomes Paganism.

My thoughts on the Evolution of Religion: from Animism to Paganism

Philosophy to the Rescue: explaining Reason, Logic, Evidence, Truth, Certainty, Reality, and Science

Talking about “Religion and Deity Evolution” on Twitter (X) Questions and Answers

You can’t change people, by reason and evidence. WRONG, I do it all the time.

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

ref, ref

Hinduism around 3,700 to 3,500 years old. ref

 Judaism around 3,450 or 3,250 years old. (The first writing in the bible was “Paleo-Hebrew” dated to around 3,000 years ago Khirbet Qeiyafa is the site of an ancient fortress city overlooking the Elah Valley. And many believe the religious Jewish texts were completed around 2,500) ref, ref

Judaism is around 3,450 or 3,250 years old. (“Paleo-Hebrew” 3,000 years ago and Torah 2,500 years ago)

“Judaism is an Abrahamic, its roots as an organized religion in the Middle East during the Bronze Age. Some scholars argue that modern Judaism evolved from Yahwism, the religion of ancient Israel and Judah, by the late 6th century BCE, and is thus considered to be one of the oldest monotheistic religions.” ref

“Yahwism is the name given by modern scholars to the religion of ancient Israel, essentially polytheistic, with a plethora of gods and goddesses. Heading the pantheon was Yahweh, the national god of the Israelite kingdoms of Israel and Judah, with his consort, the goddess Asherah; below them were second-tier gods and goddesses such as Baal, Shamash, Yarikh, Mot, and Astarte, all of whom had their own priests and prophets and numbered royalty among their devotees, and a third and fourth tier of minor divine beings, including the mal’ak, the messengers of the higher gods, who in later times became the angels of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Yahweh, however, was not the ‘original’ god of Israel “Isra-El”; it is El, the head of the Canaanite pantheon, whose name forms the basis of the name “Israel”, and none of the Old Testament patriarchs, the tribes of Israel, the Judges, or the earliest monarchs, have a Yahwistic theophoric name (i.e., one incorporating the name of Yahweh).” ref

“El is a Northwest Semitic word meaning “god” or “deity“, or referring (as a proper name) to any one of multiple major ancient Near Eastern deities. A rarer form, ‘ila, represents the predicate form in Old Akkadian and in Amorite. The word is derived from the Proto-Semitic *ʔil-, meaning “god”. Specific deities known as ‘El or ‘Il include the supreme god of the ancient Canaanite religion and the supreme god of East Semitic speakers in Mesopotamia’s Early Dynastic Period. ʼĒl is listed at the head of many pantheons. In some Canaanite and Ugaritic sources, ʼĒl played a role as father of the gods, of creation, or both. For example, in the Ugaritic texts, ʾil mlk is understood to mean “ʼĒl the King” but ʾil hd as “the god Hadad“. The Semitic root ʾlh (Arabic ʾilāh, Aramaic ʾAlāh, ʾElāh, Hebrew ʾelōah) may be ʾl with a parasitic h, and ʾl may be an abbreviated form of ʾlh. In Ugaritic the plural form meaning “gods” is ʾilhm, equivalent to Hebrew ʾelōhîm “powers”. In the Hebrew texts this word is interpreted as being semantically singular for “god” by biblical commentators. However the documentary hypothesis for the Old Testament (corresponds to the Jewish Torah) developed originally in the 1870s, identifies these that different authors – the Jahwist, Elohist, Deuteronomist, and the Priestly source – were responsible for editing stories from a polytheistic religion into those of a monotheistic religion. Inconsistencies that arise between monotheism and polytheism in the texts are reflective of this hypothesis.” ref

 

Jainism around 2,599 – 2,527 years old. ref

Confucianism around 2,600 – 2,551 years old. ref

Buddhism around 2,563/2,480 – 2,483/2,400 years old. ref

Christianity around 2,o00 years old. ref

Shinto around 1,305 years old. ref

Islam around 1407–1385 years old. ref

Sikhism around 548–478 years old. ref

Bahá’í around 200–125 years old. ref

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

ref, ref, ref

“Theists, there has to be a god, as something can not come from nothing.”

Well, thus something (unknown) happened and then there was something. This does not tell us what the something that may have been involved with something coming from nothing. A supposed first cause, thus something (unknown) happened and then there was something is not an open invitation to claim it as known, neither is it justified to call or label such an unknown as anything, especially an unsubstantiated magical thinking belief born of mythology and religious storytelling.

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Advocating Anarchism: Morality, Non-coercion, Anti-hierarchy, Solidarity, Internationalism, Mutualism, Cooperationism, Empowermentism, etc.

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

While hallucinogens are associated with shamanism, it is alcohol that is associated with paganism.

The Atheist-Humanist-Leftist Revolutionaries Shows in the prehistory series:

Show one: Prehistory: related to “Anarchism and Socialism” the division of labor, power, rights, and recourses.

Show two: Pre-animism 300,000 years old and animism 100,000 years old: related to “Anarchism and Socialism”

Show tree: Totemism 50,000 years old: related to “Anarchism and Socialism”

Show four: Shamanism 30,000 years old: related to “Anarchism and Socialism”

Show five: Paganism 12,000 years old: related to “Anarchism and Socialism”

Show six: Emergence of hierarchy, sexism, slavery, and the new male god dominance: Paganism 7,000-5,000 years old: related to “Anarchism and Socialism” (Capitalism) (World War 0) Elite and their slaves!

Show seven: Paganism 5,000 years old: progressed organized religion and the state: related to “Anarchism and Socialism” (Kings and the Rise of the State)

Show eight: Paganism 4,000 years old: Moralistic gods after the rise of Statism and often support Statism/Kings: related to “Anarchism and Socialism” (First Moralistic gods, then the Origin time of Monotheism)

Prehistory: related to “Anarchism and Socialism” the division of labor, power, rights, and recourses: VIDEO

Pre-animism 300,000 years old and animism 100,000 years old: related to “Anarchism and Socialism”: VIDEO

Totemism 50,000 years old: related to “Anarchism and Socialism”: VIDEO

Shamanism 30,000 years old: related to “Anarchism and Socialism”: VIDEO

Paganism 12,000 years old: related to “Anarchism and Socialism” (Pre-Capitalism): VIDEO

Paganism 7,000-5,000 years old: related to “Anarchism and Socialism” (Capitalism) (World War 0) Elite and their slaves: VIEDO

Paganism 5,000 years old: progressed organized religion and the state: related to “Anarchism and Socialism” (Kings and the Rise of the State): VIEDO

Paganism 4,000 years old: related to “Anarchism and Socialism” (First Moralistic gods, then the Origin time of Monotheism): VIEDO

I do not hate simply because I challenge and expose myths or lies any more than others being thought of as loving simply because of the protection and hiding from challenge their favored myths or lies.

The truth is best championed in the sunlight of challenge.

An archaeologist once said to me “Damien religion and culture are very different”

My response, So are you saying that was always that way, such as would you say Native Americans’ cultures are separate from their religions? And do you think it always was the way you believe?

I had said that religion was a cultural product. That is still how I see it and there are other archaeologists that think close to me as well. Gods too are the myths of cultures that did not understand science or the world around them, seeing magic/supernatural everywhere.

I personally think there is a goddess and not enough evidence to support a male god at Çatalhöyük but if there was both a male and female god and goddess then I know the kind of gods they were like Proto-Indo-European mythology.

This series idea was addressed in, Anarchist Teaching as Free Public Education or Free Education in the Public: VIDEO

Our 12 video series: Organized Oppression: Mesopotamian State Force and the Politics of power (9,000-4,000 years ago), is adapted from: The Complete and Concise History of the Sumerians and Early Bronze Age Mesopotamia (7000-2000 BC): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szFjxmY7jQA by “History with Cy“

Show #1: Mesopotamian State Force and the Politics of Power (Samarra, Halaf, Ubaid)

Show #2: Mesopotamian State Force and the Politics of Power (Eridu: First City of Power)

Show #3: Mesopotamian State Force and the Politics of Power (Uruk and the First Cities)

Show #4: Mesopotamian State Force and the Politics of Power (First Kings)

Show #5: Mesopotamian State Force and the Politics of Power (Early Dynastic Period)

Show #6: Mesopotamian State Force and the Politics of Power (King Lugalzagesi and the First Empire)

Show #7: Mesopotamian State Force and the Politics of Power (Sargon and Akkadian Rule)

Show #8: Mesopotamian State Force and the Politics of Power (Naram-Sin, Post-Akkadian Rule, and the Gutians)

Show #9: Mesopotamian State Force and the Politics of Power (Gudea of Lagash and Utu-hegal)

Show #10: Mesopotamian State Force and the Politics of Power (Third Dynasty of Ur / Neo-Sumerian Empire)

Show #11: Mesopotamian State Force and the Politics of Power (Amorites, Elamites, and the End of an Era)

Show #12: Mesopotamian State Force and the Politics of Power (Aftermath and Legacy of Sumer)

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

The “Atheist-Humanist-Leftist Revolutionaries”

Cory Johnston ☭ Ⓐ Atheist Leftist @Skepticallefty & I (Damien Marie AtHope) @AthopeMarie (my YouTube & related blog) are working jointly in atheist, antitheist, antireligionist, antifascist, anarchist, socialist, and humanist endeavors in our videos together, generally, every other Saturday.

Why Does Power Bring Responsibility?

Think, how often is it the powerless that start wars, oppress others, or commit genocide? So, I guess the question is to us all, to ask, how can power not carry responsibility in a humanity concept? I know I see the deep ethical responsibility that if there is power their must be a humanistic responsibility of ethical and empathic stewardship of that power. Will I be brave enough to be kind? Will I possess enough courage to be compassionate? Will my valor reach its height of empathy? I as everyone, earns our justified respect by our actions, that are good, ethical, just, protecting, and kind. Do I have enough self-respect to put my love for humanity’s flushing, over being brought down by some of its bad actors? May we all be the ones doing good actions in the world, to help human flourishing.

I create the world I want to live in, striving for flourishing. Which is not a place but a positive potential involvement and promotion; a life of humanist goal precision. To master oneself, also means mastering positive prosocial behaviors needed for human flourishing. I may have lost a god myth as an atheist, but I am happy to tell you, my friend, it is exactly because of that, leaving the mental terrorizer, god belief, that I truly regained my connected ethical as well as kind humanity.

Cory and I will talk about prehistory and theism, addressing the relevance to atheism, anarchism, and socialism.

At the same time as the rise of the male god, 7,000 years ago, there was also the very time there was the rise of violence, war, and clans to kingdoms, then empires, then states. It is all connected back to 7,000 years ago, and it moved across the world.

Cory Johnston: https://damienmarieathope.com/2021/04/cory-johnston-mind-of-a-skeptical-leftist/?v=32aec8db952d  

The Mind of a Skeptical Leftist (YouTube)

Cory Johnston: Mind of a Skeptical Leftist @Skepticallefty

The Mind of a Skeptical Leftist By Cory Johnston: “Promoting critical thinking, social justice, and left-wing politics by covering current events and talking to a variety of people. Cory Johnston has been thoughtfully talking to people and attempting to promote critical thinking, social justice, and left-wing politics.” http://anchor.fm/skepticalleft

Cory needs our support. We rise by helping each other.

Cory Johnston ☭ Ⓐ @Skepticallefty Evidence-based atheist leftist (he/him) Producer, host, and co-host of 4 podcasts @skeptarchy @skpoliticspod and @AthopeMarie

Damien Marie AtHope (“At Hope”) Axiological Atheist, Anti-theist, Anti-religionist, Secular Humanist. Rationalist, Writer, Artist, Poet, Philosopher, Advocate, Activist, Psychology, and Armchair Archaeology/Anthropology/Historian.

Damien is interested in: Freedom, Liberty, Justice, Equality, Ethics, Humanism, Science, Atheism, Antiteism, Antireligionism, Ignosticism, Left-Libertarianism, Anarchism, Socialism, Mutualism, Axiology, Metaphysics, LGBTQI, Philosophy, Advocacy, Activism, Mental Health, Psychology, Archaeology, Social Work, Sexual Rights, Marriage Rights, Woman’s Rights, Gender Rights, Child Rights, Secular Rights, Race Equality, Ageism/Disability Equality, Etc. And a far-leftist, “Anarcho-Humanist.”

I am not a good fit in the atheist movement that is mostly pro-capitalist, I am anti-capitalist. Mostly pro-skeptic, I am a rationalist not valuing skepticism. Mostly pro-agnostic, I am anti-agnostic. Mostly limited to anti-Abrahamic religions, I am an anti-religionist.

To me, the “male god” seems to have either emerged or become prominent around 7,000 years ago, whereas the now favored monotheism “male god” is more like 4,000 years ago or so. To me, the “female goddess” seems to have either emerged or become prominent around 11,000-10,000 years ago or so, losing the majority of its once prominence around 2,000 years ago due largely to the now favored monotheism “male god” that grow in prominence after 4,000 years ago or so.

My Thought on the Evolution of Gods?

Animal protector deities from old totems/spirit animal beliefs come first to me, 13,000/12,000 years ago, then women as deities 11,000/10,000 years ago, then male gods around 7,000/8,000 years ago. Moralistic gods around 5,000/4,000 years ago, and monotheistic gods around 4,000/3,000 years ago. 

To me, animal gods were likely first related to totemism animals around 13,000 to 12,000 years ago or older. Female as goddesses was next to me, 11,000 to 10,000 years ago or so with the emergence of agriculture. Then male gods come about 8,000 to 7,000 years ago with clan wars. Many monotheism-themed religions started in henotheism, emerging out of polytheism/paganism.

Gods?
 
“Animism” is needed to begin supernatural thinking.
“Totemism” is needed for supernatural thinking connecting human actions & related to clan/tribe.
“Shamanism” is needed for supernatural thinking to be controllable/changeable by special persons.
 
Together = Gods/paganism

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope (Said as “At” “Hope”)/(Autodidact Polymath but not good at math):

Axiological Atheist, Anti-theist, Anti-religionist, Secular Humanist, Rationalist, Writer, Artist, Jeweler, Poet, “autodidact” Philosopher, schooled in Psychology, and “autodidact” Armchair Archaeology/Anthropology/Pre-Historian (Knowledgeable in the range of: 1 million to 5,000/4,000 years ago). I am an anarchist socialist politically. Reasons for or Types of Atheism

My Website, My Blog, & Short-writing or Quotes, My YouTube, Twitter: @AthopeMarie, and My Email: damien.marie.athope@gmail.com

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