ASTROCOHORS CLUB ORIGINS

Episode Title: 4 Things Atheists Should Never Say Produced by: Genetically Modified Skeptic Description: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GeneticallyModifiedSkeptic PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/GMSkeptic Some common sayings and ideas within the atheist community are just wrong. I'm an atheist, so it's up to me to correct my peers when they're mistaken. If we care about humanism / humanistic values, science , and skepticism, we can't propagate falsehoods like "Religion is a mental illness," or "Religion was just invented to control people." If we're going to talk about it, we need to actually understand the history and psychology of religious belief, and represented accurately. I see a lot of these sayings and ideas as vestiges of "New atheism" from the hayday of The God Delusion, God Is Not Great, and the Four Horsemen: Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Christopher Hitchens, and Daniel Dennett. Regardless of their source, atheists shoul...

Episode Title: "Atheists can't answer this question!" ...But We Can Produced by: Genetically Modified Skeptic Description: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GeneticallyModifiedSkeptic PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/GMSkeptic Frank Turek (Cross Examined on youtube) is a Christian apologist who recycles old, tired apologetics like William Paley's watchmaker analogy and the teleological argument when his views are challenged. Here, Turek goes up against Douglas Adams' puddle analogy as a response to claims of intelligent design. Frank thinks DNA is a code or message made by god, as there's "no other explanation for it." The issue is, Turek is unfamiliar with the basics evolution, and how DNA evolves. Here, we see apologetics fired out in a rapid patter, creating a concise piece of Christian propaganda. I'm here to debunk it. -------------------------------------------FOLLOW------------------------------------------- Twitter: https://twitter.com/gm...

Episode Title: Why I Went from Evangelical to Atheist Youtuber Produced by: Genetically Modified Skeptic Description: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GeneticallyModifiedSkeptic PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/GMSkeptic At one point, I was an fundamentalist evangelical Christian and dedicated my life to serving Jesus Christ. I went to a Christian University and wanted to convert Mormons in full-time service. I basically wanted to be a missionary. Now? I'm a full-time atheist activist and youtuber who builds and serves the atheist community, and helps new atheists cope with coming out / being in the closet. This isn't about why I'm an atheist or how I became an atheist. This is about how I became an activist after having come out of Christianity. -------------------------------------------FOLLOW------------------------------------------- Twitter: https://twitter.com/gm_skeptic Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GMSkeptic/ Discord: https://discord.gg/zkdMd5E -Links- This is...

Episode Title: I Asked Anti-Vaxxers If They're Persecuted | Anti-Vax Facebook Experiment Produced by: Genetically Modified Skeptic Description: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GeneticallyModifiedSkeptic PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/GMSkeptic Anti-vaxxers claim to be persecuted. They think they're being actively oppressed by the government. Because measles has had several outbreaks in places like Rockland county, NY, unvaccinated people had been briefly banned from public places. So, the anti-vax crowd, inspired by Del Bigtree, have taken to wearing the Star of David (or Magen) as their own. I did a kind of experiment in asking anti-vax facebook what they think of this. Their answers weren't encouraging. Wonder where r/insanepeoplefacebook gets its posts? You found it. -------------------------------------------FOLLOW------------------------------------------- Twitter: https://twitter.com/gm_skeptic Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GMSkeptic/ Discord: https://discord...

Episode Title: PragerU Dismantled by an Evolutionary Psychologist Produced by: Genetically Modified Skeptic Description: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GeneticallyModifiedSkeptic PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/GMSkeptic PragerU posted a video called "Why God is a He," hosted by Dennis Prager himself. He argues that the biblical god is considered male for practical reasons. Prager asks, "Is God a man, a woman, or a genderless force that cannot be identified by masculine or feminine traits?" Dr. Hector Garcia, a clinical and evolutionary psychologist, author of Alpha God, joins me here to debunk Prager's claims, and show how evolutionary psychology explains the biblical god's gender. That god is a typical alpha male primate, which in the old and new testaments, acts with jealousy and aggression, like any male ape would. Thanks for working with me on this PragerU response, Doc! -------------------------------------------FOLLOW------------------------------...

Episode Title: Atheists Meet Jewish Cultists in Israel | Bnei Brak (Part 2) Produced by: Genetically Modified Skeptic Description: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GeneticallyModifiedSkeptic PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/GMSkeptic Bnei Brak is an ultra-orthodox Jewish cult (and city) in Israel. Armin Navabi and I got the chance to meet up with Amir, an activist who grew up in Bnei Brak and has since escaped. I've spoken plenty about cults, from how cults form, to why people join cults, to talking about the cult I almost joined (Young Living Essential Oils). It's finally time that I show you what the inside of a cult looks like. This is part two of this documentary: Atheists Explore A Jewish Cult | Bnei Brak. Here, we meet and speak with Jewish cultists at a Jewish prayer house, and a study where men can live and study religion (Talmud and Torah) full time. We also get treated very strangely at a Jewish restaurant. -------------------------------------------FOLLOW-----------...

Episode Title: Atheists Explore a Jewish Cult | Bnei Brak (Part 1) Produced by: Genetically Modified Skeptic Description: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GeneticallyModifiedSkeptic PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/GMSkeptic Bnei Brak is an ultra-orthodox Jewish cult (and city) in Israel. Armin Navabi and I got the chance to meet up with Amir, an activist who grew up in Bnei Brak and has since escaped. I've spoken plenty about cults, from how cults form, to why people join cults, to talking about the cult I almost joined (Young Living Essential Oils). It's finally time that I show you what the inside of a cult looks like. This is part one of this two part documentary: Atheists Explore A Jewish Cult | Bnei Brak. Part two will show us interacting with locals and exploring their places of worship. -------------------------------------------FOLLOW------------------------------------------- DREW: Twitter: https://twitter.com/gm_skeptic Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GMSkeptic/ ...

Episode Title: The Skeptic's Guide to Starting a Cult Produced by: Genetically Modified Skeptic Description: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GeneticallyModifiedSkeptic PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/GMSkeptic How do cults form? Why do people join cults? It doesn't actually take a charismatic cult leader, but a self-propagating dogma which plays on basic human needs and vulnerabilities. Jonestown, Heaven's Gate, and the Branch Davidians weren't actually typical when it comes to cult structure, and larger groups like Mormonism, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Scientology show signs of more deliberate, sustainable mind-controlling structure. Informed by my previous videos, 4 Ways Quacks Manipulate Their Audiences, and How Quacks and Cults Recruit Followers, here's a quick guide on how to start a cult. -------------------------------------------FOLLOW------------------------------------------- Twitter: https://twitter.com/gm_skeptic Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/G...

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GeneticallyModifiedSkeptic PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/GMSkeptic Armin Navabi, Jeremy of Aurora Creative Media, and I went to Ramallah, Palestine recently and asked Palestinians what they think about atheists and atheism. Would they be friends with an atheist? Would they love and accept an atheist family member? Would they accept an apostate? Do morals only come from god? Although most, if not all our interviewees were Muslim, the responses definitely varied a bit. I hope you learned something! I know I did. -------------------------------------------FOLLOW------------------------------------------- Twitter: https://twitter.com/gm_skeptic Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GMSkeptic/ Discord: https://discord.gg/zkdMd5E This video contains 100% therapeutic grade skepticism.* *This statement has not been evaluated by the FDA View on YouTube

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GeneticallyModifiedSkeptic PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/GMSkeptic Should Islam be reformed, or should Islam be defeated? Reformers like Maajid Nawaz and Imam Mohammad Tawhidi argue that Islam can reform like Christianity and Judaism have, while doubters and atheist activists like Armin Navabi say that Islam needs to be left behind. Is apostasy from Islam the only answer? Can the Quran and Hadith be reinterpreted to accommodate secularism and liberal values? Organizations like Quilliam International fight for that reality, but will they succeed? Liberal Muslims, ex-Muslims, and atheist activists may all share an affinity for secularism, but don't always agree on how to persuade conservative Muslims to think the same. This is a brief comparison of Islamic reform versus doubt and defeat. No idea is above scrutiny and no people are beneath dignity. - Maajid Nawaz -------------------------------------------FOLLOW---------------------------------------...

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GeneticallyModifiedSkeptic PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/GMSkeptic Criticize Islam at all, and you'll be called a bigot. Anti-Muslim bigotry is definitely a problem which should be addressed, but Islam still deserves criticism. Regressives fail to see the complexity of this issue - that criticizing an idea does not make one bigoted against the people who hold it. No doubt, I'll be called islamophobic for making this video, and regressive leftists will continue to continue to rail against me. For the sake of tolerance, we can't stop having this conversation. Peaceful Muslims deserve our solidarity against radicals, and radicals deserve our criticism. As Muslim reformer Maajid Nawaz says, no idea is above scrutiny and no people are beneath dignity. -------------------------------------------FOLLOW------------------------------------------- Twitter: https://twitter.com/gm_skeptic Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GMSkeptic/ Discord: https://...

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GeneticallyModifiedSkeptic PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/GMSkeptic This is the first proper Q&A I've done in almost 1 1/2 years, so it's long overdue. You guys asked about how to make friends as an atheist, what to do when you're in the closet, how to come out atheist, how to talk to religious family and friends, if religion is protected under free speech, how I got the name Genetically Modified Skeptic, my ideas about atheist morality, and more. There are also mentions of religious reform, politics, Street Epistemology, raising kids without religion, essential oils, supplements, and the future of pseudoscience. Thanks for the questions! I didn't expect so many requests for advice, so I hope this helps my fellow atheists and agnostics who feel isolated or in need of community. -------------------------------------------FOLLOW------------------------------------------- Twitter: https://twitter.com/gm_skeptic Facebook: https://www.fa...

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GeneticallyModifiedSkeptic PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/GMSkeptic I think it's finally time I tell the full story of how and why I became an atheist. I deconverted from Christian fundamentalism over 3 years ago now, and I'm glad I did. Issues like old earth vs young earth, evolution vs creationism, the Bible vs LGBT rights, got me thinking about the validity of faith, Christian apologetics, and personal religious experiences, and I eventually changed my perspective on all of those things. The strangest part of my story may be that Young Living Essential Oils played a roll in my becoming an atheist. Because I was without them for so long, I recognize the importance of critical thinking skills, healthy skepticism, and scientific literacy. I hope that this video will help those who feel isolated as an atheist or agnostic, or who are still in the atheist closet and are thinking of coming out. Share your story if you can, but always stay safe. Sou...