Daniel Dennett's Best Arguments against Religion 

Rest in peace mr. Dennet ❤

Such a beautiful human being. Thank you for what you brought to the table with your amazing understanding of the human experience. You will be missed!

Thank you for the knowledge Daniel. Rest in peace.

Condolences to the family and friends of Daniel Dennett. 💔 Know that his words and deeds live on. His legacy will live on. He is immortal in his work. He will be truly missed. This world is a much better place having had him in it.

Nobody has come back from the grave and said, "I told you so."

rest in peace Daniel Dennet, i still have your book in my room from when i was young. ❤❤❤

The level of atheism throughout the rest of the developed world refutes any argument that religion is somehow a moral necessity, Countries like Norway, Iceland, Australia, Canada, Sweden, Switzerland, Belgium, Japan, the Netherlands, Denmark and the United Kingdom are among the least religious societies on Earth. According to the United Nations’ Human Development Report (2005) they are also the healthiest, as indicated by measures of life expectancy, adult literacy, per capita income, educational attainment, gender equality, homicide rate and infant mortality. Conversely, the 50 nations now ranked lowest in terms of human development are unwaveringly religious. Other analyses paint the same picture: The United States is unique among wealthy democracies in its level of religious literalism and opposition to evolutionary theory; it is also uniquely beleaguered by high rates of homicide, abortion, teen pregnancy, STD infection and infant mortality. The same comparison holds true within the United States itself: Southern and Midwestern states, characterized by the highest levels of religious superstition and hostility to evolutionary theory, are especially plagued by the above indicators of societal dysfunction, while the comparatively secular states of the Northeast conform to European norms. Of course, correlational data of this sort do not resolve questions of causality--belief in God may lead to societal dysfunction; societal dysfunction may foster a belief in God; each factor may enable the other; or both may spring from some deeper source of mischief. Leaving aside the issue of cause and effect, these facts prove that atheism is perfectly compatible with the basic aspirations of a civil society; they also prove, conclusively, that religious faith does nothing to ensure a society’s health.

I put my shopping cart away and everyday I don't murder people and the thought of God never even crosses my mind.

Such beautiful explanation makes me tear up ♥️ sucu beautiful man

Passed away so recently. You will be missed sir. RIP

The advent of communication technologfy has done a lot to help remove "this easily maintained ignorance" in the same way it is slowly erasing taught racism.

I think that it’s more dangerous to believe that every thing will be forgiven through religion. As an atheist I have to pay for my mistakes with no intervention

It is so true that an environment of ignorance is crucial to the wellbeing of any religion, and that's why religions thrived until the advent of scientific discoveries that gave humanity the technologies needed to disseminate information widely and easily The genie is out of the bag, and most - if not all - studies from various disciplines show that religion is in decline in countries where people are highly literate and are given the choice over their religious faiths WIHTOUT punishments.

Huge respect. Thanks and RIP....We will always be able to check in with you on here. Thanks Mr D.

Wow, since I left religion finding critical thinker’s speeches are amazing! This will also be one my best! Thank you.

This is especially emotional to watch right now. As of last Thursday, I, and all of my best friends loved ones thought she was coming home after being in the hospital with heart problems for almost 3 months. That next day... Friday, her drs delivered devastating news... her heart is failing, and she won't make it home. Ever. That she had a week at most... and needs to make peace and see loved ones while she can. Well... Thursday the 18th will be Allys 33rd birthday, and the drs have kept her comfortable and alive to make it until then. It's actually amazing she's so lucid, and acting like her normal self, which is a blessing. Her closest family and friends. As well as myself are going to go up for her birthday and celebrate like there's no tomorrow... because for her there won't be. At midnight on the 18th, they are going to cease the life saving heart medication. I'll be the only one staying the night with her, and for some reason she wants me to be there when she passes. I'm not going to ever deny my best friend Ally that, but holy s#%t is it going to take every ounce of strength I have... I'm not going to lie, I'm effing scared. I really give her credit for going through this the way she has.. with strength and dignity. She'll be leaving behind many people that love her, as well as a beautiful 9 year old daughter. Whatever comes after death... I hope it treats her well. I love you Ally!!!

Daniel is a legend. Love the man.

No true religion should fear education and learning. If you have to keep the minds of believers in the dark from all of reality, you have to understand it's not true. If you have to convince the faithful of a different light, a light only seen in ignorance of reality, it's not true. In studying the worlds religions, none of them condone looking to learning and education unless its specifically of their faith. So no, none of them are true. It may be we have not yet found true religion. It may be that no true religion can exist. That all this is in our own minds and not reality. I have yet to see. But we cannot claim truth of something when we have to fool our mind of that truth through the absence of knowledge and reality. If you do, we are all the poorer for it.

I'm an atheist and have been for decades, even without religion I know the difference between right and wrong. Often I know that difference more so then the highly religious person. My parents were racist also and I was brought up with good morals and a knowing that there's nothing after death. I feel for the religious who claim they follow the bible yet eat meats from the pig, shell fish, and commit crimes daily, yet try using their religion as a means to lower sentences in courts.

Preach it Dennett!

RIP Mr Dennet. We sill miss your guidance.

If one reads the Bible, it’s very obvious that without that god, everything becomes good.

Daniel Dennett's Best Arguments against Religatardation...

He does not have a "best" argument, he has a library of arguments that are true and useable.

I won't say 'rest in peace,' because you have to exist to rest in any condition. I will say, "Thank you, Mr. Dennett, for helping me to see the truth." I know he doesn't hear me, but I am thankful nonetheless for his profound insight and direct apprehension of what is true, just, and right in this world. "No God that was pleased by displays of unreasoning love would be worthy of worship.”- _Breaking the Spell_

Dennett's last bit about religion dying or radically changing due to the availability of information is true, but don't underestimate the power of mis and disinformation also

Did you create it before he passed away? Thank you. 🥺

Elephants mourn their dead. They know what's up.

Correction: humans aren't the only animal species that can imagine their deaths. Check out pigs killed in gas chambers, or cows about to get their throat slit, or any slaughterhouse footage and you will see their fear and panic to escape. All animals, just like humans have hearts, brains, families and feelings, and have as much interest in freedom and in staying alive as humans do.

I loved Dr. Daniel Dennett, very sad to hear about his passing, I've would have loved to meet him, he was my absolute favorite, an intellectual giant, a legend, true sage, heard he was also very kind gentle person, huge loss to civilization, I will watch tons of his lectures in the next few days in his memory

Joseph Campbell discussed the similarities to all religions/myths decades ago

Thank You Prof. Dennett. RIP

I am learned he passed away. Goodbye Daniel. Thank you for your words.

when I was say.....5 I stopped the belief of the tooth fairy, santa came next, and god and church and the creepy priests came next its to bad we dont all grow up and realize how absurd they all are to me as a kid I REALIZED ON MY OWN THAT CHURCH AND GOD WERE JUST AS SILLY TO BELIEVE IN AS SANTA AND THE TOOTH FAIRY

'take the risk of thinking for yourself, much more happiness, truth, beauty and wisdom will come' - Christopher Hitchen

I love what he said

What an amazing mind! Rest in peace and thank you for helping me break free from religion.

The world is giving birth to so few intellectuals like Dan. RIP Legend

Everyone wishing peace on or offering thanks to Daniel Dennett are doing the very thing described at the beginning of this video. If there were still a Daniel Dennett around to watch this happening, he'd probably chuckle at the irony.

It is evil for a god or for anyone else to force someone into the type of existence that they might hate to exist in.

Where is the video of Daniel Dennett Quine, Consciousness and the Middle East?

Truth!

RIP... 🙏🏾🌹

I like what you said about religions having to transform but, in light of what I know about people, I think it will never happen in our lifetime, if ever. Most people are willfully ignorant and resistant to change. They are also intellectually lazy and just learn things and spew them by rote.

Daniel Dennett died the 19th of April 2024. Information is real. The information in our dna has been alive for, in fact, billions of years. What we think is influenced by what we have heard from others, like him. Maybe he lives on in some real and meaningful way like that.

RIP Daniel Dennet

To have lost such a brilliant mind... Humankind can but hope that his successors are such clear and persuasive communicators. 🙏

😂I HEARD FROM A SAGE.."..YOU WILL FIND GOD ONLY AFTER YOU GIVE UP YOUR RELIGION," 😢

RIP Daniel Dennett. ❤

Although I'm not an atheist (generally agnostic but occasionally swaying towards certain forms of theism), there is no denying what an intellectual powerhouse Daniel Dennett was. I have a tremendous level of respect for his work and his contributions to the field of psychology. Some of the most exciting moments in my psychology bachelor's degree revolved around Dennett's theories. His work is incredibly thought-provoking, coming from an individual who led a battle in freeing the world of ignorance. Regardless of whether he managed to persuade me into embracing atheism, I will always be a major fan of his work and am incredibly saddened by this loss.

Learning to make peace with being a primate descended native of planet earth and the potential that my mind truly holds to learn and expand is far more fulfilling than a life of fear, power and narcissistic control that i ever suffered in a religious life. Refute this statement with the dehumanizing rubbish of " appologetics " all you want but it isn't going to get you no where with me. If you can stand their with a straight face and call me worthless unless i form to the masses of religion i just have to tune you out.

Reason, really, try that with White Christian Evangelical Nationalist or a MAGA moron. The "beloved poorly educated."

If any person would listen to this and the words of Christopher Hitchens with a truly open mind, they would have to admit they are atheist. RIP Daniel Dennett.

At the end of this video, Dennett says that religious leaders having to revise their practices would transform their religions in favorable ways. What does he mean by "favorable?"

Jesus, the timing of this post...

Is this the same philosophy as Ekam Sat?

Like what he’s saying except animals 100% understand the concept of death. They just have different priories than we do

Why the music? Just let us listen to the voice of the intelligent people speaking. The melancholy music serves no purpose but to evoke emotion.

When you die an atheist you have chosen the consequences of being an atheist. And those consequences are eternal.

God bless you ❤❤❤

The question about morality is misunderstood the whole time. Also here. The argument is not that you can‘t be moral if you say you don‘t believe in God. The claim is that without God what is the objective standard? Atheists always avoid this question on purpose or because they simply understand the problem: if there iscno god, then whatever is considered morally good is just an opinion of humans or an opinion of most humans. Whereas when God exists, it is not merely a human opinion because there is a standard beyond the human opinion. Christopher hitchend, RIP, also never answered this question properly but always avoided it and people don‘t see how he never answered this question.

The cheesy HDTV scan lines, flicker, low frame rate, and off-channel noise effects and the old-style TVs are disingenuous and distract from the message.

Yep

Dennet gives lots of reasons why there may not be a god, but no evidence for why there isn't a god. Theres a difference.

Prove with evidence there is a god. Cannot. Finis.

Whatever state of being one remembers when he quits his body, that state he will attain without fail. - Bhagavad Gita

You might be an atheist if you are curious enough to watch this video. Thanks Daniel Dennet. You exposed a bunch of hypocritical people here!

rationalism is also a religion

Dr Dennett is right, the roots of religion are biological. See Dr John C Wathey's excellent report on recent research, The Illusion of God's Presence. He has an excellent chapter on Dualism, the belief in a soul. 🎉

Biochemistry determines human nature. Psychology understands human nature.

Reason, conscience, and morality. Where do they come from? Biology or an inherent gift from deity?

The TV presentation is silly and distracts from the content of the video.

2:40Is something good because God said it's good, or is it good despite God saying it's good? These aren't the same things.

religion/government are that cave that Plato talks about.

Go read about the Muslim world in the 10th century. The people knew of more religions and philosophies then Daniel ever heard of.

Ancient mythology, universally was propagated by The Taurid Meteor Stream.

Man is looking for a loophole.

Didn't god kill everyone on the planet.

I hear he passed away.rip the great horseman.

There will be plenty of religious people in hell. A person trying to get to heaven by their own works or following millions of rules, rituals and requirements will fail big time and end up in hell. It was religious people that most wanted Jesus to be killed. The difference between heaven and hell is a free gift.

people pretend their morality comes from their religion. but they still decide what is moral and what is not. i havent heared of anyone alive that fully follows the morality of the bible. the ones that would. would either be in prison, or dead.

If there was a book with 100% mind you 100 💯 % truth and no lies and everything scientific and nothing magical with zero miss calculations i would blindly believe that , but the problem is every book every other religious book on earth has some or the other miscalculations , lack of empathy or non scientific stuff and thats enough to proof they are fake

Are they his best ...?

The Catholic church is a good example here, they are revising like crazy trying to stay relevant.

The concept of christian god is of a human tyrant, from the worst kind through human history. The trinity is like Kim's trilogy...

well, Bashar al Assad is above Dennet

He believes we have freewill, i argue on the deterministic side, that everything is predetermined

Good personified as God. Evil personified as Devil.

People's sense of morality has evolved?!?!? Where???? Just another person on the outside looking in at the structure of religion with no personal relationship with God. The idea of a relationship with God is so foreign to some that they will never understand. They can't.

Bashar aL Asad OHOH o He says the same thing about the west .My philosopher

"Atheism is a disease of the soul, before it becomes an error of understanding." Plato

1:15:06 satisfied the punishment that you and I deserved he ascended into heaven he sits at the right hand of the father and he will return and gather his Saints to himself period who said that period thank you amen and so our first point here is rescued and what we look at in verse 13 it says for he rescued us for he this point brings us back that it is God that qualified US in verse 12 he says giving thanks to the father who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the Saints enlightened so the father that is qualified US is the father that has rescued us this word qualified means to 0:00 Transcript it's body bound Psalm 9 | Praise God for His Justice | 11/25/2023 - 1:17:03 military ID well what is the qualification to be in Christ it is Christ himself it's who he is it's what he did it's the gospel this is the qualification the gospel that has been heard the gospel that has been learned and the gospel that has been understood the gospel that does a work the the gospel that is constantly bearing fruit and increasing this gospel speaks to the dead sinner under death's Authority the gospel is not a message of Jesus to religious people that need to add just a little bit of Jesus to their life to good and well-meaning people that are seeking to please God no the gospel is that you were dead in your sins and your trespasses and that God by his Spirit by way of his word proclaims ccw

Dennett never made any coherent arguments against religion, a subject he never knew much about. He was a philosopher, not a historian, or a scientist. His main focus was on trying to prove animals don't have feelings or consciousness, Neo-Cartesian nonsense, and he refused to listen to real animal behaviorists, serious scientists, who told him the new data proved his suppositions wrong. A failed philosopher, whose opinions on religion don't mean anything, because they're just his personal dislikes, turned into ideological positions. Even Dawkins is starting to admit that without some form of belief system to organize around, human morality falls to pieces. And I see no basis for saying his own behavior was terribly moral. He's just ranting here. It's not serious thought. It's fine not to believe in an old white man in the sky--I don't. What DO you believe in? Philosophy is all about imagining things. It has no factual empirical basis to it. You're just going to make up something else to believe in, that can't be proven either, and that's all Dennett did. The most important thing any philosopher can do is admit the limits of his or her knowledge, but Dennett never could. So he went on stubbornly insisting your dog doesn't have a personality, or feelings, or the ability to think about what he/she wants. He reportedly had a dog. The dog was smarter than him. ;)

''God is dead''-------------Fredrich Nietzsche ''Nietzsche is dead'' -------------------------------God

Of all the popstar atheists I found Dennit to be the most boring.

“best arguments” 😂😂😂😂😂😂

Why should someone do good in this world full of injustice?

Richard Dawkins thinks there is no good or evil.

My 2 minute video 'Seraphim' will demonstrate the accuracy of Scripture with observable material evidence

Whether one is a prophet, Christ, or any holy figure, they are all human beings. In this sense, morality originates within us. Call it the higher self or divine self. The God of the Old Testament is a Jewish man who claimed divinity. The God of the New Testament is another Jewish man who claimed divinity, except he is a mythical figure. While Abrahamic religions will go extinct, universal spirituality will endure. There's a depth to true spirituality beyond what atheists have acknowledged.