*"I see your face, and it is beautiful. I hear your voice, and it is beautiful. I know that you're different than me, and it is beautiful."* Beautiful message. It makes me cry listening to this. 😢
"Nathan Phelps..." Nathan Phelps, brother of Shirley Phelps-Roper, of the Westboro Baptist Church? Talk about a "rose among thorns." Beautiful piece, Mr Andrews.
Jane Lin Nathan is the son of Fred Phelps. He was (far as l know) the first of his siblings to get out of WBC. His sister (Rachel?) has also legt the church as well. She did a TED talk, give it a search, you may enjoy it.
+Alicia Murphy Because if they don't have to think about what those differences are, and can hate simply because of some superficial perceived difference without thought of how trivial that difference is, they are not at risk at looking at themselves and their community and perhaps seeing they are less beautiful than they dream.
+Andrew Tall I think Alicia meant that it makes no sense to hate anything just for being different. It's like hating someone for liking a different color car or sports team. What difference does it really make? Why go straight to hating the other person? Why not just be indifferent towards the difference?
Thanks for this. My husband and I have been 'out' (as Atheists) for exactly one year now. Both of our families are deeply religious and we both grew up as members of the Pentecostal church. I also went to a school similar to the one you went to (ACE education). To mark this occasion I finally had the courage to hit 'share' on one of your videos as I feel it is important to begin to live an openly secular life. Listening to all of your podcasts has been very supportive as my family has made this transition. Thanks for your work.
Well, I duno, I find it rather stupid and incongruous how this video praises and promotes “difference” and “diversity” yet also, in the same breath, seems to condemn “tribalism”. Considering that TRIBALISM (humans breaking off into and maintaining these separate factions) happens to be the VERY THING which had RESULTED in all this distinctiveness and diversity both biologically and culturally in the first place. Now THIS guy is supposed to be a big stickler to EVOLUTION so then THAT is something HE should already know.
@@alphanova5688 humans breaking off into and maintaining seperate fractions does not mean that eacht "tribe" should consider themselves "the only right one", "the chosen people of od" etc etc and bully the rest. Unity isn't about not having tribals, unity is about respecting each other.
We're links in the human chain. Alive at this moment for a brief priceless chance to breath the air. To feel the sun upon our faces. To speak to best words for the best reasons. To peruse the best idea's and to achieve the greatest dreams. To unite instead of devide. To heal instead of harm. And to share together the preciousness of life. My English is not great, but that was beautiful.
I was not prepared to cry, but I did. Thank you for this thoughtful video, not much positivity out there today, with the whole us and them, this is wonderful.
Well, I duno, I find it rather stupid and incongruous how this video praises and promotes “difference” and “diversity” yet also, in the same breath, seems to condemn “tribalism”. Considering that TRIBALISM (humans breaking off into and maintaining these separate factions) happens to be the VERY THING which had RESULTED in all this distinctiveness and diversity both biologically and culturally in the first place. Now THIS guy is supposed to be a big stickler to EVOLUTION so then THAT is something HE should already know.
Bought tears to my eyes. This is how we should live. Together, as a WORLD community. We shouldn't care if someone has black skin, loves their own sex, wants to wear womens clothes. We should see he beauty in them and give them support, friendship and love where they need. And be supported, friended and loved in return. This world will never know peace. Not as long as there is bigotry in the world. And it will destroy us. Until there is nothing left.
+Eddie King I'm sorry, your nation is powerful, not great. No nation is (and yours is in bed with Israel and Saudi Arabia). You have some great ideas and some great people, but just watch a republican presidential debate and you'll see that you have to be particularly wary. The secular community and videos like this give me hope and I wish you the best.
+Etothe2iPi Yes we need to be wary of protecting our freedom. Someone once said, " when fascism comes to America it will be holding the cross and wrapped in the flag. "
I can't tell you how many times I've watched this now. It's amazing and absolutely heart melting. We need to see more stuff like this. We need to flood this world with positive messages like this. We need to show tangible real love is superior to imaginary love. Thank you Seth and Nathan.. I don't know you but I love you. You have been my best friends in my journey away from religion, and I thank you. You are beautiful!
I so agree. With so many negative things going on in the world (fighting in Ukraine, *"President"* Donald Drumpf, etc.), it's refreshing to see, and hear, something positive like this.
Breathtaking video, both emotionally and rationally. In the end I felt how luck I am , for being FREE. My desire is that more ppl around the world could break their chains. Thank you Seth Andrews and Nathan Phelps! :)
It doesn’t begin and end with politicians and judges. I’m from Britain, and I can see that in the USA you have particular problems with a judiciary based on political biases rather than applying the law impartially Where does the hate and fear come from? My initial cynical thought was that it sells papers, wins more subscribers, guarantees click bait, and brings more along to the church/temple/mosque. Fundamentally, every human being should be honest enough to admit and deal with their own perceptions and prejudices. Maybe then the second half of this video will really come to fruition. In an imperfect world, and at a time of bitter divisions in both our countries, it’s more important than ever to realise that the human race is stronger for what unites us.
I was just reminded of this when you talked to the final caller on the "My Religious Family is Driving Me Crazy" call-in show and I would love to post this message to my Facebook page. This was such a "Beautiful" message after all. ^__^
I have watched and listened to this like 15 times and it still makes me cry. Thank you seth for this, I was so full of rage after this disastrous week and than i listened to this and it brought me back. Again thank you seth this was exactly what i needed.
Not only is a person's differences beautiful, having that diversity is what will help ensure that we have a better chance of keeping the human race alive and thriving.
Well, I'm already on board, but a beautiful video, nonetheless. I especially appreciate the line to the effect that all of us are links in the human chain. Alive, with the brief, priceless chance to breathe the air. This line resonated for me. Not for its poetry, but for its practicality. Fueling one's own hatred, or mistrust, or even dislike of "the other" is such a colossal waste of energy.
I shared this with our FB Atheist group and I hope you do not mind... It brought me to tears and is one of the most powerful and poignant videos I have ever seen!!
Love instead of hate; Inclusion instead of exclusion; Knowledge instead of ignorance; Courage instead of fear; Unite instead of divide; Heal instead of harm; Reality instead of fallacy.................and I see something beautiful! Thank you Seth!
I always cry when seeing things like the signs in there, I am an athiest, and I am also bisexual, so not only am I scared for others, they scare ME too... Just imagining going outside and seeing that, is something that I cannot stand to think about...
Please take some comfort that society is changing for the better. There are or soon will be more people that only which for your happiness and freedom to love than those that might judge you. I'm 52 and only this year told my Dad I was an atheist. I asked him some carefully worded questions and learned he had slipped from his Mormon upbringing to a Deist position. That's when I showed him my membership card to a nearby atheist group. He smiled. I asked him not to tell my Mom though, she is a Baptist and would not understand. But for 15 years I assumed I was alone in the family. Turns out there are far more atheists in the family than not. That's even with several Baptist ministers on my Mom's side. So what I am trying to say is don't assume people are automatically as bigoted as they are in our worst fears of our imagination. It simply isn't true. It is true there are far too many ignorant vocal bigots but their numbers are falling fast. Have a great day and love whoever the hell you want.
I guess I'm a few years late to the party here, but this is a really good video. I am a rather recent "convert" (for lack of a better term) to this ideology, and I still have much to learn. For those who are interested, I used to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Living out in Utah, where most of the fanatic LDS/Mormon reside, this video resonates with me really, really well. I got baptized and accepted into the church when I was 9 years old, much like the people whose families are LDS. Unlike most of my classmates, I remember WHY I joined the religion in the first place. I was always given the choice to join, and I exercised my right to join. By the time I was 9 years old, my Mom had gotten out of an abusive marriage where both of us were beaten on a regular basis. I still remembered all of it, and I knew that my mom would be happier if I had joined the church. She didn't have to tell me, it was something that I intuitively knew. I elected to join in order to help bring my family some much-needed peace, not because I actually believed in God or Jesus Christ. Over the years, (currently 19 years of age) I got taught the principles and the doctrines of the LDS religion. There was a time when I genuinely believed in the church but still had my doubts. Due to life hitting me upside the head, and my PTSD being re-triggered whenever I have emotional stress invading my thoughts, I decided to re-examine my values and my beliefs. After many hours of pondering, I realized that I didn't really want to be part of the church, opting instead for reason, logic, and evidence.
this was very powerful. being raised in a devoutly Christian family which forced me to go to a hateful church I had a nagging feeling that something was wrong. and that why would anyone teach hate I thought religion was about love and acceptance not hate and intolerance. then years later came the shocking revaluation that most of my moms family whom I disowned are major bigots. it was a shocker because previous visits really didn't do anything to highlight that or hint at it. and I ask myself who would teach her to be so hateful and for that matter my uncle robert look no further and it was indeed my grandfather. I cant follow that kind of thing why because it could be someone I care about. but my grandmother was right about one thing I am a morally right person.
This is just so to the point! This is what I try to teach my children. Do not fear others, do not fear difference. Embrace them and accept them and grow with them. Beautiful video!
Thanks for getting me in the feels Seth!! Lol. It made me cry...in a good way. So many people don't see the opportunity to learn from those who are different, they only see an opportunity to separate.
The interview with Nathan Phelps on the TTA podcast was one of the most interesting/captivating podcasts I have ever heard. It is nice to see his contributions to counter is father's legacy continue.
Amazing work Seth. beautiful and moving and oh such a postitive and beautiful message. If only this could be enough to get through to all the minds that need to be influenced by it, I am sure it will for some, it has to. For the remainder, it will serve to inspire us to keep fighting the good fight to help change the world for the better. Thank you chief. D
This one made me cry so many times... It is such a shame that many people continue to promote hate and division when we can indeed be so much better! Thank You Seth and Nathan, keep up the good work :-)
I saw this at the end of one of your speeches my husband was watching. It made me cry! I was raised a Christian, but liberal. I became a Muslim-TRIED to be! I finally just had to admit I am not religious. I don't know if there is a Creator or god of any sort. But I do NOT believe an omnipotent god can't just look down and say "You are forgiven". Or "You are damned", whichever he decides. He doesn't need an assistant! The whole of religion is so filled with contradictions that it appears to be that God has more personalities than "Sybil"!
Absolutely *BRILLIANT* video, Seth! Using Nathan Phelps as a narrator added both poignancy and irony to the visual as well. I wonder if the WBC and the islamic fundamentalists and all the others who are so determined that we conform to them have any idea how scared and insecure they look to us... ... and how unnecessary all this _sturm und drang_ is.
Stuff like this could be used as a reminder to people who are giving up, that if someone like Nathan Phelps, who grew up in the WBC, can come out of it and be the man he is today, that anyone who has hatred can eventually come out of it. We can all be better.
