1. Comment #36824 by Phaderus on May 2, 2007 at 12:55 pm

The sad thing is that this will do little to convince true believers otherwise. They are perfectly happy to condemn those named in the video and every human not following their specific brand of faith to eternal torment, and feel self-righteously smug about it.

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2. Comment #36826 by chadcross on May 2, 2007 at 1:09 pm

It is a good song though.

Other Comments by chadcross

3. Comment #36844 by kaffir on May 2, 2007 at 1:45 pm

In case anyone else is wondering, I have it on Google's authority that the song is 'Sweet Religion' by Imogen Heap -
http://www.google.com/musicl?lid=4wH-RREIukL&aid=8xpxk28I4-M

[edit - corrected link]

Other Comments by kaffir

4. Comment #36845 by briancoughlanworldcitizen on May 2, 2007 at 1:46 pm

This is the kind of thing we need to promote like mad. Everybody got on there, give the guy 5 stars and tell your friends. I'm off to canvas my youtube buddies.

Other Comments by briancoughlanworldcitizen

5. Comment #36850 by kaiserkriss on May 2, 2007 at 2:01 pm

So are us atheists going to spend 50% of eternity in Xtian hell and 50% in Muslim hell?
Who decides when it is time to change over to the other hell? When is half time to eternity, or is there going to be an on going exchange program between the two hells?

I think this illustrates just how stupid the concept of (heaven) and hell is.. jcw

Other Comments by kaiserkriss

6. Comment #36855 by briancoughlanworldcitizen on May 2, 2007 at 2:10 pm

Um ... "kaffir" thats an unusual handle ... any particular reason you're using it?

Other Comments by briancoughlanworldcitizen

7. Comment #36856 by Luthien on May 2, 2007 at 2:12 pm

I want the Muslim hell, they are much more creative with their violence. I mean, would a christian think of giving you a new skin so you han have it burnt off again (yes, it's in the Koran)?

I went and gave it 5 stars BTW;)

Other Comments by Luthien

8. Comment #36857 by Luthien on May 2, 2007 at 2:15 pm

6. Comment #36855 by briancoughlanworldcitizen on May 2, 2007 at 2:10 pm
Um ... "kaffir" thats an unusual handle ... any particular reason you're using it?

Have you read Ayaan Hirsi Ali's book Infidel? That's where I found out what that meant. All I can say is YIKES!

Other Comments by Luthien

9. Comment #36858 by CJ on May 2, 2007 at 2:15 pm

Comment #36850 by kaiserkriss

No you get both hells all the time, you can't split eternity in half so you must get both at the same time!

Other Comments by CJ

10. Comment #36859 by briancoughlanworldcitizen on May 2, 2007 at 2:15 pm

Thats the spirit, youtube is where the youth of today hang it, make atheisim pervasive in the virtual world and we inoculate them against the delusion of faith in the real world. Push that video!!!

Other Comments by briancoughlanworldcitizen

11. Comment #36860 by MarcusA on May 2, 2007 at 2:21 pm

Do I get a tea bag with my boiling water?

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12. Comment #36861 by briancoughlanworldcitizen on May 2, 2007 at 2:25 pm

11. Comment #36860 by MarcusA on May 2, 2007 at 2:21 pm

Do I get a tea bag with my boiling water?

Yes, but you have to share with the other 117 Billion damned.

Other Comments by briancoughlanworldcitizen

13. Comment #36862 by freestateofmind on May 2, 2007 at 2:32 pm

Hey guys,
Just "digged" it. Everyone please do so. It takes a few seconds...but hey...its part of our job to promote reason!

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14. Comment #36863 by kaiserkriss on May 2, 2007 at 2:33 pm

Guys, this is getting too funny.. I just fell off my chair laughing at all the wise cracks!!

Went to utube gave it 5 stars, and passed the link on to my son, who I know for sure will pass it on to his buds, and so on, and so on...

Wonder when the first fundie will dump the usual drivel over that great video... jcw

Other Comments by kaiserkriss

15. Comment #36866 by briancoughlanworldcitizen on May 2, 2007 at 2:36 pm

Wonder when the first fundie will dump the usual drivel over that great video... jcw

I'm off to bed now, but when the first fundi arrives, be there to get into a ping pong discussion. Generates comments. High ratings, favourites and comments are all good ways to get on the front screen of YT. This kind of video is just too good to pass up the opportunity to push.

Other Comments by briancoughlanworldcitizen

16. Comment #36868 by kaffir on May 2, 2007 at 2:56 pm

briancoughlanworldcitizen (36855) (and Luthien - 36857),

Since you ask, I took this name when I saw the Channel 4 documentary, Undercover Mosque, on this site. Made my blood boil (how's that for torture).

I haven't read Hirsi Ali's book yet but somehow, I don't think it'll make me change my handle.

Other Comments by kaffir

17. Comment #36871 by He'sAVeryNaughtyBoy on May 2, 2007 at 3:10 pm

"SMILE"
"There is no Hell"

... make a good T-shirt that!

Other Comments by He'sAVeryNaughtyBoy

18. Comment #36872 by quork on May 2, 2007 at 3:10 pm

"Nations marked by high levels of organic atheism - are among the healthiest, wealthiest, most educated societies on earth."

What is "organic atheism"? Is it high in bran?

Other Comments by quork

19. Comment #36873 by Liveliest Crib on May 2, 2007 at 3:20 pm

I agree with the above comments that this video will do nothing to sway fundamentalists or true believers. They would just watch the list of names of people destined for eternal torture, and think, "Well, yeah. That's right. That's what it says. What's your point?" Of course, the audience for such a video goes far beyond the "died-in-the-wool faith heads, as we all know.

It is fascinating, though -- this concept of hell for failing to believe the right stories. An American atheist and humorist routinely asks the people who send him hate mail how there could possibly be a heaven for someone who knows that people he personally loved were sentenced to eternal hellfire with no chance of parole. How can one even imagine being eternally blissful in heaven knowing that, say, a friend, family member or even one's own child, were being roasted on a spit down below?

Practically every hate mailer to whom the question is posed avoids it. They usually respond that the people in hell deserve to be there, even if we can't understand why -- which, of course, has nothing to do with the question even if it weren't utterly ridiculous in its own right.

Their avoidance is peculiar, though, since the one obvious answer to the riddle is that god just wipes out all memory of such people and any knowledge of hell once you're in heaven. (I suppose, though, that this doesn't jive with the complete communion with god you're supposed to have in heaven, and complete understanding of the universe you get upon going into the light.) So far, I think only one of the devout has offered that answer, and then avoided follow up questions about whether that scheme really made sense, and whether that was really what he believed.

Scary. People not only believe that basically, or even sublimely, good people they don't know will burn in hell, but they envision themselves in heaven happily gazing down at their own kids burning in hell. They would have to. Because there is no sorrow in heaven for them.

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20. Comment #36874 by He'sAVeryNaughtyBoy on May 2, 2007 at 3:22 pm

Nah, they just stick organic in front of it so they can charge twice as much in the supermarkets.

I think it means a cultural way of thinking (zeitgeist?) which has naturaly moved towards atheism rather than an enforced totalitarian form of atheism, like which Stalin tried (and ultimatly failed for painfuly obvious reasons) to implement.

Other Comments by He'sAVeryNaughtyBoy

21. Comment #36878 by MelM on May 2, 2007 at 3:47 pm

According to Lt. Col. Ralph Kauzlarich, Pat Tillman is "worm dirt."
http://atheism.about.com/b/a/257967.htm

Cheer up; the Universe isn't haunted!

Other Comments by MelM

22. Comment #36886 by MelM on May 2, 2007 at 4:27 pm

Why doesn't the view count go up after multiple viewings?

Other Comments by MelM

23. Comment #36887 by bruno_burned on May 2, 2007 at 4:32 pm

Does anyone know what happened to www.celebatheists.com? That site had an enormous list of celebrity atheists, both dead and alive.

But it has been down for at least a week now. I'd hate to lose all that great data.

Other Comments by bruno_burned

24. Comment #36900 by TranshumanAtheist on May 2, 2007 at 5:36 pm

But if hell doesn't exist and we can't go there after we die, what gives life meaning?

Other Comments by TranshumanAtheist

25. Comment #36907 by foxfire on May 2, 2007 at 6:19 pm

He'sAVeryNaughtyBoy wrote:

"SMILE"
"There is no Hell"

... make a good T-shirt that!

Exactly! The back of the "A" T-Shirts that RD Net is investigating NEEDS something for the back. This would be terrific - with a great BIG fish underneath(the Dawkins fish).

Other Comments by foxfire

26. Comment #36909 by AUSgb on May 2, 2007 at 6:37 pm

I was just thinking the same thing. I'd buy a shirt with 'Smile There is no Hell' on it.

Other Comments by AUSgb

27. Comment #36916 by Ricky Ramirez on May 2, 2007 at 7:24 pm

"SMILE - There is no Hell"

Brilliant. I'm thinking LOTS AND LOTS of stickers...

Other Comments by Ricky Ramirez

28. Comment #36918 by admin on May 2, 2007 at 7:28 pm

"Smile, there is no hell" T-Shirts:

http://www.k-state.edu/freethought/shirtframe.html

http://www.cafepress.com/buy/atheist/-/pv_design_details/pg_8/id_17660379/opt_/fpt_/c_360/

Other Comments by admin

29. Comment #36922 by Satanburiedfossils on May 2, 2007 at 8:02 pm

On another web site (I don't recall the link), the author had an interesting take on passages like this one from the bible (emphasis added):

Matthew 13:49-50 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Suppose the unfortunate has no teeth. Does this mean that dentures will be provided? Or will the victim receive a brand new set of teeth upon entering Hell, the better to satisfy the Almighty's prescribed amount of "gnashing"?

Other Comments by Satanburiedfossils

30. Comment #36926 by Yorker on May 2, 2007 at 8:29 pm

16. Comment #36868 by kaffir

Actually, the word "kaffir" originated in South Africa I think. It was used by old-time Afrikaaners as a derogatory tem for blacks. The word you're referring to is "kuffar", a Muslim derogatory term used against infidels, e.g. these nutters in Undercover Mosque would call me a "kuffar", I would call them arseholes!

Other Comments by Yorker

31. Comment #36947 by TheCelestialTeapot on May 2, 2007 at 10:13 pm

I didn't think this video was that great. While I agree with the sentiment, I've seen similar videos a dozen or so times before. I don't think that simply linking different names to atheism (some of whose contributions to humanity are questionable) is that powerful of a message. And as for Christians and Muslims condemning people to hell, so what? They condemn everyone to hell. What else is new? Feel free to disagree, but I thought this video was just a different face on the same worn-out approach. Perhaps I'm being picky. I realize it is important that people make these videos, and the time that they put forth to do so should be commended, but at the same time I'd like to see something creative and fresh. I can certainly agree with everyone else on the "Smile, there is no hell" t-shirts, they would be cool.

Other Comments by TheCelestialTeapot

32. Comment #36949 by MorituriMax on May 2, 2007 at 10:31 pm

Feel free to disagree, but I thought this video was just a different face on the same worn-out approach.

Shoot, there is only one Bible and we get that rammed down our throats day-in day-out.. At least we are presenting the same material in different ways. It needs to be repeated as often as the Bible is.

Other Comments by MorituriMax

33. Comment #36954 by briancoughlanworldcitizen on May 2, 2007 at 11:10 pm

Feel free to disagree, but I thought this video was just a different face on the same worn-out approach.

In a prize fight, if one boxer begins to favour their right side, drop their guard on the left, loose power in their right hook, this is exactly where a wise fighter concentrates all his efforts.

Hell is barbaric, medievalism at it's most deranged. Unmistakeably unjust, horrific and totalitarian. Yet it is core, central dogma for both xianity and islam.

In the light of 21st century knowledge, this is a massive, glaring, indefensible flaw in these religions, and one that we should be hammering at day and night, from all directions until they admit defeat and give it up. Then we move onto whatever the next worst dogma is.

Other Comments by briancoughlanworldcitizen

34. Comment #36959 by Shuggy on May 2, 2007 at 11:55 pm

Comment #36868 by kaffir on May 2, 2007 at 2:56 pm

I took this name when I saw the Channel 4 documentary, Undercover Mosque, on this site.

I think the word you want is kafir with one f, meaning "unbeliever". "kaffir" is an abusive South African word for black people, roughly corresponding to "n!gger". It may have branched off from the first word, a very long time ago.

Other Comments by Shuggy

35. Comment #36962 by AdrianB on May 3, 2007 at 12:24 am

I thought this was a new video from my favourite band. Oh well back on subject .....

Last year my car radio was scanning throug some channels when it stopped on a local channel called "Ramadan" which is broadcast during the period. I thought I would listen for a while as it might be an education.

The DJ was a young hip sounding guy, and there was a reasonably sensible phone in discussion going on for a few minutes with most of the calls about Iraq. After a while I realised that every single call was extremely negative about the country they live in. No surprise there I thought.

What did surprise me was that there was then 30 mins of young kids, ages about 5 to 12 reading passages from the Koran. Without exception, every single passage was the vilest possible ones about hell. I'm not exaggerating when I tell you that when I got home I was utterly shell shocked and had to turn the radio on so my wife could believe me.

It is obvious that the darkest passages about hell are being preached to young Muslim kids in a way that they were not in the Anglican church when I was a kid.

Scary!

Other Comments by AdrianB

36. Comment #36982 by celestial_T on May 3, 2007 at 2:51 am

Note to self: remember to pack teabags and milk for trip to hell.

not a great video, but it does bring home the fact that religion is, well, all just a bit silly and made up. I suppose people are bound to get a bit tetchy when you point this out to them...

I realise that's not the most insightful contribution to the debate but sorry, I've only had the one cup of tea so far today. Which just goes to show that whatever hell is, it isn't Wales.

Other Comments by celestial_T

37. Comment #36991 by kaffir on May 3, 2007 at 4:23 am

Yorker (36926) and Shuggy (36959),

Thanks for pointing that out. I can see now why it caused some bemusement. I'll think of a better name ("the_man_who_misspelled_his_own_handle" might just be too long).

Other Comments by kaffir

38. Comment #36995 by rationalteacher on May 3, 2007 at 4:50 am

Re: kaffir-gate

Isn't it nice to be part of a community that enjoys being corrected and learning new things, that has an open mind and a desire to progress?

Makes me happy.

Other Comments by rationalteacher

39. Comment #37021 by denoir on May 3, 2007 at 7:04 am

How does the whole bodily punishment work with the idea of an immaterial soul? In the dualistic view that religions have, it is your soul (i.e. mind) that goes to heaven or hell. Wouldn't something like hurting your feelings by calling you names be more effective than trying to torture a body you don't have any more?

I meant that's just too lazy theology - that they haven't even bothered to cover up such inconsistencies. But, I suppose that such elementary consistency isn't necessary for a religion to be successful.

Other Comments by denoir

40. Comment #37022 by kaiserkriss on May 3, 2007 at 7:07 am

Re Kaffir... Here I thought this was a personal joke by a black South African poking fun at himself and society by picking an aggressive political incorrect handle,to make a statement much as I and my friends sometimes refer to myself as a "kraut" or The Hun because of my German heritage. Just goes to show how WRONG one can be... jcw

Other Comments by kaiserkriss

41. Comment #37023 by Dermo on May 3, 2007 at 7:09 am

Good video. Here's a succinct FAQ on God

http://www.400monkeys.com/God/

Other Comments by Dermo

42. Comment #37027 by Philip1978 on May 3, 2007 at 7:27 am

MarcusA & celestial_T, I am very proud of you both, always thinking about the next cuppa!

Other Comments by Philip1978

43. Comment #37028 by steveroot on May 3, 2007 at 7:40 am

11. Comment #36860 by MarcusA on May 2, 2007 at 2:21 pm
Do I get a tea bag with my boiling water?

You *ARE* the teabag, Chum!

18. Comment #36872 by quork on May 2, 2007 at 3:10 pm
"Nations marked by high levels of organic atheism - are among the healthiest, wealthiest, most educated societies on earth."

What is "organic atheism"? Is it high in bran?

"Organic" basically means "containing carbon". That's about all that will be left after you get dipped in the Lake o' Fire.
Soots me! ;-)
Steve

Other Comments by steveroot

44. Comment #37035 by Peacebeuponme on May 3, 2007 at 8:18 am

14. Comment #36863 by kaiserkriss on May 2, 2007 at 2:33 pm

Guys, this is getting too funny.. I just fell off my chair laughing at all the wise cracks!!

But our lives are meaningless and empty, how can we be enjoying all this humour and spirit? Don't the jokes just show how clearly ludicrous it all is? Why is there the need to make such a video?

Kaffir - that made me chuckle for ages! Maybe you should read up on Kevin Carter to make up for your little faux pas.

Other Comments by Peacebeuponme

45. Comment #37049 by briancoughlanworldcitizen on May 3, 2007 at 9:09 am

40. Comment #37022 by kaiserkriss on May 3, 2007 at 7:07 am

Re Kaffir... Here I thought this was a personal joke by a black South African poking fun at himself and society by picking an aggressive political incorrect handle,to make a statement much as I and my friends sometimes refer to myself as a "kraut" or The Hun because of my German heritage. Just goes to show how WRONG one can be... jcw

That is exactly what I thought!!! However, I'm an ex-south african (yes I'm Irish too, and now I live in Sweden, I'm not making any of it up) and I just couldn't bring myself to probe any deeper!! In SA, it's a very derogatory term indeed!!

As regards the video, it got to the 2nd page on best rated. So it's picking up some drive-by traffic. We need to be constantly pushing these kinds of things in youtube, collective surges from the moment of posting to get the video up into the top 12 of something where it then begins to pick up traffic on it's own.

Anyone know a good atheist group in youtube?

Other Comments by briancoughlanworldcitizen

46. Comment #37056 by celestial_T on May 3, 2007 at 9:38 am

hi Philip1978 - well, after all, there are few problems that can't be solved by oiling your braincells with a "strong Brownian Motion producer (say a nice hot cup of tea)".

(credit due, as so often, to Douglas Adams.)

cheers!

Other Comments by celestial_T

47. Comment #37059 by Buddha on May 3, 2007 at 9:57 am

I've just placed an order for one of those "Smile! There is no Hell" t-shirts from the cafepress.com site that Admin posted earlier. Please come over and say hello if you see me wearing it in the street.

I have both a church and a mosque less than 50 yards either side of my house, so I'm going to see if I can configure my WiFi router to broadcast "Smile! There is no Hell" as my SSID.

Other Comments by Buddha

48. Comment #37061 by Corylus on May 3, 2007 at 10:03 am

Well, and there was me thinking 'kaffir' was an ingredient in thai curry! Learn something new everyday... :)

Other Comments by Corylus

49. Comment #37062 by Riley on May 3, 2007 at 10:07 am

TheCelestialTeapot: I totally agree that connecting famous people to atheism is a weak message, but, I gotta say: "Smile, there is no hell" is a perfect response to religious nonsense I most commonly hear leveled against atheists. Atheists are criticized for believing in nothing and not having any "good news" to share. Pointing out the preponderance of bad news spread by religion and doing it in the context of a "good news" message ("Smile, there is no hell") is brilliant I think.

Other Comments by Riley

50. Comment #37113 by kaffir on May 3, 2007 at 12:02 pm

Say goodbye to kaffir, everyone. He has been born again - hallelujah! - as Aquambulus hirsutus.

Other Comments by kaffir