For most of my life, my father was the only other black person I knew that is openly atheist. It's good to see more folks in our demographic becoming more open about their rejection of theism.

@stephaniaeverett6377

2 жыл бұрын

Same! When I see another black atheist the world feels a little tiny bit safer to be in.

@davidlafleche1142

2 жыл бұрын

But, are those people going to the Lord Jesus Christ?

@peterriverajr6899

2 жыл бұрын

What can I as a white atheist do to help you feel safer and to help more African Americans to accept and become atheist

@blackalien6873

2 жыл бұрын

@@peterriverajr6899 To accept Jesus and become Christian.......LMBAO.

@peterriverajr6899

2 жыл бұрын

@@blackalien6873 no thinks

As a Black woman that is deconstructing, moving towards atheism, I wish I could have a voice to just be me, let me out of the religious box. I don't like to be boxed into what I "should believe" just bc my fellow Black people do. And I refuse to discard or ignore the thoughts and voices of non- Black atheists, bc that has provided me a springboard to seek out more answers relevant to me. Thank you Mandisa for bringing this out for the many years that you have. And thanks Seth for providing the platform.

@electriccane3320

2 жыл бұрын

Keep asking questions. You will set yourself free. It took me till the age of 50 to walk away.

@gbbereal

2 жыл бұрын

@@electriccane3320 thank you for the encouragement. It's a lonely road...

@deliriousmysterium8137

2 жыл бұрын

Do best not to discount your intellect, also be safe and have fun! I wish you well!

@gbbereal

2 жыл бұрын

@@deliriousmysterium8137 thank you for the encouragement🙂

@starpenta

2 жыл бұрын

This is just a suggestion and only a suggestion...my own 'coming out' experience was as a white person BUT I was in the hospital, all drugged up after an unfortunate medical accident, so I can't say what worked for me (it did, but IDK that it wasn't bc everyone feels sorry for me and thinks I'm just angry about that). My thoughts are that after hearing the episode about going into public and asking questions so that the person starts really thinking about it (I forgot what it's called- street something), do that with your family/friends so maybe they'll have their own doubts, so that maybe you'll still have your community with you. I can't imagine how horrible it would be to lose everyone.

I grew up as usually the only black person for miles around (including in my immediate family), and since my late teens, the only atheist I knew. My Black half of the family is extremely religious, and most atheist groups are extremely white and disproportionately male. It compounded that feeling of not belonging anywhere. Finding her organization meant so much to me, and I appreciate you shedding light on it. You hard work is deeply appreciated!

@BlackAtheistRants

2 жыл бұрын

💪🏿🔥

@tonymaurice4157

Күн бұрын

Abiogenesis fails

Great interview. Being West African even makes it almost impossible to convince people that being an atheist is an option.

@nomxhosapekani7966

2 жыл бұрын

I have been told I will never find a husband, lol!! it's even worse for us black women, in African countries.

@hanzohasashi607

7 ай бұрын

As in 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Best to keep hush about it & not let anyone figure it out

All non-believers should unite. Representation matters, everyone should be able to express themselves, while not being subjected to reprehensions. I can fully empathize with the fear of being ostracized from your family and community. I still struggle to this day with members of my family constantly trying to convert me to their beliefs. I can't even imagine also being a person of color and having to do it as well. I fully support Black Nonbelievers.

@BlackAtheistRants

2 жыл бұрын

💪🏿💪🏿

I told my family I was an atheist, they were upset and insisted on praying for me for a while. Now my family lives in denial that I'm an atheist and think I'll come back. We get along for the most part and we just try not to discuss religion. Now I'm 31 years old.

Thanks, Mandisa, for sharing this about black atheists. I learned a lot about the struggles they face within the black community as well as society at large. As a white woman, I want to support atheists and hearing you speak of the black atheist community gives me a perspective I hadn't thought of.

@bluwater1422

2 жыл бұрын

❤️ this comment by the way & im also a black female thats agnostic/atheist

@BlackAtheistRants

2 жыл бұрын

💪🏿🖤

I had a friend in college who was an atheist, and I liked her so much. Then all of a sudden one day she announced that she was joining a catholic church. It was such a sudden turnaround, and it tore us apart from each other, I didn't understand what could possess such a seemingly rational person to suddenly do something so drastic. I knew there were certainly social pressures within her family which I was not aware of, but I hadn't considered that perhaps they were bringing race loyalty into the issue. I miss her. =(

@BlackAtheistRants

2 жыл бұрын

I have never had a friend that was an atheist. Just from what I have lost becoming an atheist I already know that one hurt deep.

@tumarbongrox6074

Жыл бұрын

@@BlackAtheistRants I left religion about 3 years ago after listening to the words and teachings of Dr. Ben Jochannan kzread.info/dash/bejne/q395sK2lo9Lchaw.html It changed my life and I was able to leave religion with confidence knowing that my entire life in religion was based on a lie.

@OswaldBatesIIIEsq

Жыл бұрын

That is a little perplexing with the goings-on in the Catholic Church.

@JoshuaBwalya-fs5gt

2 ай бұрын

I petty you

Excellent interview!! If one of my white brothers walk away from religion, he might lose some of his family, friends, and job opportunities. If a black person walks away, we often lose family, friends, job opportunities, and our whole community. Plus have to deal with the rest of America. This often causes great emotional trauma or isolation by constantly remaining in the closet out of fear. Perhaps I'll join her organization. I'll definitely donate. Thank you for this interview brother Seth.

@BlackAtheistRants

2 жыл бұрын

No lies told 💪🏿🔥

@mando686

2 жыл бұрын

You’re so right brother. In the South, I’ve literally seen pastors cheat on their wives, drug dealers that go to church and wife beaters who are religious get more respect than black atheists in the South. Me and my nephew both don’t believe and we still have not told our family, he’s 34 and I’m 51. Grown as men who can’t say we don’t believe in a sky daddy because we stand to lose family. It’s just so sad.

@d.rabbit7276

2 жыл бұрын

@@mando686 I understand brother. I was raised by my grandparents and I intentionally waited to come "out of the closet" after they died to not disappoint them. Speaking of out of the closet. The moment I walked away from the evil christian cult was the moment I stopped hating gay people. Distancing yourself from this horrible religion, literally makes you a better person on day one.

@d.rabbit7276

2 жыл бұрын

@@mando686 Quick story: I worked for a law firm for a little over 6 years winning 86% of the cases that no one wanted to take. 11 days after I came "out of the closet" (due to their 30 minute weekly prayer day) they terminated me and gave me a sizable severance. These people have this persecution complex in a country that gives christians preferential treatment. My advice to anyone who wants to come out is to be strategic about it. Because we're the ones being persecuted in this country, not them.

This community is very important. It's so hard connecting with other black atheists. Especially in the south.

Love me some Mandisa! Hope to meet her and everyone else in Black Nonbelievers when my family moves to Georgia.

What a fascinating discussion. Some of those points had never occurred to me. I appreciate being shown things from a new perspective. Thank you.

Happy to see this. Being a Black American is hard enough but bring a Black American Atheist presents new challenges especially when you have lived in the south(Georgia) your whole life.

Im a huge fan of her from the first time she co-hosted on The Atheist Experience.

Yes it can be very hard being a black atheist when you are a part of a community that is considered one of the most spiritual in the United States.

@electriccane3320

2 жыл бұрын

I walked away at the age of 50 after being born and raised in the church. Caused quite a stir in my family.

@gbbereal

2 жыл бұрын

@@electriccane3320 I'm 49, still in the closet... but trying to be true to myself🙁

@willmack3308

2 жыл бұрын

@@gbbereal that’s me. Lol, some people still think I’m a minister, despite me openly leaving the ministry and “turning in” my ordination years ago.

@electriccane3320

2 жыл бұрын

@@gbbereal it's the hardest thing to shake. I always say as black people the shackles have been removed from our feet but they remain on our brain. The sad thing that makes me cry is I got my kids involved in it. My daughter almost cussed me out when I tried to tell her and my other kids " I'm out ". My father got sick and died because he went on a prayer and fasting. His body broke down and he never recovered.

@gbbereal

2 жыл бұрын

@@electriccane3320 That's what is keeping me closeted, my fear of hurting my parents. Thank you for sharing that. I know it hurt so bad.

Peace and much Love to you Seth, really appreciate this interview...thank you Sister Mandisa Thomas for your work and your voice, it's much needed...as a Black Atheist, it's been extremely hard to express my concerns for my Ppl, TO my Ppl b/c of how heavy the indoctrination has been in the Black community...but i get it b/c i was once a devoted christian myself...so it means a lot when i see Brothers and Sisters who are non-believers, speakin' out and up for all of Us, and to my White Brothers and Sisters who have lit that fire and continue to fan it in the name of Equality...your efforts are most appreciated...Peace and Love Family...

@TheHydred

2 жыл бұрын

❤️

I can say that when I first came to terms with my atheism, the VERY FIRST thing I searched on KZread was "black atheism"! Non black people do not understand the "behind the scenes" cultural challenges of black people who deny Christianity and /or a god. It's more than a notion!!!😔

@solidarity8388

2 жыл бұрын

Exactly. Non-blacks like Seth "theThinkingAtheist" will NEVER understand the black struggle and actively capitalize and profit from our struggle with videos like these that culturally appropriate black culture. This video is a type of covert racism and white supremacy. Black Lives Matter! ✊

@mugsofmirth8101

2 жыл бұрын

Oh look it says "1 reply" under the OP comment but when I check nothing is posted. Just more proof this channel is pro censorship and shadow bans comments

@howardmarshall4375

2 жыл бұрын

I still find myself wondering if I am the only black atheist in the state of Arizona.

What an awesome lady and you also Seth. I love you both. Keep up the good work!

Awesome interview, its not easy being a black atheist but the only other option is to go along with the lie and once you know the truth, going along with the lie it not an option at all.

@BlackAtheistRants

2 жыл бұрын

💪🏿🔥

@OswaldBatesIIIEsq

Жыл бұрын

It's amazing that some of our people still abide by a book that at one time was "reconfigured" to condone slavery. I got tired of the "it's all a part of god's plan" cliche.

Love the idea of living “free from faith,” especially for a demographic that was enslaved throughout many generations and that is still marginalized and oppressed. Black disbelief matters!

I have great respect for minorities that come out to be atheist and agnostic bcuz it's so damn hard to leave and in some countries it's down right dangerous.

So much pain evident in the comments. But beyond that, so much more bravery, courage and strength to walk a path of truth, honesty and reality in really difficult situations. Those things may also be seen in the church, but it is not their source. People are. People who choose to be good will find a path. Part of that, to me, is to listen, to share ideas and offer support. This was a nice discussion and my thanks to Seth and Mandissa, but also thanks to everyone who took the time to share their stories, and also support in the comments section. I'd like to see more of this. We need to expand our community(ies) so much more going forward.

MORE of this! The nones need far more of this to be the norm. This was needed. Our community needs to be ALL inclusive and desperately needs to showcase more of these faces in our overall message. After all, are we not 1 community with a singular goal?

Courageous thinking with enlightening clarity. Hearty congratulations. I welcome such braveness.

@BlackAtheistRants

2 жыл бұрын

🔥🔥

I love Mandisa Thomas!! I was so excited when I found her organization. It’s definitely a different experience. I appreciate this content tremendously!

This interview proves my theory of why the black community is highly religious correct. Great interview.

Thank you Seth. You are appreciated. I will support you and Mandisa for the great work you are doing. $$.

This was a fantastic discussion on a topic that was much needed. Thanks for bringing this conversation to your platform Seth and for highlighting leaders like Mandisa who are taking the charge to show representation in our community.

@stephaniaeverett6377

2 жыл бұрын

Yes!

@BlackAtheistRants

2 жыл бұрын

I agree💪🏿

My parents reprimanded me for associating with the black kids in my neighborhood growing up before they ever reprimanded me for my disbelief in god.

Awesome interview! Love these succinct, but powerful conversations with a wide variety of guests!

On my mind from a previous video.... community/family rejection is as problematic for an atheist as it is for LGBTQ+ folks.

Thank you both for this wonderful interview! Love your stuff

Thank you for this Seth. More content on athiesm in the black community please!

While the Black church has been instrumental in organizing civil rights activism, the downside are the doctrines of conditioned helplessness taught that deprives the believer of agency the more serious you are.

I think you guys would make a great podcast duo.

“One of the saddest lessons of history is this: If we’ve been bamboozled long enough, we tend to reject any evidence of the bamboozle. We’re no longer interested in finding out the truth. The bamboozle has captured us. It’s simply too painful to acknowledge, even to ourselves, that we’ve been taken. Once you give a charlatan power over you, you almost never get it back.” ― Carl Sagan

@DLFfitness1

2 жыл бұрын

When life gets tough, people turn to fantasy.

One small criticism in an otherwise fantastic conversation: as Richard Dawkins always says first in his interviews, "Foremost I care about truth and want to know what is true." Arguing for what is true should be foremost for the black community just as it should for all religious and secular communities. Explaining how religions are man made and are based on books written by men helps leave open different paths towards truth unencumbered by religious dogma.

Good Work Seth for allowing her to be on your platform. I’ve known about her and other group of bold black woman out there who aren’t afraid to state proudly who they are.

This was a great interview! Appreciate you Mendisa!

👏🏽👏🏽 Yasssss… Mandisa is doing the work! Great interview with Seth.

Mandisa Thomas is what a REAL Black Woman is.💯💯💯💯

I really enjoyed this conversation. I've always had the same inclinations regarding the descendants of enslaved people holding onto the religion that was forced on them by slave owners. People who were abducted and abused for their entire lives but chose to adopt the slaver trader's religion because it was literally the only way to gather and give each other mutual support.. would also embrace a new faith or no faith at all in today's circumstances.

One of my very best friends numbers among the few black Athiests in Tulsa. I know he has often felt like he was alone in this, so it is nice to know there is an organization that addresses the problems he has faced. Thank you for sharing this video Seth.

Right on, Mandissa !

Love this interview nice to see I'm not alone. I have mad respect for Mandisa thank you for what you do😁👍💯

Thank you Mandisa and Seth!

I find it interesting how most of the white evangelical churches today adopted the services from the black churches.

First time seeing this interview. Much appreciated Seth.

Thank you so much for this beautiful conversation!

I have not seen/heard Mandisa on KZread in a while. Great to hear her again, she has such insightful perspective and is an excellent communicator; more please!

Love Mandisa!

Awesome woman.

OMG yes! When you leave the church as a black nonbeliever you’re not just leaving the church you’re potentially cutting off your family and friends. Outcast is an understatement. I’ve met people who literally wanted to get violent. You feel so lonely man, no one gets it.

This is a very insightful subject that has confused me for years. The black evangelical churches in particular. The majority of the black community demographically vote for democratic candidates. Almost all influential members of Congress of course are black democrats; i.e. The Black Caucus. So how does this conflate with black voters who identify as Evangelicals. Do they believe Trump is "the chosen one" as white evangelicals do? It's quite a conundrum.

SORRY FOR THE LONG COMMENT, My Deconstructing Story: I grew up in the church all my life, my dad was a youth pastor lol. For YEARS even as a former christian, i had questions and a lot of things made no sense but i wouldnt say anything. What got me deconstructing was me constantly questioning to myself the after-life. I would always wonder how if we get sent to hell do we "burn alive" but we're literally dead? And how do we "go to heaven" but our bodies just stay underground forever. It never made sense. And over time i would secretly watch atheist discussions on YT and even the one that Jubilee did a long time ago, and i realized EVERYTHING the atheist said is what i TRULY AGREED WITH and felt. Fast forward, i get my own place with my sister around the pandemic and she asked if i was going to church and i straight up told her no. It was SO HARD to do, but i was trying to free myself from religion and slowly cut all ties. Then our church ended up shutting down for a couple of months, and i was SO HAPPY. Then i ended up moving back in with mom after a year and OFC my family is super overly religious; so one sunday, she was like Get up, were going to church and that moment i knew i was DONE! I stalled & stalled until it was time to walk out the door and she knocked on my room door to ask if i was ready and i was still in pajamas. It was SUCH a heart wrenching decision, i told her i wasnt going anymore. Then she said something about "You not gone keep that job" (I'm still at my job, 2yrs😂❤). Then i sent her a LOOOOONG text message coming out as Ex-Christian and telling her i want NOTHING to do with religion, im deconstructing, im not going to church anymore for ANY event. Not participating in prayers, nothing. She felt some type of way but never acknowledged it. Fast forward again, we had a "family meeting" and my youth pastor dad came to visit us. And my mom outed me to my dad that i didn't believe in god anymore. OH BOY was he TRIGGERED😂 i can laugh about it now, but he lectured me for hours, and is STILL till this day in denial and believes im still a christian its actually SICKENING. I eventually came out to him as Ex-Christian FULLY. He wasnt happy, he still sends me unwanted messages, unwanted voice notes about god 💩, links, bible stuff, Bible journals even thought i told him to respect my boundaries and to stop. But that's my deconstructing story.

As a black man who grew up in an haitian community that I religious,I found that religion was uttertly stupid and wasn't fufillng me and it wasnt logic for me. Im glad that other black woman are seing the light. ✊🏿👏🏿👍🏿

@tumarbongrox6074

Жыл бұрын

I left religion a few years ago after hearing the words and teachings of Dr. Ben Jochannan kzread.info/dash/bejne/q395sK2lo9Lchaw.html It opened my eyes to see the truth about religion!

THANK YOU Mandisa!!! I am white womxn, and I have skipped numerous eps bc it seems like most guests are white dudes, and I've heard enough of their POV for life until balanced out by the rest of us. TY both!

As a white guy, who graduated from a high school that had 6000 students and 4 black people, I have no idea how black people think or live. This is why I financially support Howard University School of Law, monthly. So that black people can be empowered to do what is needed for themselves. I want a army of civil rights attorneys to make the change that is needed, including freedom of religion and freedom from religion. The Ivy League Schools, the gatekeepers of the oligarchy, EXPECT alumni to give back in donations to keep the elite in power and we, the people who demand change from that system, should do the same. I don't help black people get a education to help them. I help them to create allies in the war for equality for all.

💕💕😍. Love Mandisa..

@willmack3308

2 жыл бұрын

Yes indeed! She is wonderful!!

Im a new black atheist. I was a Catholic from ages 10 to 13 and then I was a Baha'i for 12 years from ages 16 till this year at age 28. I am sooooo done with religion. I am lesbian and i had to navigate religion for 15 years and i am so done. I hope more black people voice their opinions on not having a religion. Getting away from religion feels invigorating. I mean sexual abuse galore! Conversion therapy horrors! For us African Americans religion was introduced to control us. Oh Hell (God) 🔥 No!

Thank you!

Arguably, the most famous Black atheist right now is the astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson.

@blackalien6873

2 жыл бұрын

He denies being an atheist. He is also a fking clown.

@mugsofmirth8101

2 жыл бұрын

He's agnostic you clown

This video is great.

Great segment!

The atheist channels I listen to in 2013 and 2014 I had to cut loose because they start whining about sjws then started going hard right.

@ferlandpetrus2157

2 жыл бұрын

as most of them do. race is pervasive. it affects every single person directly / indirectly, knowingly and unkowingly and atheists are not exempt from the pressures of the religion of white supremacy racism. it would be beneficial for people to start understanding the nature of the global system that we are all subject to, what it is and how exactly it works if we are to dismantle it. And dont be afraid of calling it exactly what it is, because thats when the real thinking about dismantling it commences - its akin to the diagnosing an illness correctly before being able to treat it accordingly. once that can be understood, there'll be no surprises when even the 'most liberal' of those at the helm of this wretched system or anyone so empowered chooses to practice the religion of white supremacy more overtly.

@broteinstain8256

2 жыл бұрын

Haha yeah I think alot of people had to ditch the anti-sjw crowd. Especially looking at how alot of those channels have turned out. However The Amazing Athiest was able to break from tradition and went further left and is more progressive as a whole.

@richardanderson7387

2 жыл бұрын

I am grateful that Atheism has a place for the "right wing" atheist. The important thing to remind them is the fact that for the most part...other than their atheism they are in lock step with the Bible thumpers on virtually every other issue. Maybe that is a clue that they should re-evaluate their politics.

@starpenta

2 жыл бұрын

@@broteinstain8256 are sjw and Jehovah's Witness the same thing? There's a channel called Telltale that's by an ex-JW and one of his shows is called 'Atheists that Failed' - it's about ex-JW's that ended up in what he considers, another cult- far right and/or some kind of Protestantism.

@gloriaf6971

2 жыл бұрын

What is sjws?

I know more than few atheist blacks with strongly religious relatives in the south. It is very hard as their families act like they aren't really atheists even though they remind them frequently. One friend is also a homosexual and the mom can't wrap her mind around that even though she's a very intelligent person in multitude of other ways (like investing ). I can only assume there's a block there that doesn't let her see her son as he is(gay atheist). His sister is also an atheist and gives him the support he can't get from his mom.(though at least she doesn't reject him like some other black parents have (as white parents do here also)their own grown children who come out and say so.

@tumarbongrox6074

Жыл бұрын

I left Christianity a few years ago after listening to the teachings of Dr. Ben Jochannan. kzread.info/dash/bejne/q395sK2lo9Lchaw.html It was easy for me to leave and understand that Christianity and religion itself is a *MAN MADE* institution

Growing up, I never felt like I belonged anywhere, not with the black community, not with my church, not with any particular race, certainly not among my peers. I would say coming out of the faith and finding myself and community did at times feel like a step into the white community, just because of the content, but I was never really accepted into that community either, for obvious reasons. I did encounter some racism which I was too naïve to deal with at the time and it lead to some isolation. It's good to see people coming together and being more inclusive. I would say now that I can fully be myself, at least in certain settings, I feel the most like I belong and now there is a growing community of people who I can relate to ethnically, geographically and all of that, which is a big help rather than my support group being older white guys from a different culture. I don't discriminate though. I love your work Seth, always have.

@tumarbongrox6074

Жыл бұрын

I left RELIGION about 3 years ago. It was much easier for me to step away after listening to the words and teachings of Dr. Ben Jochannan. kzread.info/dash/bejne/q395sK2lo9Lchaw.html My eyes were *opened* for the first time in my religious life

Love this 😩

Wonderful work. Keep it up.

I will always be an Astute Militant Atheist. Death before dishonor. All is well. And you're not alone in the bible belt or where ever you are. We are prevailing✊🏽🐺❤️💛🩶

@wonderful4life

4 ай бұрын

Yes!!!

Well said

❤️Mandisa❤️

Saved 2 Sane is a channel that I came across recently. I think that one is doing a great job so giving it a shout out. Oh, and they love Mandisa, but who doesn't?

DO YOU THINK IF RACISM DID NOT EXIST, AS IT DOES, BLACK PEOPLE WOULD NOT RELY SO MUCH IN BELIEVING? GREAT SHOW, THIS TOPIC ALWAYS INTRIGUED ME.

@Canthavemybones

2 жыл бұрын

I don't think we would, no. There's a ton of reasons the bc is still desperate for it to be true.

It's ironic and amazing how black people were enslaved by the Christian missionaries, yet, they are mostly religious.

@lindatullos9430

2 жыл бұрын

Also the Muslims in the Middle East(first and longest and still on going in some countries there) and north Africa and Catholics in Brazil. But the rewritten King James bible does have very clear ideas of how slaves are supposed to act and the idea of slavery being acceptable where it probably wasn't in older forms. Thus the exclusion of many parts and changing of presentation to make a society of religious people who do what the king desires by being "in their place" (like women and slaves and children). It makes an empire easier to run. lol like most religion does.

@bluwater1422

2 жыл бұрын

I noticed that also & im a black female & im agnostic/atheist

Greydon Square is an atheist rapper from Compton California!!!

There's a Black Rev Dr. Ray Higgans , that is a non believing group . He has podcasts on Utube . He's got some Black woman involved . His videos are very enlightening also.

Does Mandisa have a KZread channel? I ask because I would love to subscribe to an Atheist KZreadr who is neither white nor male - and so far have had zero opportunity to do so - and (unless Mandisa has a KZread channel someone can point me to) I _still_ have no opportunity to do so. Seriously - it seems like _all_ of the well-known Atheist KZread channels out there are run by people who are both (a) cisgender and (b) either white or male (more often than not, both).

I've never understood how those coming out of slavery, then Jim Crow, would not shed the chains of the "master's" religion along with the rest of the oppression they'd faced. It was not the religion of their ancestors--that religion was destroyed within a generation of the theft and enslavement of original African ancestors. Both Islam and Christianity have taken root in Africa, but why? Colonialism is the only reason Christianity became so dominant, and not the version that came directly of Judaism in Israel, but the version of the slavers who stole those ancestors. (I can't discuss Islam's spread, I'm ignorant on the subject.) Religion provides one thing more than any other in oppressed communities: the delusion that those who evade equality and deserve punishment will be punished in another life. So that part makes sense--whatever religion could be common among slaves, it provided the consolation of dreaming that the "masters" would be tortured by hellfire, as they deserved. But otherwise, it taught the background lesson of paternalistic religions--bow your head, be humble (read: humiliated), be powerless before god and anyone else in "authority." Atheism is a major contribution to the freedom that no one deserves MORE than people who are Black.

An excellent interview and discussion that is much appreciated by a Black Believer. In general I find more ethics, humanism, and integrity among both Black and White Unbelievers, then among most White Evangelical Believers. I would probably also be an Unbeliever had I not discovered that the Christian God of my enslaved ancestors, was NOT the same god worshipped by the slaveowners and their supporters. The Biblical verses that showed me this are Matt 7:21-23. Once I understood that there are different Jesus', my faith in the true God was renewed and has been maintained.

👍

Trauma often times makes people susceptible to believing in an idea when there is the comfort of community that requires belief as a prerequisite, this is why AA/NA has so much success.

I had a black women tell me last week she doesn't read the Bible so she can go to heaven. Because her roommate in college decided to read the Bible and became an atheist she won't read the Bible or study it.

@Elizabethbaileysigmar

Жыл бұрын

@Ndeye Delgado No. I was not joking. I can think of about three black woman who have told me this in the last five years.

@opopopopo4236

Жыл бұрын

​@E bailey god damn 😂 she knew she would see the atrocities of that book, so she refused! 😅😂

Link to Mandisa Thomas on The Thinking Atheist (ca. Dec 14, 2015): kzread.info/dash/bejne/X3Zktdd9p8_PnLg.html

“Ladies and gentlemen, we’ve never escaped slavery. We still share the slave consciousness of our great-great-grandparents. We are of the same mind to a great extent that they were. We have not advanced beyond these people. How can I say that? I generally ask a series of questions. You say that slavery has nothing to do with you and that slavery was back there…What kind of food do you eat? You say, “soul food?” Was that the food of African people? Slave food. The food that we find most satisfying. The food that we find that sticks to our ribs. The food that we call “down home.” A food that we learned to eat in the quarters. And yet we dare say that we have escaped slavery. That we have nothing to do with those people back there. When our whole very social life and social relationships, our very definition of ourselves as a people, our very attempt to commune with ourselves is mediated by the food of slaves. How can you say you exist in a different consciousness from another people?.. And ultimately we ask the question that is closest to home for a lot of people. When we claim that we have escaped slavery and that slavery was something back there, which has nothing to do with us today, and then I ask you the question, “What kind of God do you worship?” What’s the name of Him? Who taught you to praise Him? Was this the God you were praying to before you were brought to these shores? Is this the religion you had before you were brought to these shores? Can you name one African God? How can you then define yourself, the very essence of yourself, and the very essence of your soul and organize the very nature of your life here on earth based on a God handed to us by our slave masters and claim that you have no slave consciousness and are not related to slavery? In other words, then ladies and gentlemen, we are not Africans.” Dr. Amos N. Wilson (1941-1995)

It’s very challenging to have this identity . It’s frustrating to be subjected to other black people assuming you’re a Christian . Diversity is empowering .Xtianity has so many blk women in a chokehold , the delusion and idol worship is very difficult to . Sometimes it hurts me to hear my mom talk about seeing each other again in death . ( omg my mom just texted me while typing this , lol)

Actually MLK thought the virgin birth and resurrection was ridiculous.(Which shows that he wasn't really christian.) Don't believe me? Look up his writings on the Stanford website.

@JennyKay513

2 жыл бұрын

I read that too and was shocked to learn this. I don't think many people know this about MLK. He was smarter than most folks realize.

@d.rabbit7276

2 жыл бұрын

@@JennyKay513 Yes, he was smarter. I think he did the Reverend thing because he probably thought it was the best mechanism to use for social change at the time.

@JennyKay513

2 жыл бұрын

@@d.rabbit7276 That makes sense. Religion and politics have always held hands since the beginning of time.

Where are the answers for why atheisteism?

I think sometimes it’s a way to cope with racism from white people. Christianity is good at teaching being persecuted means god loves you. Now I’m not saying that as if I actually know, but I see my mother who refuses medical care because suffering brings glory to god and the more you are suffering, the greater your blessings will be when you die. So I can see that as don’t complain, just take all the racism because when your dead you’ll get everything.

Atheist were/are always inclusive, without racist there would be no need for BN.

@kyaxar3609

2 жыл бұрын

Thats bullshit atheistd don't look at color but at the caracter of a person!

@mugsofmirth8101

2 жыл бұрын

@@kyaxar3609 way to contradict your talking point that atheism is merely a "lack of belief" and nothing more

@kyaxar3609

2 жыл бұрын

@@mugsofmirth8101 maybe in US!

@blackalien6873

2 жыл бұрын

What a stupid comment. There are atheist racists, atheist homophobes, atheist transphobes and atheists who think women should get back in the kitchen where we belong. Disbelief in a god doesn't make you a better or moral person. It just makes you an atheist.

You know what's even worse than being a black atheist/humanist in a historically hyper-religious black community? Being a black male atheist/humanist that's also politically a moderate and/or center-left/directly middle. It's like being a minority, within a minority, within a minority. Triple minority status... Black people are 13.4% of the American population, being a male say we cut that percentage in half to 6.7% of the American population. Firebrand atheists are 5% of the population, obviously even less in the Black community but for simplicity we stick with the 5, which makes it 6.7% of 5% for a total of 0.0335% of Americans who are black male firebrand atheists on average. Now we take that percentage and multiply it by the 9% of moderates who are atheists (as opposed to the 19% of liberals who are atheist) and we get a whopping 0.003015% black male moderate firebrand atheists. If the current American population is 334,532,930 than there are barely 10,000 of us Nationwide. There are TWICE as many cities in America than there are individuals like me. And for the most part we keep our mouth shut otherwise we get ostracized from everyone. Everybody hates us from all sides. The right hates us because we're not down with worshiping their made up Hebrew volcano god , and the left hates us because we don't tick agree on every liberal box and/or toe party lines. Everyone already hates moderates already for various reasons, but to add being black, male AND atheist on top of that? I've started Secular Student organizations on campus, I've created humanist teaching curriculum's for incarcerated black males and volunteered teaching it, I've freaking campaigned to go to Ghana with the FFRF and help battle the Akan Christians burning women at the stake believing that their witches, yet.... Somehow I'm still not a humanist because I have serious reservations about mixing politics with the atheist cause. People will GLADLY amplify the voices of color that ticks their boxes, but will ignore and silence the black humanist voices that are free thinkers. The right uses us for propaganda as much as the left does. I'll gladly represent caring, compassionate, rational humanism to the day that I die because that's the most moral course of action for me.. But.. The atheist movement has became too polarized and tribal and being the minority in the minority in the minority makes me the person everyone hates the most and I have just lost the will to fight anymore. I'm just about done with this movement... I'll leave with this thought.. If anything is going to change politically you're gonna need the moderate vote, because the hard-core left and right are not going to budge an inch. If you want things to change this movement needs to stop alienating moderates, along with all of the other under-represented voices. Otherwise you'll keep pushing us further and further to the right. Anyways, those are my two cents. Atheist Political Stats from here - www.pewresearch.org/religion/religious-landscape-study/political-ideology/#belief-in-god American numbers stats from here - www.worldometers.info/world-population/us-population/

@blackalien6873

2 жыл бұрын

If you claim to be "center-left" in America, you're probably an extreme right-winger everywhere else. Both main American parties are rightwing.

@michaeladair6557

2 жыл бұрын

@@blackalien6873 If you see both main American parties as rightwing, then you're probably so far left you've wrapped around the whole of infinity and came out the other side as rightwing yourself. This is exactly what I'm talking about. I'm dealing with people so far left of me that as a center-left moderate I look right wing to everyone else on the extreme left of me. Not sure what you define as leftwing or rightwing, but I would greatly appreciate it if you didn't decide for me what political allegiance I hold without even knowing where I stand on any of the particular issues. But if you must know, I actually identify most with the forward party of Andrew Yang. This two party system has failed us and we need a viable 3rd or 4th option.

How do atheists get rid of their sins?

@cullenarthur8879

2 жыл бұрын

Sin does not exist. If you are referring to destructive and harmful behaviour, there is no way to "get rid" of it. You can do your best to make amends to the person or people you hurt. In reality, you can not put your responsibilty to make amends on to your imaginary friend jesus and call yourself redeemed.

@firstcentury1885

2 жыл бұрын

@@cullenarthur8879 What if you follow all of the written commands of Christ?

@michaelbooth2890

2 жыл бұрын

It's easy, we don't believe in the concept of sin (something wrong decreed by a God that we don't believe exists). But I own up and atone for the wrongs I have done. And learn from my mistakes.

@robinhood20253

2 жыл бұрын

We don't sin

Ok, I have a theory. I’m going to bet 99.9% of those who have turned from Christianity were raised in the church, and made a ‘decision for Christ’ before they turned 20. Conversely, I will bet that 99.9% of those who came to Christ as adults, 20 years or older, have remained in the faith. My point? Christianity is a choice one must make as an adult. How can one ‘count the cost’, or ‘take up their cross,’ when they have no comprehension of the ramifications of such a decision? Children obviously don’t know what the heck they’re doing, in that respect. So, it seems the main problem with modern cultural Christianity is the psychological bind placed on children by their parents, chaining them to a faith before they know what they’re into. I have a lot of friends who, like me, came to faith in Christ as an adult. Ironically, I know a lot of adults who have left the faith who were chained to their faith as children. Undoubtedly, Seth, and probably all of his guests, are in that group. This, then, is not an attack on Christianity itself, rather the really awful practice of applying psychological pressure to children to keep the faith, or risk rejection by their family. For Seth to characterize himself as one who came to atheism after beginning to ‘think’ is kinda like ‘Well, duh!’ But that doesn’t mean he is ‘thinking the truth.’ (Many of us have ‘thought’ our way to faith.) It just means that, as an adult, he has finally felt the freedom to think for himself.

@blackalien6873

2 жыл бұрын

Why do you believe in Christianity? Why not Mormonism? Judaism? Hinduism? Jainism? Scientology? Or any other religion?

revelation 21:6-8, proverbs 10:19

ManDeez Nuts, amirite?

@robinhood20253

2 жыл бұрын

U r nuts

Where are the answers for why atheisteism, it seems to be a lot of feelings talk?

I like Mandisa, but I don't think we should separate atheists in black and white. We are the same community.

@allthingsconsideredaa

2 жыл бұрын

Did you even watch this? The reason why black non believers exists is talked about within the first few minutes.

@vananderman6429

2 жыл бұрын

@@allthingsconsideredaa I think this is really good. I can understand why black people doubting their beliefs or getting out of religion are more comfortable being supported by other black people. As a white person I just fully support anyone in their apostasy. The mutual non-belief, to me, is a bond that transcends skincolor.

@allthingsconsideredaa

2 жыл бұрын

@@vananderman6429 I mean, black non believers is inclusive anyway. Minorities will always need allies that are not a part of their community. I attend a lot of their meetings on Meetup. I'm white, but I like a lot of the speakers and their perspectives and I just like supporting other atheists and nonbelievers in whatever way I'm able to.

@GazelamAle

2 жыл бұрын

People with different backgrounds have different needs. It's no different than people from particular religions need people from those ex communities. I was raised Mormon and it's good to find nonetheists that have my same ethnicity. This comment seems more like virtue signaling or what the all lives matter crowd regurgitates.

@chris_noswe

2 жыл бұрын

Identity politics, that's what Americans love and it has to be in absolute everything.

I'm excited to see this black community..........untill they ask for donation