134: “It just started to not make sense” – ObjectivelyDan – Host of “Truth Wanted” – Sentientism

We discuss the biggest questions: "what's real?", "who matters?" and "how to make a better world?" with scientists, celebrities, activists, writers and philosophers. The Sentientism worldview is "evidence, reason and compassion for all sentient beings." It's a simple, yet radical, philosophy that's grounded in reality (naturalistic epistemology) and has compassion for all sentient beings (mostly human and non-human animals). Naturalism & sentiocentrism combined.

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Dan is the host of Truth Wanted, a call-in talk show that’s part of the Atheist Community of Austin.Truth Wanted focuses on how and why people believe what they believe – and how we can talk about beliefs in more effective ways – whether it’s karma or Christ, Bigfoot or crystals.

In Sentientist Conversations we talk about the two most important questions: “what’s real?” & “who matters?”

Sentientism is “evidence, reason & compassion for all sentient beings.” The video of our conversation is here on YouTube.

We discuss:

We discuss:
00:00 Welcome

• Dan “coming out” as #vegan during Jamie’s co-hosting of Truth Wanted

03:08 Dan’s Intro

• Listen to Truth Wanted! Is space real? Are there bug creatures on Mars?
• “Americans in particular – not super great at the whole #epistemology stuff”

05:07 What’s Real?

• Growing up #Methodist , then switching to a #baptistchurch
• Community more than theology “your parents went to church so you went to church”
• “I did believe”
• Doing evangelical ministry
• Being baptised twice!
• Talking to  @Anthony Magnabosco  of  @Street Epistemology  “It was a stepping stone on a journey… I was already deconstructing”
• “This faith thing doesn’t really make sense”
• Being an “igtheist” (basically an atheist) and a #Sentientist
•  @Being Reasonable’s Mark Solomon https://youtu.be/OybxPFN8Ifc
• The Bible “doesn’t really stack up.” Progressive Xtian & Xtian mystic phases
• Reading  @Sam Harris
• “I was definitely homophobic… transphobic growing up”. “My Christian faith told me it wasn’t right, it wasn’t natural”
• “When you have a naturalist worldview it’s harder to be homophobic”
• Changing ethics & politics: abortion, immigration
• “Christianity was all I knew… I didn’t understand how to be a good person outside of Christianity”
• Struggles of leaving Xtianity. Lacking community (no  @Secular Student Alliance  in Waco) “that was tough”
• “There would be more athiests if it was more normal”
• Atheists within religious communities
• Selective dogmatism: #Qanon , #antivaxx , #goop products, #homeopathy
• “#cognitivedissonance is a bitch”
• “When you don’t have someone who is actively challenging what you think you can just think what you want”
• #miracles
• “Churches aren’t places for critical thinking”
• #epistemology #fideism #dogma
• Hebrews 11: “faith is the evidence of things not seen” enables any arbitrary belief

…and much more. Full show notes at Sentientism.info.

Sentientism is “Evidence, reason & compassion for all sentient beings.” More at Sentientism.info. Join our “I’m a Sentientist” wall via this simple form.

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