In today’s episode of the Talk Heathen, ObjectivelyDan is joined by Kelley Laughlin live in the studio! Rick in OR says DNA is scientific evidence for a creator and does not understand why the hosts don’t subscribe to intelligent design. Why is DNA evidence of a creator? We go to where the evidence and data leads us which is away from a deity or creator. Is any scientist 100% accurate with what they do? The caller stated that all the big bang predictions are wrong because galaxy clusters go against the model. Sigh. We are still waiting for specific proof of a creator. Why should we believe that the universe is a giant prokaryote that will expand until it goes “bang” and splits? There should be a Nobel prize for this.Freyja from TX updates the hosts on her decoversion from young earth creationist and is told she will receive her atheist card in the mail soon. She describes how multiple religions have some source of prayer and through meditation, there is a feedback loop where you can give yourself hallucinations. We as humans like to attribute something that we don’t know as something that is divine. Pentecostals have practices that can make the participants feel as though something is happening, like the holy spirit speaking. Many things can cause this such as human to human connection and live concerts. Nate from TX mentions theists who used philosophical arguments to justify their conversion from atheism and asks if pure philosophy has any merit. Empiricism is saying that knowledge is derived through observations and experience. Rationalism is a philosophy where we gain knowledge just by thinking. It may seem that empiricism rejets rationalism at times and this is a difficult question. We can’t just solve any kind of argument with science. We would not have the scientific method if it were not for epistemology and other thinking methods. Jason in the audience asks if the belief that rocks have magical properties is harmful. Kelley explains how this can cause people to not obtain adequate health care and therefore this can be immensely harmful. This can also cause other people to not be healed who see this, causing more harm. It is despicable that people profit off of this. Jonah in MO says that atheism has intertwined itself with left wing politics by doing things like identifying with LGBTQ rights. Religion and politics are absolutely braided. The church has been responsible for laws that destroy LGBTQ communities and prevent them from having the rights that others have. If you don’t have a problem with the LGBTQ community, why would you have a problem with us advocating for their rights? Sorry to break the news to you, but TikTok is not supporting evidence. Thank you for tuning in to this exciting show! Remember to thank the essential workers and see you next week!