Welcoming Edward Tarte May 17, 2012

Welcoming Edward Tarte

By Edward Tarte
May 17, 2012

[Hemant says: People have often expressed to me how much they appreciate Edward Tarte‘s videos, so I’m happy to say he’ll be creating a series of videos specifically for readers of this site. This is his first.]



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  • Glad you were able to get here undamaged. Look forward to your video’s. And, Thanks to Hermant for passing this thing to the rest of us.

  • Cotm

    Mr. Tarte, I’ve commented before how much I love your Mr. Music videos on You Tube, but what first brought you to my attention was The Friendly Atheist. I so look forward to seeing you here as well as on You Tube!

  • Writegurl

    Yay!

  • Kevin_Of_Bangor

    This is awesome and like a lot of others, I love this guy. Welcome Mr. Tarte and I cannot wait to listen to more of your videos in the coming moons.

  • Ggsillars

    It’s great to see you on Hemant’s blog, Ed.  I look forward to future videos.

  • Mary

    I will definitely enjoy the videos. Mr. Tarte reminds me so much of a beloved grandfather-figure in my life, but unfortunately that man is a serious Christian and would never understand how I see the world. Only a few people in my life know about my atheism, and I have been told time and again how “hurtful” it would be if I came out, how it would be a selfish thing on my part. I believe that one day I will come out…at a point in my life when I have achieved enough good that people will at least consider that maybe, just maybe, I am not a pointless useless waste of space on the planet. I want to get to a point that they will at least consider my words instead of dismissing me. I am hoping that day will come, but I’m not sure. 

  • Annie

    This is kind of like Reese’s peanut butter cups to me… combining two of my favorite things!  I first learned of Edward Tarte’s videos from The friendly Atheist blog, and am so excited that he will be a regular fixture here.  Welcome Edward!

  • Edward Tarte

    Hemant, thank you so much for the way you have presented this first video, including the kind title, as well as the kind “Hemant says” paragraph.  This weekly “assignment” will be for me a true challenge, to try to come up each week with perhaps a 3- to 4- minute presentation that is interesting and worthwhile.

  • Ndonnan

    Well Mr Tarte looks like the kind of man that is able to present atheism in a way worth listening to.,so i look forward to hear what he has to say.At this point i dont understand why atheist feel they are so dispised and untrusted as a group.A study or two really doesnt very well represent sociaty,mind you when you look at the Unfriendly atheist site they dont do you any favours at all.Anyway i take people at face value and Ed looks like a good bloke,so giday Ed,welcome

  • amycas

     It’s not just a “study or two.” It’s the combined experiences of people within the community who came out and suffered for it.

  • Edward. Tarte. Is. Awesome.

    Anyone who is not already subscribed to his YouTube channel should definitely do so.

    Also, it’s worth scrolling through his old videos…  he has a “religion” playlist of over 100 videos sharing his perspectives on religion as a former catholic priest.

    His no-frills approach, his polite demeanor, his pure rationality, etc., make his videos gems. 

  • Welcome, Edward. I love your videos.

  • Robyman44

    Welcome, Mr. Tarte! I first saw some of your YouTube videos several months ago, and was rather impressed with what you said as well as how you said it. I check Hemant’s site every day so I look forward to hearing from you more!

  • Edward, I’m glad you will be contributing videos to the Friendly Atheist. You have a very positive and well-spoken message.

    I think it is great that you frequently remind people that atheism is merely the logical conclusion of not seeing any credible evidence for the existence of God(s). It is just adopting the “null” hypothesis until credible evidence is presented.  It is nothing to be feared or despised.

    Personally, I also like to take inspiration from Thomas Pane’s book “Age of Reason” where he (even though he is a Deist) has a profound skepticism of scripture being the word of God. Personally, I think if the American public can get to the point where they consider scripture as just the written word of man, (some good, some bigoted), then society could then better organize around good moral concepts and freely reject the bigoted traditions fossilized in scripture. I think many of the problems we see in the world come from people believing that God wrote (or guided the writing) of scripture and all the things in scripture are what God wants – like thinking various “out-groups” are abominations and should be considered fools, ostracized, or in some cases killed – and then all of them kept in a position of permanent separation or eternal torment forever after they die. I think the main battle is to convince the public that this whole worshiping of a collection of ancient writings as some kind of eternal truth is harmful and holds society back. We should just recognize these writings for what they are – just the opinions and beliefs of the people who wrote them. Nothing more.

    I welcome your rational voice. 
      

  • eonL5

    I look forward to your videos, Mr Tarte. 

    A technical note: perhaps you could point the camera a little lower? You have too much head space in the framing of the video and it feels wrong. Perhaps best to raise the camera to your eye level, as well. The camera looking up from below also has an effect on our perceptions; often, the perception will be of you literally and figuratively looking down on your audience.

    Best wishes,
    — Former film student

  • As an ex-Catholic myself, I think this is great!  He kinda reminds me of my grandad as well, so I guess that helps!

    Thanks for making these videos Edward!

  • Great video as usual.

  • Or remain ‘closeted’ so as to not suffer.  The other part of presenting ourselves as atheists worthy of respect is that it also gives closeted atheists the support to come out.  With such stigma around the word, it’s hard to know what the real numbers are.

  • At this point i dont understand why atheist feel they are so dispised and untrusted

    You don’t need to understand it.  But you could take our collective word for it.  Or, you know, you could dismiss us just because we don’t believe in God and we’re not always as ‘friendly’ as you think we should be.

    I think ‘unfriendly’ means ‘not ignoring bad things’, but that’s just me.

  • Ndonnan

    No one dismisses anyone Rich,if you dont belive in God thats for you to work out,and i dont require everyone to be sweet and kind as long as if theyre not, they dont sook if  im not the expected  “humble christian”.I think “unfriendly” as in unfriendly atheist blog means ,juvenile,foul arrogant rude pricks.The very impression your change.

  • Ndonnan

    I really dont think anyone really cares if people are atheist  or religious as long as your civil,better still generous and kind

  • poliltimmy

     Bull shit! They find out your Atheist and your children are shunned and scorned. Told bad things will happen to their parents, ect,ect,ect. The kids are picked on because the cowards love someone too weak to fight back. My ass they do not care.

  • Think vs. Know.  I’ll give you props for not expressing your opinion as fact.

    I don’t know what it’s like to live as black or gay or female. But I also would not presume to tell someone who IS gay or black or female what THEY experience.You’ve also highlighted another assumption, and that’s that the person gets the chance to know you well enough to know you are generous and kind.  First impressions count, and if by some chance ‘atheist’ is part of the first impression, often there’s no chance for a second.You express that you feel a lot of anti-Christian bigotry on this blog.  Consider it a microcosm of real life, except that the roles are reversed.  Does that make it ‘ok’ anywhere?  No, I don’t think so.  But it should give you an example of what the big picture is like. 

  • Henry Foley

    Nice to see you venturing out from YouTube Edward with a great first video, looking forward to future videos.

  • Thanks, Edward. You are an inspirstion and I look forward to your next video.