No Longer The Angry Atheist | Yuval Kehila | TEDxYouth@HCIS

you

you [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] hello everyone my name is uvaca HeLa and

hello everyone my name is uvaca HeLa and

hello everyone my name is uvaca HeLa and I want to take you guys through a

I want to take you guys through a

I want to take you guys through a transformative experience that happened

transformative experience that happened

transformative experience that happened in my life a couple of years ago I began

in my life a couple of years ago I began

in my life a couple of years ago I began to talk more publicly about my ideas and

to talk more publicly about my ideas and

to talk more publicly about my ideas and opinions with other people and I quickly

opinions with other people and I quickly

opinions with other people and I quickly noticed that the arguments I was having

noticed that the arguments I was having

noticed that the arguments I was having with people were of a nature that by the

with people were of a nature that by the

with people were of a nature that by the end of the argument neither party really

end of the argument neither party really

end of the argument neither party really enjoyed the conversation there was

enjoyed the conversation there was

enjoyed the conversation there was sometimes yelling and it was a generally

sometimes yelling and it was a generally

sometimes yelling and it was a generally uncomfortable experience as you can tell

uncomfortable experience as you can tell

uncomfortable experience as you can tell I was pretty opinionated to say the

I was pretty opinionated to say the

I was pretty opinionated to say the least what I never realized is that

least what I never realized is that

least what I never realized is that perhaps whilst I was so proud of the

perhaps whilst I was so proud of the

perhaps whilst I was so proud of the fact that I was factually evident in

fact that I was factually evident in

fact that I was factually evident in these conversations and the things I

these conversations and the things I

these conversations and the things I were saying was all true and there was

were saying was all true and there was

were saying was all true and there was no way I down I was right I’d read the

no way I down I was right I’d read the

no way I down I was right I’d read the Koran and I’d read the Bible twice I

Koran and I’d read the Bible twice I

Koran and I’d read the Bible twice I knew what I was talking about I didn’t

knew what I was talking about I didn’t

knew what I was talking about I didn’t consider that maybe I was the reason

consider that maybe I was the reason

consider that maybe I was the reason people asked questions like our atheists

people asked questions like our atheists

people asked questions like our atheists happy and why are a theist so angry all

happy and why are a theist so angry all

happy and why are a theist so angry all the time so I thought back at a quote

the time so I thought back at a quote

the time so I thought back at a quote that my dad would tell me a lot and he

that my dad would tell me a lot and he

that my dad would tell me a lot and he would say you know it’s more important

would say you know it’s more important

would say you know it’s more important to be wise and it is to be right about

to be wise and it is to be right about

to be wise and it is to be right about things and I never realized until much

things and I never realized until much

things and I never realized until much later that what I really took away from

later that what I really took away from

later that what I really took away from this quote is if I don’t say things in a

this quote is if I don’t say things in a

this quote is if I don’t say things in a way that makes people want to listen to

way that makes people want to listen to

way that makes people want to listen to me

me

me which means if I say things in ways

which means if I say things in ways

which means if I say things in ways which are provocative and makes you

which are provocative and makes you

which are provocative and makes you angry and shows that I’m right but

angry and shows that I’m right but

angry and shows that I’m right but doesn’t make you think you know hey this

doesn’t make you think you know hey this

doesn’t make you think you know hey this guy cares and he’s thinking and he’s

guy cares and he’s thinking and he’s

guy cares and he’s thinking and he’s listening then nobody’s going to hear

listening then nobody’s going to hear

listening then nobody’s going to hear what I have to say so thus began my

what I have to say so thus began my

what I have to say so thus began my reflecting process I started thinking

reflecting process I started thinking

reflecting process I started thinking you know what exactly are my goals in

you know what exactly are my goals in

you know what exactly are my goals in these conversations and it didn’t take

these conversations and it didn’t take

these conversations and it didn’t take me long to realize that I wasn’t meeting

me long to realize that I wasn’t meeting

me long to realize that I wasn’t meeting any of them the conversations I were

any of them the conversations I were

any of them the conversations I were having weren’t actually iiiiii I really

having weren’t actually iiiiii I really

having weren’t actually iiiiii I really thought that the ideas I had were

thought that the ideas I had were

thought that the ideas I had were worse I mean kind of like Ted worth

worse I mean kind of like Ted worth

worse I mean kind of like Ted worth sharing

sharing

sharing I had the opinion that these

I had the opinion that these

I had the opinion that these conversations were important and I could

conversations were important and I could

conversations were important and I could learn from them but on the end of the

learn from them but on the end of the

learn from them but on the end of the day nobody listened to me and I didn’t

day nobody listened to me and I didn’t

day nobody listened to me and I didn’t listen to anybody else a while later my

listen to anybody else a while later my

listen to anybody else a while later my math teacher at the time introduced me

math teacher at the time introduced me

math teacher at the time introduced me to a guy called Anthony Magna Bosco who

to a guy called Anthony Magna Bosco who

to a guy called Anthony Magna Bosco who is a youtuber and practices something

is a youtuber and practices something

is a youtuber and practices something called Street epistemology now Street

called Street epistemology now Street

called Street epistemology now Street epistemology it’s it’s an interesting

epistemology it’s it’s an interesting

epistemology it’s it’s an interesting it’s an interesting topic and I ask all

it’s an interesting topic and I ask all

it’s an interesting topic and I ask all of you to check it out because basically

of you to check it out because basically

of you to check it out because basically what I saw in these guys videos is I

what I saw in these guys videos is I

what I saw in these guys videos is I would watch them and he would approach a

would watch them and he would approach a

would watch them and he would approach a religious person generally that was his

religious person generally that was his

religious person generally that was his topic of Street epistemology and he

topic of Street epistemology and he

topic of Street epistemology and he would approach this person and ask them

would approach this person and ask them

would approach this person and ask them if you’re religious on a scale of 1 to

if you’re religious on a scale of 1 to

if you’re religious on a scale of 1 to 100 how religious would you say that you

100 how religious would you say that you

100 how religious would you say that you really are and sometimes people would

really are and sometimes people would

really are and sometimes people would say a hundred and by the end of the

say a hundred and by the end of the

say a hundred and by the end of the conversation they would say thirty

conversation they would say thirty

conversation they would say thirty because he’d ask again I was shocked but

because he’d ask again I was shocked but

because he’d ask again I was shocked but more than that I was shocked about the

more than that I was shocked about the

more than that I was shocked about the fact that by the end of the conversation

fact that by the end of the conversation

fact that by the end of the conversation he was exchanging contact information

he was exchanging contact information

he was exchanging contact information and they wanted to talk again and

and they wanted to talk again and

and they wanted to talk again and everyone was happy and calm and I never

everyone was happy and calm and I never

everyone was happy and calm and I never had that experience in my conversations

had that experience in my conversations

had that experience in my conversations I didn’t know why so I started reading

I didn’t know why so I started reading

I didn’t know why so I started reading and I realized soon that Street

and I realized soon that Street

and I realized soon that Street epistemology in its essence is rather

epistemology in its essence is rather

epistemology in its essence is rather than focusing on the quality in the

than focusing on the quality in the

than focusing on the quality in the sense of the content of one’s beliefs it

sense of the content of one’s beliefs it

sense of the content of one’s beliefs it is focusing on the ways in which we

is focusing on the ways in which we

is focusing on the ways in which we arrive to the beliefs that we hold and

arrive to the beliefs that we hold and

arrive to the beliefs that we hold and how credible these ways really are and

how credible these ways really are and

how credible these ways really are and it has six core principles firstly is to

it has six core principles firstly is to

it has six core principles firstly is to utilize processes which are logical for

utilize processes which are logical for

utilize processes which are logical for example deduction in which if both your

example deduction in which if both your

example deduction in which if both your premises are true your result has to be

premises are true your result has to be

premises are true your result has to be true rather than something like a motion

true rather than something like a motion

true rather than something like a motion the belief on basis of evidence being

the belief on basis of evidence being

the belief on basis of evidence being able to justify what you’re saying with

able to justify what you’re saying with

able to justify what you’re saying with sources being humble and honest about

sources being humble and honest about

sources being humble and honest about your knowledge in certain topics being

your knowledge in certain topics being

your knowledge in certain topics being open to people’s beliefs avoiding you

open to people’s beliefs avoiding you

open to people’s beliefs avoiding you know being defensive it’s this is a

know being defensive it’s this is a

know being defensive it’s this is a really difficult one and it was for me

really difficult one and it was for me

really difficult one and it was for me because I was very passionate

because I was very passionate

because I was very passionate but it’s really important because you

but it’s really important because you

but it’s really important because you don’t want to make people feel

don’t want to make people feel

don’t want to make people feel uncomfortable they focus on questioning

uncomfortable they focus on questioning

uncomfortable they focus on questioning and this one was the most difficult for

and this one was the most difficult for

and this one was the most difficult for me I really like talking in case you

me I really like talking in case you

me I really like talking in case you haven’t noticed I’m up here talking and

haven’t noticed I’m up here talking and

haven’t noticed I’m up here talking and this one asked me to listen to people

this one asked me to listen to people

this one asked me to listen to people rather than just to talk and that was

rather than just to talk and that was

rather than just to talk and that was really difficult for me to do now I

really difficult for me to do now I

really difficult for me to do now I decided it was time for me to try it was

decided it was time for me to try it was

decided it was time for me to try it was time for me to go out there and have

time for me to go out there and have

time for me to go out there and have these conversations and what better use

these conversations and what better use

these conversations and what better use of my morning commute which was a taxi

of my morning commute which was a taxi

of my morning commute which was a taxi drive for 20 minutes then this so I

drive for 20 minutes then this so I

drive for 20 minutes then this so I would come into the cabin I’d have this

would come into the cabin I’d have this

would come into the cabin I’d have this conversation planned sometimes even

conversation planned sometimes even

conversation planned sometimes even written down and I’d start talking to my

written down and I’d start talking to my

written down and I’d start talking to my taxi drivers and I observed a few things

taxi drivers and I observed a few things

taxi drivers and I observed a few things I mean the conversation didn’t always

I mean the conversation didn’t always

I mean the conversation didn’t always work but at the end of the day I was

work but at the end of the day I was

work but at the end of the day I was achieving the same results sometimes I

achieving the same results sometimes I

achieving the same results sometimes I would enter a cab where the taxi driver

would enter a cab where the taxi driver

would enter a cab where the taxi driver would tell me you know I’ve always been

would tell me you know I’ve always been

would tell me you know I’ve always been really religious and I’m a hundred

really religious and I’m a hundred

really religious and I’m a hundred percent sure about it and by the end of

percent sure about it and by the end of

percent sure about it and by the end of the cab drive they said you know I’m

the cab drive they said you know I’m

the cab drive they said you know I’m really not sure I put myself at a thirty

really not sure I put myself at a thirty

really not sure I put myself at a thirty and I was finally achieving what Anthony

and I was finally achieving what Anthony

and I was finally achieving what Anthony was achieving but more than that I felt

was achieving but more than that I felt

was achieving but more than that I felt I was learning from these conversations

I was learning from these conversations

I was learning from these conversations more than ever before and thus I was

more than ever before and thus I was

more than ever before and thus I was really proud of myself for being able to

really proud of myself for being able to

really proud of myself for being able to refresh the conversational tactics that

refresh the conversational tactics that

refresh the conversational tactics that I had with people I changed but it was

I had with people I changed but it was

I had with people I changed but it was limited my Tok teacher says that

limited my Tok teacher says that

limited my Tok teacher says that something information and data only

something information and data only

something information and data only becomes knowledge once you’re able to

becomes knowledge once you’re able to

becomes knowledge once you’re able to apply it and what I found is I wasn’t

apply it and what I found is I wasn’t

apply it and what I found is I wasn’t able to apply these new items this new

able to apply these new items this new

able to apply these new items this new information to other areas of my life I

information to other areas of my life I

information to other areas of my life I mean we’ve all been here for quite a

mean we’ve all been here for quite a

mean we’ve all been here for quite a while maybe you’re going to go home and

while maybe you’re going to go home and

while maybe you’re going to go home and this might look pretty appealing for you

this might look pretty appealing for you

this might look pretty appealing for you to have for dinner I’d prefer to have

to have for dinner I’d prefer to have

to have for dinner I’d prefer to have one of these see I’m a vegetarian and

one of these see I’m a vegetarian and

one of these see I’m a vegetarian and I’m not so interested in that so what I

I’m not so interested in that so what I

I’m not so interested in that so what I found was I was having the same

found was I was having the same

found was I was having the same conversations with people that I had

conversations with people that I had

conversations with people that I had about atheism that I was about

about atheism that I was about

about atheism that I was about vegetarianism not broccoli in particular

vegetarianism not broccoli in particular

vegetarianism not broccoli in particular but vegetarianism and these

but vegetarianism and these

but vegetarianism and these conversations would end in yelling and I

conversations would end in yelling and I

conversations would end in yelling and I we tell them that you’re wrong and

we tell them that you’re wrong and

we tell them that you’re wrong and there’s no need to kill all these

there’s no need to kill all these

there’s no need to kill all these animals and they would say no but meat

animals and they would say no but meat

animals and they would say no but meat tastes good or some other factual

tastes good or some other factual

tastes good or some other factual argument and I realize that sometimes in

argument and I realize that sometimes in

argument and I realize that sometimes in life we got to take two steps forward

life we got to take two steps forward

life we got to take two steps forward and a step back and in this sense it

and a step back and in this sense it

and a step back and in this sense it means yeah we’re talking about

means yeah we’re talking about

means yeah we’re talking about reflecting refreshing and renewing and

reflecting refreshing and renewing and

reflecting refreshing and renewing and sometimes you have to go back a step

sometimes you have to go back a step

sometimes you have to go back a step because this is an ongoing process and I

because this is an ongoing process and I

because this is an ongoing process and I had to reflect again and I realized that

had to reflect again and I realized that

had to reflect again and I realized that I hadn’t really learned anything

I hadn’t really learned anything

I hadn’t really learned anything so I refreshed again and I was able to

so I refreshed again and I was able to

so I refreshed again and I was able to all of a sudden apply I didn’t need a

all of a sudden apply I didn’t need a

all of a sudden apply I didn’t need a conversation structure anymore because

conversation structure anymore because

conversation structure anymore because this was knowledge and I could apply it

this was knowledge and I could apply it

this was knowledge and I could apply it to other areas of my life and thus I

to other areas of my life and thus I

to other areas of my life and thus I renewed the ways in which I have

renewed the ways in which I have

renewed the ways in which I have conversations with people I was no

conversations with people I was no

conversations with people I was no longer the angry atheist because but

longer the angry atheist because but

longer the angry atheist because but more importantly actually I realized

more importantly actually I realized

more importantly actually I realized that the reasons I was angry at first

that the reasons I was angry at first

that the reasons I was angry at first weren’t because of the nature of the

weren’t because of the nature of the

weren’t because of the nature of the conversation or the content of the

conversation or the content of the

conversation or the content of the conversations I was having with

conversations I was having with

conversations I was having with religious people or other people for

religious people or other people for

religious people or other people for that matter

that matter

that matter it was my attitude towards these

it was my attitude towards these

it was my attitude towards these conversations that made them negative

conversations that made them negative

conversations that made them negative and when I first showed this to the

and when I first showed this to the

and when I first showed this to the first person that I showed this talk to

first person that I showed this talk to

first person that I showed this talk to they said you know this is kind of brave

they said you know this is kind of brave

they said you know this is kind of brave of you and I wasn’t sure why but they

of you and I wasn’t sure why but they

of you and I wasn’t sure why but they said it’s brave of you to go up in front

said it’s brave of you to go up in front

said it’s brave of you to go up in front of people and say that the reason that

of people and say that the reason that

of people and say that the reason that you’re angry and the reason that things

you’re angry and the reason that things

you’re angry and the reason that things aren’t working for you in your life is

aren’t working for you in your life is

aren’t working for you in your life is your fault so on that note I’d like to

your fault so on that note I’d like to

your fault so on that note I’d like to leave you all with Street epistemology

leave you all with Street epistemology

leave you all with Street epistemology and attitude and maybe you should check

and attitude and maybe you should check

and attitude and maybe you should check Street epistemology out thank you very

Street epistemology out thank you very

Street epistemology out thank you very much