Season: 13 Episode: 186
Summary:
Why do people arrive at their beliefs? Richard Suttles, otherwise known as The Faithiest Atheist, is here to discuss the importance of having civil conversations with people who don’t think and believe like you. His background in counter-terrorism has led him to see there are only two steps in taking beliefs to a dangerous level. We discuss what those are and why it’s important to be passionate about what you believe, yet balance it with mutual respect. We also discuss his “ministry” and why some atheists might not want him in their club.
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About Richard
The Faithiest Atheist (Richard Suttles) currently serves as a senior intelligence analyst and liaison with the U.S. federal government. For the past twenty-nine years he’s worked in many realms of the intelligence community, with the Department of Defense (DOD), Department of State (DOS) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). From 1995 – 2005 he served in the United States Marine Corps, including tours in Haiti and Iraq. He has two postgraduate degrees with the University of Oklahoma- one in Communications and another in International Relations. He also completed a counter-terrorism training program at the Naval Postgraduate School.
Richard has a special focus in the radicalization processes some people go through when they become committed to conducting violence in the interest of furthering ideological goals. He also studies the intricacies of persuasion campaigns. These are methodologies from organizations and social media algorithms that can prompt people to become fervent supporters of goals chosen by the campaign.
Question One
Tell us about yourself: what you do, and how you got into counter-apologetics.
Question Two
Your social media handle is clever. Why did you choose it?
Question Three
What is the worldview you hold to and why?
Question Four
Why do you call what you do a ministry? If God doesn’t exist, why do you create purpose out of speaking against His existence?
Question Five
I appreciate your willingness to have conversations with people who don’t think like you. Why is that important in our current cultural situation where everyone seems to be traumatized by opposing views?
Question Six
Are you willing to change your mind if you’re wrong, and if so, what evidence would it take to convince you?
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