Joshua Feuerstein

[[File:Joshua Feuerstein.jpg|165px|thumb|right|Joshua Feuerstein]]{{creationism}}
'''Joshua Feuerstein''' {{lived|January 7, 1981}}<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160304073358/http://www.joshuafeuerstein.com/about-josh/4585043155 "About Josh"]</ref> is an American [[far-right]] creationist vlogger who got internet famous for his attempts to disprove [[atheism]], although he later got more well known for his right-wing political beliefs. He first received attention in 2015 after his nonsensical videos were responded to by various atheist YouTubers.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieIxQtKogl4 Christian "Disproves" Evolution?]</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gtoSggP6oM EVOLUTION DISPROVED AGAIN! STUPID ATHEISTS!]</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wWNpbABYZ4 The Amazing Atheist Vs. Josh Feuerstein]</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jX6AQkzMoFg Josh Feuerstein Defeats Atheism! (DP)]</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_JXYDF6d5Q Josh Feuerstein VS. Satan (DP)]</ref><ref name=car>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PFjvoJamRw Josh Feuerstein DESTROYS ATHEISM AGAIN!]</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n54OTJ0CZjQ Josh Feuerstein on EBOLA (DP)]</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxLzmoidR5M Science Disproves That Science Can Science]</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCXBenyIEl8 I Won The $100,000 Atheist Challenge!]</ref> Given how relatively recently he was compared to other creationists who became punching bags, his videos were little more than a series of [[PRATT]] arguments, mostly of the [[argument from design]] variety.

In one video for example, he uses the fallacious argument from design that since his 2001 Toyota Minivan is "perfectly designed," and also not products of millions of years of evolution, therefore we were all created by a [[deity]]. Of course, to call any car "perfectly designed" would be absurd, given the cars are constantly updating as technology improves and consumer demand changes. One has to wonder why changes have to keep being made to a design that is so perfect.

==Political activities==
What ended up getting Feuerstein mainstream attention was his right-wing politics, especially in 2015 (although this is not to say he has stopped in the time since). For example, to show his support for a controversial bill from [[Indiana]] which would allow Christian bakers to not serve same-sex couples, Feuerstein called Cut the Cake Bakery and asked them to make a cake which had an anti-gay marriage message written on it, which they refused to do. After Feuerstein uploaded the video, his fans attacked the bakery for "hypocrisy" in spite of the fact that said business had not actually done anything hypocritical.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20211022154357/https://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/archives/2015/04/03/former-televangelist-sics-followers-on-local-bakery-to-make-a-point-about-religious-freedom Former televangelist sics angry followers on local bakery to make a point about religious freedom]</ref>

When [[same-sex marriage]] was legalized nationwide that same year, Feuerstein was not happy. In a video rant, he took out a gun and said Christians should consider using their "Second Amendment right" to stop the government from forcing them to recognize marriage equality.<ref>[https://www.advocate.com/religion/2015/07/16/pastor-encourages-christians-fight-same-sex-marriage-ruling-guns Pastor Encourages Christians to Fight Same-Sex Marriage Ruling With Guns]</ref> This is not Feuerstein's only call to violence, as in another rant he said his followers should "punish [[Planned Parenthood]]" and "make [[abortion]] doctors fear for their life."<ref>[https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2015/12/01/candidates-deny-their-%E2%80%98baby-parts%E2%80%99-attacks-planned-parenthood-helped-fuel-colorado-shooting CANDIDATES DENY THEIR ‘BABY PARTS’ ATTACKS ON PLANNED PARENTHOOD HELPED FUEL COLORADO SHOOTING]</ref>

Feuerstein ended the year by going to Starbucks and ordering his coffee under the name "Merry Christmas" to protest their use of solid red cups over the holiday season as opposed to ones which were explicitly [[Christmas]]-themed.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20151112181312/http://www.home.tampabay.com/news/nation/evangelical-christian-joshua-feuerstein-explains-his-war-on-starbucks-red/2253198 Evangelical Christian Joshua Feuerstein explains his war on Starbucks red cups]</ref> Yes, his plan was to protest Starbucks by ordering from them and therefore giving them more of his money. Still, as silly as this sounds, at least he's not starting a harassment campaign nor engaging in a call to violence, so there's that.

==References==
{{reflist}}

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[[Category:2020 election denialists]]
[[Category:2021 U.S. coup attempt]]
[[Category:Anti-abortion activists]]
[[Category:Antifeminism]]
[[Category:Anti-vaccination movement]]
[[Category:Atheophobia]]
[[Category:Christians]]
[[Category:Conspiracy theorists]]
[[Category:Creationists]]
[[Category:Gun nuts]]
[[Category:Homophobes]]
[[Category:Internet kooks]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Right-wing activists]]

Categories: 2020 election denialists, 2021 U.S. coup attempt, Anti-abortion activists, Antifeminism, Anti-vaccination movement, Atheophobia, Christians, Conspiracy theorists, Creationists, Gun nuts, Homophobes, Internet kooks, Living people, Right-wing activists