Dennis PragerFounder, PragerU · Founder of PragerU | NYT best-selling author

I'm Not a Fan of the Human Species

8 May 2025 · 1 min

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1:02

In this monologue, the speaker argues that while religion often begins with noble intentions, it has historically led to violent conflict, exemplified by the Catholic Church, the Protestant Reformation, and subsequent wars. He extends this critique to humanity at large, asserting that the human species is fundamentally flawed and capable of ruining even the most beautiful creations. Although he acknowledges the existence of exceptional individuals, he views them as outliers. The speaker also laments the perceived decline of American freedoms, claiming that despite being granted an unparalleled liberty, the nation has squandered it in his lifetime. He concludes with a call to action, urging listeners to fight for what is right and good.

Chapters

Religion starts with the greatest of intentions, and how many extremist religionists have there been? Did the Catholic Church not start with beautiful intentions? Did Luther and the Protestant Reformation not start with beautiful intentions? And then they slaughtered each other. How did that happen? They both even believed in the Bible. They both even believed in Christ, and they slaughtered each other. The human condition is such that there is nothing so beautiful that people can't ruin it. That's the way it is. I'm not a fan of the human species, in case this is news to any of you. I am a fan of all the good individuals who are out there, but they're usually outliers. The human species is not an impressive species. There are very impressive humans. Humans can screw up everything, and they have. Americans were given the most free, the most affirmative, one of the most wonderful countries, if not the most wonderful ever invented. And just in my lifetime have screwed it up. That's the way it works. That's why you gotta fight for what's right and fight for what's good.