TJ Kirk: Struggling to Define His True Positions
I find myself in a strange position these days. Not too long ago, I could easily defend most of TJ Kirk’s viewpoints and just as easily debunk PaulsEgo’s arguments. But a lot has changed for TJ recently, and I’ve been trying to make sense of it all.
Drifting Toward Paul
The first real sign of trouble came when TJ began treating Paul like a literal extension of himself. This goes beyond normal friendship. It’s almost as if TJ and Paul have fused into one person, with TJ entertaining Paul’s worst ideas—or worse, fully endorsing them. Whatever happened to the original TJ, the one who was rational and unafraid to dismantle lousy arguments? These days, he just seems to morph into Paul’s personality, except with more yelling.
When Paul started attacking Kyle Kulinski, TJ jumped right in—even though Kyle once hosted TJ as a guest on a podcast with his now-wife, Krystal Ball. I won’t rehash the entire Kyle vs. DFF situation here (I’ve covered that elsewhere), but it’s worth noting that TJ was, at the very least, complicit in going after Kyle. That alone made me question whether TJ has compromised his principles.
Atheist No More?
Then there’s the issue of TJ refusing to call himself The Amazing Atheist anymore. He claims the term “atheist” is “too binary.” Sure, that might sound intriguing at first, but it makes about as much sense as complaining that a light switch is “too binary.” Either the light is on or it’s off. It’s not complicated.
But TJ’s reasons go deeper: he seems to have embraced the pseudo-scientific idea of “Magick” as his motivation for dropping the atheist moniker. Granted, atheism itself doesn’t bar you from believing in the supernatural, so this isn’t strictly a contradiction in terms. But it’s bizarre to watch someone who once took pride in his skepticism now proclaim faith in something he readily admits relies on “subjective” and “irrational” elements.
Adopting “Magick”
So what exactly is TJ saying about this so-called Magick? He often references it in a way that sounds similar to the Greek concept of chaos—a primal, formless void from which creation emerges. He ties it to the butterfly effect and the notion that order emerges from disorder. That’s fascinating as mythology, but it’s not accompanied by any real evidence. It’s more of a “feelings” thing, which undermines the rigorous skepticism TJ once championed.
At its core, Magick seems to be about altering perception and reality through belief, will, and ritual. TJ will tell you it’s about “observing reality” in some special way that invites good fortune. But at that point, why not become a Christian? Or a member of any other faith, for that matter? The entire premise is subjective, lacking serious intellectual grounding—exactly the sort of thing the old TJ would have torn apart without hesitation.
The Influence of Marilyn Manson (and Paul)
Some believe TJ’s shift might be linked to Marilyn Manson’s reported religious leanings—Manson was seen alongside Kanye West and Justin Bieber at a Sunday Service event, prompting rumors he’s a born-again Christian. TJ has always taken cues from Manson, so perhaps that nudged him to explore other forms of “spirituality.” If so, he couldn’t have picked a more convoluted path than Magick, which practically brags about its own irrationality and subjectivity.
Meanwhile, Paul’s influence is evident. Both he and TJ claim they had some grand epiphany about life and the universe—something that transcends our everyday reality. Yet there’s no compelling evidence for these big cosmic claims, unless you count speculation about multiverses. Even if multiverses exist, it’s hardly proof of anything supernatural. And yet TJ appears confident that Magick is very real.
Scotty and the DFF Decline
Where does Scotty fit into all of this? He might be the last bastion of sanity on Deep Fat Fried, assuming he doesn’t have a midlife crisis of his own. TJ and Paul both seem to have gone off the rails—one with his newfound belief in Magick, the other with his combative obsessions on troll forums. If DFF’s audience keeps dwindling, it’s not hard to see why: there’s only so much nonsense fans can take before they start turning the show itself into a punching bag.
Final Thoughts
I never imagined I’d see TJ Kirk—the self-styled “Amazing Atheist”—abandon skepticism in favor of something so murky and subjective. Yet here we are. Maybe he’s just experimenting, or maybe this really is a fundamental shift in who he is. Either way, the contrast between the old TJ and the new one is startling.
TJ, if you’re reading this: for the love of whatever Magick you now believe in, get help. It’s tough watching a once incisive thinker drift away on a tide of half-baked metaphysical ideas. I hope you snap out of it.
Peace the Fuck Out.
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