Penn Jillette: An Atheist's Guide to the 2012 Election | Big Think

[@bigthink]

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[@ernestshort2112]

When Jillette first began performing, his mother told him to get a manicure because people would be looking at his hands. In response to this, he had all of his nails painted red as a joke. The one remaining red fingernail is in memory of his mother.

[@randallross420]

penn is the fucking man. logic wins every time.

[@inquisitorcallistratus6709]

GabeN for president there will be no WW3

[@EvanScott274]

We would only get to WW2 Episode 2

[@inquisitorcallistratus6709]

Evan Scott XD

[@zinqtable1092]

+enggi gg Very clever!

[@Th3Gumbo]

+Evan Scott one could argue the Cold War was WW2 episode 2

[@inquisitorcallistratus6709]

The Lonely Tourist true

[@Grayswandiir]

18:45 had me laughing so hard I was crying. This is the same frustration I feel every time I speak with a YE Creationist. REALLY?!?

[@SoftwareAgentsTV]

I've had someone use the mixing fabrics part as a justification for racism. And that's horrible.

[@pikmints]

11:57 Yes. So much yes.

[@IslanderJerYT]

Jillette for president!

[@IslanderJerYT]

It would be different!

[@Grumpy_old_Boot]

mediamonkey93 We've had many non-religious presidents here in Denmark, they are as obnoxious as their religious counterparts. Politics is mostly about making deals and trading power anyways ... there's little religion in it to begin with. Still, while it has officially been a long time since we had a self-proclaimed atheist at the helm, our current crop of ministers may officially identify as mostly Christians, but they sure do act and talk like atheists. Our current prime minister, Helle Thorning-Schmidt, is no different ... heck, I don't even know which religion/church she's supposed to belong to, and neither does her wiki page. She's probably in a Lutherian one anyways, most are, even if they never visit it, nor care for it. That said, Jilette would make an interesting minister. :)

[@IslanderJerYT]

Grumpy ol' Boot Thanks for that info, I had no idea about Denmark's politics, and its nice to hear that both religious and atheist people can be elected. However, this only reinforces the point that in other countries (such as the US), the fact that a person cannot run for office without believing in God is just preposterous. I simply don't get why a religious person's judgement call would be any more valid/valuable than an atheist person's. I could go on to make some unsupported claims here, but I won't for sake of pointless argument. But yeah... the day an atheist is put in office in the US, will be the day that prejudice and discrimination have finally been properly overcome, where beliefs by all human beings are treated as equal, and true quantification of beliefs can take place. (:

[@Grumpy_old_Boot]

mediamonkey93 Well, the next step after that would be to have a non-religious, lesbian, female feminist as prime minister. Like Iceland did when they had Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir as their prime minister.

[@IslanderJerYT]

Grumpy ol' Boot Hey now that's a bit of a slippery slope you are heading for there! I don't know about the 'next step' but to have a fair chance would be nice to see.

[@brodygagne7211]

11:55 It scared the shit out of me when i first heard it.

[@claudec2588]

Glad I stumbled on to this video and others by Penn Jillette. He makes the arguement that I've been trying to ignore most of my life. When I was 12 I was an atheist Sunday, Monday and Wednesday. The rest of the week I was a Christian. When I was in my 20's and 30's I was an atheist Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The older I get the more difficult it has become to ignore the obvious. There is no 'Supreme Being". We are here for a short time, be greatfull for that, and then it's over. It's kind of sad. It would be so nice to believe. Especially the part about an afterlife. Not for myself, but the idea that friends and family who have died we might sit and talk to again. And I guess that's why now, in my 60's I'm only an athiest, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday and sometimes Saturday. Thanks Penn.

[@samywats453]

"Are you really gonna throw a stone at the motherfuckers head because he worked on a Sunday to support his family!?" Lol perfect argument

[@remmykauffer8252]

+Samy Wats even Jesus argued that people should work on Saturday/ Sundays if necessary.

[@neiltristanyabut]

whatever you or any other christian thought about what your jesus did or said is not my problem what matters to me is whether or not you try to take away my freedom because it somehow disagrees with your religion

[@youtubeisevil7487]

​@@neiltristanyabutas you all literally try to take away peoples freedoms and murder babies. Your politics are the worst ever lmao atheists literally ruined their society.

[@SheshagiriPai]

What difference does it make, as long as his heart is in the right place. There is a difference between being religious and being a religious fanatic.

[@harrygoodwin1795]

keep pressing -- 11:58

[@MrGeodee]

One of the most important videos I've seen yet on You Tube and atheism. I had been an atheist years before viewing this, and yet walked away feeling more informed. Teller's musings are provocative, profound and brilliant.

[@chrismonroe8417]

NOOOOObody else hears an older Seth Rogan????

[@DeadRounds]

11:57 over and over and over again!! haha

[@Oleksandr_Poliakh]

+Shalice Pierre almost fell from my chair on this moment

[@DeadRounds]

just doing my job

[@WorthyRedeemed]

The Abrahamic Madness is offensive by definition, it seeks to convert by verbal or physical threat all who doubt it's veracity. In our modern age we are still beset by these bizarre hoary myths which damage the minds of their many adherents. I trust sufferers will one day recover from their delusions, my thoughts and sympathies are with the many victims of this insane, inane and arcane superstition. Hopefully the New Year may see some believer's recovery and abstinence from chanting, visions and the many symptoms they experience. I'm sure the Atheist Community agrees wholeheartedly when I wish them a speedy recovery.

[@braveapollo5872]

Worthy Redeemed "The Abraham Madness" Holy Jahover, I just love that phrase it says it all !

[@SoftwareAgentsTV]

By the Hoary Hosts of Hoggoth

[@sillydaddy101]

Thank you Penn, I have been saying this for years.

[@Knymrtnz82]

I love this guy.

[@johngamer7]

I blame this guy for the amount of atheists...if he can get Joey to buy an encyclopedia, selling atheism is easy as a pie for him...

[@josh_m]

+1 for the the Friends reference. But, the world would be a much better place if there were *more* atheists.

[@NijosoSefzaps]

Josh McCullough Debatable. While atheist, I won't argue that simply having more atheists makes the world a better place. A person's belief influences less how he treats the world than it does his perspective while treating the world in such a way. You could have atheists that are a total dicks because they reason that nothing matters and everything will go to dust anyways. (moral relativist?) You could have theists that justify being dicks because they've got god on their side. (crusades?) You could have atheists that try to be a fantastic person because they realize that one life is all they get. You could have theists that try to be the absolute best they can be because it's a holy thing to do.

[@josh_m]

NijosoSefzaps Of course, but more atheists means less religion. That's better for us all in the long run.

[@NijosoSefzaps]

Josh McCullough Okay, fair enough. I'm okay with people having religion, I just can't understand how they justify it. To me (obviously) it makes sense to be atheist. Until something really proves me otherwise, which hasn't happened so far, I try to keep an open mind about things. If someone somehow magically transmutes water to wine, walks across a lake, has it rain everywhere except a sheepskin, or preforms some other myriad of otherwise unexplainable miracles I'll at the very least look into it before declaring shenanigans. In the end, I say "it'd be nice to live forever, but It's not really going to happen." If I'm right, I have wasted no time. If I'm wrong, pleasant surprise depending on how wrong I was.

[@josh_m]

NijosoSefzaps I don't have a problem with people being religious either, except for the fact that it's holding society back and results in the murder of countless soldiers and civilians in countless wars...not sure how people can continue to support this sort of thing. Oh, also children get raped (by priests and also forced marriages) and it's "okay" because ... religion.

[@stephane1234567]

Is it a crime to be an atheist nowadays?

[@failuretocommunicate8690]

No, but it is to be a Christian.

[@stephane1234567]

I live in America and i was born in France. I also live in Texas and when i tell people I am an atheist, they look at me like i lost my mind. It is perfectly fine to be an atheist in France, we got a revolution against that as well, we were oppressed for the last 7 centuries with Church. In the USA, it is very hard to let people know you are atheist though, and it is harder with that Pledge of Allegiance, and I can't be forced to trust in "God". This is probably why i will never become american. That said I was born as a catholic, because i was forced by my parents, but once i was able to make up my own mind and think about religious beliefs and see all the cruelty that is happening in this world, I changed my mind and i never went back to religion. Now i can say i feel free.

[@SithMasterpresents]

Steven Rix You live in Texas, that's why.

[@EileenTheCr0w]

+SithMasterpresents You're an ignorant bigot. Many people in Texas are agnostic or atheist. I live in Texas and i have no problem with atheists or other theists.. But it's a problem when any of them are dicks about it. Atheists are also assholes sometimes and just as religious in that they KNOW there is no God. I'm agnostic because I'm honest enough to admit I'm not sure. But i do believe in some sort of afterlife.

[@tattooninja]

So great. The part at the end about the rosetta stone really sums it up. One of my only heroes since childhood! Penn & Teller are so much cooler than Buttman & Rubin.

[@hockeygoon79]

I don't see why it has to be a God vs Science debate. I subscribe to the God + Science idea. Or Science + God.

[@BlackEpyon]

As I always say, whatever Barack Obama might be, the alternative is much worse. :o

[@cakecoffee1]

I like the idea that he's faking. He wouldn't have gotten in if he was an open atheist. From what I'm seeing in the US from the UK, Obama seems to be doing a pretty good job compared to his predecessors.

[@lolia74]

Neither McCain nor Romney would be worse than Obongo.

[@BlackEpyon]

bluestone bitterblue But it will all go to shit if Trump gets in.

[@lolia74]

BlackEpyon Wrong,you bern victim.

[@BlackEpyon]

Ljilja Milić Why would I be a victim? I agree with the guy.

[@rwblackwell]

12:28 to 15:24 = AMAZING!!! Damn I love this guy!

[@viciouscomments6366]

I love Penn Jillette. I want to say more, but I am hypnotized from this... must...find...more...Penn...videos...

[@Blake5467]

Superb Mr. Jillette, it is people like you where I keep my hope for humanity.

[@malcolmbryant]

"Band together in order to be different". That's a bloody brilliant rallying call.

[@robsmith1a]

That is so true. I think it is even crazier when people start to pick and choose from religion - like they someohow know which bits are meant to be literal and which bits aren't. Love the presentation of this video too - builds very nicely to the point.

[@sargesherobryan]

One of the best videos I've seen so far

[@Criticcizm]

Omg I had no idea that this channel even existed. I will subscribe to Penn every fucking day if i have to! Bro is a damn genius.

[@affekongos]

Love how humerous he presents this subject, kinda had to smile throurgout the whole video

[@hadoblado]

Penn is one of my favourite speakers. Not just because I happen to agree with him regarding both libertarianism and religion, but because he goes out of his way to not misinterpret people who think differently to him. He is charitable in his interpretation, and he is a better thinker for it.

[@davidwild66]

Thanks for putting up the question Penn, I wish that I had an answer!

[@STANDIEMCSTILLE]

I love this video! It's so smart and compelling. Bravo!

[@Yuppers117]

It's good that you're willing to question your beliefs. This means you're open to new ideas, which is a huge step. As a self-realized atheist born into a Methodist family and community, my advice to you is stay true to YOURSELF. Take everything into consideration and really, really think about things. Do research. Question everything, both under the possibility of religion and with scientific logic and deduction. I highly suggest you check out Charles Dickens, and keep an open mind. Peace~

[@alejandroespinosa7085]

3:30 no one had ever explained this better

[@XFanmarX]

Good to listen to from beginning to end, very inspiring stuff. Thanks for uploading!

[@DUANETHEGREATWRITER]

Mr. Penn is a lot of fun and informative. I like to hear his history lessons...

[@FinalOmega97]

That's the first time I've heard Penn go on a rant like that.... It was beautiful :')

[@sdsteeler09]

I was going to watch 5 minutes...had to watch the whole thing...brilliant!

[@lobete]

I love Penn's thinkings on the internet and our connectivity. It is just so great. You kids will find videos of Katy Perry. Once that happens, they find Big Think and this video. It will happen! Can't stop it. Internet!

[@Corbald]

What they really mean: "To some degree, or another, I'm willing to subvert my intellect, to believe (or say that I believe) in what I KNOW is false, in order to prove to my peers, in my 'clique,' that I am worth having. I'm willing to do all these things because I know I'll have the strength of numbers. I know that, like me, these other people will go along with my idiocy and defend me, even if I'm bug-eye-bat-shit-crazy, because I'll return the favor to them, in the name of our common 'belief.'"

[@JuanDaMajikOne]

well said!!..

[@StuieGui]

By far, this is the most truthful speech of society ever. I've had this video linked as the only video on my facebook page for over 6 years, and everyone refuses to talk about it. I'm ashamed that nobody sees this most clearly defined lie of the world. @pennjillette How do you continue to live your life knowing that everyone around you is either insane or lying? I've been suffering my whole life trying to figure out why I'm the only person I've ever met that feels as strongly as I do about how everyone can live completely ignorantly about their strongest beliefs. Sir, I would like to have the pleasure of your company if only for you to tell me how you do it; because I can't--not any longer.

[@youtux2]

Excellent rant. He gave voice to the thoughts of millions.

[@smehskeh]

What's most frustrating about comment sections like this is the amount of arguments taking place. Not even that people are disagreeing, but the way in which they are disagreeing. Just because you have different views on how our universe came into existence, doesn't mean you need to attack your opposer's character or overgeneralize their demographic. Not all theists are asinine or crazy. Not all atheists are narcissistic or immoral. Stop taking disagreement so personally. We're all human and deserve respect.

[@JimFear138]

Thank you! I'm totally on your side there. It's an absolute mistake to judge a group by a few members, and I know several highly educated Christians myself. That's why comments like that get under my skin, because they could've been a well-reasoned argument. Also, the obvious not following of the teachings they claim to subscribe to is just shameful. I know all Christians aren't stupid, but the ones that are kind of irritate me, because there's almost no excuse nowadays for being that way.

[@StudioMod]

That "secret code" that Penn is talking about is the default mentality of many modern religious people. Most religious people you'll meet are fairly logical and yet never seem to find anything wrong with religion's senseless assertions. This is usually because of 2 things: 1. They never think about it because it takes place in their mind as an axiom; something that they never question and don't want to -- suspending logic. 2. They have no interest in thinking about it at all.

[@uzealeternal]

Beautiful Penn...just beautiful....I feel your pain and confusion! OMFG I feel it!!

[@Byorin]

Thanks very much for your insight! TIL: The color he uses is Jelly Apple Red (#054), according to Wiki.

[@Mii.2.0]

Me: *throws a rock at a pigeon* Pigeon: 11:58

[@arthurgutierrez1450]

As a "Christian", I can't applaud this enough. Penn is definitely a much greater optimist than I. I feel everyone has an agenda and I think that most of the time, it's less than benevolent. These agendas have been a blight on Christianity and on possibly all religions, buy certainly all of the Abrahamic religions. Something like religious authority is so easily corruptible because that authority can wield unquestionable power and a book like the bible is so easily weaponized, it's disgusting.

[@nicoliism]

I think this is my favorite version of this comeback

[@emnity33]

Penn is one of the very few atheists I can listen to without getting annoyed. I sense no venom in his voice at all. If ever there were an atheist to change my mind about anything it wold be this guy.

[@dwhwmn]

I love it - I was wondering where he was going, until the 15-16 minute mark where it all comes together. The problem is, some people are that crazy, and others hide behind them.

[@PhreeKam]

Yeah, I actualy don't have to do anything, and I certainly don't need you to tell me that. I do things because choose to, not because of a feeling of having to, which is apparently your motivation.

[@ahtilah1194]

Exactly, some Athiests go as far as saying that the possibility of a God is impossible. But most only go as far as skepticism.

[@jaybeebles]

My answer to his question, speaking as a former Christian, is that it is a sort of groupthink, an odd phenomenon of humanity that has survived in the form it takes by being so difficult to challenge. It was presented to me by family and community in an intimate way. My "faith," which included actually telling people I believed these things literally, was half willful self-delusion for the sake of comfort/sanity, and half lip-service. An unimpressive way to be, looking back on it.

[@MessiahComing]

The thing about Penn's argument is that even though Christians are divided into sects, these sects have been meaning less and less over the passed few decades. That's why people are able to say "i'm a Christian," and not bother with the sect thing.

[@WorthlessWinner]

The earliest fossil life is nearly 3.5 billion years old. This implies abiogenesis is really likely to happen, because there was enough life for some of the rare fossils to survive all the weathering and be with us today just a few million years after the rocks cooled down. L-form bacteria are a great insight into early life. They only need one lipid synthesis gene to control their whole division pathway. It isn't that efficient but early life, with little competition, didn't need to be.

[@CodySmith]

Penn, we love you so much. This video is fucking amazing, rock on!

[@WorthlessWinner]

People who deny abiogenesis act like the first life would need to have the genes to make amino acids. However, as you say, amino acids were abundant in the early Earth. It is thought that the pathways to make these and other building blocks of life started with the product and worked back to the raw materials. It's a lesson that if something we know happened doesn't seem possible, we should try flipping it round and see if it works the other way.

[@ShatteredPsyche]

"The very idea that you would claim people are suffering and dying in order to prove god is on the side of one politician is sickening." How many wars have been waged to prove exactly this? Sickening it may be, but it is an ancient, deeply-seeded and unfortunately true sentiment.

[@RestingStitchFace0]

Absolutely insane how well this ages today.

[@MrIvantastic]

This is an amazing video

[@techdeth]

I've been rewinding the magic underwear thing for the better part of ten minutes. I cant stop fucking laughing.

[@TheQuigs07]

I would love to have a conversation with this man. so well informed and interesting

[@antonio8904100]

Outstanding video!

[@lilyt99]

I once thought that there was a secret code. People told me they had a relationship with god, and they spoke to him and he spoke back. I finally decided that they meant they talk to themselves a lot and feel better about it imagining someone is supportive of their inner dialogue, but at the time I thought that the only way it's possible for them to really be speaking with god, is if we are all god. That was a real trip though.

[@stoicsquirrel]

We lack "a belief". Lacking a belief means it's not there. It doesn't mean it's there "a little".

[@Crosshill]

I feel that frustration in the end. If only i understood. I have managed to get a few religious people to talk, but all it boils down to is a kind of feel-good, placebo, fear of death or whatever thing. I can never get the 'why do you believe this? And why this particular thing? Why aren't you, as a perfectly sane person, leaving this behind? I don't believe you when you say you believe it'

[@qarey]

Not all the stories in religion is meant to be literal (like the story of Adam and Eve may just be a metaphor for evolution). We're meant to take from them lessons of which we can learn from. Because of this, religion is the root of morality which is the origin of law and order. Its just that most people don't realise that we need to always ask questions about what was and what is and decide on our own what will be. But, in the end, everyone should be entitled to live their own way.

[@VariableDegrees]

Actually, you have little choice BUT to accept it. I have my freedom of speech just as you do. You are perfectly free to counter any argument I make, as I am to you. But you certainly DO have to accept it.

[@Garcia-elf]

That was awesome, gave me goosebumps..

[@by483924]

The white speck on his jacket is killing me. ...Oh, by the way, good points.

[@superflytnt]

Quite literally as I sit here and listen to Penn talking about "Bug Nutty, bat shit crazy", I see a Mini Cooper with the license plate, "B-Nutty". Serendipity folks.

[@promontorium]

You ask why someone "free thinking" would need a guide. Free thinking doesn't mean all knowing. A guide isn't a command, it's a suggestion. To be religious necessarily means following someone else's law. "Blindly" or otherwise is not at issue.

[@AdMiR1420]

The bottom line is that NO ONE has the monopoly on happiness in life, Not Theists not Athiests NO ONE. Its all a matter of perspective, athiests care for the truth and enjoy every minute of life as it is, they don't need faith to feel good. For theists faith often gives a bigger meaning to life, that there is a God who cares for them and that this life is not the end, they feel that it's comforting. So dont tell others that they're not as happy as you because they don't share your views on life.

[@BailiffQuimby]

"it would be unheard of to see atheism mocked in the way that religion is." George Bush Sr. publicly stated, "No, I don't know that atheists should be regarded as citizens, nor should they be regarded as patriotic. This is one nation under God.…" A major uproar about this comment never occurred. Do you think the public would have let the comment slide if he had said it about Christians?

[@emilycroxall2166]

I really appreciated what you said.

[@henkpietjaaphein1122]

against religion: scientific, rational, reasonable, logical. for religion: historical philosophical could be both.

[@ardaorhan]

17:50 I love his rant :D

[@ryancalhoun2910]

That rant is what made me an atheist. 9 years now.

[@Hierdeboc]

Honestly, there would be very few documents for something like this. The problem with the new testament is that it really is a mash up of literary genres - it isn't concerned with history the same way Thucydides would be. Christ would only be important to the relative few who followed him. The lack of early historical evidence doesn't mean he didn't exist - and if some evidence comes to light that he did, well, it doesn't mean he is supernatural either.

[@s3bbe1337]

This one described my feelings about religion very well

[@creaturecore13]

Grit he paints his nail red for his mother. He wears his father's ring and she once said you don't have anything of mine you can wear so he decided to paint his nail for her on the finger he has his dad's ring.

[@Liam2621]

the modern tv and education systems certainly paints a rosy picture.

[@MaisieSqueak]

Penn Jilette seems to have the same level of frustration as I do about this subject. Somehow he holds it down for the most part. I guess that's what extra smarts does for ya :)

[@Mattguitarman1234]

This is actually really intriguing, I wish he would run for president or be more active in politics.

[@qarey]

I never said anything about the bible. I said "religion" which has been around since human civilisation began. Religion has been the manifestation of morality time and time again over the centuries.

[@geoffingeorgia]

He once said it's part of the misdirection of being a magician. But I'd take that with a grain of salt

[@OWmofat]

This man knows how to twist facts and words into manipulation better than anyone else.

[@jeffiek]

"I think he wants to do good, I don't think there's any malicious quality" Those that threw virgins into the volcano _thought_ they were doing good, they had no malicious intent. Those that burned witches at the stake _thought_ they were doing good, they had no malicious intent. The road to hell is paved with good intentions. And scattered with its victims.

[@ConManK0]

dont ignore those with opposite opinions as you, respect and consider there opinion to keep yourself in check as i hope you do to them.

[@TheMasterofApathy]

Atheism simply means "no acting belief in a deity", technically being agnostic is a light form of atheism whereas militant atheists are the stereotypical version; it is the same with what he was saying about all the christian sects being labeled "Christian" but without being encompassed by a single title.

[@WorthlessWinner]

Agreeing, I think. Only referencing it because they can probably describe their own work better than I can in 500 characters or less. Just giving you some of the other sources of evidence for abiogenesis in case you were interested. Even the simplest modern Bacteria may be really complicated but you can find evidence of simpler ways of doing things in the modern genome and engineer simpler life in the lab, showing how little would need to happen "by chance," as if Chemistry was random.

[@wa6515]

"KILLING EVERYBODY??? God that loves us KILLING EVERYBODY???"

[@BkDelta]

Excuse me, i meant to say millions of years. What i was saying was that simple amino acids were present in the very early history of the earth and by virtue of molecular physics, these thing will eventually start forming more and more complex structures and over a long enough time frame, chance makes abiogenisis of life not as outlandish as some people think it is

[@ahzaag]

"I know u have not examine the truth or u would agree with me." That is a classically close minded statement. It is possibly that people have examined what you have examined but have come to different conclusions based on differing levels of understanding of what is being examined. If you automatically discount the possibility that you might be wrong you will never find what is right.

[@nathanatramp]

"...band together in order to be different." I think this is what's both very difficult and very easy about being a Libetarian. As a theory of government, you don't really have to be "for" anything. All that's required is to stand against tyranny and against abuse. It should be the broadest movement in the world, but it's not. I'm still going to identify as a Libertarian though and I still find Penn's optimism infectious.

[@Cannonbo]

at least you're starting in the right place. you are the one who will choose your belief.

[@Spectonimous]

I wish I knew. Many of my friends are becoming atheist and I've been one since I was 13. We all agree that there'd be less conflicts to be had around the world if religion didn't exist. Religious fanatics would never admit to that.