Trying not to like Penn Jillette
I should really dislike Penn Jillette on principle.
He’s a committed atheist who says reading the Bible is the best way to become a committed atheist.
He’s a magician. Call it a personal shortcoming on my part, but I find magicians annoying, even though I appreciate illusion.
He has a propensity towards being quite the angry potty mouth.
Penn Jillette and I disagree on many things. I should dislike him on principle.
And I’ve tried. But I can’t.
Because he respects my right to believe that he has it all wrong, and he encourages me to do a better job of being a Christian:
And he’s proven to me that a person can be godless and still be moral and attempt to live right:
In short, Penn Jillette is a better person than me. And if everyone was, as he believes, basically good, then we would have no need for God or Jesus.
But that’s a HUGE if, because I believe that people are not basically good.
And I only need turn on the news to confirm this. Or better yet, simply look into my own heart.
Still, I cannot and will not dismiss him simply because he doesn’t believe as I do. While I may not appreciate his views, I greatly appreciate how well he articulates them.
I can’t help it. I like the guy…
« « Previous Post: Good books | Next Post: What you didn’t say » »
He convicted me when he basically said that if I believe in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior as I SAY I do, I had better be talking to people like him. If its as important to believe as I SAY it is, I had better be sharing that Good News with people like him.
Ed Blonski´s last [type] ..Experiencing Death
Hmmm. I think that despite his public announcement of atheistic views, he’s on the verge of falling into the believer’s family. I mean, really, the emotions expressed on his face while he talked, what could he contribute that intensity to?
I would like to witness a conversation between him and Jesus… can’t you see them sitting on the beach hashing all this out?
The best take-away from the first video is: How much do we have to hate someone to not proselytize? Wow. Convicting.
Blessings.
SimplyDarlene´s last [type] ..Oftentimes, Among My Mind…
Funny you should say that, Darlene. I was thinking the very same thing.
Many atheists act out in an angry manner toward believers. I respect him for being able to respect people of faith even while disagreeing with us.
I can’t dislike him for his “People are basically good” philosophy, though I personally believe that choosing good is a battle, and I know I’d lose that battle far more often without the protection of God.
I hit a parked car last month. No one saw me. It was just a little chip… The voice in my head whispered it may have been there to begin with… It’s not like I noticed the car before… But I KNEW God was watching. He’d love still love me if I drove away, but it wasn’t what he wanted from me. Still, I ended up having to call Bob. I knew my husband would hold me accountable, and he did. Not because Bob doesn’t mind paying out money to fix the chip in a stranger’s car, but because he too knows God wants me to own up to it and not leave the innocent holding the bag.
I suppose that deep down, I just don’t trust people to be better than me. If I’d have driven away without God’s intervention, i expect others would, too. If it follows that we all project on others our own inadequacies, I have to admit that Mr. Jillette is a better person than I am as well. No matter how much I disagree with him, I must respect him.
Helen´s last [type] ..Voice in My Head
Jesus didn’t marginalize those who didn’t think like he did, and he still doesn’t. You are being more like Him than if you’d reject Penn for his non-believing heart.
Audra Krell´s last [type] ..Flip Flops on the Ground
I’ve heard it said that the atheists are the closest to conversion. I believe it based on my life experiences. You gotta respect a guy who’s willing to read and discuss the Bible… He’s already got one foot in the Lord’s hand…
floyd´s last [type] ..WILL THE REAL SUPER HERO… PLEASE STAND UP