Penn Jillette Explains His Atheism to the Preachers

One half of the Vegas-headlining duo "Penn & Teller," Penn Jillette has been a self-identifying atheist for many years.

Now, he’s sitting down with #ThePreachers to talk about growing up in a God-loving household and what having faith means to him.

Hosted by John Gray, Dr. E Dewey Smith Jr., Orrick Quick and Dr. Jamal Bryant, THE PREACHERS is an all-new talk show featuring four dynamic and outspoken preachers who are known for their electrifying and unique takes on pop culture, news events and spirituality.

[Jahu-qsus]

Atheist: "Im an atheist an i love cake."

Preacher: "God is cake."

[timinatoro]

The way he showed his disagreement, yet in such a clever way was brilliant.

[BrianTylerComposer]

You can't experience love without admitting that the Great Leprechaun exists because the Great Leprechaun invented love because a guy said so in the book "The Great Leprechaun." So clearly Penn believes in the Great Leprechaun because he also believe in love. Duh.

[jeffc]

Something did happen in my youth that helped make me an atheist. I was taught to think about things critically. That led directly to my lack of faith.

[kjh]

"Do you believe in Santa Clause?"
"No."
"You poor thing! Were you assaulted by someone in a santa outfit? Why do you hate cookies and reindeer? I think you just want to rebel against Santa's teachings"

[birderjohn]

Respect for the Preachers not deleting comments they disagree with.

[thecloud]

I'm with Penn. I always thought that a god was a supernatural, intelligent BEING. An ENTITY, with some sort of personality. If "god" just means "love", then... well, just stop using the term "god", and use the word "love"! Otherwise, you're just being needlessly confusing.

[quakermusic]

You've really gotta hand it to Penn Jillette. He comes off as tolerant, intelligent, and open-minded in a room filled with people who disagree with him. And you also gotta hand it to the Preachers for having him on the show and speaking to him with kindness and (apparently) somewhat open minds. We need more conversation like this.

[PhyberLogik]

Do you believe in Zeus? No? Is there something tragic that happened in your childhood that caused you to not believe in Zeus?

Most atheists don't believe because there is no valid reason to. There is no evidence to support the existence of God, or any other deity for that matter. What can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence.

[clintleffingwell]

Most people don't stop believing in Santa Clause because they experienced some sort of Santa-related trauma. They simply grew up and became more informed.

[RaptorJesus.]

"is there anything that happened in your childhood that made you an atheist?"
why yes, i grew out of my imaginary friends phase.

[OrionisPi]

Proof? The only thing that proves is he's a decent sentient lifeform. Love is no more proof that a deity exists than hate is proof that one doesn't.

[NixDuto]

"God and love are synonymous."

...now that he's gotten all the genocide out of his system

[beerbeer]

I live in the Northern Arctic. On my fridge door I have the wing of a monarch butterfly taped to it, because my religion tells me if I do that it will keep Elephants and Giraffes away from my door. It works ! Never had either at my door. praise be !!

[The_Gallowglass]

"That proves you have god"

Only if the assumption is that god exists.

[itskelvinn]

Actually hes wrong. The fact that u experienced love is PROOF that cupid exists. It makes so much sense, cupid is the god of love. Therefore cupid exists

[reaality]

I think he may be saying that some people are so good they don't need to believe in a final judgment to conduct their life with love and integrity.

[MrDiddyDee]

I have a relative and her husband and their children have Christianity at the centre of the very life. One Christmas I asked her if any of her children believed in Santa Claus, and she said she had never encouraged it at all. She had been so bitterly disappointed, and felt lied to, as a child herself when she finally discovered their was no such thing, and she wanted to spare her own children that disappointment. I would never say anything that would have upset her, but I thought it ironic that she was still teaching them about an invisible, supernatural father figure, who watches you all the time to see if you have been good or bad, and will only reward those, in his judgement, who have been good. I guess she never actually grew up, and just adopted another comforting fable for her adulthood.

[imaginenation]

I love how Jillette doesn't straight up argue with the guy that said that what he said is proof that he has God - which I think was very disrespectful and put him on the spot - and instead finds something that they agree on

[princeharming]

"Is there anything that happened in your childhood that made you an atheist?"
Translation: "I can't seem to find a door or window through which to sneak through and lovingly beat you over the head with my own personal understanding of God." Essentially implying that it must be some sort of trauma that would cause one to be an atheist, rather than one's own calm, rational thought processes.