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

[mr blur]

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I know it's Penn Jillette (although I have seen it said here that he's smarter and more articulate than Dawkins) and it's nearly 20 minutes long, but starting around th1e 6-minute mark he has some interesting things to say about the term "Christian".

[cbayer]

1. Can't watch it- connection too slow. Does he endorse anyone in particular?

[bananas]

5. I watched two minutes of it - what a waste of time. nt

[muriel_volestrangler]

14. No, and it's rather out of date

The Republican he talks about most is Michele Bachmann (he calls her claim that earthquakes and tornadoes are a sign from God to mend our ways a bigger blasphemy than anything he's ever said). There are a few mentions of Perry, largely as 'Bachmann and Perry', and he scoffs at the magic underwear of Romney. There's some stuff about Obama, and whether he really believes what was said in the Jeremiah Wright church, or if, as some atheist supporters hope, he's really a secret atheist - and he says he's not keen on either possibility, though he's convinced Obama is both intelligent and well-meaning. No mention at all of Gingrich or Santorum.

[cbayer]

15. Thanks, Muriel. Appreciate it.

[Dawson Leery]

2. kick

[bananas]

3. sourcewatch on penn and teller

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Penn_and_Teller

[cleanhippie]

4. What is that supposed to tell us?

I mean, it looks like a wiki on those two. What is its purpose?

[bananas]

6. you're not familiar with sourcewatch? nt

[cleanhippie]

8. Not really.

Ive seen it used here and there, but am unsure of its purpose or why you posted it.

[rug]

7. It tells me something I didn't know.

"Penn and Teller are fellows at the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank based in Washington DC. Penn Jillette is an H.L. Menkin Research Fellow and writes the "Final Word" column for Regulation Magazine. A profile of Penn on the Cato Institute's website describes it as a program that "looks to debunk junk science, scares and scams with reason and logic." [1] Cato has received financial support from the oil industry, tobacco industry, the pharmaceutical industry and Wal-Mart, as well as conservative foundations like the Koch Family Foundations and Scaife Foundations oil fortunes."

[laconicsax]

9. You didn't know that?

That's old news--way older than six months.

[rug]

11. That must have stung.

[laconicsax]

13. What must have stung, and whom must it have stung?

[Goblinmonger]

18. You haven't seen the dislike on here from me and other atheists

when that jagbag comes up as a source of great wisdom? The Cato connection is the poster child for why that dislike is there.

[rug]

22. No, I hadn't noticed. That's good to know.

[laconicsax]

23. I'm reminded of a quote...

There are none so blind as those who will not see.

[rug]

24. I'm reminded of another.

I never invite idiots to my house. - Elizabeth Montagu

[laconicsax]

25. What reminds you of that quote?

What do you see as your house and who are the idiots?

[rug]

26. There are none so blind as those who will not see.

[digonswine]

10. Despite his other views-

he clearly wonders about some of the same stuff I do, and, I think, many here do. Basically--How can otherwise seemingly rational and not-evil or crazy people think some of the stuff they do?

He wants to "get it"--I suspect, though, that there is nothing to "get".

[man4allcats]

12. I just watched the whole thing, and if this video is any indication,

he is neither smarter nor more articulate than Dawkins - not even close. I agree with bananas. It's a waste of time.

[navarth]

16. Fuck Penn Gillette, the Wal-Mart lover.

Ever since I saw his 'Bullshit' episode about people trying to defend their towns against Wal-Mart, I've considered Penn Gillette to be strictly in the 'shit between my toes' category. 'Hating Wal-Mart is bullshit'? Fuck him in the eye socket.

[AlbertCat]

19. Ever since I saw his 'Bullshit' episode about people trying to defend their towns against Wal-Mart

For me it was the episode on the "bullshit" of the Endangered Species Act

[Rob H.]

28. For me, it was the anti-PETA episode of "Bullshit!"

They were parroting (and giving a forum to) the Center for Consumer Freedom, a right-wing group that lobbies on behalf of the fast food, meat, alcohol and tobacco industries. Of course, they talked to the director of the CCF and billed him as a "consumer advocate" without mentioning any of that.

Whatever one's opinion about PETA, Penn & Teller were completely dishonest about the way they went about criticizing them.

[iris27]

17. Libertarian douchenozzle. No thanks. n/t

[rexcat]

20. There seems to be a number of people on this thread who don't like what Penn had to say...

that said it would appear that the religious types on this thread got their panties in a wad. For those who don't like Penn for his libertarian views this video had nothing to do with libertarianism but everything to do his religious views.

I may not agree with him totally on what he said but he did make some interesting points. An open mind would be of some benifit to some on this thread. I do believe he is naïve when it comes to the religious right, or for the religious in general. The relgious rightwingers are bat shit crazy because I think they truly believe what they say. I see and hear these people all the time, they are my neighbors.

As far as I am concerned anyone who wants to believe in something based on faith has that right but I am going discount their opinions. Faith is the belief of something without evidence. That goes agianst my scientific training and what I would consider common sense as I would define it (my opinion only so please no personal attacks)!

[deacon_sephiroth]

21. ah yes Big Think

I've subbed that channel, soem really good stuff comes out of there from time to time.

[ZombieHorde]

27. The part concerning the label "Christian" was interesting to me. nt