There Is No God

National Public Radio ^ | 11/21/05 | Penn Jillette

[DaGman]

There appears to be abundant evidence to disprove the null hypothesis of there is no God.

[Junior]

Nothing in that essay seemed unhappy or miserable. Indeed, he seemed quite upbeat about the whole thing.

[nuconvert]

Oh, I beg to differ.

[patriot_wes]

"Believing there is no God means the suffering I've seen in my family, and indeed all the suffering in the world, isn't caused by an omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent force that isn't bothered to help or is just testing us"

I never understand why these people think if there's a god, he must be the one responsible for all the bad things happening in the world.......morons

[fml]

It almost sounds like she is trying to convince herself that she is happy. And, she isn't convinced yet.

LOL..thats how confused she is, she is a he. The fat guy with the ponytail magician.

[hflynn]

I think Penn Jillette's real basis for believing "There is No God" is that there is an NPR.

[TexGuy]

Kick this bum off of the Government dole ... Admission of blatant support of an atheistic religion funded by our taxes ... (Separation of Church and State works both ways, Doesn't it?)

[Wormwood]

Oh, I beg to differ.

Differ all you like, but the man is a Libertarian.

If that means "liberal" around these parts, that's another story.

[Junior]

Of course, without God, it is all the same whether I smash your face in or decide to sit nicely with you and discuss reality.

So, fear of divine consequences is the only thing keeping you from acting uncivily? Lord protect society should you ever have a crisis of faith.

BTW, has Penn Gillette ever "smashed anyone's face?" I mean, he doesn't have that brake on his actions you claim only comes from faith in God, so he should be going on rampages right and left, shouldn't he?

[Fierce Allegiance]

I am far from a regular church goer but I find it hard to believe there is no God. I do not go to church, nor do I follow any organized religion.

However, I know in my life, riding the crest of a 35 foot wave in a 41' boat, I was glad I had God with me. I know I have heard him talk to me while sitting deep in the woods with only the last flicker of the fire still glowing. I know he as given me the gifts of my family.

This chump can think as he wants, but is an idiot.

[pgkdan]

Penn isn't a liberal.

The Hell you say! The man stands to the left of Lenin.

[JohnCliftn]

Actually, there is quite a bit of hope for the author.

Anyone "anyone with a love for truth" only needs to open her eyes (metaphorically). That means confronting the intellectual false pride and ignoring the NPR peer pressure to let into her mind what she already knows in her spirit.

She's not really objecting to God, but rather to what she has been told about God. She'll find God's truth in time, whenever she can be honest with herself about what she herself sees, feels and knows, and willing to stand bravely against NPR peer pressure.

[digger48]

NPR gets most of its funding from private sources.

It needs to get ALL of it's money from private sources. What's that? You mean they can't make it without being propped up by the DNC via our tax dollars?

I guess you had no problem with Armstrong Williams then, either.

[SE Mom]

I'd give her a little more time...I'm certain God will.

I suspect many people who've had a religious conversion were, at one time, atheists and/or agnostic. I know I was. If I'd read some of the snide remarks I read when this kind of subject comes up- by "righteous" folks, it would not have encouraged me to seek their way of life or faith.

[Pharmboy]

EEEEEE...AAAAAAWWWWW...EEEEEE...AAAAAAWWW...(FLASHING RED LIGHTS) DING...DING...DING...DIVE DIVE DIVE TO 500 FEET IMMEDIATELY

[djf]

I have struggled with this very much since my wife died. And yesterday, I read a thread about a young girl who dies because of a kiss.

It can be a very lonely world. And there is no solace in thinking here is no God. If I decide I can't believe in him, it doesn't mean I'm out partying every night.

Ultimately, as I grow older and get into the time of life that my father passed in, it is quite disappointing. No matter how good I am, no matter how charitable, friendly, forgiving or mercifull, I will never know even simple things - things like what's gonna happen in the next hundred years or so.

If you have faith, then hold on to it. And try not to be so harsh on those who struggle.

[Gaffer]

Who'da thunk something like this would come from Public Radio?

[Strategerist]

I never understand why these people think if there's a god, he must be the one responsible for all the bad things happening in the world

Well, then you're left with the classic paradox that one of the following three must be true:

1) God doesn't exist

2) God is evil

3) God isn't all-powerful

One can sort of dance-around the human-caused evil with the whole free will thing but it doesn't really work for natural disasters; hence the frantic efforts of some to spin them into some sort of specific punishment for a specific sin.

[Wormwood]

This chump can think as he wants, but is an idiot.

I like that he is able to profess his belief without calling anyone "chump" or "idiot".

[No Blue States]

Romans 3:3 (King James Version)

For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?

2 Corinthians 4:4 (King James Version)

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

1 John 5:13 (King James Version)

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.