There Is No God

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

[machman]

Morning Edition, November 21, 2005 ·

I believe that there is no God. I'm beyond Atheism. Atheism is not believing in God. Not believing in God is easy -- you can't prove a negative, so there's no work to do. You can't prove that there isn't an elephant inside the trunk of my car. You sure? How about now? Maybe he was just hiding before. Check again. Did I mention that my personal heartfelt definition of the word "elephant" includes mystery, order, goodness, love and a spare tire?

So, anyone with a love for truth outside of herself has to start with no belief in God and then look for evidence of God. She needs to search for some objective evidence of a supernatural power. All the people I write e-mails to often are still stuck at this searching stage. The Atheism part is easy.

But, this "This I Believe" thing seems to demand something more personal, some leap of faith that helps one see life's big picture, some rules to live by. So, I'm saying, "This I believe: I believe there is no God."

Having taken that step, it informs every moment of my life. I'm not greedy. I have love, blue skies, rainbows and Hallmark cards, and that has to be enough. It has to be enough, but it's everything in the world and everything in the world is plenty for me. It seems just rude to beg the invisible for more. Just the love of my family that raised me and the family I'm raising now is enough that I don't need heaven. I won the huge genetic lottery and I get joy every day.

Believing there's no God means I can't really be forgiven except by kindness and faulty memories. That's good; it makes me want to be more thoughtful. I have to try to treat people right the first time around.

Believing there's no God stops me from being solipsistic. I can read ideas from all different people from all different cultures. Without God, we can agree on reality, and I can keep learning where I'm wrong. We can all keep adjusting, so we can really communicate. I don't travel in circles where people say, "I have faith, I believe this in my heart and nothing you can say or do can shake my faith." That's just a long-winded religious way to say, "shut up," or another two words that the FCC likes less. But all obscenity is less insulting than, "How I was brought up and my imaginary friend means more to me than anything you can ever say or do." So, believing there is no God lets me be proven wrong and that's always fun. It means I'm learning something.

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, but rather something we all may be able to help others with in the future. No God means the possibility of less suffering in the future.

Believing there is no God gives me more room for belief in family, people, love, truth, beauty, sex, Jell-o and all the other things I can prove and that make this life the best life I will ever have.

[Semper Paratus]

Without God there is Darwin and that means the strong can take your possessions rape your women, kill your men and kidnap your children because that's is the natural thing to do.

[Wormwood]

In the wake of Katrina, more than a few followers of the Prince of Peace were posting with thinly disguised joy about God getting some payback on them sinners.

I apologize for lumping you in with those compassionate folks.

[LibertarianInExile]

"One cannot prove the existence of God. Therefore believing in God is an act of faith.One also cannot disprove the existence of God. Therefore believing there is no God is also an act of faith. This is logic."

It is good to see that other people here understand that one faith should be considered superior to another, especially when it comes to the law and public broadcast stations, where a single statement by an unbeliever like this SOB Jillette can upset those who would otherwise be on the path to heaven where we commune with our Lord, with its stripper factory and beer volcano. As a result, I call on all like-minded people to write the Kansas school board to ensure that the TRUE faith is represented in the ID movement. The TRUE faith, of course, has its web page here, and all others are inferior heresy:

Wrapped in His Noodly Appendage, I say unto you, AARGH!!!!
Ramen.

[Wormwood]

Without God there is Darwin and that means the strong can take your possessions rape your women, kill your men and kidnap your children because that's is the natural thing to do.

And yet we don't. That's odd, isn't it?

Could it be that you theists don't have the market cornered on responsibility, ethics, reason and compassion?

[harbinger of doom]

Just doing what Zeus would do. Raping, seducing and overthrowing thrones.

Perfectly understandable and acceptable in some cultures. Who are we to say they are wrong?

[stboz]

I notice our atheist Freepers always seem to flock to these discussions about the existence of God. If God were so insignificant to them, why would they even care? After all, it is much easier to argue God does not exist then to prove He does. That's why it's called "Faith."

I can tell you that we "atheists" are not that at all. We're far more disposed to being agnostic. We just don't know. Religion just doesn't suffice.

At heart, I want badly for there to be a just, kind, loving god who forgives when true repentance is offered. I want enormously for there to be a present, personal and interactive god who doesn't tap me on the shoulder and then run to my opposite side, snickering the whole way.

I want enormously for god to be our Father, intervening when he should while allowing spiritual growth. Answering the "Why?" questions of our lives.

Sadly, that is not whay I observe.

[harbinger of doom]

No offense taken ;) I'm sure God can handle the bad PR.

Some folks forget their own sin has a way of catching up with them about the same time they are rejoicing in others 'getting theirs'.

Bitter irony that usually goes unnoticed.

[joesnuffy]

The wisdom of the wise is foolishness to God
1 Cor. 3:19

A fool sayeth in his heart "there is no God"
Psalms 14:1

Father forgive them for they know not what they do
Luke 23:34

[winker]

There are things far beyond your puny brain full of self and burned out neurons. Consider the miracle of birth- Consider the Big Bang... Who caused the Big Bang? On your way to your next "FIX" some cloudless starry midnite stop long enough and view the observable universe and know Almighty God placed the stars,galaxies and planets and named them as well smart guy, then don't bother to tell me there is no God again, you are an embarassment to all creation. You need help and real answers friend, any training at home ever take with you?

[Blzbba]

"God is dead" - Nietschke

"Nietschke is dead" - God.

[04-Bravo]

People who say they don't believe in God should take a walk in Sequoia National Park. If they can't see the hand of the Creator there, they are blind.

[LibertarianInExile]

First, theologically speaking, why is there no innocence? Can't a baby be an innocent in the eyes of God?

[harbinger of doom]

Could it be that you theists don't have the market cornered on responsibility, ethics, reason and compassion?

Worm, Would this be an indication that everyone knows the "Natural Law" regardless if one has 'religious' knowledge or not?

Of course, it leads somewhere some may not want to go, but I'm asking in a 'non-leading' way. Just thought provoking.

[jec41]

What evidence is there for God?

The six ontological proofs for and against the existence of God by Descartes.

[Wormwood]

There are things far beyond your puny brain full of self and burned out neurons. Consider the miracle of birth- Consider the Big Bang... Who caused the Big Bang?

1,000 years ago, flight, antibiotics and electricity would have been considered miracles.

Puny brains indeed.

[pollyannaish]

You will find no condemnation from me. The Bible is full of stories that are very similar to yours. In fact, all Christians, including Christ himself struggle with it.

I just wanted you to know that I understand. I wish you well on your journey...one that does not sound easy. And I hope it is ok, but I will also pray for you. It is something I can do, and I hope it will be a comfort.

[harbinger of doom]

First, theologically speaking, why is there no innocence? Can't a baby be an innocent in the eyes of God?

You tell me...what does the noodly appendage say? LOL.

Surely you know the answer to that, having investigated thoroughly the writings of the Prophets? ;)

I won't make judgments for God, but there is that theory of the 'age of accountability' in which it is said if a person isn't able to make a decision to follow God or the noodly appendage, they are 'innocent'.

However, theologically speaking, man is born into sin, therefore dead spiritually.

What is the noodly appendages' take on this? :)

[Guenevere]

People need to stop equating religion with conservatism

True, there are many God-less conservatives out there...

....but I think you will find most Christian fundamentals/Evangelicals are conservative.

[G Larry]

"But I accepted it because it was the only logical thing I could do."

Sure, logic dictates that we are here by accident and without purpose.
Now THAT, is a bunch of crap!

[Wormwood]

Worm, Would this be an indication that everyone knows the "Natural Law" regardless if one has 'religious' knowledge or not?

I'm not as versed in evolutionary psychology as I should be, but I think much of what we consider 'natural law' is actually instinctive behavior. I could be wrong, but I'm neither a philosopher nor a psychologist.

Oh, and thanks for being one fo the few reasonable posters to this thread.