Athiest, and Christians, what do yo think of this?

I agree!! That's what i have been trying to say!! lol As a christian i believe certain things. I don't just think that they might be true. I know for a fact that they are true. Although I know i cant prove this to anyone. I can at least explain in a polite manner why i believe it so strongly. If i don't i am condemning them to hell for keeping silent.

I think Penn must have been talking to my brother. My brother is a reborn Christian and one of the nicest people in the world. BUT, he was that way before he ever turned Christian - so I can't give his belief system credit for that.

It boils down to - it's not what you say, it's the way you say it" and I can accept anyone being polite in simply giving me something and without telling me I'm "going to hell."

Penn had some decent things to say (even though he took forever to say them) but it's fairly obvious - as it is RIGHT HERE< that you are going to have polite Christians and polite Atheists and on the opposite end, from each sector - some impolite Christians and impolite Atheists - but I didn't need to hear something I already knew. So I really learned nothing - but apparently Penn did. :)

I am an atheist and I think that they were both respectful to each other about it. I personally would have probably said, "no thank you" to the book, because I know I wouldn't read it and would probably throw it away. I live in the Midwest, so I am used to religious people and it doesn't really bother me. If I turn someone down for an invite to church or any such thing, I would hope that they'd have enough respect to not ask me again. That is the problem I see... that is why a lot of atheists are annoyed with theists, because they don't know when to quit. However, I admit that a lot of atheists don't know when to quit pestering people about their beliefs and making them feel that they must be unintelligent to believe in what they do. Overall, I avoid discussions about religion with people I know in my personal life (even with my husband). Either way, someone's going to be unhappy.

I agree that people with differing beliefs can be friends and hold respect for each other.

But, I disagree with his stance on proselytizing, as do most atheists, and even many theists. His analogy that "if you believe there is a truck approaching you have a responsibility to warn the people in its path" fails, because it assumes there is a truck approaching.

A better analogy for proselytizing religion is people who are against childhood vaccinations. Even though there is ample evidence that vaccinations don't cause autism, and even though the doctor who made that original claim has since recanted, they continue to make the claim, file lawsuits, and try to get laws changed. No amount of evidence will change their point of view and if they are successful, they will cause great harm to individuals and to society as a whole. There is no metaphorical 'truck' in the case of vaccinations, just as (to an atheist) there is no 'truck' when christians proselytize.

(My comment sums up my feelings about Penn in general. I agree in principle with him, but when he gets into the details he is often very wrong)

The world might be a better place if there were more Christians and Atheists such as Mr. Jillette and the unnamed Christian gentleman of whom he spoke.

The Christians with whom Atheists have an issue are those who practice loud "in your face" proselytizing and who threaten Atheists with eternal damnation. If more Christians practiced non-intrusive proselytizing, there wouldn't be problems with Atheists.

Conversely, if more Atheists were respectful of the beliefs of Christians, instead of ridiculing and insulting those beliefs, there would be less antagonism between the two groups.

Mr. Jillette said, "I KNOW there is no God." Actually, he doesn't. He BELIEVES there is no God, bur he doesn't know it. Knowledge and Belief are two different things.

Christians answer questions directed in the direction of Atheists in a plenty distinctive way. the place atheists use wit and humour (i've got in no way detected loathing) and a few mockery (afterall, maximum atheists as quickly as have been Christians or pronounced in Christian families so as that they are in basic terms making relaxing of their very own former selves), Christians tend to easily come for the duration of with a load of hate and damnation. i'm getting own e-mails from Christians telling me that i'll hell for my non-perception and attitudes. Atheists could taunt and tease, yet we don't damn souls to hell! and the respond chosen as maximum suitable stands out as the single by ability of whichever Christian pulls off the main suitable insult in the direction of an Atheist, acceptable? What does the Bible say - do not factor to the splinter on your brother's eye once you have a plank in yours!

I like Penn's show on Showtime, and I often find myself agreeing with him, but I'm no fan of proselytizing. I think it's rude and disrespectful to knock on my door to "tell me the good news." If atheists started actively doing the same thing, there would be public outrage.

Giving someone a bible when you know they are an atheist, no matter how respectfully it is done, is just wrong.

reminds me of the old saying..

"Even a broken watch is right twice a day"

Even an Entertainer, like Penn, who is very opinionated, very anti-establishment, very hostile etc. Can occassionally, be humble and make some good points.

Even HE can be moved for a moment or two by some sincerity.

TO ME, that speaks volumes of how his rhetoric is just that... rhetoric.

How he truly doesn't hate religion as much as he hates what he THINKS about religion.

AND the other thing which struck me... is HOW much he went on and on about how the guy sincerely gave him a compliment and wasn't being fake.

TO ME, that is actually a bit sad. To ME, it says that Penn doesn't get much sincerity in his life. He is USE TO people being fake and insincere. After all, he works in Show business, he is an entertainer.

He is probably starved for TRUE honesty, truth, compassion, sincerity, and re-assurance.

I find it interesting that religions have to use coercive concepts like Hell to secure adherents. Perhaps the man in question was really a good man, but if someone truly believes that he will be rewarded or punished in the afterlife for his conduct and piety, I cannot take him seriously.

I am a Christian and I agree with what he is saying, to a point. He was talking about how this guy was very kind, wasn't defensive, but was still trying to reach out to him. Good for him. That's all I got out of it.