With some understandable reservation, I have always liked Penn Jillette. Intelligence sizzles off of him the way I imagine it did with John Quincy Adams. He is articulate, urbane, insightful, mischievous and acerbically funny, and he manages to be all of those things without going into the condescension, dismissiveness and arrogance that some (think: Bill Maher) latch onto in college and extend into a sort of perpetually adolescent sneer-and-kneejerk.
He is also, clearly, a guy who thinks – you cannot come up with an act like Penn & Teller with a closed mind – and, perhaps because his schtick is all about illusion and unreality, one gets the impression that Penn Jillette does work to keep the world around him, and himself, “real” by his own lights.
So it is interesting, and moving, to watch this gifted man struggle to bring words and context to something that surprised him – to keep things as “real” as he can, while engaged in mild (but also real) wonder and awe.
I like this video because it is a rare thing to see any man or woman expose themselves in this way – in a way that says, “I had a wow-experience and I am not afraid to tell you about it, even though half of you may say I’m a sentimental chump and the other half of you will say I’m hell-bound chum.” I like it because even though he resolutely insists that he’s still a good atheist, he is not too proud to say, he was moved by a “good man” who believes very differently. I like it because he is not afraid of a fight, or to show us a moment where his intellect and his heart are engaged in a bit of a tussle.
That’s courageous. It’s rare. Left or right, believer or atheist, it’s rare, and so I admire it.
There is a message to Christians, here; two actually. The first is passive: make note of the fact that it was a gentle Christian who was willing to accept Jillette where he was, as he was, with openness and a positive mien, who was able to touch him. Aggressiveness and negativity won’t get you there, which is why Christ eschewed it.
The second message is as far from passive as you can get, and it comes from Jillette himself; “How much do you have to hate somebody to believe that everlasting life is possible, and not tell them that?”
Think about it. How many times have you not engaged someone – and not exclusively for the purpose of proselytizing, but on any level – because you’ve simply assumed they are ‘not the sort’ to be receptive to you, or they are ‘one of them’ – the avowed secularists? Is that a sort of passive, impersonal “hate?” When you’ve passed them by, have you stopped to think that everything a Christian says or does, how a Christian comports himself or herself, minute-by-minute, gives endless witness, and so only kindliness will do?
I know I’ve failed in that. Often. Too often.
There is a saying attributed to St. Francis of Assisi: Preach the gospel; if necessary, use words.
Penn Jillette is a whiz with words. And this atheist, when he finally found his words, summed things up pretty succinctly: “How much do you have to hate somebody to believe that everlasting life is possible, and not tell them that?”
The video clip was posted December 8 – the Feast of the Immaculate Conception – and Jillette seemed like he wasted no time in making it. What an Advent!
Penn Jillette said the most disgusting things about Mother Teresa. His tirades were condescending, dismissive and arrogant, as well as extremely vulgar. While I must pray that he finds his way to salvation, I’m at a loss as to why you’ve “always liked him” (as opposed to loving him,as you must) in light of this reprehensible history of being anything but “polite and sane” in the expression of his disagreements with believers. This clip does nothing to redeem him. In fact, his intelligence condemns his behavior, because he’s smart enough to know better. Unless he’s changed radically in a very short period of time, he comes off to me sounding like a hypocrite.
[I'd forgotten the Mother Theresa stuff. Yeah, that was pretty adolescent. I think at the time I thought it exposed a lack of understanding on Jillette's part. Clearly, he is coming to some understanding, however vague and mild. Let us encourage that, shall we? Let's be Christlike instead of caught up in our human judgments. Don't you think that would be a good, and productive, idea? And change, "radically in a short period of time" is sort of the stuff of our religion, isn't it? Miracles and stuff? - Admin]
He really emphasized the adjective ‘sane’ a few times. What? Are most Christians appearing to be insane?
I think these smarty-pants atheists [Penn Jilette and also Christopher Hitchens] are going to convert in a big way through people who love them dearly and love them well [which almost always includes great sacrifice].
What a good reminder for us to renew our baptismal call and go out and make believers of all nations.
[I think it is significant that many non-believers look at Christians and see "crazy." We should perhaps ask ourselves what we put forth, sometimes - or "how" we put things forth - that contributes to that concept. Admin]
Yeah, God forbid any of us should “judgmental.” You’re obviously right, he’s definitely headed for conversion. Your powers of perception are, as usual, awe-inspiring. He’s definitely coming to some understanding. How could any of us possibly dispute that, without being less Christian than you, Lizzie? Thanks for the lesson in our shared faith.
[Well, that's not what I said, and you know it. But that's a really great example of generous Christianity you've thrown out there, Kevin. Good job. I recall once before you getting obnoxious here and then writing to tell me you were just trying to "get things going." Funnily enough, I'm in no mood for that tonight. Don't push me. Admin]
“What? Are most Christians appearing to be insane?”
Well, think about it this way. Christianity in and of itself is supposed to sound and feel “insane” to the world! The world hates us because what we believe is “insane” to them! This “love thine enemy”, “turn the other cheek” stuff?!? Who wants to do that in the “real” world?
But remember the words of Paul, when he said “God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise.” We’re supposed to be fools in the world, for Heaven’s gain, “so that no flesh ever glory in His Presence.”
But again, the same Paul said that God gave us a “sound mind.” It is with our witness that people who are eventually called begin to see something that may not be “insane” after all…
Kevin… Your ill will is showing… Cover it up!
Do you remember the chant of the angels? You know, “Peace on Earth, good will toward men”… Hello?!?
Who knows if that guy finds The Truth now, a week from now, or years from now? And yet, you’re not even willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, let alone forgive him, for having said those things about Mother Teresa!
C’mon! You’re so quick to pass the skewers through his big trunk, but not quick enough to think if God has some purpose for his life that would please Him. Many Christians were not quite charitable to Saul of Tarsus, either: he had sent their own to jail, persecuted them, and even witnessed the execution of one. And look how he turned out!
God didn’t dismiss Saul of Tarsus. So, don’t dismiss this guy here.
Boy, could you see the struggle going on in his heart. It is a powerful thing to have the heart battle the mind, when the pride of man makes it seem “insane”. I was encouraged…yet, only the Holy Spirit can change a heart like that.
“Boy, could you see the struggle going on in his heart.”
Yep.
“[I]t is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.” – Jesus, to Saul of Tarsus, on the road to Damascus.
What struck me was how normally fluent Penn was fumbling for the words – you could see how much this small interaction moved him. Really gives us a lot to think about in terms of how we interact with those around us every day.
newton, I’ll give your pious, sanctimonious “advice” the consideration it merits.
BTW, Kevin: Penn, like just about all of us, has some work to do on his side of things (and he probably will, if he gives himself that chance), but you better look in the mirror. There are a few things too obvious to ignore on your side. But it’s up to you to figure them out.
Oh my, newton, how judgmental of you!
The thing I admire most about you, newton, is that you not only don’y get it, you don’t get it that you don’t get it. Please keep up the good work of telling others how they need to look in the mirror, though. It amuses those of us who appreciate irony.
[Kevin, I think you'll agree that God is not done working on any of us, and that none of us are perfect, save Christ. A Christian can watch that videotape and then choose how to receive it. Receive it as a man who has been moved by the gentle example of a Christian, or receive it as a cynic. Which choice gives glory to God and recognizes one's own shortcomings? You're incredibly antagonistic, and I'm still in no mood for it. - Admin]
Reminds me of “The Hound of Heaven”
From those strong Feet that followed, followed after.
But with unhurrying chase,
And unperturbèd pace,
Deliberate speed, majestic instancy,
They beat–and a Voice beat
More instant than the Feet–
I have always admired this man’s mind. He’s absolutely correct; this is more important than saving someone from an oncoming truck or whatever; if you believe someone’s soul is in peril, you’ve an obligation to tell them. I have always felt bad for people I know who don’t feel God near to them; but I haven’t given much thought to people I DON’T know who are in that position. I have been remiss; I have not prayed for them. I find myself feeling hopeful that maybe the fella who gave him the pocket psalms may have let him feel a little of that divine spirit in his life.
How exactly do you threaten Penn with hellfire, anyway? The man lives in Vegas year-round.