It bypassed the usual debating points, and I would suggest that both Christians and atheists could learn a whole lot from it. Well worth a few minutes of your time.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Christians, atheists: watch & learn
In this video Penn Jillette, an atheist, describes the time a Christian fan gave him a Bible at one of his shows. The encounter clearly made a big impression on the man, and I found it very moving.
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I friend of mine was talking this week about him dating a woman and that she was an atheist. He is a devout Catholic. I asked if she was a "cool atheist" like Penn. I know that there is a God and I know that there is life beyound this one but I find it hard to believe that there isn't a place in the afterlife for someone like Penn Jillette. May God keep him and his family safe. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for sharing your story too, stop by any time. God loves Penn JilIette with all his heart, and is desperate to spend eternity with him. All Penn has to do is say yes :) Either way, I have big respect for the man after seeing this video, and will be sending one up for him! Peace.
ReplyDeleteSee my review: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUZvdEhqhL8
ReplyDeleteCheers Sye, I checked it out. Gotta say I disagree with you!
ReplyDeleteIt's **possible** that this is all an elaborate ploy by Penn to get his message in front of Christians, and that the sincerity in the video is fake...but that is one hell of a performance if so. I really feel like he was touched by the encounter. I'm not dismissing your argument out of hand, I concede there is doubt, but I'm willing to give Penn the benefit of it.
What I get is a great story of a man (the fan) speaking the truth in love.
Of course Penn says 'there is no God' - he's a very vocal atheist. Personally, though, I'm relaxed about that. Same reason I'm relaxed about The God Delusion etc etc - because they're wrong.
But as you guys rightly point out, it's only by God's grace that we're any different. And I see masses of god's grace at work in the encounter described.
If this is a grand illusion, then (despite the fact that I'm not doubting my faith) in one sense I have to take my hat off to the man!
p.s. I also find the story very encouraging: it suggests possibilities for showing God's love through relationship, as well as apologetics. Not just debate, but conversation: it's something quite different. The Hitchens v Wilson debates for example: http://wintersnighttraveller.blogspot.com/2010/02/collision-coverage.html
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