Atheist Penn Jillette on proselytization

LordShadowfire · 2023-10-05T00:05:42-04:00

Beliefs - Atheist Penn Jillette on proselytization (Quote) Think about that. This is coming from someone... (52 replies).

I’ve always said that I don’t respect people who don’t proselytize. I don’t respect that at all. If you believe that there’s a heaven and a hell, and people could be going to hell or not getting eternal life, and you think that it’s not really worth telling them this because it would make it socially awkward—and atheists who think people shouldn’t proselytize and who say just leave me along and keep your religion to yourself—how much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How much do you have to hate somebody to believe everlasting life is possible and not tell them that?

I mean, if I believed, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that a truck was coming at you, and you didn’t believe that truck was bearing down on you, there is a certain point where I tackle you. And this is more important than that.

Think about that. This is coming from someone who has repeatedly professed an absolute lack of belief in any gods or afterlife. And even he says that if you're a Christian or a Muslim, and you're not actively trying to convince people that heaven and hell are real, you are (at least in your own mind) deliberately and willfully condemning people to hell.

basilfawlty89 · 36-40, M

That might apply to Abrahamic religions, but isn't necessarily the case with Eastern religions. We don't proselytise as we believe there is no eternal damnation and many paths to God.

LordShadowfire · 46-50, M

@basilfawlty89 Well, exactly. And that's kind of where I am in my own beliefs. I'm fully convinced it doesn't matter what you do, and that people who don't believe in an afterlife will be pleasantly surprised to find they were wrong. But I'm saying if you're a Christian and you're not trying to convert people, you must really hate them.