Jillette's Arguments Against The Existence Of God

Penn Jillette is a staunch atheist, or as he puts it “I am beyond atheism”. He does not believe in God, and even thinks of existence as a more positive experience without the existence or idea of a God. He believes that God does not exist and a world without God is better off in the long run. Jillette has many arguments opposing the existence of God. Mr. Jillette begins his argument opposing the existence of God by giving a definition of atheism, which he defines as “not believing in God,” or more specifically, the lack of positive belief that there exists such a being as God. His reasoning for this definition is the claim that one cannot prove a negative. That is, one cannot prove the non-existence of a thing. He gives the example of an elephant hiding in the trunk of someone’s car, claiming that a person …show more content…
Knowing the implications of what he claims, Jillette goes to say that he is “beyond atheism.” That is he holds the positive belief that there is no God. Jillette then begins explaining practical experienced based reasons for holding such a position. Though he doesn’t believe in God he can still have joy, be moral, have happiness and have the love that comes from his family. Jillette claims that this is enough for him; he is satisfied with what he has on earth to the point that he does not need there to be a heaven. He is fine with his one life, and thinks of the idea of asking a God for more then what he already has as “rude.” He goes further to say that the absence of God prevents him from being able to be forgiven except by “kindness and faulty memories.” He says this motivates him to be a better person, and does not allow him to carelessly carry himself around knowing that God will just forgive him of any mistakes he makes anyways. Jillette then presents