DiscussMormonism.com

Normally, I do not watch the Glen Beck show, but I was on the treadmill last night and Beck was interviewing Penn Jillete (from the Penn and Teller show/act). Anyway, it was an interesting interview with Penn showing uncanny optimism for the future of our country and world and Beck barely able to keep in his fearful, pessimistic "how can you sleep at night" attitude about the whole country going in up flames any moment to himself. Interesting fact is that Penn is a dedicated atheist while Beck is a Mormon convert.

Now I know almost nothing about either person, but I found Penn's ideas about freedom, the internet, and the progress of man interesting. It was almost suprising to find out he was an atheist. I'm not sure why. I guess it was just a hold over from my black/white, atheist-bad/zealot-good TBM days.

But where it got weird from me, is that Penn will not have any religious people in his home. The whole interview was cordial and non-threatening from both parties. But in a joking, semi-serious attitude, Beck wanted a straight yes or no from Penn about whether he would be allowed to enter his home, seeing as how he is a religous person (which he never really got by the way). Penn tried to compare the idea with pornography and alcohol. If those are things you deem dangerous or unacceptable, you have the freedom to not allow them in your home. Apparently, a religous person is such a thing for Penn. Regardless of whether you are actually talking about religion or not, just your presence is enough for him. Now, i wholly support the right of everybody to protect and control their home however they want (within legal guidlines of course). So he doesn't want anyone who believes in God in his house, so be it. It just seemed really weird and sort of crazy. Maybe he is just a hollywood wacko, but I can't imagine things like this help the tolerance between the two sides.

So, do any of our resident atheists believe along these same lines? I wouldn't think so by the posts I've read, but I guess you never know.

I do not let anybody without blue eyes, blonde hair and white skin into my home. Anything else is an unfortunate side effect of human evolution that should be erased from the history books and memories of all.

So he doesn't want anyone who believes in God in his house, so be it. It just seemed really weird and sort of crazy.

Its not crazy at all. This is just what is normally known as bigotry.

What do you call it when TBMs won't let "anti-Mormon" books into their homes? Is that bigotry too?

Coggins7 wrote:

So he doesn't want anyone who believes in God in his house, so be it. It just seemed really weird and sort of crazy.

Its not crazy at all. This is just what is normally known as bigotry.

Someone needs a fresh cup of shut the hell up.

I must be a bigot. I won't let anyone in my house if they are going to talk about religion. I want my home to remain a religion free zone. So I am alot like Penn.

Sethbag wrote:What do you call it when TBMs won't let "anti-Mormon" books into their homes? Is that bigotry too?

I don't think anyone could claim not allowing a certain type of book into their home as a form of bigotry.

<---Had dinner with an anti-Mormon book just last night.

Mercury wrote:

Coggins7 wrote:

So he doesn't want anyone who believes in God in his house, so be it. It just seemed really weird and sort of crazy.

Its not crazy at all. This is just what is normally known as bigotry.

Someone needs a fresh cup of shut the hell up.

LMAO!!

odd comment though from Penn.. If I had that additude I would not have much of my family in my home.. So no, I would not agree ..

Well.. I mean, they're allowed in my home.... but I usually try to shuck them off and hope they won't return. :(

I met this lady I really, really liked a lot and she started spouting off scripture to me one night when we're having girl talk -- and well, needless to say I avoid her like the plague now. It just gives me the heebie jeebies and I don't know what the hell to say to them. It's uncomfortable for me. If they don't talk about it too much, I'm okey dokey with them -- otherwise it makes me a wee bit uncomfortable.

It's a bit different on the internet and I don't mind finding out about religion via this medium -- just in person it's not a pleasant experience for me.

Penn lives here in Las Vegas, out on the edge of town towards Pahrump. His house resembles a prison complex from the outside. He has a sort of sex dungeon attached to his bedroom, and is known to be indifferent towards sexual parters, as in man, woman, animal, plant, doesent matter.

Hes obviously very quick witted and intelligent, but his morals leave much to be desired. He almost lost his contract with the Rio Hotel and Casino, where he and his homosexual partner Teller have their show, when he decided to add to his act a crucifixion re-enactment. Needless to say those that payed to see the show complained to the hotel management.