Piers Morgan, Penn Jillette Debate Religion And Atheism

As part of Tuesday's episode of "Piers Morgan Tonight," magician and comedian Penn Jillette debated Morgan on the merits of atheism and religious belief. Jillette also contributed an essay on the topic to CNN.com in conjunction with the release of his new book, "God, No! Signs You May Already Be an Atheist and Other Magical Tales." The full interview airs tonight (8/16) at 9 p.m. EST on CNN.

WATCH:

Comments

[RyanBurke]

10:20 PM on 10/13/2011

Morgan says that you can't write a book telling people their wrong without any explanations. How is making up some far-fetched, magic-laced answers (like he and members of his religion do) any better than saying "I don't know?"

[RyanBurke]

10:17 PM on 10/13/2011

"You go to a celestial place that is wonderful"
-Piers Morgan

He claims that Atheists don't have answers, but his "answers" are ridiculous. Anybody can make up a story and pretend it's real, Atheists just choose not to.

[lifeinopera]

10:39 PM on 09/27/2011

...Actually you CAN write a book telling billions their wrong...because Penn did. See how that works? Piers, that was terrible arguing.

[sweetlilthing]

05:04 AM on 09/22/2011

I agree that Piers isn't a gifted host. Why can't CNN get someone like Terry Gross from NPR? I felt that Teller was clear and calm while Piers was clearly upset with Teller's lack of belief.

[GhostOfFDR]

07:29 PM on 08/29/2011

Piers Morgan is a |)|(K who never lets his guests say a damn thing. That's why his show won't last much longer.

[TheWM]

10:52 AM on 08/31/2011

I'd like to believe that, but, for example, Charlie Rose has hosted his own extremely successful interrupt-fest for most of the past 20 years.

[GhostOfFDR]

11:41 AM on 08/31/2011

You got me there. I guess it has become a TV "News" standard.

[trailfaz100]

05:22 AM on 09/06/2011

I have to disagree. I believe piers typically lets his guests speak there mind. i do see what you are saying about the interview with Penn. piers was irritated that Penn doesn't believe in fairy-tales.real and true world history is taught in universities and colleges all over the world.piers also appears to believe in war as a good answer to our overseas pursuits.i got that from when he won the apprentice he donated a large sum of money to the military.almost sounds like a right winger to me.i think he wants to be an American really bad.

[GrantTregellas]

03:14 PM on 08/29/2011

No side can ever win in these debates. People don't want their beliefs questioned.

[GhostOfFDR]

07:32 PM on 08/29/2011

I don't have a belief. I have a lack of beliefs.

[OnAgathasBehalf]

12:51 AM on 08/26/2011

I can't stand his smug face when Penn doesn't have an answer for what happens after death.

I'd like to start an "It's Okay Not To Know" campaign.

[GhostOfFDR]

07:31 PM on 08/29/2011

But Penn did have an answer, if you can hear it around Piers' incomprehensible babbling. The answer was nothing. We cease to exist. That's it. Piers can be as smug as he wants, but once he's dead, he's gone but for recordings of his shows that nobody will ever watch again.

[jp7843]

07:22 PM on 08/25/2011

Whatever respect I had for Piers Morgan was completely lost after watching this clip, what an idiot.

[notwaff]

10:28 PM on 08/21/2011

-----

In this clip, Penn Jillette, as much as I disagree with him, handled himself much more decency then his "Bullsh*t" cable show. Bravo Jilette.

But I suspect he subscribes to the religion of Skepticism which is not able to see the historicity of Jesus and the reliability of the Bible because Skepticism clouds the issue with speculation about inaccuracy and unreliability of the text.

-----

[Runey]

07:18 AM on 08/22/2011

and what about the fact that 'i don't know' IS THE EXACT same thing as 'something beyond our comprehension' ? what a spot on argument by Penn, and has just increased my respect for him and decreased it for Piers who merely seems to be pandering to the bible belt.

[notwaff]

02:04 AM on 08/24/2011

Piers blew it.

Instead of "I don't know," Jesus gives specific answers and invited people into understanding those answers. And Jesus was here in the flesh-and-blood, just like Penn, also passionate about his message - except Jesus had an authority Penn could never have

[bessielil]

07:30 PM on 08/27/2011

Using the word religion very loosely there, aren't you? Skepticism, humanism, capitalism, and various other isms are 'belief systems' but not religions, which, unless you are being totally metaphorical, implies some kind of deity, afterlife, impossible power, with lots and lots of made up rules.

There cannot be any such thing as 'the reliability of the Bible' even though literalists insist in the truth of that. Those that do, do not understand linguistics, history, geology, and allow for the possibility that scribes might make an ink blot error or mistake a word such as 'light' for 'horn' in a particular language.

[trailfaz100]

06:12 AM on 09/06/2011

you are a voice of reason. thanks for the post. it really is about linguistics,geology, real history. the misinterpretation of the bible runs rampant among the non-educated beyond high school. the bible is simply literature. thats all. nothing more.(find the historical money trail and you will see how the fear of god makes a select few very rich, i mean wealthy). i used to be a staunch catholic. went through all the sacraments i could and i felt like i had what the religious consider faith. what i learned as i became more mature and more educated is that it makes no sense whatsoever to believe in a omnipotent god made in mans image. made in mans image o and did i just say god is made in mans image the reason why god looks like man in all the classical old masters works is the artists knew god was made in mans image.

[Brian Buckler]

01:57 PM on 08/21/2011

says the guy whose favorite television shows are "theatre"

[Urfubar12]

01:36 PM on 08/21/2011

Can we all agree that none of has the answers to anything? We will all find out when our time comes. Live a great life!

[dapearlcaster2]

06:42 PM on 08/21/2011

I know He is coming soon!

[Runey]

07:18 AM on 08/22/2011

you're a bleater

[GhostOfFDR]

08:01 PM on 08/29/2011

I met a man 1,917 years ago that said the same thing.

[elblanc0]

12:50 PM on 08/21/2011

Piers' argument cracks me up.

If this were 500 BCE and they were having the same discussion in the Athens agora, Piers would be yelling, "Oh really? And where does the lightning come from, huh? From the clouds? That's ridiculous! Everyone knows Zeus throws it down to smite people he hates!

[Euphoria123]

02:09 PM on 08/21/2011

So true!

[BigRex]

09:46 AM on 08/21/2011

Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because if there be one he must approve of the homage of reason more than that of blindfolded fear.
-Thomas Jefferson, letter to Peter Carr, August 10, 1787

[EspritDeVoltaire]

05:57 PM on 08/21/2011

The phrase logos, often interpreted as "the word", also means "reason" in the original Greek.

The modern Americans, enamored of literalism, are actually MORE superstitious than the people who wrote the Bible.

[BigRex]

06:18 PM on 08/21/2011

Excellent point...too bad its lost on many.

[Steve Brungard]

08:38 AM on 08/21/2011

What Piers claims as an explanation is a myth which has no supporting evidence. Pretending to have an asnwer for an unknown is an all too common way to manipulate the behavior of others.

[Coach Bay]

10:03 PM on 08/20/2011

WOW! Pierce lost it. He displayed what's seen in so many places, religion divides people. "If you don't believe in my god, you are wrong." So must for religious tolerance and embracing diversity.

[dapearlcaster2]

05:59 PM on 08/21/2011

Welll our God is God sooo if you dont believe in our God you are wrong. There is only one supreme being and he aint playing lets make a deal. If you choose any other door but Jesus you get zonked! We dont embrace idol worship in any of its diverse forms...

[Runey]

07:20 AM on 08/22/2011

says a ridiculous book written by man.

[trailfaz100]

06:20 AM on 09/06/2011

are you kidding? you sound self righteous to the max and you have all the answers. next time i need to take a college course, i will just have you teach me as it seems you think you know everything.your so full of it , it's comin' out yer' ears.