Interviews · 15 May 2014
Penn & Teller On atheism
Penn & Teller interviewed by Kevin Durham, 15 May 2014. 2m 27s on tape.
In this Penn and Teller interview Penn & Teller explain why now is a great time to be an atheist and his opinion on gay rights. If you liked this Penn & Teller interview then please leave us a comment in the comment box below. If you didn't like this Penn & Teller interview then we'd still love to get your feedback. Penn Jillette and Teller, better known as Penn and Teller, are a comedy magic duo that has been entertaining audiences for over 40 years. In addition to their impressive career in the world of magic, they have also been vocal advocates for atheism and skepticism. Over the last 30 years, they have been a major influence on the movement towards atheism and have inspired many to question their religious beliefs. This report will examine how Penn and Teller have influenced atheism in the last 30 years.
What's on the tape
A transcript, made by machine from the audio and tidied up. It gets names and the odd word wrong, so treat it as a way to find the bit you want rather than as a quotation. Every timestamp jumps to that moment in the video.
0:01 Atheist uh it's a good time to be atheist I mean a theist is growing very very quickly. You know I'm not as familiar you know that's that's Richard Dawkins territory over here I'm more familiar with the US but if you were to call. Atheism a religion which you shouldn't if you were to call it that not belief for religion it's the fastest growing religion in American history it's. It's coming along very very quickly and that's not just the reason it's a good reason to be an atheist but even though there's still a lot. Of bad stuff that happens to atheism atheists. We're being treated pretty well being treated pretty well you know there's always the nightmare stories but the u.s. especially I can't speak much dangling but the US.
0:56 Has made the most remarkable changes on dealing with with people who were real Outsiders even ten years ago the strides you made on gay rights and atheist. Rights are unbelievable I think we're seeing that in the in the internet and just people are people are changing their minds and growing like we've never seen. Before I mean we're really living at a time that I mean if you talk to even your most optimistic gay rights people in 95. Would not have predicted gay marriage being within 40 years your penis ant Obama or the government or well sure the Obama Obama was against it because Obama. Bibbity is coming bringing you know coming up behind on this it's certainly not the government I think it's actually people just learning and respecting and growing and a lot of that came.
1:53 From brave brave gay people who just said yes I'm gay and there you go and and deal with it and having to deal with sons. And daughters parents and neighbors and co-workers all that way they were see the same thing with atheists no it's very easy to paint someone as pure. Evil until they turn out to be in the desc nest again yeah and you going bowling with them then the pure evil thing kind of has to go away.
