Essay: Penn Jillette, don't just stand there! Do something!

The atheist Penn Jillette watching global atheism burn. Paralyzed with fear, he is afraid to debate biblical Christianity which is exploding in its number of adherents worldwide. Please see: Debate challenge for Penn Jillette. Also, please see the video HERE.

Before reading this short essay and debate challenge, please first read Conservapedia's reply to atheist Penn Jillette or you will not understand the context of the events surrounding this essay and debate challenge.

Without any further ado here is my debate challenge to atheist Penn Jillette:

I challenge the atheist Penn Jillette to a written debate. The debate will be between Penn Jillette and two atheists of his choosing and myself and two Christians of my choosing. I prefer written debates as I believe they offer the audience the maximum amount of information to render a decision.

The subject of the debate will be: "Does God exist?". The content of the written debate will be offered to the public as public domain content.

Message to Penn Jillette

See also: Conservapedia's challenge to atheist Penn Jillette

If Penn Jillete decides to dodge this debate offer, Conservapedia is giving Mr. Jillette 150 days from 6/23/11 to publicly debate the toughest Bible believing Christian debate opponent he can find concerning the existence of God. By November 20, 2011, we will see if Penn Jillette believes he can defend atheism against biblical Christianity. And please Penn Jillette, try to be more logical than you were HERE.

Penn Jillette, don't just stand there! Do something!

In 2011, the American Spectator citing research published in the International Bulletin of Missionary Research reported that atheism is on the decline as a whole in terms of adherents.

Penn Jillette, atheism is in global decline in terms of its adherents. Show the world that you believe atheism is a intellectually respectable position by debating a Bible believer. Do you truly believe that atheism can do well under cross examination?

The American Spectator declared:

“

The report estimates about 80,000 new Christians every day, 79,000 new Muslims every day, and 300 fewer atheists every day. These atheists are presumably disproportionately represented in the West, while religion is thriving in the Global South, where charismatic Christianity is exploding."

”

In addition, Creation Ministries International's worldwide Question evolution! campaign certainly isn't going to be beneficial to global atheism.

Penn Jillette, when are you going to show that you believe that atheism is a respectable intellectual position through a debate? Don't just stand there Jillette! Do something! Atheism is rather sickly now in terms of its "growth". In fact, atheism is in global decline.

American atheism: Not a big success story

In 2008, the American Religious Indentification Survey (ARIS) reported 1.6% of Americans self-identified themselves as atheists.

Jillette, we both know that 1.6% of Americans being atheists is a mere squeak in American society. Are you afraid that after a well known atheist loses yet another debate that it will become half a squeak? Why haven't you mustered the courage to publicly debate a prominent Bible believing debater yet? The toughest debater who will agree to debate you. Is there a lack of Christian scholars and Christian apologists? There must be a reason. What is it? Surely, if you had a good case for atheism, you would be eager to debate and would want your case be publicly cross examined. Is that the problem? You don't believe you have a good case for atheism?

The rise of global Christianity: Over 2,000 years of Christian increase

• Faith and Conflict: The Global Rise of Christianity by Pew Research Center
• Christianity taking over planet?
• Is Islam Really the Second-Fastest Growing Religion?
• The stunning growth of Christianity in China
• The African apostles: How Christianity exploded in 20th-century Africa
• Global Media Outreach evangelism statistics - Internet evangelism statistics for Global Media Outreach
• Christian organizations join forces to train disabled for Internet evangelism
• 2000 YEARS OF CHRISTIAN INCREASE

Are you an atheist trying to stop the rapid rise of Christianity in the world?

Are you an atheist trying to stop the rapid rise of Christianity in the world? Please click HERE and HERE and HERE

Question for Penn Jillette

See also: Question for Penn Jillette and Atheist Population

Question for Penn Jillette: Mr. Jilette recently claimed that the atheist population in the United States is over 20% by some polls. Mr. Jillette, Conservapedia wishes to know what polls you are referring to. Conservapedia hopes you are not counting the non-religious as being atheists because just because someone doesn't attend church/synagogue/mosque regularly or "religion is not an important part of daily life" that doesn't mean they are an atheist (If you read our Atheism and obesity article you would know that).

Mr. Jillette, please respond to this essay which cites an authoritative 2008 survey which bolsters the view that atheism is but a squeak in American society. Specifically, in 2008, the American Religious Indentification Survey (ARIS) reported 1.6% of Americans self-identified themselves as atheists.

Penn Jillette's refusal to accept Conservapedia's debate offer

See also: Essay: Penn Jillette's refusal to accept Conservapedia's debate offer

On August 1, 2011 Penn Jillette released a contradictory video on his refusal to debate Conservapedia concerning the existence of God. Conservapedia will not link to the video as it contains profane language. A brief response to Jillette's video is given below.

First, Penn Jillette says he "can't really comment" on the debate offer and then proceeds to comment on the debate offer that he claims he did not read. Second, he then says as much as he would like to debate Conservapedia he claims he has an argument on why he will not Conservapedia, but then proceeds to say it's a "stupid argument" (Jillette also says the dispute he has with Conservapedia "matters"). Penn Jillette says he won't debate Conservapedia on the existence of God because he has friends who are Christians whom he loves/respects and he won't debate Conservapedia because he doesn't believe Conservapedia means what it says about the existence of God, but on the other hand we might but he needs to see more evidence of it.

Previously, Conservapedia said "if Jillette declines to debate Conservapedia we certainly strongly encourage him to seek out the strongest Bible believer opponent who is willing to publicly debate him concerning the existence of God". Of course, it appears unlikely Penn Jillette will "seek out the strongest Bible believer opponent who is willing to publicly debate him concerning the existence of God" given the utter weakness of the atheist position and his contradictory and poor response to Conservapedia's debate offer concerning the existence of God. As noted above, Conservapedia suggested that he hold such a debate by November 20, 2011 which he has yet to do so far (see: Conservapedia's challenge to atheist Penn Jillette).

In addition, Penn Jillette made a false claim about Conservapedia's Atheism and obesity article which he claims he did not read. Specifically, Jillette claimed Conservapedia said that he is "a stupid atheist" because he is fat which Conservapedia never claimed.

Penn Jillette, here is the evidence you claim you need to debate me

See also: Penn Jillette, here is the evidence you claim you need to debate me

I, User: Conservative, the issuer of the debate challenge, largely created Conservapedia's atheism article which is approximately 53 written pages long and has over 300 footnotes. In addition, I largely created Conservapedia's evolution article which is approximately 45 written pages long and has over 300 footnotes.

Now that we have that cleared up, let the written debate of "Does God exist?" begin and I am giving you until November 20, 2011 to fully prepare mind and body for the debate so you are debating at "full atheist power" (please see: Conservapedia's challenge to atheist Penn Jillette). Given the weakness of atheism, I strongly suspect at this point you will soon come up with another excuse on why you won't debate me (or remain silent). However, as I mentioned above, I don't believe whatever excuses you may offer are the real issue.

The written debate will be between Penn Jillette and two atheists of his choosing and myself and two Christians of my choosing. I prefer written debates as I believe they offer the audience the maximum amount of information to render a decision. Oral debates are often subject to the participants' memories and also do not allow additional research to be done on particular points. (Please see: Conservapedia's challenge to atheist Penn Jillette).

Debate challenge from Christian apologist Sye Ten Bruggencate

See also: Sye Ten Bruggencate's debate challenge to atheist Penn Jillette

The Christian apologist Sye Ten Bruggencate has challenged Penn Jillette to a debate and Jillette has not accepted his debate challenge.

The Christian apologist Ken Ammi in an article entitled Will atheist Penn Jillette debate Christian Sye Ten Bruggencate? wrote:

“

Sye Ten Bruggencate, of the website Proof That God Exists, has challenged Penn Jillette to a Christian versus atheist debate on God’s existence. Penn Jillette is not merely a Las Vegas legend, as an illusionist, but also adheres to (and proselytizes for) the positive affirmation of God’s non-existence sect of atheism having stated, “I know there’s no God,” for example. One would think that an illusionist who has made a name and a career intelligently designing shows that have dazzled audiences for decades would know that life, the universe and everything do not just happen. Yet, rebellion knows no boundaries and every atheist concocts consoling delusions—or, consoling illusions. You may recall Sye from a previous article, Atheism’s debategate: on the Sye Ten Bruggencate vs. Justin Schieber debate and you may be aware that on occasion Penn Jillette has some positive things to say about Christians (such as in Penn Jillette Lays it Down). However, just as often he uses compliments as an open door to challenge Christians, in a good way, yet the goal is always the same: open the door just enough to squeeze in and preach the pseudo-gospel of atheism. We will just to just wait and see how Penn Jillette responds, for now let us spread the word about this challenge.

”

Gallery of pictures with captions

Penn Jillette

Atheism and the internet

Atheism and the internet

See also

• Resources for leaving atheism and becoming a Christian
• Evidence for Christianity
• Question for Penn Jillette
• Atheism
• Atheism and Debate
• Creation scientists tend to win the creation vs. evolution debates
• Irreligion and superstition
• This year's best atheist debaters - Satire

External links

• Conservapedia challenges atheist Penn Jillette to debate - YouTube video
• Atheist Penn Jillete - new magic trick - turns himself into a chicken - YouTube video