What makes me libertarian is what makes me an atheist — I don’t know. If I don’t know, I don’t believe. I don’t know exactly how we got here, and I don’t think anyone else does, either. We have some of the pieces of the puzzle and we’ll get more, but I’m not going to use faith to fill in the gaps. I’m not going to believe things that TV hosts state without proof. I’ll wait for real evidence and then I’ll believe.
I’d say what makes me an agnostic is that I don’t know… atheist tends to mean you know there are no gods, but there are varying shades in the spectrum, even amongst the theists.
But, that’s not the thrust of Jillette’s point. This is:
It’s amazing to me how many people think that voting to have the government give poor people money is compassion. Helping poor and suffering people is compassion. Voting for our government to use guns to give money to help poor and suffering people is immoral self-righteous bullying laziness.
People need to be fed, medicated, educated, clothed, and sheltered, and if we’re compassionate we’ll help them, but you get no moral credit for forcing other people to do what you think is right. There is great joy in helping people, but no joy in doing it at gunpoint.
People try to argue that government isn’t really force. You believe that? Try not paying your taxes. (This is only a thought experiment — suggesting on CNN.com that someone not pay his or her taxes is probably a federal offense, and I’m a nut, but I’m not crazy.). When they come to get you for not paying your taxes, try not going to court. Guns will be drawn. Government is force — literally, not figuratively.
Stuff From Hsoi 
You know of all people, I love you like a brother. I hope one day you will have faith. I think faith is necessary for two reasons:
a) Because of our love for self, no matter what evidence there is we will reject it without faith to overcome the sin in our hearts. (Luke 16:19-31) “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.” A lot people died testifying to the events in the Gospels. For what gain? They declared what they saw. Nonetheless, it’s easy to discard their testimony.
b) Because God requires it in order to establish a true choice in the heart. Without faith there is no need to turn in your heart back to God. We can all cooperate and make the best choices to suit ourselves, but it doesn’t mean we really have any love for God. Faith proves what’s in the heart.
I would love it if my life weren’t so pathetic. Maybe I’d have a better testimony, like “See how great I am? God did this!” But I’m just another person struggling along. You know me well enough to at least see that I’m not just selling Bibles.
My firm belief is that faith comes from hearing and seeking. God makes a way for us to find him when we look for him with our whole heart.
Your life is not pathetic. You’re presently entrenched in a rough spot, but I’ve known you for so long that I know you, I know your life… and it’s not pathetic, just rough right now. You will emerge, and you will be stronger.
So frankly, that you can weather such a storm well… I think that’s some testimony right there. 🙂
You are very kind.
I’m just honest. 🙂
Theism and Gnosticism are describing two different things.
A Theist believes there is a god. An Atheist believes there is no god.
A Gnostic believes the existence of god is provable. An Agnostic believes that the existence of god is not provable.
It is entirely reasonable to be a Gnostic Theist “I believe god exists and can prove it. ”
Or an Agnostic Theist “I believe god exists but it could not be proven”.
Or a Gnostic Atheist “I believe there is no god and can prove it”.
Or an Agnostic Atheist “I believe there is no god but it could not be proven”.
Agnostic isn’t Atheist Lite. And you can be highly religious while being Agnostic. Indeed, some sects would argue that proof that god exists would eliminate the need for Faith. These sects are necessarily Agnostic.
This concludes one of my pet peeve rants. 🙂