Penn Jillette’s Bullshit Detector | Big Think
Penn Jillette’s Bullshit Detector
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The most important thing is to feel about things you feel about – should feel about – and think about things you should think about. You should not feel about the speed of light or evolution and you should not think about love. You should feel “I love you,” you should think about reality.
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PENN JILLETTE:
Penn Jillette is a cultural phenomenon as a solo personality and as half of the world-famous Emmy Award-winning magic duo Penn & Teller. In the mid-’80s, Penn & Teller went from playing the tiki lounges at various Ramada Inns to being one of the most popular, big-budget, death-defying, nightclub acts in the country. After killing it in movies and SNL appearances, the duo went on to have their own Showtime series where they attempted to debunk everything from male enhancement pills to UFO sightings. Penn has independently produced the stand up comedy tribute film, The Aristocrats, and hosts a successful podcast with Ace Broadcasting, Penn’s Sunday School. Penn & Teller: Fool Us, a current CW series, began its first season in London and now it has just begun its seventh, under the dazzling lights of Las Vegas.
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TRANSCRIPT:
You know, my bullshit detector works first of all…if there’s something you really want to believe, that’s what you should question the most. I don’t question bad news very much. I don’t question things that go against what I believe very much. But boy, the stuff that I really want to believe, I really question a lot.
Now, I was taught – I grew up as a Christian. I suppose at some level I wanted to believe someone was watching over me. But when I want to believe something, that’s when I want to question it the most. That’s when I have to be the most careful. And I feel a little bit disingenuous with that answer because I don’t think I any longer want to believe in God. My friend, who I miss very much, Hitch, Christopher Hitchens, said that wanting there to be a god was like wanting to live in North Korea, to give away all of your freedom. And for someone who loves freedom and loves people, I don’t think you should hope for God at all.
So I guess my detector on God is that whenever someone uses what they feel as evidence instead of what they think as evidence or what they can prove as evidence, I’m very, very skeptical. The most important thing is to feel about things you feel about – should feel about – and think about things you should think about. You should not feel about the speed of light or evolution and you should not think about love. You should feel “I love you,” you should think about reality. And when someone says they feel the universe was created by a God, that’s nonsense, just like saying, you know, “I’ve thought about it and maybe I should love you.” Don’t mix those two.
And a lot of people seem to think that – that feeling cheapens the science, that if you feel something it cheapens it. And there’s not enough said about how it cheapens the emotion. You know, if you’re spending your time feeling that the earth was created, instead of… by intelligent design, you should be spending your time feeling love, feeling compassion, feeling generosity and loyalty and all the stuff you should feel in your heart. Even anger, even disappointment. But that doesn’t change the world. You should think about the world and feel about your heart.
Directed / Produced by
Jonathan Fowler & Elizabeth Rodd
@SterlingMcfadyen-hn9do
February 26, 2026 at 7:36 am
We evolved from apes and got aids from monkeys?
@SJ-xy5md
February 26, 2026 at 7:36 am
I really hope you rethink the God position as God is absolutely the ultimate reality.
@edwardnygma5549
February 26, 2026 at 7:36 am
While I agree with almost everything in this video, just because you want something to be true, it doesn't necessarily mean it's untrue. His scepticism has become his bias. If you want something to be true (feeling), it could either be true or untrue (fact). God's existence was a poor example, because it's ambigious given life restrictions to obtaining evidence. It can't be proved or disproved, and lack of evidence is not proof, it is simply a lack of evidence. A vaccuum is not equal to nothingness.
Everything else from distinguishing feeling and thinking, and using evidence to substantiate beliefs about a subject matte are sound principles.
@charlesking3384
February 26, 2026 at 7:36 am
You’re an atheist so your bullshit detector needs recalibration
@si6195
February 26, 2026 at 7:36 am
You need one, but it's hard for those with Autism.
@tontsar91
February 26, 2026 at 7:36 am
Having a good bullshit detector is one of the best skills in life.
@hasanatseeker30
February 26, 2026 at 7:36 am
You are using your feelings to think there is no god. You have zero proof. Zero. We have tons of proof the Quran is facts and was revealed from Allah to the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him.
@kingech_B15
February 26, 2026 at 7:36 am
make this viral
@pbayer773
February 26, 2026 at 7:36 am
Huge mistake not to believe in god. Jesus christ is the only truth
@justinlmc1
February 26, 2026 at 7:36 am
This man intelligence and his level of realism has always fascinated me. He’s a good man.
@DRealPisMaster
February 26, 2026 at 7:36 am
Like the show Billions personal bull shit detector. Nice
@islandbuoy4
February 26, 2026 at 7:36 am
not surprised that somebody raised as a christian decided to become a magician … not ironic at all … that was the script from the start … what if?
christopher hitchens was at odds with his brother Peter over religion, that was their script to be played out … nothing new here, same ole story/s being played out for an eternity …
@atteala-lahti9936
February 26, 2026 at 7:36 am
Love with your heart, use your head for everything else…
@chanelborden6680
February 26, 2026 at 7:36 am
I love your sincere analytical mind. Free will is badass. I love free will.
@declanthomas4730
February 26, 2026 at 7:36 am
Whats with these guys anyway always interesting
@ihaveabigassdick4478
February 26, 2026 at 7:36 am
that make since
@haroldnaples
February 26, 2026 at 7:36 am
My bullshit detector goes into overdrive whenever Penn talks about libertarianism, because of how pungent or self-serving it is. If only he applied the anti-wishful thinking principle when he is contemplating the limits of personal freedom and the way that rewards are distributed in our society, the same way as when he's thinking about god and the order of the universe. I guess it's a little too close to home and the wallet.
@myothersoul1953
February 26, 2026 at 7:36 am
Question everything. When Penn Jillette says ".. you should should not think about love" you should question that assertion. You should think about love. If you love someone you should think about that relationship. If you love someone enough to make some commitment to them, verbally or legally, you should think about. Think carefully and try to be a little be dispassionate about it, not just all rainbows and sunshine. Don't get me wrong, passion is great in some cases. But it can also be dark and obsessive. Maybe it's worth the risk or maybe it's a lost cause, no one knows for sure but still you should think about it. And then make a decision.
@princeofcats6883
February 26, 2026 at 7:36 am
Lol he knows so much about the thing he believes doesnt exist
@childofgod1733
February 26, 2026 at 7:36 am
Your friend Christopher Hitchens analogy is flawed. Trying to compare faith and belief in God with North Korea is as far apart as you can get! You're a astonish anyway. Your belief in your illusions has caused you great delusions.
@inlight2024
February 26, 2026 at 7:36 am
to feel
@anabhousen7159
February 26, 2026 at 7:36 am
I was brought up in church too and the notion that there was someone always watching me really freaked me out. It gave me so much anxiety. As a child scared to bathe because some pedo God is always watching. I do think that's why I'm an athiest. I NEVER wanted to believe in it. I never got comfort from the thought of a God it was always anxiety. That I was never good enough and I was born a sinner. As soon as I made the complete decision that there was no God I felt so relieved.
@angelabell9863
February 26, 2026 at 7:36 am
So I totally agree with feel about things you should feel about and think about things you should think about, but what about when you feel or are in love with someone that your brain knows is bad for you? so you feel that you love them but you think that they're bad for you. until you feel that they're bad for you you're stuck! so sometimes should you not feel about things that you think?
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