HBO's Bill Maher Says Christians Have Neurological Disorder, Are Crazy

[Synnical]

Edited to delete link to the AFA. Criminey! I was citing the source of my information. I'm saddened that some DU'ers think that is bad thing.

(Cross posted in the Atheist/Agnostics Forum)


This is Maher's HBO e-mail address if you care to drop him a note.

[e-mail]

The total transcript from the show is here:

http://tinyurl.com/3zsyh

The relevant section is this:

SCARBOROUGH: Well, let`s talk about -- I always love a guy that can laugh at his own jokes.

(LAUGHTER)

SCARBOROUGH: So, anyway, let`s talk about something that Gary Wills wrote. And I think Maureen Dowd echoed with sentiment.

After the election when we found out that 22 percent of Americans, based on some exit polls, said morality was their top issue, Gary Wills said that any country with evangelicals that voted for George Bush who believe in the virgin birth more than they believe in evolution can`t be an enlightened nation.

And Gary Wills basically compared America to al Qaeda. That`s a little harsh, isn`t it?

MAHER: That is too harsh.

SCARBOROUGH: People of faith can step forward, get involved in the process, believe in Jesus, and still vote for George Bush without being an ignorant peasant, can`t they?

MAHER: Well, I think comparing them to al Qaeda is too harsh, but that`s because al Qaeda is a terrorist organization.

But do we have more in common -- and I am not the first one to say this. I have read this many times. We have more in common with the people, some of the nations who we are aligned against, when you look at beliefs in such things as, do you go to heaven, is there a devil, we have more in common with Turkey and Iran and Syria than we do with European nations and Canada and nations that, yes, I would consider more enlightened than us.

Yes, we are a nation that is unenlightened because of religion. I do believe that. I think that religion stops people from thinking. I think it justifies crazies. I think flying planes into a building was a faith- based initiative. I think religion is a neurological disorder. If you look at it logically, it`s something that was drilled into your head when you were a small child. It certainly was drilled into mine at that age. And you really can`t be responsible when you are a kid for what adults put into your head.

But when you become an adult, you can then have it drilled out. And you should.

SCARBOROUGH: So, you are saying that the millions and millions of Americans who go to church every week or go to synagogue...

(CROSSTALK)

MAHER: Have a neurological disorder, yes.

SCARBOROUGH: Have a neurological disorder. So I -- so, so...

MAHER: It`s something that happened to them when they were a child. They were told...

SCARBOROUGH: OK.

(CROSSTALK)

SCARBOROUGH: So, I believe in Jesus. I believe in heaven. I believe in hell. I believe in good.

MAHER: Right.

SCARBOROUGH: I believe in evil.

Tell me how that neurological -- and I am talking about myself. How does that neurological disorder impact me day in and day out? Because some people would argue it actually makes me healthier, makes me a better member of society, makes sure that I respect other people`s opinions.

MAHER: Are you kidding? Respect other people`s opinions?

SCARBOROUGH: Yes.

MAHER: Would we be having this debate about whether gay people can lead their lives just like any other people if it wasn`t for religion? Religion makes people not respect other people`s lives.

SCARBOROUGH: I mean, come on. I mean, you look at all of these states. You can look at Missouri. Like, they had a vote on a referendum on gay marriage. My gosh, what, 70 -- I think 70, 75 percent of the people in Missouri voted against gay marriage. That wasn`t because 75 percent of the people in Missouri are evangelicals.

What about the people that beat Matthew Shepherd to death in Wyoming? You think they were worshipping Jesus before they went out and beat him to death?

MAHER: Well, no, but why are you conflating those two things? It`s one thing to beat someone to death. That`s just a crime.

SCARBOROUGH: Because they`re gay. No, no, it was hatred of him because he was guy.

(CROSSTALK)

MAHER: I understand that.

But, first of all, I think the vote in Missouri and a lot of other states is because people are religious. They don`t have to be evangelical, but they`re religious. They believe in religion, which as -- I think it was Jesse Ventura who had that quote about religion is a crutch for weak- minded people who need strength in numbers.

SCARBOROUGH: Yes. I think Hitler also said that.

MAHER: No, not -- well, Jesse...

SCARBOROUGH: No. Hitler said something -- I remember when I heard Jesse Ventura saying that, I said, God, that sounds an awful lot like Adolf Hitler, doesn`t it?

MAHER: Well, you know, even a broken watch is right twice a day right.

SCARBOROUGH: OK.

(CROSSTALK)

SCARBOROUGH: So Hitler was right.

(LAUGHTER)

MAHER: The point is, well, even Ted Kaczynski was right about a couple of things. It doesn`t mean I agree that he should be blowing things up. Tim McVeigh had some good points. It doesn`t mean I agree with his method of putting those points across.

But when people say to me, you hate America, I don`t hate America. I love America. I am just embarrassed that it has been taken over by people like evangelicals, by people who do not believe in science and rationality. It is the 21st century. And I will tell you, my friend. The future does not belong to the evangelicals. The future does not belong to religion. And I know that...

SCARBOROUGH: I would actually -- I would argue actually just the opposite.

MAHER: No.

SCARBOROUGH: If you look at historical trends, you look what`s happened since the 1960s to right now, actually, America has become more evangelical.

MAHER: Yes, but it`s..

SCARBOROUGH: I mean, gosh, when you look at the Grammy Awards, and this guy gets out and he sings rap -- he raps to "Jesus Walks," the whole place goes crazy. A guy picks up three yards in a football game, he kneels. I would say evangelicals are on the ascendancy.

(CROSSTALK)

MAHER: That`s another religion why religion disgusts me, because it is arrogance parading as humility.

There is nothing humble about somebody getting up there and saying, thank you, God, for this award. What they are really saying is, thank you, God, for making me so wonderful and so talented. But, that aside, when you were a kid and they were telling you whatever you believe in religion, do you think if they had switched the fairy tales that the read to you in bed with the Bible, you would know the difference?

Do you think if it was the fairy tale about a man who lived inside of a whale and it was religion that Jack built a beanstalk today, you would know the difference? Why do you believe in one fairy tale and not the other? Just because adults told you it was true and they scared you into believing it, at pain of death, at pain of burning into hell.

(CROSSTALK)

MAHER: But if you ever were able to clear your...

SCARBOROUGH: I don`t believe in Jesus -- no, I don`t believe in Jesus because I think I am going to live with angels and harps. If you really think about it for a long time, actually, the concept of eternal life is more frightening than the concept of eternal death. I can`t even comprehend eternal life.

But I believe what I believe because of 41 years here on this Earth. And, again, I respect you not believing in God.

MAHER: But, Joe...

SCARBOROUGH: I don`t think that`s a neurological defect on your part.

MAHER: First of all, I never said I didn`t -- I never said I didn`t believe in God. I said I don`t believe in religion.

SCARBOROUGH: OK.

MAHER: Religion is...

SCARBOROUGH: Let`s say Jesus Christ.

(CROSSTALK)

MAHER: Excuse me. Religion is a bureaucracy between man and God. There`s a very big difference.

SCARBOROUGH: I can agree with you -- I agree with you about that. But I`m talking about...

MAHER: But, Joe, if you were born in Pakistan, you wouldn`t have been -- you wouldn`t be believing in Jesus Christ right now. You would be believing in Muhammad. So it`s completely and terribly arbitrary, isn`t it?

SCARBOROUGH: I wasn`t born in Pakistan, so I don`t know if that`s the case or not.

MAHER: But, if you had been, you wouldn`t be believing in Jesus Christ. You would have been told another fairy tale when you were a child and you would believe that.

SCARBOROUGH: Well, Bill, that`s your opinion.

Stick around. We will be right back with much more. I disagree.

You are watching SCARBOROUGH COUNTRY, where Jesus freaks like me hang out. We`ll be right back.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

1. Why are DU's electrons...

Being wasted on bullshit from Donald Wildmon?

What the HELL is going on around here these days?

[doodadem]

2. I just tried to email Bill Maher

and the email bounces, "rejected by server". Is there a correction?
thanks

[Synnical]

9. Supplied by the AFA

Cannot find another, at this time

[creeksneakers2]

3. Wingers love to feel persecuted

They go nuts for it. They report every slight against them. They get outraged. Then they hate. This will all be in the next set of justifications for some horrible deed by the Christian right.

Maher is entitled to his own religious opinion. That's the one thing you won't hear from the righties.

[Freedom_from_Chains]

15. You are kidding right?

Wingers love to feel persecuted They go nuts for it. They report every slight against them. They get outraged. Then they hate. This will all be in the next set of justifications for some horrible deed by the Christian right.

"That's the one thing you won't hear from the righties."

Evangelicals have one of the most exacerbated persecutor\persecution complexes known to exist. They see a Satan driven conspiracy against them, which is of course being carried out by liberals, around every corner.

It would be very reasonable to describe the condition they exhibit as pathological.

[jdj]

18. the word for what you are describing is "fetish".

I want to scream this from the rooftops.

Fetish, fetish, fetish.

It's a martyr fetish, a victimization fetish, a persecution fetish.

They want a box seat on the victim corner of the Karpman drama triangle, and you absolutely cannot do that without bad guys.

This is what people don't get, the bad guys fill a need, but it's not about them, it's about the people that have to have that bad guy because they HAVE TO FEEL like a victim 24/7. This is because they hate themselves so much that if they stop feeling victimized they might have to deal with their inordinate sense of shame about sexuality and neediness that their religion won't let them process like normal people.

[Cadence]

24. Well said. n/t

[Bluebear]

4. Why would you bring this anti-gay, rightwing AFA site here?

[saltpoint]

5. I'll email the respective networks in praise of Maher.

I like his free-wheeling brain. I also believe he's right that the future does not belong to evangelical religion.

Scarborough's a right-wing nutcase.

[Disturbed]

7. RW fundie nutcases are determined to make everyone believe.

the same crap that they do. and ever they you don't they want to make you and all others follow their agenda. There is the PROBLEM!

[saltpoint]

11. I think so too, and that's why I kinda like Maher.

I like Gore Vidal even better, though. He said fundamentalists are "inherently stupid, and what's worse, they breed like chiggers."

[Dhalgren]

48. You just have to love Gore Vidal! He is priceless!

[raggedcompany]

54. re: Gore Vidal said

here is the actual quote:

The marriage issue, however, is a great boon for homophobes because it lets them sidestep all the things that should be set right, from sodomy laws in various states to discrimination in the workplace. Also, marriage makes people think of God, who is so very important to our poor, bamboozled folks. The founders (and I) wanted God thrown out the window at Philadelphia, but the crazies breed like chiggers, and he keeps slithering back in.

source:
http://www.planetout.com/entertainment/books/vidal.html

[independentchristian]

44. Incorrect

"Whosoever will let him come"

If someone knocks on your door and tries to introduce you to Jesus, that's their duty as a Christian. It's your right to listen or not.

At least they aren't spreading their religion by the "sword," and don't dare bring up George W. Bush because I have said a million times that he is (1) a Moonie and (2) a fascist, not a "true believer," duh.

And no, most of the uninformed Christians that voted for him don't have a clue about his real connections and intentions.

[bogey18]

6. Scarborough is just plain nuts

takes a stab at trying to seem rational, but he isn't fooling me.

I don't always agree with Maher, but you have to love the guy's balls.

[kilgore65]

23. he's another fucking redneck asshole

...and there's millions of them like him down here in the South... too much to bear sometimes...

[oc2002]

62. it would be funny if Joe S. was reincarnated as a Palastinian. lol.

[slutticus]

8. "Why do you believe in one fairy tale and not the other?"

Beautiful words....

[cidliz2004]

10. I really love watching Bill Maher, but his opinion

on religion and marriage offend me. But hey, it is a free country (I think!) so he is entitled to his opinion.

[springhill]

30. His opinion on religion is right on........

as far as I am concerned. And, like Maher, I'm not talking about believing in God, I am talking about organized religion. I have been to many different denominations and have been totally turned off by the bigotry and hypocrisy.

And nothing turns me off more than someone who has to bring God up on every occasion to show just how religious they really are. Can't stand it.

[cidliz2004]

53. I know what you mean on organized religion

but, Bill Maher attacks the actual belief as well as the Bible. He seems to think that being a Christian is the equivalent to delusions.

Organized religion, for the most part, is "the devil's workshop" as far as I am concerned. I am a very private person with religion, I don't mind talking about it, I just don't think that using as a club to beat somebody over the head or coercing them or manipulating them is part of what Christianity is about.

Bill Maher seems to believe that there is A GOD, some kind of God, but he doesn't believe in things that you cannot see, touch, feel - He ostracizes Christians that do. I have a major problem with him on that.

So, I feel that Bill Maher is not right on with his views on religion, in fact he boarders on Atheism - or Agnostic. He ridicules what one cannot see, touch or feel and that is the point of Christianity - believing and having faith without concrete proof. Like I said in my earlier post he is entitled to his belief, I just so happen to be very uncomfortable with his ridicule of Christians as a whole.

[MrSlayer]

12. Maher is dead on as he is most of the time.

Substitute Christ for a totem pole and people think you are insane when in reality it's the same thing.

[LittleClarkie]

13. My emaili to him

Now wait a cotton pickin' minute there, boy

Beggin' yer pardon, kind sir, but as a Liberal Democrat from the Battleground State of Wisconsin, where we're still picking up the pieces by the way, I take exception to your contention that:

1. We should concede faith to the Republicans
2. That anyone who professes faith in a higher deity has something mentally wrong with them.

Gee, thanks fella.

Like old-school, fiscally responsible, anti-war, Kerry-voting Republicans who refuse to make way for the neocons in their party, I am not willing to conceed that Republicans are the sole owners of faith in America.

Here you go, actual photographic evidence that Democrats pray:


Yes, that's me.

Yes, I was praying.

I grant you, the answer turned out to be no.

Nevertheless, I and most of my liberal-leaning church (ELCA Lutheran) were cheering for the Dems this past election, and would take exception to your assertion that we should "conceed" religion or spirituality or faith to the Republicans.

I rather think that the answer to the question "What Would Jesus Do?" is that if he saw what the Republicans were doing in his name, he'd puke. A bit of a radical, that Jesus. Tended to care about the poor too, if the reports are correct. Wasn't into hate-mongering. Yessir, I think Jesus would be quite peeved.

So, if you don't mind, speak for yourself, sir, and not for the entire Democratic Party when you say what we should and should not concede. I'm not ready to do that.

[Maru Kitteh]

42. I agree with you completely

Republicans who say that a Democrat cannot truly have faith can stick it. Same goes for Democrats who are hostile towards faith. I don't have a problem with your lack of faith unless you try to push it off on me or lump me in with a bunch of Republican televangelist freaks or middle age crusaders.

[No Exit]

14. Hey, Joe The Apostle... what about that dead woman in your office?

[independentchristian]

16. Atheists have a neurological disorder

There I said it. Why? Because anyone can say anything.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion, so I guess that since Bill Maher said it it must be gospel.

[Synnical]

21. It's really simple - Define "god"

Provide an objective, universal definition of "god". Because if you can, I can then start a search for evidence of this thing called "god".

[independentchristian]

40. So you have to "see" something before you can "believe" in it?

I repeat.

Atheists have a neurological disorder.

There, I said it. Anyone can say anything they want to. Doesn't make it so.

It's not about what "you" think. Whether you agree or disagree doesn't prove or disprove didlysquat.

There are plenty of things in life that neither of us can define. Does that mean that they don't exist?

I repeat. You just don't "want" to believe, and that's what it's (1) all about, and (2) that's shortsighted.

If you can define the purpose of life and along with it define everything that happens in it and that you have ever encountered in life, then I will answer your question.

[cidliz2004]

55. I take that you are pretty much like me

I feel that I am strong spiritually, but I don't "belong" to an organized religion because I dont' trust most of them.

I believe in God, Jesus, The Holy Spirt and the Bible. Just because I cannot touch, see or hear something doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Some people, like Maher, need concrete proof. So in that thought process 100 years ago, there would never be a machine that could fly in the sky, how many other things that could not be seen or imagined 50, 100, 500 years ago are now evidenced and in plain sight in our existence today? Just because we cannot see, touch or hear it now doesn't mean that sometime in the future it won't be a integral part of our life - or afterlife.

That sounds like pretty much where you are coming from correct?

[Synnical]

59. I need evidence to support a belief

Otherwise, it's just simple, blind faith. I can find no evidence to support a belief in any deity.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

64. Compare and contrast the indignation levels

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=3176593#3179335

[Az]

17. Its a good thing Maher doesn't make his living as a Psychologist

You can be wrong and sane. A neurological disorder implies a break down of the brain. But religious belief has been with us for as long as history can record and it shows no sign of vanishing tomorrow.

Religious belief is fully compatibible with a sane and functional brain.

What determines belief is how we come to understand the world around us. Our beliefs are built up of layers of experience and lessons learned. How we come by these and how we interelate them later in life determines what ideas we are open to.

Meanwhile to those that do not have the same basis of beliefs these notions can seem irrational. The culmination of understanding that these people have is simply resistant to the beliefs of the theists.

The issue of religion has been around forever. Great minds in the past and present day continue to wrestle with it to this day.

[LittleClarkie]

19. I used to hang with an atheist group over on usenet

I was their token theist :D

Maher sounds like an atheist, hardcore. I assume he is. That we were nuts was a common opinion I encountered among that group.

[jdj]

20. problem is, anymore it's not about belief

religious folks don't go to church and pray nicely anymore.

They run national councils and start wars and plot to bring a final solution to all life on this planet.

Wanting to do that is a mental disorder. And I believe any religious person who stands idley by as a so-called "liberal xtian" while not fighting tooth and nail to get their religion back from people who absolutely are by definition insane psycopaths is just as guilty and culpable of whatever tragedy befalls us as the direct actors are.

[Maru Kitteh]

45. Uh, yes actually, many of us do

and here is a good example of how we ARE fighting against the maniacs.

http://www.interfaithalliance.org/site/apps/nl/newsletter2.asp?c=8dJIIWMCE&b=258308

[Blue_In_AK]

28. I do believe he was right though

that whatever religious belief one might end up with (if one does) is dependent upon where one is raised, and for Christians to say that anyone who isn't a Christian is going to hell is presumptuous in the extreme and not any more acceptable than Muslims calling us infidels and calling for our destruction. There may be something in our makeup as humans that draws us toward spirituality (and Bill has said that he believes in some higher power), but it's the religions that he has a problem with. I am in total agreement with him there.

[Az]

29. Of course

Belief in Jesus does not rise out of an individuals imagination wholely formed and compatible with other believers. Religions are learned. They are taught. Only those which are effective at spreading their ideas survive. Truth has little to do with their survival compared to the efficacy of their propogation techniques.

Richard Dawkins put it succintly when he said "...it is a telling fact that, the world over, the vast majority of children follow the religion of their parents rather than any of the other available religions."

[Blue_In_AK]

31. Right, which is why I still call myself a Methodist

even though I've barely been to church in years and years.

[immoderate]

32. Az, what about wiring?

Why do I like chocolate ice cream? It could have something to do with experience, but I think the basis of esthetic decisions, (I group religious and political preferences in there) is predisposed at birth. I say predisposed, because I don't think it is set. And I think it's subject to other influences.

--IMM

[Az]

34. Of course

In fact I used the icecream example in the thread concerning homosexuality. There are some things which wiring is going to have impact on. In fact there is some evidence that individuals that tend to be skeptical may be predisposed to question while believers may have a tendency to find patterns where none exist.

Still within the context of humanity as a whole belief and religions find a fit within our neurological pathways. This belief is not dependent on malfunctions or breakdowns of the normal condition of the brain. Rather they are tailored for it.

But as we are not all born with identitical brains there is going to be a variable nature to our pliability to some beliefs. Some may readily adhere to them while others can simply not make themself believe no matter how much they come to believe they are supposed to.

[immoderate]

35. Interesting middle ground you cite.

I wonder how many who think they are believers are believing they're supposed to. Many who don't believe express a sense of guilt that goes along with the rejection of traditional belief. There must be some who can't overcome it, and can't express their skepticism.

--IMM

[Az]

36. A thread in the religion forum

I started was an attempt to explore this particular factor. I asked what the difference between faith and belief were. It is my theory that belief is what our minds come to a position based on their experiences and learned ideas. But faith is a modified belief. It is more like a template and it is what some come to believe they are supposed to believe.

Crisis of faith occurrs when a persons beliefs do not mesh with their faith. To the outside world they may represent their faith. But inside they are struggling with their beliefs. It is a tremendous source of stress.

[immoderate]

37. I'm sure there are some I've encountered.

I worked for a woman who was a devout Christian (even sent her kids to Christian schools, the ultimate sacrifice) and I'm sure she was Christian because she was good. You usually hear it the other way around.

I say she was good because she was kind and charitable and honest, and went out of her way to do good deeds. I believe that in the model of goodness she used, the "template" required a spiritual commitment to being religious. She may have really believed, but I think of that as an overlay. Of course we must take into account the features of my model.

--IMM

[Lindacooks]

22. Two things come to mind as I read this.

The first is: religion is to God as a clock is to time.

and the second is: imaging where we would be in sciencee and medicine if the religious freaks of every age hadn't tried to stop scientific endeavors. From Galileo to scientists today, religion has tried to stop progress, because it's 'against's God's will' whatever the heck that means.

Ever wondered why math as a science is more advanced than biology or chemistry? It's because the religious fundies can't understand it, can't even begin to grasp the complexities of advanced mathematics, so they couldn't rail against it and try to block its progress.

[jdj]

25. truth is, we'd probably be sitting on God's front porch by now.

if they hadn't hemlocked all the innovators and geniuses.

Hows that for irony.

[bpilgrim]

26. 911 - faith based program

:wow:

Bill Maher is certainly no dummy and makes a LOT of excellent points.

thanks for sharing :toast:

peace

[u4ic]

27. I'm not a Christian

but I know a fair number of progressive Christians who do a lot of good. Not every Christian is a fundamentalist.

I wish he wouldn't throw the baby out with the bathwater.

[immoderate]

33. Would they be good if they weren't Christian?

Why hold on to bathwater?

--IMM

[DrGonzoLives]

56. What does that comment have to do with what he said?

He said there are plenty of good progressive Christians out there, then you twisted it, somehow, into some half-assed attack on atheists. Did you have a point or do you just want to be a victim?

[immoderate]

61. I twisted nothing. I don't attack atheists. LOL

You sure you mean me?

--IMM

[u4ic]

57. How can I answer a question like that?

and - does it matter? They are what they are.

Maybe we're not on the same page here.

I'm no fan of organized religion, having left it over 20 years ago, but I think it's a no-brainer to realize not all Christians are fundamentalists. Through my life I've known many, especially in the United Church, who are very progressive and working to end poverty, injustice, the degredation of the environment, and for equal rights of all citizens, including homosexuals (who have been church leaders for years), women, children, the disabled and other disadvantaged. I've even known a number of Catholics (progressive ones) who are working towards the same.

Perhaps the difference is that I'm Canadian, and the fundamentalist movement did catch on here. Sure, there are some, and most are in my province, but I don't see how shoving everyone labeled "Christian" under the same umbrella really does any good to the debate.

One can differentiate between the corruption at the higher levels, and people on the ground who may be working hard to find solutions. And many more are not.

So what does it matter if the above is done under the name of Jesus, or the ACLU, or any number of organizations? IF it is promoting tolerance, equality, etc?

btw...one can also notice he has no idea what a neurological illness is:

MAHER: Have a neurological disorder, yes.

SCARBOROUGH: Have a neurological disorder. So I -- so, so...

MAHER: It`s something that happened to them when they were a child. They were told ...

Being told or brainwashed is not an organic brain disease.

[Bluebear]

38. Synnical, regarding your "criminey"

I think you are confused and saddened that DUers think your mentioning the source is a 'bad thing'.

The way you presented the article/email is just republishing it here in its entirety. At the end it said "contact HBO and let them know what you think of Maher" etc.

It looked for all the world as though you supported the email since you didn't introduce it with "Look at what is being sent around" or something like that, OK? Cheers!

[Synnical]

60. Ok

Thanks for the clarification. :) I titled it the same as the AFA did, so as not to run amok over copyright laws/rules. And obviously, if you look at my avatar, you'd realize I could never support the AFA. But, that presumes that people recognize the avatar, which is not well known. I'll keep that in mind for future postings.

Also, I thought some people on DU might support what the AFA was saying, and I didn't want to present a piece with a pre-disposed point of view. Tried to be objective and just present the words written/spoken. :shrug:

Next time I'll keep in mind where I'm posting . . . :dunce:

Thanks again.

-Cindy in Fort Lauderdale

[fujiyama]

39. Bill Maher

does frustrate me at times and I don't think his overall knowledge is extremely deep (he strikes me as somewhat shallow but hey he's an entertainer), but I love hearing his views on religion and fundamentalists. It always makes me smile.

It's probably harsh to say those that believe in religion have a neurological disorder, but it sure is fair to say that Scarborough, Roberston, Dobson, Falwell, as well as bin Laden and Islamic fundy crowd sure does.

[applegrove]

50. Because he doesn't look at the details, he sees the forest for the

trees. Kind of like the 19th Century Intellectual. Someone with a private library who loves to discuss the world every day. His brilliance in how he understands how the world is put together ... not so much the specifics of any one topic. And who else is supposed to fight off these 19th century neocon assholes (Disraeli being their king) than their 19th Century nemesis, independant thinkier and mental gymnast!!

Interesting to note that the 'old' also start to think more general & in terms of the 'forest for the threes' than in details (where are my keys?).

That being said I too disagree with his views on neurological disorders explaining religion. The ability to have faith is a gift and results in some pretty fabulous lives. There is a downside like there is to everything: (For instance the neocons with their youthful attention to details & changing of assumptions do not see the whole picture - nor do they want to Rumsfield somehow didn't calculate 'insurgency' into his required numbers for an invasion of Iraq).

But then he doesn't claim to be a good democrat.

[porphyrian]

41. Who gives a shit? It's just Bill Maher.

The thing about Bill Maher is that I love him when I agree with him, and I hate him when I don't. Either way, though, I haven't watched the bastard in years. Don't empower him if you don't agree with him.

Personally, though, he may be on to something about Christians, though I would suggest it's probably just a form of neurosis. To accept Christianity without any supporting evidence that it's for real, or to be in enough denial to believe that there is evidence, someone would have to have some issue they need to work out in therapy. Or not, after all, not all Christians are the problem, and we're all neurotic in some way.

[realFedUp]

43. I just sent him an invitation to visit my church

:-)

[Maru Kitteh]

46. good one!

I think BM ended up the way he is because he had two parents, one R. Catholic and one Jewish and apparently the RCC parent won the coin toss on how he would be raised, or it was agreed upon before the kids came along. My guess is the tremendous GUILT over marrying outside of the church........... WAY outside the church led to BM being very zealously educated by the "guilty" parent.

[raysr]

47. I think he's

absolutely correct.

[MadHound]

49. Maher just may be right

For those who doubt me, go read "The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind" by Julian Jaynes. A fascinating book looking at the development of the human brain, and that development's effect on our society.

[Bridget Burke]

51. Maher is a comic.

He's right much of the time but has certain "issues."

[applegrove]

52. Though I do not agree with 'neurological disorder' it gets me thinking re:

American culture about America's own greatness. And perhaps that leaves more room for religious belief systems to bloom - if you have a mind that likes 'myths' and ‘the American Myth of Creation’ to begin with and if as an adult myth lauding & celebration is encouraged at all stages of youth & adulthood rather than frowned up. You are what you do. (I always remember the counting of the corporate donations in the amounts America was giving to Tsunami victims. Many of those corporations who gave money make most of their profits outside the USA - America is just where the head office is located. So to say that all of Coke's donations were American is a little unrealistic when you consider that Coke has been selling in Thailand for 100 years. American wealth and corporate headquartering make America - in this day and time - the centre of such things. But it geographic, administrative & transient in nature. A delusional amount of self-confidence is just that - and many freeper suffer from that.)

In Canada we laugh at ourselves and/or pull punches (cause to be wrong or unkind would be a terrible thing). So less of a culture ready for myths. Because you have to be spot on to be funny, or exacting in your boundaries to be nice and still get somewhere.

IMHO

[BigBearJohn]

58. I love his quote about religion being the bureacracy between man and God

Bill believes in God, he just doesn't believe in religions.
I agree with him. But just because I agree with him doesn't
make me right. These are all opinions. Some think theirs
are better than others. That's an opinion too. My great aunt
used to say something like, "opinions are just like your derriere --
everyone has one and 99.9% of them stink!"

[Jackpine Radical]

63. Scarborough has cnfused Hitler with Lenin:

"Religion is the opiate of the masses."

Lenin was actually saying that the proletariate used religion as a painkiller, that it helped them tolerate the misery of everyday life in Czarist Russia.