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December 29th, 2011
05:48 PM ET
Bill Maher takes on Tim Tebow and feels the wrathBy Eric Marrapodi, CNN Belief Blog Co-Editor (CNN)– On Christmas Eve the Denver Broncos were getting destroyed by the Buffalo Bills* on the football field and comedian, liberal commentator, and religious provocateur Bill Maher couldn't help but tweet about it.
People quickly responded to Maher on Twitter and called him (in summary) a hell bound atheist piece of trash. Maher's social media jab was picked up by the media too and landed in newspapers, websites and TVs everywhere. Pundits and twitter users called for a boycott of Maher's HBO show Real Time, and threatened to cancel their HBO subscriptions.
The timing could not have been better for Maher. The new season of his show begins next month and the week between Christmas and New Years is a veritable wasteland for actual news. In a world where no publicity is bad publicity, Maher scored big. Maher has long skewered people of all faiths as part of his act. In 2008, Maher starred in "Religulous" a documentary that poked fun at any and all religions. For all the fury aimed at Maher for the Tebow crack, the long time atheist received comparatively little heat for his Twitter dig at Jesus the next day on Christmas.
It was insulting Tim Tebow, not Jesus Christ, that drew the ire of a nation. "[Tebow's] public image is built on goodness and virtue," Patton Dodd said. Dodd is the author of "The Tebow Mystique: The Faith and Fans of Football's Most Polarizing Player" and the managing editor of Patheos.com. "His particular expression of Christianity, or Christian witness, is built on acts of kindness to the poor and needy and to strangers. It's not just taking a knee on the field and thanking Jesus after the games. I think a lot of his fans know that." Dodd said fans likely felt defensive towards Tebow, but acknowledged an athlete so public about their faith could not viewed as untouchable. "I think the difference here is what Maher said was particularly crass and crude and I think it's seen as aimed more ... at Tebow's fan base than Tebow," he said. For those who said Maher crossed an unspoken line with the tweet, comedian Pete Dominick said no way. "Our job is to push the envelope. There is no line for us. We don't have a line. You can make a joke about my kids getting cancer as long as it's funny. It has to be funny. That's the only rule, that it's funny. We're supposed to be controversial we're supposed to be provocative, that's what our job entails." "He's begging to be made fun of," Dominick said. Dominick, who is also the host of Stand Up! with Pete Dominick on the POTUS Chanel on SirusXM, said Tebow's outspokeness about his faith makes him a prime target for comedians. "He goes out on TV and talks about his faith, he puts it on his eye black. We're going to choose to make fun of it. Always." "I think it's the wrong thing to get upset about. It's a tweet. It's a predictable tweet from a guy who says these kinds of things and who has an audience who love him for those kinds of things," Dodd said. For his part Tebow has not commented on Maher's tweet, keeping true to his formula of not engaging critics. Dodd said part of what makes Tebow such a great athlete is his ability to block out the noise and focus on the game of football. Requests for comment from Maher were not responded to by his publicist but Maher tweeted on Wednesday night:
There Maher goes after Tebow in far more than in the 140 characters Twitter allows per post. If Tebow and his Bronco teammates can win on Sunday they will make the playoffs. *An earlier version of this story incorrectly had the Detroit Lions as the Broncos opponent. We regret the error and apologize to Bills fans everywhere. They have suffered enough this season. soundoff (2,202 Responses)« Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 Next »
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The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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Nice!! I got a follower with more good poetry. Let's keep up da good work!! Boocat be lovin it.
Don't stop baby or you'll make me cry.
I iz one smart cookie! I call everyone a moron and an idiot. Just cuz I have a large IQ and be mensa, you iz all loozers. I be ready to challenge u all to a battle of witz. Let's get it on!! By the way, I like it in da cornhole!
Keep going!
Ah iz berry intimadated bah al ya smarties, an I gots nufin ta say, so ah stooop to da corn hole thing, cuz that's wat ah gots on mah brain all day. Ah am a gay geeneus.
Bill Maher's parents are Irish and Jewish and he was raised in the Catholic faith. He jokes that when he went to confession as a kid, he'd bring his lawyer into the confessional with him: "Bless me father for I have sinned... Let me introduce my attorney, Mr. Goldberg..."
This is not the first time his big mouth has gotten him into trouble.
He was said on the air that it took a lot more courage to fly planes into the World Trade Center on 9/11 than it does for American military officers to fire missiles at the enemy from a thousand miles away."
I believe he was fired for that comparison.
***He once said on the air...
This should be settled like men.
them in a boxing ring and see what happens.
My money would be on Tebow KO's Maher in one second.
Jose,
Oh by all means, lets settle this like apes, and who's got the most Testosterone.
Tebow would turn the other cheek, as required by his religion.
"We must leave violence to the less developed mammals"
Some character in a film said that. I can't remember who. Pretty sure it wasn't Clint Eastwood.
@Asklepios417: He turned the other cheek a bunch of times against Buffalo on Saturday.
I thought it was spread his cheeks, as according to his religion
I be a fruit and I be a freak. I luv to get pounded and I luv dem geeks! Every time I take a dong right in da hole, it makes me wanna smoke a big ol pole!!
Are you my evil twin or are you just another moron?
Thank you for your POETRY! Are you a girl or a boy? I love you!
Long dingy dong, a twelve inch KONG! No baby, I'm your FRIEND!
I think George just "came out" ! I always knew he was a closet case.
Oh thing, I've been out for years!
Now that Tebow character...he NEEDS to come out. Clearly.
Maher hasn't "long skewered people of all faiths as part of his act".......he never gives aethists and agnostics a hard time. Why are they off limits? They, too, have a "faith", its just not faith in a god. Maher used to be funny, now he is just as ideologically rigid as the people he makes fun of.
Saying Atheism is a faith is like saying not collecting stamps is a hobby.
Nonsense. Aethists have very definite beliefs about "why there is something rather than nothing," man's place in the universe, the purpose of life, ethics etc. that can't be "proved."
Calling atheism a religion, though, is like saying that Capitalism is just another type of Marxism.
You omitted to mention the founding article of faith is secular philosophy:
"There is a logical scientific explanation for the things that happen in the universe."
This statement (which cannot be proved) underlies all of science.
Just to be clear: I am not trashing aethists and agnostics. This is American, believe what you want to believe. I am just pointing out that Maher never makes fun of them so he is not an "equal opportunity skewerer:. Primarily, I believe, because he himself is agnostic. And there is nothing worse than someone who can't laugh at themselves.
Accepted age of the known universe~14 billion years
Accepted age of the earth ~4.55 billion years
Accepted age of first modern humans~200,000 years ago
Acceted age of Jesus~2,000 years ago
So God basically waited 99.99 of the universe existance to show itself? And this is the only planet that matters? And only the last 2,000 years matter? Nobody that lived before that was worthy? I can't accept that. So even if Jesus really existed and i don't care to debate that, i can't accept that he was the son of God or God incarnate. Why waste all that time? I guess this is why there are creationists. They know it makes no sense otherwise.
research definition of "straw man argument."
r"esearch definition of "straw man argument."
What part of that post was a strawman?
Actually if you examine the phrase "son of god incarnate", put ALL it's as'sumptions "on the table", and look at it linguistically, it turns out it has no meaning. You are as'suming it has any meaning. It is an ultimately meaningless string of words.
I watched Bill Maher's film "Religulous" but it isn't really very good.
Michael Moore does satire so much better than this.
It's got its moments. I enjoyed his visit to Jesusland, or whatever that place in Florida was called.
And the giant space penis was great.
The creationist museum was definately the dumbest thing I have ever seen. I thought it was an SNL skit or something, but no it's real.
I be a know-it-all and although I luv da gays, I just want to take a big ol jig-a-boo schlonger right in da poop chute! Let's get down and get bizzy!!
With your obession with feces, you definitely need therapy. And the fact that you think you're funny is more pathetic...
Hey derp. You iz dat fruit that be pumpin da gayboyz in da keister, huh. Saw you on dat blog of fairies that just want to pound each other in da pooper!!
Cute. Not terribly witth tho' Still, I'll go with Maher over a jock any day.
"[Tebow's] public image is built on goodness and virtue," Patton Dodd said.
Let's be clear; the culture of publicity seeking, unbounded wealth, and gladiatorialism is in no way compatible with goodness and virtue. This is a blatant hypocrisy ignored by the shallow, stupid media for profit's sake. If this is religion, I'd rather be a heel bound atheist.
Tebow is taking up space that used to be occupied by the Osmond's and the pre-crazy Brittany Spears. He's an oddity. Just wait til he gets caught in an embarrassing scandal.
He'll be out driving drunk or slapping a girlfriend soon enough, no worries.
I'm waiting for Tebow to do a Ted Haggard or Bishop Eddie Long. I wonder, he's always thanking god in the 4th quarter, but whose to blame for the first three?
More likely it will turn out he's gay. (Not that there's anything wrong with that) That's why his mom makes him pray all of the time, to make it go away.
Who the heck is Bill Maher?
bigger than god.. you caught in a delusion or something like that?
Who is Tim Tebow?
It would be interesting to see how many of those same people would react positively if the jab had been towards a Muslim.
Muslims are idiots just like you.
"Religulous"
Next.
If the atheists have their way we'd be using the Saudi Arabian model to suppress Christianity. Been to the Middle East? I have and I get along just fine with Muslims. In fact the overwhelming majority of Muslims feel a kindred spirit towards Christians and out faith, they see American social liberality and atheism as the cancer they call the Great Satan, not Jesus Christ.
@Peter: You said, "If the atheists have their way we'd be using the Saudi Arabian model to suppress Christianity."
No, I'd lift the fog of cognitive dissonance you're all living under. The rest would just take care of itself.
I'm a liberal atheist and have no problem with criticizing Muslims. When I think of Muhammad it reminds me of Joseph Smith, and how easily people are fooled by men claiming to have direct access to God's word. There, I put in a shot at the Mormons for free.
Hey Bill... every one of us shall give account of himself to God. REPENT!!!
...and today's 'Trying Too Hard' award goes to...
Not Exactly sure how Tebow thanking God is pushing his religion on somone else. Have people become that pc really? If people don't like Tebow then stop watching him, if people don't like Bill Mahr then don't watch. It seems both sides are being overly sensitive. Hmmmm.
you are right.. his god doesn't help starving kids but helps Tebow.. Too funny.
you can't really NOT watch him if you want to watch the Broncos, or whoever the Broncos are playing.
personally, I could care less how he spends his sundays when he's not playing football, I'm just tired of his faith controlling the narrative all the time....like it actually makes a difference.
Wonder if Maher has the b-s to make any blasphemous statements against Muslims? Maher is a coward hiding behind a microphone. If he were to state against any other religion ( mainly Muslim), they would kill him. Guy is irrelevant and a huiman piece of waste. HBO, wake up and ditch this dirtball.
"Religulous"
Next.
Dear moron, maybe you should watch his show before criticizing him. He skewers muslims regularly.
You've never seen his show. I can tell by your comment. You should talk about something you know something about or SHUT THE HELL UP!
Hollywood , Liberal media, mediocre actors and comedians insult Christians and Catholics because if they would do the same to Jews they will be blacklisted and without a job.
They celebrate perverts, drugguis, adulterers, and more, but a young man that has values? Of course not, if they could they would blacklisted like they have with actors that are Christians and Catholics.
Boycott their sponsors, that will shut them up.
Perverts? Like the pope, bishops and cardinals?
I doubt anyone could be as low as that group.
Come on,have you never heard a Jew,Muslim,Hindu....jokes on any media....please get real. I get tired of Christians saying they are so miss treated.
Marion, two things: Catholics are Christians (they were the First organized Christian group) you Protestants broke away, see Martin Luther. How do you know what his values and morals are? Just because someone may go through the motions of believing does not make him virtuous.
That's bull****. There are alot of comedians that make fun of Jews... Jerry Seinfeld and Lewis Black and Jon Stewart come to mind and they are all Jewish. You're just another christian with a persecution complex. GET OVER IT!
Ooooh, here's a test we can use! Let's see whose career ends first: Maher's or Tebow's!
Maher is a washed comedian, never well know, a wha na be
@Marion: And Tebow is Ryan Leaf with a better press secretary.
You forgot to say "next". I guess that's supposed to be cool or something.
@Befuddled: No, it has nothing to do with being "cool." When I say "Next," I mean, "Where's the next comment that says Maher doesn't pick on (insert religion here) as much as Christianity."
To which I respond:
"Religulous"
Next.
Maher's had a career for almost 30 years which is longer than Tebow has been alive.
Teaching children god is real is teaching your child it's OK to lie. Proof of religions deceit.
Just too bad they just don't let kids be kids without the brainwashing.
We need more like Bill Mahr, pay attention to reality.
Nice world you wish on your children. a bunch of sarcastic hateful egotists that make their living cutting down others. Yeah, I cannot wait for those children to grow up and change my sheets when I am in a nursing home at 80.
@fred: Oh, I'm sorry. We sarcastic hateful egotists plan on getting rid of nursing homes in the not too distant future. I'm afraid you'll have no sheets to change.
Ouch, that will cut back on the visitors I was expecting.
Fred, it's pretty obvious they're miserable little trolls. I use to think that if people didn't think like me, there was something wrong with them......but then I grew up. Peace to you. 🙂
Befuddled
Welcome back ! and thanks for keeping the peace.
Yeah...Befuddled really grew up. The evidence of that is now he calls people "miserable little trolls."
fred
And religious folks don't cut down people like gays and liberals? Hypocritical much?
All the hateful, intolerant, ethnic slanted and judgemental statements coming from people who "believe and claim" themselves followers of Jesus Christ........ Alignment with the GOP and corporate America's version of organized religion has obviously perverted the true message and lessons Jesus set forth in the bible. Hate, intolerance, selfishness and greed were not part of his ideology/teachings. Dump organized religion but keep/read your bible. Practice what "he" preached, otherwise you are not serving him but instead are serving corrupt men with white collars.....
Just be good to and respectful of other people. You don't need a whole book for that. It really is not complicated folks. Geez!
Problem is that the Bible was compiled by organized religion and was intended to support organized religion. How do you see it helping people shed organized religion in any other than the atheist way?