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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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As usual, my fellow atheists turn out to be their own worst enemy, unable to produce anything beyond scorn, antagonism, and the sort of insufferably smug self-satisfaction that repels people who might otherwise be sympathetic to their arguments. In that respect, so many atheists are much like the devoutly religious whom they treat with such condescending superiority.
People may respect and even like someone with whom they disagree vehemently, but nobody likes a jerk; and for all his intellectual pretensions, that's all Maher really amounts to.
Really, Chesterton had Maher's sort pegged with devastating accuracy almost a century ago:
"...But that marks their mood about the whole religious tradition they are in a state of reaction against it. It is well with the boy when he lives on his father's land; and well with him again when he is far enough from it to look back on it and see it as a whole. But these people have got into an intermediate state, have fallen into an intervening valley from which they can see neither the heights beyond them nor the heights behind. They cannot get out of the penumbra of Christian controversy. They cannot be Christians and they can not leave off being Anti-Christians. Their whole atmosphere is the atmosphere of a reaction: sulks, perversity, petty criticism. They still live in the shadow of the faith and have lost the light of the faith.”
I thought it was funny, and I don't understand what all the hubbub is about...bub.
Nothing says hate like a good religious mob. I guess no one cares that Jesus said turn the other cheek?
And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
REV 17:4.5
and how much of a mystery she was till the new world was found,false sense of freedoms instilled into mind, the youngest and only superpower left in existance,guiding all quarters of the world into her ways ...... think about it thats all im saying
Mirosal , You should put aside your judgement and pick up the holy bible and just give it a try and see how it makes you feel!! If you are as educated as you say, you might understand a little.
Isn't it a judgement to imply in your post that he will only understand if he is as educated as he says he is?
Like God would care about the outcome of a stupid football game. Tebow is just a showboater.
Keep religion in your heart and your penis in your pants. Good advice to all moral christians.
Yeah, and if only those in power within the church did so. Many do not.
Personally, I keep my heart in my pants and my religion in my penis.
I already exercised my precious "First Amendment" rights and voted with my feet. I wrote a nice long e-mail to HBO for sponsoring Maher's venemous trash spewing program and then called Direct TV to cancel HBO on my account. I recommend that others who feel the same do the same.
How dare HBO, or any network/cable channel, air something that might upset someone. I'm sure your cancellation will hit them in the pocketbook and all channels will decide to never again air anything potentially controversial again, like Sesame Street. Oh wait, there's an inter-racial marriage on that show. Never mind. I guess those of us who appreciate that part of being an American means that you are free to have your individual beliefs as long as you don't break the law will just have to get used to close-minded conservative Christians trying to squash that freedom and bring in their own version of Sharia law. Thank you so much.
you are an feebleminded imbesil. maher is on point with all his tirades, i bet you think federal reserve is owned by us govt...
I agree with Bill Maher a hundred percent. I get so tired of these southern bible thumpers who hide behind the bible to sprew their hate. They are the most racist people i have ever seen. If they get into heaven, so should charles manson and o.j. simpson. I also want waste my prayer on them.
But in this case no one is using the bible to spew their hatred
Exactly – when people start saying that god cares about football, then they deserve this brash wake up call.
Religion should be a personal belief within those who accept its tenets which cannot be vetted . When religion becomes public we all suffer. Look at the red states where voters too often stand behind corrupt politicians who say the right things but hardly believe in the golden rule. Logic flies out the window replaced by blind faith. Keep your beliefs to yourself and within your places of worship and we will have better elected officials and our lives will all improve.
Come on Bill. It's OK to not believe in God – your choice. But, you shouldn't bad mouth those who do just like you wouldn't want them for bad mouthing you for not.
Bah ha! they DO bad-mouth him for "not."
People are only religious out of fear... if they are not "good" people on the superficial, their "next life" will be "hell." Take away these fallacies, and it ends there.
Besides, isn't "idolatry" (of Tebow, for example) disallowed in the bibble? Aren't these morons worshiping a human?
Get a grip. Religion = child abuse. Pure and simple. When you DIE, you go to the dirt. End of story.
Rick1948
Then believers shouldn't bad mouth those who don't, but they do, and not just on internet blogs, but from pulpits, in books, on TV, from street corners and in people's homes. In promoting your own faith you create a level of bigotry against those who refuse your beliefs that rivals any other bigotry against human beings on this planet, ... and then you complain when we defend ourselves. Simply amazing!
Oh no, your team is better than mine, what ever will I do? Brilliant strategy though, lulling the Steelers to sleep by losing three games in a row.
Do you think Tebow prayed to be intercepted before he started his last series.
Come on time's wasting, the hair is growing back on my taint. Have you picked your flavor yet?
Sorry above post was for Fred.
Well let's see... There's the Matthew 6:5 thing about "Hippocrates" praying in public where everyone can see. Then there's that Camel and a needle thingy... Then there's that Jesus fellow saying things like ... If you really want to follow me, get rid of all your stuff, heck give it to the poor, then come along...
So whats wrong with making fun of a Hippocrate that's going to burn ... Forever...
Poor Tebow...
I say Tebow praying yesterday in the game against the Chiefs. Not one touchdown, Jesus must be Pi$$ed.
Maybe not that Pi$$ed though, they did make it to the playoffs.
Sorry "I saw Tebow.....
You are watching that is good. You are looking for what? Did you find what you were looking for? Win or lose Tebow has shown what is important. Give God the Glory as Jesus did. Give thanks for the blessings God has put into your life. It is all about att-itude of the heart. The Christians gave praise and Glory to God even as the lions ripped them apart and evil cheered in the coliseums of Rome. Hearts are revealed then and now.
You have a small flash of time here Dirty and that is more than enough for the real you to shine so all can see.
Just watching a football game. Dipsh!t.
You overly religious nutjobs make my skin crawl. Hey, how about joining the 21st century? You believe tales spun by backwards people thousands of years ago. Scared little minds...
Dirty & Darko
Na, you were watching the knee and there was a whisper in your heart that knew there is something I don't have. what is it
Fred
Lick my taint. Don't worry, I'll shave it for you because I am a gentleman.
Dirty
That may be good for you but for me it would be a sin. Sin separates us from God and keeps us from His truths. So, even if you shaved with essense of strawberry it would still be a sin.
Post by fred is an instance of the Begging the Question fallacy.
http://www.iep.utm.edu/fallacy/
Fred, most people watch sports for the game. Guys like Tebow are like those guys who dance in the end zone. They just detract from the game with personal showboating.
I will confess I have a soft spot for the Lambeau Leap, but that was because the players are celebrating with the fans.
Tallulah13
Last week on highlights a running back completely jumped over a saftey now that's football.
But, the Tebow thing and probably cause I am Christian the only thing I heard this morning and last night is looks like Jesus had better things to do.
I don't think it is a distraction. Fans seem to have the strangest reasons for rooting for against someone. I think it was Owens that took things to a new level. I would not be surprised if next week a bunch of fans ware nun hats from the flying nun to the playoff game.
Come on Fred the Sped, sin a little. All shaved. Pick the flavor.
And by the way, I watched because I'm a Chief's fan.
You think you have everyone all figured out. Dou-che bag
Dirty
The Chiefs have never won a single playoff Game against the Denver Broncos ! That's right, not only is my God bigger than yours my team is better than yours when it really counts.
Yesterday we let you guys win because we are lulling the Stealers to sleep then Sunday will not be a day of rest for Tebow but 10,000 angels will beat down the might men of steal.
Dirty Sancheez
Oh no, your team is better than mine, what ever will I do? Brilliant strategy though, lulling the Steelers to sleep by losing three games in a row.
Do you think Tebow prayed to be intercepted before he started his last series.
Come on time's wasting, the hair is growing back on my taint. Have you picked your flavor yet?
Why are you shaving it, are you one of those roided out body builders? You're going to get an ingrown hair and a cyst!
In this article it states Bill Mahr makes fun of ALL Religions. While I have heard him comment on Muslims on rare occasions I don't think he's really said anything about Muhammad. Maybe Mr. Bill is not so much the Great Provocateur he and his fans like to think of him. Maybe he is just a nasty little Coward. Seems like the Muslims not only become OFFENDED when "the great prophet Muhammad" is slandered but they have a regular habit of threatening DEATH for such uttering's. I'm just curious by nature I guess but folks who claim they don't believe in Jesus Christ sure so use his name a lot, and When was the last time you heard someone use the name of Muhammad or Buddha etc. (in vain) No, it appears using the name of Jesus Christ is only acceptable while swearing. Hmmm , like i said, just kind of curious.
You obviously haven't seen "Religilous".
Oh you poor put upon Christians. How ever will you survive with Bill Maher pointing out the wackier points of your believe system?
No one uses the Buddha to curse someone because that doesn't make any sense. Buddhists are inherently peaceful, they don't wage war in Buddha's name to push their religion on anyone else and no one referrs to the Buddha as an angry god because that's not the Buddha's style. The Buddha doesn't damn anyone to Hell for sinning or not beliving in him. He just shrugs and feels compassion. Much more peaceful than any religions that have come out of the Middle East (and that includes Christianity).
When all life forms in the universe cease to exist.....does the universe still continue to exist....for whom and what purpose???
The Maher types is what is wrong with America...
Why? Because they believe something different than you do? Please explain.
Both men have a right to say whatever they like about religion. The difference to some is that people tune in to Maher to listen to him, and Tebow blasts viewers with his religious blather after what to many of us is simply a football game. We frankly find it insulting for him to bring this up completely out of context, as if God or Jesus had anything to do with the outcome.... and we just don't want to hear it.
It's kinda like Christian charity, where they get a captive audience looking for food, or shelter, and subject them to a little preaching because they know that needy people are willing to put up with it in order to get what they really want. People already put up with annoying commercials as part of watching a game, so they'll probably put up with annoying plugs for God too, right?
Why does everyone spend so much time criticizing misspells? Why do atheists spend so much time disputing Religion? Why do Talk Show hosts spend so much time making fun of every day events? The reality is we all want our voice to be heard. This isn't a right or wrong topic. Maher is driven by money and be honest, in a worldly sense, it was smart. He thrives on controversy. The fact is whether you believe or don't believe, we all should understand our actions depict the life we lead. Tebow represents more than just being a Christian, its about being a good human. In fact we should probably spend less time trying to express our opinions and voice and more time being good to each other. I bet we would all spend less time nit picking on each other and more time helping each other!
"Why do atheists spend so much time disputing Religion?"
For basically the same reason why religious folks spend so much time promoting religion. You have your arguments for religion, and we have our arguments against it. You have inspirational stories about faith, and we have horror stories about religion's faults. There are two sides to religion. Only hearing the satisfied customers' side would be a disservice to those still deciding on buying into faith, right?
"In fact we should probably spend less time trying to express our opinions and voice and more time being good to each other."
Personally, I would love that, but when so-called 'Christians' tell me that it doesn't matter how good I am being a non-believer means that I will go to hell anyway, well, I feel obligated to challenge that belief. Quit being judgmental and most of the reactionary backlash that Christians get will disappear. "You reap what you sow" as they say.
Bill Nahr takes on Tebow and looks like a complete moron...most of us knew that already of course
What's wrong with pointing demonstrable hypocrisies in a clever twitter-length message? Is that not what the Internet is for?
Yep, free and open speech. Also, social media can also be used to organize things such as boycotts of HBO. You know free and open speech can be used to voice an opinion and to shout down the same. 🙂
Thanks Mirosal for the spelling lesson. Your kindness and logic is wonderful. Folks used to think the world was flat too. Tell you what.. lets run and experiment and you DON'T go to the light and see if it works for you. LMAO
I'll be here for a LONG time. You go ahead ... tell me how many watts that bulb is. The subconscience is a mysterious thing. The idea, or concept, of an afterlife is so ingrained into our pysche from untold millenia of fables and stories, people as'sume it's true. Tell a lie long enough and with enough force, and people will start to agree with you. Take it at face value with no questions asked, and that's all you'd know. Start reading and researching a little more, and you'll see things in a new light (pun intended) that your pulpit-masters won't approve of. Philosophy is all about life's questions that you may never find answers to. Religion is all about THEIR answers that you may NEVER question.
Mirosal. What is the research that you desire Mercyme to read? Yah' need to go a bit further than you did. Mercyme might just go down to a hospital and listen to the stories that might bolster the view that God does exist. It might be that one story of a family member that was told that nothing could be done but that because of God's mercy, their child or spouse made a recovery. Maybe Mercyme will go and listen to testimonies of police, fire fighters, returning soldiers that will describe miracles that they have seen.
Without telling MercyMe what research you feel will swing him or her to your side, you really can't automatically expect any change in beliefs. Just saying that other side is telling a “lie”, is no different than what the other side is saying about your belief that there is no God. You need to go further in what research you are speaking of.
Atheism has been around for a millenia was well, it is not a new thing. It is just another belief structure that requires you to also not question. Agnostics and Deist...different story, they are brave enough to admit openly that they do not know. Atheist, are as uncompromising as us Faithful when it comes to the existence of God.
Lastly, why the spelling checks? Is the desire to point out spelling and grammatical errors “that” strong in your character? It appears that you understood MercyMe's post enough to respond, but was it really necessary to point out simple spelling mistakes? It makes you sound like your counter argument was so weak that your first response was to point out his or her spelling. It made you sound a bit petty.
No 'god' has ever been shown to exist, not even yours. In time, the gods of the ancient world have been relegated to the realm of mythology. Yours is no different. What makes you think yours is real in any sense of the word? Because a 2000 year old book says so? THAT is what you can question. That is what you can ask a pulpit-master, before he begs you for monetary support for his church. All you x-tians say that the ONLY way to the 'kingdom' is through some dead guy named Jesus. What about the 80% of the world who do not believe in that person? Are they condemned from the start? X-tians are a minority on this planet, or did you not know that?
As far as my spelling, I was educated by Jesuits. I cared not for the religious aspect of my time in school, but I will give them full credit for the teaching of proper spelling, and the use of correct grammar. So, yes, you could call it a pet peeve. I understand typos, that happens to me as well, but the more someone misspells words, the more it reflects on the quality of their eju-ma-kay-shun, and they won't be taken as seriously.
>>>"So, yes, you could call it a pet peeve. "
Wow, umm ok. Pet peeves has always been a noble excuse for such behavior ... but since such behavior you will attribute to your upbringing and something that you have "ingrained" your "psyche", we can overlook it in your post.
>>>"The idea, or concept, of an afterlife is so ingrained into our pysche from untold millenia of fables and stories..."
I was educated by Microsoft word, when it comes to spell checking. Is it spelled "Pysche" or "Psyche" because according to Dictionary.com "Pysche" is a "Word not found in the Dictionary and Encyclopedia."
When you can't refute, check for spelling. Wow. I repeat, don't go to the light.
@ Mark - Psyche isn't a word? So the mythical story of Cupid and Psyche was not ti'tled properly?
@ Mercyme - Maybe the light is the lantern hanging from the bow of Charon's boat as he ferries you across the River Styx? Who's to say it isn't?
>>>”The idea, or concept, of an afterlife is so ingrained into our pysche from untold millenia of fables and stories, people as'sume it's true. “
So, when you used “pysche”, in the context of your sentence you were speaking of the mate of Cupid and not :
1. The spirit or soul.
2. Psychiatry The mind functioning as the center of thought, emotion, and behavior and consciously or unconsciously adjusting or mediating the body's responses to the social and physical environment.
… can you explain this. It is a unrelated instance and since I can not own or claim her …. how is into “our”? I do not wish to be disrespectful but I feel the definition of psyche was what you intended because that is something that we can claim as individuals.
If athletes can say "Hi! Mom!" on national TV, what's wrong with Tebow saying "Hello! Heavenly Father!"....? Am I to presume all you atheists are NOT going to go to the light when your end comes? Wow! That's scarey...
First of all, the word is "scary" ... there is no "e" in it. Second .. maybe the Atheist's mother does not know he's at the game, and wants to say "Hi!" .. This 'god' of yours is supposed to know EVERYTHING, right? So 'it' would know that Tebow is on the field, why say anything at all? And just what makes you think there's any light at all? Because a book told you there was? I'll bet you're the type who thinks the National Enquirer is journalism at its best, aren't you?
Don't read the National Enquirer. Had a brother that had near death experiance. (He was pronounced dead by the EMT's) and described in detail the 30 minutes he was medically listed as dead. Yea, there was a tunnel, light, etc. SCARY!
There is no "a" in 'experience'. And your brother's recollection of the "light" is his subconscience. Same decription many people have claimed to have.
Who says that everyone who criticizes Tebow and his offensive antics are all atheists? Ever hear of agnostics? Tebowing looks just as shallow to some of us as well.
Because he is supposed to be concentrating on not being intercepted. God doesn't care about football. If he did, he wouldn't have made baseball America's national pastime.
We atheists are actually with Jesus on this. He warned his followers not to pray like hypocrites do, but to do it in private (Matt 6) because he likely thought that it would only make people suspect they were also hypocrites. Well, people do suspect Tebow of being a hypocrite, right? By shining a light on himself people are just waiting for scandal to strike him, so despite all his good intentions he really isn't helping his religion any. Jesus was a wise man. Too bad so many Christians ignore his good advice.
Our moms are real and have never committed genocide, whereas God...
mayher is nothing but a slimey little loud mouth punk,he wouldn't make a pimple on Tebow's but.
And we all know that's YOUR job.. to be a pimple on someone else's ass.
Nah, that would be Mark. He dreams he's an intellectual giant. The only idiot that posts longer stretches of drivel is Rainer.
Mark can write a hundred words and say nothing at all. In fact, he does so frequently. I suspect he has no life.
TomTom. Intellectual giant...not I. I am not the sharpest tool in the shed. What I am is just a person that has cracked open a history book or two. I am also a person who has been in the same room with a Holocaust survivor. I am someone that has seen real serial number tattoos.
Mirosal stated that he or she was ingrained by her time with the Jesuits. This is what I was exposed to when I was in my early years. If you add on the stories that my parents and grand and great parents used to tell about living in the South under Jim Crow.
You say that I say "nothing at all"..... I say this...
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."
Not even your words, Marky. And not pertinent to this discussion at all. Why are you bringing up the Holocaust and Jim Crow laws? They have nothing to do with Tebow or football.
But I'm not surprised. You do this every time you post. Off on one tangent or another and then insistent that you've made some sort of point.