Bill Maher’s epic new anti-religion critique: “People say ISIS hijacked Islam. Actually the opposite

[oberliner]

Bill Maher’s epic new anti-religion critique: “People say ISIS hijacked Islam. Actually the opposite is true”

Bill Maher took direct aim at religion on “Real Time” on Friday night, connecting Indiana’s religious freedom law, a horrible anti-gay California ballot initiative and ISIS in one epic piece.

“The root of this problem is that more than half of all Americans still believe the Bible is the actual or inspired word of God,” Maher said, of the Indiana bill. “But now 55 percent also support gay marriage, which must be very confusng.

“On the one hand, God has clearly spelled it out: he hates fags. But you like your gay neighbors Rob and Larry! But the Bible tells you to kill them. Yes, it literally says kill them. What to do?”

Maher was just getting started, as he went after the “Kill the Gays” initiative proposed by a California lawyer named Matt McLaughlin, and urged people to take fundamentalists at their word when they say insane things. Then he pivoted to the Middle East.

http://www.salon.com/2015/04/11/bill_mahers_epic_new_anti_religion_critique_people_say_isis_hijacked_islam_actually_the_opposite_is_true/

[alphafemale]

1. It is long past the time to be led by nose by fairy tales written in the iron age.

Fuck that goat turd sniffing horse shit.

[cali]

2. but that's not the totality of religion

When you say fuck that ..... you're also saying fuck MLK. Fuck Bonhoeffer. Fuck Father Berrigan. Lots of people have been inspired by their faith to fight injustice.

[Hoppy]

3. But does the harm done by religion out do the good?

MLK did accomplish something concrete.

Bonhoffer and the Berrigans? Wonderful people and I support their actions. But their actions accomplished nothing.

Christianity on the other hand --- Crusades. Witch Trials. Inquisition. God hates fags. and on and on.

[cali]

4. I don't know. And you're wrong about Bonhoeffer and the Berrigans.

They inspired people.

Christianity has also been responsible for great works of arts and movements that champion peace. Other religions have done the same.

Hard to know how it all sugars off.

[Hoppy]

5. I contributed to Berrigans' defense fund. Also Angela Davis's.

They put in efforts but did those efforts accomplish anything? Does anyone care now?

[dembotoz]

6. it helped make you and others who they are today

if not shit we would still be in viet nam

[LiberalElite]

10. So does this mean no one should ever

try to make anything better because it may not "accomplish anything?"

[Bluenorthwest]

8. Easier for some of us than for others I suppose.

Bill Maher defends LGBT, most of DU is busily defending the religions that abuse us. It's a terrible thing to see on a Saturday morning. No amount of sugar will coat that bitter truth.

[brooklynite]

11. Know who else has been a patron of the arts? The Koch Brothers...

...the good doesn't always excuse the bad.

[H2O Man]

13. It is worth noting

that Daniel and Phillip inspired people's thinking, and their behavior.

While some might say "big deal," or "fuck that," it misses the point that -- for but one example -- their influence resulted -- directly -- to the break-in at the FBI office in Media, PA. And that, in fact, would lead directly to media interest which lead to congressional investigations that helped to expose the criminal behaviors of Hoover, much of the FBI, and other police-intelligence groups in the United States.

To dismiss such things -- or, even more dangerously ignorant -- to insult those who put their beliefs and faith into action, creates a negativity that allows the enemies of social justice to capitalize on such dense thinking.

[workinclasszero]

7. "When you say fuck that ..... you're also saying fuck MLK. Fuck Bonhoeffer. Fuck Father Berrigan."

Right!

It always pisses me off when haters slam all religion. Don't paint MLK and many other fine Christians, Jews and others with your shit brush haters!

I mean it always worked well when atheists were in charge right!?

Whats the body count for Lenin/Stalin/Mao/Pol Pot/Hitler anyway?

Jimmy Carters a Christian and a damn better human being than most people. And so is our President...haters!

[ChazII]

12. +100 and thank you. n/t

[booley]

9. seems to me these things miss the point

That religion isn't' really the problem. It;s just a way to rally people and justify what you wanted to do anyway. It's a tool.

It can be used to justify good things or evil things. But it's not the source.

Take it away and the problems remain. People will just find a new ideology to justify when they want to do evil things.

And no, atheism does not make you less susceptible to that. In fact I think a lot of atheists are more vulnerable precisely because they think one needs religion to do these evil things.

[oberliner]

14. I think religion makes people do bad things that they would not otherwise do

I think mistreatment of homosexuals would be one good example.

[booley]

15. and I have known homophobic atheists and pagans

Frankly we can find homophobia is cultures where there was no real religious bias against it.

a lot of it has to do with societal gender roles and how deeply that affects a member of that society identity. Or even ancient history.

A lot of the homophobia in the Bible for instance is because the Hebrew writers felt their culture was threatened by other cultures. And then made their religion reflect that.

Again, it' a part of a larger problem.