Dear Bill Maher, stop making atheists look bad

[CallMeJoe]

I'll see your Matthew 6:5 and raise you 1 Corinthians 14:16

Interesting that you take the apostle Paul's opinion over the express words of your "Savior"...

 

[soundforbjt]

Of course if a muslim thanked Allah after every touchdown, I suspect there would be a new rule preventing prayer on the field.

 

[DrPizza]

Proof there is no God.

1. If there IS a God, everyone knows he hates the Bills (and all other teams from Buffalo.)
2. Tebow has beautiful women throwing themselves at him. But, he remains a virgin to appease God.
3. Buffalo intercepted Tebow 4 times in one game, leading to a victory.
4. Therefore, there is no God.

QED.

Darn it! Just thought of a flaw in my logic:
else 4. God finds virginity to be over-rated, as do most non-virgins.

 

[Ausm]

Of course if a muslim thanked Allah after every touchdown, I suspect there would be a new rule preventing prayer on the field.

What if Spidey thanked his Ronald Reagan blow up doll after each stupid post he makes in here it would accomplish the same thing.

 

[Macamus Prime]

Of course if a muslim thanked Allah after every touchdown, I suspect there would be a new rule preventing prayer on the field.

I doubt it, because then some middle Americas could use that moment to spew angry boos and hate towards that player.

It would help them figure out "which wun of them thar brown fellars believes in that thar Alla,... /spit".

 

[etrigan420]

of course if a muslim thanked allah after every touchdown, i suspect there would be a new rule preventing prayer on the field.

yeeeuuuuuuuup!

 

[Skitzer]

When something as passive and small as a personal prayer is deemed an "assault", it is a sign said "victim" is nothing more than an insecure buffoon.

Well said!

 

[Fern]

I think this whole thing is more media driven BS.

Lots of players have been pointing upwards after a score or sack etc. I take this as a gesture to their god. Many pray on the sidelines. Some teams have an official 'Pastor" (or whatever they're called) and pray with players on the sidelines. After games many players from both teams come together for a group prayer out in the middle of the field. This has been going for a long time.

Until now, the cameras and media have not focused on it.

Yet they are now and I see no valid reason for that change. If the guy ran to the center of field to pray and stop play, I could see the big deal. How about they treat him just like every other player and not divert game coverage to show him 'Tebowing' on the sidelines.

Be pissed at the media, not Tebow.

Fern

 

[UberNeuman]

Water is wet - the sky is blue and Bill Maher is a dick - tell me something I don't know....

\Still like him, but he's a dick.

 

[Ktulu]

POINT BLANK Jesus said not to pray in public. Tebow ignores the teachings of his own god.[/QUOTE]

He did not say do not pray in public and that's it. What he said was not to pray in public just to look good and holy. Those individuals prayer's are vain and empty, they just want to feel holy and want everyone to know that they're holy. It's all about the intent in your prayers.

 

[Ktulu]

POINT BLANK Jesus said not to pray in public. Tebow ignores the teachings of his own god.

He did not say do not pray in public and that's it. What he said was not to pray in public just to look good and holy. Those individuals prayer's are vain and empty, they just want to feel holy and want everyone to know that they're holy. It's all about the intent in your prayers.

 

[Patranus]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ycn-10757275

I'm no fan of religion or sanctimonious douchebags like Tim Tebow, but this kind of juvenile crap is embarrassing.

You think Tim Tebow is a douche bag?

:facepalm:

Didn't look at the link but you are doing just as good of a job as Maher making atheists look bad.

 

[irishScott]

Ah radical atheism. All of the negatives of radical religion, sans the faith.

 

[UberNeuman]

Ah radical atheism. All of the negatives of radical religion, sans the faith.

ah, Faith or Truth?

Truth, as painful as it may be wins out...

 

[shira]

How is Tebow "sanctimonious"?

Other than his personal prayer after a TD, he hasn't been beating anyone over the head with his religion. If it wasn't for the media hoopla over his kneeling, his faith wouldn't even be an issue.

That said, Bill Maher is a an egotistical douchebag...

Regardless of whether you're an atheist or not, anyone who believes that sports achievements - or any other personal triumphs that entail someone else losing - are influenced by God is an idiot, worthy of derision. The very notion that that hand of God picks winners and losers on the sports field or in the game of life is just moronic. I don't know anything about Tebow other then what I've read in this thread, but if the man does indeed perform a little prayer after his team scores a touchdown, he's an imbecile.

 

[child of wonder]

He did not say do not pray in public and that's it. What he said was not to pray in public just to look good and holy. Those individuals prayer's are vain and empty, they just want to feel holy and want everyone to know that they're holy. It's all about the intent in your prayers.

Simply incredible how some who claim to follow Jesus do nothing but ignore his teachings.

Jesus said the hypocrites are those who pray in public "to be seen."

Tebow is obviously aware millions of eyes are pointed his way and chooses to pray "to be seen." This is CLEARLY what Jesus preached against.

It amazes me as I debate with Christians either how poorly they understand their own god and religion or how they so blatantly disregard the parts of their religion they don't care for.

 

[sportage]

Let me get the op straight....
You expect Bill Maher to be politically correct?
hehehe

 

[Ktulu]

Simply incredible how some who claim to follow Jesus do nothing but ignore his teachings.

Jesus said the hypocrites are those who pray in public "to be seen."

Tebow is obviously aware millions of eyes are pointed his way and chooses to pray "to be seen." This is CLEARLY what Jesus preached against.

It amazes me as I debate with Christians either how poorly they understand their own god and religion or how they so blatantly disregard the parts of their religion they don't care for.

I completely agree with you. However, I do believe that it is possible for you to pray in a public setting without letting anyone know that you are praying. What Tebow does is completely against how Jesus wants his followers to pray.

 

[Sentrosi2121]

So if I'm out with my friends at a public restaurant and one (who is a Christian) decides to bow his head and pray to himself before dinner is served, am I supposed to demand he go pray in a corner by himself before eating dinner with the rest of us?

That's just pathetic. Go look at yourself in a mirror and get your life in better shape than it is in now.

 

[Ktulu]

So if I'm out with my friends at a public restaurant and one (who is a Christian) decides to bow his head and pray to himself before dinner is served, am I supposed to demand he go pray in a corner by himself before eating dinner with the rest of us?

That's just pathetic. Go look at yourself in a mirror and get your life in better shape than it is in now.

Why would you demand anything of your friend? Are you his master?

 

[sandorski]

Maher makes an astute observation, people get offended. lol, sorry, but that's weak.

 

[shira]

I completely agree with you. However, I do believe that it is possible for you to pray in a public setting without letting anyone know that you are praying. What Tebow does is completely against how Jesus wants his followers to pray.

I agree.

Presumably, a proper public prayer is done inconspicuously, humbly, and arises out of a heartfelt need to connect with something greater than oneself, assuming, of course, that one believes in the existence of "something greater" than oneself.

 

[dawheat]

Simply incredible how some who claim to follow Jesus do nothing but ignore his teachings.

Jesus said the hypocrites are those who pray in public "to be seen."

Tebow is obviously aware millions of eyes are pointed his way and chooses to pray "to be seen." This is CLEARLY what Jesus preached against.

It amazes me as I debate with Christians either how poorly they understand their own god and religion or how they so blatantly disregard the parts of their religion they don't care for.

This is a very superficial understanding of this particular scripture, though it is the classical attack against any sort of public prayer. Jesus himself prayed in public many times in his ministry - must be hypocrisy right?

Jesus repeatedly spoke against the religious leaders of the time, who commonly did pray visibly and publicly for their own credit, accusing them of lacking any desire to actually communicate with their God. This passage is generally considered an extension of that - a rebuke toward their behavior while contrasting it with the ideal way to spend time with their God.

Extending it as a blanket condemnation of any public prayer I think goes to far. Unless you think that Jesus would condemn the early Christians who prayed in front of their audience who watched them be burned at the stake or torn apart by animals.

Now I don't know Tim Tebow or his motives - but at face value it looks like a private moment between him and his God in a public setting. Could he be doing it purely for showmanship? Maybe, but his life has been pretty consistent thus far, leaning me to give him the benefit of the doubt.

 

[irishScott]

ah, Faith or Truth?

Truth, as painful as it may be wins out...

Your point? My problems with Atheism are not it's core tenants, which I can at least agree to disagree with, but its dogmatic implementation of them. Atheism tends to attack religion in a political sense, and Atheists generally see themselves as the superior breed of human belief. What does that sound like? RELIGION!

When I google "Atheist" the first result is this: http://www.atheists.org/

Bunch of morons trying to get "Darwin day" passed among other things. The same people who have issues with "God" being on our money and in the pledge of allegiance. Stuff most people don't care about, regardless of their faith or lack thereof. What does that sound like? RADICAL RELIGION!

Atheism is little more than the chosen religion of people who choose not to believe in a Deity. Sure it may be different in it's tenants and beliefs, but it's a religion nonetheless IMO.

Don't get me wrong I'm as secular as they come, and I'm happy to engage anyone willing in a religious/philosophical debate, but I don't attack people for their religion, nor do I look down upon them. Nor does my lack of belief in a mainstream religion make me politically bias against their followers. I do not give two shits about "Darwin day" and would not celebrate it if it passed, I said "under God" every day in school with no effect on my faith, and I have better things to do with my time than read my money and throw a bitch fit.

 

[sandorski]

This is a very superficial understanding of this particular scripture, though it is the classical attack against any sort of public prayer. Jesus himself prayed in public many times in his ministry - must be hypocrisy right?

Jesus repeatedly spoke against the religious leaders of the time, who commonly did pray visibly and publicly for their own credit, accusing them of lacking any desire to actually communicate with their God. This passage is generally considered an extension of that - a rebuke toward their behavior while contrasting it with the ideal way to spend time with their God.

Extending it as a blanket condemnation of any public prayer I think goes to far. Unless you think that Jesus would condemn the early Christians who prayed in front of their audience who watched them be burned at the stake or torn apart by animals.

Now I don't know Tim Tebow or his motives - but at face value it looks like a private moment between him and his God in a public setting. Could he be doing it purely for showmanship? Maybe, but his life has been pretty consistent thus far, leaning me to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Umm, yes! Does this even need consideration?