1. Comment #257673 by Awesome on October 1, 2008 at 12:26 am

Why am I not surprised that this is coming from Ms. The Earth is Flat?

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2. Comment #257674 by alabasterocean on October 1, 2008 at 12:29 am

Mr Mahers documentary (trailer) about religion:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdkyLrDpaUg

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3. Comment #257675 by selucidantiochus on October 1, 2008 at 12:29 am

What is bellview? a mental hospital?

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4. Comment #257676 by Diacanu on October 1, 2008 at 12:34 am

selucidantiochus-

Yes.

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5. Comment #257679 by Logicel on October 1, 2008 at 12:46 am

Bellevue is the oldest public hospital in America and located in NYC. It is well known for many things, including its psychiatric facilities.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bellevue_Hospital

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6. Comment #257682 by kaiser on October 1, 2008 at 12:51 am

Jon Stewart had Bill Maher on last night.

Really enjoyed it and it seems (what I always supposed) that Jon is an atheist too.

Now the religious nutcases are posting in the forums http://forum.thedailyshow.com/tds/board?board.id=13123 saying the usual stuff like:
- atheism is a religion too
- proofs for god
- pascals wager
- Einstein believed in god
- Bill will go to hell
- why are atheists trying to convert everybody...

just all the old arguments.

http://forum.thedailyshow.com/tds/board?board.id=13123

My english is not good enough, or I would crash arguments like these:

Since the Word of God (the 66 books of the Bible), which is not an unreasonable claim, tells us that if you search God out with all your heart and soul, you shall surely find Him, the reason why Bill is mindlessly agnostic is because he is too selfish to search God out with an honest heart. So he self-exalts himself as an agnostic despite the proof for God which I like to call the 4 Step Proof for God and which Bill can't find fault with. An honest person goes where the evidence leads him.


4 Step Proof for God (4SPFG),
4 Step Minimal Facts Approach (4SMFA) &
Observe also TAO4C


Notice the non-Christian (a) shuts his mind down, (b) misreads the Bible, (c) avoids dealing with and is (d) unable to disprove the 4 Step Proof for God or the Minimal Facts Approach which, therefore, remain unchallenged. To them we say, "In the name of Jesus Christ, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead in none other is there salvation: for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, wherein we must be saved" (Acts 4.10,12). May you experience the love and joy and peace of God completely proving His existence as shown in the Perfect Proof for God and the Minimal Facts Approach. These prove the resurrection of Jesus and that He is God. If you choose to refuse the forgiveness of the salvation of Christ on the cross, you will be resurrected for Hell. Jesus said, "I assure you, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life" (John 5.24) which implies some shall be condemned and eternally separated from God.

4 Step Perfect Proof for God of the Bible (4SPFG)
1. Exponential progression of conscience disallows an eternity of the past of cause and effects in the natural realm since you would not still be sinning by now. Therefore, the uncreated created who is God of the Bible ONLY since none can compare to Christ.
2. Nothing in the universe is without a cause. Therefore, the uncreated creator is the only known available possibility who is God of the Bible since none can compare to Christ.
3. Don't argue against a quality of some god that is not the quality of God of the Bible, otherwise you are arguing not against God of the Bible but something else. (It is necessary to point this out because this problem of misreading the Bible happens so often.)
4. Exponential progression of conscience disallows the eternity of the past of cause and effects in the supernatural (the supernatural was proven to exist in Step 1 and 2) since you would not still be sinning by now. Ergo, the uncreated creator created who is God of the Bible because none can compare to Christ.

4 Step Minimal Facts Approach, Proving the Resurrection of Jesus and that He is God (4SMFA)
1. 95 to 99.9% of scholars in the past half century (we know this because we counted them) agree Paul really wrote and really believed what he wrote in 1 Cor. 15 and Gal. 1 & 2.
2. In these 3 chapters, Paul said he met with Peter, James (brother of Jesus) and John on several occasions in which the first meeting was with Peter and James within 5 years of Jesus' death on the cross, and they all agreed to the reason for being the eyewitness testimonies to the bodily resurrection of Jesus.
3. People do not go to their deaths as martyrs if they don't believe in what they are doing. The apostles really believed they saw, talked with, touched, walked with and ate with the resurrected Jesus which convinced them He is God when before they were doubters.
4. If no naturalistic theory can account for witnessing the bodily resurrection of Jesus, very probably it is true then they saw Jesus resurrected which shows He created us, He is uncreated and salvation is through Him. Therefore, Hell would be needed for the unsaved to keep them eternally separated from God's own people.

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7. Comment #257683 by Heretic on October 1, 2008 at 12:52 am

Does somebody in the audience strangle a cat on part 2 at 6min52sec?

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8. Comment #257686 by huzonfurst on October 1, 2008 at 12:55 am

My soft-on-religion girlfriend called to tell me about this so I got to watch it as it happened, and Bill was hilarious (she didn't watch it though 'cause straight talk about religion makes her cogitive dissonance set in).

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9. Comment #257689 by Tumara Baap on October 1, 2008 at 1:04 am

About the most distressing thing in the interview was the whoop and clapping from the audience following the inane question about asking God what he thinks. It's chilling to think what sort of world these minds dwell in, what sort of questions they feel are incisive, what sort of stuff they're titillated by...

Glad this interview was done for this audience. It sickens me how many women get fuzzy over Jesus despite the fact this is one group that has been historically most subjugated by the clutches of religion. Perhaps a comedian is needed to pave the way for someone like Annie Gaylor to give these pious women a real education on the abyss they've been pulled out of by freethinkers like Elizabeth Stanton, Frances Wright and Margaret Sanger.

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10. Comment #257690 by selucidantiochus on October 1, 2008 at 1:05 am

Cheers (Diacanu, Logicel) it made sense that it was but I like to be sure.

I have met thousands of Americans here in Europe in half a dozen countries, but have never met one quite like that lady, they all seemed mostly to be well educated and pretty lucid.(All though I understand that the fact I met them here in Europe plays a role in that).

What I don't understand is why are there so few of the lucid Americans on mainstream US shows and so many like this crazy lady? Perhaps you have an opinion.

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11. Comment #257692 by Diacanu on October 1, 2008 at 1:18 am

selucidantiochus-

What I don't understand is why are there so few of the lucid Americans on mainstream US shows and so many like this crazy lady? Perhaps you have an opinion.

Well....it's tricky to explain all the factors without ending up writing a whole book on the subject, but I think it mostly boils down to money.

Stupid crazy people are catered to as a demographic by advertisers, because stupid people are easier to hypnotize with advertising.

I think most Americans have some lick of sense, religious or not, but this moronic lunatic minority gets catered to.

Why? Makes money.
Smart people don't listen to bullshit.
That's a frustrating thing for a salesman.

So, that's why American television gives such a distorted reflection.
It's what corporations want America to think of itself.
It's kind of an open display of their contempt for us.

That's my theory, anyway.

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12. Comment #257694 by Verylee on October 1, 2008 at 1:20 am

Comment #257690 by selucidantiochus

why are there so few of the lucid Americans on mainstream US shows

There's no business like Show business!

(Look at Tom Cruise!)

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13. Comment #257696 by Mayhemm on October 1, 2008 at 1:22 am

I love Bill Maher. His views on religion and politics mirror my own exactly. He's a little radical on health and medicine, but I respect those opinions too.

I've never seen The View before. Do they always segregate themselves according to the issues they discuss like they did here when they used Maher as a divider?

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14. Comment #257698 by Diacanu on October 1, 2008 at 1:25 am

Mayhemm-

I've never seen The View before. Do they always segregate themselves according to the issues they discuss like they did here when they used Maher as a divider?

It used to be more fluffball, and cordial, and still sort of is when a fluffball celebrity is on, but the fracas that drove Rosie O' Donnell off, and the addition of those two christian bimbos has sort of made things increasingly tense.

I don't really watch the show, I follow it in the headlines when some major cast change after a big catfight goes down.

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15. Comment #257700 by GordonYKWong on October 1, 2008 at 1:26 am

"...have you ever just talked to God, and asked God what does he thinks?"

"Yes I have talked to God, and He said He thinks we should stop eating any form of pasta for it is a sin to consume the likeness of his noodly image... Praise be to FSM"

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16. Comment #257702 by Quetzalcoatl on October 1, 2008 at 1:30 am

"Yes, I have spoken to THE LORD, and by an amazing coincidence THE LORD told me that everything I believed before I spoke to THE LORD is exactly correct. I don't need to change my mind about anything, because THE LORD told me so. Praise be to THE LORD!"

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17. Comment #257703 by Mark Jones on October 1, 2008 at 1:33 am

That was very funny; 'Hey, Jesus, I'm sending you on a suicide mission. But don't worry, they can't kill you, because you're me!'

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18. Comment #257704 by selucidantiochus on October 1, 2008 at 1:33 am

(To Diacanu)

That makes alot of sense to me. In media at least here in the UK we tend to copy much of what you do, perhaps this is our future also? I hope not, but I think I can already see it happening. Lets just hope the BBC can keep some integrity, in its documentaries at least, but even there its doubtful. It seems its going to get progressively harder to find intelectually challanging tv, perhaps I may have to start reading books OH NO NOT PERSONAL EFFORT haha

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19. Comment #257705 by nickthelight on October 1, 2008 at 1:33 am

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20. Comment #257706 by Diacanu on October 1, 2008 at 1:35 am

Yeah, he said, "pray and cry all you want, I'll just make your grandmother's cancer gnaw on her even faster harder. And not because of any genius plan or design, I'm just a sick evil fuck! Hahahahaaa!!!".

At least, that's what I interpreted the silence to mean.

Hey, don't diss projecting things onto silence, it worked for C.S. Lewis, and christians think he's fuckin' brilliant.

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21. Comment #257707 by Diacanu on October 1, 2008 at 1:42 am

selucidantiochus-

I think a mitigating factor for you guys, is you guys have to pay a TV license, right?

Although, you still have some advertising.

The idea of having a payed fee for TV to get rid of commercials was floated back in the early 60's I think, but clearly it didn't take.

And cable TV was supposed to get rid of commercials.
That's what fucking cable bills were supposed to do.
How did advertising get on cable?
*Shrug* they just wanted the money.
No good argument for it, they just wanted it, and lobbied, and got it.
This shit never wins a fair argument, it's always just "give it to me it's MINE!!! Give to me, it's MINE!!!".

Sure enough, you watch, satellite radio is currently payed for solely by member subscriptions, but advertising will muscle its way onto their airwaves.
Just watch, they'll get their way.

Other Comments by Diacanu

22. Comment #257710 by Diacanu on October 1, 2008 at 1:46 am

nickthelight-

Sorry for this but...Who is the woman the right? wow.

Which one?

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23. Comment #257711 by fsm1965 on October 1, 2008 at 1:53 am

i always thought advertising distorts the views expressed, and limits debate cuz the advertisers dont wanna be associated with nasty/unpleasant stuff, without even getting into news stories being pulled by faux news cuz it upset an advertiser..

plus its annoying when an emotional scene is interrupted by an ad for mcd's etc.

btw: the lady on the right looks tasty, but if she spouts fundieism, that's a complete no-no [/sexist remarks]

Other Comments by fsm1965

24. Comment #257712 by notsobad on October 1, 2008 at 1:56 am

The clips are swapped.

Maher was right about the hospital call. If it wasn't for religion, most people would send you to a psychiatrist if you hear voices in your head.

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25. Comment #257714 by Diacanu on October 1, 2008 at 2:03 am

selucidantiochus/fsm1965-

*Shameless plug*

http://dickynoo.blogspot.com/2008/09/meaningless-slogans-2-advertising.html

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26. Comment #257721 by Thor on October 1, 2008 at 2:55 am

nickthelight,

Her name is Elisabeth Hasselbeck. Rather right-wing in most of her views but admittedly VERY attractive

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27. Comment #257724 by selucidantiochus on October 1, 2008 at 2:58 am

(to diacanu)

Pirates and thieves often win, they just want it more :P

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28. Comment #257728 by fsm1965 on October 1, 2008 at 3:02 am

Thanks Thor for ruining another pretty face ;)

Is it a pre-requisite to being attractive that you have to spout right-wing trash?

[/daft questions]

Other Comments by fsm1965

29. Comment #257735 by King of NH on October 1, 2008 at 3:19 am

I actually liked the question about asking God what he thinks. I fully agree, that would answer a lot. Of course, I disagree on why it's a good idea.

I did notice that The View's Palin supporters believe the 6000 year old earth was flooded by a loving god killing all life except the millions of creatures rounded up by a 900 year old man and kept on the ancient world's largest boat built by only 3 people where the creatures survived for months with no need for food because this is the best way the creator of the universe can solve crime problems.

Just admitting you believe such a story should be the first of 12 steps, not cause for applause.

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30. Comment #257738 by GBile on October 1, 2008 at 3:30 am

Maher:

.. as a kid, whatever they do to you, you accept ...

All the ladies agreed on this !

But still they don't seem to be able to apply this to their own religious indoctrination.

Other Comments by GBile

31. Comment #257741 by HitbLade on October 1, 2008 at 3:53 am

Well, god had a son, and he said to Jesus, "I'm sending you on a suicide mission, but don't worry, they can't kill you, cus you're really me."
HAHAHAHAHA

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32. Comment #257745 by geru on October 1, 2008 at 4:06 am

I am shocked. The clip (especially the first) seemed mostly like a bunch of intelligent open-minded people having an adult conversation about religion - on an American talk show! :o

Did I just wake up in bizarro-world?

Other Comments by geru

33. Comment #257763 by Sargeist on October 1, 2008 at 4:43 am

fsm,

Very odd, isn't it? I have recently found myself leering uncontrollably at Sarah Palin, Ann Coulter and now this Elisabeth Hasslebeck.

It's a cancer, I tell you. A CANCER!!!!

Other Comments by Sargeist

34. Comment #257764 by fsm1965 on October 1, 2008 at 4:49 am

It's a cancer, I tell you. A CANCER!!!!

nah, it's just our hormones gaining temporary control!

back to the clip - am looking forward to the movie appearing on a BT site ;)

Other Comments by fsm1965

35. Comment #257767 by The Soilworker on October 1, 2008 at 4:58 am

I already found my local theater that's showing the movie - I'm going Friday afternoon!! And in Atlanta of all places! The capital of "I've got a welt from the Bible Belt!"

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36. Comment #257769 by Sargeist on October 1, 2008 at 4:59 am

fsm,

I'm hoping that the film gets released in the UK, but we didn't appear to get "Expelled" (thank goodness, I suppose). However, at least people over here may have heard about Bill Maher more than Ben Stein (thank goodness again).

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37. Comment #257770 by fsm1965 on October 1, 2008 at 5:02 am

i'm pointing my browser out for expelled (spit), no way am i paying for that.

guess religulous will be a "straight to dvd" release (like all the crappy movies!).

With people spouting belief in the ark, satire has no chance!

Other Comments by fsm1965

38. Comment #257772 by JAMCAM87 on October 1, 2008 at 5:14 am

I never knew Whoopi Goldberg so was dumb.

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39. Comment #257778 by Sargeist on October 1, 2008 at 5:25 am

I've tried watching the video, but that woman's legs keep distracting me...

JAMCAM, many years ago, when "Ghost" came out, the cinema showing times advert in my local newspaper had her billed as "Whoopsie Goldberg", which was quite chortlesome.

Other Comments by Sargeist

40. Comment #257784 by JAMCAM87 on October 1, 2008 at 5:36 am

Comment #257778 by Sargeist

Awesome headline. What a crap film.

I assumed she would be one of those highly intelligent female comedians. I have lost a great deal of respect for her.

Other Comments by JAMCAM87

41. Comment #257822 by mbobo on October 1, 2008 at 7:01 am

Unfortunately, there are still more of her "type" here than his... Yes, it's dark here now, but it was much darker B.R.T. (Before Real Time...)

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42. Comment #257829 by DoobyTheCat on October 1, 2008 at 7:19 am

Heretic:

I have listened a couple of times to the sound and I believe what we are hearing is the rapid hiss of air rushing from religions quickly deflating balloon. Or quite possibly a cat being strangled.

Other Comments by DoobyTheCat

43. Comment #257841 by cafeeine on October 1, 2008 at 7:33 am

It should be noted that this is the second time Bill makes this comment.
In an older instance of New Rules he did a jibe that people who believe the world is 6000 years old "should be packed off to Bellevue, or asked to co-host the View" painting a clear picture of his target.

Other Comments by cafeeine

44. Comment #257842 by KRKBAB on October 1, 2008 at 7:34 am

Diacanu- As an American, I always had this same theory about capitalism magnifying the ignorant crowd by catering to the lowest common denominator.
It does seem as simple as that as to why the naive people seem to be more numerous and more vocal. Even though this country had a lot of religulus crazies coming here in the early dayz, I think Capitalism has augmented the nutjob population.

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45. Comment #257847 by al-rawandi on October 1, 2008 at 7:37 am

KRKBAB,





What exactly does that mean? It sounds like a whole lot of nothing.

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46. Comment #257864 by BeyondBelief on October 1, 2008 at 7:54 am

JAMCAM87... You judge rather quickly. What, from the minuscule input Whoopie provided, did you object to or find stupefying?

Joy Behar (I believe that is the person to the left of Bill) obviously is 100% in line with Maher.

Whoopie seemed next closest, and her comment about "You're entitled to believe what you want, but not push it 'out here' among all of us, because we all believe differently' " is a semi-close approximation to saying, "Keep religion to yourself. Social discussions about civic matters are not an arena for faith."

She may not be perfect, but she's far closer to us than the other two, and dismissing a semi-close ally may be a mistake in the big picture.

If you want to build a coalition of people who believe that religion should be kept out of civic matters, demanding that all people on your side match your view exactly will be a losing strategy.

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47. Comment #257865 by chewedbarber on October 1, 2008 at 7:54 am

al,

Apparently it means that people who buy Lipitor, smart balance margerine, shop at HD, or watch cable through Time Warner are bleeping morons, the LCD in our society, and all because of capitalism.

hmmm, that doesn't seem to have clarified anything.

Other Comments by chewedbarber

48. Comment #257867 by arlopickens on October 1, 2008 at 7:55 am

Part 2 is on top

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49. Comment #257875 by al-rawandi on October 1, 2008 at 8:01 am

chewedbarber,






I think that candy canes make people stupid, because they have alternating stripes, it creates a dichotomy. See what I am saying?


Sometimes the bullshit gets a little thick around here.

Other Comments by al-rawandi

50. Comment #257876 by Tezcatlipoca on October 1, 2008 at 8:04 am

The candy cane creates a dichotomy only until "tutti fruiti" is encountered. In which case the multiple colors show the candy cane dichotomy to be false. Purist may argue, however, that the only true candy cane is a peppermint red and white candy cane. This led to the great candy cane schism of 1982...

-edit- typo

-edit2- not to mention the candy cane vs ribbon candy debate on which initiated the stripe dichotomy...

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