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Tuesday, August 19, 2008 | Reason : Comedy | print version Print | Comments |

Video Bill Maher on Religion

Larry King Live, Bill Maher


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http://onegoodmove.org/1gm/1gmarchive/2008/08/bill_maher_on_r.html

Larry King interviews Bill Maher about his upcoming film 'Religulous'.

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1. Comment #233440 by paulwwww on August 19, 2008 at 11:46 pm

Guess I couldn't help but notice no one else has posted yet, guess third shift has some small advantages. Anyways, I can't wait to watch this movie. We need more like Bill Maher here in the great USA!!!

Other Comments by paulwwww

2. Comment #233455 by Quine on August 20, 2008 at 12:31 am

 avatar
... we're out of a job.
Right on the nose. :clap:

Other Comments by Quine

3. Comment #233462 by Pyrion on August 20, 2008 at 12:56 am

 avatarToo bad that the video stopped before the end. Bill is doing great.

Other Comments by Pyrion

4. Comment #233465 by NoGoggleCitizen on August 20, 2008 at 1:04 am

 avatarIs Larry King's titles operator passive-aggressively undermining Bill Mahr's message? It seems they picked out the least articulate part of Bill's early comments ("It's mainly about getting your butt saved..."), and then ran with the hypothetical "Is Nothing Sacred?" for the remainder of the video. Or, perhaps I've got some sort of subconscious expectation bias going on! Anyway, great clip.

Other Comments by NoGoggleCitizen

5. Comment #233467 by Wosret on August 20, 2008 at 1:05 am

 avatarI know what's going to happen when I die. The universe will implode, because it surely can't go on without me.

Other Comments by Wosret

6. Comment #233474 by Atticus_of_Amber on August 20, 2008 at 1:19 am

 avatarMitchell Gilks: "I know what's going to happen when I die. The universe will implode, because it surely can't go on without me."

I can't remember who it was who said: "It isn't me, but the world, that will end with I die." In a one-hand-clapping sense, that's true.

Other Comments by Atticus_of_Amber

7. Comment #233532 by AdrianB on August 20, 2008 at 2:45 am

 avatarYouTube version here:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=-CWiASiqDdU

Other Comments by AdrianB

8. Comment #233559 by carlcamper on August 20, 2008 at 3:35 am

 avatar@AdrianB

That's only the middle of part 1, here are all the versions:


Part 1
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=8GzIUJdj0oc

Part 2
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=sEmwKhKdZKI

Part 3
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6SapAZ9PN8

Other Comments by carlcamper

9. Comment #233585 by FreeThink25 on August 20, 2008 at 4:18 am

I hope the Maher-haters noticed that he said GERM. Can we finally put to rest the notion that Bill Maher denies the Germ Theory of Disease?

I have never seen Bill so articulate and intellectually appealing. Bravo to him....

Other Comments by FreeThink25

10. Comment #233617 by Mark R on August 20, 2008 at 5:37 am

 avatarBill finishes this clip with a great line comparing god and the devil to comic books heros and villians. Very true, and Bill i will be using this line as well

Other Comments by Mark R

11. Comment #233628 by neander on August 20, 2008 at 6:02 am

 avatarNice and solid. Its good to know there are some intelligent views being put that might reach a broader public.

Other Comments by neander

12. Comment #233631 by Shaden on August 20, 2008 at 6:09 am

 avatar"You don't have to pass an IQ test to be in the senate."

Pretty honest answer there.

I wanted to see Religulous that was showing at the local film festival, but it was instantly sold out :(

Other Comments by Shaden

13. Comment #233659 by popecorkyxxiv on August 20, 2008 at 7:29 am

 avatarI cannot wait for this movie, with luck it will annihilate the Ben Stien farce "Expelled". All Maher has to do to win that fight is not say anything stupid, like beleiving in evolution means you support the Holocaust. I think it will help the atheist cause alot, afterall there is no power more capable of changing peoples minds than laughter and comedy, just ask John Stewart and Stephen Corbert.

Other Comments by popecorkyxxiv

14. Comment #233665 by PrimeNumbers on August 20, 2008 at 7:47 am

 avatarBill Maher makes me laugh, but he also comes across very well. Can't wait to see this movie!

Other Comments by PrimeNumbers

15. Comment #233670 by HandyGeek on August 20, 2008 at 7:57 am

 avatarFolks, there is a new article and survey on msnbc about Mr. Newdow. It would be advantageous for all to vote in their survey.

Article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10103424/

Survey: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10103521/

Other Comments by HandyGeek

16. Comment #233676 by SteveN on August 20, 2008 at 8:32 am

 avatarHandyGeek wrote:
Folks, there is a new article and survey on msnbc about Mr. Newdow. It would be advantageous for all to vote in their survey.

Article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10103424/

Survey: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10103521/


As much as I love participating in PZ Myers' 'poll crashing' escapades, I don't think that even the combined might of Pharyngula and RD.net can do much against this poll (which has been running since 2005, by the way): the faithfull have a 70:30 lead with almost 5 million (!!!!) votes cast. Actually, I suspect some pretty frantic poll crashing activity by christian groups is going on here.

Other Comments by SteveN

17. Comment #233680 by ridelo on August 20, 2008 at 8:59 am

 avatarWill this film also be distributed outside the USA and the UK?

Other Comments by ridelo

18. Comment #233703 by HourglassMemory on August 20, 2008 at 9:44 am

17.
I certainly hope so.
I can't wait for the film either. If it doesn't come out in my country(sickly catholic) I'll have to get it by other means.

I hope the film opens doors for other films like this one to come out.

Other Comments by HourglassMemory

19. Comment #233705 by Lucas on August 20, 2008 at 9:46 am

 avatarDude, HandyGeek, we just crashed this poll last week. See:

http://www.richarddawkins.net/article,2981,Poll-Should-the-motto-In-God-We-Trust-be-removed-from-US-currency,MSNBC

Or just slide down the articles sidebar to August 14th. In fact, we are responsible for the 30% rating, up from I think an original 9%.

Other Comments by Lucas

20. Comment #233707 by Lenny on August 20, 2008 at 9:53 am

What was with the "atheism is a religion" comment?

Other Comments by Lenny

21. Comment #233711 by Isherwood on August 20, 2008 at 10:06 am

 avatarAgreed, Lenny. I was so thrilled with his interview that I was ready to stand up and cheer.

Then he proclaimed that atheists are "certain there is no god". That turned my stomach. I'd think of anyone, he would have a better definition of atheism.

Still, bravo, and kudos to Mr. King for a fair and interesting interview.

Other Comments by Isherwood

22. Comment #233713 by Mark Till on August 20, 2008 at 10:07 am

 avatarRe. 20 -

I know, very annoying to hear Maher agree with that. Atheism isn't an extreme position at all. Not only is there no reason to suppose any religion true, there are plenty of reasons (scientific, historical, philosophical, logical) to suppose all religions false. This isn't a 50/50. It isn't a case of shrugging one's shoulders and saying, "Well, we don't really know..."

Such supernatural claims have no foundation of any kind. Rejecting them is not even a strong position, let alone an extreme one.

Other Comments by Mark Till

23. Comment #233717 by Vaal on August 20, 2008 at 10:14 am

 avatarI would define atheism as a rejection of supernaturalism.

Other Comments by Vaal

24. Comment #233720 by Lucas on August 20, 2008 at 10:21 am

 avatarThe comic book comments are a lot more right on than many may think. Maher may or may not be aware that he is making a basic point about serial narrative structure. Every time Batman takes down the Joker, he goes to Arkham for awhile, and then escapes and tries a different scheme. It is a story without end. Same for Superman/Luthor, X-Men/Magneto, Spider-Man/Doc Oc, etc. The only difference between the powerful fictions of comics and the powerful fictions of religion are that the former are overtly fictional and no one is expected to assume that they are descriptions of reality. Religions portray their narratives as actual people and events, placing them higher on the power scale, but I question whether the power of literal belief is necessary to absorb the moral lessons of any narrative. Batman is not real, but his legend has great moral significance.

EDIT: Also I should note that my final internal decision that there was in fact no God came around the same time I decided that I was in fact not Wolverine. Somewhere around age 8.

Other Comments by Lucas

25. Comment #233729 by Mark Till on August 20, 2008 at 10:52 am

 avatar24. -

I too thought the comic book analogy perceptive. God and Satan (Heaven and Hell) are just as self-supporting in a religious narrative as Batman and the Joker are in the narrative of The Dark Knight (which is a stunning film, by the way).

And that's not the only similarity, either...

Other Comments by Mark Till

26. Comment #233785 by A guy named Joe on August 20, 2008 at 12:06 pm

Long time lurker, first time poster. I saw Bill Maher on stage last week in Ann Arbor, much of his Larry King interview was from his act. On Larry King, you get sound bites, on stage for 90 minutes, he elaborates much more, swears more also. Overall, he is very on target. He prefers "rationalist" to "atheist". That makes sense. His anti-pharmaceutical opinions are really against the abuses by the pharmaceutical companies (I'm a physician--I agree with him, we push too many drugs and not enough common sense). He is a member of PETA, but thinks animals in zoos might have a better life than in the wild.

If you get a chance to see his stand-up, most on this page would enjoy.

Other Comments by A guy named Joe

27. Comment #233849 by CruciFiction on August 20, 2008 at 1:16 pm

To meet the Academy's rule stating that non-fiction films must screen for one week in a commercial theater in both New York and L.A. in order to qualify for a Best Documentary nomination,

RELIGULOUS IS PLAYING ON Thursday, August 21 at:

Creative Entertainment Coliseum Quad
703 West 181st Street, New York, NY10034

(212) 740-1545

Showtimes: 1pm & 3pm

Also at:

Laemmle's Claremont 5
450 West 2nd Street, Claremont, CA 91711

Showtimes: 1pm & 3pm

Other Comments by CruciFiction

28. Comment #233853 by Diacanu on August 20, 2008 at 1:20 pm

 avatarHey, Crucifiction, howcome your Dawkins videos have your name pop up throughout?

That some kind of anti-theft watermark or something?

It's mildly irritating.
You timed it to be between chapter lulls, so it didn't take me out of it or nothing, but I'm just saying...

Other Comments by Diacanu

29. Comment #233886 by CruciFiction on August 20, 2008 at 2:12 pm

Diacanu,

Heh, it is not "anti-theft". I will PM.

Other Comments by CruciFiction

30. Comment #233887 by crazy4blues on August 20, 2008 at 2:13 pm

 avatarGreat clip! I nominate Bill Maher, Penn Jillete, Lewis Black, and George Carlin (in absentia, of course) as The Four Horsemen of Comedy!

Other Comments by crazy4blues

31. Comment #233945 by Pseudonym_A-Parris on August 20, 2008 at 4:14 pm

GO BILL!

Other Comments by Pseudonym_A-Parris

32. Comment #233995 by vaillancourtroch on August 20, 2008 at 5:17 pm

Can someone let Bill Maher know that atheism is not about being certain there is no God? And it's also not a religion! We should set him straight before he does too much damage.

Other Comments by vaillancourtroch

33. Comment #234087 by madame_zora on August 20, 2008 at 9:14 pm

 avatar[quote = "A guy named Joe"]
He prefers "rationalist" to "atheist". That makes sense. His anti-pharmaceutical opinions are really against the abuses by the pharmaceutical companies (I'm a physician--I agree with him, we push too many drugs and not enough common sense). He is a member of PETA, but thinks animals in zoos might have a better life than in the wild.
[/quote]

I agree that Maher is a well-grounded atheist representative, that he doesn't get the subtleties of the definition yet probably have more to do with the fact that he has a life than that he meant to do harm to the cause. It's not as if he spends his time on message boards like we do, haha.

I also think he's been unfairly tarred and feathered (mostly by us) for his stance on the pharmaceutical industry- most people really are unaware of how corrupt it actually is, it's refreshing to hear a member from that field confirm it for the rest of us. I turned down a job as a sales rep for a pharm. company several years ago when I saw how much of my position would be to teach the physician how to "sell" the product to the patient- it disgusted me. As a lobbyist in effect, I would have been responsible for taking doctors out to lunches, offer them samples and even kickbacks for selling that company's product, and that's not unique- it's just how business is conducted. People need to understand this before they even consider taking "designer drugs".

Anyway, tremendous interview with Maher, nothing like a movie to spread an anti-meme. I hope a lot more of them follow, and some songs and art would be great too.

Other Comments by madame_zora

34. Comment #234115 by AuntieChriststain on August 20, 2008 at 10:07 pm

Who has the rights to the Doobie Brothers hit parade library? Did they (The Doobs) really sign of on to that hilarious cartoon stage skit at Jesus World "Hey zoos are alright with me? lmao...if so, I'm (up)chucking all my Doobie Brothers music...I didn't realize "ALL-Right" meant Pat Robertson-James Dobson whack-o-right...

Other Comments by AuntieChriststain

35. Comment #234567 by jre on August 21, 2008 at 3:22 pm


I hope the Maher-haters noticed that he said GERM. Can we finally put to rest the notion that Bill Maher denies the Germ Theory of Disease?

Hee, hee! http://www.billmaher.com/?page_id=161">You bet!


MAHER: I don't believe in vaccination either.

HEALY: Oh, dear.

MAHER: That's â€" what? That's another theory that I think is flawed. And that we go by the Louis Pasteur theory even though Louis Pasteur renounced it on his own death bed and said, "Beauchamps was right; it's not the invading germs, it's the terrain. It's not the mosquitoes, it's the swamp that they're breeding in." [applause]

RENO: What are you going to do about smallpox?

MAHER: What am I going to do about smallpox? Not go to the chicken farm. [laughter]


It is not hating Bill Maher to acknowledge that, along with his wit, considerable courage and willingness to challenge other people's silly beliefs, he has some really, really silly beliefs of his own.

Other Comments by jre

36. Comment #234571 by kkelly on August 21, 2008 at 3:30 pm

I suspect Bill Maher gets these insane beliefs from the LA bimboes who live a "conscious lifestyle" he dates. PETA? anti-vaccines? These have empty-headed trophy sextoy written all over them.

Other Comments by kkelly

37. Comment #235136 by FinnHawk on August 22, 2008 at 1:09 pm

Here's a longer version of the interview... sorry, even this isn't the full version.

PART 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GzIUJdj0oc

PART 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEmwKhKdZKI

PART 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6SapAZ9PN8

Other Comments by FinnHawk

38. Comment #237803 by Veon on August 27, 2008 at 7:41 am

 avatarThis interview gave me a deeper insight into Bill Maher and I like him more for it.

Looking forwards to his movie.

Other Comments by Veon

39. Comment #244928 by ksskidude on September 9, 2008 at 8:58 pm

 avatarI love Maher!! I watch his HBO show every Friday night. I always find it refreshing and informative. I do however disagree with him about vaccinations. We need them!!

Other Comments by ksskidude

40. Comment #248715 by leesa on September 16, 2008 at 5:15 pm

So... does anyone know where to find Larry's entire interview with Bill?

Maybe as a torrent?

Other Comments by leesa

41. Comment #257394 by computechnica on September 30, 2008 at 11:30 am

 avatarI live in wonderfully tollerant state of Oklahoma so I have to wait until the DVD comes out. Need to move to Seattle soon. Opie and Anthony had a excellent interview with Larry Charles the movies Director.

Other Comments by computechnica

42. Comment #257890 by grendelsfriend on October 1, 2008 at 8:20 am

If others are having trouble seeing the full show, (it has been pulled from the tube for terms of use violation etc,) just follow the link to cnn.com for the full twenty-something minutes.
http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2008/08/20/lkl.bill.maher.cnn?iref=videosearch

grendelsfriend

Other Comments by grendelsfriend

43. Comment #257911 by grendelsfriend on October 1, 2008 at 8:44 am

Now, since Im new to this Bill Maher guy, except for shorts on youtube, where do I go to sign up to his newsletter;
or since reading overmuch is likely to strain that miracularly irreducible creation, the eye, a good video collection of his regular show would be great.

Other Comments by grendelsfriend
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