For the Religulous Bashers… March 8, 2009

For the Religulous Bashers…

By Guest Contributor
March 8, 2009

Whether or not you liked Bill Maher‘s movie Religulous, no doubt it had impact with people not used to seeing their faith directly challenged:

religulous

That’s courtesy of PostSecret.

By the way… there’s a *chance* I may get to meet Bill Maher on Wednesday night. I’m not sure, but I’m optimistic.

If I do, what question or two would you like me to ask him?

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  • AxeGrrl

    Bill, why do you CONSTANTLY misrepresent ‘atheism’ by suggesting that it means ‘being certain that god(s) don’t exist‘?

    is it ignorance of the term or ‘public relations’?

  • Two questions:

    Did you know I wrote this book? (Hand him a free copy.)

    Can I be on your show?

    Done.

  • Arnaud

    I’d definitely ask, “Do you have any idea what a weak atheist is?”

  • why he’s so uptight about breastfeeding.

  • The post secret could be talking about that long hair hippy in the dress and not Maher. It would be more ironic that way.

  • Lauren

    I’m just curious why he didn’t interview some of the bigger crazies for his movie, like Rick Warren (pun intended) or some IDiots. Did they refuse?
    I have to say, I liked Religulous. Maybe it wasn’t perfect, but maybe it made some people think about their hypocrisy and ask questions instead of just towing the line. But then, I’m biased. I’m an atheist. 🙂

  • I really enjoyed “Politically Incorrect” back when it was on ABC. I rarely agree with him, but he is great at starting thought-provoking discussions. I’d watch “Real Time” but I don’t have HBO.

  • Jodie

    Are you going to see him and Ann Coulter? If so, I’m SURE you need a redhead pin-up on your arm that night 😉
    The problem with him debating Coulter is that they are both kind of jerks. Except that he is a more articulate jerk. I would add more smart, but his anti-vax stance kind of rules that out.

  • Bill, how can you exercise such rigorous critical thinking skill in some areas, yet be so hopelessly credulous in others?

  • Richard Wade

    Now that Religulous has been out for a while, if you could re-make it what would you do differently?

  • Leanstrum

    “Bill, why are you such a great antitheist but such a self-righteous, sanctimonious PETA-fellater at the same time?”

    (I’m not against animal rights, it’s just that PETA can be real dicks – hence the fellating)

  • Sock

    Ask him when he’s going to -stop- plugging his movie.

  • justanotherjones

    A couple people have already beat me to it, but I’ll say it anyway. Why does he constantly misrepresent atheism?

    Oh, and I would love to see you on his show, Hemant.

  • I also support asking about the misrepresentation of atheism.

    Why not also ask if he’s thought of having PZ Myers on his show?

  • christi

    Why he knows it is wrong to cut up little girls’ genitals, but thinks baby boys deserve to have part of their dick cut off without their consent.

    (Hint: science doesn’t support circumcision, but religion does)

  • I second Paul:

    Bill, how can you exercise such rigorous critical thinking skill in some areas, yet be so hopelessly credulous in others?

  • Todd

    Why does he make fun of creationists, while rejecting Germ Theory?

  • llewelly

    I second Todd’s suggestion:

    Why does he make fun of creationists, while rejecting Germ Theory?

  • I’d ask him to have more scientists come on his show and talk about the exciting things happening in physics and other fields that are furthering our understanding of everything.

    I’m bored with all the religious fundies v atheism stuff now. It doesn’t get anywhere. Each side just get more defensive, dig their heels in, and it just goes the way philosophical discussions go, you know? Everyone’s screaming and nobody is taking in anything.

  • Anticontrame

    Whatever you ask, print out that Postsecret and show him. I bet it’d make an impression.

    Ditto what was said about misrepresenting atheism.

  • Dan

    Hemant, I have to agree with AxeGrrl, justanotherjones, and Anticontrame- if you get the chance to talk to him, please ask him why he doesn’t seem to understand what the word “atheist” means. As one of only a few antitheist celebrities out there, he’s not doing our community a very good service by misrepresenting us.

  • Did you see the link from Postsecret? Confessions of Life, Death and God. I’m reserving judgment until the examples are a little less ambiguous.

  • Aj

    His audience, probably majority christians, usually separate agnostic vs atheist, as don’t know vs doesn’t exist. Maher may himself use these definitions, it’s unfortunate but to be expected.

    I’d like someone to ask him how someone who calls themselves a “rationalist” can be such a kook when it comes to medicine.

  • Did you see the link from Postsecret? Confessions of Life, Death and God. I’m reserving judgment until the examples are a little less ambiguous.

    I requested an interview with the author last week but have not heard back yet…

  • Several people have said it already but basically, yeah, I want to know how he can be so pro-science on one hand and yet apply the same logical fallacies as creationists to health and medicine. And then introduce him to The Skeptics Guide To The Universe and JREF.

  • Craig

    Why did this week’s show suck so much. Did he not prepare for it?
    His interviews with T Boone Pickens and Peter Singer were totally lame.

    (No, I’m not seriously suggesting you waste your question opportunity on this…)

  • Eskomo

    I would flip a coin, hide it under my palm and ask him simply heads or tails. If he makes a choice, then I would tell him an agnostic would answer that he doesn’t know. A theist merely has chosen a belief in god while an atheist has chosen no belief in god, both without any real evidence.

  • PostSecret will occasionally print e-mails written about particular postcards featured on the site. As soon as I saw this one, I sent an e-mail that essentially said, “Please tell this person it’s okay to not have religion.” Perhaps if a few more of us do the same thing, one might be printed. (The address is frank at postsecret dot com)

  • CatBallou

    Eskomo, believing in something despite the lack of evidence is nothing like not believing in something for which there is no evidence.
    I don’t believe in leprechauns, or unicorns, or fairies at the bottom of my garden, because there is no evidence. People who do believe in them are gullible and naive.
    Same goes for gods.

  • Pseudonym

    Hemant, I dare you to ask him why an anti-vaccine wingnut has any authority to decide who is “crazy” and who is “rational”.