Bill Maher on Koran Burning and the Mosque

I loved the movie. Although the ending was a little overplayed, I think it’s a message that needed to be said.

I’ll tell you what I wasn’t a fan of, though. His recent comedy special “But, I’m Not Wrong.” There was more cheering than laughing, so I’m not sure if it was rant or a comedy special. I agreed with lots of what he said, but he just wasn’t being comedic most of the time.

Can’t wait for his new season. I just hope he doesn’t keep trying to advocate against getting vaccinated. That interview with Bill Frist was awful, and did nothing but hurt society’s view of Atheists.

You can also download the show at EZTV.IT after it airs. That’s how I always get it.

Does anyone know of a better way than iTunes to get the eisodes?

I don’t like him particularly. He’s an atheist but he isn’t a scpetic. It’s as though he came across his position on god because of bitterness with religion as opposed to because of intellectual reasoning, hence his commitment to absolute (and sometimes dangerous) absurdity like his anti vaccine crap.

Couple of things:

1. @Chris: Don’t kid yourself. He’s using the “I”m just asking questions” smokescreen that creationists, truthers, and moon hoaxers do. Orac has a good write-up here. Also don’t forget Shermer’s smackdown delivered at the HuffPo, of all places.

Maher is for the most part anti-vaccine. He supports use of the HPV vax, but only because the fundies think it encourages schoolgirls to have wanton sex.

2. Correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t King’s recent interview the first time Maher has called himself an atheist? Wikipedia has a few references of him denying he ever was one.

Wait, so Maher has changed his mind about being an atheist? These are all quotes by Maher made over the last few years (that mattand referred to above):

“I’m not an atheist. There’s a really big difference between an atheist and someone who just doesn’t believe in religion. Religion to me is a bureaucracy between man and God that I don’t need. But I’m not an atheist, no. I believe there’s some force. If you want to call it God…”

“I’m not an atheist, though, because the belief that there is no God only mirrors the certitude of religion”

“I’m not convinced that God exists. But I do allow the possibility. I’m not an atheist. I’m open.”

…….

And that last quote is from this year!

You’re one confusing (and apparently confused) boy, Bill Maher. But if you’ve finally figured out that atheism doesn’t inherently involve certainty, then great. It’s about time 🙂

LS wrote:

in regards to Maher’s flip-flopping position on whether he’s a theist or an agnostic or an atheist, to malign him for that is ridiculous

Hence my “great. It’s about time” postscript remark.

When someone gets an award that honors “an outstanding atheist” and says elsewhere “i’m not an atheist“, you think it’s “maligning” to merely point out the hypocrisy and/or ignorance there?

Apparently Maher learned that he was ignorant about the term ‘atheist’ somewhere along the line and rectified his position…….this is a good thing.

@Chris:

The problem with Maher’s skepticism about vaccines is that he’s still “just asking questions” long after the evidence is in that they safe for a major section of society.

Here’s the CDC’s numbers regarding seasonal flu shot risk. If your doctor can’t or won’t supply you info regarding flu shots, you should go see another doctor.

Honestly, it sounds like you’re making the argument that since vaccines are 100% safe for everyone, they shouldn’t be used. That’s a standard anti-vax argument that doesn’t take into account herd immunity.

Regarding the cooped-up 70 year old: is this person hypothetical? If they can, why wouldn’t they a doctor? Is this someone you know?

I’m not saying don’t be skeptical. However, like evolution, the science is on this one.

@AxeGrrl:

You’re right on the money. Maher has been painting atheism as the flip side of religion for a while. He seemed to be equating atheism with “absolute certainty of no god/afterlife/Valhalla/etc.”

IIRC even people like James Randi and Dawkins allow for the possibility of some sort of god. However, they want solid, testable evidence. Which, shockingly enough, is pretty tough to come by.

If he’s calling himself an atheist now, hopefully he’s got a better understanding of the word.

@mattland: just because someone is not willing to blindly swallow the pill their doctor gave doesn’t make them anti-science. I’m not sure what process in your brain forced you to (illogically) deduce that I am anti-vax because I question whether it is in my best interest to receive the flu shot.

The CDC website is clearly trying to provoke an emotional response from its readers. And why not? AGAIN, from their perspective herd immunity is a nicer outlook than billions of dollars in health care expenses. They only see the hypothetical “average person”. You and I are not “average”.

Perhaps before you get the flu shot, consider this: 2117 people died from 2009 H1N1 (0.679 per hundred thousand people in the US) while 868 developed “severe complications” from the shot (0.683 per hundred thousand people who got the shot). Moreover, these risks are fundamentally different. If I choose to get the shot, the latter is UNAVOIDABLE. The former, and contracting the flu in general, is largely avoidable (depending on the level of person freedom you enjoy) For example, I work at home and can choose to interact with 0 people if I wish. If you happen to be a health care worker, you are on the opposite end of the spectrum and are more exposed to the risk of getting the flu. The point is, the pros and cons are different for every person.

@Chris: I never said you were anti-vax. However, you keep making these “be skeptical of shots” arguments that those groups make. The current evidence proves them wrong. And the CDC site is playing on emotions? You’re reading way too much into that.

You’re right; the pros and cons are different for everyone. That’s why you should talk to your doctor first. Have you done this?

As for you and me not being “average”: based on what? I work at home, too, but I still have to go to the store, drop in on clients, and visit relatives. You have to be Howard Hughes to avoid any contact with potential flu vectors.

I’m sorry those people you cited died due to vax complications. Comparing those numbers to the most recent car crash data, one is still more likely to die in an auto accident than from the flu vax. Again, talk to your physician first.

If you don’t want to get any flu shots, then don’t do it. No one’s forcing you to. But unless one has a solid medical reason, there’s little reason not to.