The problem with Bill Maher

DanCorb · 16-10-2008 11:24pm #1

I'm as happy as the next guy here that Bill Maher is promotion skepticism, however he perpetuates the bad name of atheism.

In all his interviews he makes a point of saying he is certainly not an atheist. He describes it as "the same kind of certainty as religion" and:

"I don't use the word "atheist" about myself, because I think it mirrors the certitude I'm so opposed to in religion"

Bill Bill Bill. How could he make his latest movie without even knowing the definition of atheism? It is simply lack of belief. Atheism does not equal absolute certainty.

Dave! · 17-10-2008 1:09am

Yeah I also don't like the way he argues against atheism...

I think he said he calls himself a 'rationalist' now

Zillah · 17-10-2008 1:44am

He's been quoted as saying he's a deist.

pH · 17-10-2008 8:04am

He's also been quoted as saying that pretty much all disease is caused by diet and lack of exercise. He doesn't subscribe to the "germ theory" of disease. While he has his funny moments the guy is a borderline crank.

Zillah · 17-10-2008 8:43am

Wait. Lets get that cleared up; he doesn't think bacteria/viruses/parasites cause illness?

Pompey Magnus · 17-10-2008 9:54am

He also believes that the father is less important in a child's development than the mother is. He does seem to say some pretty silly stuff, but then he gets alot right also and he can be very funny in so doing.

DanCorb · 17-10-2008 10:59am

Wow, he really thinks he is the authority on everything.

Zamboni · 17-10-2008 3:54pm

The guy is a comedian/presenter. His 'documentary' is a piss take.
Its by no means a serious ground breaking look at religion.

Does it matter what he defines himself as or if he knows all the different intricate variations and definitions of atheism/agnosticism/deism/......?

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 17-10-2008 3:57pm

Zillah wrote: »

Wait. Lets get that cleared up; he doesn't think bacteria/viruses/parasites cause illness?

he thinks the vast majority of illnes in the west is caused by poor diet, and the pharmaceutical industry.. it comes up on his show every now and again, but luckily enough his panelists just look at him like he's an idiot and he moves swiftly on.

limerick_woody · 17-10-2008 9:11pm

I think that it is well known across the pond that Maher has some wacky views, he thinks milk is a poison as well! His denial of his clear athiest position however only highlights his ignorance of what atheism actually is. Having said that however, i think he is hilarious and i enjoy his real-time show every week. He attacks religion with a brilliant wit and sarcasm.

DapperGent · 18-10-2008 5:18pm

I don't think he disavows the germ theory of disease but simply thinks that most illhealth is as a result of poor nutrition and lifestyle, I personally think he's probably correct.

As far as milk for example goes, a quite rational arguement can be made for adult humans consuming stuff purposed for cow babies isn't such a good idea. Adult lactose intolerance is after all the default state of humanity.

Bottle_of_Smoke · 18-10-2008 9:17pm

Mordeth wrote: »

he thinks the vast majority of illnes in the west is caused by poor diet, and the pharmaceutical industry.. it comes up on his show every now and again, but luckily enough his panelists just look at him like he's an idiot and he moves swiftly on.

Depending on what he's talking about there could be some merit to that. Diebetes, heart problems etc. Then other things that might not appear as a good diet would lead to an improved immune system

Zillah · 19-10-2008 6:27pm

DapperGent wrote: »

As far as milk for example goes, a quite rational arguement can be made for adult humans consuming stuff purposed for cow babies isn't such a good idea. Adult lactose intolerance is after all the default state of humanity.

There is no such thing as a default state. At one stage our ancestors could not drink milk as adults, then there was a mutation (possibly two independently of each other) and now most people can. We have hearts for the same reason.

DapperGent · 20-10-2008 12:17am

I guess it's true to say that there's no real such thing as a default state but I think the mutation is recent enough and rare enough for definate question marks to be raised about the health benefits of consuming milk in adulthood.

As for most people producing lactase in adulthood certainly the vast majority of Irish people can given our history of herding but looking at the world as a whole, most people are lactose intolerant to one degree or another.

The problem with Bill Maher

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