I am listening to Adam Carolla's
podcast where he's interviewing Bill Maher. Every time I hear Bill Maher do anything (and I even recently saw him live, at a pre-taping of his show), I am reminded of how many people give him shit. They do the "he's as bad as (x person on the right)". Well, first, I hate lazy parallels ("Democrats and Republicans are both horrible!"), and second, he's NOT. He is what he says he is. He's not some guy trying to tell gay people that they're destined for "hell" while they're simultaneously blowing dudes in bathrooms (which many fervently religious men have been oddly known to do). I'll give you that he's a sexist pig (and FYI, he's even
more unattractive in person, ladies), and his tone is often snarky (so?), but his views on religion are
sound. The problem is that religious people do NOT like having their man behind the curtain exposed (an analogy he uses in this podcast) and believe religion to be above reproach, literally,
sacred. And there's a tendency to hate on anyone who doesn't approach this topic with reverence, but instead with levity and a sense of "can you believe this shit??". Maher is, after all, a comedian. But if you listen to him dispassionately, what he's saying simply makes SENSE. His contention is that most religious people
aren't religious at all, and would give it up if they spent even a short time contemplating their faith in the cold light of day, and more importantly, if they could choose to do so outside of the structure they're part of. In other words, if your whole life has been spent in the church and it's your community and support and everyone in your family believes as well, there's no doubt that's a difficult thing to walk away from or do an about face from. You'd really have to restructure, and you might lose friends. He calls it the "Aunt Grace" (when people do walk away). He had an Aunt Grace who was religious, but once she died, the whole family, including his parents, dropped their faith because in fact they'd ultimately been keeping the fires burning only for her. Maybe to show respect or out of complacency, or even if you like the food at the church/temple dinners, or because it gives comfort/structure. There are lots of reasons people stay in the web. Which is why I give major props to people who can "come out" as atheist after a religious upbringing. That takes some balls.
He also contends that most Catholics simply ignore most of the laws that their religion explicitly lays down, taking what's convenient and dismissing it, and sorta-kinda following the rest (and how exhausting that cycle of rationalization must be). He cites that 60% of Jesus-believing people actually
believe the story of Noah's ark. That a 900 year old man somehow got two of every species (including every insect) onto a boat, and they all survived and were able to successfully procreate. But if you accept some parts of the bible, you must accept this as well.
Things that really bother me re: how people see atheists: 1.) that atheists are somehow seen as lacking morals, since apparently morals are bestowed on one by a diety/the bible. This is ridiculous. One could argue that atheists are the most moral people there are, because there is
no threat to be good. It's done because it's the right thing to do. Ultimately, I think this is why
most people are good. And 2.) people who contend that "atheism is just another religion". NO, it is not. It's a
lack of belief, not another belief system. With no constructs, no magic underwear, no bible. It's simply another lazy parallel to call it a religion. As Bill said, atheists get out of religion (or aren't part of it) because they want to get
away from group-think, not be part of another one. So though I appreciate events like the
Reason Rally, I'm not sure they're necessary. But then again, since atheists are often considered "evil" (and that doesn't exist either), I'm sure it's nice to get together with like-minded people and...think things. And know that the national percentage of atheists is hugely on the rise. Not at European levels, but rising steadily. Life where love is the most important thing.
