Is Bill Maher and Mos Def.. Passive about certain religions?
Offline As we all know, Bill Maher is a renown atheist and liberal with his own talkshow and he is known to invite fellow musician/rapper Mos Def along. And I have seen the two have debates on Maher's show. However after watching some of his show along with Religilous, I have noticed he tends to have a soft spot for Judaism (this also helps that one of his parents were also Jewish). In religilous he bashes most of the religions and barely bashes Judaism. He pokes fun ad some Jews who were making devices to skip through holes in their religion (or something about using modern technology while being obedient). The other person he bashes was that Rabbi who was against Israel and supportive of Palestine. Now of course on his show he has also stated several times that he believes the US military should help Israeli lives if it ever came down to it.
Now as for Mos Def, I've heard stories that he is either an atheist who is a Muslim sympathizer, or actually is a Muslim. However, it is interesting note that he has spoken out against the Christian Church, saying that the old ways of the Bible died out some time ago and that the new Christianity is corrupt. However, at the same time he has on numerous occasions defended Islam, as well as seemed to support the creation of nuclear bombs in the Middle east and the disarmment of them in the US, he conspires that 9/11 was an inside job, Osama Bin Laden didn't do it, and the video's we see of him are not him actually taking about Terror, but rather he's innocent. Basically Muslims to him are never wrong.
Though I can get the Impression Mos may actually just be a Muslim, Maher is a more confusing story.. Is he an Atheist? Or a closet Jew? Or simply has a soft spot?
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Originally the topic was only about Maher which is why I used "Is" instead of "Are" since it was only before I posted.
Maybe. One clear reason that Maher and other atheists are soft on Judaism is that Christians and Muslims are trying to convert everyone to their way of thinking including getting their religious views into our secular schools and law courts; and they do it in a most energetic in-your-face-way. Jews simply do not do that.
Jews do not proslytize, their religion is more concerned with how to live a good life here and now, heaven is no big deal to them nor is it any great reward. More importantly they don't come nocking on doors trying to shove their beliefs onto total strangers. It's hard to critisize people who join charities and secular politics in numbers far above their share of the population. And religious Jews keep to themselves in a way I wish born-agains and true-believers-in-allah would imitate.
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So he's an Atheist who sympathizes with them?
The attitudes of the Israelis in the Middle East, especially about their ''Promised Land", are quite unhelpful in resolving the conflict there. Not that the 'other side' is arguably even more worthy of blame, of course, but it is sad to see many of the punitive over-reactions and unnecessarily provocative counter-measures that an allegedly more enlightened society resorts to.
Their self-focus and "chosen people" attitudes have ultimately contributed to their historic problems with other groups, even if they are not guilty of the annoying proselytizing of Christians, or the even worse aggressive drive to convert the world by force displayed by certain Muslims.
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agreed Bob... Believing they have magic DNA from a wandering tribe of dessert nomads with no sense of direction has certainly not done well for thier community interaction, historically...
What I find hysterical is that fundamentalist christians support and Isreali state because they believe it will usher in the era of the 2nd coming, hence elliminating those annoying Christ Killers once and for all eternity....hahahaha... with friends like that, who needs Muslims?
As far as Bill Maher and Mos Dumb.... Maher (who I usually like) gives "look away" passes to a lot of people... and he seems to tolerate racism when it comes from a black person... Mos Def will take any anti-American position even if it means allowing Iran to have Nuclear weapons... Maher would be better suited having guests on his show who are capable of making lucid assertions...
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Do you know who wasn't soft on Jews?
/godwinned
I dissagree. Jews advertise, but they don't preach. Israel's national flag is an advertisement, and even their ambulances sport the Star of David. And they constantly bash anyone who blasphemes or criticizes Israel.
Jews should not be treated any differently than any other religion. As horrible as the Holocaust was, I still think some Jews milk that to maintain a taboo. Not to mention, even though they don't preach, they still believe in an invisible friend in the sky. Certainly they are Westernized and secular, but it is still a cult of superstition and tradition based on "just because".
I am on the side of secular pluralism strictly from a protection of human freedom empathy standpoint. But that should not include the inability of others to verbally dissent on a given issue. Far to many Jews, NOT ALL, but far to many fall into the same left wing politically correct trap.
Israel is the adult in the region but seems to lower itself to the standards of violence and claim self defense when what they should do is realize that they are NOT dealing with adults, instead far too many times they make things worse by lowering themselves to the childish standards of those who don't like them.
The biggest problem I have with Israel is that many of it's supporters who have good intent don't know how to take criticism.
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That's the most energetic responses to any post I've ever made and I have over 1100. My opinion is still valid and I wont change it. I never mentioned Israel nor mid east politics and I never said Maher sympathized with Jews. He might I just wouldn't use the word while trying to explain why Jews get a soft touch from atheists.
Lets face it Jews and Bhuddists, Jains & B'hai's just aren't in our faces with their nonsense. Christians, Muslims and Scientologist are highly vocal about their fairy tales and it comes down to "The squeeky wheel gets the oil"'. Jews are not getting a free ride it's just that noisy religios are getting most of our attention.
"Very funny Scotty; now beam down our clothes."
VEGETARIAN: Ancient Hindu word for "lousy hunter"
If man was formed from dirt, why is there still dirt?
Jains are only known for being intolerant to food.
Theism is why we can't have nice things.
I love Israel, and I am neither ethnically Jewish or a theist. Maher's opinions on Israel sound a bit like my own. They are a state worthy of our support. It would actually be better if we cut off support to them and to their enemies though; since we actually give more dollars in aid to their enemies than to them. But, if we are going to play this game of giving aid to the middle east, then it is good that we give Israel aid and support them. If they are ever on the verge of destruction, I would hope that we would be there to lend military support. They are a liberalized democracy surrounded by hostile nations that aren't. For that reason alone I support them. They have some serious problems with some or their hard line Jews and they have this 'we're special' BS that a lot of them believe, but I don't see that as a reason to deny them moral and material support.
If I had to take a guess: atheist who is culturally an Ashkenazi jew with a strong soft spot for other jews and Israel. About 35% of Israelis are atheists, so it isn't that weird that Maher has a culturally jewish identity and is an atheist. I have a jewish aunt who is either an atheist or some kind of deist or something. Barely religious jews who don't really subscribe to jewish theology seem common in my experience and are common even in Israel according to opinion studies performed there.
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British General Charles Napier while in India
I know Jains from a special I saw - they walk around in public totally NAKED. Two hairy old men. Yech.
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It sounds like Maher's feelings towards the Jewish community mirror my own towards the Catholic Community I was brought up in. I no longer share the beliefs, but I'm still connected with the community and respect them. Like Maher's jews, they're into their own faith and customs but very liberal, relaxed and respectful over what other people belief. They're as against fundamentalism as the rest of us.
Within all religions you'll find liberal/moderate sections.
Within all religions you'll find extreme sections.
Granted, some religions are more prone to extremism than others but they all generally have their ups and downs.
That's why I ultimately don't class one religion as above another and feel that individual factions/communities/believers should be judged for how they are.
While I think all religion is incorrect, I find sect vary with degrees of respectability.
When you've had good experiences with one religion and bad experiences with another, it's tempting to characterise the entire religion based on your experiences.
I've gradually learnt that the liberal Catholic Community of my upbringing is not representative of Catholicism in general.
The very modern and humanstic book which sold Buddhism to me in my late teens does not necessarily represent Buddhism how it is most commonly understood in the east with the mysticism and supernaturalism.
Conversely, I've learned that religions and groups that have often received bad press often have a respectable, moderate population that are over-looked in favour of the "loud shouters".
I don't treat all religion equally. If I could press one button to remove any one religion, goodbye Islam. Mostly for the apostasy punishment. I'd put Judaism pretty far down on the list. I have less of a problem with Jainism and Hinduism, Judaism comes after that. I don't consider Buddhism a religion.
The reason I "sympathize" with Jews and Hindus is the same that has already been mentioned. They stay out the way, they don't proselytize, and they don't really care if you don't believe in their imaginary friend. But Jews don't deserve a pass by any means. They have the most ridiculous books of any religion, and they've only got five. An atheist has a life time of ammunition in Leviticus alone. Throw in Deuteronomy for more ridiculous shit, Genesis for bad science, and you don't even need the other two.
But I watch Maher weekly, and I wouldn't say he's soft on Jews. His show is regarding current affairs. Christians and Muslims stay in the headlines, of course it seems he bashes them disproportionately.
Here's the thing:
You do get aggressive/preaching/political Jews and Hindus.
Buddhism can be treated like just a philosophy but it can also be treated as a supernatural religion.
What's more, Christians and Muslims can also be moderate and just keep to their own communities and own ways while respecting others.
Granted, I agree that some religions are more likely to cause shit than others.
Islam and Christianity tend to have more aggressive factions than other religions.
But that doesn't mean that Islam and Christianity are always like that and it doesn't mean other religions never play up.
The Catholic Community I was brought up in, for example, is just like your ideas of Jews and Hindus that you sympathise with.
What's more, although Jewish and Hindu extremists don't tend to make our news, in Israel and India you could quite easily find stories that would quell your sympathy.