General Discussion

DirkGently

(12,151 posts)

156. As usual, Maher's tone is overly harsh. As usual, he has a point.

Wed Dec 28, 2011, 12:30 PM

Dec 2011

Here he's talking about a sincere, hardworking young athlete whose faith apparently sustains and inspires him. Nothing wrong with any of that. So perhaps Tim Tebow is not the best choice of targets for religious mockery.

But it's also true that Tebow's flavor of religious zeal -- where "Jesus" is an active supporter of nice, clean-cut young men everywhere, helping them win football games and the like, IS ridiculous arrogance and part and parcel of the worst of American Christian fundamentalism. "Look at me, my entire life is the special project of an almighty, omniscient deity who favors my worldview and political preferences. I'm special, and my church is right about everything."

Pretty silly, and not entirely innocuous either. If Tim Tebow writes Biblical citations on his lampblack patches, and Tim Tebow thinks abortion is immoral, and Tim Tebow wins football games because he has earned the favor of Jesus, we should all think seriously about disagreeing with him.

It's not going too far to point out how ridiculous and pompous all of that is by raising the obvious question of what it means when the Chosen One falls flat on his face. Is his god weak, or did he simply displease him? Etc.

Again, Tebow wouldn't be my first choice of a target for this kind of scathing, dead-on accurate mockery. I doubt he's ever stopped to think that all the Christian posturing is a form of self-aggrandizement. But it is, so it's not entirely unfair for Maher to point it out, either.

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Bill Maher Takes Heat Over Tim Tebow Tweet [View all] geardaddy Dec 2011 OP

how come scores are god's personal blessing but interceptions are never god's punishment? nt msongs Dec 2011 #1

lol. geardaddy Dec 2011 #2

Clearly, the D-Back was praying harder, that's all. JoePhilly Dec 2011 #5

God doesn't punish Christians. They are covered by "grace", so nothing bad that happens to them yodermon Dec 2011 #8

Jesus As a Spiritual Pin Cushion NashVegas Dec 2011 #129

Interceptions are the way Jesus tests your faith! See how that works? n/t FormerDittoHead Dec 2011 #36

Interceptions Are Not God's Punishment Yavin4 Dec 2011 #39

God prefers blitzing linebackers Warren DeMontague Dec 2011 #99

God's pro team is the New Orleans Saints. His college team is Notre Dame. yellowcanine Dec 2011 #151

It's a fair point. And isn't an interception a "blessing" for the OTHER team? yellowcanine Dec 2011 #150

Hae you seen Tebow pass? He hardly needs divine intervention to make an errant throw. nt NoGOPZone Dec 2011 #155

hey eric 'lighten up francis' spanone Dec 2011 #3

Francis is gone. BootinUp Dec 2011 #56

I love that quote! Logical Dec 2011 #79

I'd call it "trite, unfunny observation Union Scribe Dec 2011 #4

9 million saying that UnrepentantLiberal Dec 2011 #65

Maher is great and weare lucky to have him on our side! Logical Dec 2011 #78

But... But.... He's a proud atheist who supports legalizing TEH POT! And TEH GAYS! Warren DeMontague Dec 2011 #103

Maher hardly represents the best of what the left has to offer lapislzi Dec 2011 #6

For Maher, it = success izquierdista Dec 2011 #10

Agreed. TheWraith Dec 2011 #12

I don't. lapislzi Dec 2011 #134

Oh for fuck's sake. If the argument is that magic invisble friends help you win games Warren DeMontague Dec 2011 #27

"why is god intervening in football games but not Darfur" -- Because God Gambles on Football Games Yavin4 Dec 2011 #40

Can't stand Maher. emilyg Dec 2011 #31

Agreed. He's almost the anti-Coulter. nt Skip Intro Dec 2011 #58

Represents? Blacksheep214 Dec 2011 #71

Uh, satire is offensive by its nature. aquart Dec 2011 #104

Unless of course, Shankapotomus Dec 2011 #109

even more lame barbtries Dec 2011 #117

Maher doesn't exist to represent the left. He's a comedian. eom Fleshdancer Dec 2011 #147

I object to calling him trash. nm rhett o rick Dec 2011 #7

Shit. Carlin was a solid libertarian in later years and he said a lot worse. HopeHoops Dec 2011 #9

Oh, I know. geardaddy Dec 2011 #24

He's not particularly kind with FOX or CNN for that matter. HopeHoops Dec 2011 #26

I have never seen Tebow do his thing Puzzledtraveller Dec 2011 #11

My feelings about his exhibitionism is not pathological. immoderate Dec 2011 #15

I Guess You Don't Watch ESPN Yavin4 Dec 2011 #41

Good for Maher... mrmpa Dec 2011 #13

If they give you John, counter with Matthew 25:41-46. aquart Dec 2011 #105

If Tebow gives full credit to God when he does well.... JohnnyRingo Dec 2011 #14

Yep. It's like these idiots who think that "God" saved them from some tragedy that killed hundreds. Arugula Latte Dec 2011 #167

I bet Fox went after Limbaugh and Coulter with just as much self-righteousness. Fuzz Dec 2011 #16

Hilarious tweet from Maher! Cali_Democrat Dec 2011 #17

I thought it was as funny as hell..almost as funny as watching Jeebus Tebow getting his ass handed.. truebrit71 Dec 2011 #18

Tebow obviously didn't pray hard enough and long enough to his god to help win the game. Better Believe It Dec 2011 #19

LOL. AtomicKitten Dec 2011 #20

Bill Maher! Iggo Dec 2011 #21

Your edit of the tweet just outright fails to deliver the controversy. Warren Stupidity Dec 2011 #22

I didn't edit it. geardaddy Dec 2011 #23

LOL trumad Dec 2011 #25

Waaah, Waaaah. Someone made fun of my magic invisble friend. Warren DeMontague Dec 2011 #28

For if you fail once? kentuck Dec 2011 #29

This whole Tebow thing is preposterous on it's face... NavyDem Dec 2011 #30

O.K. that is a good one rufus dog Dec 2011 #45

I was just trying to inject a little humor into what I knew was going to become a contentious thread NavyDem Dec 2011 #61

And you did inject humor rufus dog Dec 2011 #68

Sorry, I just HAD to step in , here, and say... Ferretherder Dec 2011 #116

well Danmel Dec 2011 #108

or a Vikings fan geardaddy Dec 2011 #133

Any skewering of Tebow the Twit is OK with me. Odin2005 Dec 2011 #32

Stupid. originalpckelly Dec 2011 #33

Bill Maher is a dick head. styersc Dec 2011 #34

Yeah. We should give a free pass to all sorts of absurd bullshit, because "IT'S MY WEEWIGIN!!" Warren DeMontague Dec 2011 #42

WTF is "weeewigin"? n/t cherokeeprogressive Dec 2011 #46

Special Pleading, that's what's happening here. Warren DeMontague Dec 2011 #52

"thinks Jesus is personally intervening in his football games" cherokeeprogressive Dec 2011 #89

I don't GIVE A SHIT. And neither does Jesus. Who doesn't exist. Warren DeMontague Dec 2011 #97

Let's go back to your claim that Tebow said Jesus personally intervened... cherokeeprogressive Dec 2011 #173

I could play word games with you, despite the fact you've already been shown to be wrong Warren DeMontague Dec 2011 #181

here's a link barbtries Dec 2011 #119

You're using other people's words. You get that, right? n/t cherokeeprogressive Dec 2011 #180

religion. barbtries Dec 2011 #118

I guess you've heard of eye of the beholder... or maybe you haven't. cherokeeprogressive Dec 2011 #175

"Give a pass"? Who elected you the entity who decides what is to be allowed? styersc Dec 2011 #47

To be clear: You can believe whatever kind of absurd, idiotic, impossible, dumb-ass shit you want. Warren DeMontague Dec 2011 #51

I guess I should be more tolerant of those who styersc Dec 2011 #66

Yes, yes, the poor persecuted Christian Majority. Warren DeMontague Dec 2011 #98

I rescind the correction of your name. styersc Dec 2011 #111

You can believe whatever you want. You do not get a free pass for your beliefs. Warren Stupidity Dec 2011 #130

WAH wah wah. Someone doesn't agree with you and you name call like Lionessa Dec 2011 #137

I dont require agreement, just peace to believe as I wish. styersc Dec 2011 #140

It's gawd and jeebus' job to give you peace, not mine or Limbaugh's. Too bad you Lionessa Dec 2011 #146

No thanks. styersc Dec 2011 #161

like I said, you can believe whatever the fuck you want Warren DeMontague Dec 2011 #162

you 'rescind the correction of my name'? Oh, heavens, what will I do now? Warren DeMontague Dec 2011 #163

If it were not for religious dogma based ignorance, I could marry whom I wish Bluenorthwest Dec 2011 #126

Post removed Post removed Dec 2011 #164

Wow, you sure smoked out another "true Christian." LAGC Dec 2011 #183

Jealous much? Logical Dec 2011 #80

Yes, people with beliefs in invisible sky daddies should be ridiculed. Lionessa Dec 2011 #136

Maher is a comedian Shankapotomus Dec 2011 #168

I've never seen so many people threatened by an entity they say doesn't exist. cherokeeprogressive Dec 2011 #35

Odd, I'm feeling the same way. styersc Dec 2011 #37

He is an idiot, that s why people make fun of him! Logical Dec 2011 #81

I imagine you may even believe... LanternWaste Dec 2011 #121

Because the nonexistent entity has glassy-eyed believers all over the planet who keep Warren DeMontague Dec 2011 #43

Causes shit-fits on both sides, it seems. cherokeeprogressive Dec 2011 #44

Have you been paying ZERO fucking attention for the past 30 years??? Warren DeMontague Dec 2011 #49

Go ahead... let it all out. You'll feel better afterward. cherokeeprogressive Dec 2011 #54

Guess the whole "pharmacists not dispensing birth control", "anti-choice/anti-gay movement" Warren DeMontague Dec 2011 #55

Um, no. My daughter came out to me about five years ago and I wrote about it here that very night. cherokeeprogressive Dec 2011 #82

Yibbe Yabbo Hooobooo. Warren DeMontague Dec 2011 #96

Last time I'll say this... Tim Tebow does NOT think Jesus helps him win football games. cherokeeprogressive Dec 2011 #172

You've clearly never had your life f'd with by the religiously regressive. Lionessa Dec 2011 #138

+1 million to this post Eliminator Dec 2011 #69

As are all human constructs which exist nowhere but our own imaginations LanternWaste Dec 2011 #122

Fail Eliminator Dec 2011 #141

Worse, more like the after effects of a stroke. Lionessa Dec 2011 #139

You've about covered it. Control-Z Dec 2011 #74

"walk in your house uninvited..." In some states it's legal to KILL the people you just described. cherokeeprogressive Dec 2011 #85

Now THAT was a righteous-ass screed! Le Taz Hot Dec 2011 #123

Wow...fail.... Logical Dec 2011 #84

Find me an instance where Tim Tebow or any other person of faith made the claim that cherokeeprogressive Dec 2011 #87

When you praise god when you score a touchdown then you are saying he helped! Logical Dec 2011 #88

LOL. Yeah, I don't think so. Not unless you say something like "GOD HELPED!" cherokeeprogressive Dec 2011 #91

Is it ok to hate a parent who lets their kid die because they think god will cure them? Logical Dec 2011 #92

I could find that parent at fault for their child's death. Hate? I guess that depends on your cherokeeprogressive Dec 2011 #94

You think I'm full of hate because I don't want creationists writing public school science textbooks Warren DeMontague Dec 2011 #100

OK, so we have determined religious intolerance is OK sometimes but you get to decide? Logical Dec 2011 #120

So he's thanking God for something God had nothing to do with? That doesnt make sense. Warren DeMontague Dec 2011 #101

It makes sense to him, and other than that it's only your business because you choose to make it so. cherokeeprogressive Dec 2011 #170

you mean his making an anti-choice commercial wasn't making his faith our business? Warren DeMontague Dec 2011 #182

So in your world words are more important than actions? Weird. Lionessa Dec 2011 #142

You're intentionally being obtuse Eliminator Dec 2011 #145

I don't think you understand what prayer means to people of faith. cherokeeprogressive Dec 2011 #174

Yes they do, all the time Eliminator Dec 2011 #177

And there you have it. cherokeeprogressive Dec 2011 #178

Kurt Warner after winning the Super Bowl... truebrit71 Dec 2011 #157

So KW claimed that God guided his hand... and helped his team win? cherokeeprogressive Dec 2011 #176

Yup. "Without Him none of this is possible"... truebrit71 Dec 2011 #187

Well actually WDeM... styersc Dec 2011 #48

Thanks for showing up to add your little opinion there, Mr. Helper! Warren DeMontague Dec 2011 #50

I guess I'm just taking advantage of my newly found right styersc Dec 2011 #67

Knock yourself out, Jacko. Warren DeMontague Dec 2011 #95

When you have a logical argument, point it out. styersc Dec 2011 #112

Clearly your religiosity has stunted your ability to consider analogies then. Lionessa Dec 2011 #144

My logical argument is that it's fucking goofy to thank a giant invisible sky-man for his help with Warren DeMontague Dec 2011 #160

Nah. I'm with WDeM, all the way. Control-Z Dec 2011 #75

It is the construct in the minds of bigots that keeps me from equal rights. Bluenorthwest Dec 2011 #127

Sounds to me like the people angry at Maher's joke are the ones feeling threatened. DirkGently Dec 2011 #158

LOL! Otay! I'll play... cherokeeprogressive Dec 2011 #179

It is quite entertaining to see Tebow lose. Dawson Leery Dec 2011 #38

How is he a charlatan? RZM Dec 2011 #72

I think charlatan Dorian Gray Dec 2011 #154

I don't think he's a charlatan. AngryOldDem Dec 2011 #185

Tebow was touched by his Noodley Appendage - and faileth eipically jpak Dec 2011 #53

What would this thread be like if Tebow was a Muslim? Skip Intro Dec 2011 #57

I don't know what the thread would be like, Moses2SandyKoufax Dec 2011 #59

In general I think people on the left noamnety Dec 2011 #60

Personally, I think all the fundamentalists are whacked in the fucking head. Warren DeMontague Dec 2011 #64

Really? DU considers some patriarchal religions suckier than others? aquart Dec 2011 #107

We would be defending him from his unseemly dismissal by the Broncos Warren Stupidity Dec 2011 #131

Durr, did anybody expect conservatives to have a sense of humor?! FarLeftFist Dec 2011 #62

When the people in love with Tebow. bluestate10 Dec 2011 #63

Bill Maher & Westboro Baptist BOHICA12 Dec 2011 #70

Uh, no. A perfectly ridiculous (and stunningly mean-spirited) false equivalency. aquart Dec 2011 #106

No, they are both out there flame-throwing for fun and profit! BOHICA12 Dec 2011 #110

Except Maher is not opposed to the rights of any person or grup and Westboro's message is Bluenorthwest Dec 2011 #128

ITA BuddhaGirl Dec 2011 #153

Usually I defend Tebow RZM Dec 2011 #73

It's more disdain for people who blatantly disregard basic precepts of the religion they trumpet.. Fumesucker Dec 2011 #76

Is he one of those people? RZM Dec 2011 #77

Many Christians would be far more popular with non-Christians.. Fumesucker Dec 2011 #83

I don't deny it's over the top RZM Dec 2011 #86

DU is an online discussion forum.. Fumesucker Dec 2011 #90

Reminds me of something Joe Madison mentioned a week or two ago RZM Dec 2011 #93

Their mommies never made anti-abortion commercials that were aired during the Superbowl. GoCubsGo Dec 2011 #115

"a proud atheist who supports legalizing pot, same-sex marriage" Warren DeMontague Dec 2011 #102

Bolling was just projecting. GoCubsGo Dec 2011 #113

If God is on your side? kentuck Dec 2011 #114

This whole thread is a prime example of why I hope the Broncos trade Tebow randr Dec 2011 #124

maher a board member to PETA? lmfao. no wonder. that explains everything. ah ha. nt seabeyond Dec 2011 #125

I'm glad people don't freak-out and write articles about my tweets. tridim Dec 2011 #132

Tebow reminds me of prosperity theology Red Mountain Dec 2011 #135

I agree with Maher. If you claim God helps you win, you have to explain what happened when you lose. Hosnon Dec 2011 #143

As for the boycott... Loge23 Dec 2011 #148

Maher will likely see being called "disgusting vile trash" by Fox News as a badge of honor. yellowcanine Dec 2011 #149

Not Funny Bill otohara Dec 2011 #152

As usual, Maher's tone is overly harsh. As usual, he has a point. DirkGently Dec 2011 #156

So what's the disgusting vile offensive part? Ganja Ninja Dec 2011 #159

Matt Taibbi made the best point about Teblow hifiguy Dec 2011 #165

I'm angry about Maher's tweet, too rocktivity Dec 2011 #166

The Fox News hates tv that still deals with actual discernable reality. How can applegrove Dec 2011 #169

You can't say anything against the great and powerful Tebow. center rising Dec 2011 #171

Thank God for Bill Maher ellisonz Dec 2011 #184

Christmas Eve? liberalpress Dec 2011 #186

I have to ask. Blacksheep214 Dec 2011 #188

Excellent points. geardaddy Dec 2011 #189

This message was self-deleted by its author devilgrrl Dec 2011 #190