# Bill Maher stirs controversy with Tim Tebow tweet **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 28, 2011, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655 "2011-12-28T19:28:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2011, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/181 "2011-12-30T02:08:01Z")
Moved Cafe Society --\> Great Debates. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2011, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/182 "2011-12-30T02:26:12Z")
So let me see if I understand this–football player publicly bows to God with millions watching= nice, pleasant decent fellow, though thanking God has fuck-all to do with football. But–atheist comic points out how irrelevant religion is to football= angry, disturbed troll. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2011, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/183 "2011-12-30T03:43:35Z")
If Maher had merely said, in a dispassionate manner, “Religion is irrelevant to football,” then your objection might conceivably be relevant to the topic at hand. We all know that what he said went far beyond that though, and that he did so in a deliberately offensive manner. Heck, he didn’t even allude to relevance, much less mention it. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2011, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/184 "2011-12-30T04:09:33Z")
Funny you should mention Ned Flanders. There’s one goalie in the NHL (I can’t remember who it is), who’s a born-again Christian who has Ned Flanders on his helmet. I love it – I think that’s awesome. > [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > So let me see if I understand this–football player publicly bows to God with millions watching= nice, pleasant decent fellow, though thanking God has fuck-all to do with football. > > But–atheist comic points out how irrelevant religion is to football= angry, disturbed troll. Except he didn’t say that. He was mocking what the guy was doing, just to be a dick. For godsakes, many people here go on about how religion is nothing more than “superstition”. Athletes are notorious for being superstitious – whether they’re religious or not. ---
**Author:** ![Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disgruntled_Penguin)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2011, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/185 "2011-12-30T04:20:36Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > Is this in the talking points now? This is a misunderstanding of what is in Matthew, if that’s what you’re referencing, though certainly it is an admonishment against praying to promote one’s “holiness” (or for any reason other than for communion with God). But don’t feel bad, you’re not the first to make such an error. If you want to use scripture as your reference on this matter, you might want to consider the fact that Jesus himself prayed in public. Lets look at the passage in question. \*\*" And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly." \*\* So, looking at the second verse absolutely looks like Jesus is telling you specifically what to do. The first verse tells you what the problem is and the second verse tells you what to do to avoid it. It really can’t be much clearer than that. If he was only warning you about being a hypocrite he wouldn’t have needed to say or said the second verse. He already told you what not to be like. Why muddy the waters telling you what to be like? Looking at it, the misunderstanding can’t be that. No, the misunderstanding is clearly that this is an admonishment. It’s not. He’s just saying that you won’t openly get your reward if you pray publicly not that it’s a bad or forbidden thing. It just gives suboptimal results. To me, that explains Buffalo. ---
**Author:** ![Theophane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@Theophane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theophane)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2011, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/186 "2011-12-30T04:23:29Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > I got no hatred of his beliefs. we probably share many. I’m just not such a cock sure jock, with an unrealistic view of the world molded around religio, and the unfortunate ordeal and wake-up call that is Home schooling. It’s not Tebow’s beliefs you hate-- it’s Tebow himself! ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2011, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/187 "2011-12-30T04:42:07Z")
> [@Theophane](#): > > It’s not Tebow’s beliefs you hate-- it’s Tebow himself! Why do you see hatred behind mockery and sarcasm? ---
**Author:** ![Theophane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@Theophane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theophane)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2011, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/188 "2011-12-30T05:08:33Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Why do you see hatred behind mockery and sarcasm? In your words, you describerd him as “cock sure jock, with an unrealistic view of the world molded around religion, and the unfortunate ordeal and wake-up call that is Home schooling.” Doesn’t sound like you’re very fond of the man. ---
**Author:** ![gatorslap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gatorslap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gatorslap)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2011, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/189 "2011-12-30T08:14:54Z")
Do people not know how Twitter works? It was just a passing comment, something Maher found amusing to think about. It wasn’t meant to be a big thing. ---
**Author:** ![Oliveritaly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oliveritaly/32/15233_2.png) [@Oliveritaly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oliveritaly)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2011, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/190 "2011-12-30T08:29:20Z")
> [@C.Montgomery\_Burns](#): > > No, he is a troll, because he makes all kinds of statements like this, and it’s only to piss people off and get attention. It’s the same tactic used by douchebags on the internet who troll. And it appears to have worked- we’re all sitting around bitching about Bill Maher. Again. And when this dies down, he’ll make some other outrageous comment that will have everybody talking about him again. How is Bill tweeting TO HIS FANS trolling again? I’ve followed his tweets for years and there is nothing in that tweet that was out of the ordinary. The ‘troll’ was the fox news ‘fan’ who obviously was following Bill in hopes of finding some outrage. If you don’t like Bill fine, but if you don’t like him yet lurk in his shadow in hopes finding some juicy tidbit … You are a troll. ---
**Author:** ![Who\_me\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/958977/32.png) [@Who\_me\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Who_me_1)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2011, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/191 "2011-12-30T14:03:27Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > Yeah, the poor guy wound up a star quarterback in the NFL. Poor bastard… A star… don’t think so. He’s presently a starting QB, but he’s hardly a star. He’s well known because he was a star college quarterback who very few thought would be successful in the NFL. The fact that his team has won a few games while he was playing and his polarizing religious beliefs has caused him to be in the news. ---
**Author:** ![Theophane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@Theophane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theophane)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2011, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/192 "2011-12-30T14:04:39Z")
> [@gatorslap](#): > > Do people not know how Twitter works? It was just a passing comment, something Maher found amusing to think about. It wasn’t meant to be a big thing. I think Bill has a crush on Tim Tebow and is trying to hide it with snark. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2011, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/193 "2011-12-30T14:04:46Z")
> [@Disgruntled\_Penguin](#): > > Looking at it, the misunderstanding can’t be that. No, the misunderstanding is clearly that this is an admonishment. It’s not. He’s just saying that you won’t openly get your reward if you pray publicly not that it’s a bad or forbidden thing. It just gives suboptimal results. I don’t see how they’re mutually exclusive. The admonishment is that if you’re praying hypocritically, IOW as a display of your “piety,” then you’re missing the boat, and the only reward you’ll receive is the shallow admiration you’re shooting for. “This is not a good thing,” he is saying. An admonishment. That doesn’t contradict the notion that public prayer, even if not done to garner a reaction from those around you, is “sub-optimal,” that one needs a private prayer life as well–needs it even more so. Public prayer is not forbidden, per se (as noted, Jesus did so himself, though clearly he was more inclined to pray privately, to the extent it’s noted). > [@](#): > > To me, that explains Buffalo. That was funny. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2011, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/194 "2011-12-30T15:09:01Z")
> [@Who\_me\_1](#): > > A star… don’t think so. He’s presently a starting QB, but he’s hardly a star. He’s well known because he was a star college quarterback who very few thought would be successful in the NFL. The fact that his team has won a few games while he was playing and his polarizing religious beliefs has caused him to be in the news. He’s not a star _quarterback_, but he’s most definitely a star at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![Theophane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@Theophane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theophane)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2011, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/195 "2011-12-30T15:16:45Z")
He’s certainly getting a lot of press here at SD. ---
**Author:** ![Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disgruntled_Penguin)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2011, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/196 "2011-12-30T15:25:21Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > I don’t see how they’re mutually exclusive. The admonishment is that if you’re praying hypocritically, IOW as a display of your “piety,” then you’re missing the boat, and the only reward you’ll receive is the shallow admiration you’re shooting for. “This is not a good thing,” he is saying. An admonishment. > > That doesn’t contradict the notion that public prayer, even if not done to garner a reaction from those around you, is “sub-optimal,” that one needs a private prayer life as well–needs it even more so. Public prayer is not forbidden, per se (as noted, Jesus did so himself, though clearly he was more inclined to pray privately, to the extent it’s noted).That was funny. First, thank you for appreciating my little joke. Second, I don’t believe Jesus was in the habit of praying publicly. His prayers were always within his definition of church services. People gathered to hear him preach and that includes prayer. He didn’t go down to his fathers carpentry business and say “Nice cabinet there dad, let us pray.” which is the kind of thing he was talking about. This is how I learned it years ago and I can only offer this as a cite that illustrates what I mean. I have no idea about the authenticity of the commenter. > [@](#): > > And when thou prayest … - Hypocrites manifested the same spirit about prayer as almsgiving; it was done in public places. The word “synagogues,” here, clearly means, not the place of worship of that name, but places where many were accustomed to assemble - near the markets or courts, where they could be seen of many. Our Lord evidently could not mean to condemn prayers in the synagogues. **It might be said that he condemned ostentatious prayer there, while they neglected secret prayer; but this does not appear to be his design. The Jews were much in the habit of praying in public places. At certain times of the day they always offered their prayers. Wherever they were, they suspended their employment and paid their devotions. This is also practiced now everywhere by Muslims, and in many places by Roman Catholics. It seems, also, that they sought publicity, and regarded it as proof of great piety.** [http://barnes.biblecommenter.com/matthew/6.htm](http://barnes.biblecommenter.com/matthew/6.htm) Mr Tebow certainly appears to be practicing the bolded part which has little bearing on his actual faith. He didn’t really say there was anything bad about it though. They will get their reward after all. Maybe he just felt it was as tacky as many in this thread do? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2011, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/197 "2011-12-30T15:30:16Z")
> [@Disgruntled\_Penguin](#): > > Second, I don’t believe Jesus was in the habit of praying publicly. His prayers were always within his definition of church services. People gathered to hear him preach and that includes prayer. If your argument is based on a claim that the Sermon on the Mount was not “public”, you should probably find a new argument. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2011, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/198 "2011-12-30T15:31:40Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > If your argument is based on a claim that the Sermon on the Mount was not “public”, you should probably find a new argument. Preaching is not prayer. ---
**Author:** ![Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disgruntled_Penguin)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2011, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/199 "2011-12-30T15:32:16Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Preaching is not prayer. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2011, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/200 "2011-12-30T15:52:42Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Preaching is not prayer. No, but the cites I provided you, at your request, were prayers, by Jesus, in public. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655.md?page=11)