# I Pit Bill Maher **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 6, 2008, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bill-maher/466629 "2008-10-06T03:05:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Crocodiles\_And\_Boulevards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ee7513/32.png) [@Crocodiles\_And\_Boulevards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crocodiles_And_Boulevards)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bill-maher/466629/1 "2008-10-06T03:05:16Z")
As an atheist, I’m royally pissed that Bill Maher is one of the most public atheist figures out there right now. The man has zero depth, and his understanding and appreciation for the greatest arguments for atheism are nearly nonexistent. It honestly troubles me that Maher is one of the more likely atheists that people are going to see in the spotlight. While atheists can hardly be thought of as an organized association with representatives, it’s an arguably automatic assumption for the uninformed. If that’s going to happen at all, I’d rather have real atheist intellectual powerhouses making movies like _Religulous_. Anyway, this pitting is getting too nice and reasonable. Does anyone else (atheist or otherwise) get sick when Maher goes off on an anti-religion rant on his HBO show? Fuck you, Bill Maher. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bill-maher/466629/2 "2008-10-06T03:07:52Z")
Religion aside, Bill Maher comes across to me as a self-important, smug dick. He seems very much like the kind of person who would either be patronizing and/or treat you like you’re stupid and unenlightened if you don’t agree with him. That isn’t the kind of attitude or behavior that gets my respect, even when I do agree with him on the occasional thing. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bill-maher/466629/3 "2008-10-06T03:08:59Z")
Bill Maher irritates me whenever he opens his mouth. On any subject. He’s the one and only reason I dropped my HBO subscription. ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bill-maher/466629/4 "2008-10-06T03:11:56Z")
Haven’t seen the movie (yet), don’t regularly watch Maher’s show, but…he’s not an atheist. He’s an agnostic and he’s pretty adamant about being identified as such. Probably doesn’t change the gist of your OP, but just thought I’d throw that out there. ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bill-maher/466629/5 "2008-10-06T03:25:29Z")
Personally, I’ve found his show, _Real Time With Bill Maher_ to be one of the more interesting shows around. It’s one of the few things I miss about not having TV right now. Really, I think that by the standards of comedy/commentary shows, he does manage to put forth some good commentary and some decent debate. Unless he goes off on one of his anti-meat or anti-medicine rants. Even as someone who thinks he has a point about the current tendency towards germophobia and a few other issues, I think it’s plainly idiotic to pretty much dismiss all of the advances in medicine in the twentieth century. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bill-maher/466629/6 "2008-10-06T04:19:56Z")
> [@C3](#): > > Haven’t seen the movie (yet), don’t regularly watch Maher’s show, but…he’s not an atheist. He’s an agnostic and he’s pretty adamant about being identified as such. Probably doesn’t change the gist of your OP, but just thought I’d throw that out there. Actually, I think he calls himself an [apatheist](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apatheism). ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bill-maher/466629/7 "2008-10-06T04:39:27Z")
The movie’s not in Thailand yet, nor do I expect it to be, as this is not the usual fare that goes down well here. But Ebert has a good review of _Religulous_ [here](http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081002/REVIEWS/810020306/1023). He liked the film itself a lot, and the review makes me want to see it. I have a good DVD source who imports a lot of films that pass Thailand by, so I may be able to get it through him. Never seen anything of Bill Maher’s before and only vaguely recognize the name. ---
**Author:** ![Crocodiles\_And\_Boulevards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ee7513/32.png) [@Crocodiles\_And\_Boulevards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crocodiles_And_Boulevards)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bill-maher/466629/8 "2008-10-06T04:51:23Z")
Maher’s agnostic? Huh, well color me green. The way he always talks about religion on his HBO show is aggressive enough that I thought he was one of those militant atheists. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bill-maher/466629/9 "2008-10-06T04:59:39Z")
I enjoyed his interview on the Daily Show very much, and found his attitude on a mainstream show to be refreshing and empowering. I don’t much care for atheists who blanch at what he has to say, nor, on that note, for those who are troubled by Richard Dawkins either. ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bill-maher/466629/10 "2008-10-06T05:07:11Z")
> [@Crocodiles\_And\_Boulevards](#): > > As an atheist, I’m royally pissed that Bill Maher is one of the most public atheist figures out there right now. The man has zero depth, and his understanding and appreciation for the greatest arguments for atheism are nearly nonexistent. Can I ask what you mean by this? What “greatest arguments” should he be pushing that he isn’t? He’s not an atheist and isn’t touting any one POV’s talking points. He thinks organized religion is a form of accepted insanity, and I happen to agree with him. He points out some of the patently ridiculous things that people believe are literally true, and asks believers questions about their faith that often show that they aren’t particularly knowledgeable about the very things they claim are so important to them. Granted, he can be contemptuous and aggressive about it, and I can understand not liking his style (though I enjoy it quite a bit), but claiming he has zero depth and understanding? I can’t agree with that criticism, and would like to know specifically what you’re referring to here. ---
**Author:** ![Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sophistry_and_Illusion)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bill-maher/466629/11 "2008-10-06T05:10:36Z")
> [@Crocodiles\_And\_Boulevards](#): > > Maher’s agnostic? Huh, well color me green. The way he always talks about religion on his HBO show is aggressive enough that I thought he was one of those militant atheists. He was on the Daily Show the other day, and explicitly denied that \*Religulous \*is pro-atheist. He also denied being an atheist. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bill-maher/466629/12 "2008-10-06T05:18:00Z")
I remember, about twenty years or so ago, he said something funny and entertaining. My wife, on the other hand, comes up with a zinger about every week. ---
**Author:** ![Crocodiles\_And\_Boulevards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ee7513/32.png) [@Crocodiles\_And\_Boulevards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crocodiles_And_Boulevards)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bill-maher/466629/13 "2008-10-06T05:28:41Z")
> [@Rubystreak](#): > > Can I ask what you mean by this? What “greatest arguments” should he be pushing that he isn’t? He’s not an atheist and isn’t touting any one POV’s talking points. He thinks organized religion is a form of accepted insanity, and I happen to agree with him. He points out some of the patently ridiculous things that people believe are literally true, and asks believers questions about their faith that often show that they aren’t particularly knowledgeable about the very things they claim are so important to them. Granted, he can be contemptuous and aggressive about it, and I can understand not liking his style (though I enjoy it quite a bit), but claiming he has zero depth and understanding? I can’t agree with that criticism, and would like to know specifically what you’re referring to here. To be honest, I was operating under the assumption that he _was_ aggressively atheist. In that vein, I think I’ve been criticizing him on the wrong point when I talk about arguments in the original post. As you say, it’s his _style_ then that irks me. If he’s agnostic, then I understand why he doesn’t sound like Dawkin’s and company. Still, I think it’d be relatively easy for people to not care about the distinction between agnosticism and atheism, so I still pit Bill Maher just for being such an ass when he interviews people on his show and religion comes up. Did you see the episode where the guy from Black Eyed Peas was one of the panel? He didn’t elaborate on his points at all. He just kept pointing to the newspaper article on how 60% of Americans believe in angels and how he felt that this clearly showed how _stupid_ Americans are. Just in the realm of people who don’t have a belief, I simply wish there was a very charismatic representative if there has to be one at all. But just to clarify, YES, I was mistaken on Bill Maher being an atheist. I retract my criticism of arguments but stick with my general loathing of his style. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bill-maher/466629/14 "2008-10-06T05:52:00Z")
I like Bill Maher and think his show has some of the most engrossing discussions on the air. I think there are some topics that Maher is out to lunch on (vaccinations, for instance), but religion isn’t one of them. Seeing anyone on television who is willing to routinely challenge the sacred cow of religious belief (not so much the “Religion causes wars” meme, but the willingness to say that the beliefs themselves are absurd and irrational), is so rare and refreshing that it forgives a lot for me. ---
**Author:** ![Crocodiles\_And\_Boulevards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ee7513/32.png) [@Crocodiles\_And\_Boulevards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crocodiles_And_Boulevards)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bill-maher/466629/15 "2008-10-06T05:57:36Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I like Bill Maher and think his show has some of the most engrossing discussions on the air. I think there are some topics that Maher is out to lunch on (vaccinations, for instance), but religion isn’t one of them. Seeing anyone on television who is willing to routinely challenge the sacred cow of religious belief (not so much the “Religion causes wars” meme, but the willingness to say that the beliefs themselves are absurd and irrational), is so rare and refreshing that it forgives a lot for me. Are you talking about Maher himself or his guest’s when you refer to discussion? One of the things that kind of pisses me off about the program is that he often has really good conversations going about a topic between the guests, but all he has to add to it are little one-liners and other gimmicks. Obviously, there’s a reason I still watch the show, and it has everything to do with the guests and nothing to do with Maher. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bill-maher/466629/16 "2008-10-06T06:12:49Z")
> [@Crocodiles\_And\_Boulevards](#): > > Maher’s agnostic? Huh, well color me green. The way he always talks about religion on his HBO show is aggressive enough that I thought he was one of those militant atheists. He doesn’t really attack religion so much-what he attacks are religion_ists_. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bill-maher/466629/17 "2008-10-06T07:29:15Z")
I am a strong atheist. I saw _Religulous_ earlier tonight. I agreed, objectively, with virtually everything Maher had to say. And I _still_ hated nearly every smug, preening, self-satisfied minute of the ranting indulgence he was trying to pass off as a film. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bill-maher/466629/18 "2008-10-06T08:35:38Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > And I _still_ hated nearly every smug, preening, self-satisfied minute of the ranting indulgence he was trying to pass off as a film. Why? Because he is stating the same thoughts you have had, but he’s getting paid for it? If he’s saying things you agree with, it seems a little odd to hate his output. Is it like me accepting that The Rolling Stones have produced some fantastic music, but still thinking Mick Jagger is a twat? ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bill-maher/466629/19 "2008-10-06T09:23:33Z")
I can’t speak for **Cervaise** but having given your own Mick Jagger example I’m finding it a bit hard to understand how you can not understand **Cervaise’s** opinion. I don’t know Bill Maher but if he’s smug, preening and self-satisfied, why would you need to be jealous of his money to find him irritating? ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bill-maher/466629/20 "2008-10-06T09:47:49Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > I can’t speak for **Cervaise** but having given your own Mick Jagger example I’m finding it a bit hard to understand how you can not understand **Cervaise’s** opinion. I don’t know Bill Maher but if he’s smug, preening and self-satisfied, why would you need to be jealous of his money to find him irritating? It’s okay. I realise now I answered my own question. I don’t need to envy Jagger’s wealth to think he is a prick. But saying that, Jagger has never took on anything philosophically deeper than extolling his tastes in women to the world. Bill Maher is more rock and roll than Jagger could ever dream of being, imho. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bill-maher/466629.md?page=2)