Bill Maher Bashes Religion -- AGAIN

Bill Maher offers his deep thoughts on Mel Gibson's drunken tirade in a piece on The Huffington Post.

While Maher makes some valid points about Israel and Hezbollah and Mel Gibson, he eventually veers into his typical vitriolic, anti-religion mode.

Maher writes:

As I watch so much of the world ask Israel for restraint in a way no other country would (Can you imagine what Bush would do if a terrorist organization took over Canada and was lobbing missiles into Montana, Maine and Illinois?) - and, by the way, does anyone ever ask Hezbollah for restraint. you know, like, please stop firing your rockets aimed PURPOSEFULLY at civilians? - it strikes me that the world IS Mel Gibson. Most of the time, the anti-semitism is under control, but that demon lives inside and when the moon is full, or there's been enough alcohol consumed, or Israel is forced to kill people in its own defense, then it comes out.

I've heard Mr. Gibson say he's sorry, and that he's wrong, and others say, well, he was drunk, he's got a disease, etc. But my question is, what is the root of this, Mel? I mean, we all say crazy things when we're drunk, and we've all undoubtedly had ugly moments when we're superstressed out and then drunk on top of it, I know I have - but what comes out at that moment isn't a tirade against the Jews. Yes, liquor releases demons, but I want to know why the demon in Mel Gibson is hatred of the Jews to begin with (I know, the father). Why, when Mels's id is released, its about the Jews fucking everything up, just like it was with Hitler. Except Mel Gibson, when his id is in check, I believe, really knows how wrong that is, and how stupid. He, I believe, at least fights with himself about this.

OK.

Maher gives his analysis and draws a somewhat interesting parallel between much of the world's underlying anti-Semitism and Gibson's explosion.

Unfortunately, his reasoned arguments get lost in his hostile remark toward religion in general.

But he'll never win as long as he's so religious, because, I hate to tell you, the disease isn't alcholism, the disease is religion.

This is not sarcasm. Maher is not joking. He firmly believes religion is a disease.

Post 9/11, Maher said:

"I think that religion stops people from thinking. I think it justifies crazies. I think flying planes into a building was a faith-based initiative. I think religion is a neurological disorder."

Have some religions been used to justify war and torture and terrorism?

Yes.

Screaming "Allahu Akbar" while beheading an innocent civilian or slashing the throat of a flight attendant or flying commercial airliners into buildings filled with civilians is sick.

Religion can be abused. Islamofascists do it everyday. But it's wrong to suggest that there's something intrinsically wrong with religion.

Blame the people who commit the atrocities and nurture hatred. Blame the people who exploit God to advance their murderous agenda.

It's not God's fault that some deranged people choose to hate and kill in His name.

Maher's assertion that religion, per se, is the root cause of evil in the world is absurd.

That Mother Teresa was really sick, wasn't she?

"I try to give to the poor people for love what the rich could get for money. No, I wouldn't touch a leper for a thousand pounds; yet I willingly cure him for the love of God."

And Martin Luther King, Jr., too.

"I just want to do God's will. And he's allowed me to go to the mountain. And I've looked over, and I've seen the promised land! I may not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the promised land."

What a diseased man!

Personally, I'm thankful for their "disease."

The world is better for their "sickness."