Bill Maher said something rude. No surprise there, I know, but apparently what has some people particularly upset is that he used a naughty word and Jesus’s name in the same sentence. Someone has the idea that Jesus and swearing need a certain unspecified distance apart for propriety’s sake — like maybe Jesus has filed a court order against “fuck”.
After Tebow performed horribly in Denver’s loss to the Buffalo Bills on Christmas Eve, Maher tweeted "Wow, Jesus just f—d #TimTebow bad. And on Xmas Eve! Somewhere in hell Satan is tebowing, saying to Hitler ‘Hey, Buffalo’s killing them.’ "
This is so silly. Don’t they even know Jesus’s middle name? Anyway, now there’s a poll to settle the issue.
Did you find Maher’s joke about Tim Tebow in bad taste?
Yes. Jesus and a swear word just don’t mix. 57%
No. It was a joke. Cut the guy a break. 41%
Not sure. 3%
I’d just say that Jesus should quit fucking with us.
Until then, the question is moot.
Glen Davidson
Jesus Christ Jesus!
Yes, but that was the whole f-ing point. Jesus H. Christ!
Ding! Poll Pharyngulated in 3..2..1…
For the record I couldn’t give a f*ck about Bill Maher and whether he’s cussing on Twitter. I can’t believe anyone does, really. His anti-vax stance sent me away from him long ago.
“Jesus and a swear word just don’t mix”? last I checked, “Jesus” was a swearword. So are “Christ” and “god”
Jumpin’ Jesus on a stick, (two sticks actually), aren’t there more important things going on in the world to worry about?
Anyway, i’m aware that there’s some contention over his middle name, but i usually hear it as Jesus Fucking Christ.
From the article:
Mmmm, good ol’ fashion Christian hypocrisy from a Fox News host, and some Fatwah envy from Pat Robertson. Warms the cockles of my heart. Merry fucking Jesusmas, Jesus-fucks!
I was hoping for a “Maher’s comment is not nearly as offensive as the idea that a god is helping Tebow cheat at football”, but I guess the second option will have to do.
Even my theist wife is offended by the idea that her god helps people win football games or reality TV shows. More people need the courage to call this crap out for what it is.
It seems use of the “f” word is so common today that it is hardly much of a curse. It is just another word used for added emphasis. What is it about fu*king that makes it a curse anyway. If it were not for the judgmental moralists out there it would simply be a slang expression.
If Maher pissed off some people, then the 2011 winner of the Hunky Jesus contest, sponsored by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence every easter and held at San Francisco’s Delores Park, would make their blood boil. The winner for 2011 was Jesus Fucking Christ. The guy was dressed as the alleged Jesus and also had a Jesus dummy attached to the front of him so that when he walked it looked like he was fucking the dummy, hence Jesus Fucking Christ. The crowd loved loved loved it and he won.
That used rubber and papist supporter, Andrew Sullivan, threw a hissy fit. Something about how can gays expect acceptance when blah blah blah and then some wank wank wank. The Sisters replied with essentially a fuck you, you pissy uptight conservative queen.
To Bill Maher and to Jesus Fucking Christ, good for you.
What a bunch of Jesus-shittin’ crybabies.
Of course we know what Jesus’ middle name is…It’s “Haploid”.
–W. H. Heydt
Old Used Programmer
That poll needs an option of “Yes, it’s in bad taste — More! More!”
But, like others, I can’t talk about Bill Maher without mentioning that I despise him for his anti-vax stance. It takes more than just being a public atheist to be considered “on my side”.
I hate it when polls don’t include the most appropriate options – which in this case is: No, I find Tim Tebow to be a joke.
There was a recent case in the UK where a charge of offensive behaviour was thrown out by a judge on the grounds that that the only people who heard the accused repeatedly saying fuck[1] were two police officers who he did not believe were offended.
[1] The accused man had been stopped by the police and was being questioned. He repeatedly told them to fuck off.
Oh, fuck it all! All of this fawning over Tim Tebow, a very mediocre quarterback with delusions of being touched by gawd, is in bad taste.
Yes, I fucking hate Tim Tebow. I hate even more the mass of media morons who go off about what a shining example he is. Oh fucking thank gawd he was not aborted and has been able to preform circumcisions for his daddy’s ministry and appear in an anti-abortion commercial with his mom.
What? Christmas is Tebow’s birthday, too?
Is Pat jealous?
Well, I believe that this was a classic gambling ruse used by Jesus. He kept Tebow winning all of these games in which he was supposed to lose, to get the odds on Tebow winning to skyrocket. Then against, a team in which Tebow is supposed to win, Jesus bets the farm against the Broncos and lets Tebow flounder. Jesus is a wicked son of a bitch.
Jesus is a player.
I believe “hell” is also considered a swear word by the fundolunatics.
@d cwilson, #17:
Does the pope shit in the woods?
Janine:
If he’d been aborted, he still could have appeared in an anti-abortion commercial with his mom. One of those “penitent sinning whore” type anti-abortion commercials. All it would have required: a jar, some formaldehyde, and maybe a label that said TIMMY on it.
Also, count me in with those who don’t give a fuck about swearing but can’t stand Bill Maher because he’s a woo-embracing, misogynist, fatphobic asshole.
It was a joke. Tebow is a clown. Clowns are funny. Or scary.
In the meantime, I can’t stop singing that South Park Christmas tune…”You can suck all the dick you want and still be a virgin, Mary!”
The bible doesn’t say shit about ‘fuck’, it only says not to use god’s name in vain. So they are right to complain about saying ‘jesus’, but have no reason to complain when we say ‘fuck’
… unless fucking is God …
… but that would be idolatry.
Jesus Fucking Christians
I always thought it was “tittyfucking”.
it has nothing to do with fuck or fucking at all.
It is making fun of saint Tebow. He is the current darling of the christians he has been playing to them all along. If he was really praying to god why would he want to do it live on national TV all the time? He would be satisfied to pray “in his closet” like jesus advised and get his reward in heaven. He is just another pandering christian BS artist who happens to be making his fortune playing a violent sport. He is just pandering to the religious fans. “look isn’t he cute down their praying”. What is the difference between what he is doing and a roman gladiator saluting the emporere and the gods before his ritual combat in the arena?
hold the presses a comedian told a joke in bad taste! your kidding that ain’t news
uncle frogy
I’m not quite sure how I’m supposed to respond to the poll. Of course it was in bad taste but the fact is I don’t really care. The kind of people who get all uppity about some imagined breach of decorum totally piss me off.
Fatwa envy is also really quite funny. Those Muzzies get so much respect because they aren’t afraid to murder people who disagree with them. It is so frustrating that we can’t get that kind of respect because if we did the same, people would regard us as a bunch of ignorant bigoted barbarians.
Here’s a thought Pat, maybe fear and respect are two different things. If we respect you that means that we have voluntarily decided that you are a worthy individual. If we fear you that is because you are a bully, not very worthy at all in fact. What I see is a rather contemptible individual who lacks the balls even to be a bully.
Let’s see. . . Tebow grandstands for Jesus and we’re all supposed to sit back and golf-clap ? Fuck that. He’s grandstanding, just the same as any other NFL player who dances around in the end zone. Clearly God had 100.00 on the Bills.
Or maybe it was just an inexperienced QB playing against a tough, unforgiving opponent, who were able to capitalize on his mistakes.
Who cares. it’s a frakkin game.
DLC, even if he was experienced, Tim Tebow cannot throw the ball well. So god shows his glory by using a mediocre quarterback to beat mediocre teams. And allows the Lions, Bills and Patriots (Who has one of the best ever quarterbacks.) to beat up the Broncos.
The lard works in mysterious ways.
“No” is in the lead now.
Now they want to censor our swearing too? Take away our favorite swear-words? Jesus Fucking Christ on a stick.
Janine — Point taken. Mediocre QB is Mediocre.
Tim Tebow brought this on himself. Clearly he never listened to what Jesus is said to have told believers about smug public religiosity.
Wow, what crappy poll options.
My opinion is that the tweet was in poor taste, but not because Jesus and the F-word were both in it. I just thought the same point could have been made in a funnier and less offensive way – like the SNL skit – and really didn’t see the point of bringing Satan and Hitler into it.
Then again, it was just a joke, and there’s not any sense in getting all up in arms about it, unless the Christians are trying to one-up the Muslims getting offended over cartoons.
There should be an “I don’t really care” option.
Poll Results
Thanks for your vote.
Did you find Maher’s joke about Tim Tebow in bad taste?
Yes. Jesus and a swear word just don’t mix. 48%
No. It was a joke. Cut the guy a break. 50%
Not sure. 2%
Appropriate music for this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFzlX9X3E18
Hand of the Almighty (AKA “God will fuck you up”) – by John Butler
Jesus H. Christ?
I thought his middle initial stood for “haploid.”
Goobers. Scooped by whheydt at #12 — sorry for rejoking.
Yes 47
No 51
Jesus Haploid Christ? Is that why he didn’t have any kids?
Jesus H baldheaded motherfucking christ on a stick up your ass … no, I’m not commenting, I just hit my thumb with a hammer.
To Holytape @18
Jesus must have learned that from Satan.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damien_(South_Park)
That’s the limit of my carpentry skills too, knowing which end of the hammer goes on the thumb.
Fuck Jesus.
This quote gave me pause:
Say what? What sort of analogy is this? Tim Tebow doesn’t get to praise God in public if people “snatch” away his opportunity by making fun of him? It’s not enough that he can so something — he must be universally respected for it or it’s just like he can’t do it?
Religion is not sacred. Sheesh.
I like Bill Maher, but picking on Tim Tebow’s faith is like snatching candy from a baby.
Has anyone ever seen Bill Maher and Dr Michio Kaku at the same time? I never look at one without thinking of how much they look like the other.
@ last line in 43 – not really Sastra – it might be “as easy” as, but at least the babies didn’t have it comin’.
The current obsession with Tim Tebow really mystifies me. I kind of understand of how these ultraconservatives and godbotherers desperately try to prove they are relevant by pointing out the handful of celebrities in their camp, but Tim Tebow? Why would they expect anyone to care what some meathead jock thinks?
Next they’ll think I have to fight the urge to take up dog fighting every time I see Michael Vick play.
The comment was in poor taste, but taste commensurate with its source. The poll, however, is constructed such that I cannot say it’s in poor taste without implicitly agreeing with a position I find repugnant.
Sastra, Tim Tebow is affiliated with the American Patriarchy Association. I am all over this candy like a fly. Just because a dangerous form of faith has a smiling jock face does not mean it is any less threatening for the likes of me.
I guess Tebow fans wouldn’t likes this shirt.
http://www.cafepress.com/+fuck_jesus_dark_tshirt,172122371
I always thought his middle name was “Tapdancing”.
Of course, if he is a haploid that’s the result of virgin parthenogenesis, that means he’s totally lacking of a Y chromosome.
Who the fuck is Tebow? While I’m at it, who the fuck is Jesus?
(…should be the appropriate response on the poll)
not to mention who the fuck cares about whether your found it in bad taste or not? the assumption people have that their inane little opinions and reactions to this sort of thing matter is completely beyond me.
janine #48 wrote:
I agree. My analogy was poorly chosen/written because I meant to imply that Tebow was an easy target, not a harmless one. Use the debbaasseerr rewrite at #45.
montanto #46 wrote:
I think it’s because they believe it links being “manly” with being “pious.” Plus, anyone being “brave enough” (translation: annoying enough) to be so in-your-face about their faith when in the presence of outsiders helps make the faithful feel like a special group.
That’s one of their most powerful apologetic tools: wouldn’t you like to be as strong and noble and humble and all-around awe-inspiring as us? We’re exclusive because we’re so genuine.
Tebow doesn’t win games. The Broncos running game, defense, and their kicker win games. Tebow’s rushing stats are decent, but his passing game is a joke. The only reason Tebow doesn’t a shit-ton of interceptions is that his throws often go nowhere near their intended receiver, so also they’re nowhere near any defenders that might get the pick.
He’s not even the best rookie QB. Cam Newton has broken all kinds of records, both passing and rushing. Andy Dalton plays for a notoriously bad team in a brutal division, and given them a real shot at the playoffs. I don’t see Newton or Dalton on the MSN front page even half as often as I see Tebow. I see tons of claims that Tim Tebow gets undue criticism for his beliefs, but it’s the opposite that’s true. The only reasonable explanation is that he is being rewarded for his piety theater. He certainly hasn’t gained his fame for being a great quarterback, because he isn’t one by any objective measures of the game.
Jerry Rice would struggle with Tebow throwing to him.
Yes. Jesus and a swear word just don’t mix. 42%
No. It was a joke. Cut the guy a break. 55%
Not sure. 2%
Faith-based passing?
I always heard it as Jesus H. Blue-eyed All-American Christ on a crutch
What a crappy poll – I want to vote for “this is one of those rare moments that Bill Maher is actually funny.”
I believe the full name is Sweet White Zombie Raptor Baby Blue-eyed Jumping Jesus Haploid Tapdancing Fucking Christ on a Pogo Stick Cracker Crutch, Esq. (R-America).
Regardless of whether Bill Maher is actually funny, I want to know why the NFL is allowing Tebow to use a game enhancing mechanism like religion in a professional sport. Game enhancing drugs are grounds for suspension, why the hell are they allowing god to help him win games?
And don’t give me that bullshit about drugs being real.
/sarcasm
That would be very, very difficult to implement where I come from.
You see, here “christ” itself is a swear word, and can be used as noun, verb, adjective or adverb. Every single one of our abundant swear words is religious. Our swear word repertoire is very rich and deeply satisfying.
Must have something to do with having lived under a catholic theocracy.
The NFL allows this crap because not only is the NFL a monopoly that ruins education and holds taxpayers hostage so they will build the millionaire owners free stadiums to then charge the taxpayers huge admission fees to get into… but because the NFL is a massively right-wing organization.
Frankly I find it a little strange that liberals are often NFL fans. That’s like being a Walmart fan or a Comcast fan, only worse.
I became an ex-NFL fan when I woke up.
Does anyone remember the NFL’s massive pro-war drumbeat in 1991?
I dunno if it happened after 9/11, but I would imagine so. (I’d quit watching by then.)
Jafafa Hots, if you are not familiar with the story, check out how former NFL player Pat Tillman. After , the attacks of September 11, 2001, he quit football and joined the Army Rangers. He was killed in Afghanistan.
As it turned out, he was killed by friendly fire. His family had to fight the Army to get the truth about his death. Also, as it turned out, it seems that he was an agnostic and probable even an atheist. He also became convinced that the invasion of Afghanistan was illegal.
Yet the NFL and other media outlets still try to portray Pat Tillman as an unquestioning US patriot.
Haploid or Hussein?
Teach the controversy !!
ROTFLMAO! Day saved. :-D
Probably they agree with the meathead jock Lothar Matthäus, soccer player and national poet of Germany: “We must win. Everything else is primary.”
FTW.
I don’t really agree with either option. Sure, Jesus and cuss words go together like PB & J, but I don’t think anyone needs to “cut him some slack” because it’s a “joke” either*. If the Jebusheads want to castigate Mahr for it, then let ’em. It’s not as if he gives a shit.
* For a professional comedian, it was a pretty weak joke. And he should be punished for continuing the “tebowing” meme. Idiot football players have been kneeling in the end zone after touchdowns for years and years, there’s no need to coin a new term for it just because some particularly noisy white guy is doing it now.
Meanwhile, Tebow has done the unthinkable: caused me to root for the Raiders.
Haploid? That makes Jesus a momma’s boy.
64% to 37% when I voted. Not getting much traction.
shelleyblondeau says:
Eamon Knight says:
As well as these:
http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2007/08/bill_maher_antivaccination_wingnut.php
http://freethoughtblogs.com/axp/2009/07/23/atheist-alliance-international-epic-fail/
http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2009/07/put_maher_in_the_hot_seat.php
I find it disheartening that so often the only criticism that skeptics have for Maher is that he’s a wooist. Of course he is, and it’s necessary to point that out. But apparently the fact that he’s a misogynistic, racist scumbag is not worth pointing out.
Here are some heart-warming quotes from Bill:
Source
Source
Source
Source
Source
Source
Source
These things are equally irrational, and thus deserve the same scrutiny. But what’s truly beyond me is how anyone can even like this sack of shit.
Just voted :
*****
Poll Results
Thanks for your vote.
Did you find Maher’s joke about Tim Tebow in bad taste?
Yes. Jesus and a swear word just don’t mix. 34%
No. It was a joke. Cut the guy a break. 64%
Not sure. 2%
*****
From reading this thread I voted ‘not sure’ as the best option because Jesus and swear words very definitely *do* mix but given some of the other noxious crap he’s uttered – see comment #69 by klatu (29th of December 2011 at 7:02 pm) among others – I don’t particularly think Maher deserves a break.
PS. Actually make that ‘least worst’ option – not ‘best’.
StevoR @71: It’s become a common theme, whether its polls or federal elections: Who/what is the best of the least worst? Which probably answers Klatu’s question quite nicely. Maher is the least worst of the things to watch on Friday nights – for those of us who like to stay home instead of going to the clubs and having our eardrums destroyed by OONTZOONTZOONTZOONTZ noises for several hours straight.
According to the Gospels, Jesus hung out with dregs of society. Of course, they never used profanity. Jesus could put up with them being pimps, hookers, beggars, etc., but if any one of them ever said “fuck”, his head would explode. That’s why they all spoke Queen’s English. Just like it says in the King James Bible.
Spoke the Queen’s English? But Gawd is an American, it says so in the constitution. What sort of foreign liberal are you? Someone is going to say Jeebus knew French?
Boys, BOYS! NO Teabagging in the End Zone, you know that offends the fans!
Wait ’til you go to the Bath house after the game for that!
Bill fucking Mahr fucking Tim fucking Tebow fucking Jesus fucking Christ. Does that cover it?