Monday, September 10, 2012

Saving Faith

By Bill Maher

A new poll found that Americans who describe themselves as "religious" has dropped from 73% to 60% over the past seven years. And in that same time, those who say they’re "atheist" has risen from 1% to 5%.  And polls show more and more high school kids don’t believe in God -- which makes you wonder what they shout out during sex with their teacher. Not only are some kids getting more comfortable with the idea that God is an ancient myth concocted to control the masses with promises of a blissful afterlife, they're beginning to start atheist clubs in their schools. Or at least trying.

A group called the Secular Student Alliance is starting to get requests from teens who want to start atheist clubs at their high schools. These are kids who happen to believe that life can be lived fully and ethically through reason, and that studying is much more effective than prayer for, say, preparing for an American History final.

There were only about a dozen atheist clubs at U.S. high schools at the beginning of last school year but now there are 39 in 17 states with lots more in the pipeline. Just this year, the Secular Student Alliance has gotten 73 additional requests for their club starter kits.

Now, to start a club in your high school, you basically have to get a faculty advisor to agree to sponsor you and prove that enough kids are interested in participating. But despite petitioners meeting these criteria, some high schools continue to resist atheist clubs. One Florida high school refused an atheist club, saying it would be "too controversial." A principal at a Houston high school would not allow the club to be called "atheist" because that name "could disrupt the educational process." By citing disruption and controversy, what these schools were basically saying is, "We don't just see your independent thinking as independent; we see it as a provocation, as an attack on the approved thinking of the majority."

The kicker is the Florida high school that refuses to approve an atheist club on the grounds that it doesn't allow any religious clubs. But an atheist club, by definition, is not a religious club. That's the whole point. Atheism is a religion like abstinence is a sex position. Like not being hungry is a meal.  Like not believing in magic is a trick. What is it about non-belief that believers find so threatening?

41 comments:

Kerry said...

Bill, love your show. If memory serves me, when Obama had the House and Senate the first two years, weren't there some conservative Dems that voted with the Republicans and that's why some things Obama tried to do didn't get done? If my memory is correct, I wish someone would remind people that that's what happened.

Anonymous said...

They should have you asking questions at the debates.

Jessica said...

The SSA is actually up to 50 HS affiliates now! We are also nominated for Chase Community Giving and have an opportunity to earn up to $250,000 in grants! Vote here

Anonymous said...

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE talk about Mitt Romney going on "Meet the Press" this Sunday to change his stance on Obamacare. He has flipped flopped, again.

Anonymous said...

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE talk about Mitt Romney going on "Meet the Press" this Sunday to change his stance on Obamacare. He has flipped flopped, again.

Anonymous said...

To answer your rhetorical question, they're afraid of their children being indoctrinated into non-belief. And I think that's fair. Kids are much more easily swayed by pressure from both their peers and their role models; that's why they should be protected from certain brain washing religious practices and why they should be allowed to learn about different faiths, as well as atheism, in school, so that they have a position to make their own decision. Having anti-religious clubs sanctioned at school puts religious ideas at a disadvantage, for the same reason that having religious clubs and no atheist clubs would put atheism at a disadvantage. --government funded schools, for the protection of our liberty, should be a place where spiritual ideas can be discussed as an academic subject, not as a place to foster either belief or disbelief in a higher power.

Anonymous said...

Read and consider. I find that most Republicans are not for Romney by any means, but just against Democrats. When you are against a particular party, you really don't like their star, which is the President. I want to hear a candidate say something positive about someone of the opposing party. Maybe mention that someone from the opposing party had a good idea. Can somebody please get that balll rolling??!! I don't care how much you dislike a particular party it would be ridiculous for you to tell me that the other's ideas are all garbage. I just don't understand the belligerent attacks at each other. I'm not just talking about political figures, I'm talking about citizens as well. If someone is a republican that doesn't mean they are a racist, homophobic, uncaring about the poor, mean spirited, greedy, selfish,and intolerant. If they are a democrat it doesn't mean they fit within the stereotypical characterization of a democrat. (could not present examples of democratic stereotypes, because those stereotypes aren't as popularly spread, but I know there are some). My point is everyone needs to quit pointing fingers. That's all politics is now days and it's a progression killer. Offer an idea, be part of the solution, listen & consider the thoughts and ideas of those across the aisle even if those are your side of the aisle scourn you.

Y=∑∂ponzi/∂t t={0, CtrlP} said...

http://www.zerohedge.com/contributed/2012-09-11/9-1111-terrorism-cloned-crony-capitalists

Anonymous said...

Reverend Jeremiah Wright would be rolling over in his grave, if he was in it.

Kim said...

Bill love your show. Great idea about have you ask the questions at the debate. The only issue I see is you not being able to throw the facts back to Romney during the debates. who am I kidding he would ignore them anyway.

Anonymous said...

During W.'s election years celebrities did just as they are doing now, bashing the republicans nominee and it didn't matter he became President and was re-elected. America knows that celebrities for the most part are, well, not very intelligent, just good at acting like they are. You Bill Maher are no exception. You offer no original thought or ideas, simply regurgitated celebrity hoopla/hullabaloo. Citizens that work daily performing tasks that makes the world go around, makes the world a better place have the wisdom to ignore and weed through the rhetoric of celebrities like yourself. Celebrities offer very little of importance to the world. They offer entertainment, which on the totem pole of importance is near the bottom. Therefore when a celebrity endorses a candidate it's a red flag not to vote for that person. America knows not to follow the advice of the feeble minded. Obama was not elected because of the influence of celebrities, hate to bust your bubble, but rather because Americans wanted positive change. They believed Obama would spur that change, but now those who voted for Obama feel like fools. The impressionable will vote for him again, but those votes aren't the votes that won it for him the first time it was the votes of the true hard working middle class that won him the election. He will not get those votes this time around because the hard working middle class like me live by a motto; fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice shame on me. America will not be fooled this time no matter how many celebrities endorse Obama or how many celebrities tell citizens they are ignorant and uneducated if they vote for a Republican. Americans are aware that the opinions of celebrities are unimportant at best. Hypothetical - if something catastrophic took place and few had electricity, access to petroleum, oil , and gas was hard to come by who do you think would have the fortitude and ingenuity to get by? I'd be willing to bet that the majority of the people that could get by would be republicans. Republican citizens are those types of people I believe. Democrats would be running over to their republican neighbor's house asking for help. Now I'm not saying that's how all Democrats are, but rather just a generalization that I believe to be true. What's the point? Is that for all the ridicule Republicans receive I believe Republicans for the most part have good horse sense (common sense) which to me is an eroding quality.

Unknown said...

This is very similar to the "controversy" Gay-Straight Alliances cause. When I was in my sophmore year of high school, we petitioned to start a GSA, had an advisor (who, ironically, also ran bible study) as a chairperson and had a petition of over 200 signatures, from all grade levels. The school here in Las Vegas denied our request saying it would cause bullying on those who attend the group. We not only had to petition the school board to allow us to start the group, but also had a protest in the schools courtyard. The principal of the school was completely against the group and faught us every step of the way- the next school year, however we got the okay to start! Sometimes it just takes the students showing the administration that these groups represent a large portion of the student body than they believe.

Our GSA spread the message of tolerance, and we did not have any reports of violence or bullying against gay students the year we got the go-ahead.

These clubs can make a difference, thank you Bill for bring this up!!

Jojo said...

I want you to make a music video based on carly simons youre so vain... only YOURE SO BAIN... the lyrics are ripe with great comedy... to play in a backdrop against mitt romney running around the country on his yacht.. .lear jet.. just food for thought.

I sent this idea to HBO contact us info... which probably goes straight in the spam folder.. but i expanded upon it there.

thanks jojo

Anonymous said...

http://www.veteranstoday.com/2012/09/10/romneys-mormon-draft-deferrment-not-legal

A nation of well over 20 million veterans trained in weapons and tactics capable of passing on their experience.

Anonymous said...

http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/AIDE-QUITS-AS-NEWSOM-S-AFFAIR-WITH-HIS-WIFE-IS-2652745.php

Anonymous said...

@ Kerry Your memory or math sounds a little "Foxy". President had house and senate for 133 days. Google "how many days in a year" to figure out how many years that is. Also, stay on topic.

Anonymous said...

http://www.unwelcomeguests.net/Disciplined_Minds

http://www.unwelcomeguests.net/The_Underground_History_of_American_Education

Anonymous said...

Religiosity isn't going away any time soon.
The marriage contract is a 1000 year old religious institution. Women are schooled to use this to boot clamp men by the balls, and the State is wholly invested in it. Not only are most religious disciples fembots, the divorce lawyer association will never stand for the decimation of their criminal enterprise.
However, during his reign Jimmy Carter and his order of Knights legalized usury, unleashing upon US citizens all the financial havoc we now witness. If the parasites could work out a way to extract exponential profitability from fucking, then the institution of marriage better look out.
Religion = State = Slavery

Anonymous said...

Look Bill,

Socialism is like a bad marriage, but far worse. Surely you, a SINGLE man can appreciate this.

Bill Maher Al Bundy
==================
Free Till death do us part
Celebrity Wannabe shoe salesman
Rich Inlaws from Hell on welfare
Happy Other's misery pleases him
We should all ...WTF?
be like Al

Anonymous said...

and Bill, Peg can steal all Al's money, but she can't disappear Al when she feels like it. Now do you get it?

Anonymous said...

For the victims who can almost read

Bill Maher............... Al Bundy
==================
Free................. Till death do us part
Celebrity......... Wannabe shoe salesman
Rich................. Inlaws from Hell on welfare
Happy............. Other's misery pleases him
We should all.. ...WTF?
be like Al

Anonymous said...

Bill,
Why not make fun of the Muslim religion on your show. I think you are afraid to since they don't give a shit about your freedom of speech.

Zen Grouch said...

I got no problems with kids who want to start "atheist" clubs in high school...

...but what in the fuck are they gonna talk about when they do get their way?

Anonymous said...

Hi Bill,This is a fan of yours from India,kudos to you for bringing out the true side , that is violent side of Islam,which always being painted as "of ,all muslims are not extremists".
I am a hindu,and like all relegions we have prejudices,short comings and social evils too carried out in name of relegion,but we never bomb any place,nor do we go to any country to look for livelihood and ending declaring that country as our enemy.
Just want to highlight the case of forced conversions and relegious violence in the name of islam.
I would love to see a show by you on this.
We stand for progression and better future.
Please don't put humanity,mankind at stake for the sake of secularism , which all we know that this particular relegion doesn't acknowledge.

Anonymous said...

Hi Bill,This is a fan of yours from India,kudos to you for bringing out the true side , that is violent side of Islam,which always being painted as "of ,all muslims are not extremists".
I am a hindu,and like all relegions we have prejudices,short comings and social evils too carried out in name of relegion,but we never bomb any place,nor do we go to any country to look for livelihood and ending declaring that country as our enemy.
Just want to highlight the case of forced conversions and relegious violence in the name of islam.
I would love to see a show by you on this.
We stand for progression and better future.
Please don't put humanity,mankind at stake for the sake of secularism , which all we know that this particular relegion doesn't acknowledge.

islam=peace=lie said...

Hi Bill,This is a fan of yours from India,kudos to you for bringing out the true side , that is violent side of Islam,which always being painted as "of ,all muslims are not extremists".
I am a hindu,and like all relegions we have prejudices,short comings and social evils too carried out in name of relegion,but we never bomb any place,nor do we go to any country to look for livelihood and ending declaring that country as our enemy.
Just want to highlight the case of forced conversions and relegious violence in the name of islam.
I would love to see a show by you on this.
We stand for progression and better future.
Please don't put humanity,mankind at stake for the sake of secularism , which all we know that this particular relegion doesn't acknowledge.

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

Dear Religious Peoples of the World,
If your particular God is vengeful, jealous, or warlike in ANY way, then it really stands to reason that 'he' is either fictitious, or evil.
Sincerely,
The Thinking People

Gozie said...

Bill, i have been following up your views on religious believes of people and the consequences in our society today.
personally, I do agree with u on this particular issues but, there have been some serious point I think you have not pointed out.
The real meaning of religion is widely misunderstood in most instances.
Religion does is just the spiritual belief of a particular culture or tradition.
putting that into context, you always lay emphasis on Christianity and Islam, which very understandable due to there popularity, conflicts ( in most countries), domination and their ability to influence most of the world's constitution.
These two regions are the offspring of Jewish religion(which most people tend to forget or even ignorant of).
There merely adapted to the society that they took-off from,before there crusades that took them to the ends of the world.
Their ability to thrive and stand the test of time, was ability to identify the most dreaded human emotion,"fear of the unknown".
This was later fueled by the ingenuous collaboration of the church and the royalty for mutual benefits. The Bible never mentioned a direct link of Jesus to the invention of Christianity.
From my own cultural view point(Igbo,tradition) and overview of other worlds' cultures,the coexistence of believers ( in a supreme beings) and unbelievers has been there...
Bill,I would like us to discus more on this <>

Anonymous said...

I think this video sums up how many people feel about the subject:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40uyvImgsQ0

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