The Uninspired Manifesto

This is an article from Fox News contributor Jonathan Morris about Bill Maher's new documentary. Not the film itself, of course, because it won't be released until next year, but rather the interview Maher did on Larry King Live to promote the film. In the article, Morris makes a few common apologetic points that I wanted to shed a little light on.

If Judaism or Christianity actually taught even a fraction of the absurdities Bill Maher apparently thinks they teach, I would send him my resume and petition him to bring me on as a co-producer of his upcoming documentary, “The Absurdity of Religion” (title still indefinite), as announced last night on "Larry King Live." I, too, would want to reveal the fraud.

Because Mr. Maher has decided to step out of his field of expertise and into mine, in a genuine spirit of dialogue, I would like to clarify a few things here that he has managed to jumble. You will notice that I am assuming the best — that Mr. Maher simply doesn’t know what Christianity really teaches.

If Christianity really taught that the man in the jungle who has never heard the name of Jesus is going to be damned forever to hell, I, too, would doubt. But Mr. Maher, Christianity doesn’t teach that. We are responsible to God in as much as God reveals himself to us. Christianity teaches that the saving grace of Jesus Christ is bigger than our date or place of birth. Christians believe God gives all of his children, in ways often unknowable to our little brains, the opportunity to accept or reject his love.

If that's true, why am I constantly threatened with eternal hellfire? I'm pretty sure 'accepting christ' at least requires knowledge of him. Even so, these people who have never heard of jesus have their own customs and ritual, which in most cases, disqualify them heaven. You're just assuming that if someone hasn't heard of christ, they have no concept of religion.

If Christianity really taught that God sometimes commands us to kill the innocent in his name, I too would doubt. But Mr. Maher, Christianity doesn’t teach that. This would go against the very nature of God as all-loving and all-just. I am equally as scandalized as you are when I see religious people, in our checkered past and present, mistake their own pride and ignorance for the voice of God and march off to holy war. As Pope John Paul II said, “War is always a failure of humanity.”

"In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God ... who shall be punished with everlasting destruction." 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9
You seen to have trouble comprehending that people can read the same text and draw different conclusions. Worse yet, many take it literally, which is the problem with every 'holy book'.

If Christianity really taught that people with homosexual tendencies are all going to hell, or that somehow they are not God’s children, I, too, would doubt. But Mr. Maher, Christianity doesn’t teach that.

I know of a lot of christians who would disagree with you. One of them even posted a comment on an article I related about an innocent homosexual man being killed, 'in the name of god'. Here's the comment he left me:

Rev. Don Spitz said...
Terry Mark Mangum was right.

The Bible is clear that homosexuals are sexual deviants and enemies of the LORD God. Your support of these sodomites is disgusting.

Whatever you think, you will not be able to change God's Word and will one day have to pay the price for not believing what God has written.

Leviticus 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.

Leviticus 20:13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

Romans 1:22-27

V22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, V23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

V24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

V25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, Who is blessed for ever. Amen.

V26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

V27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

Hard for you to believe, I'm sure, but you're both christians. When you look at the bigger picture, it's not really all that absurd.