A Reaction to a comment by Bill Maher in Transcendent Man

By On August 8, 2011 · 10 Comments

Bill MaherA friend of mine, @jimworth, invited me to view a panel discussion featuring Ray Kurzweil which was entitled “Transcendent Man.” The subject of the discussion was Mr. Kurzweil’s documentary of the same title.

As part of the panel discussion, a clip of comments by Bill Maher was included. In the clip, Mr. Maher made the statement that it is wrong for believers to use modern technology to get out their message. He made the seemingly witty comment that “you must choose your century.” The implication is that religion is a relic from the unenlightened past and modern technology should not be used to promote such an outdated message.

I have news for Mr. Maher. Christianity has always outlived its pall bearers. It has done so because Christianity is not a set of beliefs but a relationship. It is a relationship with Jesus Christ who has also outlived his pall bearers.

Hebrews 4:12 tells us that the Word of God is living and active.  Since it is living and active, modern communication methods are the perfect media for getting that Word out to the world that needs to hear it. The Word of God contains the good news about Jesus Christ.

One of the themes of “Transcendent Man” is that technology will be able to solve the problems of mankind. I will most likely have another post regarding the panel discussion but until then I would say that given their respective track records, my money is on Jesus Christ and the Word of God having a better effect on man than technology ever will.

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  • Jwalkowiak75

    I have to confess; though I love your zeal on this matter, I believe you've entirely missed the point. First, your making an assumption on Mr. Mahers statement. Choosing the word "implication" does not help to justify your translation. Second, being a christian, why do you care what an atheist thinks? Peter was the rock on which the lord build his church, but is sounds like you would take the stance of John (evangelical, revenge seeker)?

    I will make no assumptions on Mr. Maher's statement, but I can make a guess on his reasoning. I think Mr. Maher is part of a larger group that is tired of everyone trying to shove their individual beliefs down the collective throat. Interesting that the larger portion of the christian majority lobbies against this same type of behavior in it's government.

    Myself, I am a believer in a higher presence, but I do not proscribe to religion. Look over the centuries at all the dogma's that have been preached across the globe. On paper, the word promotes peace, but in action the exact opposite is what is often practiced. Across the eons, religion (not god) has been the guiding force behind separatism, war, derision, racism and genocide.

    I would say to religious folk, judge not of your neighbor, but judge upon yourself. The righteous inherit eternity, the self-righteous inherit themselves.

    • http://www.mhmcintyre.us Mark McIntyre

      Jwalkowiak75, I hope that anyone who disagrees with me feels that I condemn them, because I do not. My goal is not to "shove" my beliefs down anyone's throat. My goal is to promote what I think is Biblical Christianity and allow people to make their own decision. Thanks for reading and commenting.

  • teresa

    Jesus Christ and the word of god having a better effect on man then technology? Tell that to the hundreds of thousands who have been slain in the name of christianity. Were they not men as well? Or perhaps we should ask the good people of Haiti – one of the most christian and religious countries – how god has helped them? Or do they feel abandoned by their god? Ask them if they would rather have a little modern technology to rebuild their lives and country or if they would rather cling to their unanswered prayers from their false and absent god. The truth is that some people can boast of a comfort they feel from religion but the majority of pious and true believers have nothing to show for their faith. In the end, I trust technology more than your so called god. But if it helps you sleep at night by all means, dream away.

    • Jwalkowiak75

      I agree with Theresa. Would you take my account of world war 2, even though I was born 20 years after it ended?

      Ask a 20 people why world war 1 was started. Granted, it was over 70 years ago, but in the day and age of the print-press, it's astonishing how many people still have no idea (at least outside of Germany, and many countries in the EU).

  • Brian

    you're incorrect.  religion needs to be abandoned; it doesn't matter if you disguise it as a "relationship" with invisible/deceased people, it's still just make-believe.  fortunately the world as a whole is far, far from being centered around christianity.

  • http://twitter.com/Daisrael David Israel

    What I see as a more accurate attempt at honesty would to understand that if you make a supernatural claim about past events that you are considered ridiculous until you can provide proof.  There is no accepted scientific, or even logical, proof that Jesus is alive today.  You can not have a relationship with a man 2,000 years dead. You have a relationship with a religion based off writings from long after he was dead.

    As for solving the problems of mankind, technology is currently capable of solving many but our species is too far into its factions, fanatacisms and frivolous faiths to work towards a purely common good.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Nick-Marino/666246606 Nick Marino

      Couldn't have said it much better myself. Thank you for promoting logic and rationality in the face of ignorance.

      "my money is on Jesus Christ and the Word of God having a better effect on man than technology ever will."
      …Good luck because the mathematical odds and evidence are stacked against you. You would make a terrible stock market analyst. 

      • http://www.mhmcintyre.us Mark McIntyre

        Nick and David,

        Thanks for taking the time to write your comments. I really do appreciate hearing from you. 

        Nick, you're right, I would make a terrible stock market analyst but for reasons different reasons than you articulate.

        David, I should point out that we have fragments of New Testament documents dating to the 2nd Century and evidence that three of the Gospels were written within 40 years of Jesus' death. If you consider 40 years "long after" than perhaps you are right.

        • brian

          40 years removed is far from a reliable historical record.  people barely ever lived past 40 years old back then.  so someone who was an infant when these (impossible) events took place was still alive when the "records" were written.  so what?  there is zero empirical evidence in support of any religious or supernatural claim. there are hundreds of MILLIONS of people who believe just as strongly as you do that they have a "relationship" with their deity/messiah of choice.  who are you to tell them they are incorrect?  have you tried all the religions before you chose christianity?  what makes you so pompously certain that you have chosen the "correct" religion?  the only logical answer is that none of the religions are correct, and that there are questions about our universe that we cannot yet answer, just as it has always been throughout human history.

          • http://www.mhmcintyre.us Mark McIntyre

            Brian, thanks for the question and for taking the time to comment. I've been traveling and haven't had time to respond before now. I will do so in a separate blog post. Stay tuned . . .