Sherri Shepherd, Bill Maher Spar Over God: Bill Tells Sherri She Should Go To Psych Ward

Bill Maher appeared on "The View" Tuesday morning to promote his upcoming film, "Religulous," which comes out Friday. When Maher tried to debunk a basic tenet of Christianity, Sherri Shepherd, whose devout religious beliefs have provided fodder for the show before, asked, "When you did this movie, you talked to a lot of people about God — have you ever just talked to God, and asked God what does he think?"

When Maher asked Sherri if God ever answered her, and she said that he did, Maher said: "Well then we should call Bellevue." Bellevue is a New York hospital known for its psychiatric facilities.

Watch:

Previously:
Sherri Shepherd: I "Had More Abortions Than I Would Like to Count" Before I Was Saved
WATCH: Sherri Explains Abortion Remark
Sherri Shepherd: I Thought Earthquake Was Armageddon
Sherri Shepherd Doesn't Get That Whole BC Thing, Insists "Jesus Came First"

Comments

[taceva]

Yes,religion is man made but the Bible is the word of GOD ,if we follow it ,we'll be better off .

[TeslaFan]

Just quit trying to legislate delusion.

[pinkyboo]

Then God is a really bad writer - have you ever read genesis? that is the most poorly written piece of dog crap I've ever read - it is so bad it makes my teeth hurt!

[Bubba Gump]

Actually, part of Genesis chapter 1 was proven right by NASA. Back in the 1970's, I noticed an oddity. How can light be created on the first day (verses 1-5) but the sun, moon, and stars were created on the fourth day (verses 14-19)? This didn't make sense to me. So I sincerely prayed in faith for God to answer my question in my life-time. And God did! The answer came when NASA launched and later fixed the Hubble Space Telescope. When scientists aimed Hubble at an area of space where young stars were being formed, they made a shocking discovery. The dust and gas clouds which housed the forming stars, much like a cocoon, began to glow as the star within the cloud gained mass and increased temperature! They remarked, "If we were standing on the surface of a forming planet, the forming sun and stars wouldn't be visible at all yet the glow would create a day and a night as the planet rotated. We'd never have guessed it!" Once nuclear fusion kicked in, the star blew away the dust and gas clouds to reveal clear skies! EXACTLY THE WAY GENESIS CHAPTER ONE SAID IT WOULD BE! Yet Moses wrote it 4,000 years before NASA was created. How did a shepherd named Moses get it right without technology of any kind when scientists got it wrong until NASA proved what was true?

[runutz]

The Bible is the word of a group of individuals ordained by the Pope in a very successful attempt to control the masses at the time - having been re-written several times, having books thrown away for not staying on message and then you need to ask Which Bible? There are several versions with different messages depending on it;'s publishing date.

[Hirnlego]

Have you actually read it?

And to see what religion does to societies, when there's too much of it, take a look at the middle-east.

No thanks

[Quaoar]

Including Leviticus? Would we really better off by not eating shellfish? Of course we could follow the book of Kings and eat our children if we really got hungry.

[Bubba Gump]

It is a scientific fact that aquatic bottom feeders tend to become contaminated with heavy metals and other contaminants. The Levitical Law reflected a protection of God's people against that kind of danger and spoilage of food, especially since refrigeration was non-existent. (Leviticus 11:9-12)

I'm not familiar with the concept of cannibalism being OK with God within the Bible. Could you please present which book of Kings, the chapter and verse?

[TeslaFan]

Faith MUST fulfill an evolutionary need or it would not have survived in our species.

Some suggest that faith allows the self-aware monkey-mind relief from the reality of our impending death.

Some postulate that faith in the afterlife allowed our Ancestors to face death blindly protecting territory and offspring.

We have evolved past our prehistoric need for faith and must use rationality to guide our future, lest we destroy our species, believing a god will protect us from ourselves.

[gymmy]

......until we have live Fox News coverage from the afterlife, i won't believe anything any tennant of religion campiagns for!!!!!! what do you have to say about that non-believers!!!???

[bushfocker]

i like george carlin's explanation on religion.....its bullsh@t

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=MeSSwKffj9o

[pleasegetitright]

yeah, and George Carlin is dead. "you like dead people?"

[SeekerOne]

You win the prize for stu pidest come back.

[TeslaFan]

There was a god once, and his name was Carlin.

[gymmy]

but pope john paul is still alive right ?!?!?!? : (

[Hirnlego]

Yes we all die some day.. your point being?

[rowzeer]

Didn't you know he rose on the third day.

[mesmerize]

I despise religion all because of religious fanatics. They have taken something enjoyable and ruined it. They are so hooked on a book that was written by man. People should not jump all over Bill Maher for feeling the way he does. Religious people want you to respect them when it comes to their religion, but they won't do the same for people who disagree. People should have a choice whether they live right by the good book or risk going to that suffering place some christians love to threaten you with, HELLLLLLLLLLL.

[Roses]

"Religious people want you to respect them when it comes to their religion, but they won't do the same for people who disagree."

This isn't really true. Just like I can say...."all atheists and agnostics are intolerant
S-O-B-s"....and that would not be true.
Careful of your assumptions, it reduces your argument and logic.

I do agree with you that there is far too much intolerance. But if you look at it historically, it is not due to "religion", (although it is sometimes used by the more powerful to keep the less powerful from rising up). It is more due to the instinctual need to procreate and survive. Read Joseph Campbell. Then read philosophy and anthropology. Then talk.

[rowzeer]

I disagree....religion requires no logical thought...if people aren't thinking logically they can be convinced of anything....including killing in the name of God

Religion requires adherence to a certain doctrine....your doctrine is the word of God....this means everyone elses is wrong...this means they can't see any other side as right....If you feel you have God on your side, you can justify your atrocities.

[bluesoul]

For Bill Maher atheism is a religion and he enjoys shoving it down everyone else's throat much like the right wing Christians. He is truly a condescending shithead. Maher has elevated intolerance to a virtuous state.

[mingjia]

Thank the, er, Lord (!) for Bill Maher. He's shoving atheism down everyone's throat? Are you JOKING? What do you think Christians have been doing for 1,000 or 2,000 years! What do you think all the ministers and priests and parents who believe all this nonsense have been doing to kids forever! Shoving "god" down everyone's throat. Despite having logic and common sense on their side, athiests are the most oppressed minority in the world! If you walked over to your neighbor's house and told him or her that you just saw or talked to a little green space alien, he'd call the police or the psych ward. But if you told him or her that you saw or talked to "god," they'd say, "oh, how wonderful!" Bizarre! Everybody wants to believe for obvious reasons, but god is a completely illogical concept--and the dangerous thing is the determination with which the Jesus crowd has tried to push religion into our public schools and our politics and our government. Religious is fine so long as it's confined to churches--but that's not enuf for the Jesus crowd anymore.

[TeslaFan]

Charlemaine's soldiers offered a choice: Baptism or Drowning.

[LisaLisa1234]

Not all Christians believe that religion should be taught in public schools. There are many (like me) who believe fiercely in the separation of church & state.

Mainly because if one religion is running the government, who's to say it would be the one I believe in? That was the goal of leaving England!

For whatever reason, the religious right does not understand this. They contradict themselves.

[SeekerOne]

Bill is not an atheist. He's agnostic.

[researcher]

good point did not know he was agnostic

when he says just say " I dont know" is very agnostic

love his show sorry he is so upset over religion

it would be a grand debate if religion has caused more misery or more good to society

I know I am anti religion but know it is something I need to work on

people are were they need to be and religion gives many much faith and hope

it is just the my religion is the only war that gets upsetting

heard it with a friend this past week

hard to take sometimes

[noobles]

Actually I believe he's a Level 6 Atheist (by Dawkin's book), which is he doesn't believe in God unless confronted by contradictory evidence.

[TeslaFan]

Says the intolerant condescending shithead.

[Bubba Gump]

Perhaps Bill Maher is fed up with self-proclaimed "Christians" showing their intolerance, rude behavior, hypocrisy, hatred, power-mad tantrums, money schemes, sexual secrets, and the like. If so, I can't blame him! But I personally believe in God and worship Him in love, hope, faith, love of both God and my fellow human. I think the rape of the Earth is an abomination! This is God's Earth we are polluting and destroying. In many ways, I understand and agree with Bill Maher. My faith and your faith (or your choice not to have a religion at all) should be respected, not force-fed. Why is it that Christians often forget that God gave us free-will?

[lisakaz2]

He seems to think atheism acts like a religion and he doesn't like organized religion (regardless of which one it is). On a good day, maybe the Deists would like him but I think he's so skepitcal, he's an agnostic. Lots of pre 19th ppl considered that atheism but he wouldn't.

[drdrbob]

In response to "Blackhawk6" who asked: "...if anyone remembers exactly how "American Negros" came to believe in christianity?? It's interesting to me that we were historically not allowed to read the bible, even though the religion was forced on us, but somehow came to rely on it so."
The psychological/psychiatric answer is usually called "identification with the aggressor" and applies to those, in a position of helplessness, who will believe/adopt the thoughts/positions/beliefs of those who are oppressing/controlling them, in order to survive (externally) and to survive internally by lowering/reducing anxiety, rage and despair. Many examples throughout history...slavery, holocaust, etc. Once established, it takes on a life of its own, and is utilized by those who aspire to ownership of others to establish and reinforce a tribal mentality, with "chiefs" running the show (and collecting the money" and "peasants" dutifully tithing in order to have a sense of belonging, protection from the bad outside world (other tribes), and an assured place in the "afterlife". Usually an easy "sell", especially if its pounded into one's head, especially children who lack critical thinking at that stage of life, with an explicit or implicit warning that if they don't accept the "teachings" they will be abandoned (as in "going to hell" or not loved by their parents or other tribal members) forever. Most join up, which has (the tribally desired) effect of putting blinders on one's brain.

[AmericanScream]

The Stockholm Syndrome is what that is called.

[Kraftformer]

I hope more media figures take religion to task. Religion is nothing but man made and in the case of major religions nothing but mind control, male supremacy and tribalism.
Religious folk expect to everyone else to just accept the made up illogical nonsense that is religion as a legitimate answer to life's questions.

[Obamican7]

Bill is only adding fuel to the culture war fire. If you agree with what Obama says, especially his 2004 convention speech - do not see his movie. Assbag.

The Nuttcups need to eviscerate Maher like they did Rev. Wright: http://tinyurl.com/6gqe7s

[TeslaFan]

Intolerance is an ugly thing in an American.

[pinkyboo]

I will vote for Obama and I will see Maher's movie - stuff that in YOUR pipe @ssbag!

[TeslaFan]

Stop, you're making him wet.

[rowzeer]

Are you kidding Rev. Wright anger was more than justified....do not judge a man until you've walked a mile in his shoes....I'd bet you're not black

[kiran888]

I used to be a religious person who prayed a lot but ever since i started seeing and hearing about the extremist muslims, extremist christians, I can't stand religion anymore. I think what Bill maher says is difficult especially since we live in a hardcore religious country. I can't believe we criticize other countries for being so religious when we are the same.

[hotwire]

How, in your mind,are extremist christians and extremist Muslims related in anyway? Their ideologies are completely different.

[TeslaFan]

All are incapable of abstract reasoning.

[SeekerOne]

The relationship lies in their literal, and thus intolerant, interpretations of their religions. The modern world threatens these interpretations.

For a different take on the deluge of worldwide fundamentalism, try reading Jihad vs. McWorld by Benjamin Barber.

[rowzeer]

Really.....the indoctrination of the masses, the intrusion of religious dogma into the laws of the land (theocracy), the forcing of one's beliefs on another...how are they different...if America had been a colony of the Middle East and we were oppressed by them wouldn't you rise up, too. And what better way to get people to do whatever you want than using religion to convince them their struggle is just?

[ContraEgoiste]

The god of~the evangelists and other fundamentalists:

A god so petty and narcissist that~he needs the constant adoration and supplication of his subjects or he will cast~them~into fire. A god so resentful~and~vindictive that~the suffering and~agony of his punishment is~not enough~this pain must also~be eternal. It is a god of~those who want an authoritarian~superego or Celestial Manufacturer to worship. A god that seeks~blind~unquestioning obedience and shuns~knowledge inquiry. That like a temperamental rock~star, he fusses~over minor matters of diet and sexuality, and like an irascible~dictator demands~constant placating, adulation and cajoling. He is a cross~ between a Mafia~boss and a prima~donna, with nothing~to~be said in his favor other~than~that~he is, when all~is said and done, God.

They've created a creed which~has become in our~time the doctrine of oil~rich autocrats and stoners of women, fascist-minded oligarchs and murderous~bigots. It is~the~joyous cries of bomb~happy militarist washed in the blood~of the Lamb, and~the suburban~respectability of fraudsters and wife~beaters. It is glazed, bland, beaming and tambourine~banging. It wants nothing to do~with failure, and shoos away~the~disfranchised off~the streets. It is the logo of the military- industrial complex, the cross~which~props up the American~Eagle, the holy~water sprinkled on human exploitation.

It is this faith which has since been used to justify imperialist adventures, the reviling of non-Christians, the abuse of children and the murder of abortionists. As a form of organized violence, it has become the badge of the rich, powerful and "patriotic".

It is a god they have created to manipulate the masses and keep them ignorant.

[mesmerize]

Some will hate this statement, but you have every right to say it. You are a brave soul.

[hotwire]

I didn't think you were allowed to say the word, Soul, on here.

[athenalong]

brilliant.

[hotwire]

I believe in God, I believe in the afterlife. The only thing I can say, ContraEgoiste, Is if you're right you have nothing to worry about, but if i'm right you're going to be in a whole world of hurt.

[TeslaFan]

If you're wrong, you've wasted your life living a lie.

[Krankil]

"if i'm right you're going to be in a whole world of hurt." Is that your argument?
You believe in God, therefore ContraEgoiste must believe in God otherwise he would be in a whole world of hurt! hmmm makes lots of sense

My question to you is that if you're so convinced that you're right, why do you feel that you need to force children to learn and practice your religion since they're 3 years-old. Wouldn't you think that if it's so obvious that you're right, an 18-year old with a complete brain would reach your conclusion through the same thought process you used to reach yours ? oh sorry, that can't happen. You reached your conclusion when you were 3 years-old too !

[Hirnlego]

And you might believe in the wrong god. Stay neutral I say, make no friends nor enemies.. :P

[ContraEgoiste]

And that is exactly my point. You believe in god out of FEAR. You fear what will happen if you don't. You can be made to follow blindly out of fear of the consequence of not believing.

Do you even see the correlation of this....

"..He is a cross~ between a Mafia~boss ..."

"but if i'm right you're going to be in a whole world of hurt."

There is a whole universe of difference between indoctrination by fear and ignorance, and a search for an spiritual answer. You may say, there is somthing inherently hypocrtic and perverse in the former.

[LisaLisa1234]

As a Christian, I largely agree with what you're saying. The God of the religious right is, in many ways, NOT the God of the Bible.

[rowzeer]

No you're wrong it was actually Bill Maher that said that the God of the religious right is the wrathful, vengeful God of the Old Testament not the forgiving,loving God of the New Testament....he said the Christian fundamentalists are actually Jews, they just don't realize it.

[thisisbatcountry]

have you ever read 'the razor's edge' by w. somerset maugham? the main character in that book reaches the same conclusion about christianity that you do and says that his favorite religion is hinduism.
but the bible basically agrees with your assessment of god. the second comandment (or one of the commandments, anyways) says that our god is a jealous god, and you shall have no other idols before me, etc. and the bible also states that we are created in god's image. look at us, we're horrible to each other, and have been throughout all time!!!! if the christian version of god is really the Supreme Being, than no wonder we're so f*cked up.

[ContraEgoiste]

Thanks, I'll look for it.

[DrJimmy]

Santa Claus is coming to town..

[peterg76]

Well, George Bush hears God and... oh, wait. Bad example.

[metogamekun]

Bill was great on The Daily Show. I liked his crazy rant about the God who sent his son (actually himself) to Earth on a suicide mission.

He asks tough questions of religion that many find impossible to answer, and therefore are offended by him.

[Hirnlego]

But Maher is wrong when he says atheists are the other side, similar, to the hardcore religionists.

[metogamekun]

I'm not so sure he is. His point is that hard-core atheists are just as sure as the religionists about something that's impossible to prove. I've read Dawkins and Hitchens. They can be just as certain (and at times scary) as any other fundie.

There's nothing wrong with saying "I don't know."

[2008FedUP]

Bill should be the co-moderator for the remaining debates for all candidates. I would pay money to see that. We would all have to join in with John and wear a Depends because it would be funny.