AmericanTrash07 (December 31, 1969 at 6:59 pm)

It depends on how you define things. In most historical cases where religion was used as an excuse & greed (of the rulers) was the motivating factor, the way they got the people to actually fight for them was through religion. For them, then, the real reason was religion. Of course, bad science was used the same way by the Nazis, but that was also intertwined with the whole quasi-christian fascist state religion of Nazism at the time. I would substitute dogma for religion as the greatest threat.

mtdewramen (December 31, 1969 at 6:59 pm)

That's one reason why i do like Bill Maher. He talks often about how people are finally waking up in large amounts to the fairy tale parts of relgion. You do know that the majority of wars that have been started are due to greed, and they just use religion as icing on the cake. Religion is just used as the dogma to divide and conquer, nothing more, nothing less.

AmericanTrash07 (December 31, 1969 at 6:59 pm)

mtdewramen,The danger of organized religion is that it's a wolf in sheep's clothing. This "secular fundamentalism" of which you speak is a malapropism, and you're really talking about outright greed, which is a wolf in sheep-dog's clothing, if it bothers to hide at all. I'm more fearful of a hidden threat than one I can see coming.What might be called "patriotic fundamentalism" (which has become tied to organized religion) is also dangerous, as questioning one's government becomes treason.

JimJones1996 (December 31, 1969 at 6:59 pm)

In a time when news is actually talking point regurgitation, "The Daily Show" and "Real Time" always swing the spotlight where it needs most to shine.These COMEDY shows tell the truth about issues of self-righteous repression like Intelligent Design and Praying The Gay Away. And they DON'T make it sound like there are two rational sides when there AREN'T. Keep it up, Jon, Bill and your writers.For a comic take on society's repression of homosexuality, do a YouTube search for "MAYBE GAY RAY"

mtdewramen (December 31, 1969 at 6:59 pm)

While i despise almost all organized anything when it becomes too concentrated (take 1 look at the government as it has been one of the largest causes of unnatural death to humanity in the 20th century), you can't put all the blame on religion. Secular fundamentalism is the other part of the coin you must be equally watchful for. We saw and are still seeing those tales unfold under the flags of communism and violent revolutions backed by wealthy bankers to this day.

roush26 (December 31, 1969 at 6:59 pm)

the reality of life is so dark and harsh that most people can't accept it and block it out, and fill it with things like religion instead.A religion: you live life in our terms and you and your family will live forever in happiness in a place beyond the corruptions of man.Truth: Those who are most innovative and capable will succeed in life, all suffer due to the struggle for success, and all die in the end with no promise for a salvation.Religion sounds better, but its wrong.

timin770 (December 31, 1969 at 6:59 pm)

Maher makes me sick just to look at his ugly mug

pjninjamonkey (December 31, 1969 at 6:59 pm)

YES! so true Atheist = rational/realistic while religon = irrational/disney channel

nelsongg5 (December 31, 1969 at 6:59 pm)

I could bet 90% of Atheist voted for Obama and 100% are against Bush.Why?Because we use rational and critical thinkers.

vger1970 (December 31, 1969 at 6:59 pm)

go bill !! yes religion is and has been a huge force of destruction and oppression for about as long as humans have been walking on 2 feet