The Father Bob Show #48 - Is religion evil?
Once again the “chief troublemaker” of the Podcast Network and founder of The Father Bob Show joins us. His main occupation is stirring up Bob and watching him shut down and refuse to answer any questions. Listen to the argument at your own risk! Get ready for our big listener fundraiser in Show #50. Back to regular programming next week.
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January 31st, 2007 at 9:49 pm
[...] I caught up with my favourite Catholic, Father Bob Maguire, for a chat on Monday and attempted to engage him on some of the subjects I’ve been discussing here lately. As I should have known, he didn’t want to know about it and just told me off. Listen to the fireworks. [...]
February 1st, 2007 at 5:29 pm
I think ‘attempted to engage’ is a little bit of a stretch. Having a respectful and open dialogue about your diametrically opposed views on the role of religion and the existence and/or need for god would have been great. But (with respect) it sounded like weren’t all that interested in Father Bob’s opinions. Perhaps your agenda was more one of ‘wanting to prove’ that the values and beliefs that Father Bob has chosen to live his life by were just plain wrong. I don’t think that’s very respectful.
And I’m not a christian by the way. On the whole those hand clapping chorus singing evangelicals really get up my nose.
It was humourous yes. Father Bob makes me piss myself sometimes. But I think Cameron could have been more respectful.
That’s my respectfully put opinion…
Shelley Vee
February 2nd, 2007 at 5:42 am
Great show, tell him what’s what Bob. (no offence cameron),
February 2nd, 2007 at 9:01 am
The Father Bob’s of this world are a very important breed. They have their opinions and they justify them by their own standards and could;nt give a shit wether others agree with them or not.
Books are made up he says, thats my opinion and if you don’t like it…… get stuffed and have your own opinion, Father Bob couldn’t care less and frankly nor do I.
Now while I happen to have my own personal relationship with the big guy upstairs, I certainly am no fan of the church and all the misery and conflict the church has inflicted over the centuries. I’m totally positive that JC did not have the business model of the church system in mind when he introduced Christianity to us 2000 years ago.
Even though Father Bob is part of that system however I think he is a rebel in his own right. From what I heard Father Bob isn’t the “do it my way or burn in hell” kind of cleric which a lot of us are familiar with. He says “you do it your way, I’ll do it my way and we’ll compare notes. Funnily enough I think Cameron has the same outlook.
The main difference between you two guys is that Cameron doesn’t get too defensive when Father Bob attacks Camerons outlook and beliefs.
Still, Father Bob isn’t afraid to call a spade a spade and I like that about him.
Besides, what a dull and boring existance it would be if we didn’t have the Father Bob’s of this world telling us to get stuffed from time to time.
February 3rd, 2007 at 9:52 am
Religion is evil? I don’t think so, Stalin, Hitler, Mao (with his starving of the peasants in China) and even Sadam Hussain weren’t religious (not that I count Sadam in the same league). Sure the church has done a lot of killing and people do a lot of killing in the name of God, and even write it up in their history books as God’s will (like some passages of the Bible) but is God the problem here?
I think maybe you could broaden the problem to the problem of putting ideals and grand plans higher than compassion and sanctity of every human life.
Religion is our attempt to systemise something good that we believe in. It is mixed up and crazy - just like the humans who created it. But religion also helps us unlock our humanity and discover ourselves in a new way, religion as it should be (which I think Father Bob tries to tell us about) brings out the kernel of hope at the centre of each one of us.
Matt
February 4th, 2007 at 1:04 pm
Matthew, Hitler was a Christian. He received political and economic support from both the Protestant and Catholic churches at the highest levels. Saddam was a Sunni Muslim. His father Musa Al-Kazim was a Sunni Imam.
February 7th, 2007 at 1:39 am
Hey Bob,
Even if Cameron fakes obtuseness when you talk, it still makes sense to other people (like me).
If someone insists on demeaning and trivialising everything, that is a commentary on themselves not on what is said (hopefully communicated) or who says it. And it stands out like bout of piles.
It drives me mad having to listen to people who are illiterate dominating the discussion. It drives me to tears. Good on you Cam anyway, for getting this up and running. You’re a lamb in sheeps clothing.
Cameron, when you’re next in the states drop your resume into Universal Studios. I’m pretty sure they’re on the look out for bad actors :)
Some of us are dying out here for lack of oxygen. It’s good to have a gasp enery now and again.
good on you Fr. Bob, keep saying what you’re saying.
February 9th, 2007 at 10:12 am
Cameron, would you suggest that everyone of every theological, philosophical or political affiliation are in agreement with one another? There were many Christians who were in total opposition to Hitler that were killed as well.
http://www.nazis.testimony.co.uk/7-a.htm
There are many atheist murders but I doubt other atheists would put their own fingerprints on that ‘train wreck’.
February 9th, 2007 at 12:08 pm
Danial - me fake obtuseness? With all due respect, I think it’s Bob who does the obtuse act when we go down this path. “The Bible is just made up… no wait, we should believe in it.. it matters, it doesn’t matter…”
Please.
March 21st, 2007 at 1:00 pm
Cameron, Could you explain or rectify the lack of download links on shows #48, #49 and #52. The Real Player applet is there but the direct link is missing from these shows. We enjoy your shows. Keep up the great effort.
July 8th, 2007 at 7:12 am
For an interesting debate about whether the question of religion’s harmful side can ever be resolves, see here:
http://religionandatheism.wordpress.com/2007/07/07/is-religion-evil-an-interminable-debate/