Ben Stein

[Redruth]

Ben Stein Is A Hero Of Mine

The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.

 

My confession:

 

I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when

people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened.

I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are, Christmas trees.

 

It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting

ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it . It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this

happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near

my beach house in Malibu. If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

 

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians.

I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came

from, that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

 

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed

to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering

where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.

 

In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different:

This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.

 

Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her

'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Hurricane Katrina).. Anne Graham

gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this,

just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government

and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out.

How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'

 

In light of recent events.... terrorist attacks, school shootings, etc., I think it started when Madeleine

Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools,

and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal,

and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.

 

Then Dr Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave,

because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem

(Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said okay.

 

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong,

and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.

 

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'

 

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say,

but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending

messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through

cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.

 

Are you laughing yet?

 

Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list

because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.

 

Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.

 

Pass it on if you think it has merit.

 

If not, then just discard it... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process,

don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in.

 

My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully,

 

Ben Stein

[Guest EDGEY]

Yeh, the world is in the shitter because there's too many atheists, all of whom are "lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene".

 

[Guest Calx Sherbet]

atheists aren't the problem, having no acceptance is the problem

[Redruth]

atheists aren't the problem, having no acceptance is the problem

 

 

just except everything and all will be well right?

 

isn't that what is wrong is

we don't understand what to except and what not to except anymore?

 

everyone just have fun and the world will become a better place? i don't think so.

 

we need some definition and a framework!

[Guest Glass Plate]

It's a little bit funny that people wold even think that christmas is owned by Christians these days. (mostly borrowed holiday in the first place)

[data]

seriously? i mean, seriously? srslysrsly? i was under the impression people on watmm didn't believe in god, even the americans.

 

"Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell."

 

 

edit: and no, i don't care for stuck up snobby atheists like richard dawkins etc. im just talking about common sense.

[Guest Benedict Cumberbatch]

why the fuck did i read (and you post) this shit? fuck yu

[Brandi_B]

God loves everyone despite their beliefs/actions. God is love. I don't believe in the christian god, i'm a bit more towards krishna/shiva etc, but even then not 100% connected to any faith. Every faith has it's good and bad, and has done wonderful and terrible things in the past and present. Therefore the never ending cycle of finger pointing, violence, and prejudice seem to be everlasting.

 

I myself had Christianity shoved down my throat, and would be grounded for a week if i didn't attend church, and would continue to be grounded until i did attend church. It never did anything for me and I felt increasingly uncomfortable there. Non-religious people don't want it crammed down their throat, just as Christians don't want non-believers opinions crammed down theirs. Kind of fractal like. Unbalanced equation, that i guess should remain unbalanced. Everyone's happy, too boring, everyone's miserable, too chaotic, no ones happy, violence, attempts to make everyone happy.

 

Ben stein is alright, but the only interesting thing i found in that is that we are all brothers and sisters and that is true to the word.

 

edit:

 

 

[Guest Calx Sherbet]

atheists aren't the problem, having no acceptance is the problem

 

 

just except everything and all will be well right?

 

isn't that what is wrong is

we don't understand what to except and what not to except anymore?

 

everyone just have fun and the world will become a better place? i don't think so.

 

we need some definition and a framework!

 

okay then, i guess that's one pessimistic way of looking at it. maybe acceptance isn't the right word, but just respecting the choice of faith that others have? i don't see a problem with that. bashing each other over different beliefs isn't definition and framework, it de-evolution. i don't think EVERYTHING should be accepted. most people know the difference between moral and immoral

 

i must've missed something, just skip over this

[Guest KY]

did ben stein actually write (and recite) this? i remember a number of sort of conservative essays that appear online, apparently by him, and end up being by somebody else entirely.

[Redruth]

God loves everyone despite their beliefs/actions. God is love. I don't believe in the christian god, i'm a bit more towards krishna/shiva etc, but even then not 100% connected to any faith. Every faith has it's good and bad, and has done wonderful and terrible things in the past and present. Therefore the never ending cycle of finger pointing, violence, and prejudice seem to be everlasting.

 

I myself had Christianity shoved down my throat, and would be grounded for a week if i didn't attend church, and would continue to be grounded until i did attend church. It never did anything for me and I felt increasingly uncomfortable there. Non-religious people don't want it crammed down their throat, just as Christians don't want non-believers opinions crammed down theirs. Kind of fractal like. Unbalanced equation, that i guess should remain unbalanced. Everyone's happy, too boring, everyone's miserable, too chaotic, no ones happy, violence, attempts to make everyone happy.

 

Ben stein is alright, but the only interesting thing i found in that is that we are all brothers and sisters and that is true to the word.

 

edit:

 

 

 

 

 

the church is shit! and i'm sorry it did that to you, i do not support the church!. Christ himself spoke against the church.

there is a difference between being Biblical and being churchy christian. Biblical is more accurate and based on the gospels (including the gospel of Mary Magdalene) in there essence and is open to further understanding and decoding depending on how much we want to understand.

the church is an abomination!

[Guest Calx Sherbet]

did ben stein actually write (and recite) this? i remember a number of sort of conservative essays that appear online, apparently by him, and end up being by somebody else entirely.

 

i'm wondering this too...

[Brandi_B]

God loves everyone despite their beliefs/actions. God is love. I don't believe in the christian god, i'm a bit more towards krishna/shiva etc, but even then not 100% connected to any faith. Every faith has it's good and bad, and has done wonderful and terrible things in the past and present. Therefore the never ending cycle of finger pointing, violence, and prejudice seem to be everlasting.

 

I myself had Christianity shoved down my throat, and would be grounded for a week if i didn't attend church, and would continue to be grounded until i did attend church. It never did anything for me and I felt increasingly uncomfortable there. Non-religious people don't want it crammed down their throat, just as Christians don't want non-believers opinions crammed down theirs. Kind of fractal like. Unbalanced equation, that i guess should remain unbalanced. Everyone's happy, too boring, everyone's miserable, too chaotic, no ones happy, violence, attempts to make everyone happy.

 

Ben stein is alright, but the only interesting thing i found in that is that we are all brothers and sisters and that is true to the word.

 

edit:

 

 

 

 

 

the church is shit! and i'm sorry it did that to you, i do not support the church!. Christ himself spoke against the church.

there is a difference between being Biblical and being churchy christian. Biblical is more accurate and based on the gospels (including the gospel of Mary Magdalene) in there essence and is open to further understanding and decoding depending on how much we want to understand.

the church is in grave error!

...I don't really think there's a chance of accuracy over the time span and all the distortion. Best I think the best christians could hope to do is modify old views and appropriate them to modern times, but that kinda goes against what Christians are i suppose.

 

did ben stein actually write (and recite) this? i remember a number of sort of conservative essays that appear online, apparently by him, and end up being by somebody else entirely.

 

i'm wondering this too...

yeah i got an email from my dad once that was called "ben steins views" or something similar and it looked like it was all written by him, but when i went back and re-read i think just the top paragraph quoted something he said, then some analyst/pundit continued on making it seem like steins words.

[Guest Calx Sherbet]

Non-religious people don't want it crammed down their throat, just as Christians don't want non-believers opinions crammed down theirs. Kind of fractal like. Unbalanced equation, that i guess should remain unbalanced. Everyone's happy, too boring

 

i think balance could be found. it seems like some people want uneven acceptance (or none at all) so the world stays interesting. differences are interesting, but the harm that can be caused by these differences is unhealthy.

[Guest theSun]

lol gross article.

 

made good points but he needs to blame someone for a world that he believes isn't correct. it's not about ben stein wanting to help people, he just wants you to know that he knows exactly what's going on and what the problem is. and the problem is apparently atheists.

 

ben stein is quite smart but i often come away from reading his shit like, "how the fuck did he come to this conclusion?"

 

actually he sounds like one of those retarded, despicable people that believes you can't have morality without stupid supernatural shit upon further consideration.

[delet...]

I was waiting for something to be written that was insightful in this thread. It didn't happen, and I sure as hell ain't gonna mess with the path of the sad mournful flow of shit that is pushing silently down this page.

 

Roll on, pressed ever further by the weight of the dead loss above you, sad thread that I will never revisit. Roll on.

 

-- ::

[SR4]

atheists are looking for an easy way out, just as religious beliefs.

 

there is a commonality between the two that must be reconciled.

 

it may blow people's minds, but science and religion grew out of each other.

[Hoodie]

atheists are looking for an easy way out, just as religious beliefs.

 

there is a commonality between the two that must be reconciled.

 

it may blow people's minds, but science and religion grew out of each other.

 

please expand on your first statement.

 

i agree with your last one. both arose because people questioned how the universe worked. however, science relies on observable facts while religion relies on made-up stories. that can't be reconciled because they are two totally different ways of explaining nature.

[Dale]

From the original article posted, what is Stein trying to say? He's writing about religion + atheism - but it seems, (to me anyway), that he's not directly getting to the point of what he is trying to get across to the reader.. I can't stand this style of writing, going on and on without actually making a direct, clear point.

[Redruth]

From the original article posted, what is Stein trying to say? He's writing about religion + atheism - but it seems, (to me anyway), that he's not directly getting to the point of what he is trying to get across to the reader.. I can't stand this style of writing, going on and on without actually making a direct, clear point.

 

 

 

you don't get the point?

are you saying that you missed the point or that you don't get it, or are you saying there is no point?

 

i think one point may be that human beings will always be squirming to resist any type of ultimate truth in union with authority

(even if has proved itself as worthy and undeniable) which would limit there own personal freedom to do whatever they want in this whole experience.

 

it is hard to not do things that we want to do because they have negative effects on ourselves or other

living things around us (human or not), but this is what True Love is (sacrifice) (wisdom) and until we

get this we will continue to spiral down in our own ignorance.

 

True Love Is Love Mixed With Wisdom (it is very defined and absolute)

[SR4]

atheists are looking for an easy way out, just as religious beliefs.

 

there is a commonality between the two that must be reconciled.

 

it may blow people's minds, but science and religion grew out of each other.

 

please expand on your first statement.

 

i agree with your last one. both arose because people questioned how the universe worked. however, science relies on observable facts while religion relies on made-up stories. that can't be reconciled because they are two totally different ways of explaining nature.

 

belief that nothing concerns the governance of the universe is just as silly as saying the universe is governed by Thor or whoever the idol of worship may be. atheists always sorta piss me off because , and im generalizing here, they are just as blind in their worship of science, and yes i mean worship. things that are "proven" are proven, end of story, and you are a fool if you challenge any of it....which sorta overrides the meaning of the scientific process in the first place.

 

99.9% true is not an ultimate truth. Atheists choose to side with the 99.9% as an ultimate truth, but it is not, scientifically, they are incorrect and therefore are hypocritical in their stance.

 

I am an Agnostic, I think its the most logical position to be honest.

 

and im sure there is fault in my argument, its stupid, etc etc. that's fine, but my point is that there is a flaw in every argument, and to uphold the tenets of Christianity or the tenets that no greater power exist are equally as foolish.

 

i also feel that a large majority of atheists (i myself being one for a time) do it out of spite for organized religion instead of real deep analysis of the idea of a "God" or greater power.

 

and to an extent, i cant fault them for that...i mean organized religion is as much at fault as modern politics for the fake veil of civilization slowly fettering away its own sheath.

[Guest Calx Sherbet]

atheists are looking for an easy way out, just as religious beliefs.

 

there is a commonality between the two that must be reconciled.

 

it may blow people's minds, but science and religion grew out of each other.

 

please expand on your first statement.

 

i agree with your last one. both arose because people questioned how the universe worked. however, science relies on observable facts while religion relies on made-up stories. that can't be reconciled because they are two totally different ways of explaining nature.

 

belief that nothing concerns the governance of the universe is just as silly as saying the universe is governed by Thor or whoever the idol of worship may be. atheists always sorta piss me off because , and im generalizing here, they are just as blind in their worship of science, and yes i mean worship. things that are "proven" are proven, end of story, and you are a fool if you challenge any of it....which sorta overrides the meaning of the scientific process in the first place.

 

 

unfortunately that is because not everyone is well educated in science. they can't really tell if what they believe is real. scientific formulas ARE made up, but they represent a real idea. like terminal velocity or density.

 

i do thinks it's best to always question what you believe

[SR4]

atheists are looking for an easy way out, just as religious beliefs.

 

there is a commonality between the two that must be reconciled.

 

it may blow people's minds, but science and religion grew out of each other.

 

please expand on your first statement.

 

i agree with your last one. both arose because people questioned how the universe worked. however, science relies on observable facts while religion relies on made-up stories. that can't be reconciled because they are two totally different ways of explaining nature.

 

belief that nothing concerns the governance of the universe is just as silly as saying the universe is governed by Thor or whoever the idol of worship may be. atheists always sorta piss me off because , and im generalizing here, they are just as blind in their worship of science, and yes i mean worship. things that are "proven" are proven, end of story, and you are a fool if you challenge any of it....which sorta overrides the meaning of the scientific process in the first place.

 

 

unfortunately that is because not everyone is well educated in science. they can't really tell if what they believe is real. scientific formulas ARE made up, but they represent a real idea. like terminal velocity or density.

 

i do thinks it's best to always question what you believe

 

 

and i totally agree with everything you said there, but again, the problem of atheism is the fact that stating that as your belief implies that the answer has been found, though it hasn't in favor of either god/no god camp, therefore it is a belief system...i dunno i feel like the more i talk the more offtrack im getting. i swear im half-intelligent.

[Guest Calx Sherbet]

well it doesn't have to be about what is right or wrong, it's all about what makes the most sense to you. if you think evolution is completely possible and makes sense, then believe it. if you think the adam and eve stories make more sense, then believe that

 

i don't believe in god, but i don't think i'd ever say he's not real

[SR4]

btw, if you've never read Kirkegaard or Kant, I'd highly recommend reading them in conjunction with each other, as they somewhat address this topic, and they put their points much better than wading through my half-assed thought process.

 

well it doesn't have to be about what is right or wrong, it's all about what makes the most sense to you. if you think evolution is completely possible and makes sense, then believe it. if you think the adam and eve stories make more sense, then believe that

 

i don't believe in god, but i don't think i'd ever say he's not real

 

your last statement though, i mean that's the problem...unless you are saying that God is real in a literary or in a sense of the creation of the human idea of God.

 

I mean, your statement sounds more Agnostic than it would Atheist.

 

btw, i hope i dont come off as a dick to anyone, its just that i am incredibly interested in the process of determining what, why, how, if and all the other factors surrounding God. I couldn't hope to come close to some of the great philosophers, but its awesome to sit and surmise and have a polite discussion with others...you can learn so much.