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H. Humbert
SFN Die Hard
USA
4574 Posts |
 Posted - 12/09/2008 : 23:16:20
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One of the more amazing things to me about skepticism is how many professional comedians tend to embrace it. At first, those two things might not necessarily seem to go together. But questioning received wisdom, popular opinions, and "common" sense is essential to both. And while not every comedian is as equally edgy, an amazing number demonstrate skeptical tendencies, if not outright atheism and disbelief in anything supernatural. Indeed, when one sees a list of famous atheists, a surprising number turn out to be comedians. For every theistic-ass-kisser like Dane Cook, skeptics get two greats like George Carlin or Sam Kinison.
Still, even more comics expressed restrained skepticism. That is, they are skeptical, but they make it clear they have no issue with others who do believe. By appealing to a more "mixed" audience (i.e. mainstream), they might actually do more to plant a seed of skepticism than more outspoken personalities.
Here is Brian Regan doing a mild riff on Professional Psychics. It's pretty merciless in it's message, at least.
How bout everyone else? List some of your favorite comics exploring skeptical themes. For instance, here are two bits from British comedians, who probably beat Americans in this department. Here's actual science lover Ricky Gervais doing his impression of a creationist. And here is Eddie Izzard doing his famous bit on the Inquisition: Cake or Death.
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"A man is his own easiest dupe, for what he wishes to be true he generally believes to be true." --Demosthenes
"The first principle is that you must not fool yourself - and you are the easiest person to fool." --Richard P. Feynman
"Face facts with dignity." --found inside a fortune cookie |
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Randy
SFN Regular
USA
1990 Posts |
Posted - 12/10/2008 : 04:36:11 [Permalink]
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First one to come to mind is George Carlin, and his take on god....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeSSwKffj9o |
"We are all connected; to each other biologically, to the earth chemically, to the rest of the universe atomically."
"So you're made of detritus [from exploded stars]. Get over it. Or better yet, celebrate it. After all, what nobler thought can one cherish than that the universe lives within us all?"
-Neil DeGrasse Tyson |
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Dave W.
Info Junkie
USA
26030 Posts |
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Simon
SFN Regular
USA
1992 Posts |
Posted - 12/10/2008 : 09:29:16 [Permalink]
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| I know that Penn & Teller are just too obvious, and comedy is only a small part of what they do. But, for the sake of completness, I will stoically mentioned them nonetheless... |
Look again at that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every "superstar," every "supreme leader," every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there – on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.
Carl Sagan - 1996 |
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Kil
Evil Skeptic
USA
13481 Posts |
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moakley
SFN Regular
USA
1888 Posts |
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The Rat
SFN Regular
Canada
1370 Posts |
Posted - 12/11/2008 : 10:39:53 [Permalink]
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| As far as I know Sam Kinison wasn't an atheist, he simply didn't like all the organized bullshit and guilt that went along with much of religion. |
Bailey's second law; There is no relationship between the three virtues of intelligence, education, and wisdom.
You fiend! Never have I encountered such corrupt and foul-minded perversity! Have you ever considered a career in the Church? - The Bishop of Bath and Wells, Blackadder II
Baculum's page: http://www.bebo.com/Profile.jsp?MemberId=3947338590 |
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emsby
Skeptic Friend
76 Posts |
Posted - 12/11/2008 : 12:02:39 [Permalink]
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Basically the entire cast of The Howard Stern Show are atheists. Howard doesn't even want to identify himself as "atheist"... and not because he thinks it's a bad word or anything. He just thinks that religion, delusion, etc. is so silly, so insignificant, and so harmful to society that "atheist" should really just be the default condition and shouldn't have to be identified as anything other than "normal, thinking human being."
Man, I love Howard. |
Tongue-tied and twisted, just an earthbound misfit, I. |
| Edited by - emsby on 12/11/2008 12:03:07 |
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Dave W.
Info Junkie
USA
26030 Posts |
Posted - 12/14/2008 : 19:13:32 [Permalink]
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By the way, there are examples at the other end of the spectrum. Victoria Jackson, for example, is a serious fundie. Look at her latest non-poetry blog entry:Voters in our last election did not base their decision on facts or knowledge, but on hype, emotion, peer pressure, and racial fervor. It didn't help that the liberally biased media blocked Americans access to the truth. (Fox News is the only news show that even resembles journalism). |
- Dave W. (Private Msg, EMail)
Evidently, I rock!
Why not question something for a change?
Visit Dave's Psoriasis Info, too. |
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marfknox
SFN Die Hard
USA
3739 Posts |
Posted - 12/14/2008 : 19:52:25 [Permalink]
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I think it is just easier to say controversial things if you say them in a way that makes people laugh and is clever.
It may also be because comedians are a type of artist, and artists in general tend to challenge conventions. |
"Too much certainty and clarity could lead to cruel intolerance" -Karen Armstrong
Check out my art store: http://www.marfknox.etsy.com
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Kil
Evil Skeptic
USA
13481 Posts |
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Hittman
Skeptic Friend
134 Posts |
Posted - 12/21/2008 : 18:43:02 [Permalink]
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| Basically the entire cast of The Howard Stern Show are atheists. Howard doesn't even want to identify himself as "atheist"... and not because he thinks it's a bad word or anything. He just thinks that religion, delusion, etc. is so silly, so insignificant, and so harmful to society that "atheist" should really just be the default condition and shouldn't have to be identified as anything other than "normal, thinking human being." |
I feel the same way. Atheism is as trivial as not believing in Santa. The only reason it's such a big deal is because the superstitious insist on making it a big deal.
| think it is just easier to say controversial things if you say them in a way that makes people laugh and is clever. |
There's more to it than that. The basis of any good comedy is truth. And good comics have to be smarter than average. Put those two together and it's not suprising that so many of them are atheist.
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When a vampire Jehovah's Witness knocks on your door, don't invite him in. Blood Witness: http://bloodwitness.com
Get Smartenized® with the Quick Hitts blog: http://www.davehitt.com/blog2/index.phpBlog |
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Randy
SFN Regular
USA
1990 Posts |
Posted - 12/21/2008 : 20:25:20 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by Hittman
I feel the same way. Atheism is as trivial as not believing in Santa. The only reason it's such a big deal is because the superstitious insist on making it a big deal.
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Hey yeah...think I'll write that puppy down. Good one, Hittman.
Another one on a similar note is..."Everyone is an Atheist -- they just don't know it yet."
[Edited to fix formatting. //Dr. Mabuse] |
"We are all connected; to each other biologically, to the earth chemically, to the rest of the universe atomically."
"So you're made of detritus [from exploded stars]. Get over it. Or better yet, celebrate it. After all, what nobler thought can one cherish than that the universe lives within us all?"
-Neil DeGrasse Tyson |
| Edited by - Dr. Mabuse on 12/22/2008 00:22:51 |
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astropin
SFN Regular
USA
970 Posts |
Posted - 12/22/2008 : 12:00:35 [Permalink]
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I find this to be true as well. An observation I made several years ago.
I also find "most" comedians to be a little sharper than the average bear. It takes a sharp mind to have a quick wit and obviously to come up with some of the observations they make.
I would love to see some statistics on supernatural beliefs among the top comedians. |
I would rather face a cold reality than delude myself with comforting fantasies.
You are free to believe what you want to believe and I am free to ridicule you for it.
Atheism:
The result of an unbiased and rational search for the truth.
Infinitus est numerus stultorum |
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H. Humbert
SFN Die Hard
USA
4574 Posts |
Posted - 01/30/2009 : 14:01:13 [Permalink]
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Ricky Gervais on Inside the Actor's Studio talking about becoming an atheist.
Hat tip: Greg Laden.
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"A man is his own easiest dupe, for what he wishes to be true he generally believes to be true." --Demosthenes
"The first principle is that you must not fool yourself - and you are the easiest person to fool." --Richard P. Feynman
"Face facts with dignity." --found inside a fortune cookie |
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The Rat
SFN Regular
Canada
1370 Posts |
Posted - 02/01/2009 : 20:27:35 [Permalink]
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Ricky Gervais again, talking about the buybull.
And a couple from Keith Lowell Jensen: #1, #2 |
Bailey's second law; There is no relationship between the three virtues of intelligence, education, and wisdom.
You fiend! Never have I encountered such corrupt and foul-minded perversity! Have you ever considered a career in the Church? - The Bishop of Bath and Wells, Blackadder II
Baculum's page: http://www.bebo.com/Profile.jsp?MemberId=3947338590 |
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Skeptical comedy
