In reference to the upcoming release of Hollywood's "Noah," host of HBO's "Real Time" Bill Maher recently called God "a psychotic mass murderer who gets away with it." Maher, an atheist, mocks Christians and Jews for believing that the Biblical account of Noah in Genesis is true, and shows much contempt for God's holiness. Meanwhile, Christian pastor Rick Warren has warned his flock that the director of "Noah" himself boasted that the movie does not follow the Bible accurately, using crass language.
Bill Maher demonstrated his misunderstanding of God's word on Friday's "Real Time" in an aggressive manner. He called the account of Noah "impossibly childish," and mocked modern-day Christians for believing that the Biblical account is true when society is "four centuries removed from the scientific revolution."
Maher jested that God was angry that He had "screwed up" when He made mankind, and so He decided to kill everyone. "What kind of tyrant kills everyone just to get back at the few he's mad at?" he asks, misunderstanding that everyone in Noah's day - not just a "few" - was evil and deserving of God's wrath (see Genesis 6:5). "If we were a dog, and God owned us, the cops would come and take us away," Maher said.
God graciously spared Noah and his family because Noah was righteous in His eyes (see Genesis 6:9). "Noah" does not give accurate portrayal of Noah's character, however, making the man who walked faithfully with God out to be a hardened man who begrudgingly does God's bidding. Unfortunately, the movie may only serve to further confuse Biblically illiterate viewers such as Maher, as God's justice and mercy displayed in the story of Noah is obscured by director Darren Aronofsky's creative license.
Maher continued making jabs at Christianity, saying that he is hard-pressed to understand why people follow the morals of the Bible - "Why do people follow any of it? ... Don't we have enough rules to follow ... without fabricating made-up new ones?"
Following Maher's blasphemous comments on "Real Time," Internet Evangelist Bill Keller challenged the comedian to a public debate. Keller doubts that Maher will accept his challenge, however, saying that he is a "gutless wonder who bravely runs his mouth when unopposed, but is a true coward when it comes to defending his blasphemous beliefs against someone who can articulate a case for the Christian faith."
Keller says he prays for Maher every day, however, because he knows that "Jesus died for his sins just like He did mine."
To add to the mix of bad "Noah" reviews, Pastor Rick Warren tweeted yesterday, "The Director of new 'Noah' movie calls it 'The LEAST biblical film ever made.' The director then insulted millions of potential viewers by using the F word. Thanks for the warning Mr. Director. You just saved me from wasting my money."
