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Bill O'Reilly asks, "Tides: how do they work?" in argument with atheist group
By Peter SmithJanuary 6th, 2011, 2:45 pmComments (27)
In recent years, with the rise of Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck, and many other absolute foaming-at-the-mouth extreme-right-wingers, good old Bill O'Reilly has come to seem almost moderate. In an apparent attempt to regain his reputation for being a total fucking imbecile, O'Reilly invited American Atheists president Dave Silverman onto The O'Reilly Factor, then claimed that God could be proven to exist because humans couldn't explain why tides go in and out. (Like, tides, in the ocean.) The Raw Story quotes a pretty piquant exchange:
"I'll tell you why [religion is] not a scam," [O'Reilly] said. "In my opinion — all right? Tide goes in, tide goes out. Never a miscommunication. You can't explain that. You can't explain why the tide goes in."
Silverman looked befuddled. "Tide goes in, tide goes ... out?" he asked.
"See, the water, the tide — it comes in and it goes out, Mr. Silverman," O'Reilly repeated. "It always goes in, then it goes out."
"Maybe it's Thor up on Mount Olympus who's making the tides go in and out," Silverman retorted.
"No-no-no!" the host objected. "You can't explain that. You can't explain it."
So, we're all aware that the moon's gravitational pull causes tides, right? It's hilarious that Bill O'Reilly doesn't know something that many small children can readily grasp — or at least it would be hilarious if it weren't also depressing as shit. This certainly backs up that study that said watching Fox News actually makes you stupider. It's not clear whether Silverman gave O'Reilly a remedial geology lesson, although if he didn't, he should be chastised for missing a delicious opportunity.
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Bill O'Reilly
Commentarium (27 Comments)
Fab screen grab - please photoshop in the foam, I don't know how.
Dear Mr O'reilly, we don't hate America, we hate you.
P.S. You're not America.
*In an apparent attempt to regain his reputation for being a total fucking imbecile* You totally hit the nail on the head there -and perhaps someone has done that Bill already... or should.
and you Americans are worried about foreigners with towels on their heads and think getting felt up by someone making minimum wage makes you safe. sad. truly sad. maybe putting up some crosses in the airports would be the solution. godly rays of goodness beamed directly into the souls of the terrorists.
Bit of a non sequitur there Elmer....
He doesn't need to regain that reputation because he never lost it. Also, go atheists!
And we wonder why, we as a nation, are percieved as falling behind in science. Thank you republican/fox party! Keep up the good work you morons!
The person who explained, in great detail, the dynamics of tides, was astronomer and mathematician George Darwin, the son of evolutionist Charles Darwin. I wonder which one O'Reilly would hate more...
BTW, polls of scientific knowledge consistently indicate approximately half of Americans do not know the earth orbits the sun and takes a year to do so...
O and BTW, BTW, it is more complicated than just the moon causing the tides...that's the primary driver, but it takes more than knowledge of the lunar position to predict tidal tables -- much more.
Reference those studies, if they exist, because i seriously doubt that, and I'm not even American.
God made the tide, God makes the tide work. Open and shut.
Thank you for clearing that up, Twolane. Now on to those f*cking magnets.
THE CHURCH WAS INFURIATED WHEN TOLD THAT THE EARTH WAS NOT THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE....POOR GALILEO-HE WAS EX-COMUNICATED......NOW WE STILL SAY-WHAT TIME IS SUN-UP?????....EVEN THOUGH WE KNOW THE SUN DOES NOT COME UP.....HAS THE MENTALITY OF THE CHURCH CHANGED----I DON'T BELIEVE SO....RECENTLY A PREACHER STATED THAT THE PROBLEMS IN HAITI WERE CAUSED BECAUSE YEARS AGO HAITI MADE A DEAL WITH THE 'DEVIL' AND NOW THE DEVIL WANTS HIS DUE.....RUBBISH......
Sorry, Dick, I couldn't hear you?
I don't know. Only you can answer that.
Twolane! I am sure you know better than to add your comment.....so I will add mine, the moon is a sphere, the earth, sun and all the planets. Your God "in the begining made light, then dark (50/50), stars at night, none in the day time (why?)...why not have just day, when it is night?.... (ans) because he put up in the night sky, in his heaven, a very, very, very large cloud dust (called today, the milky way) to hide most all the stars to make it dark. otherwise, we would have day, during what we call night. This was all done (by Him), so we could sleep at (night). Now you see how all this works? (it's in the bible) the one that will be re-written, as soon as you people wake up. Sence I have joined (AA), I never thought we would have any "God People" involved....Why did you join our group, if it's to educate us about religion, well I have a secret for you, we know more about the very religion you believe in! But it is such a joke reading your comment, please tell us more.
I don't think twolane was trying to educate anybody, just sharing what they believe in. It's funny that I came across this article because yes, I agree atheist may know more about our religion but since we know it and believe it(faith), we don't question anything. Open and shut. If we could learn to respect each other and not say my beliefs are greater than yours or that it's a joke, then we could all get along.
Who is Bill O'Reilly? I tthink he must be of Irish stock by his name. I bet his folks were really pleased when he was old enough to leave home.
No no, Ted, please tell us more about YOUR comment. Because I've read it four times and still don't follow.
Yeah.
ONE DAY-WHEN WE BUILD THE 1ST-FREE FOR ALL PEOPLE ATHIEST HOSPITAL-----GUESS WHAT WILL HAPPEN...THE RELIGIOUS FANATICS WILL BURN IT TO THE GROUND...BY THE WAY-MY IDEA FOR THE INSCRIPTION ON THE FRONT DOOR....'MY ONLY RELIGION IS TO DO GOOD', THOMAS PAYNE.......ANYBODY AGREE ?????
SORRY-I MISPELLED HIS NAME....THOMAS PAINE.....
IMAGINE THAT,YOU MISPELLED.
Truly this ia sad. America was founded, based and built upon the work of ACTUAL intelectuals. The individuals and groups that formed the basis of our great (I do believe that it is great) nation were well informed in both science and world politics . Republicans cry and moan about " the educated elite " running the country . This has always been the case and it's worked fairly well so
Far !! I can't help feeling that some opinions and ideas count more than others . I went to Harvard , I might (just might) understand the geo political
Ah, this brings back memories of kindergarden in a private Christian school. During 'science', our teacher asked us how things were made; in this case, a chalkboard. I, being a logically-inclined little squirt, suggested the obvious: "A factory?" "No, God made it."
Hey u all
Think out of your boxes and look around you all, God is everywhere and He holds us all together with His greatness and mercy. Without Jesus we have nothing and no hope of eternal life in Heaven which is beyond the stars (as the Scriptures states). Most scientist believe the Earth was created that there has to be a divine creator, got a paint someone had to paint it, look how perfect the solar system works if the sun was 5 degrees closer or away from us we wouldn't be here. we have all been created for God's purpose and He has a plan for each of us in our unique individual way to Glorify Him, but we need to turn to Him and be humble. It is not about us which is one of the ways the Devil uses to keep us from Jesus and accepting Him as our Lord and Saviour. The Devil is the mighty deceiver and he wants your soul. he knows his time is limited and he and his angels are in charge of cheating you from your God given right to salvation but you must turn to the scriptures and trust in Him (our Father in Heaven) with all your heart. God Bless you all and I shall pray for your salvation./
And I, Ambassador, shall pray to Quisley, The Leprechaun King, for your soul. My god is as real as yours.
Ambassador...your comment and it's assumptions just make the science stronger. If our solar system was off by 5 degrees we wouldn't be here. Period. Life won't be in many solar systems because conditions aren't right...and life will be in many other solar systems because conditions ARE right. Has nothing to do with a god of any sort. Just because you are alive doesn't prove or disprove anything