Andy Rooney

[DLT]

I think that if Andy Rooney had bashed Islam, Judiasm, or any other religion to the degree that he has bashed Christianity, he would have been terminated by CBS.

I know that it's fashionable among some to denigrate Christianity, but what gives?

DLT

 

[minus]

I think that if Andy Rooney had bashed Islam, Judiasm, or any other religion to the degree that he has bashed Christianity, he would have been terminated by CBS.

I know that it's fashionable among some to denigrate Christianity, but what gives?

DLT

I haven't been paying attention to Andy Rooney. What did he say?

 

[feral]

Perhaps he presumes that as the majority religion, Christianity can withstand some opposition and criticism. I think it's always good to keep the majority shook up...makes 'em think and hopefully change.

 

[Blessed75]

hey, i may not agree with the man but he has the right to his opinion..........but to answer your question - i have no idea.......

 

[Kelly]

"Because droids don't tear of people's arms when they lose...." Han Solo.

Remember what happened to Salman Rushdie when he published The Satanic Verses? (Which was not even a direct criticism of Islam).

 

[Just An Atheist]

My personal view is that he isn't bashing Christianity as a whole, just disagreeing with the viewpoints of some religious people. In fact he shows he is a believer. But what better way is there to silence dissenters then claim they are bashing an entire group rather than the specific opinions of an individual.
----------
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/02/19/60minutes/rooney/main601254.shtml

It doesn't seem right, but religion has been in the news a lot recently.

Pat Robertson says that God has spoken to him and told him that George W. Bush will be re-elected because he deserves to be.

Here's Pat Robertson's exact quote: "I think George Bush is going to win in a walk. I'm hearing from the Lord that it's going to be a blowout."

The movie by Mel Gibson called “The Passion of the Christ” is the other religious issue in the news. Everyone's talking about that. The question is whether the Jews killed Jesus Christ - who was Jewish, of course.

I hadn't wanted to say anything about this, because it seemed like a personal matter, but Pat Robertson isn't the only one who has heard from God.

I heard from God just the other night. God always seems to call at night.

"Andrew," God said to me. He always calls me "Andrew." I like that.

"Andrew, you have the eyes and ears of a lot of people. I wish you'd tell your viewers that both Pat Robertson and Mel Gibson strike me as wackos. I believe that's one of your current words. They're crazy as bedbugs, another earthly expression. I created bedbugs. I'll tell you, they're no crazier than people,” said God.

"Let me just say that I think I'd remember if I'd ever talked to Pat Robertson, and I'd remember if I said Bush would get re-elected in a blowout."

“As far as Mel Gibson goes, I haven't seen his movie, 'The Passion of the Christ,' because it hasn't opened up here yet. But I did catch Gibson being interviewed by Diane Sawyer. I did something right when I came up with her, didn't I,” added God. “Anyway, as I was saying, Mel is a real nut case. What in the world was I thinking when I created him? Listen, we all make mistakes."

That is what God said to me. That's about all he did say to me because I'm sure God has a lot more important things to do than talk to someone on television.

My own question to Pat Robertson is this: The election looks as though it could be close, certainly not a blowout. If George W. Bush loses the election to a Democrat, will you become an atheist?

My question to Mel Gibson is: "How many million dollars does it look as if you're going to make off the crucifixion of Christ?"


Written By Andy Rooney © MMIV, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.

 

[minus]

If what Just an Atheist posted is the Andy Rooney commentary that DLT is referring to, then I am sorry, but I just don’t see how he is bashing on Christianity. It is quite obvious he’s taking shots at Pat Roberson (can’t blame him there) and Mel Gibson (didn’t see Passion, but don’t see the problem with the flick) but that is all I see.

 

[BarbB]

My personal view is that he isn't bashing Christianity as a whole, just disagreeing with the viewpoints of some religious people. In fact he shows he is a believer. But what better way is there to silence dissenters then claim they are bashing an entire group rather than the specific opinions of an individual.
.

Exactly how does he show he is a believer? I think that only an atheist would think that Andy Rooney is a Christian. I find him approaching senility, maybe even having arrived!

 

[PresidentsAnalyst]

Whenever you hear a story about Rosie O'Donnel getting married, or Andy Rooney's comments, my advise is,
1) turn off your radio, or the source of the unwanted 'news'
2) unplug device.
3) find a baseball bat
4) begin to smash radio or TV until there is no way it can possibly ever be repaired.
5) put in garbage bag, set out for trash.

 

[Just An Atheist]

Exactly how does he show he is a believer? I think that only an atheist would think that Andy Rooney is a Christian. I find him approaching senility, maybe even having arrived!

How about the part where he says:

I heard from God just the other night. God always seems to call at night.

I figure if someone claims they heard from God, they probably believe in him. I don't know for sure if he is specifically a Christian, however that's the common assumption.

 

[Just An Atheist]

DLT, if you don't have any evidence that Mr. Rooney actually "bashed Christianity" would you mind retracting your false accusation?

Thanks.

 

[BarbB]

[/color]How about the part where he says:
[/font]I figure if someone claims they heard from God, they probably believe in him. I don't know for sure if he is specifically a Christian, however that's the common assumption.

I would say that he was being a blasphemous jerk! He was being sarcastic, don't you think?

 

[Just An Atheist]

I would say that he was being a blasphemous jerk! He was being sarcastic, don't you think?

He may have been sarcastic, but that doesn't indicate what his religious viewpoint is. In fact I suspect he keeps his religious viewpoint generally outside of his journalism.

As much as you disagree with Mr. Rooney, did you call Mr. Roberston a blasphemous jerk for suggesting God forecast to him the outcome of the November election? I'm sure Mr. Roberston would never falsely claim a message from God to further his political goals .

Remember, all he did was turn Robertson's statement around on him. I don't see how that is blasephemy.

 

[BarbB]

He may have been sarcastic, but that doesn't indicate what his religious viewpoint is. In fact I suspect he keeps his religious viewpoint generally outside of his journalism.

As much as you disagree with Mr. Rooney, did you call Mr. Roberston a blasphemous jerk for suggesting God forecast to him the outcome of the November election? I'm sure Mr. Roberston would never falsely claim a message from God to further his political goals .

Remember, all he did was turn Robertson's statement around on him. I don't see how that is blasephemy.

Quite frankly, I believe that God would communicate with Pat Robertson before He would even acknowledge the existance of Andy Rooney. Sorry!

 

[Just An Atheist]

Just because you disagree with him doesn't mean God wouldn't speak to him. Doesn't God speak to all his believers? Mnay people on this message board have said that even I a self proclaimed atheist, could hear God if I just listened with an open heart.

Yet you seem to claim that God wouldn't speak to Mr. Rooney. That seems very presumptious on your part. Mr. Rooney claims to hear God and I haven't seen any of his writings that would contradict that statement.

All I've seen in this thread is false and baseless accusations fired at Mr. Rooney. If you disagree with someone, discuss real points instead of making up bogus claims.

If you or someone else has any real evidence that he bashed Christianity or committed blasphemy I'm willing to change my mind. But until then I view this whole exchange as people spouting lies against someone they disagree with.

 

[Philosoft]

Quite frankly, I believe that God would communicate with Pat Robertson before He would even acknowledge the existance of Andy Rooney. Sorry!

You can stick your fingers in your ears all you like, but that just amounts to a tacit acknowledgement that you believe God really did tell Pat that Bush would win the election. Frankly, Yahweh has never struck me as the kind of deity who would do something like that. Christian apologists endlessly tout God's infinite respect for human free will. But God's publicly announcing the winner of the election before it even takes place appears either to violate the alleged sacrosanctity of free will or deny his own omniscience. If He's right, then everyone who votes against Bush is engaging in proverbial wheel-spinning; if He's wrong, then he isn't all-knowing. (Note: There are other logical possibilities, but they are of no help.) This is the possibility you leave open, however, by not condemning Robertson's claim.

More likely is that Robertson is using the facade of God's authority to intellectually bully Christians who might not think all that critically in the face of Robertson's blustering, emotional rhetoric. He figures if enough people believe God actually did speak to him, they'll all vote for Bush as the alternative is pointless.

If true, Robertson's deceptions are probably the worst kind of blasphemy. It's up to you, of course, how charitable you think you can afford to be.

 

[JLovesUSo]

MSNBC | 2-26-04 | Don Imus Show
"I'm not going to spend $9 just for a few laughs" - Andy Rooney on why he won't see The Passion Of The Christ

As one commentator said tonight well IMO - "I wonder if he'd dare say that same thing about Schindler's List?....."

He has the right to profess his opinion. But IMO, I've just wondered why CBS has kept him on the 60 minutes show for the last 10 or so years as he alienates more and more viewers every episode with his hard core liberalism and anti-christian bashing.....and I personally like the show but, usually click the lil handheld when I hear his whiny voice start up.....

 

[Philosoft]

He has the right to profess his opinion. But IMO, I've just wondered why CBS has kept him on the 60 minutes show for the last 10 or so years as he alienates more and more viewers every episode with his hard core liberalism and anti-christian bashing.....and I personally like the show but, usually click the lil handheld when I hear his whiny voice start up.....

In other news, 60 Minutes lost its last viewer last Sunday... CBS executives say they'll stick with the long-running news show, and controversial contributor Andy Rooney, despite Rooney's having alienated every single American...

 

[Just An Atheist]

MSNBC | 2-26-04 | Don Imus Show
"I'm not going to spend $9 just for a few laughs" - Andy Rooney on why he won't see The Passion Of The Christ

As one commentator said tonight well IMO - "I wonder if he'd dare say that same thing about Schindler's List?....."

Could you please give me a link? I've searched all over trying to find a source for that quote and I have come up empty-handed.

 

[Ikaria]

My personal view is that he isn't bashing Christianity as a whole, just disagreeing with the viewpoints of some religious people. In fact he shows he is a believer. But what better way is there to silence dissenters then claim they are bashing an entire group rather than the specific opinions of an individual.
----------
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/02/19/60minutes/rooney/main601254.shtml

It doesn't seem right, but religion has been in the news a lot recently.

Pat Robertson says that God has spoken to him and told him that George W. Bush will be re-elected because he deserves to be.

Here's Pat Robertson's exact quote: "I think George Bush is going to win in a walk. I'm hearing from the Lord that it's going to be a blowout."

The movie by Mel Gibson called “The Passion of the Christ” is the other religious issue in the news. Everyone's talking about that. The question is whether the Jews killed Jesus Christ - who was Jewish, of course.

I hadn't wanted to say anything about this, because it seemed like a personal matter, but Pat Robertson isn't the only one who has heard from God.

I heard from God just the other night. God always seems to call at night.

"Andrew," God said to me. He always calls me "Andrew." I like that.

"Andrew, you have the eyes and ears of a lot of people. I wish you'd tell your viewers that both Pat Robertson and Mel Gibson strike me as wackos. I believe that's one of your current words. They're crazy as bedbugs, another earthly expression. I created bedbugs. I'll tell you, they're no crazier than people,” said God.

"Let me just say that I think I'd remember if I'd ever talked to Pat Robertson, and I'd remember if I said Bush would get re-elected in a blowout."

“As far as Mel Gibson goes, I haven't seen his movie, 'The Passion of the Christ,' because it hasn't opened up here yet. But I did catch Gibson being interviewed by Diane Sawyer. I did something right when I came up with her, didn't I,” added God. “Anyway, as I was saying, Mel is a real nut case. What in the world was I thinking when I created him? Listen, we all make mistakes."

That is what God said to me. That's about all he did say to me because I'm sure God has a lot more important things to do than talk to someone on television.

My own question to Pat Robertson is this: The election looks as though it could be close, certainly not a blowout. If George W. Bush loses the election to a Democrat, will you become an atheist?

My question to Mel Gibson is: "How many million dollars does it look as if you're going to make off the crucifixion of Christ?"


Written By Andy Rooney © MMIV, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.

OK, so... I'm looking for the allegedly "anti-Christian" sentiments, and... I'm not finding them.

This is an intelligent, witty and insightful piece of writing. It is positive, not negative - and it definitely doesn't criticize Christianity.

Some people's skins are too thin, IMHO.