In as many days, Brad Pitt has appeared on two television shows talking about many things including Make It Right, religion, and the Brad Pitt for Mayor movement. Make It Right, of course, is the organization headed up by Brad to rebuild New Orleans following the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina. He went into this a bit during his interview with Bill Maher.
Part of the conversation follows::
Brad: "Well, I think we certainly missed something down there.... It's got to be understood that that was not an act of god. That was a man-made disaster."
Bill: "Well, it was partly an act of god. Not that we necessarily believe in god."
Brad: "Precisely, but if we did..."
Bill: "There was a storm."
Brad: "There was a storm, but... there shouldn't have been the damage that we experienced. If the levees had just been dealt with correctly, spent a few million dollars more, we wouldn't have seen the devastation we saw... it got a lot of people killed."
Later in the interview, Bill asked Brad what it is "about religion that [he doesn't] like."
Brad: "You know, I grew up in a religious family, in a religious community and it just doesn't make sense to me. It just doesn't work for me in the long run.... I never wanted to stop anyone else's religion and their beliefs (you know that's what's so great about our country) until I started seeing it defining policy, as your documentary so astutely shows.... Like gay marriage - you have a group of people telling other people how to live their lives, and you can't do that. In fact, (I'm talking like there are actually Christians watching your show)..."
Bill: "No, there are. You'd be surprised."
Brad: "Well, to the three that are watching, I just say you have to, you really have to check what country you're living in because the freedom that allows you to practice religion is the same freedom you're stepping on. That's not right....And I want to add... if there was a nation of gay married couples that were telling you you couldn't practice your religion, I'd be speaking up for you, too.... So, let's stop the nonsense."
The day before the Bill Maher interview, which aired last night, Brad was on the Today Show. He was asked, by Ann Curry, about the Brad Pitt for Mayor movement, which is a grass-roots movement started by Dr. Thomas Bayer of Tulane University to get Brad elected mayor of New Orleans in 2010 (there is a petition you can sign that currently has 399 signatures).
He was asked, "If chosen, would you run?" To which he replied, "Yeah. Yeah." Then he was asked, "Would you serve?" He said, "Yeah. I'm running on the 'gay marriage, no religion, legalization and taxation of marijuana' platform."
He went on to say a couple of times, "I don't have a chance."
During his interview with Bill Maher, when briefly mentioning the movement, Brad made a quick note, jokingly, that he should run for governor.
It is nice to hear Brad speaking up about religion. This isn't the first time. He does seem to be doing it with some regularity now that he has publicly acknowledged his atheism.
It is good to have such a huge celebrity speaking about these issues because someone with his mass appeal may actually give people pause to think for a moment. Just maybe...
Is Brad the new face of atheism? I don't know that that is the case, but, having such a charitable, well-liked, compassionate individual speaking up about religion and other issues can't hurt. And in the end, it may actually help change the way people look at atheists in general. And although he may not be the face of atheism, he is a face. And, when it comes to being heard, atheism needs all the positive faces it can get.
Comments
Bill Maher is a jerk who professes and embodies only what is negative in this world. If he is your example of an atheist to look up to then all atheists need to shave their heads and run for the hills. His negativity breeds negativity. He doesn't seem to care about anything but ratings and money. And any celebs who squander their time in his presences apparently have the same agenda - no matter how Brad Pittish they dare to look and expound on how free this country is. He is ignorant for sitting across from Bill and uttering a word because in a few weeks Mr. Maher will be slamming Brad Pitt and finding some negative thing to nail him to the wall over. You seem to be a fair writer - you'd do well to stay away from quotes by the infamous Mr. Maher.
I agree with Goady - perhaps Brad Pitt is a good face for your atheistic cause but Maher? nada. Nothing good can come from such a man.
Very good news! I like Brad even more now. well done and well said.
I find Bill Maher to be intelligent and eloquent. Frankly, I care much less for Bradd Pitt but if he makes people think, that's a good thing. For many people, all they need to do is take a minute and think. All of Christianity is a preposterous House of Cards, intended mainly to generate funds to pay ministers.
Maher is a COMEDIAN, Goady. It's in both his genes and job description to be "negative". Many kudos to both Brad and Angelina... and if he actually runs for mayor and wins, he should be required to serve.
Temy, it is not that easy. Maher is a comedian indeed, but he is a comedian making political statements that he intends to be taken seriously. That is evident by his frequent appearances on serious talk shows where his views are considered pertinent. And Goady is correct, Maher walks a thin line between being a comedian and a liberal version of Glen Beck. Maher is full of himself and too many people buy into it. But this is not really a story about Maher. Mr.Pitt has my respect, but asking him to run for mayor or governor is a sign of how short we are as a nation on leadership. Come on, Brad has a career that he is very good at. Why would he bother with a government job?
I hate it when people say this: Since I am now a parent, I’m not going to do this and that. If you drank, smoked or did pot before kids, would you really stop your bad habits all the time if you have multiple nannies and helpers at your beckon call? These two will say anything to sell this image of loving parents and adoring couple just get people into theaters. Anyways, he did an interview while he was still a father that implied that he smoked weed and drank a whole bunch on wine while with Quentin Tarantino. Here is the quote: "We talked about movies into the wee hours of the night. When I got up the next morning, I saw five empty bottles of wine lying on the floor—five!—and something that resembled a smoking apparatus.… And apparently I'd agreed to do the movie."
Talk about a A-List LIAR! Anyone else agree?
i used to love brad pitt i find it said that no one has commented on the fact that he said no religion! i dont like him anymore, and the fact that he said we and big lip angie wont get married until its legal for everyone is a bunch of BULLCRAP! they dont wont to get married he was just using that as an excuse!! if you truly loved someone and you planned on getting married and there was a way then you would get married william turner and elizabeth swan got married in the middle of killing pirates and this LOSER sits in that interview and says oh i love her and the kids and i want to get married its just that um er .. we .. are waiting for the gays, please the gays are not even waiting for the gays
BRAD PITT IS NOTHING TO ME NOW AND I BET NOTHING TO A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE
Brad Pitt for Mayor!! Please keep up the good fight! Our future depends on it. thanks.
Bill is wrong about the storm. He is apparently unaware of the facts. Our New Orleans outfall canal floodwalls fell down like cheap movie props without even being overtopped by storm surge waters because of negligent engineering in the foundation designs by US Army Corps of Engineers engineers as reported in all three official levee failure investigation reports - even the one by the USACE.
Goady, Damn you NAILED IT on that weasel Maher, I can't stand that whiny pompous @ss either.
Reading Comprehension 101: Most of these posters failed it, obviously.
Glad that religious intolerance and hypocrisy is still alive and well in Charlotte though. Not that I expected otherwise.
Go Brad! Go Bill! Go Team NO MORE RELIGION!
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