Philippians 3:18, “For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and
now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ.”
I really liked George Carlin. He was my kind of guy—opinionated, outspoken, practical and down to earth. Unfortunately, he was not a Christian. Mr. Carlin viewed life only from an unbeliever's point of view, which makes a lot of sense if you refuse to consider the awesomeness of God's creation, the impossibility of biological life without God, the origin of the spirit, et cetera.
CAUTION: Carlin uses foul language quite often. I edited his foul language with an asterisk (*) symbol to make his comments a bit less offensive, and to show some courtesy for my readers (which I think we've lost in American literature today). That's one complaint I have against George Orwell's classic book 1984, that is, his use of slang language at times. When I first wrote this article, I left Carlin's words unedited, but after reconsideration, I think it is ethical to edit his foul language for sensitive readers. Would to God we were all a lot more sensitive to each other's feelings. Amen. The Lord is continually working in my heart to do better.
I think the following comments by George Carlin are really important, because it summarizes the mindset of the atheist (which a lot of Christians don't understand). I heard former Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura say that his religion is the same as George Carlin's. That speaks volumes. I admire Mr. Ventura for speaking his mind, saying it like it is, questioning the shady answers our government provides, and going against what is popular to speak the truth. Both Carlin and Ventura are men's men. Unfortunately, they are also pulling on the same rope as the Devil as unsaved men. I say that with sadness. A lot of atheists love George Carlin, even still after his death, because they can relate to him. Here's George Carlin's own famous words . . .
-
“When
it comes to bullsh*t, big-time, major league bullsh*t, you have to
stand in awe of the all-time champion of false promises and
exaggerated claims, religion. No contest. No contest. Religion.
Religion easily has the greatest bullsh*t story ever told. Think
about it. Religion has actually convinced people that there's an
invisible man living in the sky who watches everything you do, every
minute of every day. And the invisible man has a special list of ten
things he does not want you to do. And if you do any of these ten
things, he has a special place, full of fire and smoke and burning
and torture and anguish, where he will send you to live and suffer
and burn and choke and scream and cry forever and ever 'til the end
of time! - But He loves you. He loves you, and He needs money! He always needs money! He's all-powerful, all-perfect, all-knowing, and all-wise, somehow just can't handle money! Religion takes in billions of dollars, they pay no taxes, and they always need a little more. Now, you talk about a good bullsh*t story. Holy Sh*t!
- But I want you to know something, this is sincere, I want you to know, when it comes to believing in God, I really tried. I really, really tried. I tried to believe that there is a God, who created each of us in His own image and likeness, loves us very much, and keeps a close eye on things. I really tried to believe that, but I gotta tell you, the longer you live, the more you look around, the more you realize, something is fu*ked up.
- Something is wrong here. War, disease, death, destruction, hunger, filth, poverty, torture, crime, corruption, and the Ice Capades. Something is definitely wrong. This is not good work. If this is the best God can do, I am not impressed. Results like these do not belong on the résumé of a Supreme Being. This is the kind of sh*t you'd expect from an office temp with a bad attitude. And just between you and me, in any decently-run universe, this guy would've been out on his all-powerful ass a long time ago. And by the way, I say "this guy", because I firmly believe, looking at these results, that if there is a God, it has to be a man.
- No woman could or would ever fu*k things up like this. So, if there is a God, I think most reasonable people might agree that he's at least incompetent, and maybe, just maybe, doesn't give a sh*t. Doesn't give a sh*t, which I admire in a person, and which would explain a lot of these bad results.
- So rather than be just another mindless religious robot, mindlessly and aimlessly and blindly believing that all of this is in the hands of some spooky incompetent father figure who doesn't give a sh*t, I decided to look around for something else to worship. Something I could really count on.
- And immediately, I thought of the sun. Happened like that. Overnight I became a sun-worshipper. Well, not overnight, you can't see the sun at night. But first thing the next morning, I became a sun-worshipper. Several reasons. First of all, I can see the sun, okay? Unlike some other gods I could mention, I can actually see the sun. I'm big on that. If I can see something, I don't know, it kind of helps the credibility along, you know? So everyday I can see the sun, as it gives me everything I need; heat, light, food, flowers in the park, reflections on the lake, an occasional skin cancer, but hey. At least there are no crucifixions, and we're not setting people on fire simply because they don't agree with us.
- Sun worship is fairly simple. There's no mystery, no miracles, no pageantry, no one asks for money, there are no songs to learn, and we don't have a special building where we all gather once a week to compare clothing. And the best thing about the sun, it never tells me I'm unworthy. Doesn't tell me I'm a bad person who needs to be saved. Hasn't said an unkind word. Treats me fine. So, I worship the sun. But, I don't pray to the sun. Know why? I wouldn't presume on our friendship. It's not polite.
- I've often thought people treat God rather rudely, don't you? Asking trillions and trillions of prayers every day. Asking and pleading and begging for favors. Do this, gimme that, I need a new car, I want a better job. And most of this praying takes place on Sunday His day off. It's not nice. And it's no way to treat a friend.
- But people do pray, and they pray for a lot of different things, you know, your sister needs an operation on her crotch, your brother was arrested for defecating in a mall. But most of all, you'd really like to fu*k that hot little redhead down at the convenience store. You know, the one with the eyepatch and the clubfoot? Can you pray for that? I think you'd have to. And I say, fine. Pray for anything you want. Pray for anything, but what about the Divine Plan?
- Remember that? The Divine Plan. Long time ago, God made a Divine Plan. Gave it a lot of thought, decided it was a good plan, put it into practice. And for billions and billions of years, the Divine Plan has been doing just fine. Now, you come along, and pray for something. Well suppose the thing you want isn't in God's Divine Plan? What do you want Him to do? Change His plan? Just for you? Doesn't it seem a little arrogant? It's a Divine Plan. What's the use of being God if every run-down shmuck with a two-dollar prayerbook can come along and fu*k up Your Plan?
- And here's something else, another problem you might have: Suppose your prayers aren't answered. What do you say? "Well, it's God's will." "Thy Will Be Done." Fine, but if it's God's will, and He's going to do what He wants to anyway, why the fu*k bother praying in the first place? Seems like a big waste of time to me! Couldn't you just skip the praying part and go right to His Will? It's all very confusing.
- So to get around a lot of this, I decided to worship the sun. But, as I said, I don't pray to the sun. You know who I pray to? Joe Pesci. Two reasons: First of all, I think he's a good actor, okay? To me, that counts. Second, he looks like a guy who can get things done. Joe Pesci doesn't fu*k around. In fact, Joe Pesci came through on a couple of things that God was having trouble with.
- For years I asked God to do something about my noisy neighbor with the barking dog, Joe Pesci straightened that cocksucker out with one visit. It's amazing what you can accomplish with a simple baseball bat.
- So I've been praying to Joe for about a year now. And I noticed something. I noticed that all the prayers I used to offer to God, and all the prayers I now offer to Joe Pesci, are being answered at about the same 50% rate. Half the time I get what I want, half the time I don't. Same as God, 50-50. Same as the four-leaf clover and the horseshoe, the wishing well and the rabbit's foot, same as the Mojo Man, same as the Voodoo Lady who tells you your fortune by squeezing the goat's testicles, it's all the same: 50-50. So just pick your superstition, sit back, make a wish, and enjoy yourself.
- And for those of you who look to The Bible for moral lessons and literary qualities, I might suggest a couple of other stories for you. You might want to look at the Three Little Pigs, that's a good one. Has a nice happy ending, I'm sure you'll like that. Then there's Little Red Riding Hood, although it does have that X-rated part where the Big Bad Wolf actually eats the grandmother. Which I didn't care for, by the way. And finally, I've always drawn a great deal of moral comfort from Humpty Dumpty. The part I like the best? "All the king's horses and all the king's men couldn't put Humpty Dumpty back together again." That's because there is no Humpty Dumpty, and there is no God. None, not one, no God, never was.
- In fact, I'm gonna put it this way. If there is a God, may he strike this audience dead! See? Nothing happened. Nothing happened? Everybody's okay? All right, tell you what, I'll raise the stakes a little bit. If there is a God, may he strike me dead. See? Nothing happened, oh, wait, I've got a little cramp in my leg. And my balls hurt. Plus, I'm blind. I'm blind, oh, now I'm okay again, must have been Joe Pesci, huh? God Bless Joe Pesci. Thank you all very much. Joe Bless You!”
- (Copyright 1999 by George Carlin.)
In November of 2011 on The Alex Jones Show I heard former Minnesota governor, Jesse Ventura (real name: James George Janos), say that his religion is the religion of George Carlin when asked by a woman if he believes in prayer and God. I admire Ventura greatly for his tough stand against government tyranny and crime, but I hope and pray that he finds the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ before it's too late.
I believe George Carlin was a sincere man, and I sympathize with those who miss him, I do too. There was only one George Carlin, and he was excellent at making people think and laugh. He would have made an awesome preacher had he been a Christian. My heart breaks every time I think of George Carlin and the sad fact that he almost assuredly died in his sins without Jesus as his Savior. Oh, that men would turn to the Word of God. Jesus said, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me” (John 5:39).
