Bill Maher Vs Chris Distefano Jesus DEBATE

Michael Knowles reacts to the exchange between Bill Maher and Chris Distefano on the historical and religious significance of Jesus Christ. Who won? Find out!
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[@batmanforpresident9655]

I just lost the respect for Bill Maher I never had.

[@tiffnsniff]

I don’t think he cares. 😂😂

[@ZealousPowerr]

He's very antiwhite

[@shoomapadoo1141]

You got that right

[@samblackwell8308]

That’s not very Christian of you

[@oreally8605]

Remember the atheist formula: insult God insult Christians insult Christianity = they win the debate. Makes zero sense...

[@dessu8967]

shoutout to Chris! didnt expect him to be the guy to stand up to Bill in such a calm, confident way

[@jacobsampsonis7782]

Lol Chris likes to pretend he's center for the sake of his comedy career but I listen to his podcasts all the time and he very heavily leans right. He lets it come out accidentally and sometimes he just doesn't care and will let loose once in a while

[@aidanya1336]

calm? Bill basically backed out of the conversation because he did not want it to become a heated discussion. Look at the body language and tone at 11:38. Its pretty agressieve (for a podcast conversation).

[@heathermobley1538]

Calm, not really confident. He kept agreeing Bill was right on things he is CLEARLY wrong about.

[@pedrosaucedo333]

I’m noticing, the comedians are the ones informing the world. First Katt on JRE. Now this. I love it!

[@bigol9223]

@@jacobsampsonis7782 yeah he's so far right he has his transgender she-uncle raising his children.

[@MattGoods]

we really really really really need to stop giving bill maher any attention

[@JamesExcell-InterJex]

The problem is that Bill Maher is the perfect litmus of an uninformed liberal. He's the best example.

[@kellibuzzard9431]

Yeah, why don't we?

[@raneanubis]

@@kellibuzzard9431 "We" don't and never have. "They" do.

[@dansawicki4982]

Why? Because he doesn’t believe in an invisible sky daddy?

[@kellibuzzard9431]

@@dansawicki4982 that's Sky Daddy to you. 🤣😂

[@user-zo3fi1iu9q]

Bill Maher is me when I was 15-25. As a History Student I knew all those arguments. By 30 I got it. Bill Maher is almost 70 and still doesn’t have a clue. Sad!

[@UnlistedLogos]

Do you mind explaining why the historical evidence is so clear? When people deny the historical evidence, what sort of criteria are they using and why is it considered a bad take? Thanks

[@BuklauTheLegend]

@@UnlistedLogosI recommend reading the book quoted here “Case for Christ” by Lee Strobel. It will explain the historical criteria way better than anyone in the comments section can.

[@groundswelllegitcoffeeandb3810]

I can also attest at Lee Strobel’s case for Christ is incredibly comprehensive and solid

[@bobbyboywonder12]

@@groundswelllegitcoffeeandb3810give us the best argument from the book. What is it

[@bobbyboywonder12]

@@BuklauTheLegendgive us the number 1 best, knock down argument from the book. Just one

[@cordasuenaviolin604]

As someone who is studying Catholic Apologetics now, I cringed at the way Bill Maher didn't have a clue of what he was talking about.

[@classic.cameras]

Whats new? Anything he talks about he sounds like he heard this info from TikTok and doesnt verify.

[@GambitsEnd]

Par for the course for Bill Maher.

[@oreally8605]

Atheists never do.

[@palerider955]

He never knows what he's talking about.

[@joshuaglassman8949]

Unfortunately, the other guy didn’t know very much either

[@angiew2324]

A lot of atheists argue that He never existed, I run into them all the time online - and some don't only say Jesus didn't exist, but they will claim that the entire Bible itself has been _proven_ false - which is either a flat out lie on their part, or they're arrogantly ignorant. Bill is definitely arrogantly ignorant & badly misinformed - about almost everything he talks about, not just Christ.

[@joshsmith4512]

Bart Ehrman one of thier most beloved Atheist scholars says this claim is absurd. of course he exsisted and was executed.

[@benclark4823]

@@joshsmith4512 but does that mean that’s he’s god? Just like how Muhammad is a historical figure that doesn’t mean Islam is true now doesn’t it. 😒

[@debra8799]

Agreed. Bill has been around as long as HBO. I used to enjoy his vapid humor. Decades later, I find myself pitying him. Ignorance of God will not be an excuse, but one proclaimed by many. Jesus was prophesized about in over 300 scriptures in the Old Testament. When he rode into Jerusalem on the back of an Ass the people cried out as foretold. Too many instances God showed who Christ was. I believe.

[@user-jj4dz6tr1t]

Man, you are spitting truth like a Tommy gun.

[@user-jj4dz6tr1t]

@@benclark4823One mistake, you forgot God with a capital “G”

[@joshuab1046]

I’ve believed Jesus didn’t exist. But was still a great story. Years later I found myself realizing he absolutely exists. You cannot find what you do not seek.

[@shawnboahene5231]

Indeed. Christ is 100% historical fact. Even atheist historians don’t debate this. The real debate is who He is. If a secular person denies Christ’s existence such a person is out of their depth

[@lauriemcclain5605]

Not necessarily. I wasn't seeking God at all back in 1970, was actually seeking drugs on a street corner in Houston when a bearded man walked up and started witnessing the Gospel to me. He had a scripture for every ignorant argument of mine, and within an hour my heart had been turned to Christ. Just saying, sometimes He is the one that does the seeking, so there's hope for everyone at some point in their life. What they do with it is another thing altogether. I'm so grateful that my pride didn't get in the way because I could have so easily rejected the message he was sharing.

[@CL-hl8ui]

@@lauriemcclain5605100%, even Saul/Paul was on the way to arrest Christians when the Lord came to HIM. I’ve heard many stories of people in denial being faced with circumstances that can’t be anything other than divine.

[@lauriemcclain5605]

@@CL-hl8ui Yes, Amen!

[@ThisIsWhyYourDadLeft]

​@@lauriemcclain5605bless you laurie, I'm glad you turned your life around

[@jamestrotter3162]

Bill Maher wouldn't stand a chance against Lee Strobel in a debate.

[@levantino4704]

Lee strobel? I think he only needs to read church history...

[@AISurvivor-sh6dl]

Or Jimmy Akin…

[@jamestrotter3162]

@@levantino4704He has read church history.

[@levantino4704]

@@jamestrotter3162 so then he needs Lee strobel?

[@mattm7798]

He wouldn't stand a chance against anyone who's done their homework for 10 minutes on the historical reliability of the NT. Bill is still operating under a very outdated skeptical view of the NT

[@dananthony6258]

They hate the idea that everything they stand for is actually evil and the work of Satan. I’m no saint but I’m not an idiot. Jesus Christ is the only true one and eternal living resurrected God of all creation.

[@tornasukiii745]

The jews are right about jesus

[@danielwessel9884]

@@tornasukiii745 It depends on what you mean by Jews and it depends on what you think they were right about.

[@DB-by9ev]

So all Non-Christians are going to Hell regardless of how we live our lives? That's a bunch of crap.

[@KingV1128]

​@@DB-by9evRomans 3:20-31 For BY WORKS of the law NO HUMAN BEING WILL BE JUSTIFIED IN HIS SIGHT, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it- the righteousness of God THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for ALL HAVED SINNED AND COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, ...

[@dananthony6258]

@@DB-by9ev Dont let the bible get in the way of what your distorted veiw of reality is.

[@wyssmaster]

Norm Macdonald was responsible for one of my favorite Maher roasts, as read by Roseanne: "Hey, everyone! Bill Maher has the solution to all the world's problems, and he's giving them away for free!"

[@motherelephant5537]

Bill wanted to act like he held the intellectual high ground, but it's he who wants to dismiss credible evidence in favor of deeply held beliefs. Distefano can't help it if the truth gives Bill a tummy-ache.

[@carolholtsclaw273]

How anyone can debate a subject they know nothing about is beyond reason.

[@bonivermectin4087]

Which makes sense because God is Logos... The basis of logic and reason. So I'm not at all surprised the those who reject Him and act the most arrogant about it, are the least reasonable

[@kellibuzzard9431]

Unreasonable with Bill Maher. There, I fixed the name of his show

[@kellibuzzard9431]

@@soundlogic6353 people today know more about a fake teen wizard than the Savior of the world.

[@John-ef9np]

You literally know nothing about it. What you're talking about.. You read bull💩 stories Literally that's all you know... you tell me you you ever seen or hear of ANY DEAD person Rise from the dead. And then what it just disappeared??? Show Me how much you believe in Jesus. Send me your life savings.

[@kamarwashington]

@soundlogic6353haha theism and logic haha. You gotta graduate from your cringe Reddit skeptic phase.

[@Christianministrycentral]

John and Matthew were with Jesus for 3 years. Eye witnesses!

[@jamestrotter3162]

So was Simon Peter, who wrote 1st and 2nd Peter, and the brother of Jesus, who was an unbeliever until after Christ's resurrection, wrote the book of James, and Jude, also a brother of Jesus, wrote the book of Jude. They were all eyewitnesses of the resurrected Christ.

[@CosmoPhiloPharmaco]

But how do you know John and Matthew wrote the gospels? You can easily verify this information yourself; the original authors didn't sign their names on the gospels. The early Christians chose to put their names on the gospels. That's not really controversial among critical scholars.

[@jennifercockfield3218]

@@CosmoPhiloPharmaco It really doesn’t matter who wrote what. What is more important than the particular author is that its divinity is inspired by Him. 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Do I expect everyone to agree with me? Not at all, but I will never compromise my beliefs to appease anyone. I wouldn’t be here now if He hadn’t blessed me- time and time again.🙂

[@sweetxjc]

@@CosmoPhiloPharmacoit is controversial because if Christians gave them that name and it didn’t come with it then we would expect to see disputes about who wrote them like we do for other anonymous writings is the New Testament like the book of Hebrews. But we don’t. In fact no Christian believes it written by anyone else which is strange if the writings came anonymously. Scholarship around this is not certain. We believe the writings for John was from him because the community who read & preserved it were disciples of John.

[@aaron_propp]

@@CosmoPhiloPharmaco Glad to see someone who knows their scholarship, but maybe if we just keep saying it’s Matthew it will be. The Epistles beyond “the 7 Authentic Letters” also fall into the same category of questionable authorship.

[@jacobasselta2419]

why do so many people who debate christians not even make a visible attempt to actually study the history of the christian religion, it's so ignorant and disrespectful, and then those same people call christians ignorant and disrespectful

[@krystallos81]

Because it angers them. They cannot get past their own bias and their experiences that lie to them about who God is. They don’t want to concede to the truth because it’s convicting. They will fight and fight until they either realize they can’t fight God or they just let the devil win stop caring. The fact that anyone who is an atheist feels the need to argue with Christians shows us that there is a truth they want to try to refute. Otherwise, why do they care about a God they don’t even believe exists?

[@c.chinaski3156]

Yup. The same people on twitter with rainbow flags in their bio that will try to argue with you by saying "Jesus said to love everyone" & "the Bible says not to judge"... At that point, I accept that these people have no clue what they're talking about & aren't even going to attempt to have a good faith discussion, just false talking points. No use arguing with fools.

[@jacobasselta2419]

exactly as christians we are called to love everyone as we love God for we are made in His image, and we are all equally sinners. But we are called to hate, reject, and fight sin, and also I would add how much does one have to hate an individual to not tell him of his sin and not call him to repent so that he may enjoy eternal life.@@c.chinaski3156

[@aidanya1336]

While i as an atheist somewhat agree with your point. Its both sides that do this. The amount of times i have heard theists say: "You believe the universe came from nothing." Or "Your an atheist just because you want to sin." or "Materialists reject all non-material things." This is a human being thing, not a particular group thing. How many theists have read the humanist manifesto's do you think? Probably not many.

[@jacobasselta2419]

i mean i go to a christian school, and we are required to take an apologetics and a world views class, and we had to read the humanist manifesto, the original 1930s one and all subsequent editions. I agree that in the past theist have been guilt of ignorance as well, but in recent years there has been an effort in christian education not to just "indoctrinate" per say, although thats the wrong word, but to educate and build a firm foundation for christianity, and apart of this is to inform the students of the opposing side and defend christianity (apologetics) @@aidanya1336

[@chrisgreulich]

i would love to see Michael Knowles debate Bill on this subject.

[@DesignRhythm]

The people always claiming we are "conspiracy theorists"...don't believe Jesus existed? He changed reality for 2000 years; that sure is a conspiracy.

[@sbg4ever120]

Poor Bill! What are the chances that so many people, unrelated, so far apart in history, all tell the same stories, almost verbatim? And many were willing to die. I wouldn’t die for a lie. But that’s just me. Praying for Bill’s heart to be opened to Christ and salvation. ❤️🙏

[@Charlotte_Martel]

I guess that the teachings of Islam are true then because many young Muslim men have martyred themselves in the name of their faith. Or the followers of David Koresh. Or the Heaven's Gate followers. You get the point. Lots of people have died for nonsense.

[@CelticSpiritsCoven]

@@Charlotte_Martel The people who "martyred themselves" didn't believe they were lying. That's the point that you are missing.

[@Charlotte_Martel]

@@CelticSpiritsCoven Which undermines sbg's original post. The apostles may have believed in what they died for, but much as with the examples given, that in no way provides empirical evidence of the truth of those beliefs.

[@CelticSpiritsCoven]

@@Charlotte_Martel Have you ever heard of the concept of "innocent until proven guilty"? Why are you automatically assuming that the the story of Jesus is fake? You need to produce some evidence if you doubt these ancient documents. With no evidence, then you are simply making a blind assertion based on your feelings...... you are having FAITH that it isn't true. You are swimming in blind faith.

[@Charlotte_Martel]

@@CelticSpiritsCoven Are you swimming in blind faith when you reject the claims of Mohammed or Joseph Smith? Or are you simply not convinced of their veracity? If it's the latter, then mazel tov, you are exactly like me except I go 1 god further. Scepticism until presented with conclusive evidence from unbiased sources is the healthy default for any supernatural claim. Otherwise, we'd still worship the gods of Mt Olympus and Asgard.

[@CL-hl8ui]

Jeez Bill. My biggest pet peeve is when someone acts like they know all about a topic they clearly know nothing about..

[@KingRamos710]

He has a documentary named “Religulous” dude should have solid arguments but I think he’s just been smoking and drinking too much

[@ragingrat7670]

@@KingRamos710 It's not really a documentary. It's fairly edited to make most of the people he talks to seem stupid and know next to nothing about their faith. If you see the edited out parts the faithful understand more and hold their own better and Bill just does what does in this video.

[@jameshankel8219]

Mike.... I'm afraid you need to go on this show and straighten Maher out. He could use a little wisdom to correct his "intelligence".

[@housecry]

Michael, could you devote a two hour episode to the minimal facts of the New Testament writings and the history of early Christianity?

[@Christianministrycentral]

Bill, read the book! Try this: read the New Testament!

[@tiffnsniff]

He did and it’s garbage. It’s open purely to the interpreter and different religions demonstrate that. The entire bible is cherry picking at its finest while ignoring contradictions. Readers take its poorly written words subjectively. This is why it works. And anyone that negatively criticizes that is immediately overlooked as a sinner. It’s like a magic force shield or loophole. And the worst are people that try to justify it by READING ACTUAL WORDS FROM IT.

[@Christianministrycentral]

Sam, you are deceived and need prayer!

[@codysample6884]

Sam, that is literally how its supposed to be read. The words in the bible are not meant to be taken at there absolute literal meaning. Everyone knows that it was written in parables for the purpose of having to think about the message within. Now granted I do not agree with those that condemn non-believers. Just let everyone believe what they want.

[@cordasuenaviolin604]

​@@tiffnsniffI will agree that there is cherry-picking in the Gospels, for example, but thus is only because the amount of miracles and incidents with Jesus would take countless pages

[@jennifercockfield3218]

⁠@@tiffnsniffHave you ever even read the Bible? Try it, and you might understand why it’s written the way it is. Furthermore, where are the “contradictions?” Did we all simply fall from the sky? Why do different species have a different number of heart chambers? How do you explain the diversity in botanical realm, or in animals in general, for that matter? You don’t think that a mortal man created every intricacy in the universe, do you? If so, I’m interested in your alternative explanation.

[@heatonjames2545]

I have always hated the argument of when the gospels were written as some proof that the gospels weren’t written by the credited authors. It’s absurd. We are talking about 2000 year old written accounts and we are quibbling over “the best we can tell” 40-100 years “give or take” dating. I wrote my first song when I was 8. I’ve never played it or sung it in front of people because it’s hot garbage, I was 8. That doesn’t mean I didn’t write it. It only means it’s not published. Also, I’m not being actively hunted and persecuted. Which slows down publication times dramatically.

[@kaleywarner7615]

❤ 100%

[@bigol9223]

For us to have accounts written 40-100 years after events in the ancient world, I think that's head and shoulders better than many historical accounts which came hundreds of years after the events they're recording, yet are trusted by academics as our best available resources. Sometimes it seems like nothing from antiquity is so intensely scrutinized with a hope to be dismissed as biblical accounts or writings that corroborate them in some way are. Who knows how many copies of any given book will survive 200 years from now? Will a contemporary account of events originally written in 1921 have any existing copies that were printed before the 2071 reissue? Who's to say? How many copies from 1921 are traceable now in 2024?

[@johnnybgood7442]

Why is it absurd?? We’re talking about what would be the most important documents in history, right? If the resurrection story is true, then clearly the gospels are some of the most important documents of all time. With that being the case, it shouldn’t be that hard for an omnipotent god to preserve a better and more concise message, right?

[@bigol9223]

@@johnnybgood7442 come back here with them goalposts son set em right back down where they were.

[@johnnybgood7442]

@@bigol9223 oh I’m sorry that I have a slightly different standard for claims regarding humans vs an all-powerful, all-knowing being. Big brain play there, buddy.

[@mbmurphy777]

It always amazes me how little people know about the details of questions like this, yet are 100% sure of themselves. Hardly any of them have bothered to read any histories or the Bible or commentaries, or bothered to familiarize themselves with any of the classical apologists.

[@VulpineScott]

That little disengage tactic is so intellectually feeble and dishonest. "It's whatever man, you do you and I'll do me. Oh, but WHAT ABOUT THIIIS?"

[@fvasque1]

Mahar is obviously living without jesus in his life.

[@QueeferSutherland1]

In reality, everybody is.

[@tiffnsniff]

And he’s doing just fine. 😂😂

[@fvasque1]

​@@tiffnsniffhe obviously lacks peace in his life

[@angiew2324]

​@@QueeferSutherland1 In reality, only those that don't believe live without Him. Kind of. They'll be fully separated from Him later, then you'll know true despair.

[@angiew2324]

​@@tiffnsniff For now.

[@JoshLounsbury]

If you can deny that Jesus existed, it settles your conscience to deny that God also exists. And if God doesn’t exist, then you can live “guilt free” and do whatever your human nature desires, including indulging in hideous activities that leave one feeling despicable, confused, and lost.

[@robertvondarth1730]

One might notice that the billions of people that are not Christian do not in fact behave in that way. Even dogs feel guilt

[@Charlotte_Martel]

Never understood this line of Christian thinking. If one really desired to sin but get away with it, he would commit whatever cruel, depraved acts he wanted, but then convert on his deathbed like Constantine. Voilà, all is forgiven. Christian ethics are the ultimate get out of consequences card.

[@robertvondarth1730]

@@Charlotte_Martel Yes, that is a very common, simplistic, dare say cartoonish way of understanding Christs message. But there are more nuanced ways of seeing this, all the way up to metaphysical, symbolic Jungian gnostic mysticism.

[@Charlotte_Martel]

@@robertvondarth1730 Okay, I'm curious: what that I said was untrue? Jeffrey Dahmer claimed that he repented and accepted Jesus as his saviour; are you saying that he still went to hell for his monstrous deeds? Or is the Bible correct that, if sincere, Jeff will party with Jesus for eternity? And yes, I know quite a bit about gnosticism as well, mon ami. Enough to know that it is rejected by orthodox Christians and is seen as heretical as my atheism.

[@jennifercockfield3218]

@@Charlotte_Martel That’s not how it works. You are woefully misinformed. Where did you come up with that theory? Your comment stands in stark contrast with His word. The only people share your convoluted opinion are those who have never read one page of His Word.

[@manwe6829]

So the thousands of Herodians, Pharisees, Romans, Greeks, etc. all made up an elaborate lie of someone they didn’t even really like’s existence? Interesting 😂

[@RealestateBillionare]

The truth is he doesn’t want to believe, he’s afraid.

[@redpillfreedom6692]

The truth is your claims about a magical carpenter are ludicrous.

[@cabalgandocontradicciones8303]

Bill Maher has always been excellent in throwing cheap and frivolous points against Christianity in his show. When is confronted in a real conversation without the applause of his audience you can see the dishonesty of his reasoning.

[@ragingrat7670]

Not just Christianity but a lot of other things as well like anything to do with common sense or politics or the way the United States government works.

[@user-sk4wj9wp7t]

I love Chrissy Chaos!!!! He's my brother in Christ and my Trump loving MAGA brother! A patriot and a hilarious human being!

[@rickycoto7889]

Shout out to Chrissy D, cuzzy is really out here defending the Truth.

[@bonivermectin4087]

Chrissy Convert 😂..love my boi

[@Charlotte_Martel]

Somehow, I doubt that the guy is a convert. He's Italian-American, right? There's about a 98% chance that he grew up Catholic. But it's cute that it gives you the warm and fuzzies when a celeb "converts" to your particular church.

[@cthefro]

​@@Charlotte_Martel There's 100% chance that he grew up Catholic because he said he did. His dad threatened the head of his Catholic high school. He seems like a guy who believes but doesn't really practice. Very Italian American.

[@Charlotte_Martel]

@@cthefro Okay, thanks for confirming my suspicion then. I had only watched the clip featured, not the full interview. Shocking how many poorly catechised Catholics there are out there.

[@bonivermectin4087]

@@Charlotte_Martel sounding bitter and lacking in joy Charlotte lmao YES it does give me the warm & fuzzies when a celebrity shows signs of conversion - not only because I care for their soul but because they have a wider reach & influence to others who also need saving

[@stevrgrs]

Props to Chris Distefano. It takes guts to dig deep into stuff you were opposed to before and change your mind . That’s really awesome :) ❤

[@robertraab]

If Strobel changes your mind... you didn't have one to begin with...

[@LuisSanchez-bt5yh]

Bill pretends that he doesn't care about JESUS OUR LORD AND SAVIOR. But yet it angers him.

[@joeschneider3894]

Maher: I’d like to see the factual evidence. Also Maher: Why are you sharing factual evidence with me? Believe whatever you want, I don’t care. 😂😂😂😂😂

[@ragingrat7670]

Yep classic Bill.

[@johnborris3222]

Constantine did NOT make Christianity the official religion of Rome. The Edict of Milan did NOT make Christianity the main religion. It tolerated Christianity. The Emperor who made Christianity the main religion was Emperor Theodosius I. He did so with the Edict of Thessalonica.

[@kristinastan6939]

Thank you Jesus. 🙏💙

[@joelthornton4371]

Richard Dawkins made the claim in his book that Jesus didn't exist but when pressured by most historians, Dawkins admited Jesus did exists on camera.

[@OldPirate1718]

No he didnt...don't troll

[@jonathanbigg7]

​@@OldPirate1718yes he did..

[@FlashFlareLetsPlays]

@@OldPirate1718 Look up 'Richard Dawkins ADMITS He Lied About JESUS' by Daily Dose of Wisdom. It's 1 minute long and it answers your question.

[@robertraab]

​@@FlashFlareLetsPlays Or you know, you could just watch the actual Has Science Buried God? debate between Dawkins and Lennox... That way you don't stay ignorant and would find out that Brandon is just a disingenuous piece of shit in his spliced up clip where he has the audacity to talk about "intellectual integrity." Dawkins was steelmanning.

[@Wilt11-14]

Even if Mark didn't write until 70 AD (church argues earlier) he wrote it by interviewing Peter, an eyewitness. Matthew and John are both written by disciples late in life, and Luke is a work of journalism by interviewing eyewitnesses, probably including family members of Jesus. It doesn't get much better than that.

[@thekatarnalchemist]

The Orthodox Church teaches that he was the first iconographer, creating one of the Virgin Mary as a portrait and gaining her personal approval for the project. He knew personally all of the major figures of the early Church.

[@johnnybgood7442]

You don’t know who wrote the gospels, so you clearly don’t know if they were written by eye witnesses. (The scholarly consensus is that the gospels don’t contain eye witness testimony). The gospels are anonymous and we have no originals.

[@thekatarnalchemist]

@@johnnybgood7442 I'll take Church tradition over a demonically influenced troll like yourself. We have Irenaeus and Polycarp, the former of whom was a student of John and who met Jesus while a child, the latter of whom was a student of the former. There is an entire body of church literature that you are utterly ignorant about that confirm the traditional understanding of the Bible.

[@davidsmith4321]

I am really tired of giving Bill Maher oxygen. Outside of his studio show he can't deal with anytime someone what's to talk. He just wants to get high and drunk in his little protected bubble. Don't be tricked into thinking he's going to be on the side of the conservative. He will pull the lever to hang you if the mass media says too.

[@michelleflavour2287]

Okay so Bill thinks that when they discovered the Dead Sea scrolls, what they discovered was a bunch of writings that the church didn’t include?! Uh. The Dead Sea scrolls were OT books that absolutely are included in the Bible. Isaiah was one of them.

[@ragingrat7670]

I think what he's referring to are the Book(s) of The Gaints, The Book of Enoch, and I forget the name of the other one. Which were never canon to begin with. But I doubt he knows that or if he does then lying about.

[@benry007]

So Bill's issue with Paul is that he wrote letters to encourage various churches rather then writing another gospel? Paul wrote theology, there were other authers who God chose to write down events from the life of Jesus. People who were actually there.

[@Helden_Daddy]

Bill’s logic is like being confused and dismissive that a book of philosophy isn’t a history book. Like you said, Paul’s writings are letters to churches providing theological teaching and encouragement. He didn’t go into detail of Christ’s personhood because he wasn’t writing about that

[@cordasuenaviolin604]

Michael: could you set up a debate between a believer and non-believer? Or a Catholic and non-Catholic?

[@dianeriley914]

Great idea! I think a Catholic and non-catholic (christian) would be a great debate

[@AISurvivor-sh6dl]

@@dianeriley914Candace Owens already held something similar between her husband and Allie Beth Stuckey. It’s definitely worth the watch.

[@rubenmartinez4346]

@@dianeriley914Catholics are Christians….

[@grantc9012]

@@dianeriley914You’d need a specific topic. Sola scriptura is most central

[@danielwessel9884]

Last I checked a non-Catholic is a Protestant LOL.

[@richbaker7187]

I would throw it right back in Bill Mahr's face and tell him, "Hey, if you don't want to believe it, then don't belive it. But don't go and try and say the documents aren't reliable, because the biblical documents are far more reliable, and authentic, and ANY other literary document in existence."

[@thefacelessquestion3333]

"The Case for Christ" , i saw ze movie and was moved deeply.

[@lynnsenger9950]

Thanks for this, Michael. Such an interesting conversation and your interpretations were appreciated. AND, shout out to my state capitol, St. Paul!

[@alvinmccroan9604]

Bill says he would like to see the book. Pray for him. Mocking is not of Jesus

[@SoggyWaffle4]

Listening to Bill Maher talk about this is brain rot.

[@TrapperDavido]

I like how C.S. Lewis put it regarding Christ being who he claimed to be. Either he was who he said he was or he was a raving lunatic.

[@redpillfreedom6692]

Then he was a lunatic because his claims are ludicrous

[@thekatarnalchemist]

He doesn't come off as a madman, though. I've met several lunatics, and they are the most small-minded, self-obsessed, irrational people you can imagine. Jesus is anything but that.

[@hellooutsiders6865]

@@redpillfreedom6692 Romans 1:21-28 21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles. 24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator-who is forever praised. Amen. 26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error. 28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. 2 Timothy 4:2-4 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage-with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

[@dahltonray5231]

@@redpillfreedom6692what a cheap dismissal

[@johnnybgood7442]

CS Lewis was also wrong, so…

[@Foxie770]

1:21 The fact is that Yehoshua absolutely existed and there are many cross cultural references to him, including in the Talmud.

[@Jim-Mc]

AND according to the Talmud (Yoma 39 a,b) there were four major signs that began to occur about 40 years before the Temple was destroyed in 70 AD. The scarlet ribbon no longer turned white on Yom Kippur, the lot for the Lord’s goat never came up in the High Priests right hand like it always had before, the westernmost light on the Temple Menorah would not burn, and the Temple doors would periodically open by themselves. These were viewed by Jewish officials as warnings of the Temple’s coming destruction.

[@susanburrows810]

Whoa, do you knock it out of the park MICHAEL, with your last and lasting remark!!!!!!!!!! SO CLEVER.❤

[@MissusShuvin]

Top notch commentary. Thank you 👋

[@adamcohill1617]

I feel that so many people are quick to deny without looking at actual evidence let alone any faith.

[@simfimpim]

There's evidence that Jesus existed. But where is the evidence that he rose from the dead?

[@grantc9012]

@@simfimpimThe nature of how and when Christianity spread seems quite convincing. A bunch of JeXs uprooted their lives and left Judea all at once while claiming that they personally witnessed the risen Jesus, and were willing to be martyred for that claim. They were also preaching a message that was radically different from the worldviews and morality of the time. This phenomenon is consistent with some kind of earth shattering event that happened in Judea in the 30s AD.

[@johnnybgood7442]

@@grantc9012people believing in something, regardless of how strong their convictions are, doesn’t tell us at all about the truth of the claims. And who were these jexs? What do you know about them?

[@grantc9012]

@@johnnybgood7442 We don’t know much about these JeXs; they weren’t people of significance in Judea, nor would we expect them to be based on the gospel accounts. What makes their convictions convincing though is that they claimed to be eye witnesses and were willing to be put to death over their claims. Eye witnesses who personally benefit from their claims could simply be lying. And second hand witnesses dying for their convictions could simply have been lied to about the truth. First hand witnesses who gain no benefit and fully expect to be martyred cannot easily be explained away, however.

[@ToughAssignment]

Paul confronted Peter "to his face". So, Bill's timeline is just ill-informed.

[@gregoryjr7096]

Thank you for doing an episode on this

[@williamstdog9]

If Michael doesn’t dialogue with Dr. James White someday my head is gonna explode

[@11antun]

i do not know how that is, i am from eastern Europa! But Michaels debt with any intelligent Humen would be as always incredible!

[@rubenmartinez4346]

Trent Horn just debated James white x2. Look it up and you will find it.

[@jcthomas3408]

James White is a Calvinist, and a pompous one at that. His interpretations of Eph 1, Romans 8 & 9 are faulty, even thought he acts confident.

[@rkitchen1967]

Maher also excludes the writings of Flavius Josephus, the Jewish historian, who documented the existence of Jesus.

[@Charlotte_Martel]

Josephus was a) not a contemporary of Jesus, b) just wrote that Jesus's followers existed, c) many historians think that his Christian passage was a forgery, and d) obviously did not find the Christian message compelling enough to convert. But carry on.

[@rkitchen1967]

​@@Charlotte_Martel He was a commander during the Jewish revolt that resulted in the siege of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. He lived immediately after the time of Jesus and he provided a non-Christian account of Jesus. What was your point? He was a Roman stooge, so what? ...but cherry pick the passages you believe as you like. FYI, Pontius Pilate also mentioned Jesus in a letter to the Emperor Tiberius, so that was not the only documentation of Jesus' existence. Please do more research than Bill Maher.

[@Charlotte_Martel]

@@rkitchen1967 Yes, I know who Josephus was. Since he lived AFTER the time of Jesus, he could only provide a 1st hand account of Christians and their beliefs, not of the founder himself. To all Christians who LOVE to use the Josephus passage (which, once again, is very much in dispute for authenticity), ask yourselves: if Josephus were so convinced of Jesus's divinity, why did he not convert? Tell me, with the letter of Pilate, did it mention the empty tomb? Did Pilate express, "Oh freak, the guy I executed may be the son of God"? Anything along those lines? Or was it more like, "I executed a Jewish leader of a rebellious sect"? If the latter, almost no atheist disputes that claim. Maher is not the spokesman for critical Biblical scholarship. If Michael wants a true debate, have him invite Bart Ehrman instead of his Freak of the Week squad.

[@rkitchen1967]

​​@@Charlotte_Martel My point was validated, while your point is changing since there is documentation of Jesus' existence. The accounts that I mentioned verified the existence of Jesus. Josephus lived IMMEDIATELY after the time of Jesus. Winston Churchill died a couple of years before I was born, but there was ample evidence of his existence available in my time. That's the point. There were still people who had seen him, and even spoken with him. If you are unfamiliar with Pilate's letter, I'd recommend reading about it. He called Jesus the most pious person who ever existed and stated that he only executed him because he feared a Jewish uprising. The fact that not everyone who knows of a certain religion does not convert to it, in no way invalidates its truth.

[@Charlotte_Martel]

@@rkitchen1967 Seriously, what about 1st hand sources do you not understand? It would not have mattered if Josephus lived at EXACTLY the same time as Jesus if they did not interact. Everything that Josephus would have learnt about Jesus would have been 2nd hand information. I lived during the same time as David Koresh, but given that my only exposure to Korush and his group was via the news, no one would consider me to be a 1st hand source of information about Korush. Once again, does Pilate say anywhere in his letter that Jesus resurrected or that Pilate suspected that his divine claims were true? I'll save you the trouble because I looked it up myself: it doesn't. Most people agree that MLK was a good, pious man who sacrificed himself for civil rights, but no one thinks that he was divine. Yes, the fact that Josephus did not convert to Christianity does not say anything about the empirical truth of the religion. However, it does speak volumes to the implication that Josephus was not convinced of the claims of its followers. Once again, it boggles my mind that this is THEE go to extra Biblical source just about every Christian uses to support the claims of Jesus's divinity, and old Joe clearly didn't buy that rubbish.

[@siffis100]

They always say, why do you care. I say because I love you as God's child and I can't stand the thought of where you are going. If you were drowning I would try to save you. This is the same.

[@lauriemcclain5605]

Even more intense, since this is a question of eternity not just a snuffing out of this life as in drowning.

[@johnnybgood7442]

It’s not the same. We can actually see a person drowning and know they need saving. We have no good evidence that we need saving from hell or damnation. It’s not the same thing at all.

[@lauriemcclain5605]

@@johnnybgood7442 That's where faith comes in. Once God imprints on our hearts that we ALL need Him or perish, we do what we can to help others. You either believe or you don't.

[@johnnybgood7442]

@@lauriemcclain5605 can’t I believe anything and say I take it on faith? Doesn’t that make faith unreliable? Why would you use an unreliable method for something like this? Do you actually care if your beliefs are true?

[@lauriemcclain5605]

@@johnnybgood7442You cansay anything you like, but I am talking about God's Word, the Holy Bible. That book will speak to an open heart. It spoke to me 50 years ago and I'm still listening. Best decision I ever made.

[@Seraphaxus]

Thank you for this!

[@mccoyyoung3643]

I love the argument that Paul never talks about Jesus on earth. Maybe that’s because he’s teaching and not giving a narrative?

[@fiesie2486]

Bill should debate a Messianic Jew about the existence of Jesus or better known around that time period and culture as Rabbi Yeshua; Bill would definitely be interested if the Jewish believer was a historian and hebrew scholar, that way they can talk about issues within the English biblical translations and problems with western reinterpretations of Jewish customs within the gospels.

[@lucypevensie6284]

bill: "you dont have to convince me!" ya but it'd be great if he could. cuz ya know. eternity is long.

[@cmr_77]

Thank you so much for this episode Michael and producers❤

[@unculturedswine7993]

His condescension is really aggravating. Age does not equal wisdom.

[@isaiahfronning5157]

I’m in seminary. It’s amazing the arguments people come up with against the existence of Christ.

[@StAlphonsusHasAPosse]

My son is also a seminarian. God bless and keep you, Isaiah. May you teach and help many people in your career Viva Cristo Rey 🙏 ♥️

[@arundarcy]

Matthew and John were eye witnesses and direct sources. Mark was under Peter's charge, and Luke was under Paul's, and wrote their gospel accounts based on the witness of Peter and Paul, both of them Apostles. Paul was close enough to the events of crucifixion because he was part of the Jewish council that condemned Stephen to be stoned to death.

[@johnnybgood7442]

The scholarly consensus is that the gospels were NOT eye witness testimony. We also don’t know who wrote them, nor do we have originals.

[@arundarcy]

@@johnnybgood7442 Then those scholars are liars with agendas. I reject them completely.

[@johnnybgood7442]

Okay, so why not present your evidence to them and turn the consensus on its head? You would be changing a lot of lives if you could present actual evidence for your claims, but we both know why you won’t do that.

[@arundarcy]

@@johnnybgood7442 My simple answer is "read the Bible". If what is written is not convincing, good luck to you. Billions of people are already convinced. I do not have to show anyone anymore than what is written in the Bible.

[@johnnybgood7442]

@@arundarcy I’m a former Christian of over 20 years and have read the Bible cover to cover, which is more than most self-proclaimed Christians. And if you read the Bible, then you should know that 1 Peter 3:15 disagrees with your assessment of defending your faith. Maybe it’s YOU that needs to read the Bible.

[@randallgudmundson5988]

im laughing my ass off here. this is like watching 13 year old girls debating on whether they are team edward or team jacob

[@PK01234]

when are you going on bill's show Michael?

[@rager4able]

Bill Maher remains a 🤡 surprise, surprise.

[@JoeBeaudette]

1:35 "I didn't think anyone really argued seriously that Jesus never existed" Oh Michael you beautiful innocent soul

[@aidanya1336]

To be fair the mythicist position is by far the minority view under atheists. But as in everything the extremes tend to be the loudest.

[@calebgibson55]

Time after time, I am finding Michael Knowles to be one of my favorites..

[@michelleflavour2287]

And Luke was a companion of Paul’s. Why does he even bother arguing if he doesn’t know these things?

[@user-jj4dz6tr1t]

No, Bill Maher, you’re silly.

[@Wealth_Atlas]

I respect religion and christianity honestly im really trying to build my faith but I can't logically wrap my head around it and it fails to make sense to me. I see contradictions and lack of evidence in certain areas and it frustrates me because I really want to believe in god and salvation. Hopefully one day I will understand or christ will show himself to me.

[@sharonhutchins5784]

Hebrews 11:1 King James Version 11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Have faith that He exists…the evidence will come.

[@thekatarnalchemist]

Openly appearing to those who look for Him with all their heart, while hiding from those who run from Him with all their heart, God governs human knowledge of His presence. He gives signs that are visible to those who search for Him, and yet invisible to those who are indifferent to Him. To those who wish to see, God gives sufficient light; to those who do not wish to see, He gives sufficient darkness. - Blaise Pascal

[@cthefro]

There are plenty of resources out there. I would recommend talking to a conservative pastor (more than anything liberal pastors wont give you many answers). Scripture doesn't have any contradictions. It does have perspective differences which is important but what it claims is internally consistent. There is also lots of outside evidence to support biblical claims.

[@dagman85]

I don't have a problem with people choosing to believe something different from me. However, I feel better when they're at least basing their decisions off of accurate information and understandings, and most of what Bill was working with was flawed or outright wrong. I do hope he makes good on the challenge to read The Case for Christ. Even watching the movie would be worth his time.

[@J.F.331]

By Bill’s logic, if a person today who is 70 years old wrote a biography of a best friend from when they were both 15 years old up until they are 25 years old (45-55 years after the time period) we should discount what that author is saying? Let that sink in for a moment. We must not confuse date of publish to somehow discount the events that one is talking about. For all we know, there is good reason to believe that the disciples documented the events while with Jesus in some kind of notebook or diary entry and later on in their old age compiled everything together. Just because something is published 50 years after the events doesn’t make those events untrue, if that’s the case then we have utterly reject all historical writings for everyone. This is a terrible argument from Bill.

[@BellofattoBrews]

I hate myself for watching another video involving Maher. I’ve never found one in which he had the slightest clue as to what he was discussing. I mean it’s the same old story with him. He tries to act and sound much smarter than everyone else around him. The guy is such a putz.

[@Bella_Love_123]

More of this type of content please! 🙏🏻

[@TheEdzy25]

As a Catholic christian, when I have these dialgoues with atheist or agnostic people. They usually get stumped when I start to bring in Church history and Catholic Theology that starts to connect everything. We are not protestants or muslims that go by a "book alone". Even the Eastern orthodox are stuck with a dead magesterium and a false unity. To be in the fulness of the Christian faith you must become Catholic.

[@Jarebear8]

Human traditions dictating salvation is not what Jesus said. I'll take the word of Jesus over the word of the Pope. I mean for crying out loud, the pope today is not the representative of Jesus. I'll consider you my brother in Christ should you believe Jesus is who he said he was, but don't put me out because I don't bend the knee to the pope as my authority and perform the correct sequence of rituals for other sinful human beings like myself.

[@TheEdzy25]

@@Jarebear8 you make no sense. There was no canon of the bible for 400 years, 1st century Christians would not know the book of john since he was still alive and not done with his writings. CHRIST established a church ," the pillar and foundation of the truth." The bible did not fall out of the sky. The Bible is a Tradition of the Church. Peter the first Pope was given (singular in the greek) the keys to the kingdom to bind and loose. ONLY for St. Peter did Christ pray for, for his faith to not fail. There has been bad popes and good popes (st. Peter denied christ three times) but the divine promise of the faith to not fail and the gates of hell can not prevail only exist in the Catholic church and the Pope who holds the keys. So you have a wrong interpretation of scripture. You have a false gospel. And just like a muslim you are boom Idolator.

[@pselfless]

Who calls that a debate?? that was the saddest exchanging of ideas ive ever seen. Both of them didnt even know what they were saying.

[@jameshankel8219]

Literally couldn't make it through the video. Bill Maher's ignorance on this subject is just so irritating. Matthew and John were two of the 12 Disciples. Mark is spoken of in the book of Acts, which is the telling of the apostles beginning with Jesus resurrection, so he was certainly alive during the lifetime of Christ. James and Peter both wrote books of the New Testament and they were also a part of the 12 Disciples of Christ. Paul wrote the majority of the New Testament books and he was a well established Pharisee at the beginning of Acts before his conversion by the resurrected Jesus himself, meaning he was also certainly alive during the life of Christ. There's no game of telephone.

[@Charlotte_Martel]

Paul may have been ALIVE during the life of Jesus, but Paul never claims to have met him in the flesh. Do you not find it odd that the person who is the most responsible for crafting Christian theology had to learn all of the teachings 2nd hand, none of which were written down at the time? To use Michael's inane Obama comparison, if you had seen a speech of Obama's that wasn't recorded or transcribed, would you trust your memory to reproduce it verbatim 30 yrs later? I wouldn't trust my memory that much.

[@chadpendy7346]

Thank you, Michael. May God Bless you.

[@Wade56]

This was a phenomenal show! More of this!

[@PRSPCTVS]

Bill Maher is a hack. I have followed Chris D for a while now, and I have always liked him as a comedian, but even the fact that hes making this case( whether totally correct or not) makes me like him so much more.

[@realbobphilips]

Great work Knowles

[@nanomachines2985]

Several Romans wrote about him. There is a letter to the frikken emperor of Rome from that talks about handling some jewish rabble rouser by the same name at that time from Pontious Pilate

[@lucianafasani]

I really enjoy apologetics! thank you

[@paulward5071]

Thank you Michael!!!

[@greythegandalf4675]

1 Mississippi… 2 Mississippi…. “Quick Pause Here” … 1 missi “Little Pause Here”

[@rachaelrose2970]

Bill Maher..... not sure why anyone cares about his opinion

[@SquidwardsBigFatNose]

The speech pattern Bill Maher has built his career on that not so subtly indicates "if you dont think what i think you're obviously wrong and stupid" will never fail to infuriate and alienate anyone who didnt already agree with whatever point he happens to be making at the time

[@Zebra66]

What is the point of arguing about something that requires faith? Either you believe that Paul met the ghost of Jesus on the way to Damascus. Or you believe he made it up for street cred. Either way it's silly to argue about it. If any religion had absolute proof then faith would not be necessary and there wouldn't be multiple religions.

[@Charlotte_Martel]

💯

[@dahliaherrod4301]

So Paul and all the hundreds of other Christians who were martyred died for street cred??? Paul told a lie that endured for 2 thousand years for street cred? I'm sorry. That doesn't make sense.

[@elisasilva5621]

I think people should have these kinds of conversations when they're sober

[@marcusyoung2433]

Bill needs to talk with William Lane Craig.

[@hafadude69]

man put the bible together and took various things to create it. Did Jesus exist? Sure, but there is no real evidence that he was who they say he was. The gospels that are listed were not created by John, Matthew and Luke. They didn't know who wrote it, so they created the names. That is factual. Why is it the 10 commandments are still followed, but nothing else in the old testament are?

[@Hueydip]

Chris Distefano has one of the best podcast episodes ever. Histery Hyenas - Pearl Harbor starting at 31:30 mark. Very enlightening and engaging.

[@moishasalami9272]

I genuinely believed that Christians were a community of righteous people… But engaging in such a mascarade tells something about your character and morality…

[@MarioRodriguez-qm6jv]

And Paul also spoke with Peter and the apostles personally

[@campoida]

Eyes that can not see, ears that can not hear

[@SpookyGroovyPolitoCatMum]

Michael. Michael. Michael! The very first place to always start is whether or not Jesus existed. More and more people attribute everything about Jesus to stories lumped in with so many other religious leaders and personalities to the point that Jesus is an idea rather than an actual person. But you have to start with Jesus having existed to begin with. So yeah I think this is going to be a great conversation.

[@thefilmeffect6089]

I’m still not sure that The Book Of Revelation should’ve been included in the Bible. I’m leaning no.

[@Charlotte_Martel]

Totally agree