- The Bottom Line -
Yesterday in answering an email remark, Bill O'Reilly actually said that 'Christianity is not a religion but a philosophy.' He went on to say that 'Methodist, Catholic, Protestant etc are religions based on the teachings of Jesus Christ.' Here's the audio clip:
So Bill, since I do not subscribe to any of the particular "Religions" I guess then that I am an Atheist! And to think for over 60 years I thought I was a Christian…
Now if this diatribe was a one time occurrence, then it could be written off as maybe just a misunderstanding or maybe even a question of semantics. But "Mr. Bill' has journeyed many times into this territory and has tripped up on his own 'No Spin' mantra. Just a few weeks ago he opined that 'Christmas was not a religious holiday and that it was based on the birth of Jesus Christ "the philosopher" and that 'America was shaped on his philosophy.' My emailed response to him:
Dear Bill,
I am not a very religious guy but the truth must be defended.
Your 'spin' on the shaping of our Nation needs corrected.
1st: Christmas IS a religious holiday because it celebrates the birth of Christ 'The Lord' Not Christ the "Philosopher" as you said.
So Please Take Note:
The last paragraph of The Constitution states:
"Done in Convention by the Unanimous Consent of the States present the Seventeenth Day of September IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD one thousand seven hundred and Eighty seven and of the Independence of the United States of America the Twelfth In witness whereof We have hereunto subscribed our Names,"
1st: To the best of my knowledge and according to the Roman calendar, 1,787 is the number of years since the birth of Jesus Christ "Our Lord" not 'Our Philosopher'.
2nd. This IS a Christian Nation (approx. 85%) founded on Judeo-Christian principles and for those who refuse to accept this truth there are over 60 International Airports in America that will accommodate them.
Sincerely,
F. William Houraney
Loxahatchee, Florida(No response)
Unfortunately, it's looking like Bill O'Reilly has either joined the ranks of 'The Cult of Baseless Reasoning' or else Alzheimers is advancing rapidly on the host of 'The Factor.' But there is one more reason, which I believe is the real culprit here for such an incomprehensible, confusing and far reaching bloviation; O'Reilly illustrated what we witness everyday and night especially by commentators and TV pundits. Most of these 'professionals' try so hard to display their 'intellectual prowess' that more often than not they end up making a total jackass out of themselves.
So Bill, it's time you reassess your position and make a public correction on The Factor. And by the way, just in case you see no need to, put this in your pipe and smoke it: Jesus Christ is not even on the top 50 philosophers of all time, not to mention any other lists of philosophers. "What say you"?
Been watching the O’Reilly factor now for years. Always liked O’Reilly. He just was the kind of guy that was obviously sincere and cared about things the way we were all did. After finding out that he grew up only a few blocks from me in Westbury, N.Y., it made me like him even more. Then a few years back, he started changing. The change was apparent to all I knew and also started showing up in the emails that he reads at the end of his show. The change in my view was that he had become obsessed with ‘fair and balanced’. - ‘Fair and Balanced vs.’Right and Wrong’
See also:
The Curtain Closes on The O’Reilly Factor













at 1:28 pm
This implies that not only is it assumed that candidates adhere or ascribe to a religion, but also assumes that the populace doesn't adhere or ascribe to a particular religion. Your statement to the letter to Bill gave me alarm.
This is sorely short-sighted. Only ONE of the most famous founding fathers considered himself "Christian". The other founders were men of the Enlightenment, not of Christianity, and most publicly and privately disclosed themselves to be Deists.
In fact, Article 11 of the The Treaty of Tripoli raises this fact's ugly head.
at 5:21 pm
Fair and balanced? Dont make me laugh.
Yes – Christianity is a religion, because it makes people believe in ten fairies on friday.
A philosophy would require at least self-consistency.
at 6:46 pm
I'm not sure what your point is but I was bothered by O'Reilly's comment also for a different reason. Christianity is not just a philosophy but a changed heart from God through the blood of Jesus Christ. I agree Christmas is a religious holiday but we need to remember that it also honors an historical event. Since that event was so important we keep our calendars by it, I see no reason why the country cannot continue to celebrate Christmas. Those who are trying to end Christmas are sticking their heads in the sand and engaging in revisionist history to suit their own ends.