Bill Maher, host of HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher," discussed the "ridiculous" role of religion in schools and the urgency of implementing "draconian" environmental laws in an interview with WBHM's Dan Carsen on Thursday.
The "Religulous" star told Carsen he is "dead set against" incorporating religion into school curriculums, rejecting the notion that religious instruction belonged in history or sociology classes.
"There’s a place for that, it’s called church," Maher said. "Why do we have to mix religion in with school work?" Maher asked, before blaming former President George W. Bush for the rise of creationism in education. "This modern trend -- George Bush I believe started it -- somehow this idea that we should teach both evolution and creationism. Well that’s ridiculous."
The controversial comedian mocked the idea of religious marginalization in the United States and argued that religious individuals have the right to "worship anytime" outside of public forums, "like courthouses or schools."
"Shouldn’t there be one place that’s left for the secular side of society?" Maher contended.
Prompted to discuss his agenda if he were the "undisputed king of the world," Maher shifted away from religion and into a passionate call for "draconian" environmental protections.
"First thing I would do is address global warming and climate change because I think if we don’t address that, I don’t know what relevance all the other problems have if we don’t have a livable planet," Maher said. "I would immediately impose a carbon tax, which I think our politicians should do anyway, and I would make draconian laws limiting the pollution of this country. Anybody who ran a business and befouled the environment would go to jail."
Maher also offered some 2016 presidential predictions, naming former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as the probable Democratic nominee, "barring health issues."
"On the Republican side, the man who was supposed to bridge -- no pun intended -- the gap between the tea party and the old school Republicans was Chris Christie," Maher said. "And it looks like he’s just toast, put a harpoon in him."
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