Comedian and former “Saturday Night Live” alumnus Norm Macdonald stirred up a Sunday evening hornet’s nest with a series of tweets and replies on religion, tolerance, and respect for people of faith. It seems to have started with the above tweet from a reader of his who took offense at a public expression of faith during a PGA tournament broadcast.
Undoubtedly to the Christian-bashing reader’s surprise, Macdonald responded in defense of those who read scripture:
https://twitter.com/normmacdonald/status/313411023677816833
Macdonald retweeted a reader who opined that a lot of PGA golfers read scripture:
https://twitter.com/goldenaspen/status/313411473575641089
The comedian added:
https://twitter.com/normmacdonald/status/313411821660930048
Next came a flood of outraged tweets from atheist Twitter users, some of which Macdonald retweeted.
Aww man @normmacdonald Streelman is one of those, God, scripture, and peace pussies… Wife was a sexy but that shit ain't cool..#itsabook !
— Rick Nawojski (@dickyboy13) March 17, 2013
“@normmacdonald: I think most people study the scriptures. Most people seem smart to me.”. I like a good fairy tale.
— Dr. Meyer (@Blooeybird) March 17, 2013
https://twitter.com/sypher1960/status/313412620961054721
Some simply couldn’t believe it:
@normmacdonald You are a fellow Canuck, your brother works for the #CBC, you cant be religious!
— The Left Populist (@TheLeftPopulist) March 17, 2013
https://twitter.com/normmacdonald/status/313414565402648576
One non-believer said religion was the worst thing to ever happen to Earth:
@normmacdonald Religion is the worst thing to ever happen to this planet.
— Ryan Maino (@PARecSpecs) March 17, 2013
https://twitter.com/normmacdonald/status/313415317986631682
Another claimed religion has caused more human deaths than anything else:
@RealSMc @normmacdonald Religion has also caused more human deaths than any one thing ever.
— Alt. Dr. Hawk (@DrHawk12) March 17, 2013
https://twitter.com/normmacdonald/status/313435345100341248
Macdonald came off looking tolerant and reasonable, whereas some of his more strident atheist critics seemed judgmental and hysterical.
@TheLeftPopulist @normmacdonald seems like those who don't believe are most preachy.
— Michael Sorg (@mrsorg) March 17, 2013
@normmacdonald As a non-believer, I gotta say that capital-A Atheists are more tiresome than about 95% of all believers.
— Colin Meeder (@ColinMeeder) March 17, 2013
I love the fact that @normmacdonald is embarrassing a bunch of condescending atheists right now.
— (((AG))) (@AGHamilton29) March 18, 2013
@normmacdonald Norm, it really is scary how intolerant & judgmental those who hurl those accusations the most tend to be. #hypocrites
— New Falcons Uniforms Suck – Thanks, Blank (@HistoryofMatt) March 17, 2013
Loving the the way @normmacdonald is playfully swatting away intolerant atheists right now.
— Jim Jamitis ???? (@JimJamitis) March 18, 2013
Update: Norm Macdonald sadly deleted his tweets, after being attacked.
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