Rich on the Road

I was toying with writing something about George Carlin today -- an encounter I had with him a few years ago at the airport in Amarillo.  I'll write about that in a moment but first I wanted to share an exchange I found on the Dallas Morning News website and its religion blog.

A reporter named Bruce Tomaso posted this:

Praying for Carlin? No, thanks.

10:34 AM Mon, Jun 23, 2008 | Permalink
Bruce Tomaso 

Some who responded to an earlier posting about the death of George Carlin said they would keep the comedian in their prayers.

Carlin would have guffawed. He was an emphatic atheist, and there's just about nothing that he would have valued less than knowing that people were praying for him.

His onstage rants against religion were legendary. Most contained language unsuitable for a family newspaper (or its Religion blog). If you're interested and won't mind the R-rated vocabulary, go to YouTube and search for "Carlin" and "religion."

 

 

Here are a couple of the responses that I thought were on point -

Comments

Posted by alex @ 11:04 AM Mon, Jun 23, 2008

Doesn't matter, as a Christian you pray for those in need and who have passed on leaving loved ones behind. That is the way it is and should always be. God Bless you George...if you want it or not. You need it you crazy, funny b****d.

love you

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Posted by Dave @ 11:15 AM Mon, Jun 23, 2008

I bet he wants a do-over about now.

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Posted by john @ 11:16 AM Mon, Jun 23, 2008

But does praying for a man who is a known athiest who has already passed make a difference? We know where he is. I know our prayers at this point are fruitless, but we can definately pray his family and friends who might have a chance to find GOD.

 I met George Carlin at a Southwest Airlines gate while waiting for a flight from Amarillo back in the 1980s.  The plane had been delayed.  He was without entourage and I was, frankly, surprised at how open he was to talking with me and my photographer, Max Stacy.  We just chatted.  Nothing heavy.  He was pleasant and funny.  Seemed a little shy.  But, genuine and not at all pretentious.  Rare in a celebrity.

Count me as among those who said a prayer for George Carlin -- even though he often ranted against God and those who believe. One never knows about a mortal soul. 

The Bible makes it clear that those who are called at the last hour receive the same reward as those who have labored all their lives. 

 Rich