Tim Minchin is an Irreverent Genius

The first time one of my friends posted the Tim Minchin "Storm" video on Facebook, I almost didn't watch. I was rushing through answering some messages and had never heard of the guy. Plus with his messed up, unkempt hair, bare feet and very thick "guyliner", I wasn't sure what it could be about.

Then I started watching. The first two minutes of this beat poem sets the scene and when he mentions in his 'story' that the host of the fictional party is a physician, I brace myself for an all too common rant against doctors and how stupid, incompetent and evil they are.

I'm glad I listened beyond the three-minute mark. It turns out that he is actually defending science and medicine, in a fabulously refreshing and unwavering way.

So after watching a few times, I find that there are many other gems on YouTube by Tim Minchin, my new favorite entertainer!

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This is a good time for a warning. If you are offended by an irreverent challenge to religion, lots of swearing, defense of science and other reasonable positions, just stop reading and do not watch the videos. Your choice.

Otherwise, watch for yourself. It's quite impressive how Minchin manages to use this form of delivery to relay his message so effectively.

These videos are just a few of the best. YouTube has many, but try to find the ones that have him performing rather than just stills. Minchin's expressions add a lot to the performance.

****And in all seriousness, none of these videos are suitable for children and you probably don't want to open them at work unless your boss is really cool (or you are the boss).

So many good lines, but here are just a few of the best...

"Do you know what they call alternative medicine that's been proved to work?....medicine."

"Science adjusts its views based on what's observed, faith is the denial of observation so that belief can be preserved." (emphasis added because it's one of my favorite quotes, ever).

"Throughout history, every mystery ever solved has turned out to be NOT magic.."

"Isn't this enough, just this world"

"I am a tiny, insignificant, ignorant bit of carbon. I have but one life and it is short and unimportant, but thanks to recent scientific advances, I get to live twice as long as my great, great, great great uncles and auntses. Twice as long to live this life of mine, twice as long to love this wife of mine, twice as many years of friends and wine..."

And this video gets bonus points for tying in Scooby-Doo.

"This song requires a boot". This gets your attention at the beginning of this song about the good 'ole bible. "The Good Book" takes on the hypocrisy, superstition and moral misguidance of the bible. He makes these points clearly, in song, with creative humor - genius.

"Good is good, and evils bad, and goats are good and pigs are crap. You'll find which one is which in the good book, cause it's good and it's a book..."

"Swing your partner by the hand, have a baby if you can. But, if the voices in your head say to sacrifice your kid, to satiate your loving God's fetish for dead baby blood, it's simple faith the book demands, so raise that knife up in your hand..."

"If you just close your eyes and block your ears to the accumulated knowledge of the last 2000 years, then morally, guess what? You're off the hook, just thank Christ you only have to read one book..."

Here's a song he says he wrote for a religious friend. Psychics, astrologers, homeopaths and spiritual believers are all addressed in this very short performance.

No quotes are necessary as he sings slowly enough, that even with his accent (to those of us not from Australia), it's easy to understand.

If you ignored my warning and watched this in spite of yourself and were offended...or if you ARE offended by swearing, irreverence, and anti-religious ranting, do NOT under any circumstances watch "The Pope Song". I repeat, do not watch "The Pope Song".

I was going to include a section about Tim Minchin with more information, but I don't have to. One of my fellow 'hubbers' did this a while ago. I just didn't see it until I wrote this. So if you just can't get enough, or if you want to know more about him, read this by jenblacksheep.