When I saw Steve Harvey’s new book “Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man” on shelves I was interested. A male comedian, giving love advice for women? This could be worth looking into. A few days later I started watching his interview with Joy Behar on CNN’s Larry King Live. I was excited to learn what his book was about because, let’s be honest, I’m a college student and I can’t afford to waste my money on something I won’t like. (Full disclosure: I only caught the second half of the interview.)

He had some funny things to say, like his policy on sleeping with a man: Wait 90 days. He took it from Ford Motor Company. A man needs a probationary period with his employer in order to be worthy of the benefit package, and “women have the greatest benefit package of them all — themselves.”

Harvey had me hooked ­— until the end. When Behar touched on the part of the book that discusses the importance of God when searching for a man to date, she asked Harvey if women should date men who don’t believe in God. Harvey’s response was blunt and matter of fact: “No, why would you? … If you don’t believe in God, then where is your moral barometer?” He went on to say when a person tells him they’re an atheist, he walks away because he doesn’t know what to say to them.

Harvey’s comments have sparked some controversy in the world of non-believers. As one YouTuber saucily commented: “Jesus wouldn’t have walked away from an atheist.”

Regardless of anyone’s religious beliefs, Harvey’s stance is close-minded. As Americans we value free speech, so we should support his right to say whatever he likes. But a blanket condemnation of a group of people based on one aspect of their characters seems rash and irresponsible.

It’s moments like these that make me wonder what the cutoff would be for Harvey: would he argue that a firefighter who doesn’t believe in God isn’t worth his time? A doctor?

Maybe so.

What if Harvey was the one in the burning building? In the operation room? Then are the firefighter or doctor saving his life worth talking to? The firefighter who is putting their own life on the line for a man who wouldn’t give him the time of day otherwise? The doctor who took an oath to save lives no matter what? These are the questions I ask when someone says an atheist is an idiot (like Harvey did) and lacking a moral barometer.

Morality is something argued frequently, and oftentimes people base their morals on their religion. The Ten Commandments serve as a useful template for morals, and as a society we’ve continued to build upon those basic tenets. But God is not the only source of morality. Do atheists need God to tell them not to murder, steal or cheat? Or do you think that as functioning, law-abiding members of society they could figure it out on their own?

Harvey might want to practice what his beliefs preach and “love thy neighbor” instead of leaving them out in the cold.