To anyone upset over the "invisible friend" rhetoric (it is certainly excellent rhetoric, by the way, as the reaction proves): Rip is being polite by saying invisible friend. He could easily use the more common and derisive "imaginary friend". It's certainly nothing to get your panties in a bunch over. Rip is a low church atheist, not a commie.
And just for the record, I certainly do have an invisible friend. And the best rhetoric points to the truth.