"Religulous" by Bill Mahr

[ballzack]

Happened to catch Mahr on the Today show this morning.
Talking about his new movie "Religulous"

What I found interesting was that Mahr's responses to questions posed to him sounded like the way I'd respond. He was raised Catholic, and his mother was Jewish. She never went to church with the family. When his father stopped attending Mass, he was puzzled. He asked his mother why? She said "because the church does not believe in birth control". Funny. He's preaching the gospel of "I Don't Know", that that is refreshing. His main line - that I know infuriates some religious followers - "If you can't find humor in a talking snake in a garden, then I don't know where you are going to find it..."

This movie is a comedy, and I've grown to like Mahr. I watch his HBO show "Real Time"

I bet this one stirs up a boatload of controversy!

[MrJim]

The gospel of "I Don't Know", eh? ":D

I believe in God, but for the most part, I find a great deal of religion to be rather nutty myself, so I probably wouldn't be too offended. Well, maybe. I just "don't know" yet... heh... time will tell.

[ballzack]

That's my stance.

I don't know. How can I? I'm not dead yet ;)

I don't like Maher's political bent, however, I like his comedy. I'll catch that movie if I can.

[General Septem]

All I know is if there is a god, religion is the biggest blasphemy he's ever seen. Some more than others.

This movie looks interesting though, I'll have to catch it sometime.

[ballzack]

http://lionsgate.com/?section=film

not sure how long this link with work for the Reliulous film, but for now, this is a good preview

[Limbo]

"If you can't find humor in a talking snake in a garden, then I don't know where you are going to find it..."


If you study Jewish tradition and history, you will find that the snake is a metaphor for evil, just as the staff is a metaphor for authority, and so on and so forth. When these stories are read as allegory, as I think the vast majority of Christians and Jews do, it makes perfect sense. That's the only thing that bugs me about movies like this is Maher is attacking a straw man version of Judaism and Christianity, and he thinks he's being so damn clever and funny, and of course atheists and the irreligious will lap it up uncritically. It's pap for the unwashed secular masses. He is missing the point completely.

I think Maher should make a film mocking Islam and Mohammad, then he should travel around the Muslim world promoting it. That would be a lot more fun to watch than this movie:D

[Montanarchist]

Maybe. It's not very high on my list (anymore) but I'll get around to it, some day, probably.

[General Septem]

If you study Jewish tradition and history, you will find that the snake is a metaphor for evil, just as the staff is a metaphor for authority, and so on and so forth. When these stories are read as allegory, as I think the vast majority of Christians and Jews do, it makes perfect sense. That's the only thing that bugs me about movies like this is Maher is attacking a straw man version of Judaism and Christianity, and he thinks he's being so damn clever and funny, and of course atheists and the irreligious will lap it up uncritically. It's pap for the unwashed secular masses. He is missing the point completely.

Like any good piece of literature, the bible certainly has a lot of literary validity. I think what Maher is parodying is the notion that it is the verbatim word of God, as well as people who interpret it literally.

For instance, people who would say something like "we don't know that the earth is NOT 6,000 years old, so it MUST be because the bible says it is and it was written by God so it must be true!" are going to take the brunt of his comedy, just like they take the brunt of every other comedic and critical analysis of religion. We know not all christians aren't like that. Nobody is saying they all are, just because they're the only ones mentioned. They're the ones the criticism is aimed toward, the sane christians aren't even in the equation.

In fact, I can say that one of the best things about christianity is that the majority of its followers don't take it incredibly seriously or literally.

Another thing to consider is that established "christian values" have little to do with the values of Christ. For instance, Christ came here to "set the world on fire", yet modern christians tend to be as complacent as anyone else (exceptions of course).

[MrJim]

I think that (assuming there is a god), no one has ever known what "God" is, so they have probably made it up as they've gone alone. Most people have abandoned the notion of blue six-armed goddesses, cyclops, Zeus, and other such imagery, and would never consider believing anything this silly; yet some can still read the tales of an ark with two of every animal, talking bushes, staffs turning into snakes, etc. and think this is literal testimony.

I don't have a problem with religion, but I don't understand how one implausible story is regarded as truth while another implausible story is not. Mahr may be pinpointing to this logic in his movie.

[ballzack]

This is a really good thread. Thanks guys. Enjoying the reads.

I think Maher is after Christianity specifically because he feels that it was "forced" upon him as a young child, and he was brainwashed. That's his point and I would wager it is why the "talking snake in a garden" and other metaphors are being spoofed.

I tend to look at a movie like this as entertainment. I can't put my finger on it, but for some reason I really like Bill Maher's style and delivery. I love his interviewing process, and his wit. I'll treat the movie in that regard - as a good two hour "Real Time on Religion" with Bill Maher!

- Sorry HBO! ;)

[ballzack]

Heard an interesting interview with Maher on Public Radio's "Fresh Air" while flipping through Satellite Radio on a long drive today.

He was asked if he thought he was a fanatic for not believing in god. His answer, I thought was fairly succinct, elegant, and profound.

paraphrasing but pretty close from memory

"I'm not a fanatic because I preach the school of "I DON"T KNOW" with regard to god. On the contrary, don't you feel Terry (Terry Gross of NPR inverviewing), that people that proclaim the absolute existence of god are the fanatics? After all throughout history it is these people that brought war and torture to the rest that may not have believed properly, according to them. To the best of my knowledge, those of us that have preached "WE DON'T KNOW" have never put anyone to death for not knowing, have we?"

[Limbo]

Heard an interesting interview with Maher on Public Radio's "Fresh Air" while flipping through Satellite Radio on a long drive today.

He was asked if he thought he was a fanatic for not believing in god. His answer, I thought was fairly succinct, elegant, and profound.

paraphrasing but pretty close from memory

"I'm not a fanatic because I preach the school of "I DON"T KNOW" with regard to god. On the contrary, don't you feel Terry (Terry Gross of NPR inverviewing), that people that proclaim the absolute existence of god are the fanatics? After all throughout history it is these people that brought war and torture to the rest that may not have believed properly, according to them. To the best of my knowledge, those of us that have preached "WE DON'T KNOW" have never put anyone to death for not knowing, have we?"

I don't think anyone is saying he is an extremist because he "doesn't know". People are saying he is an extremist because he has made statements such as, ""The plain fact is religion must die for man to live". Of course you have never made any such similar statement to my knowledge, so I wouldn't consider you to have bigoted attitudes towards people you don't agree with as Maher does.

[MrJim]

I don't think anyone is saying he is an extremist because he "doesn't know". People are saying he is an extremist because he has made statements such as, ""The plain fact is religion must die for man to live". Of course you have never made any such similar statement to my knowledge, so I wouldn't consider you to have bigoted attitudes towards people you don't agree with as Maher does.

"The plain fact is religion must die for man to live"... OUCH! Pretty harsh words, I will admit. Like I may have said before, I've never heard of this guy, but a statement like this speaks volumes about his stance. The real, TRUE plain fact is that man will continue to live regardless, though individual men will not. That is, unless war or a natural disaster destroys us. Religion has nothing to do with it.

[MrBirdy]

If you study Jewish tradition and history, you will find that the snake is a metaphor for evil, just as the staff is a metaphor for authority, and so on and so forth. When these stories are read as allegory, as I think the vast majority of Christians and Jews do, it makes perfect sense. That's the only thing that bugs me about movies like this is Maher is attacking a straw man version of Judaism and Christianity, and he thinks he's being so damn clever and funny, and of course atheists and the irreligious will lap it up uncritically. It's pap for the unwashed secular masses. He is missing the point completely.

I think Maher should make a film mocking Islam and Mohammad, then he should travel around the Muslim world promoting it. That would be a lot more fun to watch than this movie:D

Well, maybe if you had WATCHED the Fucking MOVIE you would know that he does make fun islam!

Watch the movie, then judge.
I never said that "Passion" was a piece of shit before i saw it, all i said was, "i havent seen it, but if you say it was good i should go see it." it was still a piece of crap.

[ballzack]

What's interesting to me is that I have typically disagreed with Maher on just about everything. I've seen his political stances as immature.

However, for some reason, I like his stance on religion. And I will definitely watch the movie.

[Limbo]

Well, maybe if you had WATCHED the Fucking MOVIE you would know that he does make fun islam!

Great, so all he needs to do is travel around the Muslim world promoting it!:D

[Montanarchist]

Great, so all he needs to do is travel around the Muslim world promoting it!:D
Yeah, because it would sell a lot down there.

[MrBirdy]

well, it would certainly improve the sale of bullets n' ammo

[microman]

"The plain fact is religion must die for man to live" well that is not true he needs to realize tragedies will happen due to religion but religion also inspired everything in life. Without religion this wouldn't exist so he doesn't quite get the religion concept quite well.:D

[Montanarchist]

Without religion this wouldn't exist

What is "this"?

[microman]

What is "this"?

Everything we own as a lot of luxury goods in life many things only down to ourselves as human beings.

[WhiteRaven]

Religion did not make everything! For instance, Video games were made by awesomeness. So was violence. So was America, Though the awesomeness in America has degraded a tad.

[microman]

Religion did not make everything! For instance, Video games were made by awesomeness. So was violence. So was America, Though the awesomeness in America has degraded a tad.


Its too long to explain but like Sir Issac Newton was banned from the church for belief in gravity if he gave up those beliefs then the people in the world may have never known therefore the physics in games wouldn't exist maybe never inspiring people to make an alternative game besides sports.