Religulous

[UltraShy]

How many of you have seen the movie 'Religulous' and what did you think of it?

I was going to see it with someone last year in a theater, but never did. I finally saw it last week on DVD.

Normally, such a topic would go in the Entertainment section, but given the nature of this film I suspect there may be some controversy.

[WineKitty]

I havent seen it and wont see it. While I actually agree with Maher on a great deal of things he comes across like a total blowhard, spewing out how right he is about everything and everyone else is an idiot. It would serve him well to learn to respect ideas other than his own.

[Zephyr]

Haven't seen it; maybe someday. I do like that it's another entry in the growing movement that religion shouldn't be treated with kid gloves, "off limits" just because it's religion, and that we must automatically respect everyone's beliefs without question no matter what they may be.

[WineKitty]

Originally Posted by Zephyr

Haven't seen it; maybe someday. I do like that it's another entry in the growing movement that religion shouldn't be treated with kid gloves, "off limits" just because it's religion, and that we must automatically respect everyone's beliefs without question no matter what they may be.

No, one must automatically respect Maher's beliefs because he is RIGHT about everything you know...

[Toad Licker]

I've never seen it nor do I have any interest in seeing it. I can't bring myself to watch these type of films, sadly they're becoming quite prevalent lately.

[Jnmcda0]

I thought the movie was entertaining and funny. However, I view it like I view Michael Moore's films or Ben Stein's movie "Expelled", in that it tends to present only one side and mostly shows the more outrageous people. Still, for its intended purpose, I thought it was good.

[Thomas Paine]

Yes, I've seen it, and while I did enjoy it, I noticed that he only chose to use the most extreme, fringe sects of each religion and the implied arguments against religion were mainly not based on reason or logic, but on emotion and humor instead.

Still entertaining, if you keep it as entertainment. I was especially amused by the interview of the Orthodox Jew who spends enormous amounts of energy creating these elaborate inventions that circumvent Old Testament Sabbath Day laws, in order to make life easier for Orthodox Jews on The Sabbath, but completely misses the logical point of the laws. I think Bill said something to him like "Don't you ever feel you are trying to deceive God though?". Or the fundamentalist Muslim who had a ring tone of a metal song that started playing during the interview.

Anyway, I think it is more a movie making fun of people who take religion to extremes (including this one marijuana related religion I'd never heard of), rather then a movie making fun of religion.

I'm a huge Bill Maher fan. I miss his HBO show.

Here's a decent compilation of clips from the movie:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6gzWZhGE2w

[Thomas Paine]

LOL, I need to learn how to summarize as well as Jnmcda0.

[justpassinby]

Maher is just another tool for the world's seemingly needed outlet for the condescension and ridicule of religion

[UltraShy]

Originally Posted by Zephyr

I do like that it's another entry in the growing movement that religion shouldn't be treated with kid gloves, "off limits" just because it's religion, and that we must automatically respect everyone's beliefs without question no matter what they may be.

That's one of the things I liked about the film, that it dared to question. I don't think anything is off limits to question. If one is a true believer then what is there to fear from questions? If you're certain that you're right and have the means to support your views then what is there to fear from some simple questions that you should be able to answer?

When I post libertarian or pro-gun views I sure get plenty of questioning, which I do my very best to respond to. There is no reason religion should be treated any different and set aside as something that's off limit to questions.

Everything deserves critical examination to see if it's good or bad, if it make sense or not, if it's supposed by evidence & logic or not. I don't believe in blindly accepting anything and that applies to religion just as I apply that same standard to everything else.

As for Bill Mahr personally, I never saw his HBO show so I'm not all that familiar with his work so I'm sure I didn't have nearly as much opinion on him going into it as most others likely did.

[SilentLoner]

I thought it was okay. I mostly enjoyed the parts at the beginning and Maher's summary at the end of the film.

[Frankie_Lee]

Deceptive MTV-style editing and undying self righteousness (on Maher's part) made it unenjoyable. It's not effective as a serious commentary on society. Maher quipping is all it's really good for. And I'm a fan of Maher, last friday's episode of Real Time was probably the best show he's ever done. It might be on youtube..

[zookeeper]

A great quote that I stole off the interwebs somewhere. I feel it applies equally well to Bill Maher.

"The Michael Moore Effect: There are some people that, for whatever reason, you can agree with completely about political, environmental, or social issues, but still just want to hit in the face repeatedly."

[Thomas Paine]

Originally Posted by Frankie_Lee

And I'm a fan of Maher, last friday's episode of Real Time was probably the best show he's ever done. It might be on youtube..

Did you ever used to watch Politically Incorrect? I like Real Time as well, but don't have HBO anymore and downloading then burning to DVD is too much effort sometimes . I don't like watching TV on my computer because I don't have my $700 Lazy-boy in here to sit in.

[OneIsALonelyNumber]

Originally Posted by Jnmcda0

I thought the movie was entertaining and funny. However... shows the more outrageous people. Still, for its intended purpose, I thought it was good.

The movie was quite good, although it seemed a bit hyperbolic (is that a word?) with its link between religion and nuclear annihilation.

The scene with the Senator was clearly edited to make the Senator appear to be an idiot (although I'm sure he didn't need much help). The ex-gay guy that just had to hug everyone was just hilarious....

[ivankaramazov]

Originally Posted by zookeeper

A great quote that I stole off the interwebs somewhere. I feel it applies equally well to Bill Maher.

"The Michael Moore Effect: There are some people that, for whatever reason, you can agree with completely about political, environmental, or social issues, but still just want to hit in the face repeatedly."

Nice.

[Frankie_Lee]

Originally Posted by Thomas Paine

Did you ever used to watch Politically Incorrect? I like Real Time as well, but don't have HBO anymore and downloading then burning to DVD is too much effort sometimes . I don't like watching TV on my computer because I don't have my $700 Lazy-boy in here to sit in.

No I never watched it but I wish I could go back and do it. I read once that Randy Newman was on it a few times and I'd kill to see those episodes but the show is impossible to find it seems.

[WinterDave]

I used to watch 'Real Time' for years but finally couldn't watch it anymore as Maher and his guests became completely one sided on most issues.Maher is as intolerant and fringe on the religion topic as the crazy people he cites in his anti-religion rants.He has absolutely NO respect for differing views on religion.I remember once on 'Real Time' when Andrew Sullivan called him a bigot because of his intolerance of people of faith, and told Maher not presume what Sullivan's religious beliefs were.

[Thomas Paine]

Originally Posted by WinterDave

I used to watch 'Real Time' for years but finally couldn't watch it anymore as Maher and his guests became completely one sided on most issues.Maher is as intolerant and fringe on the religion topic as the crazy people he cites in his anti-religion rants.He has absolutely NO respect for differing views on religion.I remember once on 'Real Time' when Andrew Sullivan called him a bigot because of his intolerance of people of faith, and told Maher not presume what Sullivan's religious beliefs were.

At least he doesn't disguise his views in the form of a censored news channel?

[WineKitty]

Originally Posted by WinterDave

I used to watch 'Real Time' for years but finally couldn't watch it anymore as Maher and his guests became completely one sided on most issues.Maher is as intolerant and fringe on the religion topic as the crazy people he cites in his anti-religion rants.He has absolutely NO respect for differing views on religion.

Hey Dave and I agree on something!! .

Seriously though, very well put Dave. Esp the part that I bolded.