Lionsgate has finally released a movie trailer for Larry Charles‘ documentary Religulous, which follows Bill Maher as he travels around the globe interviewing people about God and religion. The official plot synopsis reads: “Known for his astute analytical skills, irreverent wit and commitment to never pulling a punch, Maher brings his characteristic honesty to an unusual spiritual journey.” I got the chance to see about 15 or 20 minutes of the film last year at the Toronto Film Festival, and laughed quite a bit. It’s more Michael Moore meets Jay Leno’s Jaywalking than Borat, but I understand with Charles at the helm, you need to play that card.
I love the part in the trailer where Maher asks the the guy who plays Jesus Christ at a Catholic Theme Park why God doesn’t obliterate the devil and thereby destroy all evil in the world. And Jesus responds “He will.” If I remember correctly from what was said at Toronto, Maher was actually kicked out of the park after the interview. And I understand that to some, Maher may come off as abrasive, but you have to his comic delivery. For instance his whole rant on Santa Claus. I have also included statements from both Maher and Charles after the jump. As always, tell me what you think in the comments!
Watch the trailer in High Definition on Apple. Religulous hits theaters on October 3rd 2008.
A Statement from Larry Charles
Ok. An old God, a very buff old God that lives in space decides to create the first man from earth dust, then makes a woman from that man’s rib. They get to live forever if they don’t eat the forbidden fruit from the tree of knowledge, but the woman is tricked into eating a piece by a talking snake and all future humanity is cursed. Or, how bout this one? This same space God who lives in the sky and has power over everything decides he wants a son, so he impregnates a woman but she remains a virgin. And, the child can walk on water and raise the dead. But his father, the sky God, sends him on a suicide mission to save humanity. After he dies, he rises from the dead and flies into space to be with his father (who is also him.)
Greek myths? The latest installment of the “Lord of the Rings”? Disney’s new animated movie? No! These are the foundations of Western religion. The tenuous shaky belief systems that our entire civilization rests upon.
What do you believe, why do you believe it, and why do you need to believe it? Can we be good without God? Is religion a calling or a mental illness? Were Jesus, Moses and Mohammed prophets and visionaries, or crackpot nut cases who today would be put away? Is religion an obsessive-compulsive disorder?
Comedian, acerbic commentator, raconteur, skeptic, seeker Bill Maher and I set off in search of answers to these questions in a raunchy, rude, irreverent, outrageous, and shocking nonfiction film about the greatest fiction ever told.
Set to the rhythms of “Sympathy for the Devil” and “Jesus Walks,” from the Western Wall to the Vatican, from self-professed messiahs to self professed Pariahs, we will not only expose the hypocrisy and corruption in organized religion but the absurdly hilarious logic that holds it together.
We will talk to clergy, extremists, scholars, politicians, ex-cons, the man on the street and even the man upstairs (that’s right, we interview God.)
The funny will be scary, the scary wildly funny. The crazy will seem sane and the sane absolutely and undeniably crazy. All lines are blurred. All bets are off.  We will get inside, on top of, behind, and in front of religion.
–Larry Charles
A Statement from Bill Maher
Since starting on Politically Incorrect in 1993, it has been my pleasure over the last decade and a half to make organized religion one of my favorite targets. I often explained to people, “I don’t need to make fun of religion, it makes fun of itself.” And, then I go ahead and make fun of it too, just for laughs.
With religious fanatics like George Bush and Osama bin Laden now taking over the world, it seemed to me in recent years that this issue — this cause of debunking the man behind the curtain — needed to have a larger, more insistent and focused forum than late night television. I wanted to make a documentary, and I wanted it to be funny. In fact, since there is nothing more ridiculous than the ancient mythological stories that live on as today’s religions, this movie would try to be a real knee slapper. Unless, of course, you’re religious, then you might not like it.
Who could I get to direct me on such an epic quest? In reality, there was only one man, and his name is Larry Charles. I hope that together we fulfilled that quest. Which really isn’t that hard, considering that comedically speaking, the topic of religion is pretty much hitting the side of a barn.
As a comedian, religion has always interested me — it was the single easiest subject to make jokes about. I think that tells us something: comedians look for things that don’t make sense, that are illogical.
Even as a young comedian, routines I did that got the biggest laughs and got me invited back on the Tonight Show were the religious ones — like the one about being half Catholic and half Jewish and bringing a lawyer into confession:Â “Bless me father for I have sinned — and I think you know Mr. Cohen . . .”
Politics is a rich area, but even politicians, although they promise some ridiculous stuff, don’t approach the level of, for example, the Mormon practice of promising couples a planet to rule over in the after life if they have a really good marriage on earth. They give you a planet — kinda like when someone gives you a certificate that says a star has been named after you — except here, they really give you the star!
Join me in the final battle between intelligence and stupidity that will decide the future of humanity. Coming soon to a house of false idols near you.
–Bill Maher
June 6th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
looks very good funny
June 6th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
I can’t wait for this movie it looks awesome.
June 6th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
Wow. It’s amazing that people can be so full of hate. I’m speaking on religious people *and* the producers of this film. Let’s see who’s hate is greater. Or rather, let’s not.
June 6th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
Looks hillarious.
June 6th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
I loved Maher’s “Politically Incorrect” and watched every episode of his HBO show “Real Time”….He seems to be the only level headed person in American media these days…Maher points out everything that doesn’t make sense in the country and the world using his brand of humor to deliver his point of view intellectually…This might make him seem a bit arrogant and abrasive to some but he does make very logical points….It’s not that his points are secretly hateful or against other’s views, they’re just thought out by using common sense and based in reality….He’s always had an open mind to all concepts and politics. An example of that is that he has people on his show that represent all of the political spectrum and religious points of view. I can’t wait for this film, I think it’s going to get slammed in the States for sure..since Atheists are considered second class citizens and their voices never get heard….These days not to believe in God is not to believe in America a statement regularly used…Yet America was based on religious freedoms not believing in religion should be considered a protected religious practice….Anyways big thanks to Peter for posting the trailer!!
June 6th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
It’s funny Ben Stein makes a “doc” that goes just the opposite of this film, calling most of science silly and unfounded, and we don’t protest or raise an uproar over it. I find most athiest (well maybe half) are willing to hear the other side of the argument and nod their head and take in as something learned. I can’t wait for the right wing neo cons on fox to bad mouth this film and the protesters oh the pro testers…
June 6th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
@Kip
I haven’t watched the Stein documentary but if he’s trying to prove there is no such thing as truth in science that is correct…there are agreed upon facts and then there is absolute truth…it’s all based data created by men/women just like religion is..I’m not saying I’m anti-science but to say science can know the ultimate truth is not reality…things in nature change that can’t be explained, people who smoke and drink heavily can live to 100 like George Burns..yet doctors say this behavior is overall bad..science is the practice of collecting data based on studies and routines…if another study proves another one wrong the scientific community changes it’s opinion…I think that’s where some people start to distrust science itself…since it’s mostly religious people who seem to be against scientific thought and theories who aren’t prone to change their opinions when new facts come into play….
June 6th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
@Christopher Marc
You don’t need to prove to scientists that there is no absolute truth in science, they know that. But absolute truth is nowhere except in your head. You don’t even know ‘absolutely’ if what you see and feel is really there or just in your imagination.
It’s rather that scientists TRY to find out the truth, they start with no ideological presumption, and look only at what is really observable.
And Stein wants to make his viewers believe that actually scientists don’t want to find out the truth, but have some devilish agenda to destroy religion.
I don’t know why he thinks that makes any sense, and i don’t know how he can believe that, seeing everyday demonstrations that the science way works: Everything that distinguishes living standards today from a hundred years ago is due to science. Whereas for examples prayers have no effect at all.
The problem is not that creationism is not a theory as well, but that you cannot test it and it doesn’t give you any useful knowledge. There are millions of theories that are not testable and produce no knowledge, there is no reason to choose ANY of them over a testable one that produces useful knowledge.
June 7th, 2008 at 12:03 am
“With religious fanatics like George Bush and Osama bin Laden now taking over the world”
Just, wow.
Vic
June 7th, 2008 at 12:36 am
“He seems to be the only level headed person in American media these days.”
Then you haven’t watched Rollins show on IFC. Because Rollins > Maher, for days. Seriously.
June 7th, 2008 at 1:01 am
I live in Arkansas…..I bet I will have to drive 500 miles to see it……
June 7th, 2008 at 1:07 am
it’s on my must see list now
June 7th, 2008 at 1:18 am
Maher is an arrogant prick. But he’s often funny. Actually, I’m sure this movie will have some pretty good laughs. But will it have any substance? Will it (a) get into why we as human beings are drawn to religion? And (b) what can be done about the significant ills religion brings upon our global society (not to disregard the good religion does or anything)? I’m guessing it won’t do either -at least based on this preview and on Maher’s note. So I guess what I’m saying is…. I can wait to rent the sucker.
June 7th, 2008 at 2:02 am
@Captain Awesome
oh I love Rollins but he seems to have more points and influence in his spoken word tours than his TV show…yeah he does his little 30 second rants on the show…but watching him live for 2hours speaking his mind is something different….add that he does different topics every gig as well…I wish he would have someone record all the gigs one tour then release it on a box set….or DVD..that would be epic
June 7th, 2008 at 2:26 am
I like Rollins show format much better. Especially his interviews.
My problem with Maher is that he’s 50/50 and isn’t as open as he says he is, in terms of debate. He as alliances with people that should get reamed but he takes a step back with them because some of them are his “friends”. Maher is good in small chunks. Nails on a chalkboard if you have to listen to him for so long.
The best thing about his show are the panels. It’s all I watch and look forward to when I watch it. His panels are what makes his show. But my issue is that overall Maher isn’t as vast as he should be when attacking certain issues. He should be since his show apparently thrives off of that. And says that’s what it’s about.
June 7th, 2008 at 2:53 am
Well can you blame Maher for limiting himself after getting fired from ABC for speaking his mind??..lol
June 7th, 2008 at 2:54 am
btw Rollins’ Christopher Walken interview was like pulling teeth…Walken was horrible and Rollins could get it to work…but I know what you mean he clicks with the musical guest pretty well…
June 7th, 2008 at 6:33 am
Christopher Marc,
Bill Maher is attacking organization religion, not the belief in a some higher power. I don’t believe he’s ever attacked the concept of something beyond this world. He attacks the ridiculous attributes we give this higher power. an atheist believes in nothing, Maher doesn’t say that, he just attacks the ideas we’ve come up with
June 7th, 2008 at 6:37 am
organised* religion
June 7th, 2008 at 7:13 am
Well, I know what I’m doing for my birthday.
June 7th, 2008 at 7:26 am
@Jmoney
I’m a loyal Maher fan for 10plus years now he’s said many times he’s an Atheist…maybe you should take trip to Google and check out his statements or his books
June 7th, 2008 at 7:28 am
@ JMoney
Maybe you should watch the trailer again. See that part about Santa and the guy who can hear everything? I dont think thats a shot at organization religion.
June 7th, 2008 at 7:30 am
It’s a shot at ppl who believe in a higher power.
June 7th, 2008 at 7:30 am
There is so much dishonesty in the way he talks and the way he is over characterizing the average religious believer, someone should make a documentary about dishonest documentarians who are looking to make a buck. The fact is, every single human being on the planet places their faith in something quite blindly, whether it is one God, science, environmental living, themselves, or politics.
Not once does he allow the possibility that if there IS a higher power, it would have the right and the power to do things like raise the dead, a virgin birth, make a snake talk, or more. He’s not using logic, he’s using locker room tactics, and that’s what makes this so thoroughly disgusting. This is not “calling religion out,” this is nothing short of bigoted persecution.
What is really at stake with every religion is the individual’s need for forgiveness… every religion fluctuates and alters on this very real issue which has plagued mankind since the beginning of time… Maher, in his arrogance, could never even come close to providing a true philosophical and religious dialogue on such ubiquitous issues.
June 7th, 2008 at 7:49 am
Looks hilarious and I hope that they actually get down deep into peoples beliefs in this film. He looks like a really laid back guy which is good but I hope it doesn’t stop him from asking the hard questions.
June 7th, 2008 at 8:20 am
This definitely looks like an entertaining film, and that’s all people should EXPECT to get out of it: entertainment. Anyone going in there looking for an affirmation and ammunition for their beliefs, weather it be the belief in “God” or the belief that people who believe in god are (for lack of a better term) silly, aren’t seriously going to come out of the movie any different than the way they went in. I think what some people are going to forget is that a lot of the points he’ll cover (and obviously I can’t say for sure having not seen the film) have been covered time and time again and will continue to be covered until god knows when (pun completely intended). In the words of a great man, “We go to church to learn about that stuff. We go to movies to be entertained.
June 7th, 2008 at 10:07 am
@Israel Groveman
>every single human being on the planet places their faith in something quite blindly, whether it is one God, science, environmental living, themselves, or politics.
you evidently have learned nothing about science.
the scientific method is the key principle that has driven every piece of technology that elevates your daily life from mere cave-dwelling hunter-gatherer subsistence.
formalized and refined, it is:
review of literature;
hypothesis;
prediction;
experimentation with controls;
capture & publication of objective data;
statistical analysis;
reporting both data and conclusions to peers via peer-reviewed publications.
scientists compete.
all claims are subject to open criticism in the scientific literature.
every scientist’s work is open to challenge by reproduction.
“blind faith” does not enter the picture.
the only people who operate on “blind faith” are the sort of willfully ignorant idiots who allow wishful fantasy about sky fairies to drive their worldview.
unfortunately, in this country there are far too many of them, so they are blatantly pandered to by craven politicians; and they thus exert ridiculous sway over vast numbers of issues they are intellectually unqualified to address.
well, those of us with an actual grip on logic and reason have had enough of this BS. the future of the world itself is at stake.
and so we’re going to dispossess you of the levers of power.
it will take several generations, but it WILL happen.
and this movie is one small part of the mounting wave.
June 7th, 2008 at 10:09 am
This looks like a funny and entertaining film but one which will appeal soley to the aethiest crowd. Which is all well and good in the name of entertainment (and I’m looking forward to it) but it would be nice to see these type of documentaries attacking the subject matter in a way that won’t immediatly get believers backs up. Sure laughing at rednecks is funny but it doesn’t do anything to promote healthy discussion or open peoples minds.
Oh and by the by, this statement made above: “The fact is, every single human being on the planet places their faith in something quite blindly” is a bit ridiculous. Even if it’s the status quo it’s a lousy one; not something that should be encouraged or even condoned.
June 7th, 2008 at 10:18 am
Admittedly i was only going by the trailer, maybe he is an atheist. but the trailer doesn’t give that impression. I guess i see the santa claus segment as him making fun of what we believe, our perceptions. not actually commenting on whether there is something that exists beyond this universe. thats just the impression i get though, i could be wrong.
atheism is believing in absolutely nothing. not accepting christian/jewish/muslim/budda/whatever doctrine as truth doesn’t make you an atheist.
but like i said im going by the trailer, maher could be an atheist for all i know. but the message of the trailer isnt that this movie is going to try and make us realise any belief is stupid. only that the beliefs we have now are ridiculous
June 7th, 2008 at 10:20 am
i guess im just taking issue with everyone on here using the word atheist to describe someone who questions religion. thats not what an atheist is, im getting the impression people are misusing the word.
June 7th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
So Jesus could walk on water, but he couldn’t un-hang himself from a man made cross?
Also, considering that he died and came back from the dead, doesn’t that make him a zombie?
June 7th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
Wait wait wait Chris, you’d rather go with religion, take an opinion, refuse to accept any contradicting data, stick with an obviously incorrect hypothesis, rather than taking to heart the art of science - observing data and creating best fit models.
If the best fit model isn’t right, then the one that ignores all provable data is? huh?
June 7th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
The first time a movie came out in a while that I’m interested in seeing in! ^_^
Before release date though, I’m sure that Christians are gonna be boycotting it :(
June 7th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
God does not exist. Mahler is interviewing a bunch of crazies. What a brave man to enter the insane world of religious idiots.
If you believe in god, fine, believe it, but if your children ask you, please, please, please don’t indoctrinate them with your crap!
We need more movies like this to show the average person on the street that believing in god is nonsense.
You can pray all you want but no god will help you. At the end of the day only people made from flesh and blood are capable of positive change, by working together, keeping their minds active and open and looking out for your fellow human beings.
No god is required for change, just people.
Something for you religious folks to ponder.
June 7th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Well, we all know where jesus was for those 3 days after he climbed down from that cross. Jerking off in the hole in his hand.
June 7th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Fantastic. The more ridicule heaped on the bronze idiocy, the better. They’ll be getting my $$ to watch it.
June 7th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Maybe they could release it AFTER the fucking election.
June 7th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
*bronze age idiocy*
June 7th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
i wonder what he thinks of the spiritual beliefs of Native Americans, and ancient Pagans, even REAL buddhists, if anything thats the only sort of “religion” i could take in a semi serious fashion.
June 7th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Finally people are starting to WAKE UP!!!
If your really ready to really learn about religion watch this it’s a great informational movie.
http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com/main.htm
June 7th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
a movie like this is long overdue!
June 7th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
to rephrase william blake:
Mock on, mock on, Maher, Charles.
Mock on, mock on—’tis all in vain!
You throw the sand against the wind,
And the wind blows it back again.
June 7th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Looks great, Bill!! A well-needed counterpoint to Ben Stein’s piece of shit.
June 7th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
I think Maher and the trailer are hilarious. We need an epidemic of religious hilarity right now. Don’t you think god has a sense of humor? Look who he put in charge of the world. I don’t just mean the politicians, I mean the people who elect them. I mean the whole human race! We are supposed to take care of the world, to husband it. And look what we’re doing? Destroying the beautiful creation we are supposed to protect! Come on, laugh and then, get out there and change things!
June 7th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Just wanted to comment on the person who said the producers of this film are full of hate. Why is it that I can mock almost any viewpoint and nobody will bat an eye, but if that viewpoint is religion, suddenly I’m a hatemonger? Religion is stupid, useless, and a hindrance to moral progress. The fact that so many people feel so strongly about it is all more the reason to get rid of it. We need to expose religion as the absurd collection of baseless myths that it is, so that young people can be given the chance to live their lives unshackled by dogma.
June 7th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
I’d like to see a version of this as a regular series on HBO or Comedy Central.
June 7th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
I, personally, can not wait for this movie.
June 7th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Looks good. Can’t wait to see it.
June 7th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
I like this movie when it was a tv show called “Jon Safran VS God”
June 7th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
liked, sorry just caught that
June 7th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
you can’t live on a star Bill, stop thinking you’re so smart.
June 7th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Can’t wait to see this movie, this guy is a riot! I hope it will encourage more atheists to come out of the closet and speak up.
June 7th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
They are not brave enough… to speak about Muhammad.
That’s a movie of cowards.
June 7th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
wow, what bakery sells that brand of toast ! fantastic, bill, love it !
June 7th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
So I think nciht wikrlich it. Just because a toast a face^^.
June 7th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Christianity: The belief that a cosmic Jewish Zombie who was his own father can make you live forever if you symbolically eat his flesh and telepathically tell him you accept him as your master, so he can remove an evil force from your soul that is present in humanity because a rib-woman was convinced by a talking snake to eat from a magical tree.
Very much looking forward to this movie.
June 7th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
i just wish there was a better spokesman for this viewpoint. Maher is very funny, and smart as hell, but that smug little smirk of his is so annoying, and that ridiculous hair, just eww. and I don’t have any more respect for so-very-certain atheists than i do religious twits; they’re both on the far opposite side of the river than agnostics.
but that said, i am so overjoyed that people are finally talking back hard to this most asinine of bullshits.
>>They are not brave enough… to speak about Muhammad.
That’s a movie of cowards.
June 7th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
uh, got cut off?
…cowards…
ok, go ahead braveheart, you just walk right out in public with your bad self and take on that howling mob of vicious ignorant morons, you’ll be a pile of ashes within minutes
June 7th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
Remember: ZOMBIES WILL EAT YOUR BRAIN!!! I am so looking forward to this movie!
June 7th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
It’s so interesting how god believers meet reason and any rational challenge to their ridiculous ancient myths as “hate”. That’s not hate people, it’s REALITY!! Just because something reveals belief in imaginary sky-thingies to be ludicrous and absurd, that does not make it hate speech but rather is honesty and sanity.
June 7th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
I’m impressed 63 comments about a documentary :D
June 7th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Christopher Marc Says:
“….He’s always had an open mind to all concepts and politics. An example of that is that he has people on his show that represent all of the political spectrum and religious points of view. ”
I too enjoy his shows more than most of he crap out there. I’ve also never really trusted his arrogant ass. It was real obvious when he showed his blatant disrespect for a huge sector of society who are part of a broader 911 “truth movement”. In this regard, Bill became just another “good ‘ol boy”.
June 7th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
Saying that you know there is no god for certain is just as crazy and ignorant as religious people proclaiming they know the truth. no one knows and no one will ever know.
June 7th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
Does he criticize judaism too? Because if it’s just a rant about christianity while giving a free pass to the jews, I won’t bother.
June 7th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
Looks ok.. I still don’t understand the humor in religious bashing. Which seems like exactly what he’s doing. So I guess that’s funny. I really think religion shouldn’t be made fun of, and that it’s someone’s belief. I probably won’t see it.
June 7th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
i was hoping this would be some sort of movie exploring peoples different views on a subject and havin a few laughs while doin. But it sounds like its just pointing and laughing at people who choose to follow religion. If it does turn out to be the former thats cool, ive misread this article, if it is the latter though i think its a pretty poor reflection on those people who made the movie
June 7th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
@Good Ol’ Boy
A conspiracy isn’t a “truth movement”….Maher calls out bullshit very accurately so that fact he doesn’t defend the “JFK” killed by the Mafia…and “Fake Moon Landing”…might be reason he doesn’t care what the 9/11 nut jobs say….people died that’s real and if the government had something to do with it Maher has a great statement “they couldn’t have been involved because it worked”….Also a lot of people who consider themselves experts are people who too much time on their hands reading online articles written by other bored people with limited to no education on the the subject…9/11 happened deal with it, the majority of people have moved on with their lives…you should be putting that energy into protesting the war or helping out starving children in Africa…conspiracies are the most selfish acts since it has to do with people not being able to let go of an awful or unbelievable situation…
June 7th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
it is funny because people who believe in santa claus, err…religion are dumb. it’s kind of like america’s funniest home videos, watching stupid people say funny things.
June 7th, 2008 at 11:51 pm
I could understand a genuine documentary from the atheist viewpoint that took this discussion seriously, but this is ludicrous. This seems to just point and laugh at some random people who happen to have a faith, instead of actually engaging thought. Atheism is a very old belief system, contrary to what this film may lend people to think, and it is the intellectually weaker position in my opinion. I like Bill Maher’s political commentary, but this looks very disappointing.
June 8th, 2008 at 5:15 am
Prayer is nothing more than wishful thinking. Think about that.
June 8th, 2008 at 6:13 am
Bill Maher is extremely intelligent and has a thinking person’s sense of humor.
His statement that religion makes fun of itself is accurate.
One of the major differences between the superstitious types, i.e., believers and those of us who have the ability to think for ourselves is that we are so much more able to laugh at ourselves and not take oursleves so neurotically serious.
I couldn’t help but see some of those in this clip as “trailer trash”.lol
There is an old Jimmy Stewart film titled “Harvey”.
Harvey is a pooka, an imaginary being with which Jimmy has conversations.
No further explanation needed.
June 8th, 2008 at 10:05 am
” Jesus Is Just Alright” by the Doobie Brothers. This is the only Jesus song my 5 year old knew. Once when the subject of god/Jesus came up, he offered to sing it at my parents house (who are religious). I didn’t think they’d find it too funny so I had to gently dissuade him. I would have had a hard time keeping a straight face! Ahh, and the children shall lead them.
Looking forward to this film!
June 8th, 2008 at 10:51 am
Hey people who have commented who don’t know what it means to be an atheist:
Its not a “belief system” and it also does NOT mean you believe in “absolutely nothing”. It simply means you do not believe in a god or gods as described by any of the available religions. That’s it.
This has been a public service announcement.
June 8th, 2008 at 10:55 am
Bill is the man. Ohh, did he offend you? Thats his job. I think its all of our jobs to point out how ridiculous religion is. “Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction.” - Blaise Pascal
June 8th, 2008 at 11:02 am
I’m a gay agnostic college graduate. Not saying that makes me any smarter than anyone, only pointing out I have never been religious and am not approaching this half-cocked, pardon the pun.
I cannot wait to see this movie, I think it will be hilarious and disturbing (due to the various fundamentalists in it). I think stein’s movie is as ridiculous as this movie will be good.
That being said, I think several things shouls change.
1) Religion and science are NOT competitors. I believe, and so do many of the world’s greatest historical thinkers, that religion can exist with scientific reason and method. I think belief can as well.
2) When you go on and on about religion being 100% or 100% good you only expose yourself to not be thinking very clearly. Organized religions have perpetrated great evils and great crimes all through history. But in the United States, let us not forget that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a doctor of theology. His movement was significantly powered by good, decent, rational church-goers of all races. As was the abolishionist movement of the early 1800s.
What I object to isn’t from the movie at all, its from people I’ve known or comments I’ve read that remind me of when Ann Coulter said we should invade the middle east and stamp out Islam by converting, by the sword if necessary. Calling for the destruction of an entire religion is the same kind of imposition of personal values and beliefs on a large swath of people who, for better or worse, have the freedom to believe as they wish.
The key to changing the world is not eradicating belief systems we view as silly or antiquated or flat out wrong. The key to changing the shitty world we live in is seperating personal beliefs from professional. IE, don’t mix your God and our political structure. Believe as you wish, but try to lead a good life. Don’t do harm unnecessarily, don’t pass up the chance to assist those in distress when you can afford to, and just try to live a just life. Sure, there will always be D-Bags like bin laden or bush or nixon or stalin. ALWAYS.
Let’s oppose people for doing harm, not for believing what we do not. Sure, you can SAY every Christian is wrong or supports these american taliban types…but you’d be wrong as wrong can be. People must be judged as individuals, not lumped into huge monolithic groups. If we were to extend that model to an international scale…then all you americans posting on this discussion are automatically responsible for slavery, the invasion of iraq, the systematic forced relocations of American Indians, and the Japanese internment camps. Now, we ALL know that would be ridiculous…just as it is ridiculous to blame Martin Luther King Jr. for the actions of Billy Graham.
Sorry for the long post and thanks.
PS, can’t wait to see this flick!
June 8th, 2008 at 11:10 am
PPS I know the dutch started the slave trade…I was just using american slavery as the example without explicitly stating that. And, for the record, I am an american who grew up 75 miles from focus on the family, so I do have a very healthy dislike of fundamentalism :)
June 8th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Hello Deep Six:
Check out FREETHINKERS: A HISTORY OF AMERICAN SECULARISM by Susan Jacoby. There are so many names conveniently lost from American history books. These are the secular humanists who have contributed to our ideals of civil liberties and a truly representative government over the centuries. It’s a great read. Not taking anything away from the religious who helped advance the enlightenment ideals, but the truth is there were far more on the other side fighting (and using their holy books as proof) for the status quo to remain as it was. Much like today when you think about it.
If only the fundamentalist could do what you proscribed and keep their beliefs to themselves, we’d have a far more liveable society. Unfortunately as you pointed, out this isn’t happening. It’s important that they be reminded that their beliefs are not based in reason or fact and they should be afforded no special privilege because they hold them. It’s time we question why religion is so sacred.
This movie looks wickedly funny. Loved the clip of the guy speaking in tongues!
Lets make this film a hit!
Best Regards One and All
June 8th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Sounds like an interesting movie and I am sure I will watch it. Maher’s always good for a few laughs. It’s entertainment not educational folks, they are trying to make a buck. So take it easy.
On the whole religion argument going on I just wanted to say that I really do believe in God and I think it helps me do things that are totally out of my own nature. Hell, I am one self-obsessed idiot caring totally about what benefits me, what do I get out of this, how can I screw this person over, etc. but yesterday I picked up someone I hardly knew from a lock down mental health facility gave him everything I could and will continue to give tomorrow. I didn’t do this kind of sh*t before and I have only started doing it since I have felt in the Spirit. Sure, it might all be hog wash and I might be a simple-minded fool but who the f*ck cares? It helps me be a better person, gives me peace and helps me give more of myself.
I understand his view about fanatics but fanatics will be fanatics, religion is just a diffrent hat that they can wear. I personally believe most folks that point to religion as evil always point to places of conflict where the sides are divided by religions, such as this movie probably will with Israel (The intro says it begins at the Wall). I don’t think this argument has to do with anything relevant to the debate. Those struggles are almost universally over power and land. Coming from Northern Ireland I know this to be true. Organized religion is used in this battle, just as organized politics, organized education, organized government, organized science and anything else the least bit organized. So, I guess let the haters hate it’s their sh*t not mine. I have my personal God and I believe in Jesus’ teachings, so make fun of me. It is your right. I just brush it off and continue to help because I feel I am walking in the light of the Lord and if you truly believe in the teachings of the organized religions you would do the same also. So chill out and realize that this film will be one-sided. It’s a docutainment not a documentary. Of course it will be edited widly to favor one side, just like the O’Reily factor is too. Just relax have a couple laughs and go help someone after, if you belive in religion or you don’t. Cause that is what the world needs, a little more people doing little things for their common brothers and sisters. Man this is a rant, so sorry, see you on the flip side. Peace
June 8th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
Snore. Another boring attack on belief. I don’t get it. If you believe in something, then you believe in something, if you don’t believe in something, then that’s still believing that you don’t believe. And since no one has proven or dis-proven the existence of any sort of God beyond a reasonable doubt, then to chose either must, at this point, be done by faith and faith alone. When I see all the clips edited in and taken out of context, I see people reacting the same way to this film as they would in a church, athiest gathering, or whatever you “don’t believe in” What lengths people will go to reassure each other they know something when in fact they KNOW nothing. So isn’t arguing the validity of this movie simply moot? It’s a documentary pandering to those who are angry and looking for other angry people to be angry with. And to those who love it so much, Take Bills c%*K out of your mouth and look around, the universe is bigger than you and Bill put together.
June 8th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Bango Mango, when i said “believe in nothing” i meant they do not accept any religion. but i think your wrong when you say its only the known religions. im quite sure atheist means a belief that there is nothing beyond this world/life.
June 8th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
I have been looking forawrd to this for months. I like Maher’s views of the world and I love the way he articulates them!
The soundtrack to this movie is also going to be fabulous.
June 8th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
One more time:
Theism is the belief in God. A theist is someone who beliefs in God.
Atheism is the lack of belief in God. An atheist is someone who doesn’t believe in God.
Period, finito, amen.
Spin it however you want for your own comfort, but there are the definitions.
June 8th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
Dear SkyGirl;
I totally dig the secularism thing. Being agnostic, I’d say secularism is really important to me. I didn’t say let the fundamentalists alone. I just said that certain people should stop acting like ann coulter and quit lumping middle of the road religious folk in with the fringe fundamentalist nut jobs. I am 100% in favor of making fun of fundamentalism because it does harm all the time. And Im not in favor of religion being involved in public policy.
Just to say again, I am thoroughly entertained when fundamentalists of any stripe fall on their faces. I just don’t see how its productive to lump ALL religious people in with those crazies. It just seems like the opposite side of people who think atheists are dumb for not seeing god. Of course, neither position is productive. Rational secularists and religious people should work together against extremists, not against each other. But, who am i?
June 8th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
Just have to chime in again,
I find it rather ironic that someone who goes by Kill Kill Kill, would deem atheist’s angry. Are atheist/agnostics/freethinkers etc angry from time to time - sure! Look at the news lately?!
What you will see are members of competing religious beliefs making claims to holy lands they believe are deeded to them by their god. We have parents who believe that when their holy book says, “whatsoever ye ask for in prayer it shall be given to you” so they do not seek medical attention for their child. Instead prayer ‘therapy’ is used. The child dies of curable conditions like diabetes or complications from asthma. We have honor killings, genital mutilation, animal sacrifice,and slavery just to name a few. We have world leaders with access to atomic bombs who are anticipating the Apocalypse within their lifetimes. These are frightening things for those of us who hold this life dear.
Yes those are the uglier manifestations of those faiths but moderates also believe in (or are supposed to at least) virgin births, talking snakes and donkeys, 6 day creation, bodily resurrections and transubstantiation of wine and crackers among other things. All in all, these things aren’t harmful, but you know, why should anyone believe these things? They only sound plausible to the believer because the larger community supports and reaffirms the belief. You are lonely in your belief that you are Elvis re-incarnated because most of us will require some evidence. Believers in Yahweh, Jesus and Mohammed will find much support. however these days. Zeus and Amon Ra supporters? Ehh not so much.
Folks are free to believe whatever they wish but when they seek to force upon others their convictions, seek privileges (like no-tax liabilities) and connive to undermine science education - for example then, yes a response is needed. Let us hold up these beliefs for scrutiny, shall we? We don’t let other claims made by politicians, companies, journalists - hell even celebrities go unchallenged. Why the special treatment for religious assertions? In the case of children, rights of women and treatment of homosexuals (for example), it is imperative that secular society stands up for fair and reasonable treatment under our laws. It’s not as simple as “I believe this and you don’t so what?”
This is not about Bill Maher or his movie and he certainly doesn’t need me to stand up for him. This is about using the light of reason to chart the course of human events, not unsubstantiated beliefs.
Sorry about the length. Thanks for reading!
June 8th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
Deep Six-
Agreed. We should go after the beliefs - not the believers. We are on the same page there. Sadly though, most will feel like they are being personally attacked when we question their religious claims. I know I felt this way when I was a believer.
The problem is the fundies and the moderates share the same book. The moderates have to step up and reign in their fringe folks. Attacks from outside in the form of non-believers will not have the same effect. If we get them to argue their own tenets in the public square, they will be doing the work for us. Once they start really reading the books, the moderates will have to ask themselves if they want to identify with what they find there. They can still go on doing their good works. And I will be there also, like so many other non-believers helping out and lending a hand. all without the woo!
I just recently finished reading the bible the whole way through. How it has been dubbed the good book is beyond me. Once the conversation between the belivers begins, if it ever does, it should be quite an event. Keep the TiVo warmed up is all I can say.
I have no issue with deists, by the way. God is Nature? OK by me!
June 8th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
oh wow thank you Bill Maher.
any attempt at a documentary like this is a welcome addition to the media pool.
One of my Christian friends was once speaking to me about Christianity with his family. They told me, by way of convincing me of how great their beliefs are, that the Bible is an amalgam of scriptures taken from many different writings by past religious scholars picked specially for the sole reason that the different writings referenced each other somehow.
Not because they were particularly good, or true, or furthered Christ’s teachings….but because they contained allusions to each other. It’s like a College English research assignment gone horribly wrong.
June 9th, 2008 at 1:30 am
God is infinite. Man is finite.
We do not have the perceptions to actually perceive the infinite. So, some see chaos. Some see nothing. Some connect with it. Some don’t. Man is flawed and small and scared of the unknown, but has a lot invested in “winning”, so uses religion as a tool to control other men through fear.
Having a genuine connection with the universe is has very little to do with fundamentalist religion of any sort. RELIGION IS A TOOL OF MAN. DOCTRINE IS ABOUT CONTROL. How can another man be the gatekeeper between me and my god? Anyone who has every actually made a connection with “it” can chuckle with me about how absolutely absurd that thought is. It’s impossible.
I’ve read the bible every time my grandmother gave it to me (three times, yup) and I appreciate it as a piece of historical literature, stories with some good lessons in them. How can a book written hundreds of years ago, rewritten and translated and rewritten again, be the law I should be following in my life? Newsflash: Times are different now. What remains the same is that whoever was writing/editing/publishing the stories probably had an agenda they were forwarding. I hope this is what the film is about, not simply mocking people for believing in sky faeries.
I was an Athiest until I was 17. Now I consider myself to be… spiritual/Animist/Agnostic/Church of Quantum Physics/WHO CARES HOW I DEFINE IT? God proved existence to me in a quiet and personal way. My life is enriched by my relationship with my higher power. My hope for everyone is that at some point in their life they feel this same connection. Catholic, Muslim, Israili, Sikh… the conflict is all a red herring. It’s all the same infinite godforce, people. The prophets are a reflection of the people and the times, not of the god.
The paradigm shift that must occur if we are going to have anything resembling world peace is for us to realize that there is only one god… and for atheists that god is science. There is actually no argument to speak of, just more doctrine attempting to steer our hearts and minds.
Putting belief in something outside of yourself is holy and inherently human and totally fucking beautiful. Truthfully: I find politicians much harder to believe in than god.
June 9th, 2008 at 2:25 am
Making fun of religion…how original…
June 9th, 2008 at 6:25 am
Hi Vanessa,
You said:
“God is infinite”
“We do not have the perceptions to actually perceive the infinite”
And yet when you say god is infinite you are defining something you claim humans cannot perceive. I’m assuming you are a human. The statements you made contradict themselves.
We have believers along the continuum of belief defining god while in the same breath claiming god cannot be defined by our feeble minds. We have the God-Is-The-Spirit-Of-The-Universe-Outside-Of-Yourself types and we have the Allah-Yahweh-Jesus’ Dad folks who believe very specific claims of their gods. It’s high time skeptics called them on this flawed logic. Either you can or you can’t define god. Can’t have it both ways. You don’t get a free pass because it is your belief. If you do or say funny things while upholding your beliefs and it is captured on film, well come now, folks are gonna laugh. As the lady in the movie trailer talking about riding of on the white horse at the end of times illustrates better than my mere words describe.
By the way atheists do not put science as their god. Science, unlike god, is testable, disprovable and applicable. Scientific hypothesis and theories are challenged and discarded when the evidence suggests otherwise. If religions have progressed over the centuries it is because religious superstition has been beaten back with the methods that science employs. These methods can be applied in every area of life. All of us look for cause and effect. You employ scientific methods when you seek to root out the cause of an illness or the source of funny sounds emanating from your car. Science doesn’t dictate it describes the natural phenomena around us.
Reason and proof is all we are advocating. Plain and simple really. Atheists are just as in awe of the universe as the next guy. We just lack the compulsion to bow down to it.
June 9th, 2008 at 6:54 am
Looks awesome! I’m always pro-anti religion.. er… ya!
I’ll probably DL this movie, sorry I’m so poor, even though I work hard, that I can only afford to see one theater movie a year. (Thanks Bush!)
June 9th, 2008 at 9:27 am
@InTheSkyGirl
Hmm…testable, provable? you do know that the tests and their results are limited by our rudimentary means to conduct and perceive them?
and, if you’re such a fan of science, you must know a little math. as i understand it, there are an indefinite, possibly an infinite, number of ways of defining infinity - an infinite number of infinites. in my mind, this extends beyond reason. the semantics and logic are potentially accessible to our reasoning bits, and at best we can point at a series of variables, numbers, and operators showing how we’ve given an infinity that is greater than the last.
but the reality of it? the nature of infinity? how can we adequately describe the nature of this ubiquitous phenomenon, let alone perceive and comprehend it?
June 9th, 2008 at 10:36 am
I can just see the news media showing people protest this film…and by doing that only helping promote this movie.im going to see it for sure . Bill maher thank you for this ..we nned more movies like this .
June 9th, 2008 at 10:56 am
“Atheism is a non-prophet organization”
-George Carlin
June 9th, 2008 at 11:25 am
Hello joelford,
A slight correction on your summation of my earlier points. I said that science, unlike religion or god was DISprovable (among other things). Religion makes claims that by definition are outside of the realm of perception - outside of the realm of testing. So what do we have? What we have is that religion boils down to authority from personal revelation. In that case everyone can be a self-anointed messiah. Everybody’s belief is just as good as the next. How you chose to define belief is, well, entirely up to you. And here’s where the fun begins.
Yes you are right that we are limited to our rudimentary means of conducting and perceiving what we postulate and test. But my, look how far we’ve come in spite of these limitations! Consider that we could not engage in this exchange of ideas in this manner without the application of tested theories and hypothesis. Think about the advances in medicine and space exploration. If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work. Theory is scraped and scientists keep looking. It’s a good thing to.
We can argue for days on ‘do we exist’ questions and ‘if so how do we know’ follow-up questions. But we have to deal with the facts. We have to deal with what can be tested.
In saying god is infinite, the writer was defining the parameters of the word infinite. Her god is the universe or nature the unity of mankind perhaps. Her god fits certain parameters. The Christian his, the Moslem his.
Yes, I’ll admit, I am a fan of science (although I’m no scientist to be sure). I think we should give credit where credit is due. And the gods, with all of their amorphous definitions, have to prove their claims before acheving the respect they and their adherents demand.
June 9th, 2008 at 11:57 am
WANT.
I’m so gonna see this, then buy the DVD.
no, I’m not spam, I wanted to make this movie myself–Thanks, Bill, for saving me the time and effort.
June 10th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
@ InTheSkyGirl
I appreciate your well-worded response to my post, but find it amusing that you miss my point entirely - which was about the inherent problems in absolute adherence to a doctrine of any kind. Any information system designed to control large segments of the population is potentially a very bad thing, which concerns me in this day and age.
Instead you choose to argue the semantics and syntactical choices I made to express my concerns, not what I was actually saying, which is exactly what is wrong with your world view, and actually adds an interesting new dimension to my original point. Thank you.
Everyone is in love with their own opinions and beliefs. Humans are competitive and therefore look to be a clear winner by having a clear loser to point the finger at. We’re competing right now.
InTheSkyGirl, I take the position that I CAN AND DO have it both ways - I can both believe in god and not quantify it. That is the true beauty in the mystery. And because I believe in a universal god force, because I allow for that connection, the magic that comes with it exists in my life. If that statement equates me in your mind to the woman riding the white horse to the rapture, that’s cool, but know that you are taking the easy road and ignoring a lot of data in the process in order to maintain your limited world view, much like the fundamentalists featured in Bills film.
Skygirl @ joelford
The point that he made is the perfect response: some things are indefinable as per the current application of the scientific method. Infinity cannot be truly quantified… that’s proven. Therefore, if god is infinite, god cannot be quantified. It’s a beautiful mystery and also completely logical.
Try this one on for size: Science is an extension of religion, a way to codify and make sense of the world around us. When natural phenomenon where frightening and mysterious, the gods were the cause. Now we know how to scientifically explain their origins, which makes us feel safe and secure in the boggling complexity of it all. But there is still so much more to know, so much mystery. So much potential science OUTSIDE of the science that has already been hypothesized and tested into reality. Science is going to contiune to make discoveries… infinitely.
Theories, such as the one about gravity, are believed with every fibre of the being until another theory swallows it or disproves it. For atheists I think it is safe to say that in the absence of a belief in the mystery and magic of the universe, super-science outside of what has already been safely codified, an atheist’s ‘faith’ is bound in science.
Looking at it that way, one might be able to imagine what Galileo felt like when being grilled by men who were so sure that their perfect knowledge of the universe trumped whatever new information he was bringing to the table.
I think that one day science will discover god, in some way. In fact, I have a lot of faith that it will. Read up on your quantum physics and you may find that it already has. :)
If intelligent/funny fiction is more your bag, read “Calculating God” by Robert J Sawyer.
June 11th, 2008 at 6:49 am
Jesus Fucking Christ I can’t wait for this movie!
June 12th, 2008 at 12:05 am
Sheesh– I hope someone with more time than I do responds to Vanessa Shaver’s last nonsense post. So much illogical, new-agey “thinking” makes me wanna hurl. Is there a logician in the house?
June 12th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
Bill Maher is a frickin’ genius who gets all the respect in the world from me. SOMEONE needs to get this subject into the limelight, and I think humor is the best way to do it. I have no doubt that in time (perhaps a very long time), all of humanity (or what is left of it), will look back at these stupid times and say, ‘wow, I can’t believe how wrong we were’. I don’t know how we’ll explain to our great-great-great grandchildren how most of the world believed in God(s) and chose to follow the tenants of [insert your religion here], even when it was against ALL rational thought, science (gasp!), and plain old common sense. When you believe in something you cannot prove, that’s irrational. When you believe in something you cannot prove, live your life by it, and condemn others because of it, that’s not just irrational. It’s dangerous. And dangerous people need to be smited before they go and, oh, I don’t know, start wars and get us all blown up. It’s not hateful or rude to confront religious people about their irrational and potentially dangerous ways. It’s the moral thing to do, the right thing to do.
June 16th, 2008 at 8:06 am
If ufos exist and they defy the laws of physics and disappear and appear beyond our understanding why cant God a creator exist? Ive seen spirits and ghost…. and believe me there is a life after death. Im open to anything but i strongly believe there is a spiritual world. My aunt has a virgin mary statue in here house and her house is said to be haunted and one day she came home and the virgin mary statue was missing her arms they were on the floor next to her but the statue was still standing. She dosnt know how that happened she lives alone. that freaky theres good and evil amoung humanity and spirituality…..
June 16th, 2008 at 8:15 am
oh and the myans believe the world will end in Dec. 21 2012 just like Nostradamus, the A Ching Chinas ancient text, the jews, the muslims, St. Malachy who perdicts that after pope benidect there will be one more pope who will reign . … and all these ufo sightings that have been going on latley like in the days of noah these beings took the sons of men and created a hybrid called the Nephilim…… the NWO getting together and planing to implant computer chips on the population and make it a cash less society…
in 2009 congress will implement the Real ID card your lossing your liberties and all of this is written in the apocalpyse so i think its true.
June 16th, 2008 at 8:23 am
If God dosnt exist. Good and evil dosnt exist… Humanity would be free to choose there way. my bad could be good your good could be my bad…. so murder rape abortion incest torture pornography racism is not good nor bad because no higher entity is not there to set boundrys for humanity…. if you are an accident NO BODY CAN TELL YOU WHAT IS BAD…… Racism is ok then…. come on think about it… it make sense….. we would all be savages literally….
June 16th, 2008 at 10:01 am
Hello Skylights,
I am no logician just a lowly bookkeeper, but like one of the former U.S. presidents used to say, “I feel your pain”. I should’ve known better than to start the conversation I guess, but the new-agey definition of god bothers me too. How many times have you heard someone say something like, “God is LOVE!” ? You check out their holy books and boy, does that LOVE definition get stretched pretty thin. It manages to cover all manner of divine, and divinely inspired bad behavior.
And that in a nutshell, was the point of my original post. The word ‘love’ loses its meaning when attached to the word like ‘god’. Just as the words ‘universe’ or ‘infinity’ become corrupted when you go around calling them ‘god’.
You don’t have to be a scientist to reject supernatural claims, nor does one need to deify something as a stand-in for Yahweh, Jehovah or Allah. My god is not science. I worship nothing but the wonder of life itself - if you can call it worship. I will enjoy my life while it lasts and seek to leave the world a better place than I found it. Accepting that that this is the only life I will get, I suppose that this life is all that there is for others too. So I am moved to lessen the suffering that I encounter. Cultivating, hope, happiness and fairness are supremely important to me. If that qualifies as a world view then, well, I guess that’s it. No god necessary, needed or required.
Let’s get the word out about this film. I hope that it does exceptionally well.
Best Regards
June 16th, 2008 at 10:16 am
I just had to say,
Arms falling off statue as proof of something being out there……( cue the Close Encounters of the Thrid Kind music)
BAWAHAHAHHAHHAH! Stop it you’re killing me!
Wipes away tears. Goes back to balancing books.
July 1st, 2008 at 7:02 am
Amen! LOL I can’t wait to see this (I love the Santa Analogy!)
August 1st, 2008 at 10:23 pm
I saw the premiere. As a Conservative I thought the movie was great. If you have an open mind you should see it.
August 6th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
They didn’t get kicked out the the theme park. In fact, one family looked right at the camera and said “You’re not going to Borat us, are ya?” Bill was high for most of the shoots.
August 19th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
I was just watching Bill Maher on Larry King. I was inspired to identify myself as one of the silent 16% of American non-believers. I am frankly tired of others trying to cajole and shame us away from our way of thinking.
Fellow Rationalists, Humanists, and non-believers need to be more vocal that we do exist, we are “good” and “moral” citizens, and we are a significant voting block. Way to go InTheSkyGirl! Great debating skills!
August 20th, 2008 at 2:14 am
I think Bill Maher is great.He seems like the only one with brains out there.God has never spoke to me and to the people saying their being spoke to,Its calling thinking to yourself.Cant wait to see the movie .It looks great.
August 20th, 2008 at 7:07 am
I just watched Bill Maher’s interview on Larry King last night about this documentary. The documentary clearly intends to make people who believe in God look unintelligent. I understand why people like to do this and it certainly will be provocative.
However, I felt that I could contribute something here on this point. There are many people who do believe in God and are intellectually honest, meaning they have thought through these issues before and found that their faith and their intellect are not in conflict. I am a scientist and a Christian - believe me, I have thought hard about my faith. Yet I still believe, and believe even more so after having studied and questioned faith in God. I am not alone as a “thinking” Christian. In fact, most Christians think a lot about their faith and have gone through a period of questioning. This is normal and considered healthy among Christians.
Anyone is free to say what they believe, to make a documentary about people of faith and call then “stupid”, but please be aware that this characterization is not representative. Thanks for reading this.
August 21st, 2008 at 10:08 am
vicki what do you mean? just because you claim to have ‘thought’ about your faith doesn’t make you intellectually honest.
instead try applying what is known in science, physics etc to the bible and see if it makes sense.
no self respecting, intellectually honest scientists would/could ever claim any of the ‘miraculous events’ occurred.
if you choose to put blinders on and say, “thats the definition of a miracle.”
then be prepared to be the epitome of inte