Religulous, a refreshing movie.
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Religulous, a refreshing movie.
Man, I am dying to see this movie!
I can't wait to see it!
V/r,
Scott
Anything that mocks religious conventions is fine by me.
It's really good, it questions peoples irrational beliefs in religion, even though the majority are very rational in the rest of their life. It's not mean spirited, but it is funny. Do go see it, it worth it.
why are you trying to stir up a heated conversation? Do you really like throwing rocks at a wasps' nest?Quote:
Originally Posted by Hutch
Matt
I've seen the previews....looks funny. From what I've seen of the previews, he lets people of all kinds of religions explain their views, without making any judgements....he gives them the rope and they do the rest to themselves.
As for the people who may get upset, I was taught as a kid that if you allow criticism of your beliefs (any beliefs - religious, political, ethical) to upset you or you cannot defend your beliefs in debate, then you should take sometime to reflect on those beliefs and how you have incorporated them into your life.
My brother and his family joined a fundamentalist Protestant church. In a discussion about it, I asked him why he joined: because he found his faith strengthened and the Christ's presence became greater in his life or because his friends had joined or so he could tell everyone he belonged or some other reason unrelated to the communion between the mundane and the Divine? A long silence followed.
My Grandmother was a Southern Baptist and nothing could shake her faith - death, illness, financial problems, whatever. In the face of any criticism, she would simply say that it was their belief and she would pray for them. There was no right or wrong.
I think that people who follow a religion simply to "go along" with family, community, region, etc. but do not have a detailed understanding of the origins of the faith are missing out on so much of the wonder, mystery, historic significance, art, music, literature, and - in many cases - a large portion of their cultural identity.
Are we talking nests where the black and yellow flying insects live or the white anglo saxon protestants?Quote:
Originally Posted by mhailey
So now we shouldn't discuss movies?
It's a simple discussion of a main stream film. If you have a problem with that I suggest you don't bother with the thread.
If you don't like Bill Maher, two simple things, don't go to the movie and stay out of the thread regarding Bill Maher, then you won't be offended.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hutch
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hutch
Did you not notice that no comment was made to your original post, which was entirely about the movie. However, when you assert, and assume, that every person's belief in religion is "irrational" then you areattempting to incite a riot, and you know it. DO not try and hide behind some innocent attempt that your second comment was to forward a simple discussion about a movie. You are trying to inflame this thread with your second post, when no one took the bait on your first.
Matt
Have you seen the movie? That is what its about. My post says "people's", not "all peoples'", which of course you have read that into my post. That is the opinion that the movie makes and one which I agree with.
Have you been "audited" for "thetans"? That is one of the things discussed in the movie. As well as Jonah wasn't swallowed by a whale but a big fish, that makes the story much more plausible. Are you wearing your magic underwear?
So if you haven't seen it you don't have a clue what I'm talking about.
If you choose to get upset about something that you know nothing about, that is your prerogative.
The only person stirring up trouble is you.
Hutch,Quote:
Originally Posted by Hutch
If you wanted to describe the movie, without trying to cause a confrontation, you would have stated that the movie challenges a person's belief in their religion, and left it at that. You should have done without the offensive adjective describing such belief. Instead, you assert that all religious beliefs are irrational, and thereby insulted every person who believes in any religion.
Whether you state "people" or all people, it means the same thing. A dictionary is your friend. Peoples is defined as ": a body of persons that are united by a common culture, tradition, or sense of kinship, that typically have common language, institutions, and beliefs, and that often constitute a politically organized group" Merriam-Webster. You separated out religious people, and stated that their beliefs are irrational. Whether you say "all religious people" or simply "religious people" it means the same thing.
I will not discuss religion with you. However I will call you out when you insult people.
Matt
Matt,
You seem to be looking for a fight here. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and everyone is entitled to express their opinion. You seem to have read a lot into the word "irational" used by Hutch. While this may have been a poor choice when considering the reactions of others, there is no reason to become so irritated. It's a word.
-back on topic-
The reason I want to see this movie is to understand why some people base their beliefs blindly on what they are told, as well as to see what happens when they are caught with beliefs that oppose their own. I grew up in a very religous area and had to deal with "mob" religion while I grew up. [By mob I mean blind following of a pushed mentality]
Whatever.
I said what I said and I meant every word in the context that it was written. If some people want to take it out of context have at it.
I have read and re-read this thread and I son't see where anyone said anything about "all religious beliefs". What I did read implied that some religious beliefs are irrational; and there is a film out that pokes fun at those irrational beliefs.Quote:
Originally Posted by mhailey
Matt, do you agree that some people may have some beliefs that may be considered irrational? How about those snake wiggling poison drinking folks? How about people who worship Satan? Are all religious beliefs rational? Obviously, the rationality of any concept is purely subjective. For some, any faith in any supreme being is irrational. Perhaps you disagree but to take it personally is, in my opinion, unwarranted frustration. Why would you care what others think?
Brad
Most easily accomplished with the "report post" button.Quote:
Originally Posted by mhailey
Keep it on civil, keep it on topic.
As I said...you can only be insulted if you allow yourself to be.
:OTQuote:
Originally Posted by WireBeard
Another quote from Mr. Lincoln I enjoy is "We should be too big to take offense and too noble to give it"
Sorry, just read that...Quote:
Originally Posted by sensei_kyle
Anyway, I haven't seen the film and doubt I will. I haven't cared much for the entertainment I've seen from Bill Maher, and I don't watch many films anyway. If it's really short and shows on television at some point, I'll take a look :)
Apparently the movie is about religion. This discussion is about the movie. Hence people will explain why they like it or don't, or why they want to see it or don't.Quote:
Originally Posted by mhailey
Please don't use this thread to start a discussion on religion.
If you feel like debating other peoples views on religion, do it in the recen religion thread, or perhaps start a new thread.
Let the discussion go back to the movie and why peopl like it or not.
But don't take over this thread which is about the movie and what people think of it.
Added to "the list of possibles". Wonder if its going to hit the streets of Denmark, prefer to pay people for their work when I can.
Bruno,Quote:
Originally Posted by mhailey
Maybe you did not see this.
I have no interest in seeing this movie. The premise sounds predictable and uninteresting; film those who believe in the ethereal which can't be defined or identified with human logic or means, from a logical point of view all the while snickering in self proclaimed certainty that human logic is universally and utterly superior to anything else. Nah, I'll skip the pomposity.
Chris L
I can't wait to see "W". Its like a liberal film festival.:y
Almost anything Hollywood is liberal!Quote:
Originally Posted by Hutch
Ah so it's a michael moore style film?
In that case I think I'll skip. I thought it was something along the lines of 'Dogma' or perhaps 'Life of Brian'.
No, it looks like it's one of these 'preaching to the choir' type of movies. There are many, many others that I'll see before this one, but then I skip on practically every mainstream movie.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bruno
Just like "American Carol" I don't think "Religulous" is mainstream.Quote:
Originally Posted by gugi
I do not think so. It isn't "politically" based and the point is to be more of a comedy than an inward journey. Two quotes relating to the film (the first is from Maher himself):Quote:
Originally Posted by Bruno
"Religious people look at me as you might look upon a retarded child," Bill Maher adds, quoting them, "'He's unenlightened. He needs to be saved. He needs to be cured.' I respect all human beings and I would like them to see my version of enlightenment. And mostly I want them to laugh."
"It's a film that's destined to make a lot of people mad, but Maher, for all his showy atheistic 'doubt,' isn't just trying to crucify religion — he truly wants to know what makes it tick. He leaves no stone tablet unturned."
I for one look at Maher as more of a comedian than anything else. He is kind of similar to George Carlin in my mind. I cannot wait to see this movie, hopefully today (after I go to bed and wake up again lol). If you are one with deep religious beliefs and go into it expecting to be insulted then that is how you will likely walk away from it. If you go in with an open mind and expect to laugh... well, you get the point.
They are as mainstream as Borat, but I'm hard to please. Last movie I saw in the theaters was the latest Woody Allen one - "Vicky, Christina, Barcelona" - now, that I found very entertaining and really enjoyed it.Quote:
Originally Posted by JMS
If mainstream means more people like it, then all the better imo. Then at least there's a chance that the one you're watching it with might like it. And not just wondering if the time saved on a 13 second, no sound short movie by some Croatian guy was really worth the hours of talking about same said movie afterwards - and if she will ever put out.
But really, as I see it, there's different reasons for watching movies (1hour + video streams). Personally I don't do it to learn - there are better ways for me to do as such in most cases. I usually do it to be entertained either by the movie itself, the person(s) I'm there with or in the aftermath that follows.
If the subject of the movie is overly critical to the thought or beliefs that a person might have, I think it's a somewhat common reaction to dislike or dismiss it. But I always found it odd that people would use words such as pompous, snobby, self-righteous, ect. about a movie or other media for that matter without having experienced it themselves. I don't like using words of that degree based on someone else's review. In my mind all it would do is apply those very same adjectives to myself.
Except An American Carol.Quote:
Originally Posted by JMS
That's yet to be seen, at least by me!;)Quote:
Originally Posted by icedog
this mixing issues of religion and entertainment is not new but has been around forever. here is one of my favorite comic pieces from a time gone by. I offer this as look at how this time of thing has always been around and not to offer offense to anyone.
YouTube - "It's in the Book" - Johnny Standley
the speaker sounds like kennith hagin!
Back on topic...
I saw Religulous today. Amazing movie in my opinion. It was a quest of sorts for Bill Maher. I'm not going to say it wasn't slanted towards putting down religion, because of course Maher will have his own opinions (which he does make clear). I do think though that he needed no help putting this "slant" on religion in the film because the hypocritical nature of ALL religions explored did it themselves. He mainly explores christianity, islam, judaism, and scientology and well as some small unknowns. His thought process in coming to his own realizations seemed very familiar to me.
It is a comedy. It is offensive (to some). It is thought provoking. It is well done. It is sensible. I will buy it when it is released. He makes very interesting points (as do others in the film sometimes) that deserve watching. He is obviously studied in many religions and their beliefs/practices.
Bottom line: I was thinking originally I would post saying if you are easily offended, then don't watch this film. Now though, I think that those are the people who NEED to see this most. Towards the end of the movie it does come to a point. I won't say what it comes down to, but I will say that Maher's ending monologue has a very important, almost political (non-slanted) message. It was amazing.
Thank you for reviewing the movie Sir!
Hopefully Bill Maher will also do surprise interviews of quack doctors and then conclude that modern medicine and hospitals are a waste of time.
Wait a second. Bill Maher's conclusion is "Religion must die if the world is to survive"
Where'd that come from?
There's the old rant about "so many wars have been fought about religion..."
Can somebody please name a few of these, that actually were about/because of religious belief, and not actually due to regular political/socio-economic agendas?
Let's take a look at some secular, Godless, human ideology examples of mass violence:
Mao Tze Tung and his cultural revolution: ~500,000 killed
Stalin and his great purge: ~2 million killed
Abortion: 1.3 million lives lost annually, 46 million since Roe vs. Wade and that's just in the U.S.
You tell me who is more dangerous- a person who believes in God, and at least tries to live acording to those tenents, or someone who doesn't?
Yeah, it's a damn good thing too.Quote:
Originally Posted by Seraphim
By the way, did you SEE the movie? If not, I suggest you do so to help us all.
P.S.- Have you heard of Northern Ireland? Maybe you saw when a couple planes crashed into the WTC? I'm not even thinking about religious conflicts and they just keep popping into my head. Go tell 6 million Jews that religion had nothing to do with the holocaust.
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Originally Posted by Philadelph
What I'm getting at is that it's one thing to say that some religious believers are a bit kooky,poke some fun at them. It's quite another to draw the conclusion that they are therefore a major threat to humankind.
Have you actually READ the Bible?
Yes sir, cover to cover. I used to be a practicing Catholic with a lot of blind faith. Thank science I stopped that a while ago!Quote:
Originally Posted by Seraphim