Thread: Religulous

Maybe I have grown a bit of a thick skin as I thought he dealt with his interviewees rather reasonably. His comedy on the other hand went a little over the top and his comments to the camera when he was not with the interviewee were really rude at points, but when actually dealing with them on point I thought he did ok.

I thought it was hilarious. Whether he mocks people or not... he's Bill Maher- that's what he does. I think that he does ask serious questions but gets frustrated when the answers he gets are just kind of ridiculous from a scientific standpoint. Let's face it, even theists ask and answer scientific questions like "what happens when you mix an acid and a base" with a meaningful answer. I think Maher was searching for meaningful answers that EVERYONE can agree with- and he didn't get those. Obviously you can't and shouldn't watch it thinking that he WON'T be a dick. There is a lot to be said about this movie depending on what side you watch it from, but I thought it was well put together and entertaining 'as a movie' in the end.

Thanks Mark!

Originally Posted by jockeys

so, a big thanks to bill maher for making people believe that atheists are childish and unreasonable

I haven't seen this film or even heard of it before, but I fear Jockey is right.

Having a laugh at how irrational religions are is one thing, but stretching this one joke out to fill an entire movie? Why bother? It's just insulting people for no good reason.

Any atheist worth his salt knows there are reasons why people follow religions and just accepts it. No point trying to "convert" them or point out flaws in their logic.

I've seen this film described as a comedy documentary. I suspect it fails on both counts, in the same way as a "docudrama" fails to be a factual documentary or a great drama.

I'll probably watch it when it's shown on satellite TV.

Originally Posted by Rajagra

I haven't seen this film or even heard of it before, but I fear Jockey is right.

Having a laugh at how irrational religions are is one thing, but stretching this one joke out to fill an entire movie? Why bother? It's just insulting people for no good reason.

Any atheist worth his salt knows there are reasons why people follow religions and just accepts it. No point trying to "convert" them or point out flaws in their logic.

I've seen this film described as a comedy documentary. I suspect it fails on both counts, in the same way as a "docudrama" fails to be a factual documentary or a great drama.

I'll probably watch it when it's shown on satellite TV.

I totally agree that RELIGIONS are irrational only because they are A WAY OF MAN TRYING TO MAKE HIMSELF RIGHT WITH GOD, but man cannot do this, it is God who accepts man and forgives him if he will only believe.

Also the atheist have flaws in their thinking, because in order to say there IS NO GOD they whould have to be the essence of what or who theist say God is. {All Knowing, All Powerful, & All Places at All Times}

Not wanting to start argument, just a private opinion.


point out flaws in their logic.


COULD YOU PLEASE POINT OUT ONE OR TWO FOR ME

Originally Posted by paco

point out flaws in their logic.
COULD YOU PLEASE POINT OUT ONE OR TWO FOR ME

I'd rather not, as I explained. It would be an exercise in futility and frustration for both of us.

But if you give me a logical reason to believe in God (other than simply wanting/needing to) I will listen.

Only, please ... no claims that the existence of a Creator explains an otherwise impossibly complex universe. The existence of a Creator would be an extra layer of complexity, not a simplification. Because no matter how complex or wonderful the universe is, any Creator must be at least as complex and wonderful, right? If a wonderfully complex universe can only exist by having a Creator, then the same argument applies to the Creator himself - he would need to have a Creator. So unless somebody proposes there is an infinite chain of Creators, this line of reasoning doesn't have any merit.

Oops. I seem to have pointed out an example of flawed religious logic after all. Sorry.

Originally Posted by Rajagra

If a wonderfully complex universe can only exist by having a Creator, then the same argument applies to the Creator himself - he would need to have a Creator. So unless somebody proposes there is an infinite chain of Creators, this line of reasoning doesn't have any merit.

Oops. I seem to have pointed out an example of flawed religious logic after all. Sorry.

First of all I agree that its not worth getting into a debate on here. I've heard that statement lots but wanted to point out that pretty much all the major religions believe God is inherently different from what he has created. Ie eternal, no beginning, no end, etc. Not understandable or comparable to anything we see (ie things which have beginnings and ends). You could say that was a cop out but then again even by your logic the creation is not as complex as the creator so will never be able to comprehend him.
I'm not saying this as an argument; just pointing out what most religions say.

I've not seen this movie nor do I plan to. My thoughts are that whatever helps an individual get through his or her day, be it beliefs, family, SRP, etc...and does not impose on someone else, or is illegal, is terrific.

Exploiting people for what they do or do not believe is ridiculous and simply makes people want to beat the hell out of you. I think it's odd how Billy points out in other shows I've seen him in how he is intellectually superior to others and we should all be happy that he's there to guide us. I do not look at people any different who are Jewish, Catholic, Atheist (sp), Muslim, etc...If they are decent people and treat others with respect than good for them, I hope good things happen to them.

Bill Maher, in my opinion, is not funny, he's a second rate assclown who when put on the spot by someone more intelligent than himself chooses to belittle them and use his access to the media to get the last word. He reminds me much of Michael Moore who, along with Billy, deserves a Brooklyn style beating in a rather public forum. Not for what they believe, this is America and you have the right to believe whatever you like, but for simply being di&*s!

I'm sure my views will differ from many and this was not meant to offend anyone, other than Billy or Michael, should they choose to join the forum, but simply express a thought that good people come in all shapes and sizes as well as colors, religons, jobs, etc..

I just saw this movie and i must say its entertaining and amusing.

I agree with many things he says, although I am "religious". But what this film shows is how uninformed and "cocooed" many religious people are, but we must question that he probably wanted these people in his film and not the more enlightened religious people.
That Vatican astronomer for example showed that he was religious but still not stupid and Maher actually was sympathetic to this man. I do not believe it is because someone is religious he is bad or stupid but rather how much he has really understood the meaning of his religion and of religion and faith in general.

One point Maher makes that I agree with him is when he says that the muslims do not recognize the "bad" parts of islam and the Koran, about infidels and holy war etc. He there says that they say so only to please an outsider. And to a large extent I agree with this observation. This is what I call "nice-islam", that infront of cameras muslims say no to these things and they claim for example that women and men are equals etc. While in reality it is not so.

When Maher talk of religion he also means religions that have scriptures, and I'm critical of these kinds of religion also as they are too segmented and the religious laws for example were written for a time and a place that does not correspond to today or tomorrow. Whereas religions that do not rely as heavily on scriptures are more adaptable and religious laws are subject to the social standards of the place and the time of today.

Back to the film..It has some inaccuracies and half truths that are often there to prove Mahers point.

I lastly want to say that many atheists that have made films such as this one, like that brittish fella (forgot his name), often claim that religions are intollerant and make a point out of that. But in the same time they themselves are quite intollerant and demeaning towards religious people.
But I must say I was quite entertained and amused by this film, so not bad to watch.

Originally Posted by Rawaz

One point Maher makes that I agree with him is when he says that the muslims do not recognize the "bad" parts of islam and the Koran, about infidels and holy war etc. He there says that they say so only to please an outsider. And to a large extent I agree with this observation. This is what I call "nice-islam", that infront of cameras muslims say no to these things and they claim for example that women and men are equals etc. While in reality it is not so.

Oh dear, debate time...
Most religions use violence for defence (as do all governments). Muslims, Chrisitians, and Jews have all had their fair share of holy wars. This whole violence for the sake of violence, kill the infidels talk etc. is just pure hype. You should check out the response to Wilders fitna video (on youtube) just to see how misinformed it really is. As for the whole womens rights issue; you cannot look at extremists like the taliban and say "oh this is Islam" any more than you can look at the Westboro Baptist Church and say they are the epitome of being Christian.
I'll stop now since I really don't want to get into a religious debate in a place I come to relax

Originally Posted by MisterZadir

Oh dear, debate time...
Most religions use violence for defence (as do all governments). Muslims, Chrisitians, and Jews have all had their fair share of holy wars. This whole violence for the sake of violence, kill the infidels talk etc. is just pure hype. You should check out the response to Wilders fitna video (on youtube) just to see how misinformed it really is. As for the whole womens rights issue; you cannot look at extremists like the taliban and say "oh this is Islam" any more than you can look at the Westboro Baptist Church and say they are the epitome of being Christian.
I'll stop now since I really don't want to get into a religious debate in a place I come to relax

I agree totally with you on this, but what I'm talking about is not that violence occurs for political reasons rather than religious. Even though for instance the Koran legitimises violence etc. What I'm talking about is that many of these figures say something to an outsider while within the Muslim community he says or acts something else, basically this is hypocrisy. And that is what I dislike.
About women's rights I do not look at the Taliban as an example here, but generally within Islam. For example according to the Sharia (Islamic law) a testimony of a woman or a non-Muslim is not equal to that of a Muslim man. As you say I do not wish to engage a debate about this at this point, but this was an example.
Hope I made things clear rather than stir things up again