Thread: Religulous

Just saw this and found it really random. Like he goes from Christianity, to drugs, to Islam, to science, and in the middle of it all there is something about the Israel/Palestine issue and Iran, and you think he'll elaborate but instead the film changes direction again! but without any real answers or logical interviews.
Did anyone else find the actual cuts quite odd? In one of the interviews you could see that the response was cut and edited from different parts. All in the name of humour I guess. Anyway apart from him laughing at religion and trying to look clever I found no real substance to the film. Was hoping for much better. Just my 2p.

i checked it out, and he does make a few decent points, but mostly, it seems, as an unintended side effect of mockery. i mean, don't get me wrong, i'm an atheist and i agree with the point he's trying to make, but i found the way he made it to be less polemic and more acerbic. guess there's plenty of douchebags on both sides of the argument, and that's always been true, but i guess i was a little disappointed to see maher filming himself being a dick to people because it makes my side of the argument seem less credible.

so, a big thanks to bill maher for making people believe that atheists are childish and unreasonable just like theists. way to go, asshole.

Not a fan here, but one point really jumped out at me, Non-religious people make up 16% of the US population???
Way more than any other special interest group out there????
OH man we need a better lobby group....

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..