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SallyMargie
Guest
Yes, these people need our pity and our prayers to get out of their darkness. They are wasting their lives, and have no clue. It must be SO empty where they ‘are.’
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a_cermak
Guest
I went to see it and enjoyed the movie. It’s being shown in a number of theatres in the Chicagoland area. I caught it at Yorktown. The place was packed.
In truth, I thought the Catholic Church came off as better than many of the other faiths. They had the Vatican astronomer who explained that the Bible is not a science text, he explained that all the Christian scriptures came from the period from 2000 years BCE to 100 CE and that modern science begins with the age of Galileo (1500-1600-ish CE) and that therefore the Scriptures do not teach us of science. The priest he got to talk to in front of the Vatican, was pretty good at explaining the rationalist wing of Catholicism. My partner’s comment is that that was the Catholic Church he remembered, a rational faith that didn’t war with reason but used reason.
What’s wrong with comparing the Jesus impersonator to an Elvis impersonator? It’s the same thing. I was just disappointed he didn’t have any footage of the guys in the Philippines who literally crucify themselves on the Friday prior to Easter (not 'till death just for like an hour or two). I find that just weird. Passion plays are definitely weird too.
All of the electronic and pneumatic gadgets to survive the Sabbath and keep to the literal Law were also hysterical. They showed the severe form of legalism that can overtake the spirit of Judaism.
The Creation Museum cries to heaven to be mocked, ridiculed and otherwise made fun of. It’s one thing to believe in something unknowable, it’s quite another to believe in something disproven by several branches of Science. They have the right to their beliefs. I have the right to mock them.
Islam got skewered among other things the rapper with the Suicide bomber raps who insists he has the right to dissent in Great Britain had a hard time explaining why Salman Rushdie does not have the right to dissent against the mullahs.
In truth, I thought the Catholic Church came off as better than many of the other faiths. They had the Vatican astronomer who explained that the Bible is not a science text, he explained that all the Christian scriptures came from the period from 2000 years BCE to 100 CE and that modern science begins with the age of Galileo (1500-1600-ish CE) and that therefore the Scriptures do not teach us of science. The priest he got to talk to in front of the Vatican, was pretty good at explaining the rationalist wing of Catholicism. My partner’s comment is that that was the Catholic Church he remembered, a rational faith that didn’t war with reason but used reason.
What’s wrong with comparing the Jesus impersonator to an Elvis impersonator? It’s the same thing. I was just disappointed he didn’t have any footage of the guys in the Philippines who literally crucify themselves on the Friday prior to Easter (not 'till death just for like an hour or two). I find that just weird. Passion plays are definitely weird too.
All of the electronic and pneumatic gadgets to survive the Sabbath and keep to the literal Law were also hysterical. They showed the severe form of legalism that can overtake the spirit of Judaism.
The Creation Museum cries to heaven to be mocked, ridiculed and otherwise made fun of. It’s one thing to believe in something unknowable, it’s quite another to believe in something disproven by several branches of Science. They have the right to their beliefs. I have the right to mock them.
Islam got skewered among other things the rapper with the Suicide bomber raps who insists he has the right to dissent in Great Britain had a hard time explaining why Salman Rushdie does not have the right to dissent against the mullahs.
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SallyMargie
Guest
The problem with such movies are that they can feed bigotry in those who are already spiritually ‘lost.’ They never show the ‘true’ religion; it’s almost always a cheap imitation, totally misrepresenting the true faith, and they drag Our Creator down to the level of our weak spirits, or even down lower.
I would never again go to any such movie, as by attending it, it gives the impression I approve of bigotry and support hatred and bias against Christians.
I don’t honestly think these people know that one day they will appear before God (as we all will) and explain our choices. Can you see someone like Bill Maher saying something like “Well, gee Lord–I was just having a little fun mocking You.” Get the picture? Such people have no clue. They will be the big losers in the end and should be pitied. Most of all they need our prayers that they begin to see the light. Sometimes the ones who are most ‘lost’ turn out later to become very saintly. Cool!
I would never again go to any such movie, as by attending it, it gives the impression I approve of bigotry and support hatred and bias against Christians.
I don’t honestly think these people know that one day they will appear before God (as we all will) and explain our choices. Can you see someone like Bill Maher saying something like “Well, gee Lord–I was just having a little fun mocking You.” Get the picture? Such people have no clue. They will be the big losers in the end and should be pitied. Most of all they need our prayers that they begin to see the light. Sometimes the ones who are most ‘lost’ turn out later to become very saintly. Cool!
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a_cermak
Guest
I don’t believe I would choose to believe in or follow a Being that was so shallow that he would punish non-believers or even those who mock religion. Certainly I’ve seen far more negative opinions in my culture toward those with no faith than I’ve seen toward those with faith. People without faith are not lost. They may be seeking or they maybe perfectly happy in their non-belief. Statistically, the numbers of the non-affiliated are growing, which indicates that religious faith may have lost some of its cachet.
By the way Maher’s family left the Catholic faith when he was 13. They left because of the birth control teaching.
By the way Maher’s family left the Catholic faith when he was 13. They left because of the birth control teaching.
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SallyMargie
Guest
As for your comments “people without faith are not lost”: it depends. Some may be totally ignorant of religion and not know enough to search. Others reject God and do not follow Him in an arrogant “I don’t need God” manner. They ARE lost, and it is they I am speaking of. If they don’t amend their lives, they will be lost for eternity.
As for “the number of the nonaffiliated are growing” it is difficult to tell, since many conversions are quiet conversions. Look at the biased media. They hate Christians, particularly Catholics, and attack whenever they can. Do you think anyone converting to Catholicism would make a news story? We should also remember we live in dark times and there is much persecution. There are also many weak people who are too lazy to engage in religion and prefer themselves to be ‘gods.’ They are more interested in American Idol than the Lord. Again, more lost people who wonder why they are not happy with their lives. (HELLO! They need the Lord for fulfillment.)
Anyone who leaves the Church because of Its opposition to artificial contraception is ignorant. The Pope back in 1930 predicted that the Protestants who caved in and allowed contraception led the way for 1) abortion, 2) disrespect for women, 3) more divorces. He was exactly right on all 3!!
I will not be posting anymore today since I will be gone for the evening.
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a_cermak
Guest
I fail to see where I have attacked Catholicism. I simply expressed my opinion, which is what open fora are for. In truth, I have nothing against Catholicism, I was Catholic for 20 years and have nothing but fond memories of most of it.
Truthfully, I may have more absolute knowledge of Catholicism than you do. I simply reject it as my faith, but I have no problem if others follow it.
I do reject the stream of Catholicism I sometimes find that is legalistic to a fault, fundamentalist, and unkind. That form of Catholicism is very different from the one I remember fondly.
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narrowpath
Guest
I recently saw the new Bill Maher film, and was wondering what your thoughts were on it. It’s disgusting how some “christians” take their congregations money and spend it for themselves. But I thought that Maher was very unfair to ‘the other side’. He makes eligious people look like complete idiots (almost certainly one of the main reasons for the film. Your opinions appreciated.
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PhilVaz
Guest
I’ve seen it twice now. I still give it 3 out of 5 stars. Two major themes appeared to be: Doubt vs. Certainty, and how “End Times” beliefs may lead to a nuclear holocaust. It wasn’t all bad since he did try to interview a couple “reasonable” folks. The religions and religious people interviewed include:
Catholics
(Fr. George Coyne; some renegade “Vatican priest”; also Bill Maher discusses his own family growing up)
Protestant evangelicals / fundamentalists
(scientist Francis Collins; trucker drivers at a roadside “Truckers Church”; one of the “Jews for Jesus”; an ex-gay ministry; a Congressman from Arkansas; Ken Ham of Answers In Genesis and “Creation Museum”; “Jesus” and tourists at the Orlando FL “Holy Land” park)
Judaism
(some orthodox Jews; one rabbi who doesn’t support Israel and denies the holocaust I think; one rabbi who tries with scientific gadgets to get around the OT laws about resting on the Sabbath; clips of Joe Lieberman on Larry King Live);
Muslims
(one or two “peaceful” Muslims who say “Islam” means “peace”; two gay Muslims at a bar; shows various images of radical Islam and terrorism, etc)
Mormons
(was kicked off Temple grounds, but interviews with two ex-Mormons)
Very Fringe religions
(Miranda "Jesus" who claims to be the direct literal descendant of Jesus Christ i.e. who was “married” a la “Da Vinci Code” bogus “bloodline” thing; Cannabis Church pot-smoker in the Netherlands; and Bill Maher pokes fun at Scientology at Hyde Park in NY)
Bill Maher takes the “I Don’t Know” (agnostic) viewpoint since he says it is the more “humble” approach as opposed to those of us who are “certain” about our religion (and supposedly never entertain any “doubts”) and cannot answer Bill’s “tough” questions, such as:
(1) questions on the “Virgin Birth” (or wrongly called “immaculate conception” which was brought up at the Trucker’s Church)
(2) “If you are certain you will go to heaven when you die, why don’t you kill yourself?”
(3) various questions on the classic problem of evil
(4) how religion is supposedly dangerous and led to all or many wars (see Anglican theologian-philosopher Keith Ward’s reply Is Religion Dangerous?)
(5) how Christianity was pagan copied from various Greco-Roman mystery religions, the old Jesus = Horus thing
(6) How the Gospels are not reliable biographies (see Burridge What Are the Gospels? A Comparison with Graeco-Roman Biography or Blomberg’s recently updated Historical Reliability of the Gospels)
His critiques of Mormonism, Scientology, and some of the other more “fringe” sects and kooks I wholeheartily agree with. However, he could have interviewed more Christian scholars such as Peter Kreeft or William Lane Craig.
Of course that wouldn’t have made a very good “mockumentary” of religion now would it? 
Phil P
Catholics
(Fr. George Coyne; some renegade “Vatican priest”; also Bill Maher discusses his own family growing up)
Protestant evangelicals / fundamentalists
(scientist Francis Collins; trucker drivers at a roadside “Truckers Church”; one of the “Jews for Jesus”; an ex-gay ministry; a Congressman from Arkansas; Ken Ham of Answers In Genesis and “Creation Museum”; “Jesus” and tourists at the Orlando FL “Holy Land” park)
Judaism
(some orthodox Jews; one rabbi who doesn’t support Israel and denies the holocaust I think; one rabbi who tries with scientific gadgets to get around the OT laws about resting on the Sabbath; clips of Joe Lieberman on Larry King Live);
Muslims
(one or two “peaceful” Muslims who say “Islam” means “peace”; two gay Muslims at a bar; shows various images of radical Islam and terrorism, etc)
Mormons
(was kicked off Temple grounds, but interviews with two ex-Mormons)
Very Fringe religions
(Miranda "Jesus" who claims to be the direct literal descendant of Jesus Christ i.e. who was “married” a la “Da Vinci Code” bogus “bloodline” thing; Cannabis Church pot-smoker in the Netherlands; and Bill Maher pokes fun at Scientology at Hyde Park in NY)
Bill Maher takes the “I Don’t Know” (agnostic) viewpoint since he says it is the more “humble” approach as opposed to those of us who are “certain” about our religion (and supposedly never entertain any “doubts”) and cannot answer Bill’s “tough” questions, such as:
(1) questions on the “Virgin Birth” (or wrongly called “immaculate conception” which was brought up at the Trucker’s Church)
(2) “If you are certain you will go to heaven when you die, why don’t you kill yourself?”
(3) various questions on the classic problem of evil
(4) how religion is supposedly dangerous and led to all or many wars (see Anglican theologian-philosopher Keith Ward’s reply Is Religion Dangerous?)
(5) how Christianity was pagan copied from various Greco-Roman mystery religions, the old Jesus = Horus thing
(6) How the Gospels are not reliable biographies (see Burridge What Are the Gospels? A Comparison with Graeco-Roman Biography or Blomberg’s recently updated Historical Reliability of the Gospels)
His critiques of Mormonism, Scientology, and some of the other more “fringe” sects and kooks I wholeheartily agree with. However, he could have interviewed more Christian scholars such as Peter Kreeft or William Lane Craig.
Of course that wouldn’t have made a very good “mockumentary” of religion now would it? Phil P
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cranster
Guest
I think Bill unwittingly is going to cause many people throughout the world to pray for him. I’m going to entrust him to our Blessed Mother. Let’s all pray for his conversion.
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Newbie2
Guest
I haven’t seen the move and don’t intend to, but the same reaction to Mel Gibson’s version of the Passion, methinks, is likely to occur…that is if enough people actually see the film.
My guess is that it’ll have a short run at the box office and end up in the $5 DVD bin at WalMart in a few months.
My guess is that it’ll have a short run at the box office and end up in the $5 DVD bin at WalMart in a few months.
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Newbie2
Guest
I just looked at the trailer and a TV interview on the IMDB website.
Maher was all over the place in his interview. The point of the movie is to be funny…no, it’s about Sarah Palin shooting wolves from an airplane…we’ve had 8 years of religion based Bush administration…
He claims not to like the word “athiest” because it to him “mirrors the certainty of religion”. So…religion seems to be a threat to him. No surprise there. The response is to mock it.
Granted, there is a lot about the expression of “Religion” that could be considered wacky and there’s an audience for making fun of the zealots.
I think with Maher, though, there is a more deep-seated issue with religion than just poking fun at the whackos. That and an air of superiority of his own rationality.
I guess what bothers me about making such a movie is that premise that “let’s laugh at them”; comedy being teflon-coated and not subject to any limits of civility and good taste (not to mention that comedy has made Bill Maher extremely wealthy)…
Comedy being the only goal in itself, it’s an excuse for mocking deeply held values and beliefs of people, and there’s something wrong about that in my book.
Rant over.
Maher was all over the place in his interview. The point of the movie is to be funny…no, it’s about Sarah Palin shooting wolves from an airplane…we’ve had 8 years of religion based Bush administration…
He claims not to like the word “athiest” because it to him “mirrors the certainty of religion”. So…religion seems to be a threat to him. No surprise there. The response is to mock it.
Granted, there is a lot about the expression of “Religion” that could be considered wacky and there’s an audience for making fun of the zealots.
I think with Maher, though, there is a more deep-seated issue with religion than just poking fun at the whackos. That and an air of superiority of his own rationality.
I guess what bothers me about making such a movie is that premise that “let’s laugh at them”; comedy being teflon-coated and not subject to any limits of civility and good taste (not to mention that comedy has made Bill Maher extremely wealthy)…
Comedy being the only goal in itself, it’s an excuse for mocking deeply held values and beliefs of people, and there’s something wrong about that in my book.
Rant over.
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a_cermak
Guest
I liked the movie. PhilVaz, you forgot the Vatican Astronomer who explained that scripture does not teach science. I guess I’d put him in the Catholic column. It was well done of Maher to include him to show that not all Christians cling to the ridiculous notion of young earth creationism.
I see nothing wrong with mocking religion. We mock everything else. We mock political views, which some cling to just as tightly as others cling to their god(s).
And, frankly, the Creation Museum deserves to be mocked and soundly! It’s one thing to believe in the unknowable, but to believe in the disproven (by several branches of science) is just laughable.
He pointed out a lot of flaws in people’s embracing of their religion. For example, the extreme legalism that some Jews use to embrace technology in order to fit into the letter of the Law on the Sabbath, while clearly avoiding the spirit behind the Law. Or the Muslims who complain that they have a right to dissent but don’t allow that right for people who Mullahs have decreed should be killed (like Rushdie).
I see nothing wrong with mocking religion. We mock everything else. We mock political views, which some cling to just as tightly as others cling to their god(s).
And, frankly, the Creation Museum deserves to be mocked and soundly! It’s one thing to believe in the unknowable, but to believe in the disproven (by several branches of science) is just laughable.
He pointed out a lot of flaws in people’s embracing of their religion. For example, the extreme legalism that some Jews use to embrace technology in order to fit into the letter of the Law on the Sabbath, while clearly avoiding the spirit behind the Law. Or the Muslims who complain that they have a right to dissent but don’t allow that right for people who Mullahs have decreed should be killed (like Rushdie).
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PhilVaz
Guest
<< I liked the movie. PhilVaz, you forgot the Vatican Astronomer who explained that scripture does not teach science. I guess I’d put him in the Catholic column. It was well done of Maher to include him to show that not all Christians cling to the ridiculous notion of young earth creationism. >>
Fr. George Coyne! I remembered his name since I started the Wikipedia article on him in 2005!
The priest whose name I forgot was the “Vatican renegade” who laughed at Hell and the Trinity and the Gospels and such.
Phil P
Fr. George Coyne! I remembered his name since I started the Wikipedia article on him in 2005!
The priest whose name I forgot was the “Vatican renegade” who laughed at Hell and the Trinity and the Gospels and such.
Phil P
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Sailor_Kenshin
Guest
I’m doin’ it, I’m doin’ it----though I am SO bad at the fasting part.
One of the very transparent tactics of the ‘progessive’ crowd is to how, “You’re being judgmental!”
Yes? And what do THEY judge? I think it was one of the EWTN priests who recently said that while we can NOT judge the state of a man’s soul, we can and should judge his actions.
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a_cermak
Guest
Actually, my partner (Catholic) turned to me and said, “now that’s the Catholicism I remember!” while the renegade priest was speaking. Mike would definitely be counted among the rationalist wing of Catholics out there!<< I liked the movie. PhilVaz, you forgot the Vatican Astronomer who explained that scripture does not teach science. I guess I’d put him in the Catholic column. It was well done of Maher to include him to show that not all Christians cling to the ridiculous notion of young earth creationism. >>
Fr. George Coyne! I remembered his name since I started the Wikipedia article on him in 2005!
The priest whose name I forgot was the “Vatican renegade” who laughed at Hell and the Trinity and the Gospels and such.
Phil P
Actually, Mike’s funny. He stated once that he’d like a Church that didn’t have miracles or the resurrection, virgin birth etc. I suggested the Unitarians or Quakers. He said he didn’t like their liturgy. So apparently, he’d like a liturgical Church, with readings from the Scriptures, the homily would be a scholarly criticism of the readings, a communion which would symbolize, I’m not sure what, and decent music. Needless to say, he doesn’t go to Church, being unable to find this denomination!
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PhilVaz
Guest
<< So apparently, he’d like a liturgical Church, with readings from the Scriptures, the homily would be a scholarly criticism of the readings, a communion which would symbolize, I’m not sure what, and decent music. Needless to say, he doesn’t go to Church, being unable to find this denomination! >>
Sounds like an anglican/episcopal church run by John Spong, using a "Jefferson Bible" mentioned in the movie (no miracles, no divinity of Jesus).
Phil P
Sounds like an anglican/episcopal church run by John Spong, using a "Jefferson Bible" mentioned in the movie (no miracles, no divinity of Jesus).
Phil P
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narrowpath
Guest
Amen.
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MyUserName
Guest
Hi Everyone,
I’m a former member of this forum. I stopped posting here when I began to become disillusioned with Catholocism and Christianity in general. I decided to come back for a visit to see what was being said about the new movie Religulous, and after reading some of the threads about it, I thought I would offer up my perspective of the movie.
I attended Church with my family since I was small, and up until fairly recently I went to a Bible study once a week. But gradually as I grew up I began to look at the world through a more critical eye. I was always very naive and quick to accept what was told to me, but I now know to question things and research things. I don’t want to be a sheep that’s shepherded through life.
So with my new outlook on life, I began to question everything, so naturally I began to question my religious beliefs and my faith. I began to see that the circles I was in were full of judgment and shame, and I began to realize that I didn’t believe what I said I believed anymore.
However it’s not easy to drop religion out of your life. I have dropped it out of my heart, and I’m much happier for it, but since a lot of my friends and family have these beliefs, I have felt like I need to hide the fact that I’m now Atheist from them. People make you feel ashamed.
So the reason I named this thread “Thanks to Bill Maher” is that he has created a movie that is telling people like me that it’s okay not to believe.
If you have not seen the movie, it is about Maher’s personal rejection of religion. The theme of the movie is to show people that it is responsible to have doubt and to question things. One of my favourite quotes from the movie is the lady that says “I don’t know anything about politics, but I’ll vote for George Bush because of his faith”…well look where that’s gotten us.
Maher questions the doctrine and the beliefs of all religions. This is something that’s a major faux-pas pretty much anywhere you go, but it’s really sad that people should be made to feel like they can’t question these things.
This movie has given me confidence in myself so that I can come out of the closet as an ex-Catholic, and I don’t see anything wrong with it…not to mention it was very funny and entertaining!
I hope that came out cohesively…but I welcome questions. Thanks for reading
I’m a former member of this forum. I stopped posting here when I began to become disillusioned with Catholocism and Christianity in general. I decided to come back for a visit to see what was being said about the new movie Religulous, and after reading some of the threads about it, I thought I would offer up my perspective of the movie.
I attended Church with my family since I was small, and up until fairly recently I went to a Bible study once a week. But gradually as I grew up I began to look at the world through a more critical eye. I was always very naive and quick to accept what was told to me, but I now know to question things and research things. I don’t want to be a sheep that’s shepherded through life.
So with my new outlook on life, I began to question everything, so naturally I began to question my religious beliefs and my faith. I began to see that the circles I was in were full of judgment and shame, and I began to realize that I didn’t believe what I said I believed anymore.
However it’s not easy to drop religion out of your life. I have dropped it out of my heart, and I’m much happier for it, but since a lot of my friends and family have these beliefs, I have felt like I need to hide the fact that I’m now Atheist from them. People make you feel ashamed.
So the reason I named this thread “Thanks to Bill Maher” is that he has created a movie that is telling people like me that it’s okay not to believe.
If you have not seen the movie, it is about Maher’s personal rejection of religion. The theme of the movie is to show people that it is responsible to have doubt and to question things. One of my favourite quotes from the movie is the lady that says “I don’t know anything about politics, but I’ll vote for George Bush because of his faith”…well look where that’s gotten us.
Maher questions the doctrine and the beliefs of all religions. This is something that’s a major faux-pas pretty much anywhere you go, but it’s really sad that people should be made to feel like they can’t question these things.
This movie has given me confidence in myself so that I can come out of the closet as an ex-Catholic, and I don’t see anything wrong with it…not to mention it was very funny and entertaining!
I hope that came out cohesively…but I welcome questions. Thanks for reading
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aggiecatholic05
Guest
personally maher has never come across as funny to me, but everyones idea of humor is different.
from the previews and interviews ive seen him do on the movie it seems more like an attempt to evangelize people to the religion of athesim.
finally, i’m sorry that you doubt the faith. i’ll throw some extra prayers your way.
from the previews and interviews ive seen him do on the movie it seems more like an attempt to evangelize people to the religion of athesim.
finally, i’m sorry that you doubt the faith. i’ll throw some extra prayers your way.
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MyUserName
Guest
I’ve never seen Maher in anything else, so I don’t know how he is in other contexts, but in this movie he was funny.
How is evangelizing people to atheism any worse than evangelizing people to the Christian faith?
I don’t need your prayers…I appreciate your intentions, but they’re wasted on me.
How is evangelizing people to atheism any worse than evangelizing people to the Christian faith?
I don’t need your prayers…I appreciate your intentions, but they’re wasted on me.
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