Bill Maher Takes On Religion In New Documentary "Religulous" (EXCLUSIVE VIDEO)

Bill Maher has a new film "Religulous," a documentary slated for release October 3 and Huffington Post has an exclusive clip.

The documentary bills itself as an "uproarious nonfiction film about the greatest fiction ever told." It's directed by one of the guys who brought you Borat, Larry Charles, who was also the executive producer of "Curb Your Enthusiasm." You can probably guess that it's going to involve man-on-the-street interviews with unsuspecting believers and a mic-wielding Maher and "gotcha" interviews with religious fanatics who get tangled up in a web of their own contradictions.

Here's an exclusive clip from the movie:

Also, here's the extended trailer (the trailer music includes a clip from "Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley):

In a statement about the film, Maher explained his rationale for making it:

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.

As part of the film, Maher has also created a website, Disbeliefnet, as a parody of Beliefnet, the popular spiritual website.

Comments

[DavidPerkins]

I don't know. I watch Bill as much to laugh at him as with him. He is, after all suppose to make one laugh! When he had Dawkins -the atheist- on his show, I thought "now there are two fools on stools trying to make sense of their world."
As a Christian, I've long ago known there is nothing I can tell them. Just keep repeating the same old story of the revolution God brought to earth in human form as Jesus Christ. Some day maybe their hearts will be in a different place. Perhaps.
Love
David Perkins
www.JesusChristSaid.com

[JohnFromCensornati]

Waste all the time and effort that you please.

[mddragon]

Doesn't the same apply for athiests, they know there is nothing they can tell you and maybe someday YOU will see the truth according to them? Do they see millions of fools in the pew?

[DavidPerkins]

I've talked with (actually blogged with) many atheists. You are right except that they call me "delusional" for believing there is a God. They won't admit that what they "believe" is just a belief, just as what I believe is a "belief." They insist they see reality and I'm delusional. Now, there are some Christian who make the same mistake. And Muslims and conservatives and.....In fact, wouldn't anyone who holds that they are completey right and anyone who does not agree with them is not only wrong but delusional? This is what I call intolerance!
david

[Zanti]

To Maher, it's billions.

[liberalgirl31]

I wonder when Maher will do a documentary on his hatred of women, or one on his buddy Ann Coulter.

[AzRealProgressive]

If he hates women, why have Ann Coulter for a buddy? She might just send him to the monastery.

[OhComeOnNow]

Coulter is a woman???

[yngcelt]

I feel so much pity for Bill Maher and people like him. Ask any veteran of war about their beliefs and they will tell you that there are no atheists in foxholes. Religious and spiritual beliefs give people inner strength, comfort and above all hope in times of trouble. People like Bill Maher can't understand that viewpoint because he and his ilk have never had to suffer or deal with overwhelming trials and tribulations.
Now, as a Christian, I believe that everyone has the right to believe or not believe in whatever they want to. I was fortunate enough to travel the world and learn about other religions which really transformed my own beliefs and helped me to broaden my mind to accept and respect other religions. What I don't agree with and vehemently oppose is ANYONE who tries to force their belief or nonbelief on others. Spirituality is a personal thing and should not be mocked. And people who do mock it, like Bill Maher, are obviously too small minded and obtuse to think of anyone else but themselves and are the highest form of ignorant elitism.

[novowel4me]

Actually, Bill Maher mocks those who want to force their beliefs on others. Besides Osama we have among others Pat Robertson, James Dobson the late Jerry Falwell and their ilk, don't you think they deserve mocking?

[AzRealProgressive]

Obama deserves mocking? Not hardly. Not yet. He has just begun to court evangelicals, and will undoubtedly be visiting Dobson soon.

As to the rest. No. Not either.

[EarthToZoey]

I agree with many of your points.

And I can see how religious belief gives many people comfort and hope. But let's not forget that there are many who are given hope by science for the betterment of man, or comfort from the beauty of nature. Not everyone has to believe in a supernatural being in order to feel good about life and comfortable with the idea of death. I think both ways of being are equally valuable.

[whatsthatsound]

Well stated! You've got a new fan!

[JohnFromCensornati]

I feel pity for fools who repeat that foxhole horseshlt.

[whatsthatsound]

Spoken like a true Snikwad-ian.

Scotty, meme me up!

[huzzah]

OK, I have to call Bullshit on the whole "No atheists in foxholes" bit. I think that actually bolsters Maher's arguments against religion. First, it's completely unverifiable. Secondly, it goes right to the argument many of us nonreligious types make regarding religion's purpose. Namely, that it is a way of coping with the fact of death.

That said, I don't find hardcore atheism much less repellent than religion. It all comes down to pretending to know the unknowable. The fact is that no one knows anything about any of it, yet will claim otherwise and try to sway others' ways of thinking.

You make statements as if you know Maher's life story. Are you *sure* he's never suffered? Never had trials or tribulations? After 9/11, at a time when 90% of the population supported the President, Maher called him out on some of his BS. He lost his show and likely was concerned for his career, all because he told the truth on TV. And let me add that self-professed Christians were the most eager to put him on the cross...

[TheBlackCat]

I appreciate your post. You seem like a good hearted, and very tolerant and open minded individual, as you express your desire that other people be free to practice their religions freely without being harassed by members of your own.

However, you don't HAVE to feel sorry for Maher. I for one am the kind who does need religion. I used to be Catholic and now am Buddhist. I lost faith in Christianity but I went in search of something that DID make sense to me, which Buddhism does, because i really yearn for that sense of belonging.

But people who don't have a religious persuasion aren't lacking something. I know plenty of agnositics and athiests, including people who have dealt with trials and yes, even soldiers (my husband is a LT in the army). I work in a cancer hospital and many of my patients are athiest though they are dealing with terminal diseases. Your idea is that no one having a hard time is athiest. Maybe they are just BRAVER or STRONGER than you or I, did that occur to you? They just have the ability to deal with things ON THEIR OWN. They don't NEED a higher calling or power to comfort them. They are able to focus on the time they have and have had and don't feel the need to cling to the idea of an after life. I don't feel sorry for them, if anything, I envy them.

[KillgoreTrout43]

Nature religions are always better than theistic ones.

[RButler]

Christians who believe that we are all sinners whether or not everyone believes the same thing do not deserve respect. They should just accept that they are sinners and leave the rest of us out of it.

[AzRealProgressive]

You non sinners, a pharse out of a bBlly Joel Song comes to mind.

"I would rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints.The sinners are much more fun ". Thought I would leave you with that small humor. Later on in life you may regret ever hearing it, or living any part of it.

[WAY2MCCOOL]

Great Docu Bill.

Religion is mainly for lazy people, who don't want to think for themselves and would rather just have "blind faith" in something, as to help them sleep at night.

Check out: "Who was Jesus: Fingerprints of the Christ" by D.M. Murdock (aka Acharya S). She's a scholar in religions and has written numerous books on the subject. You cannot read her books and walk away without a changed view on how mythology as been used to shape agendas and policies in our world for thousands of years.
We REALLY cannot move on as a species as a whole and evolve until we shed ourselves of these archaic, antiquated belief systems that are holding back humanity's true potential. Science, I believe is eroding the mythologies little by little, and my hope is science will finally deconstruct the mythos entirely, to the point where people will just snap and say..wait a minute.. The Greeks did it with their 'gods' the egyptians as well with their myths... Muslim and Christian beliefs are just the current ones to have a hold on society, so they'll be the next to go. Godspeed!

[AzRealProgressive]

Two words about your post. Intelligent Design. Can't get around it scientifically, no matter how hard anyone tries.

[huzzah]

*sigh*

Don't NEED to get around ID scientifically, seeing as how it's not a scientific idea...

[TheBlackCat]

Religion is mainly for lazy people, who don't want to think for themselves and would rather just have "blind faith" in something, as to help them sleep at night.


That statement is RIDICULOUS. Sure there are those who are religious out of fear, especially fundamentals. Certain religions are more filled with fear than others, I won't deny that.

But people aren't religious because they are lazy, they are religious because it is part of their culture and they honestly ENJOY it! I grew up in an Italian Catholic neighborhood and also have lived in Mexico and Spain, and those people just honestly LOVE being Catholic. They love the festivals for the Saints, all the holidays. They love the statues, food, and music. They love making great works of art and architecture to celebrate. Plenty of people are religious for the joy and sense of community they get from it, not because of fear of hell.

Neanderthals were found with burial offerings that strongly indicates religion. Religion has existed since before civilization. Neurologists have done many studies that indicates our brains are actually hard wired for religious belief.

Yes some people can overcome this inherent desire to believe, and they're just fine. But for you to mock people JUST for being religious (as opposed to criticizing actions done in the name or religion) you are mocking them, essentially, for ACTING LIKE HUMAN BEINGS. It's like making fun of a cat for playing with a toy mouse. It's absurd.

[wdw101]

yes, it is absurd but fair game in humor

[EarthToZoey]

I'm a non-believer yet I absolutely love Christmas-- the nativity story and all. I'll even go to Mass with my best friends and sing carols. It's a lovely experience.

When I listen to Handel's Messiah or the hear the incredible gospel singer Mahalia Jackson, I feel the love, joy, sadness, and devotion coming through.

I've read much of the sacred texts of many religions and find great philosophy in them all.

Religion can be a beautiful, peaceful thing. I just appreciate it in a different way.

[RandyGaume]

Maher's critiques are often valid and worth taking note of. He has his views as direct result of the pure stupidity and profound ignorance of Christians in particular. If we (us Christians - I are one) remain clueless about how our marriage to the Republican party and the Moral Majority and the 'faux conservative' movement of Rush and Hannity has adversely affected this country and this world (we voted "W" in twice) - we deserve to be bitch slapped and we need our asses kicked.

True faith needs to be seen and not heard (especially not in self-righteous tones we have spewed all over the public airwaves). Our faith should be so attractive that folks can't stop themselves from asking the questions: "what drives you? why are you so caring and so selfless?" Until then, we need to STOP judging, shut the hell up and listen and love.

Religion is the opiate of the masses - it stops folks from questioning their view of things. It stops people from having true humility. Religion is not just limited to those who profess a belief in a god

[AzRealProgressive]

Religion is an opiate of the masses. Right out of Karl Marx writings, that nugget leaves no doubt about your philosophy. Communism sure worked out for everybody.

[EarthToZoey]

Haha. Good point. I knew you were going to jump on that.

[sarasotajeff]

you've obviously learned the art of the argument from bushco...

[TheBlackCat]

Um just because two people agree on ONE item does not make them ideologically equivilant. Just because you say "religion is the opiate of the masses" and Marx also thought that, does not mean you are a communist. I am against the legalization of abortion, but I am certainly not a Republican, I just happen to agree with them on that ONE issue. George Bush and Barack Obama both believe in Jesus, but that doesn't make Obama a Republican or W a Democrat because they have ONE thing in common.

Use your noodle.

[Redrover666]

You are one?

Then I take it you feel you have it coming being described as an idiot and a believer in fairies, all over this blog?

[wdw101]

he stated the words "if I said" as to imply hyperbole. I agree with most of your posts. This one went nowhere though.

[girlgoneriled]

You missed the point. Completely. The point is that some beliefs are evidence-based and can be supported by rational argument, and some can't. The ones that can't, are not, in the wider marketplace of ideas, entitled to much respect. Non-theists are pointing out that belief in god--like other supernatural beliefs--is not supported by evidence or by critical reasoning. We're arguing ideas, here. And where do you get off saying that non-theists don't have a right to challenge religious people's beliefs? Why not? Why should religious ideas be privileged above any other ideas that people debate? Challenge is a good thing.

[hoopesaz]

You are missing the point. There's a mature, intelligent, respectful way to disagree and to have that conversation. Maher's critique isn't valid because he's simply trying to offend and humiliate a group of people with whom he disagrees. I did that back in the 5th grade.

There isn't anything wrong with questioning religion. There isn't anything wrong with someone who choses not to participate. There isn't anything wrong with bringing attention to questionable things that many churches do. There's just a respectful way to do that.

[ThomasBJones2]

HuffPost's Pick

Not every belief deserves to be respected. If I said I believed that there are little fairies in my garden and they direct all the subatomic particles in my garden and this was my deeply held personal belief, it doesn't mean other people have an ethical duty to respect such a belief. It becomes even worse if I were to say something like I thought the fairies had directed me to kill others or persecute them in some way. This is essentially what many religious people believe (note the word many, not all, a majority, or even a plurality) and I will not respect their beliefs no matter how deeply held or personal they happen to be.

[AzRealProgressive]

'opiate of the masses" Another communist reading, word for word direct from Karl Marx. Another religion hating communist.

How do you mix your communist views with our capitalistic society?

[expatwing]

Your apparent fear of communism just shows how much you don't actually understand Marx or his vision of communism.

[Johnagain]

Did you even read his post? He makes more sense in any one of his sentences than you have in all your posts combined. Especially this one:

"True faith needs to be seen and not heard (especially not in self-righteous tones we have spewed all over the public airwaves).­"

[whatsthatsound]

Great post! I don't really have a problem with Maher and his tribe criticizing organized religion, anymore than the Pythons skewering it so well and often. The difference is that Maher does it in a way that seems to delight in implying, "Are you really that stupid?" He doesn't understand what you have, so he thinks you have nothing. You may feel that the onus is on you to demonstrate that you DO have something, but I'd say the onus is on him to be funny without coming off as such a know-it-all. Richard Pryor had a spiritual thing going, and he was ten times funnier than Maher to boot. So where does Maher's well-honed air of superiority derive from, exactly?

[wdw101]

"So where does Maher's well-honed air of superiority derive from, exactly?"
self confidence and pride.....­..nothing is wrong with that

[awcbuddy8]

When's his documentaries about his hatred for black people and women coming out?

And what does Bill Maher expect to do? This movie will make no money and religion has survived a lot more than the likes of a tard such as Bill freaking Maher.

[totalliberal]

People "chose" to be religious. Making fun of stupid ideas does not invoke hatred of those ideas. Religious people take care of that kind of thinking. As per your response.

[awcbuddy8]

Well...you chose to be a dbag so I guess it evens out.

[awcbuddy8]

Isn't Bill Maher style debate just so healthy?

[hoopesaz]

So homosexuality, mixed race marriage, gender re-assignment and such...I guess that's his next "documentary".

[KillgoreTrout43]

Maher is half right about "modern," religion. Modern religion has left thier true duty behind in favor of moralizing and condemning others. What they should be concerned with is spirituality, not morality and ethics. With genuine spirituality, the ethics and morals take care of themselves. But Maher makes a quite common error in his approach to religion. He condemns others as much as errant religion does. That pretty much cements him on the same plane as those he ridicules.

[andvoodoo2]

ROFLMAO! Bill is notorious for his PREFERENCE for women of color!

[huzzah]

Ha! You tell 'em!

[w&cheneysuck]

Bill Maher is a comedian folks; an "EQUAL OPPORTUNITY OFFENDER!" Boy, he really struck a nerve with the religion as a topic...no­thing more controversial than Religion or Politics, right?

[Redrover666]

Maher is no "equal opportunity offender". He has a specific target, Christians and conservatives. I had some friends over for a football game one Sunday and had them watch his show afterwards. Three more Republicans left my home than came in.

Maher forgets that the majority of democrats are not only Christians but devout Catholics. Keep up the good work Maher!

[totalliberal]

"Maher forgets that the majority of democrats are not only Christians but devout Catholics. '

So was he. Then he grew up. BTW he is a Libertarian.

[JohnFromCensornati]

Not that I believe your story, but it would be typical GOP behavior to base party affiliation on what a comedian has to say.

[w&cheneysuck]

He was highly in favor of Ron Paul before he dropped out so explain that one!?

[Melissa]

Bill Maher is a silly little man. He hates just about everyone, except his dog.

[huzzah]

The majority of Democrats are devout Catholics?

[hoopesaz]

It doesn't take much intelligence to catch folks in a seeming contradiction, and then make fun of them. Evidence? Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Keith Olbermann. What does take intelligence is to rise above mocking and really understand and respect others for their differences. Maher out's himself in this regard.

Besides, who really believes him? He doesn't really believe that religious folks should be institutionalized for crazy beliefs. How could someone who really believes that support a religious man for president? Of the two candidates, Obama is by far the most religious of the two. Those who think religious folks are downright delusional seem to find McCains flavor of delusion even worse then being religious.

Is it possible that Maher thinks Obama really isn't religious, that it's just a ploy for votes? Maybe. But if he does, he does it against a mountain of evidence to the contrary. Which gets us back to religion. Is that exactly why he accuses religious folks of being crazy, because he thinks their beliefs are contrary to a mountain of evidence?

Face it, Maher is a comedian. This isn't a non-fiction documentary, it's a comedy. And a tasteless one at that.

[flyers]

I used to be a big fan of Maher back in the days of Politically Incorrect, as he was a moderate then, but now he has just turned angry and EVERY show is a rant on how we got into a Iraq and how bad religion is. The first debate is over and done with, as I actually agree with Maher that we should have never gone in to Iraq, but we need a solution on what to do in 2008, not 2003! As for Religion, I am not very religious, but i have a faith from the values I learned as a Catholic growing up. I don't talk down to anyone who shares different views. The problem is Maher thinks anyone who has any attachment towards religion is an idiot, and he has turned off the moderate people like me who used to enjoy his show. Sure there are extremes on the right, the same as the extremes on the left, but it seems like Maher is obsessed with those extremes, when the majority of the country doesn't feel that way. I wish Maher would just get back to having an intelligent, funny, edgy political show like he had at ABC, now his HBO show is a front to get Obama elected as he usually has 2-3 liberals on and only 1 conservative who gets ambushed, along with the pro-liberal crowd. The show isn't about debate anymore, it is about advancing a political ideology.

[gatboy3]

Thank God this moron Maher has included Bush and the republicans for the "fixation" on myths. This means he could be the Michael Moore of this election. Michael Moore - you know the lib clown who saved this country from Kerry and kept the libs on the back porch?

[TMacDaddy]

I visited Maher's site. What a sick individual. May God have mercy on his soul and anyone else that agrees with such garbage.

[Imzadi]

Why thank you! Right back at you about your brand of illusion.

[DixieMelody]

Delusional!!

[helonias]

How many little boys or girls has we raped?

[JohnFromCensornati]

Let god have mercy on your soul.
Leave the rest of us out of it.

[Johnagain]

Which God would that be?

[marismar22]

What exactly in his site you found sick? You did not visit his site, therefore you are lying and that's a sin, did you know that? May God have mercy on you.

[Rastamannn]

KKKRISTIANITY IS A FALSE RELIGION AND A CULT.

THE USA IS WHERE IT IS FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS...­..THE EVIL AGENDA OF THE REPUGLICANS, THE SPINELESS COMPLIANCY OF THE DEMOCRATS AND THE IDIOT MASSES BARELY ABLE TO BREATHE WITHOUT GETTING PERMISSION FROM THEIR CULT ELITES

[EarthToZoey]

Haha. Wait. Let me guess, you're Rastafarian? If you are, I think you don't have a lot of room to talk.

Either way, take a chill pill. Or smoke a spliff. Or whatever it is you do to calm down.

[Eric8869]

You type in all caps. This means you're not that intelligent.

[JohnFromCensornati]

What is a "false" religion?

[hoopesaz]

By, "where it is", are you refering to the most free democracy in the world? if so, i agree with you. BTW, Christianity is spelled with a "Ch", not a 'KKK'. I apologize in advance if I am simply correcting your stuter.

[KillgoreTrout43]

What's a "stuter?"

[AzRealProgressive]

This is good. Textbook. At least he hates everybody equally. Usually it is one sided.

[EarthToZoey]

I respect every individual's right to believe in whatever deity they want. I just ask that they respect my right to believe they are crazy. ;P

[Redrover666]

They do. They just don't respect your need to insult them. In fact your need to insult them validates that their belief in god is a good thing and your need to bother them a sign that the lack of religion in your life has resulted in a thoughtless , annoying boob.

[sarasotajeff]

you seem to have the "bothering" thing backwards.­.. I've never expected a christian to live the way I think he should, so why do american christians think they should be able to tell everyone else in this country how to live?

very few "openly" religious people I've run across were willing to respect different beliefs than their own. they want to fill me in on their beliefs and convert me to them, but do not want to discuss any religion other than their own, and usually insist on referring to their beliefs as the "truth" - which kills their credibility. That's the crux of it... christians versus christianists, and certainty versus belief.

[EarthToZoey]

Well, the little emoticon at the end of my comment meant it to be tongue-in-cheek. A little humor serves one well in life. And as you were so ferociously upset by my quip, as evidence by your self-righteous remark, you failed to see that you turned around and did the very same thing.

As for religion: I respect the rights of any person to believe the religion they want and I would never want any person's belief to be stifled. However, I do think it is healthy to be skeptical of one's beliefs -- especially those which are subjective, like religion. And some beliefs -- such as those of fundamentalist Islam and Christianity which treat women as servile to men -- deserve to be fully challenged.

Many religions have modernized and have let go of the dogma in favor of the philosophy, and I think that is absolutely healthy. I am all for moral guidance. Some need a spiritual experience, which is perfectly admirable. As long as people are happy and don't attempt to impose their beliefs onto mine, then all is well. :)

[AzRealProgressive]

Actually everybody respects your rights. Nowhere else could you publish such a statement and have people not laugh at it.

[EarthToZoey]

To each, my darling.

[OhComeOnNow]

A lot of the posts here focus on Christianity. Bill is speaking about all religions and their problems. ORGANIZED religion is to blame for so much.

As Dawkins wrote in “The God Delusion”:
Imagine with John Lennon a world with no religion. Imagine no suicide bombers, no 911, no Seven Seven, no Crusades, no witch hunts, no gunpowder plot, no Indian partition, no Isreali/Palestinian wars, no Serb/Croat Muslim massacres, no persecution of Jews as “Christ killers”, no Northern Ireland troubles. No honor killings, no shiny-suited bouffant-haired televangelists fleecing people of their money – “God wants you to give ‘til it hurts”. Imagine no Taliban to blow up ancient statues, no public beheading of blaphemers, no flogging of female skin for the crime of showing an inch of it.

[MTGradwell]

"Imagine no Taliban to blow up ancient statues".

Imagine no ancient statues to be blown up.

Religion is part of every human culture that has ever existed. Sometimes suppressed but never entirely absent, it is an essential element of humanity's heritage. Almost every item of art that has ever existed takes its inspiration from religion. And often it is the only thing that stops society descending into perpetual total carnage. "Thou shalt not kill", "Do unto others ..", "love thy neighbour" could perhaps have been thought up by a non-religious person, but it takes religion to spread the message & to get people to accept that these notions are for everybody, and not just for the gullible.

There have been attempts to eradicate religion. To have a chance of success, though, you have to be realistic and accept that you can't eradicate them all in one go. Instead you have to pick one to start with. Also, since the last big attempt failed, we'd obviously have to work on an even larger scale next time around. And maybe pick on a different religion. If you pick one that's geographcially located in an oil region, as a bonus you get lots of oil when the job's completed.

Whether it's a good idea or not, that's the course we're on. Not because Arabs have a religion. That's the excuse. It's because they have oil. And the people who want the oil DON'T want it just so they can fill their altar lamps.

[Johnagain]

If there was no organized religion in the world today, I contend that humans would find other philosophical constructs within which to justify attacking and killing each other. In fact, that is exactly what has happened historically. As a species, we compete for resources, typically by annihilating our neighbors. Organized religion is just comparatively recent window dressing on what we carry in our DNA.

[Imzadi]

I understand your comment.

So does that mean that the Middle East has misogyny DNA?

[huzzah]

But religion lets humans conveniently avoid discussion and compromise.

"We could negotiate a settlement in which everyone wins...But you're all heathens, so we'll just have to destroy you and your blasphemous society."