Bill Maher On "Religulous": Film Till They Throw You Out

LA Times:

In Bill Maher's new documentary, "Religulous," the film's protagonist--Maher himself--feels the same way about the film's subject matter at the beginning as at the end: In other words, he thinks religion is a big crock of spit. You know irreverence is the order of the day when Maher, reacting to a smooth-talking black preacher's boast that he got a great deal on his $2,000 suits, drolly observes, "I find it interesting that you're a Christian, you used to be a Muslim but you buy all your clothes like a Jew."

"Religulous" doesn't open until Oct. 3, but after seeing the movie I couldn't wait to grill Maher about how he managed to get so many deeply religious figures to actually talk to him, since it's obvious to anyone whose ever watched Maher's act (on "Politically Incorrect" or HBO's "Real Time With Bill Maher" or in a comedy club) that he wasn't much of a believer. In many ways, the film is a comic bookend to Sam Harris' "The End of Faith," a humorless best seller that views religion as a bastion of superstition and moral hypocrisy. Although Maher embraces Harris' belief that religion is a destructive force that has brought great pain and suffering into the world--at one point he calls it a neurological disorder--Maher is always searching for the humor in every situation. A longtime acolyte of George Carlin, when Maher confronts a religious zealot or hustler, he prefers mocking over scolding.

Rolling his eyes, often full of derision, Maher gets in his licks with everyone, from a guy playing Jesus at a Holy Land theme park in Orlando to Muslims at a gay bar in Amsterdam to a rabbi who advocates the dissolution of Israel (he wears a card with the slogan "A Jew Not a Zionist"). As everything from "The Gong Show" to "Borat" has proved, real people and situations are often undeniably funnier than anything scripted by the best comic minds. In Holland, Maher is in the midst of questioning a somber Muslim cleric when he's interrupted by the cleric's cellphone, whose ring tone is Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir."

Read the whole story: LA Times

Comments

[rich3324]

We created god in our own image and likeness!
-- George Carlin

[circusfifthfloor]

I'm Christian. I enjoy Bill's humor, liberal/progressive thinking. He evidently has not come in contact with many of the millions of folks from all over the world who have a genuine faith in God. That's with a capital G. I do believe in soul freedom,as did the early Baptists in this country like Roger Williams. Jew, Protestant, Muslim, all, have the right to seek enlightenment,or salvation, WITHOUT imposing their religion on others. But, like so many in my congregation, they believe in Ann Coulter's crusade, where we force the masses to believe in OUR theology, doctrine, sacraments, tenets, and prejudices. And this is where Bill and I part. I feel Bill has earned the right to not believe, by his own journey, and that is sacred to him. He has had enough incredible people on his program, like JIm Wallis and Cornell West to know we're not all loons. Going after the Coulters and the petting zoo tent shows on the outskirts of town will expose the ugly, but not the real work. And another thing. When someone asks me if "I"M Saved", I usually come undone. This is a question one can only ask of oneself. It's kinda like asking if you have your drivers license or voter registration card. My soul and yours is all you ever have or will ever have, and it's too valuable to be srutinized by a perfect stranger. Pisses me off. I'm sure I will enjoy this production and Bill's return..CFF

[LeeAlex]

CFF -- I'm with you. I'm also a liberal/progressive Christian and can make people's eyes bug out when mentioning Bill Maher. I like Bill, I always have. Does he make me squirm? You bet. I also don't enjoy his humor regarding women, etc. But like all things that make me squirm, there is an huge element of truth behind the discomfort, and this new movie I'm sure showcases that. He has every right to point things like this out. But he will listen and discuss issues with the Wests and Wallises, and I love that; I don't think an ardent evangelical believer would give Maher the same courtesy. There are exceptions, sure, but the moderates and hard workers don't get the press. The screamers and the frauds get the notice.

I don't believe the earth was created x-thousand of years ago. All I know is that it came into being and so did we over time. How I choose to understand that is up to me overall, not for me to force upon someone. The opening lines of Genesis are magnificent, as is talking with a friend about looking into the smallest elements of cells and what they feel when they try to discover how things work. And is my own soul saved? I'm still here, so I guess so! However, I've had my moments of coming undone when someone insists that I be saved. It's usually after they see there are same-gender couples in my church!

[TheBlackCat]

I couldn't agree more! Unfortunately its the intolerant religious zealots that make the most noise, get the most air time, and make everyone look bad.

[thefringecenter]

Thanks for the epic post. Now, have you been saved?

[cobobs]

There is something a little tongue in cheek about Maher. I think he has a big issue with the humbug aspect of organized religion, that ascribes to God the petulant, humorless, blood thirsty natures of Saddam or the Kims of North Korea and then proceed to control their frightened flock. God has to be so big, and great that he does not need to be worshiped and scraped and validated. Why would almighty need validation. This satire is a healthy tool for escaping and finding true liberty and spirituality.

As an ex-Catholic (like Maher), I understand fully where he is coming from and the humorless Catholic league would restore the Roman Inquisition if it had the chance.

[JScott]

And ya just know Muslims are gonna wonder why Muslims are in a gay bar. ('Ohh no, they would never do that, there are no gay Muslims', yeah right)

[SouthJerseySteve]

Just no gay Muslims in IRAN!

[LiberalBuzz]

No live ones anyway.

[marymansour]

Can't wait for Bill's new season of Real Time to begin. I have had withdrawal all summer. .

[piotr]

Bill Maher - I appreciate he's such a fighting skeptic, but when finally will he go after the scam called Scientology??? Come on, expose them Bill, have some balls.

[AmandaBC]

Compared to the Catholic church, the $cientologists are just a bunch of boy scouts...

[TheBlackCat]

LOL! Oh puh-lease. The Catholic church has it's problems but its not even comparable to Scientology in the danger it presents to its members (at least the modern church, obviously this is not true if you're talking inquisition time period), even taking pedophilia into account. The pedophilia, while awful and inexcusable, affected an extremely teeny tiny percent of members. Scientology's tactics affect EVERY SINGLE member who joins. The Catholic Church doesn't make you hand over your life savings and cut off all communications with any non believing relatives or friends. The Catholic Church doesn't prevent you from receiving medical care because they don't believe that illness really exists. The Catholic church doesn't send you to "re education" camps on floating prisons in international waters if you ask too many questionsed. The Church doesn't harass you, sue you, and ruin your life if you leave the faith or criticize the church.

[piotr]

Amanda, please, such a display of ignorance is nothing to be proud of. Read a bit, educate yourself, then try to pass judgments.

[Shake-A-Spear]

One can be moral, upright, decent without believing all the bullshit of ANY religion. All religion is meant to assuage the feeling of terror humans experience as they contmplate the finality and nothigness of death Religion is the attempt by humans to answer the unanswerable.. Animals such as your dog are incapable of contemplating their death, hence live happily wihout religion.

[marymansour]

Animals may contemplate their mortality but are smart enough not to weigh in on the subject. Anyway, we couldn't understand them if they did.

[Shake-A-Spear]

Show me a religious dog, cat, sheep, Republican ...

[kellygrrrl]

Cannot wait for this film
unfortunately, it will not be received by those who need it most

[Posterella]

I am a big fan of Bill Maher. Think he's brilliant and hysterically funny. That said, I do think there are things about religion that can be valuable. If you follow the basic rules like no lying, no stealing, no violence, no adultry, the golden rule, etc., you most likely won't find yourself on the wrong end of a gun or slapped with a criminal indictment. If people get strength and support from a religious community, why is that a negative? In my town, growing up, the church did a lot of positive things for the community. Yes, there are the religious wackos in this country that take religion to a creepy level, but I think that they thrive on people who are naive or uneducated. IMO, better education will keep people from being victims of charlatans and snake oil sales reps.

[Graywolf48]

Be careful what you wish for, better education would be the end of religion. Once people are educated and are capable of free thought, invariably they reject the superstition and mythologies of religion. Religion is based on delusion and provides easy, simplistic answers to complex questions. But most often it is used to manipulate, frighten and control the masses. Plus it's a very profitable business for those who know how to work it.

[Posterella]

Perhaps, but on the way to enlightenment, self control and consideration for fellow travellers is not a bad thing.

[Posterella]

Graywolf48, I grew up Catholic. Yes, I did believe, as my four siblings convinced me, that God would punish me if I ate the last Devil Dog. However, the positive things I learned in church stayed with me. I discarded what didn't work and I am now on a different path. But, net net, it probably made me a better person, although I very much am still a work in progress, admittedly.

[soonerdru]

My religon is to support anyone who exposes religon. Can't wait Bill.

[MitchelleWS]

Read the story, saw the trailer, and now I have to wait until Oct 3 to see the movie? Aigghhhh!

[Mustang Sally]

I totally agree with you - it is going to be a very long 2 months. I cannot wait to see this!!!!