Bill Maher's 'Religulous': Oscar Bait?

LA Times:

When I attended a press screening for Bill Maher's "Religulous" in New York on Tuesday, it struck me like a lightning bolt on the road to the Kodak Theatre via Damascus: yeah, "Religulous" will probably be nominated for best docu at the Oscars -- and God help us all after that.

We know that "Religulous" is seriously in the derby for several reasons. First, Lionsgate hired veteran Oscars PR reps to handle its ballyhoo (Michele Robertson in L.A., Jeff Hill in New York). Secondly, the studio is giving the documentary its theatrical runs in L.A. and New York to qualify it for academy consideration, as Jeff Sneider notes at Anne Thompson's blog at Variety.com. Thirdly, the hallelujahs that film critics gave it today at the screening. More disciples are sure to follow.

In order to catch on widely like religion itself, what atheism has needed for a long time is a popular preacher to rally 'round. Maher just volunteered for the job that's been vacant since Madalyn Murray O'Hair vanished in the 1990s (eventually found murdered in 2001). Richard Dawkins has been a fine temporary stand-in, but not flashy like O'Hair. Bill Maher kicks things up a notch. He's a pop culture hipster who already has a large, anti-establishment flock, and he has a bully pulpit that O'Hair didn't: his own HBO show plus vast presence across all media.

Read the whole story: LA Times

Comments

[RIPRNC]

Here's a couple "stupid" atheists...

ABRAHAM LINCOLN, Albert Einstein, Andrew Carnegie, Ernest Hemingway, Ayn Rand, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, Carl Sagan, Galileo Galilei, Helen Keller, JAMES MADISON, JOHN ADAMS, Leo Tolstoy, Napoleon Bonaparte, James Watson, Francis Crick, John Lennon, "Walt" Disney, Frank Lloyd Wright, Samuel Clemens "Mark Twain", Robert Frost, Susan B. Anthony, Vincent Van Gogh, THOMAS JEFFERSON, WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT, Thomas Edison, Thomas Paine, Sigmund Freud, Thomas Henry Huxley, Mao Tse-tung, Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, Howard Hughes, Mikhail Gorbachev....

I could go on, but I think you get the idea what simpletons these people are.

[freerider]

Nice list, apart from a couple of cold-blooded lunatics .....

I prefer my atheists to be of the Spinozan variety - considerate, thoughtful, rational, compassionate and above all, dogma-free.

[Hirnlego]

Hear hear. Mao had his own religion too - communism. Similar to God its the ultimate authority but instead here on earth.

[PaxMundis]

"I prefer my atheists to be of the Spinozan variety - considerate, thoughtful, rational, compassionate and above all, dogma-free."

Then that leaves out most of the new atheists, with the possible exception of Sam Harris. Christopher Hedges' new book (more of an extended article than a book, but still pretty good) I Don't Believe In Atheists points out many of the fallacies of the new atheists. Most of them, especially Dawkins, do little to question their own bourgeois beliefs about society. Many of them are ignorant of the ways that our ideas about freedom and liberty evolved from religious thought. As another author, John Gray (who himself is not religious) points out, an "atheist" in antiquity would share few of a modern atheist's beliefs about personal liberty and freedom. The change since that time has come from the dialectic between religious and secular thought, not the active war between these schools.

[foxfan]

Lincoln wasn't really an atheist.

[PaxMundis]

You beat me to the punch. The list is a very odd one. Galileo never renounced his Catholic faith. Thomas Jefferson's atheism has been very much overstated (deism is nowhere near the same) Leo Tolstoy was on of the most truly Christian writers of his time. James Madison, while the main force for the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, was a devout Episcopalian. Van Gogh? He was a missionary.

OTOH, Thomas Huxley used his views on evolution to defend some truly disgusting views on race and slavery. I don't need to tell you what people might have against Ayn Rand, Napoleon or Mao Tse Tung

My point is not that believers are all saints or that atheists are all evil. I just want to point out the fallacy of appealing to authority, by saying "so-and-so was an atheist, therefore atheists are smart."

[RIPRNC]

"The Bible is not my book nor Christianity my profession. I could never give assent to the long, complicated statements of Christian dogma."

-Abraham Lincoln

[rsaillant1]

RIPRNC:

Frank Lloyd Wright was not an atheist. He once said, "God must have truly loved the common man,
because he made so many of them." Frank came from a deeply religious background and his work reflects his devotion to a higher spirit. Most of us, he devotees, would accept the term
Agnostic when referring to Mr. Wright.

[RIPRNC]

"I believe in God, only I spell it Nature."

-Frank Lloyd Wright

[HandsOnTheScreen]

God considers it very important that the righteous should judge the wicked. To fulfill the Great Commission to preach the Gospel to all the world, Christians must warn the unbelievers that they are condemned.

[andvoodoo2]

Perhaps you've never read your own Bible? Allow me to quote it for you:

"Judge not, lest ye be judged".

[HandsOnTheScreen]

Natural law demands that a sinner be confined to hell for all eternity. A rebel against God is one who is committed to impenitence. This state of impenitence may be defined as the renewing of allegiance to past sin and loyalty to present sin so as to become guilty of those sins all over again. Understand that sin is additive and that sin always begets more sin. When a person commits a sin, often more sins are committed to cover up that first sin.

[freerider]

"God considers it very important that ..."

Instant Epic Fail

[kellygrrrl]

I'm pretty sure the whole Judgment deal is meant to be left to one party - and it ain't the GOP.

Who the F are you?
You are Human.
just like the rest of us.
You'd be wise to remember that.

[grailknight]

"Judge not, that ye be not judged." Matthew: 7.1

[smags72]

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!

[instagladiator]

Or, "Judge not for lack of judging one to be judged by the judge over judgements" Twirp: 8.3

[UncleJimbo]

Now you're just being silly!

[RIPRNC]

Here's the trailer:

http://www.lionsgate.com/religulous/

[luckyoldson]

Methinks HandsOnThe Screen needs to put his or hands on a book now and then.

[freerider]

Preferably nothing more than, say, 200 years old .....

[PaxMundis]

"Preferably nothing more than, say, 200 years old ....."

Well, that would leave out Thomas Paine and all those writers who new atheists like to quote out of context but don't bother actually reading.

[rikki52b]

I guess I have to see the film to pass judgement. I know my "faith" has helped me through trying times. Not an organized religion but just "faith".

[luckyoldson]

I don't think Maher or his film has any problem with "faith" or just plain confidence.

It's the organized and hysterical religions and beliefs that are a tad hard to comprehend or accept.

I loved Maher's comments on Larry King regarding Warren' supposed inside knowledge of what is what.

[HandsOnTheScreen]

It is interesting that termites don't build things and the great builders of our nation almost to a man have been Christians because Christians have the desire to build something. They are motivated by love of man and God, so they build. The people who have come into our institutions are primarily termites. They are into destroying institutions that have been built by Christians.

[luckyoldson]

Have you run this theory by any of your "termite" friends who are NOT Christians?

Or, for that matter have you ever picked up a history book to understand just how many religions have existed over time...still exist...and I don't mean just over the 6,000 years many Christians believe our planet has been around.

This is exactly the kind of comment Maher exposes to be nothing but a crock.

[andvoodoo2]

The White House and the U.S. Capital were built by slaves. So were the pyramids. Would that be "Christian" slave owners? Yeah, good luck with that.

[freerider]

I am not entirely sure if this "HandsOnTheScreen" poster would pass a standard Turing test.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turing_test

[brianbull1]

Umm bad analogy.

http://www.synaptic.bc.ca/gallery/trmit003.htm

[instagladiator]

What?

[robertsandimas]

My partner and I saw it yesterday. If you can find it nearby, run to the theater fast! It played just two days here (just east of LA). The audience was mostly middle aged, lots of retired profs, some young college students. The laughs were many and the cringes audible. We loved it (but we're of Maher's ilk). Maher is an equal opportunity offender of all faiths. Go, unless you're seriously religious or easily offended.

[instagladiator]

Aww, maybe the seriously religious might learn "something new"? Oops, that would burst their bubble.

[PaxMundis]

"Aww, maybe the seriously religious might learn "something new"? Oops, that would burst their bubble."

Yes, because atheists have nothing new to learn...

[Nostradamus50]

My guess is that fish view God as a swimming creature. Now that we know the self-awareness is capable in even birds, do you think birds wonder how there could be a God that can't fly? Or do dogs wonder why God spells his name backwards?

[freerider]

Whales probably think humans are gods. We certainly treat them badly enough.

[luckyoldson]

My Lab is convinced that I am God.

At least that's the way he reacts at feeding time or when I have a slice of pizza in my hand.

[HamletsMill]

My cat Smootie thinks I am God too. But if she could pull that cat food pop tab herself I think my current exulted Divine Status would quickly fall. But for now Smootie Puss believes in the Almighty HamletsMill!

[HandsOnTheScreen]

The Constitution of the United States is a marvelous document for self-government by Christian people, but the minute you put the document into the hands of non-Christian and atheistic people, they can use it to destroy the very foundation of our society. That's what has been happening.

[totalliberal]

Most of the constitution was written by atheists genius.

[meanguy]

so, your answer to stupid is stupid?

[GJMandinka]

Yeah, why doesn't anyone seem to know this? This Certainly didn't start out a Christian nation.

[Paradym]

Actually, they deists. Subtle difference, but different nonetheless.

[freerider]

WTF?

Can anyone tell me how many logical fallacies are contained in this one sentence?

[JohnFromCensornati]

Which sentence? The first or second?

[RobinLandseadel]

Yes:

"Count the stars in the sky. Measure the waters of the oceans with a teaspoon. Number the grains of sand on the sea shore. Impossible, you say?"

The God that would contain, limit or restrain the universe is no god, to paraphrase Giordano Bruno.

[alsm9]

I'm going to go with four. :)

I've said it before, I'll say it again, you can't argue logic and reason with religious people. They don't live in a world of logic and reason. I would be more productive to go and just knock one's head on a wall.

[meanguy]

okiedokie...you're traveling down that road on your own, brother...i would say the minute you put it in the hands of fools, power-hungry control freaks, and those with an agenda, you're looking for troulbe-whether Christian, atheist, agnostic, muslim, hindu, pagan, wiccan....no one is holding a monopoly on 'stupid'

[YouDisgustMe]

WOW you are CLUELESS.

[robertsandimas]

HandsOn and others like him are one of the reasons Maher made the film. I can hardly believe what he just wrote! Dang. Our country is in deep caca with this kind of thinking.

[naugiedoggie]

"In order to catch on widely like religion itself, what atheism has needed for a long time is a popular preacher to rally 'round."

Maybe what atheism needs is a raison d'etre.

I've never ridiculed, been contemptuous of nor dismissive toward an atheist qua atheist. And I've not met the atheist who wasn't all of the above toward me ... as soon as it is revealed that I'm a Christian. When it comes to the moral high ground, most atheists are in the gutter.

NB Madalyn Murray O'Hair was a deeply unhappy, selfish and vindictive woman. If her career as a mother and human being were a defining benchmark of atheism, you couldn't recruit a corpse to your cause. Certainly, she was notably unsuccessful in rallying American citizens to her campaign.

Thanks.

mp

[freerider]

Standard straw-man argument. O'Hair was a creepy nutcase, ergo all atheists are too.

"When it comes to the moral high ground, most atheists are in the gutter."

Au contraire. Yet another falsehood propagated by your preacher.

[katheyquilts]

What I remember about sweet Madeline was that she "championed" her cause to extend to all...Bill seems to say ..."just don't force your religion on me"
The difference between pushing your views and saying leave me alone is vast.
A regular viewer since Comedy Central

[drumz]

Where do you get this? One encounter or did the preacher tell you that?

[RobinLandseadel]

"When it comes to the moral high ground, most atheists are in the gutter."

"We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars."
Oscar Wilde

[YouDisgustMe]

sweetheart it is religious people (particularly christians) that are dismissive and judgmental. all the atheists i've ever met were very non-judgmental...in fact, i (who used to be catholic) was very judgmental of them. i don't know who this o'hair character is but i do know that religion is destroying our planet. that is all.

[Hirnlego]

"most atheists are in the gutter."

And here cometh the "holier than thou" words. Sigh.

[totalliberal]

A thinking human doesn't need a god.

[RIPRNC]

Truer words are seldom spoken...

[meanguy]

...on a website where the faithful come to praise every belch from the obamessiah as if messages from heaven above

[RobinLandseadel]

On the other hand, many of us have found rather good uses for gods and especially Goddesses who otherwise would have little to do. We have a habit of reading and remembering, and have a particular interest in those slights upon us commited in the name of "Christian Charity" or other so-called "good works." Although I am not an Atheist, I commend Mr. Maher's shredding of those morally vacuous Christer Republicans claiming the moral high ground of a Christ they couldn't possibly recognize even if they managed to trip over him in the middle of the street.

[YouDisgustMe]

well...i disagree...i don't believe in religion but i do believe there's an otherworldly presence (i don't know who or what but there are too many things unexplained to believe that there isn't).

also, by assuming that there's no god, i feel like i would be taking responsibility for everything in my life (which would be arrogant in my opinion).

finally, i would like to say that i think evolution theories are a total crock....it tells us where human beings come from but doesn't explain where earth (or the other planets) came from. if we assume that the planets have always been there (for whatever reason), then we must acknowledge that there has to be some power/force/whatever that makes certain things possible

[protagonia]

YDM

Interesting and evocative post.

Could there be an intelligence that is not based on any current religions?

A sound question.

[freerider]

Evolutionary theory is not relevant to first cause or cosmology. The study of first cause (or what some might call "primordial soup" is abiogenesis. Evolutionary Theory by Natural Selection merely explains the mechanism of how life evolved into its various species and how all living things are interrelated.

BTW Evolution is a FACT and Natural Selection is the Theory (a scientific theory, not a guess or hunch) that explains the mechanism.

[speedingpullet]

Guess you must have played hookie during physics classes YGM.

No god involved, just gravity.

And, you show how little you know of either by, confusing evolution with physics.

But, hey, god did, so why bother learning anything?

[Paradym]

Looks like others addressed the evolution vs. physics/geology/astronomy thing. I'll take the first and second sentences:

"...but there are too many things unexplained to believe that there isn't"
Wow. So you believe that Thor sends thunder and lightning down. Oh, wait... we now know what causes thunder and lightening. Just because it's unexplained NOW doesn't mean there's a supernatural cause or that we can't know it later.

"also, by assuming that there's no god, i feel like i would be taking responsibility for everything in my life (which would be arrogant in my opinion)."
You are responsible for everything in your life. It can be obvious - I drank therefore I got drunk - or deeply complicated - I chose to leave then, go there and be at that place when the "accident" happened.

It is deep ignorance to think there is some spirit/ghost/demon/flying spaghetti monster that runs your life.

[thereigoagain]

BHO Should attend the premiere.

[YouDisgustMe]

so should mccain...okay...?

[PDXTransplant]

Do you have a point? Didnt think so.

[Damnstraight]

How is being a bigot against religious people better than being a religious bigot? Maher is just as bad as the people he despises.

[freerider]

I think you'll find that Maher is anti-religion, not anti religious people. A corollary you might appreciate would be loving the sinner but hating the sin.

Ah, but of course. Silly me, I forgot. You religious folks plead special privilege when it comes to your beliefs, as you equate any questioning of them with bigotry. Oh well.

[meanguy]

"Ah, but of course. Silly me, I forgot. You religious folks plead special privilege when it comes to your beliefs, as you equate any questioning of them with bigotry. Oh well."
----------------------------
so maher, is NOT anti-relgious people...you, on the other hand..?

[drumz]

How do you know? Did your goD tell you?

[YouDisgustMe]

sweetheart, he doesn't despise anyone

[marymansour]

I'd love to see Bill honored with an oscar. Hope the rumors are true.

[PaxMundis]

"I'd love to see Bill honored with an oscar. Hope the rumors are true"

Don't hold your breath. There are already some decent docs out there, including American Teen (which has been criticized for being fairly slick, but is still getting good buzz), Shine A Light (concert movie, but directed by Scorsese), Young At Heart, Man On Wire, Encounters At The End Of The World, and a new one, Trouble The Water, about Hurricane Katrina. Maher has some serious competition.

[Budokan]

If heaven is real, and such a great place compared to Earth, then murder should be legal. We should be allowed to kill and murder anyone we want, anytime we want, for any reason we want, since we're sending them to such a better place. Stands to reason. I don't see how I can be sent to jail for murder since I would be sending my victim to Paradise which is by all reports a MUCH better place than this mudball.

[normathumb]

Heaven is where the mayonaise never goes bad and the ice in your cocktail never melts.