DISQUS

b-nasty · 1 year ago

religion is a thorny issue for some people (pun intended).

i'm expecting critics to focus less on the quality of the film, and more on the theological arguments it provokes. I don't know how I feel about this.

Hunter Stephenson · 1 year ago

@ b-nasty

See, I expect many to skirt on the issues of the doc and talk more about "balance," organized religions (which is the easy out) and Maher's attitude.

Robert · 1 year ago

I think I know what he (Maher) is getting at based on that description of the "mission statement," but I doubt the reviewer's brain can allow him to actually "get" it. It's very difficult if not damn near impossible to shake someone's worldview. They'd sooner go insane with circular logic, rhetorical gymnastics, and bloody violence (if necessary) which is kind of the point of this film I think.

A Better Class of Criminal · 1 year ago

As an Agnostic, this movie sounds intriguing... yet I'm not necessarily a fan of Maher's humor.
So is this actually going to be funny or is it just going to be like attending a lecture I don't even need to have given to me?

Robert · 1 year ago

I would like, if I may, to replace the word "rhetorical" with "semantic"...on second thought maybe they'll both work...either way...

There Will Be Histrionics.

Liquid Cereal · 1 year ago

If the first reviewer was that big of a fan of Maher's old show Politically Incorrect, maybe someone should let him know about Maher's current show Real Time. The new season starts up Aug 29 11:00 ET on HBO.

And chances are good Maher really did say "destroy."

jackal27 · 1 year ago

I'm not a fan of rallying hate to either side of this issue, so the "mission statement" ticks me off.

Nathan · 1 year ago

Well the MSM is generally conservative and Bill Mahr will probably be the Michael Moore of the week and he will be vilified all over the news for it since Christians/Muslims/Jews hate anyone who attacks their beliefs in anyway. I expect it to come in somewhere between a Michael Moore film and Expelled. Granted that leaves a pretty wide margin.

Chris · 1 year ago

Although I dont believe religion is intended to eventully destroy mankind I do believe that it might. I am not a fan of Mahr but I do believe he is ttempting to make a good point in the film. Complete devotion to any faith can be dangerous. Why can't we all just get along?

Chris · 1 year ago

By the way, /film is the best website. I go to it at least 2 to 3 times a day. Peter, you are doing a wonderful job.

BA · 1 year ago

Same old Maher - A potical comedian with no knowledge of original languages, translations into receptor languages or cultural hermeneutics, provides child-level insight into issues above his head.

Like taking financial advice from a broke man who's glanced at a couple of books about money and is therefore competent to promulgate the masses.

Sparkle and fade.

J.D. · 1 year ago

Hitler also wanted religion abolished. Religion was -- and continues to be -- a threat to all-powerful government. The founders put this nation "under God" for a reason. They knew that politicians seek to BE god. Recall that all the kings of the Old World considered themselves to be "chosen by god."

Really, it's only the power-hungry who despise religion. The "threat" of religion is one big myth. No one will force me to believe anything.... unless, of course, the government forces me to.

Jon · 1 year ago

@JD
"The founders put this nation “under God” for a reason."

the under god term was created in the 50's. Last time I checked, the county wasn't founded the same decade Tom Hanks was born.

Also, you should check US Constitution, it has no mention of god anywhere. And that was done on purpose.

ariel wollinger · 1 year ago

more important is:

how will FSM treat/review this documentary?

FiNiX · 1 year ago

"Really, it’s only the power-hungry who despise religion."

I don't DESPISE religion, per se, but it does scare the crap out of me because it makes pretty much NO sense. I'm most certainly not power hungry.

Henry Jones Jr · 1 year ago

J.D., I see it quite a bit differently. If anything, religion is a tool of the powerful to keep the regular folk at ease. What better way to keep poor from rebelling than to tell them that there's another life after this one and that they have to behave in order to see it? That's the same reason you have the option of accepting Jesus and being forgiven of your sins, no matter what you're guilty of. After all, if you were beyond hope of saving, you'd be left with nothing to lose, and then be tempted for greater sins. Religion keeps the 'have-nots' in line, and allows the 'haves' to do whatever they want. For the powerful and the power-hungry, religion is their best friend.

FiNiX · 1 year ago

@Henry

I've thought that before too. Religion looks like a privative form of government to me. (I know that's I rather harsh thing to say, but I've gotta' be honest...)

EKM · 1 year ago

I waffle back and forth on how I feel about Bill Maher. I mostly admire his candor and biting cynicism. But, though my politics are fairly close to his, we're not fully on the same page, and sometimes he gets a little too caught up in his own bullshit. Which is also why I find it virtually impossible to read Christopher Hutchins works, despite loving Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris.

Also, though I am a secular humanist, I have my doubts about Religulous. I fear it will wind up being far too dogmatic and oversimplified like so many other socially conscious documentaries of late (King Corn, the Michael Moore films). I may agree from the outset with the hypothesis being put forward in the films, but I know the detail, breadth and nuance of the facts and see that they are being culled and simplified for the films. And so they wind up being rarely more than a self-congratulatory handjob for the people who already agree with the concept, and vilified and used as propaganda by those who disagree.

I'll reserve judgment until I see Religulous, but, for my money, I doubt it could be better than the 2 part documentary Dawkins did for the BBC a couple years ago: Root of All Evil?

Gaius · 1 year ago

@ JD

Religion is a despot's best friend.

I mean, seriously. You can't get rid of religion no matter how hard you try because people will always want to believe that they will be ok after they take their last breath. People who want power are mostly realistic in that they know they can't achieve the level of power they desire unless they make it seem as if they have god's blessing. GW Bush, anyone?

I think you should rephrase your comment as being "only INSANE power-hungry people want to destroy religion and thus be gods"

On another note, I do think that Maher has a point in some sense.
The reason that a person or persons would want to destroy the world or wipe out humanity would in all likelihood be based in religious thinking.

Gaius · 1 year ago

@ EKM

Fellow secular humanist here too, and I agree, Root of all Evil was terrible and melodramatic.

andrew · 1 year ago

If religion is the best friend of the power hungry, why was organized religion outlawed by Chairma Mao and Stalin. Your point is well taken, than it can be used to gain power, but it is not merely a tool used to be the opium of the masses. Study the rise of Christianity, it was small bands of people who supported ans spread the religion, it was not until 300 A.D that it became state sponsored. Also, claims along the lines of religion that make no sense are simple minded, not religions. Please provide further explination that religions make no sense. I believe in Christianity because I believe it is true, not because I need a crutch. I have lived most of my life without it, but am now convinced its true. Look to passages such as Daniel 11, which hundreds of years before the events take places predict with great accuracy the rise and fall of alexander the great. The bible is hard to believe, but I fall back on the words of Pascal wager. If I believe in God, and Im wrong, then who cares.

L. Ron Hubbard · 1 year ago

Let Maher destroy other religions - mine will stand the test of time. After all, it was I who single-handedly defeated Xenu and achieved eternal life on this planet... oh wait.

andrew · 1 year ago

Thats pretty funny

andrew · 1 year ago

Also, the idea that religion makes no sense requires some idea of what sense is. How do we come to know what has meaning. Does science dictate what meaning is? Take, for example, if you are a father. Does your relatioship with your child have meaning? If sciece dictates meaning, then how can we trust science. How can you trust your own thoughts, as they are simply chemical processes. If science is all theie is, your interaction with your child is merely a biological and chemical set of responses, interpreted by your brain which releases hormons which illicit certain feelings. How can we trust these processes, when the only way to validate the validity of science is more science?

jonathan · 1 year ago

@andrew

Because Mao and Stalin established their own religions -- the worship of themselves and their parties -- just look at all the statues and monuments built in their names.

FiNiX · 1 year ago

"Please provide further explination that religions make no sense."

Please offer evidence that religion makes sense.

"Look to passages such as Daniel 11, which hundreds of years before the events take places predict with great accuracy the rise and fall of alexander the great."

Ladies and gentlemen, I bring you Daniel 11: "And in the first year of Darius the Mede, I took my stand to support and protect him."

Where does it mention ol' Alexander? Am I missing something?

FiNiX · 1 year ago

Oh, I am missing something. Sorry.

andrew · 1 year ago

Jonathan, my point was that religion is actually a threat to the state. Christians in the Roman empire were considered a threat, just like in Russia. You can not make a blanket statement that religion is the opium of the masses, because true religous freedom is not desirable for those is charge.

FiNiX · 1 year ago

"Christians in the Roman empire were considered a threat"

That's because Christianity was not the religion of Rome.

FiNiX · 1 year ago

"your interaction with your child is merely a biological and chemical set of responses, interpreted by your brain which releases hormons which illicit certain feelings."

Correct. Does that make that interaction any less valid?

VegaBro · 1 year ago

I dont really have an opinion on religion either way, but I would be much more likely to see a documentary conducted by Richard Dawkins than this guy, because, from what I've seen, Maher seems more interested in offending and belittling people than making his point. And frankly, Dawkins seems far more intelligent. I mean its really not that hard to dupe people who believe in religion because, for the most part, they are quite stupid. What I'm saying is, I'd rather see something more like An Inconvenient Truth than Borat when it comes to something like this. I just dont see anyone taking it seriously

andrew · 1 year ago

Finix, point well taken. but your missing my point, in that while some governments may use religion to help their power, not all religion is simply used to manipulate. My point was that Christianity flourished in an opressive enviornment becuase people believed it was true, not because it was forced on them. In response to the father-child interaction, it does not make it any less valid, but does it have meaning. My point was how do we come to define meaning?

Watanabex · 1 year ago

the world will look up and shout save us! and I'll whisper: no.

Watanabex · 1 year ago

i think its funny how all the people who think religious people are stupid dont stop to think that they behave the same way as religious people who think people who dont think as they do are also stupid

theres nothing new under our sun

FiNiX · 1 year ago

"while some governments may use religion to help their power, not all religion is simply used to manipulate."

That's true, but some of it is.

"it does not make it any less valid, but does it have meaning." (That sentence should end with a question mark.)

Nothing has meaning, IMO. I think we're here by happenstance, not divine intervention. But so long as we're here, I'm gonna' enjoy life.

KeanE · 1 year ago

In my opinion Yay God..screw Bill Maher... :p

Gorman · 1 year ago

@BA

Child-level insight? Isn't that all that is needed? I was only 7 when I got in trouble for spotting logic problems the Book of Mormon, and did I mention I got kicked out of Catechism for saying that the sacrament was a form of cannabilism (I was 11). Using history(questionable at that) and not logic leads to obvious fallacy.

Also your 'financial advice' comment is embarassing. That is called Ad hominem. Try addressing the argument at hand instead of just Maher bashing.

godbot · 1 year ago

jesus christ, i can't wait to see this god damn movie.

FiNiX · 1 year ago

"Look to passages such as Daniel 11, which hundreds of years before the events take places predict with great accuracy the rise and fall of alexander the great."

Okay, I'm not an expert on history or theology, but even if Daniel 11 DOES predict Alexander with accuracy, that does not affect the validity of the rest of the Bible.

Every religion is supported by so-called miracles, and every religion contradicts every other religion, so obviously, they can't all be true despite the fact that they're all supported by miracles.

"The bible is hard to believe, but I fall back on the words of Pascal wager."

You can't choose to believe something "just in case." That isn't real belief.

Murry · 1 year ago

Because there truly is no rational reason to believe in god, I’m looking forward to seeing this movie.

Sid Eschenbach · 1 year ago

Dawkins, Harris, Hitchens, Maher and many others have said it far better than I, but can we really be taking any religion seriously in 2008, and isn't it way past time we stopped being PC about this silliness? The time for trying to understand life, society, our planet and the universe through the celebration of ignorance and superstition has long since past, and if events in the Middle East aren't enough by themselves to convince a mind of that fact... then that mind simply doesn't want to be convinced. Go Bill!

Jim McDash · 1 year ago

Wow dude if I saw a face likethat in the clouds I would like totally FREAK OUT

JT
www.FireMe.To/udi

Ethan · 1 year ago

Why does belief in God constitute immediate dismissal?

Everyone starts with a presupposition that can not necessarily be "proven". You either start with there is a God and build your views on that or you don't.

2 Corinthians 4:18 "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary but what is unseen is eternal."

Christians start with a belief in the unseen and the spiritual. Atheists or agnostics start with a belief in the senses, science, and research. We are are looking at the world through a different set of glasses. I don't believe we can hope to understand one another beliefs but we can choose to respect each other. Jesus is everything to me and has given me meaning, hope, and purpose in life. I do believe in Him and hope one day those who read this will as well but I don't presume that all will.

charlie · 1 year ago

"He[Bill Maher] comes to this conclusion based on the Koran’s and the Bible’s predictions of destruction of the world at the “end times” and feels that these religions want the world to be destroyed because God or Allah has ordained it."

1 Nephi 22:23
…those who seek the lusts of the flesh and the things of the world, and to do all manner of iniquity; yea, in fine, all those who belong to the kingdom of the devil…are those who must be consumed as stubble…

Mormon 4:5 (God uses the wicked to punished the wicked)
But, behold, the judgments of God will overtake the wicked; and it is by the wicked that the wicked are punished; for it is the wicked that stir up the hearts of the children of men unto bloodshed.

yarman · 1 year ago

I was lucky enough to see this film last Friday at the Traverse City Film Festival (first film to sell out among 70+ shows). Maher is a rationalist, I guess. He begins the film standing in the ruins of Megiddo (Armegeddon) in Israel. His main point is that the world's leading religions believe in some form of end times, but for the last 50 years we have had the weapons to make those myths SELF-FULFILLING prophesies. Yes, Maher & Larry Charles (director) were very one-sided. Yes, Maher is preachy regarding his own perspective. But they intercut archival footage and insert wise-ass captions for great comedic effect.

Maher gives each interviewee opportunity to share their perspective on their religion. More often than not, it makes them look a little crazy. Some of the keenest insight of wacko Christian fundamentalists comes from two Catholic priests. Larry Charles participated in a very enlightening Q&A with Michael Moore and the audience after the film. He is a very smart man, admittedly agnostic, who seemed very knowledgeable about various religions.

All in all, it is a worthy film that should start a very important and overdue dialogue in America.

andrew · 1 year ago

Finix, two things. First, the passage in Daniel 11 is not a so called miracle. It is histority predicted in great detail 400 years before it occured. My question for you is how you will respond to this. You can say it does not validate the rest of the bible, but consider the outcome of that decision. Who else but someone with a detailed knowledge of the future could have predicted those events (i.e. God). Second, you are right in saying that not all religions can be true. There is an absolute truth, and any one who studies reilgion can see that not all can be true. For example muslims contend it was Judas on the cross, not Christ. Either it was Christ, or it wasnt. They both cant be true. But you refer to so called miracles, annd that all claim to be supernatural. Which is true. But you have not adressed my question, which is how did the author of Daniel 11 know that those events would transpire?
Finally, I do not believe in Christianity because of Pascals wager, it simply gives me comfort in knowing if I am wrong nothing but nothingness awaits me. I am not asking you to belive in all reigions, what Christianity asks you to do is to come face to face with the reality of the historical Christ, and his claims to be God.

Curious · 1 year ago

A couple of Jewish guys saying they want Christianity and Islam destroyed, I wonder if it's okay to get rid of their religion as well ?

alphgeek · 1 year ago

Two small rebuttals:

1/ J.D.: I'm not sure where you get your information regarding Hitler wanting religion eliminated but I'd like to see some evidence of what you claim.

To my understanding, much of the Third Reich's power came from its affiliation with the Christian church, particularly the Catholic church. You do realise that all German soldiers, sailors and airmen of the Wehrmacht had the phrase "Gott mit Uns" emblazoned on their uniform belt buckles? "God with Us"?

Hitler was also a believer in faith in schools - for instance, refer to this quote:

"Secular schools can never be tolerated because such a school has no religious instruction and a general moral instruction without a religious foundation is built on air; consequently, all character training and religion must be derived from faith.... We need believing people."
-- Adolf Hitler, April 26, 1933

2/ Ethan: No argument today with your premise regarding evidence - despite the usual convention that the onus for providing evidence generally falls upon those making the claim - but how did you decide that your vision of the unseen and spiritual is the correct one, as opposed to belief in Zeus, Ras Tafari, Horus, Allah, Huehueteotl, etc.?

Many atheists respect a believer's right to believe, but object when that belief intrudes on other's right to NOT believe. This would include regulations or laws based on an individual's faith being applied to all, such as "teach the controversy" type exercises to implant ID in science classes.

yarman · 1 year ago

to Curious:
Maher was raised Catholic, which the film discusses at length. The film spared no religion, including Judaism.

Jonathan Grand · 1 year ago

J.D. Says: "Hitler also wanted religion abolished. Religion was — and continues to be — a threat to all-powerful government. The founders put this nation “under God” for a reason. They knew that politicians seek to BE god. Recall that all the kings of the Old World considered themselves to be “chosen by god.”

Really, it’s only the power-hungry who despise religion. The “threat” of religion is one big myth. "

Are you actually being SERIOUS?! HAHAHAha
Amazing how you built something in your mind to explain something so wrong.
Besides the known-to-everyone fact that "Under God" was never used by the "founders" as you call them, that's not your most overwhelming mistake.

Religion is a THREAT to all powerful government? You mean the same all powerful government that worked with the catholic inquisition in Europe for CENTURIES, to burn books and kill dissidents before education could reach the people and they created a revolution against their closed system?

Or the same all powerful government that justifies a good vs. evil foreign policy on the word of Jesus?

Historically, religion gives all the answers to the little people, and discourages questioning the word, so they won't THINK too much. That ignorance allows for easy control, easy brainwashing through the media and rumors.

Religion is the most efficient belief system to make the masses juuust perfect to stop questioning authority and take in the orders like little babies. If you do think like you talk, you just made me sick. You think you figured it out and can't really be fooled. But you're another little dumb sheep.

MrPeach · 1 year ago

Ethan:

I'll take science and all it gives us. Since you don't believe in science, you need to turn in all your technological trappings (like the computer you used to post your comment, your car, refridgerator, etc) and go live in the desert like the good book sayd. Enjoy your faith healings, I know I'll ejoy my antibiotics.

Oh and believe in god doesn't earn immediate dismissal, it's taken us 2000 years to get to the point where we feel safe enough to challenge your woo without fearing for our lives. I think that says something.

andrew · 1 year ago

Jonathan Grand

First off, your dealing in absolutes, and we all know only siths deal in absolutes, which worries me. However, this claim the religion is the opium of the masses simply is not true. All though in some cases religion is used to control the ignorant, how do you explain those who have given their lives for their beliefs, like the Christian Martyrs that still exist today. In Afghanistan a few years ago, a muslim convert to Christianity refused to renounce his faith and was almost executed before the U.S. government stepped in. You can call this man ignorant, but he believed that Christianity was true, and was willing to die for it. He was not duped by his mulism government into converting to Christianity, nor did it bring him any good. In fact, he knew what it meant to his well being to covert. This man converted because he believed it was true. I would also put forward that the current secular forms of government arents much better than when the Church had more sway. You can cite the inquisition and withc hunts, but what about Paul Potts killing fields, and Stalins forced famines. Does this mean atheism isnt true because of the system of governments that stemmed from it were flawed. No. The same can be said for Christianity, just because governments went beyond the scriptures and commited terrible acts in the name of religion doesnt make the religion not true. Yes, they claimed they were acting on behalf of the religion, but they were not following the basic tenets of Christ. Please, dont attack the supporters of a belief system, attack the belief system.

Cletus · 1 year ago

I don't find Maher funny or entertaining, so I'll pass. Besides, I'm in the choir already; I don't need any more preaching to.

Regarding the predictive quality of the Bible, I don't think we know when any of it was written (or edited). We don't have the autograph editions of any of the books of the Bible.

andrew · 1 year ago

Cletus, Daniel 11 was in the Septuigant, which was translated around 250 B.C., which was still before all the events took place in Daniel 11.

790 · 1 year ago

I've never understood Bill Mahers success.
His material is 12th grade on a good day.

Jimmy · 1 year ago

Re: KeanE

Agreed.

Jonathan Grand · 1 year ago

andrew

I WORRY you? Must be for the wrong reasons... :)

Your english is broken and you don't make any sense. Your argumentation is childish and based in your own dogmas.

"how do you explain those who have given their lives for their beliefs, like the Christian Martyrs that still exist today"
- Huh...maybe I ... don't need to explain something I already blamed on ignorance?

"In Afghanistan a few years ago, a muslim convert to Christianity refused to renounce his faith and was almost executed before the U.S. government stepped in. You can call this man ignorant, but he believed that Christianity was true, and was willing to die for it. He was not duped by his mulism government into converting to Christianity, nor did it bring him any good."
- So?

"This man converted because he believed it was true."
- I couldn't care less about what he believed.

"Yes, they claimed they were acting on behalf of the religion, but they were not following the basic tenets of Christ."
- Oh you, a religious person, want to argue logically with the beliefs of other religious people? Let me get this straight - you want to convince them they should believe in slightly different dogmas? And actually manage to do it? Good luck! =D

"Please, dont attack the supporters of a belief system, attack the belief system."
- That's... what I did actually.
Wait...so, you think I should not attack supporters of religion, only religion itself? That's like saying I shouldn't attack supporters of Nazism, only nazism itself...
Does that make sense to you? Are you sure? You really never thought about that? You really never realized that supporters of wrong systems ARE the ones responsible for that system? Are you really that naive?

alphgeek · 1 year ago

Andrew:

Pol Pot and Stalin didn't kill millions because they were atheists. They did it because they were power mad psychopaths.

This argument annoys me because it is about as valid as saying they killed millions because they were left handed, or because they liked khaki uniforms, or because they were short. It confuses coincidence with causation.

I have never heard of anyone murdering another in the name of Darwin, or Dawkins, Nietzche, Russell or any of the others for that matter. I wish I could say the same about God.

Jonathan Grand · 1 year ago

alphgeek:

That was the worst part, but I didn't bother saying anything. Argumentation won't make him change his mind about that. That's true for any religious person

Kip · 1 year ago

I always found it funny when people review someone elses opinion. It's like when someone makes a list of top this or all time that. There will always be people that fly off the handle and call the person an idiot or moron or the rarely used maroon. It's just his opinion, it's not law how can he be wrong? I have seen chunks of this film and shockingly as an atheist I agree with a lot of it. My friend a devout catholic has seen the same chunks totally disagrees! Wow! Who would have guessed, but my friend can also state the fact that this is opinion and were all entitled to one. As far as the Ben Stein film, but me and super catholic thought it was utterly retarded. Ben Stein what the fuck man?

Robert Gills · 1 year ago

Um, atheism *is* religion! It has it's own beliefs it takes on faith and leaders who define orthodoxy (and orthopraxy). Every person on this planet has a religion.

Maybe yours is education, or evironmentalism, or movies (you can not go against orthodoxy and say anything negative about Godfather 2), or christianity, or nihilism, or your job, or whatever...

alphgeek · 1 year ago

Robert Gills:

Can you back up your assertion with some facts or a credible reference? I would argue that your statement has the hallmarks of doublethink. You're teetering on the brink of an invalid syllogism.

Atheism can be defined in many ways but in the simplest terms it is:

a- (without- or lack of-)
theism (belief in a god or gods)

Which part of '(without/lack of) belief in god or gods' implies belief? To my way of thinking, 'without belief' means just that, which is in fact the opposite of what you are trying to infer.

As the old saying goes, "atheism is a religion in the same way that not collecting stamps is a hobby"

By the way, nobody has defined the orthodoxy of my atheism. While I happily listen to opinions and draw my own conclusions, I don't need anyone to tell me what to think. This mode of thought alone would put me at odds with many religions, irrespective of any beliefs I claimed to hold.

Jonathan Grand · 1 year ago

Robert Gills:
"Um, atheism *is* religion! It has it’s own beliefs it takes on faith and leaders who define orthodoxy (and orthopraxy). Every person on this planet has a religion."

That sound as stupid and narrow-minded as saying I must have a favorite soccer team, even if I think soccer is stupid. Because everyone in the world has a favorite soccer team, right?

If you're not gonna say anything decent, just don't say it.

790 · 1 year ago

OMFG,,,,, "If your not going to say anything decent, just don't say it" ,,,,
Johnathan Grand,,,,
Your outlook awareness level makes me laugh. Do you think your posting on Biblebeltsforjesus.com,,,,?
This is SlashFilm,,,,,

Your comments are subjective ,,,, and out of place (IMO).

Jonathan Grand · 1 year ago

Hahahaha Why are there so many religious little bigots?

Ooohh he thinks my comments are "subjective" "and out of place". Scary, I'm shaking! brrr

790 · 1 year ago

Ah Johnathan, Jesus says , "Love your enemies" , or have you fallen from grace ?
Praise be with you.

790

Btw you sound like your coming down off a cocaine high.
Bless you, my brother ,,,,,,,

Jonathan Grand · 1 year ago

Ahhh we have a religious man with a sense of humor. A rare find nowadays. Props, my friend. Props.

Fallen from grace are you kidding? I suck blood from the necks of pre-pubescent virgins. I am a pure blood vampire. No grace needed thank you, come back later :)

I can't do cocaine, I'm too stressed out as it is.

790 · 1 year ago

LOL Jonathan, I'm impressed with your insight,,,,,

But ya gotta give the majority a break here, its SlashFilm ,,,,, a Unique site unto itself...... ;-)

Steve · 1 year ago

Is Maher an atheist? I thought he was a deist... Honestly. (See the Onion A/V club interview with various celebs about religion.)

de7iL · 1 year ago

both atheism and deism are pretty shoddy as philosophies

one state that the deeper meaning and wonder of the universe is separate from the self and only accessible through a very static rule system .


The other states that there are no deeper meaning and wonder in life.

i have other things to say but it just started raining so i'm going outside and i'm taking my daughter with me.

perspective folks
welcome to life

Robert · 1 year ago

Andrew, Gillis, De7il, thanks for illustrating my point.

Robert Gills · 1 year ago

Robert,

You're welcome!

Robert

Jonathan Grand · 1 year ago

"The other states that there are no deeper meaning and wonder in life."

Ohh, really? Is that what atheism "states"? Where did you read that one?

Wow no wonder you're all confused as f*ck.

"Atheism, as an explicit position, can be either the affirmation of the nonexistence of gods, or the rejection of theism."

Oh wait did I miss something? Where is it saying "atheism is the negation of deeper meaning and wonder in life"? Hmm

FiNiX · 1 year ago

"both atheism and deism are pretty shoddy as philosophies"

They aren't philosophies. One is a belief, the other is a lack of belief. Neither is a philosophy.

"one state that the deeper meaning and wonder of the universe is separate from the self and only accessible through a very static rule system ."

Really, now? How'd you read THAT into it? Here's the definition of the word "deism" according to the MSN Encarta dictionary.

"Deism: a belief in God based on reason rather than revelation and involving the view that God has set the universe in motion but does not interfere with how it runs."

I don't know where you got all that "only accessible through a static rule system" crap from.

"The other states that there are no deeper meaning and wonder in life."

No meaning? Perhaps. I don't need a meaning. I don't need to justify my life.

But no WONDER? What?? Go outside look around yourself, man! If you don't see any deep wonder in life without the existence of a god, you just aren't looking in the right places.

andrew · 1 year ago

Grand, you missed the entire point of my post. I was responding to the idea that all religous people follow their religion because it is pressed upon them by the state. You also missed my point in regards to attacking belief systems. I was merely trying to say that you do not judge the belief system by those who claim to follow it. For example, if I meet an angry atheist, it would be foolish of me to say all atheists are angry, and their belief system makes them angry. Finally, religions do not conists of slightly different dogma. Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam are vastly different, as evidenced by my previous post. One claims Christ is the son of God, the only way to God, Islam flatly denies this. Hindus believe in millions of Gods. These are big differenced. Investigate religous beliefs and you will find them to be vastly differet. I believe what happened is you took my statements out of context of the larger arguments.
Note: I dont understand the need to resort to personal attacks, and all beliefs are based on some sort of worldview (i.e. dogma).

andrew · 1 year ago

To Grand:
Bulverism is a logical fallacy in which, rather than proving that an argument is wrong, a person instead assumes it is wrong, and then goes on to explain why the other person held that argument. It is essentially a circumstantial ad hominem argument.

andrew · 1 year ago

Alpha Geek, you also missed the poit of my agruement. All though it is not a perfect analogy, I was trying to show how it is foolish to judge the belief system by those who claim to hold to it or follow it. I was not trying to draw a direct correlation. It is an analogy, which is an inference that if things agree in some respects they probably agree in others . You are trying to paint me ignorant in my arguments, but you do not underatand rhetorical or arguementative styles.

FiNiX · 1 year ago

"I was responding to the idea that all religous people follow their religion because it is pressed upon them by the state."

Huh? Who said that? I proposed that religion is a form of government in and of itself, and is self-enforcing.

"Investigate religous beliefs and you will find them to be vastly differet."

Yet most involve spirituality, the afterlife, god(s), and the enforcement of certain morals. Religions differ in much the same way kinds of fruit differ. They're all different, but they're all fruits.

"I was trying to show how it is foolish to judge the belief system by those who claim to hold to it or follow it."

I agree. I do not attack people, I attack certain beliefs.

alphgeek · 1 year ago

Andrew, I'm not too sure which argument you think I misunderstood - I'm assuming it is where you invoke Pol Pot and Stalin to say that, "hey, not just religious people slaughter millions - look at these atheists!". Just a few follow-up points to correct the record:

1/ I wasn't trying to paint you as ignorant, I just disagreed with what you said. You were inferring that atheists (Stalin and Pol Pot) kill people too - sure, no argument there. My point however, was that they didn't kill BECAUSE they were atheists. They killed people and they just happened to be atheists as well. Just like they might have had brown hair or short sight or flat feet. They killed because they were power crazed. This is a little different to the crusades, the Salem witch trials, the Inquisition etc., during which people were killed explicitly in the name of God. Neither Stalin or Pol Pot invoked the name of atheism as they killed. If you have evidence to the contrary then please, post it here. I'm happy to be corrected if I am wrong! Bear in mind that this specific point has been argued for years and is generally discredited by both atheists and right-thinking Christians.

2/ The form of argument you are using is not argument by analogy. It is actually called a 'straw man' argument. It means avoiding the question at hand but attacking a superficially similar subject which is an easier target, then claiming that by winning the secondary argument that you have won the first.

In formal logic it is incorrect to assume that if things agree in some respects that they probably agree in others. This is a form of invalid syllogism (you might note that I pointed out to an earlier commenter that he was at risk of making the same error). Let me show you why:

a/ Horses have four legs
b/ tables have four legs
c/ therefore tables eat grass

This form of assumption has been proven to be incorrect far more often than correct.

3/ You are saying that I am trying to paint you as ignorant and that I do not understand argument. Neither is correct. I am not saying that you are ignorant, simply that I disagree with you. Then I provide evidence as to why I disagree. This is called argument.

However, by turning away from the topic of discussion to focus on attributes you think you see in me, you are engaging in what is called an 'ad hominem' argument. You are not replying to my argument, you seem to be attacking me directly. This is usually done in the hope that if one demonstrates that the person putting forward the argument is undesirable, then their argument will fall apart.

Ad hominem arguments have been demonstrated to always be logically invalid.

I'm sorry to have turned away from the point at hand, but I had to correct your misinformed post. Please feel free to keep discussing the issues, but I ask you to show me the respect of being better prepared or better informed in future posts.

Robert Gills · 1 year ago

Abortion!

lenalbastring · 1 year ago

Maher Rules ! ! !
The initial intent was to have this released on Easter Sunday (btw)
But constraints & budgets did not allow this (TO BAD !)

This movie will provide people like myself
hours of comedic relief

And if it saves just one young person from wasting their time
& life on some old plagiarized control myth/fairy tale
(Such as Catholicism)
Then its a total success
Growing up & away from the old egyptian based organized religions of the world, is the final hurdle for mankind in his quest for a truley social evolved society & we in the USA are FAR BEHIND
So we a kick to the head (Like this film)

lenalbastring · 1 year ago

& BTW - Just to clear up any confusion
The definition & meaning of Atheism has almost been created & manipulated via the catholic church ( The same way they started calling all the religions they originally plagiarized the jesus christ story from ' Pagan' after they had the govt & military to back them
up.
Atheism to them = Any one that disagrees with us !

The truth is -There are very few, if any people in this world that do not see a great power & good at the center of it all -(The Cosmos)
regardless if its a living thing, a power, a force or just mother nature herself.
But after reading the actual history of the Catholics Religion & Church ,
I may not know what god is ,
BUT I SURE KNOW WHAT GOD IS NOT !
& THAT AIN 'T IT !

FiNiX · 1 year ago

"is the final hurdle for mankind in his quest for a truley social evolved society"

Who's the "he" in "his"? If you're referring to god, I agree; if we were created by a god, he gave us brains for a reason. Why give us brains, then tell us not to use them? It doesn't make sense!

"There are very few, if any people in this world that do not see a great power & good at the center of it all"

I, an atheist, agree with the "power" bit ("mother nature herself"), but I'm not so sure about the "good" bit.

To say that "there's a great good at the center of it all," we'd first have to define the word "good." As far as I can tell, good and evil are merely concepts, and their definitions are subjective.

This guy explains it pretty well:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYL-Ox2K_7Y

geetar9876 · 1 year ago

Alphgeek- Unfortunately, your intelligent, logical, and reasoned approach is lost on many of these posters. Your last post was indeed a great read....

Barbara Moss · 1 year ago

I have not been in a movie theatre since 1992 - I will be first in line as soon as this movie hits my city!

Noah · 1 year ago

This is an extremely interesting subject. Fact: Mosr religion is guilty of horrendous atrocities. History tells us and so do current events. Religion that permits or foments such is not a religion of a loving God - period.
That does not mean that Christianity itself is a menace. As Mahata Ghandi aditted: If all men practiced the Sermon on the Mount, we will have solved the problems of mankind. So, the failure is not Christianity, but religions that merely CLAIM to be Christian.
Such religions DESERVE to be destroyed - and will be because the True God will not forever tolerate the claims that such ones are "His" people.
The time for this destrreuction at the hands of God is near, and sadly this will require an end to this "world". Not the earth itself, but those who refuse to be true followers of Jesus Christ. He has no need of claimants and never did. Read Matthew 7:21-23 and see who it is that Jesus will accept ad those who he will not in the upcoming judgement.

Eryn · 1 year ago

Maher criticizes hate and bigotry with his own hate & bigotry. He has offered up his "religion" of humanism in place of the others.
He also never criticizes Budhism or Scientology...I guess not to piss of his Hollywood buddies. He's as much of a Hyporcrit as those he attacks.

Galactus · 1 year ago

I've only seen the trailer for the film and to me it looks funny. This may seem strange coming from Christian. Anyone who proclaims to be a believer of any religion shouldn't be shaken by Maher's film. He interviews extremists on all sides of the board and asks questions that cannot be answered by faith. There is a mystery to all faiths. At some point, you believe or you don't.

We should all be able to make an somewhat intelligent defense of our personal faith. If Maher's questions shake your foundation, re-assess your stance.

Zachary · 1 year ago

LOL, yes ..a studied ,learned, genius of a man: Ben Stein researches and studies the science and the Word to she co-existence between the two. The you bring me the failed , pathetic, HORRIBLE humor of Bill Mahr,oh and of course the great Borat ,Ali G impersonater.
Sorry do I need to say more?
As a Creation believing Christian I have argued scientifically Creation against the evo's and atheists. While I do not mind debating the topic...I realy enjoy it. Yet the plain ignorance to say ,'' All religion must be destroyed''. increases my faith 10 fold.
Christians have alway wondered when the extreme persecution would make it to the states,this is just the start.
While finding this film detastable it was inevidible.

Noah · 1 year ago

Religion needs to be exposed for what it is. If it fails to make the world a BETTER place, it has no place in the world. If there are practices that are un-Christian, then it is not Christian. Christians are by definition followers of Christ. If Mahr ppints out the flaws, this is a good and right thing. Christianity must be Christian and not just claimants to such. In truth Christendom has failed Christianity; they have failed Christ. No wonder religion is getting such a bad rap. Therefore Christendom is not Christianity and the two must be separated by being exposed for what they area. Such films that expose the failings should be welcome to true Christians.

JGron · 1 year ago

Looking forward for this movie!
Sounds like it's going to be very, very good! :) Props to Bill Maher

K, Maher Fan · 1 year ago

Pardon me for referring to an older post, but by saying “Please, don't attack the supporters of a belief system, attack the belief system,” you might as well be saying "Don't hate the playa, hate the game."

Cichawoda · 1 year ago

Hey Andrew what do you think of this?
"There is no reference to Daniel in any non-canonical literature before the second century. There is also no reference to Daniel on Babylonian, Median, or Persian monuments and inscriptions. This is an odd omission indeed considering Daniel's purported high rank plus his alleged service under four kings as is claimed in the Book of Daniel.
The visions pertaining to events between the fifth and third centuries are brief, sketchy, and historically unreliable. Actually, they amount to no more than clumsy attempts to portray known historical events in a prophetic style. The writer did not predict the future so much as he reiterated the past. As the author approaches his own era, however, the details in the visions and the events they claim to prophesy become much more precise."

http://www.inu.net/skeptic/daniel.html

Em · 1 year ago

To throw in my two cents in this debate, it's not so much a question of whether or not religion is "good" or "bad". From what I've learned of history, it has always effectively been, more than anything, a useful tool in the brokerage of power...for many different ends. For example, it is manipulated both by those who desire to remain in power as well as by those (the powerless) who would like to gain power. Both despots and freedom fighters have used religion...it's just a useful tool. It's not just religion, though...people can get swept up into any sort of ideology and take it too far, such as in the case of the Soviet Union and Maoist China. It's willful ignorance and mob mentalities that I really find frightening. All in all, however, I found Religulous HILARIOUS...and the best moments occur when he just shuts up and lets the interviewees start talking and dig themselves into their own silly hole...they don't need any help from him to do that. Not recommended for anyone who takes him or herself too seriously.

Steve · 1 year ago

Don't even begin to compare Bill Maher to Michael Moore. The films Michael Moore puts out are awful. He is like the friend with pitty cuts on their wrists. He just wants to start something.

The world would be a much better place without religion. I like the way some scenes were abruptly cut, when religious nuts were made to look like complete idiots. Hopefully all the Christians, Jews, Catholics, Mormons, and Muslims who watch this movie feel the same way when leaving. "Why the hell would I believe in Adam and Eve and the talking snake? Burning bush? Creationism?" It is ridiculous and they SHOULD feel stupid for believing in MAGIC and FAIRY TALES.

Coolia · 1 year ago

Love Michael Moore too! Great movies, very cool guy.

I'm really looking forward to watch Religulous! :)

Caz · 1 year ago

Of course religions have to be destroyed. All the "end times" apocalyptic bullshit aside, religion is dangerous. How many wars were started because of what a fictional "holy" book said? Hindus VS Buddhists, Sunni Muslims VS Shiite Muslims, Muslims VS Hindus, Muslims VS Sikhs, Muslims VS Christians, Protestant Christians VS Catholic Christians, and that is just a summarized list. There are many nationalistic wars going on right now that have their roots in religion. For fuck's sake, the bloodiest genocide man has yet to witness (the Holocaust) had its roots in religion.

The Koran enables Muslims to kill hundreds or thousands of "infidels" (men, women and children who are utterly innocent but deserve to die just because they don't believe in the same breed of sky daddy that the Muslims do) at a time without remorse. The fucking book even says that a Muslim "warrior" will be martyred if they do this!

The Bible enabled centuries of imprisonment and murder of so called "heretics", "blasphemers" or "witches" just because those people had the courage to not believe in the unobservable magical entity the Christians called "god". Christian Americans continued keeping slaves because the Bible, a book that is supposed to be the ultimate guide to morality, supports slavery. And it also enables people to kill innocent abortion preforming doctors without regret. And finally, homosexual Christians are ashamed of their sexuality and moved to consider themselves worthless (even to the point of suicide), just because the Bible says that homosexuality is an "abomination".

And last but not least, there is the threat that religion (in particular creationism) poses to science. Creationists regularly attempt to discredit valid scientific theories like evolution, and the layman is stupid and/or apathetic enough to believe them without complaint. And if this wasn't bad enough, creationists attempt to get their religious bullshit taught in science classes. They act as if there actually is a "controversy" in regards to evolution when any moderately intelligent human being realizes that the so called "controversy" only exists in the minds of the creationists. Finally there is the issue of stem cell research, a valuable branch of study that could save many lives, being prohibited just because it would require the termination of early human embryos. How much longer will we allow religion to run rampant through our society, while it endangers everything in its path?

Noah · 1 year ago

Caz has a lot of good points, though sadly radically in the other direction. This commenter saw the movie on Sunday. Bill Maherhas hit many nails right on the head. However he too went the other direction too far.
Bill hopes to see religions demise in his lifetime. He most definitely will. It WILL happen - and soon at that.
But what "religion" needs to be destroyed? Not a single aspect of TRUE Christian morality is harmful. The problem is that there are so many so called "Christians" giving it a bad name. Yes, as Jesus himself said in Matthew 7 that not even all those calling upon him are his TRUE followers. ONLY those doing God's will. What is God's Will? To sum it up, let's just say the then commandments. By these alone nearly every religion on the face of the earth is guilty.
How many are involved in killing? Making a mockery of the Name of God? Worship men and idols? Are not greedy and supremely coveting the good life?
This narrows it down considerably. Actually it is the true God of the Bible who will see to it that religion is destroyed. It could very well be that Maher's film is the catalyst that shall result in God's will being done by destroying all religion that is false to their claims.
If Bill Maher just knew that he is on the right track, but not for the correct reasons. It is sad that he does not know them, and why his wishes will soon be fulfilled.
Likely what will prompt this dire situation is that the world is going broke - and look at the IMMENSE wealth holed up in these institutions that violate the tenets of the God they claim to represent. So Bill and Caz - It IS coming and it will be soon, but ironically it is God that will make it happen!

Steven Bolg · 1 year ago

Noah:

In the other direction too far?

So in your opinion, it is right to acknowledge how religion is stupid... BUT.. you can't go too far, you have to respect people's religion?

Contradictory, much?

I love these guys that just learned that middle ground is usually correct, so they stand in the exact middle of the road even when there is not much to argue - it's stupidity vs education here. We're not discussing a Van Gogh painting, where there's 2 sides to every critic.

Noah · 1 year ago

Make no mistake. "Middle ground". was not what was said or meant.
The ONLY ground is the way of true Christ-like behavior. That is the only safe ground in the coming catastrophe. Living like a Christian will soon be a real life saver. Maher wants a peaceful world. Most people say they do, but are most people willing to be peace-MAKERS; those who are to "inherit the earth"?
So, the so called "middle ground" is nowhere to be. The fact is anyone not on the side of God is on the middle ground.

Phil · 1 year ago

I am just pissed off that RELIGULOUS isn't playing at a theater near me. Not even in my state, as far as I know. If anyone knows of where it might be playing in South Carolina...

lenalbastring · 1 year ago

"The ONLY ground is the way of true Christ-like behavior. That is the only safe ground in the coming catastrophe. Living like a Christian will soon be a real life saver "

Hmmmmm - We have all heard this kind of stuff before
Just another poor brainwashed soul , who just cant wait for the world
to come to a Horrible fiery end at the hands of some angry hate-filled sadist thunder god in the sky who will 1st take the time to round up all the good believers & save them !

First Off) - I do understand that their are lots of religious people in the world that are also rational thinking human beings ,

But unfortuanly the kind of people we commonly see all the time are the disgusting hate filled judgmental bigot a-holes (Like nut jobs that blame hurricanes & 9/11 on gay love etc...) Or self righteous zealots on Faux-News for whom statements based in truth or reality are a NON ISSUE.

& The ones that makes me really laugh the most, are those who attempt to claim our forefathers were somehow designing a "Christian Nation" Ha Ha Ha- Jefferson so despised organized Catholicism that trying to claim otherwise is like discussing Aldolf Hitler's love for Free Speech ! & speaking of Hitler -His main argument was that " Jews should be killed because their people denied the Christ ! & were originally the perpetrators of his death !

(In addition The RCC & the pope of the time backed him 100%, as murdering/torturing people who simply disagreed with you was something they mastered 1000's of years before Hitler !

But Its 2008 now & if you can not see the ugly political based facts that litter the entire history of mans misuse of both the Bible & Koran then your are Blind ! & ignorent as well.

Belief in a god or central power force is in NO Way An Admission of Christianity! or any other of the Egyptian based crucified savior god religions.
That's just more self absorbed thinking from the RCC
( Like they own the word God in some way ! )

The fact is If you believe in the Jesus story (From the bible), You do so DESPITE the facts & the realities of christian history - NOT BECAUSE OF THEM

Noah · 1 year ago

It is ad that some are incapable of separating Christians from those who CLAIM to be.

As for the crucified savior information; Bill Maher only touched on that fact. Actually there are many such crucified saviors in pagan religious belief. There are as Bill showed uncanny similarities to what happened to the Son of God, Jesus.

I researched this extensively and there is a logical explanation. The fact is that there has been a tremendous conspiracy against truth from the very beginning.

The Satanic enemy of God had access to the spirit realm for many years. He no doubt came into the knowledge of what God was planning to do by sending a Messiah; born of a virgin and that would be killed as a common criminal.

To confuse matters, the master of deception came up with his many false messiahs BEFORE Jesus came to the earth.

Interestingly, so called Christian churches have adopted many pagan concepts from these pagan sources, like Mary being the "Queen of Heaven". That is NOT from the Bible.

Of course many will find this hard to believe, but that just shows how successful this insidious scheme has been

lenalbastring · 1 year ago

"As for the crucified savior information; Bill Maher only touched on that fact. Actually there are many such crucified saviors in pagan religious belief. There are as Bill showed uncanny similarities to what happened to the Son of God, Jesus."

Hmm- Nah sorry I just can't swallow or believe that.

Seems to me the RCC just copied the most popular aspects
of past crusified gods & incorporated them all into the Jesus Story
(Sort of a Best of God !!!)
Because if thier crusified god was true & all the others were false creations they would not have had to murder all those people & burn all those books/artifacts-
As You don't cover up the truth
You cover up a lie !

Nate · 1 year ago

i just have one question...if christianity was spawned from another religion (as it was) why does no one follow that religion instead of christianity...it didnt come first people

Noah · 1 year ago

Christianity evolved from Judaism. Jesus was a Jew (Israelite) that fulfilled the purpose of Judaism. In doing so he, as the Christ, had followers that became known as Christians.
Today, Christendom looks little like the Christianity that Jesus initiated. Rather Christendom has absorbed many pagan beliefs which makes it actually pagan in the name of Christ. It has become tainted, or as Jesus illustrated "a little leaven" has "fermented the whole lump".
As for followers; there are followers of Christ or Christians. There are Jewish believers, there are outright pagans, and there is Christendom that since it is riddled with paganism, which makes it merely made up of professed Christians.

ProfNathan · 1 year ago

But in the end, their stupid beliefs all amount to the same bs based on fake history.

Noah · 1 year ago

Belief in Christ is not , as you call it, bs. Even IF, Jesus did not exist, every single thing he taught was to bring peace and harmony to those who practiced it. So, even IF you wish to call it "fake history", the precepts are the finest known to man. In fact most of the world recognizes the superiority of his teachings, and many recognize the value of practicing them in daily life. Laws of most nations are based on the book some consider "fake history".
The point is that those who truly practice what Christ preached are the true Christians. Granted that is a very small group, but it works, so where could such superior wisdom come from?
Jesus made it clear: "By their fruits you will know them" (his followers).

ProfNathan · 1 year ago

Nop, they're not "the finest known to man" and they're not superior at all. It's common sense. I didn't need him to tell me that. I already know respecting and loving one another is common sense in society.

No, laws of most developed nations are based on common sense (and occasional corruption). Nations that actually use religion as their foundation are mostly 3rd world dictatorships today.

The tag of "true christian" is as deep as "true scientologist". Who cares if you're "true" or not? It's still hypocrisy.

Don't choose to follow blindly what you read in a book just because someone tells you that's the right thing to do. That's being ignorant.

The catholic church used religion for centuries to control the masses and avoid education that would take absolutist control from governments and the church. That is why the most religious nations today are the ones with the most social and political problems (and less developed).

It's not a coincidence that IQ/education correlates inversely to religious beliefs.

Noah · 1 year ago

Read Jesus' words again. You missed something. No MAN could come up with the wisdom in his words, and be of a low IQ. IQ has nothing to do with goodness. There are a LOT of smart evil people.

ProfNathan · 1 year ago

Yeah I know, I need to be saved. What I need is more Jesus in my life.

There's a lot more dumb evil people, and your point is? So because there's a lot of smart evil people, I should wish to be stupid? Should I want my kids to be stupid too?

Goodness is volatile. You can do something good today that will be considered evil in 50 years, and vice versa. When they wrote the bible, willingly killing your own son, giving away your virgin daughters or having slaves was a good thing. So, if you believe so much in the words of Jesus, I should assume you believe that too. You probably believe all the bad things stated in the bible are equally "wise".

Your incapacity to understand what is wrong with your blind belief is evil. Your lack of education in that matter is potentially evil. You will fight for what you believe, even if everyone else believes that is wrong, and you will do evil things to other people.

Right now, the way you speak to me condescendingly is evil, and very frightening. Because you are so blindly convinced that you are not evil and that your beliefs could never be evil, you are a dangerous person to be around.

Noah · 1 year ago

This is not intended to be an argument. The best conclusion I can supply is to quote the worlds of Jesus in Matthew 11 verse 25: Jesus said: "I publicly praise you Father , Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intellectual ones and have revealed them to babes."

ProfNathan · 1 year ago

Am I talking to a book-reading robot or a person with a brain?

I'm sure you can find very good quotes to support you. Religious people lost respect for science and they must have have read it in the bible before doing it. I'm sure you think eating the fruit from the tree of knowledge is the ultimate sin. That's why you're a brainless monkey.

Is there also a bible quote about God saying how the intellectual ones will call the stupid ones brainless monkeys?

ashleigh yaya · 1 year ago

I was very surprised watching this film. It may be because I am not familiar with Bill Maher's take on things, but I had no idea the film was going to be what it was. I actually had no real expectation of the premise or his beliefs yet it saddened me that his ending statement was almost fatalistic. I am loving the conversation this film provokes, and I love the fact that he is exercising his right to stir things up, however I am also saddened that he is one of many to judge these religions on the behavior of men, the laws and teachings within are not at fault. All in all I appreciate anyone who can discuss their beliefs and others' that may conflict without insult or injury.

Caz · 1 year ago

Noah, you can't honestly be going on about all that "true christian" semantic bullshit as if it was any sort of legitimate argument. Nevermind that the bible is so confusing and contradictory that no one has yet to come to any agreement as to exactly what the fuck a "true christian" is.

So you think that god's will is simply for us to follow the ten commandments? Then why is stoning to DEATH a prescribed punishment for so many different "sins"? Wouldn't stoning someone to death violate the "thou shalt not kill" commandment? And speaking of thou shalt not kill, those words have made god a hypocrite. How many murders and genocides did god directly commit or order to be committed in the bible? Too many for me to count. So god is by far the biblical character that has the most blood on his hands.

How can anyone take anything you say seriously when you speak about the apocalypse as if it were actually going to happen?

And regarding all the savior like beings that came before Jesus, do you honestly think that the devil orchestrated their existence as a way to cast doubt onto Jesus? That is about as far from logical as it is possible to get. (Nevermind that even the mere existence of the devil casts doubt onto god's supposed omniscience). An actual logical explanation for Jesus' life story baring so many resemblances to those of previous saviors is that the writers of Jesus' story simply borrowed the stories of those other saviors and changed them up a bit. And Christianity has so many similarities with paganism because the early christian leaders were attempting to placate the pagans by adopting some of their customs.

"Of course many will find this hard to believe, but that just shows how successful this insidious scheme has been"

The irony of someone as brainwashed as you saying something like that nearly make me choke on my laughter. You do realize that atheists will use that exact same statement when talking about atheism. Right? The only difference is that atheists are right and you're not.

Jesus wasn't the flawless example of human perfection that you claim he was. There are instances in the bible where he refused to heal people just because they were Gentiles. And there were also instances where Jesus condoned killing as punishment. A person doesn't have to be anywhere close to perfect to find those two scenarios repugnant. Jesus' teachings are far from "the finest known to man" I think that Jainism beliefs of utter nonviolence far surpass Jesus teachings. And the beliefs of the Jains were in existence six centuries before Jesus. Jesus' "wisdom" came from the words of people that lived long before Jesus. Jesus's words are nothing more than plagiarisms.

Yes, actually, a child with an IQ in the double digits could come up with the "treat others as you want to be treated" concept. It's not near as complicated a concept as Christians would like to think it is.
"IQ has nothing to do with goodness" - that's the first intelligent thing you've said. Many utterly idiotic fundamentalist Christians somehow manage to be nice, after all.

One thing I'll never understand, is when Christians throw bible quotes at someone as if those quotes actually prove something related to the outside world. The bible is a fictional book. Having said that, a person cannot use a fictional book to attempt to prove anything about reality. That's like trying to measure your weight in liters, the two things just don't compute. I could quote act and line of Shakespeare to you in attempt to prove how prejudiced the 16th and 17th centuries were, but that would be invalid. Because, for all I know, Shakespeare could have made up the scenarios in his books completely, without basing them off of reality at all.

Bill Baker · 1 year ago

Maher is NOT an Atheist, he keeps pointing this out. Maher is an Agnostic Apatheist. As for Mark Twain, Twain was a Deist with Agnostic inclinations.
I wish people would get that fact.

ProfNathan · 1 year ago

Oh stop it, they're atheists. They don't believe in God. Who cares. Stop trying to classify things that don't matter.

Maria · 1 year ago

I just can't believe it-
I was looking forward to see the first really interesting movie in a very long time- but because it looks like we do have censorship in the US I am not able to watch it in my State !
I do live in SC and the movie is not running in the entire State of South Carolina !! Grrrr.
It looks like their inhabitants are in need to be sheltered from atheistical thoughts and are afraid that some of these religious guy's might even start thinking. It makes them look as being very weak believers

chris zombro · 1 year ago

Loved the movie and agree w/Bill's closing statements. (not that I love the possibility that the very religious use their texts as an excuse to not care about our world/environment/people of all nations- because it is the fulfillment of "prophesy") Please be very wary of the religious, they are looking through eyes of selfishness (saving their own soul) and not the eyes of spirituality (connection with our creator and all beings on this earth.

Joe Schmoe · 1 year ago

Bill Maher suggests that religion be destroyed for the good of humankind. Here's what is really interesting...

God actually plans to do the same exact thing, with FALSE religion!

(His own Son was in fact executed for exposing false religion for what it is.)

In the book of Revelation, false religion is described as Babylon the Great. In 18:4 he warns people to "get out of her" before he brings upon her what she deserves.

He will use human governments (described symbolically as beasts in the Bible) to do it for him. They'll think it's their own idea, but actually they'll carry out God's will.

False religion is not only ridiculous, but it has done more harm than any other element. However, that does not in itself prove that true religion does not exist, any more than counterfeit money in circulation proves that there's no genuine money in circulation.

After false religion is wiped out, true servants of God will remain.

Sounds ridiculous to skeptics, but wait and see. Remember, you were warned. A loving God always gives warning. (Noah preached to skeptics, too.)

lenalbastring · 1 year ago

"After false religion is wiped out,"

Hmmm
So who will decide which is/are false gods vs. the true one?

Anyhow-
Bill Maher obviously knows that most religions were not started to hurt mankind in any way , but there were some elements of control there
especially in many of the later Crucified Savior god Religions (those thought to have Egyptian or Older origins.)

Featuring a J. Christ like god & a one year journey that always ends with a public murder at the hands of an evil mankind who can not put aside his hate & distrust.
Then Finally A Resurrection.

(This is very much like many Twilight Zone episodes where visitors from another planet
wish to help us , but we can not get over our ugly fear & hate etc....

However man use of many of them is highly destructive & nearly 100% of the time, Personal hates & the imposing of personal views are a large part of the intended desires.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is why the more a religion is inter mixed with a countries political/social system & laws -The greater the amount of War, Hate Cruelty & Overall stagnation of society is seen.

PLEASE -Name me any current example of a country/ nation that goes against that set of results ?

noah · 1 year ago

Isn't it strange that a man that taught love and lived it has "followers" that do not practice what he preached? Simply put: they are NOT his followers. Jesus himself indicated that few would be made of the "stuff" necessary to live up to the high standards. Not that being loving is difficult, but that mankind is basically selfish.
But not all. Not all are interested in "saving their own skin". There are genuine Christians that are doing much more than that; they, like Jesus, try to help others to do so.
The fact is this: A person of any religion that is not displaying Christ-like behavior is NOT a real Christian. He is a false Christian, and a religion that does not follow Christ but merely claims to do so, is also false to their claim and thus a false religion.
It is that simple. That is they way Jesus sees it. Anything else a person may think is just fooling himself.

Kevin C · 1 year ago

I'm tired of this crap. That what Jesus would tell you all.

I am kind to all the real people that can have my care. I don't ruin it by worshiping false entities instead.

I wouldn't kill my beloved ones in the mount if I heard a voice telling me to do it. And that's what Jesus would do. He would tell you all to shut up with that stupid spiritual crap, live the moment and love your family and friends.

Being an atheist, I'm actually closer to light than you'll ever be.

noah · 1 year ago

KC:
What "voice" told you that?

Kevin C · 1 year ago

I'm different than you. I reach logical conclusions, I don't need voices in my head telling me what to do in my life.

Joe Schmoe · 1 year ago

It is God and his Son who determine true religion from false.

In Matthew 7, Jesus clearly warned against false Christians, who will be like wolves in sheep's covering.

Which means that it wouldn't be starkly evident on the surface who true servants are, versus the false ones.

Fortunately, both Jesus (and other parts of the Bible) tell how to identify the true from the false.

Consider:

* John 13:34-35 - Love among themselves.

Which group refuses to take up arms or fight in wars, regardless of which country they live in?

Who has overcome racial and cultural hatred and prejudice, and lives together in harmony?

* John 17 - No part of the world.

Which group stays politically neutral, regardless of which country they live in? They thus never end up killing their spiritual brothers (nor anyone else) on the opposing side?

Which group has firmly taken such a stand despite imprisonment, Nazi concentration camps, and other persecution?

* Mat 24:14 - Good news of the kingdom preached worldwide before the end comes.

Which group spreads the SAME message of the Kingdom worldwide, in hundreds of languages, without bias, and without profit as their motive?

* 2 Tim 3:16-17. Which group views the Bible as the inspired word of God and strictly adheres to it for standards by which to live, which thus elevates them morally and makes them better parents, children, neighbors, and citizens?

Which group is thus far different from religious hypocrites, because of doing so?

Which group follows the Bible command to "remove the wicked man from among yourselves" to keep bad practices from being practiced by its members?

Those are some of the things you can use to get GOD's own opinion, as he's stated in his word the Bible, as to who true servants are, and who are the false.

judah · 12 months ago

These guys could have written a movie on the positive aspects of religion, but it wouldn't sell enough tickets at the box office to pay for production and fixed and variable costs for the movie, and to pocket a few million in profits. G-D doesn't care whether we believe in Him or not, just treat your fellow man with mercy and kindness whether Jew, Christian, Muslim or any other religious persuasion. It's fanatics that forget this simple message. If you remember your Torah, Abraham left speaking with G-D to invite the 3 strangers that were walking in his direction to rest and to eat at his home (this all the while recovering from the circumcision procedure he just had). Imagine, the grandeur of hospitality to complete strangers supersedes a visit from the Almighty.

Jeri B · 9 months ago

just watch it. you're missing something if you don't . it's funny

The antichrist · 9 months ago

Hail Satan!!