Hey all, if you haven't seen "Religulous" yet, would you do me a favor and go this weekend? I swear not for me, I am honestly not interested in ever making a movie again - I'm like Danny Glover in Lethal Weapon, "I'm too old for this shit." But this one I would like to do well so America gets it that there's a lot of people who at least would like this to be a subject we can talk about and debate. And, its a hoot! I've gotten so many e mails and texts from people who say "I just saw your movie, and at the end everyone applauded. " Something must be going on here, how many times do you see that in movies these days?
Thank you!
1,747 comments:
1 – 200 of 1747 Newer› Newest»Would love to see it, but unfortunately down here in Louisiana there is no theater near me that is playing it.....
My wife and I saw the movie yesterday. There are not many theaters in this area showing it.
ABSOUTLY on target. Iam an 81 year old atheist who is trying to get the same message out. I hand out ball point pens with the insctiption: "Question FAITH; FAITH is a Killer".
Bill should make this movie available to all schools who have a class in religion. Attendance should be required.
PBS should show this!
Here is my take on FAITH:
It seems so very apparent to me that religious faith is the problem in nearly all of our disagreements in the Middle East and here at home.
Faith is defined in most dictionaries as: “belief in something for which there is no proof.” It seems a shame that in the 21st century, so many people are living with blind faith, when people don’t have the moral backbone to question their own faith (most will readily question the faith of others, we end up with people willing to die for many things of faith that have no foundation in truth.
Truth and faith do not go together. Faith is what makes the Jewish people believe they are Gods chosen people.
Faith is what makes Christians believe that the Bible is Gods infallible word.
Faith is what makes Muslims believe the Koran is Gods guidance to them.
Faith is what makes Mormons believe that the same God waited for someone in the United States to write the final chapter in his many books.
All are willing to question the others but aren’t honest enough to question their own.
Let’s hope that someday reason, logic, honesty and integrity will replace faith.
People will be much more likely to accept different views, attitudes and values.
Maybe we will even find peace in this world.
Larry J. Kluth (Lt. Col. USAF Ret.)
2550 So. Ellsworth Rd. Unit 19Mesa, Az 85209
480-380-1732
olestormy@aol.com
Let's make a deal. I'll happily see "Religulous" -- and I hope I don't lose my leverage here if I admit I was going to see it anyway -- if you'll check out two sources that would give you more to go on when interviewing people about bin Laden and the Saudis, or when asking Bob Woodward about the top-secret reason for the success of the Surge. FALSE FLAG 911 by Philip Marshall is absolutely the best source on the role the Saudis have played in shaping our recent history. (The book's subtitle is "How Bush, Cheney and the Saudis Created the Post-911 World.") BLACKWATER by Jeremy Scahill basically tells you what Woodward wouldn't say: that the Surge worked because the U.S. exercised the so-called "Salvadoran Option" of using death squads manned by private contractors. I have no doubt that, compared to these two terrific books, "Religulous" is better with popcorn.
I can't wait to see it! I am taking my overly religious wife to see it with me, hopefully she will open her eyes, or better, I'll get a divorce! Of course I'm kidding ....but wish I was not.
It is too bad that organized religion has been crawling back into society and moving the world back to the "good ole' Dark Ages"! Thanks for getting something out there so people can start to "think" again instead of just "believing" !
Hi Bill, I am really happy that you came out with this wonderful film. I took my (Christian) girlfriend to see it and we both loved it. However, the very next day she scolded me for saying "God Damn It" a bunch of times when dealing with some household problems. How can someone like your movie, actually agree with the opinions, and yet still think that "god damn it" is offensive? Religion makes no sense to me, it's so irrational.
I've written a lot of my blogs on the absurdity of religion, as well as my own opinions on our government and the moronic policies of the past 8 years.
Thank you Bill for your message, too bad about 50% the country will never be smart enough to realize that you are correct.
-Dan Pasternack
leftydan6.blogspot.com
I hate to sound cynical (then again, Bill appreciates healthy skepticism), but is this really Bill Maher's blog?
Some entries certainly read like it is ("On Friday night's Real Time, Craig Ferguson was not following an analogy I made, and he's an exceptionally bright guy, so maybe it was me and here's a good place to expatiate...")
But somehow "I've gotten so many e-mails and texts from people" doesn't sound like our Bill, and since I haven't seen this blog linked from any official sources like hbo.com or billmaher.com, I'm curious how we know it's the real thing...
Eric
I would go see it, but I dont go to movie theaters, Ill have to wait for it to come out on video...
I heard about some people ( I wonder who...) protesting against this film. Perhaps the Westboro Baptist Church? I wrote them I little while back after they were picking on a family where I live that had their son beheaded on a bus (I live in Canada by the way) and I proposed that they stop picking on people who don't deserve it. I myself certainly do and I told them to bring it on but they never did.
There is a word for what they are but I cannot quite think of it...oh ya, COWARDS.
I know once I see this film I will watch it a million times over and burn it into my brain, thanks Bill.
Hopefully we will get it in France soon...;(
but maybe I should NOT say that, although I want to see it...because its hard being American here and having everyone think that we are all religious nuts. This will just make my students think even worse of us and to be honest they have already seen enough M. Moore movies to think that we all have guns from opening our bank accounts..*sigh*
Hello from Canada, Bill. Saw it, loved it, and I've been urging everybody I know to do the same. You and Larry did a great job in putting it together. I would say I mirror your beliefs totally and attend the "I don't know" church as well. Religion isn't openly ingrained in the Canadian government, and I wouldn't know what faith (if at all) any Canadian government officials had. It pains me to squirms when I see the name-dropping of god in the USA Prez and VPrez debates and rallies. What if *one* of them said "Allah" instead, because they were genuinely Muslim?? It's still faith, right? Why do the christians get to wear it on their sleeve without the blink of an eye from anybody? Yet if the candidate was Muslim, they'd have to hide it as to not seem 'weird' (??)
Anyways, HBO Canada is finally coming at the end of October, and I can finally watch RealTime without using YouTube. By the way, RealTime is the *only* reason I'm buying HBO Canada on my HDTV service provider. I've also got tickets to see you (fourth row center) at Massey Hall in Toronto on Nov 9th. I'm driving 14 hours to get there. :) I've been a fan for years and I finally get to see you perform with my own eyes and not on a video screen.
There is no wonder why your comedy, personality, views, and messages have so many fans outside the USA...because you stand for exactly what we all hope the USA can someday become again - a global triumph in the eyes of all nations. We're your next door neighbor, WE CARE TOO !! Rock on.
KEVIN WAYTE
Halifax, Nova Scotia
CANADA
Bill I saw you on the Daily Show last week & I absolutely agree with your views on Religion. No one truly knows & yet there are people out there so sure they are right they are willing to kill for it. What kind of person are you if you need to kill to try & prove you're right? That proves nothing except that you are crazy, dangerous and intolerant. Also why do the very religious never have a sense of humor, esp about religion? I myself do not believe in God, but truly I don't know. I could be wrong. But I do believe if I am wrong it's not that big of a deal. If there is a God, I'm hoping God is a tolerant, cool type of God & if not, I wouldn't have wanted to worship something like that anyway. I am looking forward to seeing Religulous, but to be honest, am too cheap to see it in the theatre (we rarely go to the theatre to see a movie) but will move it to the top of my list when it comes out on DVD.
I have friends who are Jewish, Muslim, Catholic, and some who are non-religious, as well like me, & I think everyone has a right to their beliefs & I would defend that right. I do not believe that they should try & force their beliefs on me because they are so damn sure they are right & everyone else is wrong. I don't go around telling everyone I know I am right and trying to convert them to being Agnostic or something, that would be crazy, yet look at your Born Again Christians, they will try & force it down your throat at every opportunity. Which shows lack of tolerance, lack of respect and scary extremism. Thanks for making the movie Bill!
*****
...... Ok, American people deserve a FAIR INFORMATION.
*Palin, 44, lists in a March financial disclosure form an annual income of $125,000 as governor of Alaska. Her husband, Todd, earned $47,000 as an oil production supervisor for BP Alaska in 2007 and $46,000 as commercial fisherman. They also list no credit card debt.
McCain's has assets of between $34 million and $49 million and liabilities of between $4.3 million and $5.8 million, according CFRP.
Those liabilities include American Express platinum and Chase Bank credit cards held by Cindy McCain and some of the McCain children.
The McCains' assets include real estate holdings in Sedona, Phoenix and elsewhere, investment funds, Anheuser Busch Companies Inc. (NYSE: BUD ) stock, ownership stakes in the Hensley beer distribution company and Cindy McCain's inheritance from a family trust. Cindy McCain, 54, and the McCain children are also partners in a number of limited liability partnerships and corporations that own real estate in Arizona and California . The McCains file separate tax forms but U.S. Senate financial disclosure protocols combine spousal wealth. Hensley is one of the largest Anheuser Busch distributors in the country. ******888888888888
******
''All Arizonans should be proud and supportive of this remarkable woman,'' he said.
I don't want to be rude, but: Why?
Not, I think, because she's a drug addict and an admitted thief.
McCain revealed this week that she was addicted to pain pills for two years. She also said she stole drugs from an organization she created to provide emergency medical services around the world.
McCain said she started taking pills - eventually up to 15 or 20 a day - in 1989 after surgery left her in pain. She was also bearing the stress of the harsh publicity over the McCains' link to convicted financier Charles Keating Jr.
She said she's remained drug-free since 1992, with one brief lapse.
Hers is a sad tale, but hardly distinctive; addiction and thievery are pretty common these days.
In fact, about one of every four inmates in Arizona 's bloated, fantastically expensive prison system is locked up on drug charges. That, by the way, is thanks to mindlessly punitive anti-drug policies supported by officials like, well, like Sen. McCain and Gov. Symington.
But don't worry, Cindy McCain won't go to prison. Prison is for bad people, not for those with ''health problems.''
So. Maybe we're supposed to be proud of McCain simply for admitting her misdeeds.
Maybe. Except that her addiction apparently was something a lot of people knew about and that was likely to become broad public knowledge soon anyway.
The federal Drug Enforcement Administration had been investigating, and a former employee of McCain's medical team had filed a lawsuit against her over the issue.
McCain herself reportedly said that her motive in going public was to beat the rumor mill.
So it can't be that either. Should we be proud at the bold way McCain went public?
Don't think so. Guided by an entourage of advisers, McCain cleverly pre-empted bad publicity by breaking the news through a selected handful of media outlets.
She did this only after completing private treatment, and only after reaching an agreement with the U.S. Attorney's Office that ensured she would not be prosecuted if she entered a diversion program.
So why are we supposed to be proud of Cindy McCain?
Answer: We're not.
Sympathetic, supportive, tolerant - sure. I don't doubt McCain's physical and mental pain, the power of her addiction, the remorse she feels.
But proud? Sorry.
That suggestion, I'm afraid, is the product of ''spin,'' of a careful campaign to deflect public attention away from the awkward facts of addiction and theft, and onto the appealing made-for-TV drama of confession.
A campaign, in other words, to limit the political damage.
It is, once again, the ritualized praising of a celebrity criminal - based upon the murky idea that members of the elite ''suffer'' enough merely by admitting guilt.
To which I say: No sale.
Not that I want Cindy McCain to go to jail. I'm not even sure she should be punished; if we imprisoned all the secret addicts among Arizona 's privileged classes, we'd need more prisons than even Sam Lewis could dream of.
I just wonder why we should be praising her while siccing the cops and the media and the child-welfare workers on all the poor Jane Does who turn to crack to cope with their stresses - stresses perhaps worse even than bad press.
I wonder why I couldn't hear our leaders' calls for sympathy and tolerance amid their shouts for heavier weapons and harsher attacks in the War on Drugs.
I wonder about the thousands of noncelebrity wretches struggling alone against alcohol or heroin or whichever ''health problem'' plagues them, ignored if not punished by society.
I wish Cindy McCain well, but I'll save my cheers for them.
MCCAIN'S WIFE LIKELY WON'T BE PROSECUTED
** $$$ ###
***STOLE DRUGS FROM CHARITY
Published on Tuesday, August 23, 1994
© 1994 The Arizona Republic
Bill, why I didn't see any show about Mr. Moothee ? (Palin's WITCH HUNTER ' pastor)
I saw it on Sunday and I absolutely loved it! The greatest movie I've probably ever seen. And will ever see. You did a great job. Thank you. :)
I can NOT believe it that Sarah Palin is a WITCH HUNTER. and from this video can see that she was and is benefiting from what she believed....
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/#26798219, Witch Hunters
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/#26877217, Witch hunters
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/#26782053, palin not read
Religion never killed anyone. What kills people are greed, lust and the determination to aggrandize oneself.
I saw 'Religulous' on opening night where I live in Redmond, WA. As a gentrified Seattle suburb populated pretty much exclusively by white yuppies and Indian Microsoft employees, I expected that my friends and I would be the majority of a handful of people in the movie theater.
Luckily, I was pleasantly surprised. When we got into the theater, there was hardly a seat in the house, and by the time the previews ended, only one or two were still vacant. The audience I had expected to be at worst a church group on some sort of heckling mission and at best largely a pussy group of agnostics and psuedo-spiritualists defied my expectations. They laughed raucously and gasped in horror where appropriate, and yes, at the end, they burst into hearty applause.
Coming out of the theater, my faith in humanity and in my community was a good couple of degrees higher. I wanted to get everyone's name on some sort of 'Suburban Athiests' mailing list.
I felt like, for the first time, maybe we're not a theocracy, after all... and maybe there's hope for America yet.
............Forks, did you saw Cindy broken her arm when Mcc picked Palin first time? Can someone tell me what happened to this classy beautiful woman? Don't tell me she clean up table at the restaurant.....
.......Palin had a history to betray her MASTERS. ..she had a history to betray her MASTERS.
she is the BIGGEST GOLD DIGGER for the FED EARmark money she hired 4 labbyist;
**Palin is the BIGGEST GOLD DIGGER for the FED EARmark money she hired 4 labbyist;
she is the BIGGEST GOLD DIGGER for the FED EARmark money she hired 4 labbyist;
..she had a history to betray her MASTERS.She betrayed her former Mayor who she met at the gym who invited her to work for him. After 1 year , she kicked him out of the Mayor's office.
2 years later, she meets the Governor and he ask her to work for him at the Oil&Energy department, 1 year later, she kicked him out of that office.
But, why former Mayor and Gov offer her a job ? what is her secret weapon? Why I never see that lucky –break....Did she a real WITCH HUNTER or she good at kiss ass?
but, I just wonder, I just don’t understand why the Governor hug her and said 'are you happy? are you ok? we will do everything to get you elected' ---------this segment in her Bio Review from CNN, FOX and MSNBC.
As an American Woman, I am insulted by the choice of Sarah Palin as the Vice Presidential candidate by John S. McCain III, senior senator from Arizona. Someone with over 20 years of experience at the national and international level.
He has chosen a woman with obviously little education and poor experience to be the second in command and possibly the leader of the largest democratic nation in the world.
How can we vote for someone who can't even control her own household, let alone put her in charge of the largest democratic nation on this planet.
She is unfit to serve and an insult to all women in this nation, and John S. McCain is also unfit to be our president for selecting someone like Sarah Palin as his running mate.
Education does matter, standing up for the right thing does matter.
Sarah Palin is not a world leader by any stretch of the imagination.
She is no Indira Gandhi.
She is no Golda Meir
She is no Margaret Thatcher
She is no Gro Brundtland
She is no Benazer Bhutto
She is no Kim Campbell
and she is no Hillary Clinton
To say that she is ready to lead this nation and is one heart beat away from being the next President of the US is a farce.
I'm a little confused. Let me see if I have this straight.....
* If you grow up in Hawaii, raised by your grandparents, you're "exotic, different."
* Grow up in Alaska eating moose burgers, a quintessential American story.
* If your name is Barack you're a radical, unpatriotic Muslim.
* Name your kids Willow, Trig and Track, you're a maverick.
* Graduate from Harvard law School and you are unstable.
* Attend 5 different small colleges before graduating, you're well
grounded.
* If you spend 3 years as a brilliant community organizer, become the first black President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters, spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor, spend 8 years as a State A 0Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people, become chairman of the state Senate's Health and Human Services committee, spend 4 years in the United States Senate representing a state of 13 million people while sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran's Affairs committees, you don't have any real leadership experience.
* If your total resume is: local weather girl, 2 years on the city council and 4 years as the mayor of a town with less than 5,000 people, 20 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000 people, then you're qualified to become the country's second
highest ranking executive....
when you talk to Couric need your grandPa Mcc supervised you; then all you probably need to do is back to your Alaska looking at Russia from your back yard;
* If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years while raising 2 beautiful daughters, all within Protestant churches, you're not a real Christian.
* If you are a WITCH HUNTER or cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress, and left your disfigured wife and married the heiress the next month, you're a Christian.
* If you can make the RIGHT decision at the first place then you don’t have a leadership;
* If you form a clique and friends to gain personal ends gang up for selfish purpose , then you qualified for having LEADERSHIP;
* If you teach responsible, age appropriate sex education, including the proper use of birth control, you are eroding the fiber of society.
* If , while=2 0governor, you=2 0staunchly advocate abstinence only, with no other option in sex education in your state's school system while your unwed teen daughter ends up pregnant , you're very responsible.
* If your wife is a Harvard graduate lawyer who gave up a position in a prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her inner city community, then gave that up to raise a family, your family's values don't represent America's.
* If you're husband is nicknamed "First Dude", with at least one DWI conviction and no college education, who didn't register to vote until age 25 and once was a member of a group that advocated the secession of Alaska from the USA, your family is extremely
admirable.
OK, much clearer now.
Bill, I guess I see “Religulous” as a very funny film that misses the point entirely, or at least ignores an increasingly growing segment of the Christian faith I’d call “progressive Christians.”
Progressive Christians don’t believe in a literal interpretation of the Bible. They don’t believe in talking snakes or guys living in the bellies of whales, or even Jesus feeding 5,000people with a Twinkie or whatever it was. Many progressives don’t believe in a physical resurrection, or in a pending angel-led Armageddon. Progressive Christians realize the metaphorical truths of the stories in the Bible far outweigh their literal veracity. It’s not about beliefs; it’s about a spiritual journey.
When progressives read the Bible, it’s not “What does this story want me to believe?” but “What is this story really about?” Progressive Christians don’t see Jesus as some sort of ancient Middle Eastern superhero, but as a highly original teacher, ballsy social revolutionary, and selfless pioneer of universal compassion who dared to break down the significant and cruelly established cultural barriers of his time, and got killed for it – but whose message and example was powerful enough to live on after his death.
I’m not against Christian bashing –people should feel free to bash whatever they want, so long as no one gets physically hurt, and the bashing can serve a good purpose – but to perpetuate the stereotype of Christians as mindless sheep is to ignore a large and growing segment of Christians who live out their lives as spiritual interrogators, with doubt and questioning at the center of their faith rather than something to be feared.
The kind of Christianity I see satirized in “Religulous” is old-school, flat-earth Christianity. And, frankly, it makes you appear outdated and outmoded to present Christian literalisim/fundamentalism without acknowledging the progressives. Of course, including them might have undermined the simple fun of your film, but it would have made it much more interesting. The targets you were aiming at in “Religulous” are like shooting fish in a barrel.
Based on you not portraying a major segment of Christianity as it really exists today, I’d have to say I found your film very funny and entertaining, but largely irrelevant.
Love to see it here in South Dakota, too. Live between a religious nut who refuses to play any unholy or unfamily movies in his Spearfish theater; unless there is a lot of money to be made. Otherwise, George Clooney is being protested there. The Rapid City Theaters cite their reluctance to offend the public. It'll probably end like it did with Michael Moore's movie, a letter campaign and protests. Why not just run it and let the people decide? Seems too simple, to me.
I saw the movie yesterday, it was not only very funny but expressed my thoughts exactly. You are right, religion is probably one of the last taboo subjects, but this is an opinion that needs to be heard. You are not alone! Common sense people, common sense!
Bravo, Bill! Saw the movie, and loved it ... you & Larry Charles are brilliant. I can confirm that all 47 people (yes, I counted) who saw it in Newport Beach, CA last Wed. night applauded @ the end.
I was stunned to learn that non-believers are a bigger minority @ 16% than most of the minotities who have shaped policies that benefit their cause. I'm unaware of a centralized organization that carries the banner for us. If you have such information, it would be a welcome addition to the DVD.
I'm so sad to learn you don't want to make more movies, Bill. Who better to take a humorous look @ the history of how pot became viewed as "evil" and why despite scientific information to the contrary it remains illegal?!
If it helps sway you, the Lord spoke to me and said it is his purpose for your life. Ok, maybe it was just the wind blowing through my bong, but it seemed so real :0)
I actually might go see it tonight--might have to miss your show as well, but hell, it's worth it. Living in Utah, I have to drive an hour to the only theater in the state that is playing it, I believe. That's not too surprising I suppose. Just two days ago my teacher, who is Mormon, was talking about how "weird" it was that the Greeks believed what they did. What I'm not terribly sure about is if she knows that a few stories in the Bible actually parallel Greek mythology. Now, I'm not an atheist by any means, since I'd be subscribing to her same hypocritical idea of claiming to know one way or the other, but that statement reminds me of a quote I once read: "I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours."
-- Stephen Roberts
This is very unrelated, but I found quite an alarming video where McCain claimed he "always aspired to be dictator." (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3b8d7EBrxE) I'm not sure if this was showed on past shows. Whether he is joking or not is subject to question, but it didn't sound like a joke. I was indifferent from the Republican party at the get go, as well as with the Democrats, but I found out more about his views on certain issues, when he wasn't flip-flopping like he did with Roe v. Wade, and I disagreed with most if not all of them. Then Palin came into the political spotlight, who was the catalyst of my disliking of their ticket. The debates didn't "heal" my views either. The video I just referenced reinforces my negative views of the ticket/Rep. Party, considering Bush said almost the same thing a while back: "This would be a lot easier if this were a dictatorship. Of course I would have to be dictator." I think we all know what rights were suppressed in the name of "safety" under the Bush administration; not entirely sure Bush's was a joke.
OMG...a *POT* documentary !!! I don't smoke it or even like the smell of it when I'm around smokers, but I totally support their right to enjoy it. I too would hope that Bill could get up the ambition (with the right director) and make a theatre-released marijuana documentary as mentioned. Michael Moore certainly isn't going to do it. :) Plus we'd need the comedic edge that Bill and the topic bring to the table. It could be called "Demon Seeds" or "Pot of Gold" or something...the list is endless. What a great political, rationalist, taboo subject !
Bill, I no longer need to tirelessly explain my standing on religion and theology to people. I can simply point them to your brilliant film.
Thank you.
Who needs God?
We have Bill!
I liked your movie. It had an agenda that i don't really agree with, but it shed alot of truth on the damaging causes of religion, especially in a position of power. The people you interviewed obviously weren't the most educated people to go to on the subjects, but they were the people that looked alot like the ones running these popular sects of these systems of belief.
I'd love to see a interview with you and a scholar like Greg Boyd, or a leader like Shane Claiborne.
Like you said, you "don't know the answer" and thats why you doubt. Keep asking questions, you'll either get answers, or shed light on the lies.
Thank you for your documentary
I am a graduate student making a documentary based on my thesis, which is a multicultural study of the role of comedy in religion. Naturally, I was disturbed to learn you were releasing a movie called "Religulous." (At first I thought it might be pronounced like "Caligula." ) I soon learned it was a humorous attack on religion (an easy target, I might add) and really had a different message (and a much, much larger budget than my film) so I let it go. Perhaps it could even help my film, I thought, when I ever get it finished. (Did I mention I have practically no budget?)
Anyway, while you were cavorting all over the planet with your crew, I suffered not one, but two life-threatening illnesses, spent months in and out of the hospital, going out on shoots on crutches, using my wheelchair for dolly shots and begging people to help out. (There's that budget thing again.) I'm basically on my feet again, so please don't feel bad...okay, a little bad. Which leads me, finally, to my point.
Despite the fact that I was pissed off you lied to your subjects to gain access and I have had to court my subjects for months to get them to trust me, I went to see your film today. (You're welcome.) From the perspective of my research over the past three years (it was hard to study on percocet), I think your film is a boon to the "secular" community who are greatly outnumbered by the 76% of Americans who identify themselves as Christian. I think your argument that religion is dangerous, particularly when it is blended with politics, is completely and frighteningly valid. However, (you knew that was coming) I also believe it is naive to think that it is possible to eliminate religion by converting believers to rationalism and, thus, solve the problem. Humans universally cling to some kind of belief system. The problem comes in the nature of the belief system.
Your film primarily targets fundamentalism and literalism, which are indeed the trouble-makers on the dangerous religious front. You did not, however, address the "non-theistic" and some multi-deity religions that are not controlled by a Sky God, adherence to text, and the belief that humankind is intrinsically evil. I feel these religions do no harm and I, for one, am glad they're around.
As a comedian, you know that comedy and tragedy are two sides of the same coin or two perspectives on one situation. Fundamentalists are, if you will, tragedians: us against them, someone has to win, everyone dies. However, a comedic perspective allows people to have differences without the need to overcome the opposition. The conflict in comedy results in synthesis, not victory. Humor and laughter allow us, at least momentarily, to transcend our differences and share our commonality. Comedy affirms the one undeniable truth: we are all, no matter what, human beings, subject to the same human conditions, limitations, and foibles. Unfortunately, for all the scripture-scraping that goes on among literalists, they miss the humor that is intrinsic to all the major traditions and which unlocks our ability to acknowledge this within a religious context and not take ourselves so seriously.
The hardships I suffered while making this film are pretty ironic, considering the thesis I'm advancing. Coincidence? Perhaps. Like you, I don't know the answers. However, if anyone wants to make a donation to my project it's tax-deductible.
Sherry Shopoff
Sacred Comedy film project
San Diego State University Foundation
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182
filmlifenow@yahoo.com
Oh my hell <---perfect word for this exact topic! YOU ARE GENIOUS, Bill. You articulated my emotions perfectly throughout your film. I wish religious people (the zealots) of this world would see this movie. I see that never happening. All I see is them getting mad at you for defying their Jesus. HA! I loved when you were in the little chapel with the truck drivers and the back guy trying to hear you out and the big white guy having to walk out because you were pissing him off, oh I could go on and on. Good job on this one. I'd love it if you gave me a shout out on my blog!
Thank you, Thank you! Satan rules! We finally have someone to help crush those stupid religious pinholes!
God never existed and it is time people realize that. The entire world is a conspiracy and against us, who are the true warriors, it is time we take a stand against them.
It's war baby!
REVOLUTION REVOLUTION REVOLUTION
GO OBAMA!!!!
I loved this documentary. If I believed in soul mates, you must be mine. The whole thing reminded me of me. Great job!
NO, IT WAS:
BLESS YOUR HEART SIR,
MY SON IS IN IRAQ FIGHTING FOR YOUR FREEDOM TO PROTEST!
Oh, and Bill, I'm sorry that all of us don't have your money, us trailor trash!
I have never had more faith in God as I do now reading and hearing this!
GOODBYE HBO!
WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO "UNITED WE STAND"
OLIVER.....YOU DON'T KNOW THE REAL BUSH!
Obama will win and I will be back when it all goes to HELL!
Saw it last weekend with my new bf. Yes, there was resounding applause (don't get a big head about it). No surprise that my new bf's duel citizenship (Canada/US) is a huge attraction to me...more of a turn-on than big muscles or stock in Lehman Bros.
BTW, your show is cutting into our sex life...
I saw Religulous last Saturday-- I haven't laughed that hard in years. The pot scene and discussion of fine linen were worth the price of admission alone. However, you really had to want to see this movie- my conspiracy theory radar was on heightened alert. First, the showtimes listed in the paper and Yahoo movies was a half hour off the actual start times. Also, the movie was not listed on the box office marquee (Las Vegas Rave Motion). There was just a blank space listed above the start time. I asked the box office kid why the movie title wasn't listed, and he said he didn't know why. Anyway, I'm so glad I hung around to see it, because, it was fabulous. Thanks, Bill!
I am done with this site (I know, you all are happy about that) and all I know is, time will tell. Then I will come back!
Why is it so wrong to believe? What do you think you are here for? Nothing? If you don't believe in anything beyond the Human form, then what is the purpose of living?
I know that if Obama wins and he makes it that anyone making under $50,000 pays no tax and gets Bills money:
I'M DOWNSIZING AND LETTING BILL AND ALL THE OTHER RICH HOBNOBS SUPPORT ME!!!!
I really hope Obama wins so Bill will be out of a job!
How do you make fun of a black man?
Oh, my bad, he'll still use Bush, McCain and Palin for his sick jokes.
I forget he is so perfect in human form. All Hail BILL!
I "want" your money Billy! Bring it Obama!
BILL MAHER FOR PRESIDENT SINCE HE IS SO DAMN SMART AND KNOWS EVERYTHING THAT IS PERFECT!
TELL THE PEOPLE WHO LOST LOVED ONES ON 9/11 TO CUT MILITARY!
Oh, I forgot, you don't care about death because you don't believe in anything but yourself!
BILL MAHER,
YOU ARE THE MOST SELFISH, UNEDUCATED, HORNY, SELF-PROCLAIMED ROBERT TILTON ON THIS PLANET!
OMG, IF I WASN'T LAUGHING SO HARD I WOULD CRY!
EVIL? DEFEAT OR BE HUMBLE...HMMMM..
AGAIN, ASK THE ONES WHO LOST LOVED ONES ON 9/11!
Oh now Maxine, Democrats were paid "more" from Fannie and Freddie. Admit it now honey!
I'm in Las Vegas, and there was a round of applause at the end of Religulous as well. It was hilarious and informative. Thank you, Bill!
APPLAUSE, APPLAUSE, APPLAUSE!!!!
BILL MAHER IS GOD NOW!!!
You know I was watching Real Time tonight, and when a panel mamber said that American was founded on not wanting taxes.... buzz wrong, American was founded on Religious Freedom, or the Freedome to practice No Religion at all!
Thank you for your Movie!!
God Damn American!
This is sweet!
KKK of America!!
This is sweet!
I Love Bill Maher! My Man!! Let's Kick this American Hell Hole Ass!
Go Obama!
I have just seen Religulous and found it to be one of the most entertaining, enlightening, inspirational films of the year. Thank you Bill Maher for being a beacon of light for people like me who are always looking in the gray.
I saw your movie the first day it was out and it is incredible. I loved it. Bill you and I could have come from the same mother lol. You don't say much that I don't agree with. Three religions that all believe in the same god but can't agree on the messenger so they bring havoc on the planet for thousands of years. When will man wake up. It's nice up here in the Seattle area because we have plenty of theaters showing your movie. Oh and Bill I watch Real Time religiously (no pun intended) its the only reason I have HBO please have Tom Hartman from Air America on that would be a show to die for. The both of you and then bring on the right wing and watch them squirm. Well again thanks for the movie I laughed my ass off.
The most important movie in years, and the first movie I have ever applauded. And I was the first to applaud. I will do my best to get people to watch. I commend your bravery in making this film, and in particular your bold and assertive statements at the end. Statements that need to be repeated as much as possible. Thank-you.
I know I said I was gone but, I just had to come back and say that I have never hated anyone on this board or Bill Maher. In fact, I love all of you in God's eyes.
I was raised in a loving home and that God forgives us all, even Rednecks. You can't ask me to go back on that trust now.
Whatever happens in the future, it was supposed to be.
I just wish the hate would stop. That's what I pray for everynight.
This movie was soo funny and proactive. I'm reading this book called Aristotle Children and in it Aristotle (who denies faith and only uses reason and logic) works are lost and found in different periods of the middle ages when religion especially christianity is present. It seems like churches try to use reason and faith together to try to legitimize there now questioning religion. But they keep faith within there religion even though they know there is no proof and they are still arrogant about what they do not know. The idea of atheism is too radical and the preconceptions of religion is too dominant in society for change.
One thing that provokes a question for me is?
How do we move away for the preconceptions of beliefs in religion to the rational thought of reason?
RELIGILOUS was a refreshing piece of work for many of us who consider ourselves rationalist free-thinkers, or as the philosopher Richard Rorty put it -- the "post-modern bourgeoisie liberal", who rejects absolutes and sees the dangers of religious bullying. I just saw it in Boston -- a strange city with a past of freethinking and strange Puritanical dogmas. There was an enthusiastic audience, and many laughs were heard, but there was certainly a sense of careful deliberation on the consequences of our post-modern religious backdrop.
As a student who is working on a PhD in Philosophy and Literature, and one who admittedly belongs to a so-called 'elitist-ivory-tower' establishment, I am pleased that a popular figure is finally popularizing rationality or intelligence or at least a skeptical sense. Your gospel of doubt is one to which I would easily adhere, one that is powerful, non-judgmental, and does not tend to the senseless destruction of others. Well done --
Please forgive my typo -- RELIGULOUS
I would love to see it. Unfortunately due to the greedy bastards on Wall Street, I am completely broke as are many. But if I have enough change left in my piggy bank after I go Ramen shopping, I will go. I love your work and am in complete agreement with you on everything. I also am atheist and am trying to get the message across the stubborn minds of conservative America who are blinded by stupidity. I do not disprove the possibility of a higher being, but until imperical evidence proves it, I will maintain a strict scientific outlook on these seemingly rediculous beleifs. Keep it up Bill, you are a role model for the future of the U.S. and funny as hell too.
bill, i think everyone is losing sight of what makes the Mary Kay woman so scary. What happens if she becomes VP and decides she can't continue; that she has to spend more time with her children? Next in line is the speaker of the house!!!
What the fuck was McCain thinking???
HowieB
hey bill you should have a stat guy somewhere back-stage so when "ANYONE" says some B.S. they can be called on it whith-in the time frame of the show...i would pay to see that , feel free to use it free of charge lol
This entire country has turned to Bullshit!
Who's to blame?
Democrats, Republicans?
No, all of us. For showing the rest of the world we are as divided as them. No matter what happens, good or bad, someone is always to blame.
We are a pathetic example to all who want to be free.
I just came back after watching this movie, I have to say hats off to you. It is amazing I will do my best to make sure that all my friends go watch this movie.
I do have one request regarding this movie, there has to be lot of material you collected while doing this movie, you have to release it in book format , please it will be criminal not to release it.
Irfan
Poway , CA
irfans@gmail.com
Hi Bill,
I am a fan of yours and recently saw Religulous. I am agnostic and was thrilled to see that someone was making a documentary exposing religion for what it really is..the cause of much violence, destruction and hostility in the world.
HOWEVER, I have to say I was very disappointed with the film... Mostly because you came off as an arrogant prick (pardon my candor). I mean no disrespect. I just think that you would have been a lot more effective at getting your point across if you bothered to interview people who could actually make a strong argument about their faith.
Instead of verbally beating people who can barely get a coherent sentence out, you should have talked to educated people who have beliefs. I found you to be disrespectful and smug. We all know you are an extremely intelligent guy…so when you get into a debate with a “Joe 6-pack” type…it’s a bit like watching a Mike Tyson beating up an old lady...it’s just a little too easy wouldn’t you say?
I may be agnostic, but I still have respect for other people's beliefs. There are some people in this world who have faith and nothing else. It is a powerful thing. It's not something you should laugh at people for...especially when they are not hurting anyone in the process. What do you care if they pray every night before bed? If nothing else faith is an incredible coping mechanism for some. Just let them be.
You should have created an opportunity for those with faith to defend themselves. Let the audience hear both sides so they can form their own opinions. It was a very one-sided argument and it made you come across as a bully. No one likes a bully Bill.
On the other hand it was quite funny.. So if that's what you were going for congratulations. I just think this was a wasted opportunity to present the true facts about religion in a fashion that doesn’t include incompetent congressmen and screeching priests distracting from the point. Not only do I doubt you changed anyone's mind about their faith, but I think your audience generally sympathized with your interview subjects/victims....That, and they think you're a bit of a dick who loves the sound of his own voice. Sorry…that’s my opinion…you don’t have to agree but the point is I’m able to express it…as people with faith should have been allowed to do in your film.
Alice P
alice_bianca@hotmail.com
Well, I'm back one more time and I agree with "a". Not all who are christians are as you portray.
I drink, I smoke (OMG, I'm doomed), I go out dancing and probably do things I shouldn't. But, I do believe in a higher power than myself and that is God. I have to believe that or what purpose am I living for? To watch our world crumble with no remorse or hear that soldiers have died for nothing? If you can't believe in "fairy tales" (as some has put it) then what do you believe in?
Come on Bill, you have to agree there is something more to this life than what we have, why you have more and others don't.
If you don't believe in anything then why does it matter who is President for the next 4 years?
Man did not build this planet.
I forgot to mention in my previous post, that I commend you for making this film at all. It takes bravery to speak out on something so controversial...so bravo.
Just saw "Religulous" and laughed - and squirmed just a little for my fellow humanity. (Saw it tonight at the L.A. Arclight - good audience, and many groaned audibly and laughed with me with during some truly embarrassing interviews.) There was clapping at the end, and folks appeared to enjoy it a lot - there was more audience reaction overall than is usual in jaded-in-the-movie-industry L.A.)
Bill is quite funny - and as mocking and exasperated though he may get, it should be clear to anyone with half a brain that he is a good egg - a mensch - who cares about humanity and the state of the world. He's not just trolling for laughs - though he certainly does go for and get them.
His sense of humor is irrepressible, and that's part of the appeal of this movie - he cannot resist wisecracking and laughing at absurdity even in the face of it. His intelligence is apparent, as always, but so is his compassion - his forbearance and patience were occasionally heroic, considering what he was listening to some of the time. ("Now, please just let me finish.")
Bill knows a lot about religion and it shows. The clips, asides, footnotes and subtitles were clever and added to the scope and flavor of this film. The serious appeal at the end wrapped it up nicely - would that it could be so.
I expected this to be good, but I was pleasantly surprised at just how good. I will be telling folks I know to go see it ASAP - and then come out of the closet about their own atheism or agnosticism. That's 16% of us, folks.
"If a kid asks where rain comes from, I think a cute thing to tell him is 'God is crying.' And if he asks why God is crying, another cute thing to tell him is 'probably because of something you did.' " - Jack Handey, Deep Thoughts
P.S. I read through all the comments here and now kinda wish I hadn't. Aside from the transparent trolls and the scarily-ranty and such, I don't really get why so many people are fighting about politics and so few are talking about either the movie or religion. Most internet comments in general, though, are a little scary - I don't know why I expected these reactions to be a little better in quality - but I did, and now I'm a little embarrassed again for online humanity.
Nonreligious persons who pay attention to what these religious leaders now days are saying or read holly books to better understand and argue against irationality are my heroes. We need them. We need you Bill, America needs you. It is horrible that in this day and age their brain power is being used up in this way, thinking about this bulshit.
This, however, is something that a lot of people are forced to do, especially in the US. We must put our instinctual caveman urges to believe in supernatural in check, the same way we did with killing and fornicating uncontrolably. That is when we will reach that next plain of thought where scientific reasoning (I guess) would totaly take over.
This is easier said then done though, mainly due to the way that our brains are set up. We need that creative side of it, and that is where our gods hide. We have to keep that bitch under control. For me this is easy, but then again I was reized an atheist. Knowing a few simple facts of life can help tremendously: 1. A scientist starts of with belief then through knowledge gets to truth. Note that his belief is based on observation of physical world and not "he say she say."
2 The fact that we have so many different religions proves the egsistance of the caveman- irattional urge to believe in supernatural which I spoke of earlier.
3. History shows us that the less religious we are, the less violent we are, which puts religion in the same category with such things as slavery and bloodletting.
I will see your movie tomorow, I cant wait!
I apologize for going off topic but...
Republicans need to stop blaming democrats for the financial meltdown. You can't stick a knife in someone's back in front of 100 people and turn around and say it was a democrat.
Their attacks on Fannie and Freddie are part of their plan to eliminate all of the FDR New Deal policies. Yes, that includes Social Security.
They need to step up to the plate and accept responsibility for THEIR President's economic policies of the past eight years. The President IS the leader of the free world, is he not? He sets the direction of economic policies. I saw this coming four years ago. Not the mortgage crisis, but some sort of crisis. Huge budget and trade defecits, a weak dollar, artificially inflated energy costs. You can't have two wars and give a huge tax break to the wealthy. Something had to give. Now, we are all going to have to give.
If we would have had a strong economy to begin with, the mortgage crisis would not have been nearly as bad as it is.
Can't wait Bill!
Meanwhile... You mentioned that God impregnated a woman...
No.. he impregnated a 12 or 13 year old GIRL. (Biblical Historian place her age around 12-13 years old), AND Mary wasn't Joseph's only wife. (read that as concubine)
In other news.. You may find the Logically Critical guy hilarious.
http://www.logicallycritical.net/Episodes.html
He no longer makes them, but there are some hilarious religious episodes.
Much Love,
Fellow Atheist,
Michael (Evil Eye) in Mount Dora, FL
Saw it last weekend Bill and they all clapped in St Pete, Florida! There was only one theatre in the county of over 1 million that is showing your movie. God Bless! LOL
Thank you so much for confirming what I already think. I have some friends who are die-hard Catholics who beleive in miracles and all that fairytale shit. When I questioned their faith, they all stared at me like I was the insane one! No one stood by me when I said the Catholic church is immoral, hypocritical, and corrupt! I loved when you said religion is hindering humanities progress because it is 100% true! I think people should be afraid that our next potential preisdent beleives in the Bible literally, too. So, thanks. Its nice to know I'm not the only sane person amongst billions of freaks.
Bill Maher is a genius.... I loved the movie and I want to see it again. I used to be a devote born again Christian and I have come to the same conclusions as Bill Maher about religion.
Hi Bill,
I saw your movie last night with a collegue and my 15 year old daughter and her friend. There were applauds at the end as you have heard. The movie was great, as I anticipated. (Funny, usually when you think something is going to be great you are dissapointed.) Most importantly, my daughter and her friend said it was the best movie they ever saw! (Listen, 15 year olds have seen alot these days.) I am so happy that she and her girlfriend felt that way. It is important for people to take their children too....I don't know why it was rated R but it is appropriate for young teens to see this movie. Thanks for the courage you always have to, I have to say it, be a Maverick. :)
When I left my mother country in the Middle East (Lebanon that is) and moved to the United States, I was one of a relatively tiny group who "dared" being A-religious/Agnostic out loud.
Though Lebanon is still a beacon in the region compared to the other Arab countries surrounding it in terms of liberties and freedom (despite the cultural backwardness and mental and political bankruptcy that has severely hit him since I left (dah!), it was still too small and buckled up in conspiracy theories and religious science fiction for my anxious and restless little fuzzy mind.
I was deeply disappointed to find out that Americans aren't any more advanced than my people are in that sense.
I'm still in the process of exploring the new land, but so far, few have matched up my expectations.
I started a blog of my own in an attempt to steer things up a little for those girls and guys out there who made some sense but are still lacking the courage to come out. I also put an ad on a (free) dating site with a title-subject that reads:" DO YOU BELONG TO THE GROWING MINORITY OF ATHEISTS AND AGNOSTICS IN THE WORLD? E-MAIL ME (preferably with a picture- looks matter!)".
www.gretaghacibeh.blogspot.com
P.S: Not too many theaters are showing "Religulous" even in this supposedly more progressive area of the North East, but I'm still taking my daughter for her 20th birthday today to see the movie. Time for her to grow up (on the right path).
Keep up the good work, Bill!
Greta
I have looked forward to seeing this movie since you starting talking about it. Unfortunately, I live in Pensacola, Florida and would have to drive 3 1/2 hours to New Orleans or the other way to Tallahassee to see it. I work two jobs and cannot afford to spend that much time on a movie. I was wondering if you could send me an undistributed copy so I don't have to wait. Oh, and if you could, please send me W too. It's not going to be here either. You're a good guy Bill.
When is this movie going to make it to Europe ? There is a religously motivated fundamentalist backlash to be witnessed all over the world. Sarah Palin and Osama Bin Laden have much more in common than they would care to admit. This is the true terror of our age.
I only read one or two comments posted here about the movie, and I don’t intend to see it. I also won't be returning to this site after I post my comments.
The fact that personalities such as Mr. Maher as well as many other people view religion as "blind faith" that "stops people from thinking" doesn't make it so although it certainly makes for good copy to feed the post-modern psyche (pan to Shirley MacLaine standing on the beach declaring that she is god). Movies like this are just a feeble attempt to switch faith in God for no faith in God. You say our faith is “blind.” What could be more blind (and arrogant) than to think that the universe with its billions, if not trillions, of galaxies just came into existence with a cosmic bang (a physical impossibility by the way)? What could be more blind than viewing macro-evolution, a theory with absolutely not one piece of physical evidence, as the explanation for the existence of human beings upon Earth? It’s not that there isn’t proof for an omniscient God; it’s just that you don’t want to view the facts in that light because that means that you are not god of your life. It means that you were created, and that the One who created you has the right to judge you. Read what God inspired Peter to write about the very subject of this movie:
“That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: Knowing this first, that there shall come IN THE LAST DAYS SCOFFERS, WALKING AFTER THEIR OWN LUSTS, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as [they were] from the beginning of the creation. For this THEY WILLINGLY ARE IGNORANT of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day [is] with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (II Peter 3:2-9).
You may be having a self-satisfied laugh about the whole idea of religion and man’s relationship with an Almighty sovereign God, but your time is short lived. Sites like this provide a place where you and others engage in cyber high fives with media personalities and others in an effort to denounce the belief of God as being that of “blind faith” without reason, but little do you realize that in the end, you will be alone. Anyone who thinks that a faith in God is devoid of reason is just embarrassing himself. Nowhere in the entire Bible is blind faith expected. If there is any belief system that is founded upon blind faith, it is atheism. Psalm 53:1 says, “The fool hath said in his heart, [There is] no God.” Why would God have inspired David to have written this if it couldn’t be reasoned that there is a God?
Galatians 6:7 says, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” John 5:9 says, “And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” This doesn’t refer to works (Eph. 2:8-9) but whether we have accepted Christ as our personal Savior because we are sinners (Rom 3:23) and can’t save ourselves (Matt. 19:26).
The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, [so] shall it stand” (Is. 14:24). In other words, NOTHING, and this includes the rhetoric of pied pipers such as Maher, will turn the will of God. We are told in Ecclesiastes 3:11 that “He hath made every [thing] beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart,….” The word “world” in this verse means “eternity.” We have each been given knowledge of God; that is why the verses in II Peter above say that you are “willingly ignorant.”
Jesus Christ came to die for our sins. We either accept the wrath that God the Father poured out upon Him as payment for our sins or we will have the wrath of God poured out upon ourselves for our sins. It’s our choice, and the finality of God’s judgment is eternal (Rev. 14:11). What you fail to realize is that the game is over. All we’re doing now is choosing up sides. One of the deceptions that flows out of atheism is that sheer numbers and group support somehow proves you right, yet even a cursory examination of the gospels shows that Jesus’ claims stood in the face of the majority of Rome (the secular) and status quo of the Pharisees (false religion).
One final note~The fellowship and camaraderie that atheists and other like-minded people experience here on Earth through the “Mahers” and the “Movies” will also go the way of the Earth. It is passing away (Matt. 24:35). If you choose to neglect so great a salvation (Heb. 2:3), you will spend eternity (This is FOREVER, not a bad weekend or a couple bad years), totally and utterly alone, without God, without any friend or familial contact, in total darkness, suffering the eternal physical, intellectual, and emotional torments that you are now attributing to “blind faith.”
God is both just and love. It is His justness that demands a hell. It is His love that provides a way to escape it. Our days are numbered, and there are no do overs: “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (Heb. 9:27). We do not know when our time is up. That is why we are told “… behold, now [is] the day of salvation” (II Cor. 6:2).
Do not be a fool.
Barbara
Hey Bill...
Nevada is notoriously conservative. I found a mere TWO theaters in the entire Vegas Valley showing the film. Not to mention some funny business at one of them. We went to see the movie last night and I will tell you that it was the best movie I've seen all year. I never laugh out loud in a theater and I was trying to stop laughing so I could hear what was coming next. We loved it. I thought you might have some interest in what we saw last night.
I will preface these by saying there was no listing for the move on the theater's "big board," just a logo from the theater and movie times. When we asked the empty shirt at the ticket window why there was no title for the movie up there, his response was, "It's never been up there." Huh??! Really? Try answering my question idiot. It's like he was failing a reading comprehension skills test, but he was being spoken to. My gf and I asked, "How do you expect people to see the movie if they can't see that it's up there?" To which we received and empty headed shrug. People are dumb and Idiocracy is a documentary. Oh, and the movie was playing in theater 9 in the pics.
Check out the pics (sorry for the quality, only had a cell phone camera with me):
Pic 1
Pic 2
Pic 3
Pic 4
the film was great bill, thanks you
A great example of how we've created a society where all kinds of people who both don't know, and don't know HOW to know - don't understand how Baconian, rational, measurable, accountable knowledge about reality is built, subsumed, accessed and maintained - is the comment by conservative talk show hosts Chris Baker and Langdon Perry of KTLK in Minneapolis, who claim, over the airwaves, that Magic Johnson fakes having AIDS.
With the same fervor as those who claim to know universal truth through the cobbled-together 66 books they've been handed as Perfect Truth, these idiots don't even understand through how many levels their stupid permeates; first, of course, Magic had HIV, NOT AIDS...but that'd require actually knowing what you're talking about to differentiate...second, upon what basis do they reject Magic's asserted diagnosis?
None...the stupidity basis. This, and the likewise commitment to placing faith - belief sans proof - ahead of knowable reality will sentence the rest of us to the petulant, infant doom loop dogmatics want for all of us, if we ever let them access democratic power...or any kind of power over or through the consent of most humans, most of the time.
Bill, there's a great review of RELIGULOUS at Dame Magazine, www.damemagazine.com
You'll love it.
Jerry
My sister and I just saw it, and it really exceeded my expectations. And I had high expectations for it ;)
When it comes out on DVD, I plan on buying it and showing it to my ignorant religious neighbors and my friends who are struggling with their faith but are still too scared to admit they don't believe in it anymore.
I hope this movie inspires more atheists and agnostics to stand up for ourselves! Especially in my generation ( I'm 16.)
Thanks Bill. (If this is really you!) By the way, thank you for kicking Sherri's ass on the View the other day.
I have been waiting for this movie but it isn't showing in Alabama. I'm looking forward to the DVD.
I too have been unable to see the movie because it isn't playing at many theaters here in the conservative midwest. Which didn't really come as a suprise to me since religious organizations out here don't believe in evolution and are claiming that Obama is the anti-christ. The big theaters are too scared to risk pissing off any of the religious cults around here so there is basically no chance of them showing the movie. That is why many people in my city have contacted our local indie theater, and they said they are in negotiations to get the movie. Here is a site that lists indie theaters by state. For those of you wanting to see the movie but can't find a showing try contacting your local indie theater.
http://www.indiefilmpage.com/theaters.html
Bill,
I saw Religulous the 1st showing of the 1st day it opened (called in sick). I saw it at the Scottsdale 101 Theater here in AZ, and yes, the half full theater (at a matinee!) broke into applause at the end. How could we not?
Also, I had the privlege og hanging a bit with Nic Sheff, his amazing girlfriend, his dad, and his grandparents (David Sheff is from Scottsdale as well) and it was kind of a visiting the grandparents. You REALLY should have Nic on Real Time. He gave me his e-mail address, and I'll gladly give it to you if you want to write him, I just don't want to post it here where his inbox becomes flooded. they're all (including Sheff grandparents) going to see it today. I gave them my ticket stub (you know about women's purses, trash cans of the female species), so they could remember which theater it is at (only # in the ENTIRE Phoenix-metro area; insane.
saw it last night - live in Nebraska and everyone in the theater was laughing and otherwise really getting into it. wonderful film. hilarious and also disconcerting (the power of religion...)
I just saw "Religulous" with a group of atheists here in Seattle - loved the film, of course!
The movie really resonates with the book that I just published, a novel that explores religion as an addiction - one that is just as dangerous as any chemical that people shoot up with.
The book is called "Alpha, Omega" - go to www.lori-stephens.com. You can also see reader comments at my blog, http://loristephens.blogspot.com.
Bill, you are a crusader for all rationalists. Keep up the good work!!
Lori Stephens
Author: Alpha, Omega
www.Amazon.com
www.lori-stephens.com
No Taxation Without Representation
I saw you film today and I want to express my gratitude. I feel you have given me a voice.
THANK YOU!
I'm going to see it in Asheville NC soon!
Thank you for having the balls to come out and ask the questions I've always had about religion. I loved the film and so did the almost-full Sunday matinee audience here in Hollywood. I remember grilling my nuns in 5th grade about how could the Garden of Eden story make sense when we all know the dinosaurs were here first. She nervously changed the subject and called recess! I never bought the any part of their stories even though I went to Catholic school for 12 years. Great film, thank you!!
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7065205277695921912&hl=en
"Zeitgeist: Addendum" It's about money. You should make a movie based off this too. (Love your current movie too!). This video will raise your blood pressure; just a warning.
Bill,
I live in suburban Atlanta and saw your film today. I thought it was brilliant.
I did have a thought, though. I'm not sure how possible it would be to organize but I know I would have been interested in having a few minutes after the movie to discuss it with the other attendees. I was so curious as to what everyone else there thought about it.
I have 3 small kids, I'm in the PTA, I volunteer quite a bit in the school and community (I'm even a member of the Junior League), and I'm an atheist. SURELY there are more of us here in the bible belt???
I'm "out of the closet" but sometimes it would be nice to feel like I have some company. You know? Anyway, EXCELLENT job on the flick. I laughed out loud several times and the ending scared the shit out of me. I suspect that was your goal, so well done!
Hay Bill. Just got a note from Tory Magoo saying you are a SP. Congrats! Also I just wanted to say...
Your a pin head! I mean this in the most ______ way.
Why do you hate? What did 98% of the other people do to you? Did you get raped by your Catholic priest? If so... I understand why you are a pin head.
Loved your movie. Everyone did applaud at the end. I am Jewish, but I consider myself an agnostic. I agreed with everything you said in the movie. My answer to all religious questions is "I don't know", too. My husband is Catholic and he loved the movie, too.
So much of what was in the movie were things I have thought about for years. But I could never have made the movie as I would have lost my temper too many times with the ignorance of so many people.
We appreciate you in Minnesota and want to say Thank You for making this movie!
Edythe
As a recent Christian, uh, deconvert, I really needed this movie. Bill, you have been very influential in my "transformation". I have fought off feelings of doubt for years and about 8 months ago decided to confront them. I would now consider myself a person who believes there is "A" God, but if there is, he sure doesn't interfere in human affairs and I am more that willing to say I could be wrong. I was never a hateful conservative, but I wonder how I ever subscribed to a belief system that brings forth people like those in the McCain "Klan" rallies of late. Though not all have strayed from the teachings of peace that Christ taught in Matthew, the church at large has become too involved in politics, completely sure of it's devine right to inforce a book of scripture that it cannot prove. And even those who aren't violent still hold the same prejudices and belief that "the world's going to end and war is just part of the last days". This was my mother's supporting line for the war. That was when doubts really started. Thanks for being instrumental in my "awakening". Maybe this is what's truly meant by enlightment.
Josh Baker
Oak Ridge, TN
P.S. Think of me and the others like me here in East Tennessee. We are lost in a sea of conservative, Christian fundamentalists.
My husband and I just saw Religulous tonight, and it was just as we expected from Bill: true grit, wit, and good old fashion "in your face" truth! We live in Dallas, Texas, and like most of you, even in the Metroplex, there weren't many theaters showing it. We were pleasantly surprised to see the theater packed! People were laughing, nodding in agreement, very supportive of all the views expressed throughout Bill's movie - the message was well received! Wonderful!
I don't care what anyone believes in, that's your business but, I am so amazed at how everyone here "believes" in Bill Maher but, refuses to believe in a higher power.
Like I said:
Who needs God?
We have Bill!
I've never been much of a fan of your work...and to be honest, I can't even remember why, but I'll certainly have to reconsider. What you did with this film is just brilliant. A very well represented look into the thoughts of Agnosticism (?) Thanks for sharing my, yours and apparently 16% of America's voice and questions regarding religion's role in and on our lives. Let's hope Freud is right, and this whole "religious thing" is just a step in mankind's maturation...maybe then we can stop masturbating and go get laid (figuratively speaking, of course.)
Hi Bill -
Got a bumper sticker for your online crap store. (Do you even have one of those? I haven't looked yet.)
Bill Maher: Big Brass Ones. Just Like Jesus.
That's also the endorsement you'll find at the end of the argument I'm currently having with my bonehead friend, who writes for the San Diego Reader, here:
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs/daily-crasher/2008/oct/03/obama-hung-from-tree/
I'm Antigeekess, BTW. Feel free to kick my ass in public if I've mischaracterized you in my posts.
;)
Just saw it in Montreal. Right on, Bill.
Hello Bill,
In a movie clip, you asked someone dressed as Jesus why He didn't just obliterate the devil. I thought I would answer that for you. The devil will be "obliterated," as you say, along with his followers. God does not predestine who will reject Christ and follow the devil, but He does know who will. He also knows when the last person will leave the darkness and enter the light. He knows the exact moment when the last person who will accept Christ will do just that. It is His love for that last person that keeps from pouring out His wrath before that time. He is waiting for that moment when that person, the last one to accept Christ, enters the light and the protection of His grace and love. Bill, that last person might just be you. I'll be praying for you.
Bill - Thank You Thank You Thank You!!!!! My husband and I saw the film today and were happily surprised that the theater was aboslutely full here in Tempe, AZ, and the show got a standing ovation - well from us and a couple of other people - it's a start!
I was having such a strange day, got into a war of words with some Jehovah's witnesses, trying to pull my heart off the floor after seeing McCain's bigot bonanza yesterday, and just feeling a general malaise for mankind!
I have an anthropology degree and it always amazed me that whenever I talked to someone about it I would get the same responses - oh - Indiana Jones? dinosaurs? study of bugs? or just good ol "what's that?" When we walked into the theater today and it was totally full, I had such a feeling of relief that there ARE people out there contemplating their humanity! Thanks again for the religulous experience!
I saw Religulous at a weekday matinee in a suburb of San Diego. I was happy to find the theater nearly full.
The movie was great and it really made my day to see it amongst so many people who appreciated it.
I've recommended it to my friends and family and plan to see it again.
Thank you for making it.
Hey Bill,
Saw your movie "Religulous" last night. Tried to blog about it then but had computer issues. LOVED IT!! LOVED IT!! LOVED IT!! Everything I've been saying for years!! Couldn't have said it better myself but wish I had! Had the same feeling when I read the book "Recovering Catholic". Please don't stop now. EXCELLENT!
Thank you for making this movie! I have never blogged about a movie before.
Thanks again, Janice O.
Unfortunately,the movie about the young Billy Graham and Robby Benson's "Fireproof" starring actor/creationist Kirk Cameron are taking up all the screens in the area multiplex.I live in upstate S.C. and the closest theater showing "Religulous" is in Charlotte,N.C.(MORE THAN 60 MILES AWAY)Communities like mine where many people "speak in unknown tounges" on Sundays and believe the Earth is 5000 years old,are the very communities who need to see this movie.
Bill,
Kudos for Religulous. Couldn't have said it better myself. I am a agnostic/atheist myself.
Nevertheless, one must admire the achievements of the cheap psychology effects that religion has brought to this world for better and for worse. Just the fact that religion created the ultimate policeman in the figure of God, by having this powerful might overlooking you at all times to punish or reward you according to the way you follow “his recommendations.” What a smart concept!
Also one must recognize that, even from the eyes of an atheist, religious books, through its stories and laws, created, for better or for worse, a set of rules of behavior, hygiene and social structure that were pretty advanced for the times. It is true that there is no longer need for that since the days of Plato... but for the old days it had its value.
Another social issue not covered on your film is the innate need for the human species to divide itself in a tribal structure for self preservation and protection. This behavior is still evident with the ways in which cultures want to separate themselves into autonomous countries.
Again, congratulations on a job well done....you have balls!@aol.com
Bill I would not waste my time or money to see a hacker like you on the big screen. It's bad enough I accidentally see you TV and that irks me deeply. Why don’t you try washing your hair…you see Bill, with HD television we can all see your ugliness, physically and what’s in that small pea of a brain. Bill am I being too hard? Gee! You and Maxine Waters would make a great couple; you are both from the same place, the sewers of society. And let’s talk about your nose that fills the screen. I imagine it comes in handy when you are bent over sniffing Liberal butts. The main reason I don’t order HBO is you Bill that’s right. Until they change their format and put someone in your slot that has some integrity, just then I might order it…NA. Ok Bill I have to go and watch O’Reilly at least he baths and washes his hair.
PS. Bill I hope you have the balls to post this.
Bill, I think you and Michael Moore should get married.
You probably won't read this; there are so many crazy people typing in all caps and performing shameless Palin-related threadjacks that I wouldn't bother reading many posts either. But if you do, I just wanted to say that I really enjoyed your movie, and I admire the guts you show in tackling such a heated issue as well as the skill you displayed in keeping it amazingly funny.
You are a champion of free speech, and a very intelligent person. I only found it sad that you, along with nearly all Americans and most of the Western world, say "religion" when you really mean monotheism, or what Wiccans call "the Abrahamic religions." People in this country debate all their lives about the (destructive) philosophy of these three religions, whether for or against, and never pause to consider Buddhism, Hinduism, ancient or modern Paganism, ancestor worship, animism...the list goes on, and each item on that list is a religion, each with a dramatically different philosophy from religion as you, or they, might know it. Granted, polytheism was mentioned briefly, but only to compare its mythology to Christian mythology, never to compare the very different philosophies and ways of seeing the world--some of which don't require faith, or the suspension of logic.
I think that atheism is probably the right path for you, but I think it's sad that anyone, especially such a well-informed and intelligent person in this information age, should be unaware of his options or the great diversity in this world.
On a lighter note, I thought that your take on the hillside carving in Dorset, England (called the "Chalk Man") was interesting. I see your point, but I don't think that the people who live nearby maintain the carving--and its prominent erection--just because that's what people have always done. I think that they do it for the same reason that I shave my own vagina. I like how it looks, and I like it better neatly trimmed than overgrown. Also, if I keep it in good shape, more people are likely to come to see it. ;-) The same goes for the carving.
If you ever want to talk, or if you just want to see my shaved pussy, my e-mail is raven04151984@yahoo.com. Thanks again for making such a fantastic movie.
hey bill. i just saw the movie tonight. while it was VERY interesting, i have to say it was way too completely biased, and if you were REALLY searching for some answers about faith, i think you could have dug a lot deeper. the Christian teachers (pastors/ministers/etc) that I listen to at church and in my years growing up as a Christian - they are nowhere near as uneducated or unsure as so many of the people you interviewed. you made it look like a joke to believe in God, to have faith. it's fine that YOU don't HAVE faith, but that doesn't mean you should say people who do have Faith are ignorant or stupid - which is what you seemed to be doing.
i AM a Christian, but I'm open-minded, and try to follow God's teachings with an open heart and mind toward everyone.
you really did a great job of asking the right kind of questions to 'make fun' of a lot of people in your movie. the people you interviewed were not a very good range of Christian experts... there is a lot of historical, scientific data out there that proves the events in the bible could have really happened. cities and dates, and some actual events have been matched up with outside writing. also, Christianity is not about causing wars, or harming others. it's a peaceful religion that is PRIMARILY focused on LOVE at the core of it's teachings. Love and believing in Jesus, God's son. what causes people to act violently and to judge others is sin. in the Bible it says that we should NOT judge others, and when you include clips - such as the woman saying "God hates Homosexuals" - well that is not what all Christians believe (and if they do, then I don't think they are on the right kind of path to being a good Christian) - because I haven't read that God actually hates anyone. The bible might have some very small sections (like a couple verses out of the whole thing) that speak about sexul sin, but OVERALL in the bible - it is about God's love for us, and that he wants us to love him and believe in him. God might hate sin, but he doesn't hate people. I think your movie only covered the very worst of how Christians have been protrayed. It didn't honestly cover intelligent, compassionate Christians who do a lot of great things for our communities and for others.
Bill, living in America today there is already a lot of discussion that goes on by non-believers. being 'liberal', not going to church, etc are very widely accepted in America - at least for my young generation (I'm 28) - and at least in Nebraska and in Washington DC where I've lived. maybe you are just not hearing it. for me, being a Christian is VERY hard today in our society. there is temptation to act non-Christian EVERYWHERE. To be a Christian, especially when I was living outside DC, was considered "uncool" and outside of the norm. trying to be a Christian in my daily life (here in Omaha, Nebraska) - the way that I act, and what I believe in - often seem abnormal, and outside the norm, compared to the norm of 20 and 30 years olds. i think it's a LOT harder to be able to speak up about one's faith or religious ideas, than it is to be 'cool' and open to every liberal idea out there today. your movie was not that surprising or even that refreshing. it just felt like a slap in the face that someone as intelligent and good natured as you are, would bend over backward to supposedly make a point that we need to stop being religious to move forward, and we need to stop having faith. your movie did nothing to waiver my faith in God. i'm glad i saw it... but it didn't change my view point at all. it was way too biased...
I long for the days that I got up for school, said the morning prayer, Pledge of Allegiance at school and never thought it was bad.
I long for the day that my mother and father never bashed President Kennedy, even tho he was a democrat.
I long for the day my mother cried for days on end when he died.
I long for the day of innocence and all of this hate didn't exist.
I long for the day of United We Stand!
What has happened to us?
We are no longer fighting the Terrorist...we are fighting among ourselves.
I long for the Day of Peace among ourselves.
I promise, I am gone now.
p.s. Raven, that was gross! Bill has more class than that!
The people here in Salt Lake City loved it, at least in the theater(the one and only theater it's playing in). Everyone cheered when SLC was texted up on the screen. Bill, you are awesome, you are like a god among us lawlz.
Raven I'm sure that Bill would love to see your shaven pussy...that would be extreme change for him.
Poor mp2008, dreaming of more innocent days when war, fear, hate, and vaginas didn't exist. :-P
Raven,
Grow up!
Hey Raven I agree with mp2008 Bill has no class...wait, did I read that wrong?
anitmaher,
I admit, I loved Bill Maher at one time, before he went off the edge, but, I have to admit, he has more class than to respond to the "shaved" post above.
BILL MAHER,
IF YOU WERE HALF THE MAN YOU CLAIM, THEN POST ON HERE YOURSELF AND DON'T HAVE YOUR STAFF DO IT.
We know you read them, but can you actually respond to your people?
You know GodlessLiberal I imagine you spend a lot of time in movie houses and I would probably bet you masterbate a lot.
mp2008
Bill is not half a man, in fact he is not a man at all. He loves to hear people praise his idiotic persona...which at best needs a tune up every couple of weeks. He is a weak person and lacks faith because as intelligent as he thinks he is he has no understanding of faith.
I can't wait to see the movie! I struggle a lot with "God" and issues of Higher Power and all of that. But the thing I think is most damaging about religion is one "group's" claim that their God is better than the rest..blah, blah, blah. I believe that's why we have war and terrorism.
I was brought up Jewish and still consider myself a Jew, but I'm a convenient Jew...I don't always fast on Yom Kippur (a very important Jewish Holiday), and I like being Jewish because of the food. Not a very good Jew am I in that context.
But most of all I want to see your movie because it wll make me, and other people who have the guts to see it, think. Hopefully we will all laugh...knowing you from your shows I have no doubt I will, but in a world where people's beliefs can kill....self examination is not a bad thing.
Thanks for doing what you do.
Jamie
Saw it yesterday afternoon. I laughed....I winced (you are far more "in-your-face" than I am, and I can get pretty far if pushed,) but I was glad you made me squirm a bit. Even though I'm right on with your queries and opinions about all the myths people live by and the destructiveness of fundamentalists of all kinds, at the end of the movie I was almost moved to tears. I want to thank you for being so honest and authentic to yourself...and thus to so many others.
My husband teaches a course called "War, Peace, and Religion," and at the end of the movie I suggested that he require his class to see your film.
As a side note, several years ago, I moved over to the Buddhist side of spirituality because it philosophy made more sense to me. I'm happy to report that when I went to hear a Buddhist monk give a talk a few years ago, he said, "Buddism is not a religion. It's psychotherapy."
Thanks again, Bill!
Dear Bill Maher
I haven't seen your movie, I hope it makes it this way. I live way out in Northern Ontario, In a tent 30 miles outside Timmins, Ontario. I use to watch "Politically Correct" it was like a dose of intelligence in a world of stupidity... I do mean every part of the world.
I know you like to take on the tough topics that Fu.. up America. Here's another one for you. America is really not a Democracy. About 150 to 175 years ago Black Men were freed from slavery and given the right to vote. But the establishment wanted to avoid that possibility.. so the began to make the right to vote a test like in school... this evolved into the College Electoral Vote... So when people like George W win elections over People like Al Gore... (who won the popular vote which is democracy) You now know why. When the upcoming elections are on tv and schumck A wins by a land slide and shmuck B gets the job by "some great mysterious miracle" it's called the COLLEGE ELECTORAL VOTE.
Jackie Beauvais
From some tent out there
e-mail geesjack@hotmail.com
I have not seen it yet, will wait out the two weeks it takes to get to the video store. But I cannot wait to view the flick or its comedic value.
I just wanted to say thank you for making this film. I've been saying for years, we need more people like you out there shaking things up. My friends call me an Evangelical Atheist, but I am limited in the number of people I can "preach" to. You on the other hand are reaching millions. You, along with the likes of Christopher Hitchens and Sam Harris are making it easier for other atheists to "come out of the closet" as you say in the film. Keep it up!
Jackie,
This is getting off-topic given the subject, but your conception of how the Electoral College came to be is way off. It was the product of compromise and a check on direct democracy (allowing state legislatures to choose U.S. senators was another such check on the masses). But the college existed long before blacks were allowed to vote -- which didn't happen "about 150 to 175 years ago," as you wrote, but in 1868 with the ratification of the 14th Amendment.
There's an interesting article in the New Yorker this week (unfortunately not available online) about the messy history of voting.
These sites help explain how the Electoral College came to be and how it works:
http://www.fec.gov/pdf/eleccoll.pdf
http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/faq.html
I'd love to see the movie, but will it come out in France ?
I'm sure it'd be a success there.
I'm looking forward to seeing it,as I'm sure it'll remind me of my years in small towns in the Midwest...
My experience with religion there was not at all what I had experienced at home. For me religion was all about respect, tolerance, compassion...and I got a big slap in the face (and faith) when I became surrounded by people for whom religion seemed to be about hate and evil... I was 15 and have since then become allergic to religion.
A few years later I went to live in Southern Egypt, where I encountered other pious people, and they were so much more tolerant and open than some of the people I met in MN...
Anyhow, I hope the movie opens up some minds, and gets people to reflect on the place of religion in the US.
Bonne chance au film!
Hey Bill,
Your movie “religulous” sucked. If I want to see shitty biased journalism I’d rather watch O’reilly on fox news because at least it’s free. Your attempt to step all over world religions and put yourself on the pedestal was week as hell. Some of the people you interviewed were unprepared and often intellectually inferior. You edited every interview so much that they lost any valuable content they had to begin with. And what is the point of an interview, or an argument, if you don’t let the other person speak, or if you don’t show the footage of that person speaking in the final product? It appears that you have discovered the method of “excessive editing to make someone look stupid” (At least to whoever buys that bullshit). Very lame dude. But at least it boosted your ego though, right? You would do well on fox news. You could bash religions as much as you want and high five Sean Hannity at the end of the day.
Diego Guevara
IT's NOT PLAYING ANYWHERE NEAR ME! I'm in Merritt Island Florida. We have some great theaters. Cobb, Rave, Cinema World - All new theaters with stadium seating. None of which have had your movie. What's up? I see your TV plugs for it & think, wow, what a waste of money on advertisements when it's not even available to go & see!
I think "They're" suppressing your movie Bill!
Hey Bill,
Your movie “religulous” sucked. If I want to see shitty biased journalism I’d rather watch O’reilly on fox news because at least it’s free. Your attempt to step all over world religions and put yourself on the pedestal was week as hell. Some of the people you interviewed were unprepared and often intellectually inferior. You edited every interview so much that they lost any valuable content they had to begin with. And what is the point of an interview, or an argument, if you don’t let the other person speak, or if you don’t show the footage of that person speaking in the final product? It appears that you have discovered the method of “excessive editing to make someone look stupid” (At least to whoever buys that bullshit). Very lame dude. But at least it boosted your ego though, right? You would do well on fox news. You could bash religions as much as you want and high five Sean Hannity at the end of the day.
Diego Guevara
It doesn’t surprise me that so many on this blog would go and see a film that displays the most senseless characterization of religion. Calling Bill a God makes me wonder if the lost and lonely bloggers with cardboard IQs have contributed to the Obama campaign. I would rather spend my money on a $6.00 burger. Bill and his epiphloedal entourage are followers of the typical perverse immorality that are not only hurting this country but also leaving a bad taste in our potential youth. Larry at 81 I would think that you of all people would get the message that you are not the atheist poster boy to deliver the message, you are in fact a disgrace. You should be getting your cards in order old man. The gates that you will be appearing in front of, will definitely welcome you and your Wal-Mart amigos. But enough about losers. Let’s try and see if Bill has the balls to comment on any of the rants displayed on this blog…. Would he feel more comfortable if he were on camera stroking the nation with his humorless bravado? Bill I would challenge you on your show or any show for that matter, anytime, and perhaps we could do it standing, so that your disciples can see the dress you are wearing.
I just saw Religulous and it was a blast and very well done- it actualluy challenges people to think ( g-d forbid)!
I love that you showed a snippet of the Miami show- i was was there..Congrats! Keep up the good work..
Much love,
Brett in Miami
I took a friend to see it on the opening night and then went with my partner and another friend last Wednesday. It was really funny even the second time!
If you liked Religulous you might enjoy this short doc about radical college campus preachers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RF6b4LbDNdo
My 86 year old mom loved your movie. My husband and I just saw it too, and laughed, but also appreciated the very sober message. I hope lots of people see it and think about it and talk about it.
I also want people to know there is a religious community without dogma, that welcomes and encourages questions, and that claims many of those founding fathers you quoted as early members. Unitarian Universalists (uua.org) believe that people are more important than any religious books, and that we don't need a book to understand and value kindness. Service to others is our creed.
Imlittlewolf
You struggle with God because you're a Wolf...
Hey Bill! Are we living in the same reality here? Bill Clinton signed NAFTA with China and deregulation. Both policies which sent the U.S. economy to hell in a handbasket. If you haven't noticed, right after that NAFTA was signed the trade deficit went to $400BILLION before 2000 (now it skirts between $600-700 billion). Which might explain why our current economy is so codependant on credit. You don't seem to understand the fundamentals of the economy, nor does your blind bipartisan audience. There's a youtube clip on stupid Americans. Many don't even know where the country if Iran is at. Dude, I'm sorry. I used to liked your show until I heard you licking Clinton's balls.
Saw the movie last night and loved it! Very timely, I am not part of any organized religion and I am tired of being treated like a freak for my non-belief. Thank you Bill for asking some of the same questions I ask myself on a daily basis.
Just got home from seeing your movie, it is great. I attended Catholic schools for 12 years around the same time you did. I still wonder what ever happened to the poor bastards who ate meat on Fridays. Are they still in hell now that the Catholic Church has changed every rule since they beat the rules into me so many years ago.
thank you meltdownusa
As I wipe my brow...finally someone on this blog that has an intelligent comment. I'm sorry to say that most of the Americans on this blog like Bill don't understand policies and intelligence... Why do so many feel that this economic problem began during the current administration? Wake up people! During the Clinton administration while he was getting head in the oval office, NAFTA proved to be a disaster for the US, although the rest of the countries benefited like bandits. Deregulation was invented by the closet capitalists that call themselves Democrats. If people believe they were better off then, why did Hilary make an ass of herself continuously on every platform she represented? Why? Because she was being spoon fed by her deceitful husband who encouraged her to
play the fear cards that most Demos feel comfortable with. And did they fail to mention that welfare jumped almost 44%, meaning that generations of welfare recipients are still bathing in the glory of free hand outs by our government. That explains why we had a higher rate of crime and a disturbing educational problem….Hey if mom and dad can collect thousands of dollars a month supported by our system doing nothing, I will follow in their footsteps and continue to promote that to the future of my kids. Sad. Very sad.
I just saw Religulous and i loved it! I live in NW Ohio and there was only 1 of about 7 local theaters playing it. btw Bill, your hair is on fire. But being serious my aunt and i are the only rationalists in our family and we see first hand how much ignorance religion, especially in the form of christianity, can cause.
and bill, please consider Canada for Exit Strategy, thats where we're going if mccain wins.
I thought it was funny and fair, only what was up with Larry Charles? It was like watching an offspring of Kevin Smith and Woody Allen battling his wallflower status at a middle school dance.
thank you very much for this awesome movie. i just left the movie theater, exhausted, could not stop laughter. did spend the last year in Jerusalem studying at a yeshiva (well one of those that accept women, so not a real one;), see, i thought i needed to know more, and wanted to study it from the inside. after almost going crazy there; the Freudian relief watching your movie was overwhelming! yes, yes, and yes. don't resign from making movies, please. i still wonder how you got permission for Al-Aksa. first time i had a chance to see it from inside!!! and in any case: shana tova;)
jul/minneapolis
Thank you Bill and Larry Charles for having the balls to make this film. I saw the film in Pasadena and people loved it. But at the same time I saw people squirming in their seats.
Our society is becoming more and more toxic everyday and religion is a huge, huge factor in what is happening. People need to be slapped upside the head and get with the fuckin program. Enough of the God fearing and enough of the these idiots in our government running things according to what “GOD” says. I’d rather put all my chips down for a Donkey at a zoo then some crazy Religious zealot that believes in talking snakes thank you.
We are the smartest and the dumbest beings on this planet.
We can invent and destroy all in the same day.
And we can self-prophesize our own demise.
Headstone for humans:
Humans.
They were smart but just not smart enough.
Too bad.
I mean Honey Bees have more sense then us.
Thanks Bill.
Keep spreading the word.
Antony Berrios
Los Angeles
I won’t get to see the movie until it gets to pay per view, as we won’t get it down here in the Caribbean. Our people, expats from the African motherland, are quite resistant to religious change. Like African descendants all over the planet, their faith is rooted in thunderous emotion, barely contained by awkward Christian and Muslim doctrines. Nevertheless, generations have been brainwashed into religion, diminishing their spiritual prescience, much like colonialism has stripped them of their artistic dynamism… with the exception of rap, music and dance, three forms of self expression they wouldn’t give up. I look forward to seeing Religulous, not only as a vindication of rational thinking, but also to see what, if anything, you offer as soul food replacement to religious ideology.
I did see Real Time when you took the stick out of your ass with that meaningful bodily movement and announced you’re going to have yourself some fun with that mutherfucker, the one word worse than nigga that can be said by a white guy. Congratulations for exploiting that cute loophole. The following segment where Obama talks about kidnapping white grandmothers was ridiculous enough to get everyone laughing, maybe even rendering him less threatening to Republicans… the magic of reverse psychology in comedic exaggeration. It’s popping up often: today I noticed a sneaky bit of reverse psychology when Hillary called the audience ‘my friends’ at least twice in her Scranton speech, offering a familiar expression to Republicans.
Finally, it’s interesting in a synchromystical sort of way that your blog format changed from the white background to the black one, where we could see whose posts were deleted. I thought you had deleted one of my posts which had never showed up, but it turned out someone had deleted Save a Moose’s post instead. Right after I noticed this good thing, the white background came back… all in perfect synchronized time to keep me in blab mode.
www.lovetoamuse.blogspot.com
Hey Bill,
It looks like Fireproof a "Christian Movie" is out drawing your movie. I love it America has spoken and you are a loser. I can't wait to see the numbers on American Carol.
Hey Bill ,
What a sleeper this flick is! I think you will loose your ass on this one. I think your are correct. Don't make a other film!
Hey Bill,
We just got home from seeing your movie in Toronto. We loved it! Please DO make more thought provoking and insightful films!
Thanks!
Susan
in Toronto
I just went to see the movie with my two adult children today and thought it was a MUST see!
I am a "disenchanted" Catholic who left the church after all the peophile priests got caught molesting children. I have been searching for another religion to take the place of Catholicism ...but have since decided that in order to be spititual I don't need formal religion. I don't need any religion to tell me to be kind, honest and charitable...I can do that on my own thank you very much! Your movie is TERRIFIC! Thanks for making it Bill!
i just saw the movie yesterday. it was fantastic - thank you. Thank you for making a movie that asks the questions I have been asking for as long as I can remember. I saw it in SLC, Utah (not many theatres playing it, as I'm sure you can imagine) but the crowd, and there was a crowd, was going wild throughout it and everyone applauded it when it was over.
I can't wait to see it again.
Bill, given the mindless Evangelicals and other fundamentalist believers in this country (and elsewhere), it is about time somebody is telling it the way it is!
As with most of your positions on life, I couldn't have said it better. I could pull my hair out trying to argue with someone against the concept of faith, because those on the other end of the spectrum are unable to come up with compelling reasons a rational person can make sense of. It is no coincidence that the most derailed people tend to be the most convinced believers! "Born Again Christians" anyone?
Faith is reserved for those among us who refuse to engage in critical thinking, because they may just discover that their beliefs are completely unfounded.
Great job Bill!
By the way, you are awfully cute, too! When will you be performing in L.A.?
e-mail: scdiver22@yahoo.com
Hey Bill.
My husband and I just saw Religulous last night in Annapolis, MD. We thought it was extremely thought provoking but also humorous, especially your facial expressions. The ending was extemely effective. We are so glad you made this movie; however, we couldn't help but wonder for your safety. You are probably now on some crazy fundamentalist's hit list. They would just as soon shoot you as tolerate your dissenting opinion. I hope many people see this movie.
Just saw the movie tonight. i have to say that Documentary is awesome. The best part was definitely telling the pot head was on fire. HA HA HA.
I was baptised and confirmed catholic, but for the past 10 years have left the catholic faith and become agnostic because there were too many unknowns when i comes to the church and other religions. I have participated in many religious conversations just like the movie where you debate about someones religion. Its funny to see the close mindedness that Faithful believe. One even had the odasity to say that christianity was the very first religion. Obviously they were not up on their history. :)
Excellent movie Bill, I am proud to be a large fan of yours,
Tom
Obama/Biden 08 (Like there is even a choice)
kitty
Learn how to speak and then learn how to write...yall
Hey Verity
We should be so lucky...
BTW is your husbands name Peter?
Bill,
I completely understand why some people turn away from faith and religion. It is hard to believe in something that does not make much sense or compromise your principles. I was shocked to hear a priest saying on TV that everyone who does not accept Jesus Christ as savior would go straight to hell, which will mean a lot of good people. And the religion based on the literal Bible interpretation argues not for union, but for separation and can be interpretate to justify a war. But the most outragious is this arrogant assurance of evangelical christians that they know the God's truth and they are the only ones.
There are many more things as well
Personally i believe in greater power, God and was fortunate to find a more progressive church (it's a nont denominational unity church of christianity). We read Bible metaphysically, not literally. Heaven and hell are more dimensions of conciousness, and not geographical places. And there is no devil, even though it is really convenient to have one to blame all the bad deeds on. We are in nature all good people, but prone to make mistakes (=sin). This kind of faith is aimed to motivate and unite all. It teaches to take personal responsibility for our actions and do our best to bring heaven on earth in this life! I think it's a perfect balance between the hardcore christians and atheism. I see it as christianity for intelligent (if interested it's www.unityhouston.org).
I haven't seen the movie yet, but i will next week for sure. Unfortunatelly, there are only few shows for "Religulous" and toooo many for chichuacua.
Thanks in advance for the movie!
Bill,
I read your article on environment about bees and plastic bags. It is rediculous but so sad how much garbage this country produce! And how about all the junk mail that goes from mail boxes straight into the garbage. Sorry to talk off the topic.:))
I want to apologize to Bill on making that remark about his huge overwhelming nose. I know it wasn’t fair and I should have said that it sits well on his oversized empty head.
The only religion that really exist is the present moment. faith and believes comes from the past or to an expectation and non of those realy exist. the only way to be free is to experience the moment of now with out judgment, faith or believe. it is the natural state of human being, this has been said for centuries but religions made a mes with what came from the real escense of human being. thats an amazing film, i just love humor and the simplicity of it, it is so obvious.
Dear Bill,
It is so scary to see how religious communities are afraid of any critics regarding their faith. Could your movie Religulous raise doubts in their minds?
My friends and I would love to go see it before it comes out on Netflix or plays on HBO... But unfortunately like Logan said earlier: it is not being showed in Lafayette Louisiana.
I can recall very well when people here were going to see Mel Gibson's movie on churches' field trips... I met someone then who saw this movie 17 times, feeling rejuvenated and happy. I was glad for that person, his glow made me envious. And then finally when my chance comes around to experience the same happiness, I am being deprived of my chance...
What I find scarier though is that, when The Da Vinci Code came out in this town, it was at least giving the chance to be another big talk, even negative, it was still debated in the community.
Well Bill, I am sorry to tell you that I would love to see your movie, and defend it but I will have to wait, or fly to New York for the week-end. Meanwhile, remember that some of the people in Louisiana support your views and/or your humor. Don't forget about us. I wait patiently all week long for your show to come on HBO on Fridays to inspire the rest of my week...
Thank you for your satirical work. I really appreciate your input on society. Your irony often makes my day.
Muriel
Tanja
Please clean your glasses. If you think Bill is cute you are in desperate need of a life...yuk yuk and more yuk.
BILL! BILL! Thank you! Just saw it this eve. Applause to you. I live in Utah and as you can imagine it is not showing at every theatre! ha. ha. But I do applaud you for giving 'non-believers' a voice. Encouraging that community to embrace their non-belief and have a voice of their own. It was done in true Bill Maher style... smart, edgy, and witty.
Thank you.
Ande Uriguen
Bill,
If you truly desire "debate" on this issue, I will agree to see your movie if you will accept Dinesh D'Souza's offer to debate you on your show about your religious views. I suspect you know you would not fare well in the arena of debate with someone of true intellect, and will refuse to accept, but if you truly desire "debate", give it a try. This offer can be seen at the following website: http://townhall.com/columnists/DineshDSouza/2008/10/13/why_bill_maher_made_me_laugh
I think you are hypocrite Bill. By making this documentary, you are going against why our founding fathers came to america. You breaking down the very Constitution that gives you the right of freedom of speech. In my opinion, you dont deserve to be an American. Being an American means: being willing to defend the rights of the Constitution at all times, defending your families, defending our faith. Do you think we won the Revolutionary war by chance or plain strategy? Only a Divine intervention could have allowed such a victory for our beginning colonies to defeat the world power of the time. To mock and disrespect what others hold dear and sacred is truly cruel. I would wish to meet you personally and have an interview with you and put you on the spot and question you on how the world would be better without religion. I am going to do everything in my power to make sure your movie is not seen in my town and will openly defend my beliefs against a modern day antichrist like yourself.
Bill,
Trolling for ticket sales "in the interest of debate"? How lame can you be...wait, don't answer that, I already know, VERY LAME. This movie is a must see for claustrophobics...guaranteed no more than 2-3 paying customers per showing...laying room only, "come one come maybe two to the greatest show on earth! "Buy tickets for...debate!"...classic, Bill, just classic!
Some say that the bible and religion is the biggest scam in the history of mankind
Who really knows?
There were all kinds of spiritual wars going on and crooks
And some of the earliest writings were decades after the apostles and Jesus were dead
We already know the bible was written by so many different people
Whats true?
Stay well
Alan
http://onlinevoices.org
http://miracles-of-hope.com
And don't forget the homeless in OUR country instead
Sean you are the man!
We should all combine our efforts to take this slime off the tube and not allow him to speak to the American people. I do believe in freedom of speech. Bill someone should take you and hold your head in a bucket of shit so that your mind will feel comfortable with what you represent.
I didn't like Borat, so didn’t run to see Religulous. But my frustration about the fact that Obama has to portray himself as a God-fearing Christian to be considered a viable candidate (which he may be, but is totally irrelevant to the job he is seeking) and my respect for Bill Maher’s refusal to speak anything other than the truth got me to the local Laemmle this weekend. I’m so glad I went. Bill and the Religulous team deserve a ton of credit for having the kohones to bring this subject matter to the big screen. I’ve always felt some pride in being a recovering Catholic nonbeliever, but this movie makes me want to stand up and be counted as one of the 16 percent. Why don’t we have a voice in the political process? Whatever happened to the doctrine of separation of church and state? (Thomas Jefferson must be rolling in his grave.) It didn’t hurt that the movie is also hysterical. Thanks, Bill, for your comedic perspective. Religulous turned out to be my favorite film of the year.
Big fan of yours ... out here in Pakistan.
An excellent slap on the face of every witchdoctor- pope, dalai lama, gandhi, the mullahs etc- known to mankind.
Can't wait to watch
Sean,
I am a lawyer based in Islamabad but I have examined the US constitution in detail and have gone through landmark US Supreme Court case law on the issue of freedom of religion and the first amendment.
To best of my knowledge, the US Constitution through first amendment neither establishes religion nor forbids it. It also establishes freedom of speech.
How then has Bill Maher "violated" the constitution. Is Bill Maher part of the US government?
Regardless of what the beliefs of the founding fathers of the US were... they bequeathed to it a secular constitution. I wish Pakistan had a constitution like yours. We in Pakistan were not so lucky because after the early demise of our secular and agnostic founding father, Jinnah, none of his successors had the foresight to separate church and state.
In any event, I am very interested in finding out how Bill Maher has violated the US constitution.
Hi Bill,
Looking forward to seeing your movie as well as seeing you you perform again live.I had enjoyed seeing you last year at the Dar Constitution Hall as well as you autographing your book for me after your performance.
Question,you support Peta,correct?Why has the organization not said anything about Sarah Palin moose hunting or rather poaching in Alaska,but demanded an apology from Michael Vick?
Thanks,
Cheryl R.N. Virginia
Hi Bill,
Looking forward to seeing your movie as well as seeing you you perform again live.I had enjoyed seeing you last year at the Dar Constitution Hall as well as you autographing your book for me after your performance.
Question,you support Peta,correct?Why has the organization not said anything about Sarah Palin moose hunting or rather poaching in Alaska,but demanded an apology from Michael Vick?
Thanks,
Cheryl R.N. Virginia
Hi Bill
I saw your movie today with my daughter (22) and we were both delighted. I am a physician scientist tired of the crap that some scientists (and doctors) are adding in their scientific papers: The use the word "believe" to "measure" their results, and this even in peer reviewed journals. At a meeting had the chance to rebuff and said "if you want to believe, go to church, in science we just test and report". 80% was in favour of this but there is always that "christian" who takes the mike and tries to dilute. Keep the fight! Thank you for your courage and if you need help let me know
Oscar
I loved the movie, although I have to disagree with the premise that religion is the cause of war. I would say that it excuses actions, but doesn't have to be the cause. Take the Soviet Union. They were atheist in theory, but not so peaceful. Also, with Islam, look at the Arabs just before Islam, not so peaceful in their tribalism. The real reason for so much of their backward ideas today. Many things they do are not in the Quran.
You mention the Dutch cartoonist incident. Shameful on both ends. Freedom of the press also comes with responsibility. It was designed to inflame, and it did. I think that is why we have the anti-defimation league in America, to prevent certain harmful things being said.
I noticed the violence of the Muslims was portrayed, like the straw figure that it is, but no Jewish hatred. No crazy idea of God wanting them to have the promised land. Where is the part in the movie that shows them being irrational and hateful? Many people have died because of their insanity, if that is what religion is. Hmmmm, I wonder why.
Why is it that you can say never again, while you support the occupation army and the bulldozers?
time to start an atheist PAC brother! piece of genius, thank you. i haven't cried from laughter and fear (for our future) at the same time in awhile.
Dear Mr. Moyers,
I just saw Religulous, and wanted to congratulate you on an entertaining 90 minutes.
While enjoying the film i also feel that it had some important weaknesses. I will preface my comments by saying that I am African-Amrican & Israeli-Jew. I grew up in Israel, but have been living i the US for the past 10 years. I am also an atheist, and share your bafflement and exasperation with the willingness of seemingly rational people to believe in nonsense. I also share your conviction that having fanatic religious people at the helm of states and economies does not bode well for our future.
but here are my two cents:
First, religion has also created a lot of good. The Quakers were instrumental in the underground railroad, freeing thousands of slaves, risking their lives in the process. The Hamas and Islamic Jihad feed, cloth and educate impoverished Palestinians in Gaza. Shas (the Mizrakhi religious party in Israel) provide after-school programs for kids of poor families.
In a more just society there would be no slavery, Palestinians would not be occupied, and the state would provide child care for working families. But that is not the case, opening the door the unfortunately negative influences of religion.
Second, your portrayal of Islam is inexplicably desultory and inane. Islam is not only about killing the Jews. In fact, until the establishment of the State of Israel, Jews lived much better in Muslim countries than in Europe. And without a >40 year occupation i doubt very much that Arabs and Muslims would be talking about the State of Israel at all.
So context is important.
Moreover, your portrayal of Islam as this killer religion completely ignores the body count, which i know you are aware of. How many people have been killed in the name of Islam compared to how many people have been killed in the name of "our freedoms", free markets, and "democracy?
Third, completely missing is the portrayal of the nationalist Jewish fanatics. Those Jews who believe it is their God given right to harass Palestinian off their land, that Baruch Goldstein, the man who massacred praying Muslim, is a hero. Unfortunately, there are quite a few of those.
I haven't seen the movie YET, but I see the combination of Religion and Rediculous in the Title. And I approve.
I would like to share an experience I have had recently with "supposedly" Christian people.
I am a server in a VERY popular restaraunt chain. I had a table of 3 guests place their order with me. They each ordered a sandwich. Guest #2 winked at me and said "We would like the 'little' cole slaws to go with our sandwiches."
I explained that cole slaw only came with the Sandwich Platters, not the sandwiches by themselves. The gentleman said, "Everyone else does it."
I sent my manager out to explain my situation. My situation being that my co-workers had made an error, and if I did it, I was STEALING from my company.
I was shocked when I delivered the food to this table, when they all grabbed hands and started "Praying" over their food.
2 weeks later the same party came into my restaraunt. They told the Hostess they did want me to serve them. My manager approached me, and asked, " I'm not used to people NOT wanting you. Can You tell me why?"
I told him about the above interaction.
The party again asked for "free" or more acurately "Stolen" food. When my manager charged them for it, they sent it back. Their comment was, "We know Mark is doing what is right, but that's not what we want."
Why is it OK for "supposedly" Christian Individuals to ASK me to steal, when THEIR BIBLE tells them that stealing is a Sin?
Bill scored big time. I had to drive 98 miles to see it but I was glad I did. Another surprise the theater was packed. It was funny seeing people enter and look up in the theater with an expressive of apprehension. Being in Oklahoma I’m sure most of us feared being blown up or shot by our loving Christian brethren for attending such a sacrilegious movie. But to my surprise and delight the theater filled up with open minded people who had a great time. And yes the open minded Oklahomans clapped as well at the end. Maybe there is hope.
My Challenge to any religous person is this: Does Prayer Work? When they inevitably reply yes, I ask them to pray for amputees. Has anyone heard of an amputee regrowing his/her limbs? There is a website I read this on, I thought it was brilliant, I use this in my discussions with religous nut cases.
As for Relgion doing good as a previous poster has surmised, I challenge them to this,
If religion didn't exist in the first place, it would not be neccessary for religion to help. Like asking an arsonist to put out his own fire.
The movie was great. You shouldn't have gone so light on the pope, he deserves both barrels of the Maher shotgun.
As for the Palin bashing, I'd rather have her brand of Christianity, than Barrack Insane Obama's Black Liberation Theology.
Lesser of 2 Evils I suppose, but we haven't been given the choice to vote for competence this time.
Being a Centrist is tough, I am more Republican than Democrat, I am sorry that the Religous Nuts have taken over the party of Lincoln, and doubly more sorry that the Communist/Socialists have taken over the Democrat party.
From my point of view, living under the Republicans will be more tolerable than the Extortion machine of the Democrats.
Bill, I really enjoy watching you, you say what many people are thinking, though that doesn't mean that what people are thinking is always right. It is just that people don't want to reveal what their skeptic or doubting minds are thinking or feeling. I enjoy what you say because of two reasons, sometimes you say what I think, and sometimes it is funny because I don't take it seriously and its good to laugh at oneself or laugh at the craziness of life.
But, remember that responsibility always comes with what one chooses to express. The responsibility of Truth, and of the effect we have on other people. The way one chooses to live in life is their right. If you are an atheist, a skeptic of some sort, or a person of faith, you have that right to live as you choose. But, when you try to discredit other people's belief (and atheism is a belief in itself) than you are doing exactly what you are criticizing other 'paths' are doing.
You cannot know what is real or not without living the same life as the other.
carolus,
the challenge is for you to prove it does not work
I heard that Bill has three wives, he has AIDS and he is gay. I also heard that his mother is a witch and he never knew his father. His sister is a prostitute but that is OK because she likes this movie. Bill and his other sister have had sex since they were 12 years old (twins). Hey Bill, you should make a movie about this!
Albert Einstein Quotes on Spirituality
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I want to know how God created this world. I am not interested in this or that phenomenon, in the spectrum of this or that element. I want to know His thoughts; the rest are details.
Science without religion is lame. Religion without science is blind.
My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble mind.
The further the spiritual evolution of mankind advances, the more certain it seems to me that the path to genuine religiosity does not lie through the fear of life, and the fear of death, and blind faith, but through striving after rational knowledge.
Every one who is seriously involved in the pursuit of science becomes convinced that a spirit is manifest in the laws of the Universe-a spirit vastly superior to that of man, and one in the face of which we with our modest powers must feel humble.
The scientists' religious feeling takes the form of a rapturous amazement at the harmony of natural law, which reveals an intelligence of such superiority that, compared with it, all the systematic thinking and acting of human beings is an utterly insignificant reflection.
There is no logical way to the discovery of elemental laws. There is only the way of intuition, which is helped by a feeling for the order lying behind the appearance.
The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.
The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious; It is the source of all true art and science.
We should take care not to make the intellect our god; it has, of course, powerful muscles, but no personality.
Whoever undertakes to set himself up as a judge of Truth and Knowledge is shipwrecked by the laughter of the Gods.
When the solution is simple, God is answering.
God does not play dice with the universe.
God is subtle but he is not malicious.
A human being is a part of the whole, called by us Universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest-a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole nature in its beauty.
Nothing will benefit human health and increase the chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.
The man who regards his own life and that of his fellow creatures as meaningless is not merely unfortunate but almost disqualified for life.
Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding.
Only a life lived for others is a life worth while.
The human mind is not capable of grasping the Universe. We are like a little child entering a huge library. The walls are covered to the ceilings with books in many different tongues. The child knows that someone must have written these books. It does not know who or how. It does not understand the languages in which they are written. But the child notes a definite plan in the arrangement of the books---a mysterious order which it does not comprehend, but only dimly suspects.
The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery every day. Never lose a holy curiosity.
What I see in Nature is a magnificent structure that we can comprehend only very imperfectly, and that must fill a thinking person with a feeling of humility. This is a genuinely religious feeling that has nothing to do with mysticism.
The finest emotion of which we are capable is the mystic emotion. Herein lies the germ of all art and all true science. Anyone to whom this feeling is alien, who is no longer capable of wonderment and lives in a state of fear is a dead man. To know that what is impenetrable for us really exists and manifests itself as the highest wisdom and the most radiant beauty, whose gross forms alone are intelligible to our poor faculties - this knowledge, this feeling ... that is the core of the true religious sentiment. In this sense, and in this sense alone, I rank myself among profoundly religious men.
The real problem is in the hearts and minds of men. It is easier to denature plutonium than to denature the evil spirit of man.
True religion is real living; living with all one's soul, with all one's goodness and righteousness.
Intelligence makes clear to us the interrelationship of means and ends. But mere thinking cannot give us a sense of the ultimate and fundamental ends. To make clear these fundamental ends and valuations and to set them fast in the emotional life of the individual, seems to me precisely the most important function which religion has to form in the social life of man.
I saw it twice already and making sure I bring a new friend with me every time I go. I understand why the theater selection is smaller. The best part about "Religulous" is that it is extremely fair. I hope the DVD comes out before X-Mas. There has to be a vast amount of footage left out....Where can I get it? Nice work, to you and your crew.
I've only seen clips of the movie (which I will never pay money to see) but in one scene Bill Maher says he can't understand why anyone would believe in talking snakes. Doesn't he believe in talking apes? Isn't that what he thinks we are????
My mother and I saw Religulous on its opening night in southern Indiana. I thought...heck we don't need to show up early...we'll be the only ones in the theatre. Boy, were we wrong! My mom and I had to get seats along the wall and I had to watch the movie with the stairway banister blocking my view. Needless to say, we were thrilled. I immediately found myself scanning the audience to check out the other moviegoers. Little old ladies, check. Middle aged people, check. People in their twenties and thirties, check. To my personal thrill, the vast majority were well-dressed, well-mannered professional looking people and I wondered if we were in the wrong theatre...instead, maybe a psychologists' convention? Yes, there were a few young males who were quite boisterous, but they were the minority. Anyway, my mother and I were giddy with anticipation for the movie to begin and we were well pleased. The entire audience burst out into simultaneous laughter on many different occasions and yes, at the end, there was APPLAUSE. I am so proud of you Bill. I am also quite frightened that civilization's demise will play out just like you detailed at the end of your insightful movie.
Hi Bill,
Watched your movie yesterday (10/12/09) in Palo Alto, CA. It's great. I wish we could start a Non-Religion Religion to get the protection we deserve from the lunatics, but I guess that's defeating the purpose. :-) You're right, I will be less timid about my own views and let people know that not only should we have freedom of religion, but freedom from religion. Thanks for a great movie.
I went to see "Religulous" last night. There was alot of laughter and applause by the other people in the theater during the movie. I watch your show on HBO and enjoy hearing opinions stated that are just not heard anywhere else on tv. I appreciate your intellect and the observations you make concerning current issues. Again, you appear to be fearless in stating your truth as you perceive it.
What would have made "Religulous" more than a showcase for the people in our world who are way, way out there somewhere...would have been to have a few intelligent people (notice I did say "few") discuss a view which opposes yours and then debate the pros and cons of their argument. By presenting people who were laughable at best does get some laughs, but I think you are better than that. You cut right to the heart of whatever subject you are focused on, and to see you go head to head with someone who is on an intellectual level at least close to yours would have been rewarding to me. Seeing a senator with the "deer in the headlights" look on his face following a question you posed to him, while funny, is a look that we have all become used to seeing on the face of our president and therefore nothing new. I am a fan of yours, and I admire your quick wit and your resolve to state your point of view (many times an unpopular view)no matter what. I guess I was expecting more and was a little disappointed in the movie overall.
I did love your mother and sister though. Funny ladies.
`Religulous` was a delight to see! I laughed during the film, at dinner later that night and the next day. My impression of Bill Maher is that he genuinely likes people and this further endeared him to me. I think the film is all the more amusing when we recognize similar experiences growing up, which is the case with me. My friend and I waited until the credits had finished rolling and thankfully we did. I will recommend `Religulous` to all. Have a nice day, Bill!
BILL, PLEASE READ THIS. My grandfather is in hospice and is still talking about going to see Religulous. He is very weak, can not go to the theater, and the doctors do not expect him to live more than another week or two. Is there ANY way we can get him a private screening? He lives in Kansas City, MO. Our whole family would enjoy the experience, most of us are atheists or the like... PLEASE let me know!
Jackie Beauvais
I would say that someone like you lives in South Porcupine...and that says it all.
I went to see Religulous and I thought that it was very well done. My husband and I laughed at the "former" Gay minister and your comparison of religious leaders in customs to rock stars. My complaint is your lack of showing the flaws of thinking for "standard" if you will Jews. You interviewed one Jew who is seen as crazy from 99% of Jews. As a Jew I felt hurt that you didn't interview more Jews to show the world our beliefs that are a little interesting to say the least. You did show the Orthodox men wearing Tiffilin and praying at the Western Wall, but that was it.
I went to see Religulous and I thought that it was very well done for the most part. My husband and I laughed at the former Gay minister and your comparison of religious leaders in customs to rock stars. My complaint is your lack of showing the flaws of thinking for "standard" if you will Jews. You interviewed one Jew who is seen as crazy from 99% of Jews. As a Jew I felt hurt that you didn't interview more Jews to show the world our beliefs that are a little interesting to say the least. You did show the Orthodox men wearing Tiffilin and praying at the Western Wall, but that was it.
I went to see Religulous and I thought that it was very well done for the most part. My husband and I laughed at the former Gay minister and your comparison of religious leaders in customs to rock stars. My complaint is your lack of showing the flaws of thinking for "standard" if you will Jews. You interviewed one Jew who is seen as crazy from 99% of Jews. As a Jew I felt hurt that you didn't interview more Jews to show the world our beliefs that are a little interesting to say the least. You did show the Orthodox men wearing Tiffilin and praying at the Western Wall, but that was it.
Saw the movie last night and think this is one of the most important movies out there.
If we don't start waking up to the fact that religious dogma controls so much of what is happening in the world then we deserve the armageddon that will surely be brought upon us by these fanatics.
I think every city should start meet up groups to get the word out that it is time to take back the leadership of this country from the religious right.
Religulous is a mighty temptation, however, I haven't paid to see a movie since the third Star Wars movie came out (the first time) about a hundred year years ago.
I find it difficult to enjoy a fine feature film, when all I can think about is how I'm gonna break the noisy piece of shit's neck sitting in front of me, if they don't shut up.
Actually, I did see a movie in a theater a couple years before 9-11, when I was showing an engineer from the UAE, Hollywood, and he had to see the Egyptian...
Those sexually suppressed cousin fuckers, love everything having anything to do with "sand" so we went in, while some old 1950's movie was playing, and the usher gave us a tour of the place then let us watch the next movie playing, which was an oldie also. But judging from the reaction from Hussein, it was a first run flick, in his home country of Jordan.
Anyway, here's to your film doing Great in the box office, but not so great that I have to wait years to see the DVD...
Zen Grouch
(formerly Angry Dan)
I Just saw the documentary yesterday,the first thing I noticed is that it was biased like main stream media promoting Islamophobia.
Big Bias against Palestinians whose land was stolen by Israelis (picturing them as the conquerors) Whenever, Islam was cited in the documentary there was a picture of bombing, forgetting that who claim to be Christians are the most people who bomb now (Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine..)
I'm really disappointed by your Islamophobic views Maher!
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