Religulous

Religulous (Bill Maher) – I don’t like Bill Mahar and never have.  He is pompous, self-important, and conceited well beyond his credentials.  That said, I wanted to see this “mockumentary” on religion.  I have long been fascinated by the fanaticism of religion and how people who preach peace and love can manifest such hate and intolerance.  More people have been killed around the world in the name of religion than anything else to do with politics or policies.  The large crowds for Mahar’s film is directed by Larry Charles, the director of Borat and the executive producer and sometimes director of TV shows like Curb Your Enthusiasm, Mad About You, and Entourage.  Maher simply has no time for religion and is almost as dogmatic in his atheism as religious zealots are in theirs.  Maher believes the bases for all religions are “fairy tales” (in his own words), relying on more than just faith.  He essentially believes religion is a brainwashing process begun in childhood and perpetuated by people wanting to “hedge their bets” in case there really is a heaven where people are judged by some divine being.  I have to tell you that the audience I was with enjoyed the movie, laughed in all the right places, and sneered every time George Bush came on the screen.  I doubt they were all atheists and agnostics.  There is no question that this movie is not a documentary unless you truly believe that Michael Moore produces documentaries.  Both Moore and Maher turn their own opinions into theater or, more appropriately, propaganda.  But there is a place for propaganda in an open and free society, and everyone in the theater paid to be there; the film was not thrust upon them in a way that the Nazis or the Islamic fundamentalists do.  So if you don’t want to consider a point of view that the great bulk of Americans disagree with, don’t see Religulous.  But if you are willing to have your beliefs jousted and even poked fun at … or if you want your own beliefs reinforced in a manner that will make you laugh … then spend a few bucks, ignore its obnoxious host, and see Religulous.