It is indeed a powerful tool, one that, ironically, is widely employed by those whose desire to simply make their opponents appear wrong outstrips whatever grasp they have of *why* their opponents arguments are false or inconsistent. Or, to put it more simply, ridicule is a method of attack that those who are less concerned with raw, unfettered truth, religious or otherwise, take up very often and with (unfortunately) relative ease due to its simplistic nature.

With respect to “Religulous” the movie, I too found myself cringing at some of the interviews, much as many other viewers have expressed. I really have no experience with Maher in any form, but I have to say that many of the things he – and a few of the things his interviewees – said caused me to laugh quite heartily. The faults of ridicule as a tool, and Maher’s narcissistic/asinine behavior, aside, poking fun at the woeful beliefs of the people in the film was very entertaining.

With respect to the original review, the author states at the end: “It is not meant to explore or explain, its job is simply to state the facts as Maher sees them and to set up the conclusion that he sees as inevitable. It’s really no different from any other religion.”

Yes, I can clearly see Maher has made up his mind and that he has little interest in truly listening to what others in the movie have to say except as they provide targets for his scathing comedic assaults. On the other, even if we were to completely ignore the “facts” which he occasionally peppers throughout the movie and which may or may not be entirely correct, what many of the people say ON CAMERA is quite frightening. It is easy to dismiss a lot of it as diverging from the norm of Christianity but I can assure anyone that such truly ridiculous thinking is far more common than many of us *on either side of the debate* would care to admit. The woman claiming that she will return “on a white horse” is, in its basic essence as a type of delusional thinking, actually somewhat common, especially here in the midwest where I live.

Whatever one may believe about the validity of Maher’s conclusions concerning religious people or where we as a global society are headed, the movie (and Maher) is mostly right about one thing: doubt. It is a handicap of the human race that in times of uncertainty or excessive stress we often find quick answers and a stifling of divergent thought to be desirable. As Maher states, quite accurately I might add, religion, rather than deeply inquiring for answers, creates them with ease and with unparalleled and unwarranted certainty.

It is hard at times to laugh at “Religulous” in part because I can see very clearly Maher is not afraid to be an ass, but also because I know that more than a few depictions of the religious persons in the film are, at the very least, not a lie. That said, it was still a blast. I recommend it, with a few warnings, to anyone who is not easily offended nor easily impressed. Take it for what is, and with a grain of salt at that.

The writer of this review, Sarah Collins, says about the interviewees in this film, “…they are not there to talk about their faith. They are not even there to talk. They are there to be interrupted and mocked, serving as an irrational counterpoint to a rational Maher.” The mistake Collins makes is in thinking that the film SHOULD have been about the interviewees talking about their faith. Why beat a dead horse? Thinking that mocking and ridicule are somehow inappropriate is nothing more than western society’s indoctrination rearing its ugly head. Ridicule is a powerful tool in the fight against the mind virus, or meme, of Christianity and other harmful religions. When an otherwise rational person becomes a believer, they sink into a miasma of self delusion that, many times, can only be pierced by the reactionary anger that results from being ridiculed. Ridicule is a powerful tool, and Maher’s use of this tool is quite valid in the film in question. It makes no sense to fault Maher for not making the film he might have made—a film that was actually about interviewees talking about their faith. The film should be judged based on what it actually is—a film in which the tool of ridicule is used to pierce the wall of self delusion that believers erect around themselves. Must this wall of self delusion be pierced if believers simply practice their faith behind closed doors and in the privacy of their own homes and churches? Of course not. However, in modern western society these believers are engaged, to varying degrees, in attempts to force their beliefs upon all Americans by attempting to inject those beliefs into the laws which govern us all. The U.S. Constitution not only establishes majority rule in SOME cases, but establishes protection of the individual AGAINST majority rule in many others. Christendom the political power (as opposed to Christendom the religion) is attempting to subvert constititional democracy by making unproved religious ideas the basis of laws which govern all Americans. This is unacceptable. When Christianity leaves the privacy of Christians’ homes and churches and attempts to force its poisonous beliefs on us all, it becomes open season on Christianity. It’s as simple as that. The war must be waged on many fronts and with many weapons. Ridicule is but one weapon and mockumentaries but one front. Maher did absolutely NOTHING wrong here.

To boot, it’s damn good and damn funny, and more than achieved its aim. Hale, Bill Maher!

**HOWEVER**

In my personal experience, there are actually very few Christians whom will actually sit down with you and have an INTELLIGENT conversation about Christianity, if they know that you have legitimate doubts to be addressed. In fact, when a valid point is brought up…it’s soooooo easy for them to say something like, “well that’s where FAITH comes in!”

And, honestly, there’s no REASONING with someone when it gets to that point. This movie isn’t going to make Christians, Muslims, Mormons, or Catholics just up and change their views…start questioning…go on a mission to stop religion, etc But will ANYTHING???
No. Nothing will…because even if someone goes out and KILLS ANOTHER PERSON, all they have to do is say “the devil got to me” and go on about their everyday business, because God will forgive them if they’re saaaaaaved!!!

True, there are things in the Bible that are good. Good qualities to have, good ways to live, sharing, thinking of others before yourself, etc… However, (like Maher said) THESE ARE COMMON SENSE!!!
In my opinion, the Bible was made to try to keep people in line during their lives, and that’s it. The fear that they’ll burn for eternity will keep believers from going all ape$hit. People don’t make decisions for themselves, because “it’s in God’s hands…He’ll tell me what to do.” Now, God’s become so much of a cop-out, it’s ridiculous!

Let’s just have a damn televised Religious Debate, and get this over with. Only people with common sense are allowed to vote.

I’m finished ranting…go see the movie. I give it a 5-Star rating

converting believers to atheists does nothing for our world, besides create more people like bill maher, out on a mission to “indoctrinate.” not all religious people are scientologists, and not all religious people are murderous crusaders.

goodnight.