Bill Maher's Religulous [Archive]

Sharpie44

11th March 2009, 11:56 AM

It came out a little while ago here but I live in a very religious part of Ohio and it only played in one theater within 30 min of my city. So I didn't get to see it. It was also being protested so I didn't want to deal with that.

Ok, just watched it, and I reckon it's the best yet in atheist docos. Bill Maher is Richard Dawkins on bourbon! Next time some xian gives me the "what harm is it?" I'm going to hand them this DVD and tell them to call me in the morning. If you haven't seen it yet, make it a priority. Brilliant and funny...what more can I say?

His last line (his comment on the evolution of a worthy society)...Grow up or die! :D

Seamus

11th March 2009, 12:47 PM

I like enjoyed "Religulous" too, I think it's an entertaining polemic like all of Michael Moore's stuff. However, it's not what I'd call a documentary.

I saw no eviedence of even a token attempt at objectivity,nor any attempt to actually inform. I saw a very average TV entertainer focus on easy targets so he could ridicule them to argue his own point of view.

SchizoDeluxe

11th March 2009, 01:26 PM

I think that was the point but at the same time, he also questions their beliefs. His thing is doubt, that not one of us truly knows even though these people preach on that they do know, with no evidence to support it

I don't know if anyone has seen this documentary but it's pretty god, called "The god who wasn't there", not as humerous but interesting nonetheless.

Duffy

11th March 2009, 01:57 PM

However, it's not what I'd call a documentary.

That's fine, for each their own. I like that sort of doco (lack of actors and scripts) and I feel it has wide appeal because it shows how ridiculous human beings are. Andrew Denton has one called "God On My Side" that takes a very unassertive approach and lets the interviewed subject speak their dribble without Denton's judgement. It's great too but not as funny as Bill Maher who is foremost a comedian and like all good comedians, a social commentator. There are plenty of other intelectual stuff for us to enjoy, so why not a bit of poking fun. And so what if its biased? Do you see the church ever presenting both side of their story?

Kid

11th March 2009, 05:00 PM

And so what if its biased? Do you see the church ever presenting both side of their story?

Exactly! since when do they present both sides? Fairly? anyway, as far as I'm concerned, the religious have had their say and their time to say it; for almost 2,000 years, on the Xian said at least, we've been subjected to their side of the story, to prove their case, and in those centuries, nothing has been proved--centuries of hot air and inquisitions and persecutions. Their time is over; they have had their time to speak and failed, so now it's time for other voices. We no longer need to hear their side, as it's been heard time and time and time again, and failed, time and time and time again. Time to kick them in the balls and say, Ridicule you? Yes. One sided ridicule? Yes. Ridicule the ridiculous and have a laugh doing it.

atomac

13th March 2009, 04:55 PM

I thought it was excellent. However, Maher is a known anti-vaccinationist so while I liked the film I don't much like the man.

Vonnie

13th March 2009, 05:25 PM

Vonnie

13th March 2009, 05:27 PM

However, Maher is a known anti-vaccinationist so while I liked the film I don't much like the man.

If he's one of those nut-job anti-vaccinationists, I don't like him much either! Just goes to show that not all atheists place reason before nut-jobedness...

Vonnie

Jaar-Gilon

13th March 2009, 07:05 PM

You can download it here:

http://www.mininova.org/com/2122882

Vonnie

Thanks for the link Vonnie, haven't even heard of this one. Though I must say I am not the most ardent of atheists as far as having it affirmed by others, which I am sure stems from never having believed in god so haven't needed to be convinced.

Actually was just reading the thread on famous australian atheists and if pushed I quite agree with Dr Karl, if i had to give an answer I would say I am an atheist leaning agnostic, an a(g)theist if you will. While I certainly don't believe in an interventionalist god or, personally, even a deity I can't see any evidence for either, I don't begrudge deists because there is simply no way of proving whether there is or isn't. So I think it's intellectually dishonest to say 100% for sure there is no deity. T.H.Huxley coined the term agnostic to mean one should not profess to a belief in something that cannot be proven. Sums it up nicely for me.

Just goes to show that not all atheists place reason before nut-jobedness...
Hahahaha nutjobedness, love it.

My personal belief is that from a metaphysical standpoint the universe is eternal and the big bang was not the beginning of the universe merely a phase of an eternal cycle. Why is there something rather than nothing? No one knows or will ever know.

SchizoDeluxe

13th March 2009, 07:47 PM

I thought it was excellent. However, Maher is a known anti-vaccinationist so while I liked the film I don't much like the man.

I have heard the same thing as well, doesn't surprise me at all. Basically he is very opposed to any junk that we inject ourelves with, anything from drugs to junk food to bad medicines. He supports the freedom to do those things but has no sympathy for the consequences of those actions, which I think is fair enough to some degree. Kinda ironic given that he has been known to drink but then I dont think he ever asked for sympathy from it, nor should he. His opinions on the welfare of people's health and the obvious connection to the food we eat is something he has spoken about a lot, a lot of people don't take that too seriously but when you hear doctors telling us this is good for us then the next week telling us the same thing is bad for us and then vice versa, all the time, it does make you wonder. Being completely anti-vaccination is a bit too far though I have also read that he's not completely opposed to all forms of vaccination, just a lot of them.

Vonnie

13th March 2009, 08:14 PM

I have also read that he's not completely opposed to all forms of vaccination, just a lot of them.

Oh, he's anti-vaccination all right. And he believes in homeopathy(!). I spent over an hour looking into it this afternoon.

Wall Street Journal (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122178219865054585.html)

... But it turns out that the late-night comic is no icon of rationality himself. In fact, he is a fervent advocate of pseudoscience. The night before his performance on Conan O’Brien, Mr. Maher told David Letterman—a quintuple bypass survivor—to stop taking the pills that his doctor had prescribed for him. He proudly stated that he didn’t accept Western medicine. On his HBO show in 2005, Mr. Maher said: “I don’t believe in vaccination. . . . Another theory that I think is flawed, that we go by the Louis Pasteur [germ] theory.“ He has told CNN’s Larry King that he won’t take aspirin because he believes it is lethal and that he doesn’t even believe the Salk vaccine eradicated polio.http://oracknows.blogspot.com/2005/12/bill-maher-anti-vax-wingnut.html

Absolutely, no the defense against disease is to have a strong immune system.http://aetiology.blogspot.com/2005/12/bill-maher-and-his-anti-vaccination.html

Maher decries vaccination, a cornerstone of modern public health, by apparently spouting the unlikely claims of an seemingly disgraced MD. Maggiore et al/ say HIV doesn't cause AIDS, and instead of treatments shown by medical science to be effective, she advocates homeopathy and nebulous "toxin elimination" as a healthy alternative. No wonder it's so hard to get young people in the U.S. interested in science; it's all just a big conspiracy and we're always wrong anyway, so why bother? http://skeptico.blogs.com/skeptico/2005/03/idiot_week.html

It is idiot week on TV. I just heard Bill Maher (http://www.safesearching.com/billmaher/blog/) (HBO) say that vaccines don’t prevent disease. Also, that Pasteur recanted on his deathbed. So what? Modern medicine relies on more recent studies than just Pasteur - his theories have been confirmed and improved upon, even if he did recant. But wait - he didn't recant (http://www.ratbags.com/rsoles/comment/pasteur.htm). In the immortal words of Bugs Bunny: “what a maroon!” Just look at this from UNICEF (http://www.unicef.org/newsline/poliopkglmilestones.htm). The vaccine didn't have any effect on Polio, Bill? Really?
And what about measles, pertussis, smallpox… ?
Whenever a population believes an idiot like Maher and stops vaccinating, disease rates always increase (http://www.csicop.org/si/2004-01/anti-vaccination.html). Always (http://www.skepticism.net/faq/health_scares/vaccination/).

Idiot!
Plenty more where that came from. He is knobhead.

Vonnie

SchizoDeluxe

13th March 2009, 09:00 PM

One case that came to mind was Gardasil, he wasn't opposed to it though in saying that, those who were opposed to it were mostly christian fundies and left-wingers. But yeah he's a bit paranoid when it comes to the body but as I said, it doesn't surprise me given where his point of view is coming from, he's just very opposed to anything foreign put into the body and actually I understand it, I just don't subscribe to it for the most part for example I don't take any form of general medicine like tablets for headaches, cough syrup for coughing and generic stuff like that, when I'm sick I just let it pass though I rarely ever get sick, stuffing my body full of drugs just because I'm feeling unwell isn't exactly the best way to get healthy, in my opinion anyway. Many people are surprised by it but as I said, I'm rarely ever sick but I'm not stupid enough to be anti- western medicine, If I need medical attenton, I will seek it no matter what. Funnily enough, what Bill is subscribing to does remind me a bit of the christian science faith where they don't believe in modern medicine and put all their faith in god and that the body will heal itself. Nice concept but people have died over curable diseases over this ignorant belief. I think, for a skeptic of religion, he's treading a fine line for sure.

Vonnie

13th March 2009, 09:05 PM

There's no fine line. It can't be any plainer: He doesn't believe that vaccinations prevent disease, he subscribes to homeopathy, and doesn't believe in Louis Pasteur's germ theory. It's a bit different to simply wanting to eat natural foods...

People like him with irrational beliefs unfortunately give atheists a bad name.

Vonnie

SchizoDeluxe

13th March 2009, 09:53 PM

When I say fine line, I meant in relation to christian science, religion and beliefs in general. He is treading a fine line between his beliefs and those beliefs, an almost superstitious way of thinking.

Vonnie

13th March 2009, 10:03 PM

Yeah, that's true.

I just get so disappointed in people. I downloaded Religulous a while ago and it was on my "must see" list... when I find the time. While I appreciate that many people here have said it's a great show, and it probably is, I just don't think I could now bring myself to watch it without a feeling of distaste.

There are other "famous" atheists who disappoint me:

Sam Harris - I was really looking forward to reading A Letter to a Christian Nation, but when I finally found the time to do so, I was very disappointed by Sam's pro-war and pro-collateral damage views, as well as his anti-pacifist diatribe.

Hitchens' drunken interviews. I don't care one iota about him being a drunk, but I find it terribly embarrassing when he's obviously drunk in interviews where he's representing atheism. Again, disappointment.

At least I can cling to Richard Dawkins... (You'd better not let me down, dear Ricky!)

Vonnie

SchizoDeluxe

13th March 2009, 10:11 PM

Hitchens is more pro-war than Harris but only because of his strong opposition to religious tyranny in the region. But I love the guy, he's so blatant and arrogant in such an entertaining way and yet so articulate and argumentive, he even made me think twice about his point of view on the war in Iraq, the guy knows his shit that's for sure. Harris, I don't know what his stance is on the war but the only thing I don't like about Harris is his buddhism views and the whole spirituality thing. Maybe it's too abstract for my taste but again, also treading a fine line in my opinion as it's just another silly belief.
I like Dawkins on an intellectual level but sometimes I think there isn't much past that, that it's too scientific, but I guess that's not exactly a bad trait to have.

Duffy

14th March 2009, 06:41 AM

I don't subcribe to the notion that unless 100% of what Maher says is credible, that nothing he says is credible. I agree with him on religion...I don't agree with him on vaccination. By narrowing my viewing to only those that sate my every value I close myself off to the potentential learning. In a selfish context...I can take what I want and leave the rest. I have watched Bill Maher's show Real Time and find that I agree with a lot of what he says e.g. Iraq war, reasons for global financial crisis, etc, but he swears (oh golly where's the soap).... ah so what....so he's not perfect but he makes better television than a lot of other wooden media puppets so he's still gets my 30 minutes each week.

Vonnie

14th March 2009, 03:26 PM

Seamus

15th March 2009, 06:52 AM

I'm not as tolerant. I can't close my mind to idiocy. I wish I could.

(I've never been good at compartmentalising, especially when it's such an important matter as immunization. Idiots like him cost lives.)

Vonnie

Me too. I didn't know that about Maher,just took him on face value,which i find pretty underwhelming. A bit like a downmarket Michael Moore (if that's possible) I did have my suspicions when I heard about his fascist girlfriend,some appalling airhead on US television.

I don't suffer fools,at all. Not in real life,internet forums and certainly not entertainers. That often puts me at odds with others;EG I also think Penn Jillette is a wanker.. This trait has only begun to dominate my personality over the last decade.I simply stopped trying to please others,with perhaps half a dozen exceptions. It's been very liberating.:cool:

Duffy

15th March 2009, 07:04 AM

I don't suffer fools,at all. Not in real life,internet forums and certainly not entertainers. That often puts me at odds with others;EG I also think Penn Jillette is a wanker.. This trait has only begun to dominate my personality over the last decade.I simply stopped trying to please others,with perhaps half a dozen exceptions. It's been very liberating.:cool:

I would say that I don't suffer fools either. Yet I enjoy discussions with people I don't agree with, not to do so suggests a higher importance of my own opinions. I wouldn't call them fools if we differ on something. I would call them fools if we differed on everything. But I would be reluctant to call someone a fool as long as they 'think' and there is a distinct lack of that these days. And I agree, I think its a great wisdom that comes with age that we stop trying to please everyone. It's like coming to terms with the wobbly bits....that's life!

SchizoDeluxe

15th March 2009, 08:33 PM

I would say that I don't suffer fools either. Yet I enjoy discussions with people I don't agree with, not to do so suggests a higher importance of my own opinions. I wouldn't call them fools if we differ on something. I would call them fools if we differed on everything. But I would be reluctant to call someone a fool as long as they 'think' and there is a distinct lack of that these days. And I agree, I think its a great wisdom that comes with age that we stop trying to please everyone. It's like coming to terms with the wobbly bits....that's life!

I'm the same, I love discussing an issue that we both have different opinions on, call me argumentive but its kinda fun in a sadistic kind of way, also one of the reasons I love hitchens. As for not caring, I guess I'm still in the late stages of caring about some things, but the older I get, the smaller that list gets. Really speaking, I only care if you do otherwise I'm not interested and yeah it is definitly a liberating feeling, without a doubt.

Vonnie

15th March 2009, 09:05 PM

SchizoDeluxe

15th March 2009, 10:03 PM

Oh, I have no issues with discussing things with people who have a different outlook to myself: I love a good debate.

But that's not the point: the Bill Maher issue at hand is not about this. I mean, who here has ever had a discussion with Bill Maher?

The issue here is that, like it or not, Bill Maher "represents" atheism in the media, yet he holds disproved, unscientific, fruitcake ideas about immunisation - which leads to unnecessary disease, illness and death.

Would I have a discussion with the man? Sure! Would I recommend him to anyone? Certainly not without a disclaimer!

Vonnie

Oh well there's a lot of things I disagree with or find silly in a lot of people, famous or non-famous, I mean, I can't say I'm a big fan of Bill Maher, his stand up material alone is way too political for me and he is a very pro democrat and anti-war and in a lot of ways, always to the extreme on all the issues, not balanced, and really speaking, aside from a couple of issues I agree with, his anti-religion views is really the only thing I'm interested from him. If I was to recommend comedians, skeptics or even atheists, I would name a whole bunch of people before him, but I still find him interesting nonetheless. But believe me, you aren't the only one that hates him, a lot of people do, probably for the same reasons as well.

balans

18th March 2009, 09:59 PM

Hard to take a "'Pigasus award" recipient seriously, even if it is a pro-atheism film.

From the Randi.org:

Category #3, to the media outlet that reported as fact the most outrageous supernatural, paranormal or occult claim,the prize goes to the host of the "Politically Incorrect" TV show, Bill Maher. Despite an Ivy League education and an obviously quick and perceptive mind, Mr. Maher has for some reason cast common sense aside and endorsed a series of "psychics," most of whom say they speak to dead folks. His own experience of the supernatural, he says, includes a "haunted house" and he tells us that only ghosts could account for what he observed there. This widely-watched program satirizes politics, Hollywood, the media, and generally popular subjects -- but apparently takes seriously any hare-brained claim that will catch the public fancy. Mr. Maher squeaked to a win over the Roseanne Show this year; her gushing acceptance of a "flying" demonstration by Transcendental Meditators almost landed her the prize.

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

http://www.randi.org/jr/04-04-2000.html

Daniel

17th May 2009, 03:57 PM

Very funny movie, you can watch it here
http://www.surfthechannel.com/episode/61506/884820.html

Stueee86

18th May 2009, 06:44 PM

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3791007322683758535

Here as well.

youngmoigle

18th May 2009, 10:08 PM

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3791007322683758535

Here as well.

Thanks for that link Stueee86. I've just downloaded the whole video.

SchizoDeluxe

18th May 2009, 10:40 PM

Speaking of religulous, the great hitch is looking into turning his book "god is not great" into a feature film

_0hZe5wmRqg

6eRpYuq6lrY

Iridescence

18th May 2009, 10:40 PM

Spoilers - highlight the text below to view!
________________________

I saw it a few weeks ago and it both amused and terrified me. Mostly it made me angry at the pure and utter closed mindedness and arrogance shown by these people. They RUN when someone questions their god, it makes them very uncomfortable and I wonder why? Are they really as convinced of their belief as they think?

The ones who think they are "goin in the rapture" are nuts, the fact that anyone can believe in that garbage, they make my head spin. Also, the jesus crucifixion worship is macabre and morbid and bizarre. I wish Bill Maher was more confrontational with some of these people, but then, I imagine it was also quite dangerous, doing what he did.
________________________

Hmm. I need to see it again, I think :)

cheree

19th May 2009, 11:35 AM

Has anyone seen the film/documentary religulous? It's not out in australia yet but can be seen on the net, really funny stuff. I'm a fan of Bill Maher so this was a long time coming.

Yeah, I dl'd it on piratebay a while back.
Its so bloody funny, and i dont like Mahey in general...

EDIT: if anyone wants the link to the download of it, let me know.

cheree

19th May 2009, 12:00 PM

Speaking of religulous, the great hitch is looking into turning his book "god is not great" into a feature film

_0hZe5wmRqg

6eRpYuq6lrY
You have no idea HOW MUCH I LOVE HITCHENS!!

be still my beating heart.... (not too still)

Peanuts

19th May 2009, 12:52 PM

You have no idea HOW MUCH I LOVE HITCHENS!!

be still my beating heart.... (not too still)

You'll be pleased to learn he's given up smoking then cheree?? Hopefully that will mean he'll be around allot longer to stir up the religtits. :D

Can't wait for his documentary!

A fellow fan
Lizzy

cheree

19th May 2009, 02:41 PM

You'll be pleased to learn he's given up smoking then cheree?? Hopefully that will mean he'll be around allot longer to stir up the religtits. :D

Can't wait for his documentary!

A fellow fan
Lizzy

hehe, yes, although for some odd reason, i think the smoking preserved him somehow.
ahh well, he still has the booze i guess. ;)

SchizoDeluxe

19th May 2009, 05:33 PM

You have no idea HOW MUCH I LOVE HITCHENS!!

be still my beating heart.... (not too still)

He's pretty much the reason why I'm even on this forum so I think I have some idea ;)

Elbert

19th May 2009, 06:32 PM

Thanks for the links: Several people thought this video funny. I've just watched it and feel nauseated. It is excellent! Brilliantly edited! Religious believers are depicted as unthinking: dull-witted, stolid, stupid, block-like, wanting, unintelligent, credulous: childish, silly, soft, foolish, obtuse, dense, thick, crass, gross, heavy, greedy..... and there are things and situations that made me laugh in horror, but not in fun. After all, Australia is governed by exactly those sorts of people... it is not funny!

cheree

19th May 2009, 07:02 PM

He's pretty much the reason why I'm even on this forum so I think I have some idea ;) Are u a boy, girl or a bit of both??? Sorry, just not sure how I should respond to the post....
I do love me some homo though....lol:o

I also have a man crush on the Hitchunderstandable.

Thanks for the links: Several people thought this video funny. I've just watched it and feel nauseated. It is excellent! Brilliantly edited! Religious believers are depicted as unthinking: dull-witted, stolid, stupid, block-like, wanting, unintelligent, credulous: childish, silly, soft, foolish, obtuse, dense, thick, crass, gross, heavy, greedy..... and there are things and situations that made me laugh in horror, but not in fun. After all, Australia is governed by exactly those sorts of people... it is not funny!
Come on elbert.... Its a little bit funny...

SchizoDeluxe

19th May 2009, 07:24 PM

Are u a boy, girl or a bit of both??? Sorry, just not sure how I should respond to the post....
I do love me some homo though....lol:o

I am no boy or girl but a man (last I checked) :D

Chasly

25th May 2009, 02:45 PM

I've set up a Google Video BBCode so here it is in the comfort of your forum :D]

Thanks for this video Protium. Watched it last night - very entertaining!
I'm a bit of a tech-dummy - What exactly is a 'Google Video BBCode'?
I tried to to bring up other movies on this google site but didn't have much success. Am I wrong to assume that this site enables the downloading of full movies?

On a another tech issue - what does "PM" mean. I've seen it a few times on this forum but don't know what it means.

youngmoigle

25th May 2009, 03:33 PM

Chasly,
I was able to download the whole movie from this site.
Perhaps it will work for you too.
Stueee86 posted the link on page one of this thread.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3791007322683758535

atomac

25th May 2009, 05:48 PM

Has anyone seen the film/documentary religulous? It's not out in australia yet but can be seen on the net, really funny stuff. I'm a fan of Bill Maher so this was a long time coming.

I think I posted elsewhere here that while Bill Maher has done a great job with this film he is not a model atheist. He has an unfortunate taste for woo and is an anti-vaccinationist. Still I enjoyed Religulous and it is nice to see someone sticking it to the theists.

Seamus

25th May 2009, 06:18 PM

I've seen "Religulous", and I think it's clever and funny in parts in the same cringe-making way of a great deal of US comedy..

BUT it concerns me that "a lot of people" think it's a documentary.It's not,it's a rather shallow and obvious polemic,somewhat down market of Michael Moore. (if that's possible)

" " --- a lot of people" are fucking stoopid" (Geore Carlin)

bertrandrussell

25th May 2009, 10:28 PM

Wow, I watched about twenty minutes of this! It's both hilarious and scary! That is the second african american priest i've seen interviewed (alain de botton also interviewed one for status anxiety) who has tried to use the bible to justify their love of 'bling'. In both instances they've ended up looking really stupid.
But i've got to be honest, that gay guy was really likeable, and I thought he handled himself really well!

Chasly

26th May 2009, 12:29 PM

Chasly,
I was able to download the whole movie from this site.
Perhaps it will work for you too.

It did work, but I wanted to know if I could watch pretty much any film on this site. I typed in names of various films but all that comes up are trailers, previews, etc
I wasn't able to find a whole movie like 'Religulous'.

Protium mentioned 'third party applications' - but I'm not exactly sure what that means.

Kid

26th May 2009, 12:43 PM

Protium mentioned 'third party applications' - but I'm not exactly sure what that means.

I think it means a video media player, like Windows Media Player, which by the way, is crap at playing video downloaded from the Net. the best player I've found is VLC
http://www.filehippo.com/download_vlc/
or
http://www.filehippo.com/download_media_player_classic/
Media player classic, but I've found that difficult to use, so try VLC; seems to play just about anything. :)

SchizoDeluxe

26th May 2009, 01:38 PM

SchizoDeluxe

26th May 2009, 01:40 PM

I thought by "download" you meant you wanted to download the file to your hard drive so you could view it later. You need an application to do that with. I use FlashGot (http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fflashgot.net%2F&ei=Ln0bSonvDsiHkAXblVg&usg=AFQjCNH-ED5m_GFquj-c9ktAFeFzgElMJw&sig2=WT7WJAm1Q-4VIiZs1lQtrQ).

If you can't find a full movie it is probably because it's copyright is not cleared for free viewing.

Or if you have a decent connection just stream it
http://www.watch-movies-links.net/movies/religulous/

cheree

26th May 2009, 03:43 PM

I am no boy or girl but a man (last I checked) :D
Lol... oh baby!:cool:

Ateo

8th September 2009, 01:46 PM

I enjoyed the movie heaps.

Ad hominem attacks to Bill is something I would not expect from an atheist audience.

Anyways being an atheist only comprises questioning the existence of gods, you can still be one of us even if you don't accept Pasteur, or Darwin for that matter.

God is the only target in atheism, albeit most of us agree in other areas as well.;)

Caio

8th September 2009, 07:58 PM

I watched the movie and was kinda disappointed, all he did was seek out simple-minded religious people of a singular religion, ask questions only to cut them in mid sentence and edit the film so they have a stupid look on their face. There was little or no actual response to the “other side” of the debate and his mannerism towards other people’s religious beliefs was bordering on plain intolerance and rude.

Sure it make for an entertaining viewing for an atheist, but it hardly helps the “atheist cause”, nor dose it give a balanced approach to different religions with their equally ridiculous beliefs and fundamentalist followers. Get some theology professors on there, show various points of view and let the other person speak!

rGb

8th September 2009, 10:10 PM

... Just goes to show that not all atheists place reason before nut-jobedness...

Vonnie

Bill Maher is not an atheist, he believes in a creator he just doesn't believe in organised religion or the god of the bible..

from wikipedia...
In 2002 he told the Onion AV Club, "I'm not an atheist. There's a really big difference between an atheist and someone who just doesn't believe in religion. Religion to me is a bureaucracy between man and God that I don't need. But I'm not an atheist, no. I believe there's some force. If you want to call it God... I don't believe God is a single parent who writes books"

And yes he is a nut-job.. but an entertaining one :D

Cosmic Teapot

8th September 2009, 11:59 PM

I watched and was entertained through most of it.
After all, it was primarily made to entertain people who aren't theistic.
Just as most Christian propaganda isn't really designed to convert atheists, Religulous wasn't intended to be a serious theology debate that would destroy religious faith in xtians.
Personally, I don't need to agree with Bill on everything to enjoy what he presented during the 101 minutes the movie ran for. If Bill scrunches and I fold, that has no bearing on the fact he finds religion as ridiculous as I do.
If you can't tolerate any differences in opinion in others, you're destined to be loneliest opinionated person ever.

Corta

24th September 2009, 12:34 PM

I like enjoyed "Religulous" too, I think it's an entertaining polemic like all of Michael Moore's stuff. However, it's not what I'd call a documentary.

I saw no evidence of even a token attempt at objectivity,nor any attempt to actually inform. I saw a very average TV entertainer focus on easy targets so he could ridicule them to argue his own point of view.

I agree it had the right idea but he just mainly hit easy marks.

When he visited "Holyland" (it's a theme park if you haven't seen the flick) and was talking to jebus that was interesting. I found the reenactment of the of the torture scene pretty gruesome with all the xtians applauding and taking photos, I guess that's why the torture of detainees is OK with the xtian right.

ponde

24th September 2009, 01:30 PM

Aren't all chriantian targets easy:D
Like punching jelly

Tor_Hershman

26th September 2009, 02:07 PM

My last blog post has Mr. Maher's film featured and I plan to do a 'bit' on it, and Mr. Stein's flick, next month as well.

However, the facts, the awful facts are.....grow-up, don't grow-up, do, don't do and die.

BTW Mr. Maher's blogspot accepts posts from anyone.

Stay on groovin' safari,
Tor

DanielV

27th September 2009, 02:24 PM

Love Religious, got some great moments.

Love the editing as well, gets some nice laughs!

Fearless

19th October 2010, 08:34 PM

Unless I am mistaken this is the whole of Bill Maher's Religulous documentary. I haven't actually seen it all the way through but just stumbled on it. I have heard some good reviews on it.

I know some aren't fans of Bill Maher. I really don't know his stuff well enough to comment myself, but I thought it was worthy enough for it's own thread if you have a spare hour and 45 mins some time.

Religulous
1:41:00 - 1 year ago
Bill Maher's take on the current state of world religion.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3791007322683758535&ei=CSxuS9H3HIKEqQOUy9nCBg#

-3791007322683758535&ei=CSxuS9H3HIKEqQOUy9nCBg#

SchizoDeluxe

19th October 2010, 08:39 PM

I thought it was a funny documentary and not one to be taken seriously. Yes would probably help if people knew Bill Maher's style but I think the point of this film is pretty obvious.

Fearless

19th October 2010, 08:49 PM

but I think the point of this film is pretty obvious.
Ok, you are going to keep me curious until I have finished watching this thing. ;)

It's coming across a bit like a Michael Moore doco right now. But I appreciate being humoured at the stupidity of faith clearly displayed by the blind sheep.

ABridgeTooFar

19th October 2010, 09:46 PM

Yea, i liked it more as a funny movie based on religion. Its hard to make a real documentary on religion as a whole anyway. It has to focus on one aspect like Dawkins did with Faith Schools ect..

Fearless

19th October 2010, 10:09 PM

Although Bill is a tad confronting in this, I think he demonstrates quite well the hypocrisy and lack of critical thinking of the faithful by challenging the people he is interviewing directly (especially using humour) about that which they hold so dearly.

I think if there was no attempt at humour it would be very dry even though some of his humour is a bit lost on me anyway.

I am glad he is covering a lot of the mainstream religions too. He has some quite good material and seems to be prepared for most arguments.

20 mins left :)

Fearless

19th October 2010, 10:33 PM

Ok, done. Might be old hat for some, but I liked it even though it had a Michael Moore flavour about it. Reading a passing comment pretty much summed it up well:

...religion can be laughed at, and for good reason.The last five minutes were probably the best and it is wrapped up in this short vid (embedding disabled sorry):

7jETVUulGwc

robertkd

19th October 2010, 11:18 PM

Hey I'm liking it so far,.. thanks

SchizoDeluxe

20th October 2010, 08:50 PM

A tad Michael Moore? lol wow if he heard that he would be a bit offended to say the least! Bill doesn't need to make shit up in this film, religion speaks for itself, all he does is highlight it's stupidity and yeah he is quite confronting about it but he just isn't afraid to confront people about this subject, even on his own show and that's one of the things I like about his stance on religion.

By the way, the other guy that helped make this film is Larry Charles, probably best known for his stuff on Seinfeld but also did Borat and some stuff on Curb Your Enthusiasm. He does tend to write some wicked dark shit especially on religion.

Fearless

20th October 2010, 09:09 PM

Sorry yeah, I meant the doco was in very similar style to a Michael Moore presentation... jumping around in scenes, getting in peoples comfort zones and then making them uncomfortable, road trips, constant reflection, talking etc.

aussiedwarf

21st October 2010, 12:23 AM

Its a shame the film mentions the Horus fallacy. Horus wasn't born from a virgin, didn't have 12 disciples and a resurrection is very debatable. Osiris was the one who came back to life.

robertkd

21st October 2010, 12:41 AM

Seriously liked the presentation, seriously,.. hats off to Bill :cool:

Fearless

21st October 2010, 06:12 AM

Seriously liked the presentation, seriously,.. hats off to Bill :cool:

Glad you liked it :)

Aussiedwarf I don't know those particular stories myself, but I'd have hoped given they used it as a significant point between scenes that they had researched it thoroughly. You have sparked my curiosity to check it out later as it sparked my attention at the time of watching it.

robertkd

21st October 2010, 09:54 AM

Its a shame the film mentions the Horus fallacy. Horus wasn't born from a virgin, didn't have 12 disciples and a resurrection is very debatable. Osiris was the one who came back to life.

There is this reference to Horus's conception in bold.

Horus was born to the goddess Isis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isis) after she retrieved all the dismembered body parts of her murdered husband Osiris (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osiris), except his penis which was thrown into the Nile and eaten by a catfish,[5] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horus#cite_note-4)[6] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horus#cite_note-5) and used her magic powers to resurrect Osiris and fashion a gold phallus[7] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horus#cite_note-6) to conceive her son. In another version of the story, Isis was impregnated by divine fire.[8] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horus#cite_note-World_mythology-7) Once Isis knew she was pregnant with Horus, she fled to the Nile Delta (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nile_Delta) marshlands to hide from her brother Set (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Set_%28mythology%29) who jealously killed Osiris and who she knew would want to kill their son.[8] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horus#cite_note-World_mythology-7) There Isis bore a divine son, Horus.

from here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horus

Xeno

21st October 2010, 05:58 PM

Isis managed to conceive Horus using a dildo?

Does the gold make the conception pretty immaculate, or akin to a gyno with a damn cold speculum?

I'll get me coat.

aussiedwarf

21st October 2010, 06:50 PM

gruber

21st October 2010, 07:29 PM

is there a spot to download this off google vids

Fearless

21st October 2010, 07:43 PM

I think Google Vids is on par with YouTube... I might just look out for it on flea bay or something.

gruber

21st October 2010, 08:16 PM

I just got a copy off ebay, Iam watching upto the truckie chapel and dammmmm thats funny :rolleyes:

Goldenmane

21st October 2010, 08:58 PM

This article here (http://freethoughtnation.com/contributing-writers/63-acharya-s/382-isis-is-a-virgin-mother.html) seems to have come good information and concludes that Isis was considered a virgin. Looks like my original research in the matter was not as thorough as I would have liked.

I haven't gone and read the link, but I looked at the URL.

Does that shit (http://freethoughtnation.com/contributing-writers/63-acharya-s/382-isis-is-a-virgin-mother.html) spring from Acharya S, as it appears to from the URL?

Please tell me you haven't fallen foul of that. Acharya S? Really? D. M. Murdoch? General fucking nutball extraordinaire partially responsible for the excrescent Zeitgeist?

gruber

21st October 2010, 09:04 PM

Please tell me you haven't fallen foul of that. Acharya S? Really? D. M. Murdoch? General fucking nutball extraordinaire partially responsible for the excrescent Zeitgeist?

As its been said manyyyyyy times before the person that made Zeitgeist said that they do not expect people ot take this as the truth but are instead inspired to go find it for themselves, or something along those lines

gruber

21st October 2010, 09:29 PM

the bloke in charge of the creation museum, where abouts is he from :confused:

Goldenmane

21st October 2010, 10:48 PM

As its been said manyyyyyy times before the person that made Zeitgeist said that they do not expect people ot take this as the truth but are instead inspired to go find it for themselves, or something along those lines

What's your point?

gruber

22nd October 2010, 08:37 AM

What's your point?

they purposely made some of it wrong, they made some of it in your face so that people will open their eyes to whats going on around them, just because someone says it doesnt make it true

Goldenmane

22nd October 2010, 09:30 AM

they purposely made some of it wrong, they made some of it in your face so that people will open their eyes to whats going on around them, just because someone says it doesnt make it true

Sounds like an excuse to me.

gruber

22nd October 2010, 09:36 AM

well good for you, iam gonna go play some battleground europe

Mentally Saturated

22nd October 2010, 10:06 AM

Mentally Saturated

22nd October 2010, 10:07 AM

the bloke in charge of the creation museum, where abouts is he from :confused:

That's the infamous Ken Ham... who's an export from Brisbane, methinks. Yes, so many of us are ashamed that an Aussie is one of the greatest proponents and a leader in US creationism. Have U not seen other cringeworthy offerings of his mug on the InterTube... ?

(Prepare to have your stomach churned.)

8KwpkzaVjzw

.. or some that have been offered, opposing this particular flavour of bullshit ?

ubZajYdve8A

Shame, gruber, shame.. :rolleyes:

Gary

robertkd

22nd October 2010, 10:16 AM

Yep, afraid so,.. it's Ken :eek:

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

gruber

22nd October 2010, 10:37 AM

what a weiner

Xeno

22nd October 2010, 10:59 AM

:confused:

Was that a whiner, a wiener or an imbiber of Wein?

Just so I can keep up.

gruber

22nd October 2010, 11:17 AM

wiener, a small sausage

Centauri

22nd October 2010, 11:44 AM

well good for you, iam gonna go play some battleground europe

Snap! :D

Now I'm off to play some Medal of Honor :p

gruber

22nd October 2010, 01:12 PM

http://www.battlegroundeurope.com/

I meant that game not medal of honor :P

Centauri

23rd October 2010, 06:33 AM

Yep I know about that game. I just like the way you kinda said "ah bugger this, I'm off to play some computer games". Made me chuckle :)

I'm a huge gamer, especially first-person shooters. Can't wait for Black Ops!

cyclist

23rd October 2010, 11:53 AM

At the risk of getting the thread back on topic, I watched this last night.

I thought that it was actually a pretty good documentary, it isn't going to convince the deep believers, and it preaches to the atheists what we pretty much know, but to someone sitting on the fence, it does point out a lot of absurdity of religion.

James

DanielV

26th October 2010, 09:57 AM

I've also seen Religulous a few times.

One of my favourite bits is the Jewish institute in the film that basically uses devices and contraptions to get around restrictions on Jewish people doing particular things or engaging with certain devices.

Seems like a real dodge of the religious teachings, kind of stupid and funny. (At least to me as a non-believer)

I also like that Democratic guys' line "You don't have to pass an I.Q. test to get into the senate", who grins, then his grin fades as Bill Maher looks on amazedly.

CLASSIC.

Fearless

26th October 2010, 10:14 AM

Ha ha yeah. Like activating cheat mode on faith. Amusing but pathetic.

Fearless

2nd November 2010, 10:09 PM

I just got my copy of this off fleabay and watched it tonight in the company of my wife. She pretended to be a bit disinterested, instead doing her cross stitch. Caught her a number of times stopping to watch the documentary. The moment it ended she decided it was time to go to bed (odd coincidence!)

Then she said whilst leaving the room "You know, I watch and read these things you do on religion and I find myself swearing for days afterwards! Why is that?"

It was a rhetorical question. She knows that these things bother her but she tries to shut it out.

Annie

2nd November 2010, 10:16 PM

I love Religulous. I find it hilarious and it always gives me lots of laughs which is very sad as I know it isnt a comedy.

Seamus

3rd November 2010, 03:39 AM

I love Religulous. I find it hilarious and it always gives me lots of laughs which is very sad as I know it is'nt a comedy.

Actually Annie, I think it's mean to be funny in an obvious American sophomoric way. I think it's just another tacky polemic,a down market Michael Moore if you will. (if that's possible)

I found it mildly amusing in parts, which I how find Bill Maher generally.Purely subjective;I don't like him.I think he's a sleaze who takes cheap shots at soft targets.

Rhys

3rd November 2010, 04:07 AM

I like it for the pure simple fact of the message that it delivers and the way it portrays it.

For me it's kind of similar to a movie like Mr and Mrs Smith where with the right budget like that movie must have had, you can't fail but to make a good, perhaps not fantastic, but good movie.

Maher was obviously well funded enough and a big enough name to get a few interviews with relatively important people so it would have taken a colossal stuff up for the documentary to have been no good.

Goldenmane

3rd November 2010, 07:18 PM

I found it mildly amusing in parts, which I how find Bill Maher generally.Purely subjective

Same here (note the elision). Maher shits me in many ways, but he can sometimes be mildly amusing. Seems to think he's smarter than he manages to be.

Of course, I have to bear in mind that such a statement may well be recursive, and I might just think I'm smarter than I manage to be.

I liked the "downmarket Michael Moore", though. I don't echo the sentiment necessarily, but I think it was a good turn of phrase, and it only fails if at all due to what was addressed in the codicil.

AusBox

6th January 2011, 10:25 AM

Oh, he's anti-vaccination all right. And he believes in homeopathy(!). I spent over an hour looking into it this afternoon.

He isn't 100% against vaccination.

Maher responded to the criticism, noting, "What I've read about what they think I'm saying is not what I've said. I'm not a germ theory denier. I believe vaccinations can work. Polio is a good example. Do I think in certain situations that inoculating Third World children against malaria or diphtheria, or whatever, is right? Of course. In a situation like that, the benefits outweigh costs. But to me living in Los Angeles? To get a flu shot? No."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_maher#Religion

DanielV

7th January 2011, 04:57 PM

Anyways being an atheist only comprises questioning the existence of gods, you can still be one of us even if you don't accept Pasteur, or Darwin for that matter.

God is the only target in atheism, albeit most of us agree in other areas as well.;)

Excellent point. The only real common ground atheists find is on the existence of deities, everything else is essentially varied amongst us, although support for science and naturalism tends to be high amongst us, I think.

On a related note, theres an episode of American Dad that deals with this kind of issue, where the main character, Stan, the all-American conservative christian, becomes best buddies with another with all the same traits, EXCEPT, this guy is an atheist! Friction arises!

Episode Synopsis on Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dope_%26_Faith)

ponde

28th January 2011, 06:32 AM

gruber

28th January 2011, 04:15 PM

On a related note, theres an episode of American Dad that deals with this kind of issue, where the main character, Stan, the all-American conservative christian, becomes best buddies with another with all the same traits, EXCEPT, this guy is an atheist! Friction arises!

and Stan take him on a hike to see a sunrise and their staring at it and his friend says "Stan please let go of my hand " :D

Seamus

28th January 2011, 04:29 PM

I really do not know why an atheist would be against vacination.
We claim that God does not exist because of lack of evidence.
The evidence for vacination however is clear, provable and demonstratable.

Non sequitor,your conclusion is not supported by your premise,which is also untrue as general description of atheism:

I,and most atheist here assert "I do not believe in god(s) due to lack of evidence". We do NOT assert "God does not exist"

Neither statement implies or infers anything about rationality,intellect,education,sanity, or any opinion on any other topic..

robertkd

28th January 2011, 09:50 PM

@ ponde

I have to concur with Seamus as the point of view has a subtle but profound difference.

StrangeControl

17th June 2011, 05:58 PM

The (scary) last 5 min's.
7jETVUulGwc

atuanui

28th January 2012, 05:39 PM

Have a watch of this. Is a bit like George Carlin.
Most of shows silly the whole thing is.
File size 500 megs.

http://www.abc.net.au/iview/#/view/882415

cheers

dilbadoon

28th January 2012, 09:41 PM

Non sequitor,your conclusion is not supported by your premise,which is also untrue as general description of atheism:

I,and most atheist here assert "I do not believe in god(s) due to lack of evidence". We do NOT assert "God does not exist"

Neither statement implies or infers anything about rationality,intellect,education,sanity, or any opinion on any other topic..

FFS, is it really worth arguing the semantics? Did you not understand the overall point, that there is pretty much an equal amount of evidence for god as there is that vaccination is dangerous?