Bill Maher, controversial talk show host and libertarian, released his documentary on religious belief in 2008, titles Religulous. He focuses on many different aspects of world religions, as well as fringe religions such as Mormonism and Scientology. The documentary is meant to inspire debate, and, according to Maher, answer his own questions about belief and organized religion.
Maher claims that he is selling "doubt." He makes the point of religion as a product by showing televangelist selling DVDs. He also goes to religious tourism sites like The Holy Land Experience in Orlando, Florida and the Creationist Museum.
Maher also spotlights how these beliefs manifest themselves in our political discourse. The United States his the most religious of the industrialized nations, and it is reflected in our leaders. By now, everyone knows the story of Ted Haggert, televangelist who bought Meth from a homosexual prostitute. He also interviews Senator Mark Pryor, who doesn't believe in evolution and says there is no "IQ test" to serve in the United States Senate. Later in the movie, Maher talks about Islam and how politics and religion have become intertwined. Maher travels to Europe and the Middle East to discuss religious killings from thousands of years ago up until the assassination of Dutch filmmaker Van Gogh, who was killed several years ago for a anti-Islamic film he made.
The problem with most of the documentary is that Maher interjects himself into every interview, and they become much more like a debate. This is not how most good documentaries are filmed, but Maher manages to maintain some likability. He never claims to have the answers, more so that he is searching for them, although it's obvious that he does not believe in organized religion. Maher's main goal is to separate religion from our political process. He cautions us to use reason, and is persuasive in his idea that doubt can be our true savior where belief has only led to our death.
Maher claims that he is selling "doubt." He makes the point of religion as a product by showing televangelist selling DVDs. He also goes to religious tourism sites like The Holy Land Experience in Orlando, Florida and the Creationist Museum.
Maher also spotlights how these beliefs manifest themselves in our political discourse. The United States his the most religious of the industrialized nations, and it is reflected in our leaders. By now, everyone knows the story of Ted Haggert, televangelist who bought Meth from a homosexual prostitute. He also interviews Senator Mark Pryor, who doesn't believe in evolution and says there is no "IQ test" to serve in the United States Senate. Later in the movie, Maher talks about Islam and how politics and religion have become intertwined. Maher travels to Europe and the Middle East to discuss religious killings from thousands of years ago up until the assassination of Dutch filmmaker Van Gogh, who was killed several years ago for a anti-Islamic film he made.
The problem with most of the documentary is that Maher interjects himself into every interview, and they become much more like a debate. This is not how most good documentaries are filmed, but Maher manages to maintain some likability. He never claims to have the answers, more so that he is searching for them, although it's obvious that he does not believe in organized religion. Maher's main goal is to separate religion from our political process. He cautions us to use reason, and is persuasive in his idea that doubt can be our true savior where belief has only led to our death.
1 comment:
Good Commentary. I went to see the movie some time ago and really liked it. He asked some very good questions about where religion comes from and how its practiced. Maher rarely disappoints. Glad you found the likeability in the movie. Me, too.
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