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Religious folk: Have you seen Bill Maher's 'Religulous'? If so, your thoughts? If not, why not? | |
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I'm not religious but I do believe in God and I saw Religulous twice. I could not convince my more religious family to watch it because they cannot handle their faith being criticized. I can. God DAMN there are a lot of dumb motherfuckers walking around! - George Carlin
Stalkerwomen of the world unite in delusion!!!!!  | |
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I think it's just another lame attack on faith by Bill Maher. Maybe some religions are "out there" but who is he to mock them. If your not a believer, why can't you just walk away? Why do you feel the urge to try and talk someone out of their faith?
you can keep the "change"! | |
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Decent film, a lil too Micheal Moorish here and there, the only real problem was bill kinda constantly talked down to some of the people he was interviewing, specially at the beginning, but with those people its hard not to. "...I will go to the animal shelter and get you a kitty cat. I will let you fall in love...with that kitty cat. And then on some dark, cold night I will steal away into your home...and punch you in the face!" |
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Sorry not yet, I'm really behind on all the movies right now. I think I only saw one or two that were actually nominated at the Oscars that's how far behind I am. Never again, not I. | |
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jockeyb4u said: I think it's just another lame attack on faith by Bill Maher. Maybe some religions are "out there" but who is he to mock them. If your not a believer, why can't you just walk away? Why do you feel the urge to try and talk someone out of their faith?
Bill Maher is just another failed comedian who found his niche when he started preaching to the bitter filled conspiracy theorist! I found many flaws with this movie, but none of them were what you said... For starters, there were no conspiracies talked about in that movie. He interviewed people and asked why they believed what they did. I think you're confusing it with the (mostly) factually inaccurate Zeitgeist that is floating around. But more importantly, the reason you can't just walk away is implicitly explained in the movie. It introduces the movie, when he stands on the exact location of where armageddon is said to happen. He can't walk away, and nobody can walk away, because the hardcore faithful are driving this planet to destruction and chaos, are not concerned with preserving what we have because they believe that the earth will be discarded when it's time. Nobody should walk away from these people who are self-fulling the bible's prophecy, because it means bad news for everyone. I'm not religious, but my comments on the movie were that it was good at times, quite funny, and introduced viewers to some truly frightening people and allowed us to see how damaging their beliefs could be, but oftentimes I found the questions and answers overly simplified. As well, things were far too edited, or conversations were so short that we often felt we weren't getting the whole story... Michael Moore, and in fact, any documentarian with an agenda will do this, and I don't blame them for it, but in the case of Religulous it seemed more obvious, and unnecessary considering some of the people he was talking to. Overall, I'll give it..... 7 Crucified Saviours out of 10. "We are all atheists about most of the gods that humanity has ever believed in. Some of us just go one god further." - Richard Dawkins | |
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jockeyb4u said: he started preaching to the bitter filled conspiracy theorist!
 Maher's not into conspiracy theory.  | |
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savoirfaire said: Overall, I'll give it..... 7 Crucified Saviours out of 10.
 | |
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saw it recently, and was quite disappointed. it seemed hastily put together and poorly edited. most of all, i was annoyed at the condescension toward the people he interviewed. seemed like a vanity project to me, more than anything. He has an interesting point to make, but he just didn't do it well. | |
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Your question’s not directed to me, but I’d like to chime in anyway.
Most economic fallacies derive from the tendency to assume that there is a fixed pie, that one party can gain only at the expense of another. | |
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I haven't seen it. I'll get around to it, maybe, but I'm just not moved much by it in any way. ________________
Sundiata J., Prince fan extraordinaire. R.I.P., brother. | |
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IrresistibleB1tch said: saw it recently, and was quite disappointed. it seemed hastily put together and poorly edited. most of all, i was annoyed at the condescension toward the people he interviewed. seemed like a vanity project to me, more than anything. He has an interesting point to make, but he just didn't do it well.
I saw it on pay per view last week and I have to agree that it had a poorly edited, thrown together feel about it. When he was interviewed he seemed rather surprised that the film didn't recieve more acclaim and blamed it on intolerance. That may have been part of it, however it may also have something to do with him choosing to focus on the more extreme and intolerant representatives of the faith community. That said, I found it somewhat entertaining if not particularly informative. More of a spoof than a documentary really. I admire Bill's wit and the film left me feeling that he could have done better. "After this, there is no turning back. You take the blue pill...the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill...you stay in wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes." | |
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not religious, but i saw it and liked it.
"passing strange"... experience the real
http://www.youtube.com/wa...NFbc7gLzQE | |
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Catholic here! I haven't seen it, but it's not like I've been avoiding it.
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Ace said: If so, your thoughts? If not, why not?
You know I usually stay open minded about attacks on faith but I am kind of bored with his schtick on Religion. First off its disingenuous. He has never attacked Judaism like he has attacked Christianity and Islam. I say be consistent and if you are going to attack one attack all. Secondly I have heard it all before from him. He is an atheist and like most atheist he believes that people of faith are crazy and wrong! I get it okay I can move on from there. Don't get me wrong I love his show and I watch it all the time. But I can't take it anymore from him and as I said I don't think he is being very genuine. THE CARDINAL HAS SPOKEN!!! | |
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chiltonmusic said: Ace said: If so, your thoughts? If not, why not?
You know I usually stay open minded about attacks on faith but I am kind of bored with his schtick on Religion. First off its disingenuous. He has never attacked Judaism like he has attacked Christianity and Islam. I say be consistent and if you are going to attack one attack all. Secondly I have heard it all before from him. He is an atheist and like most atheist he believes that people of faith are crazy and wrong! I get it okay I can move on from there. Don't get me wrong I love his show and I watch it all the time. But I can't take it anymore from him and as I said I don't think he is being very genuine. in fairness, he is aggressive towards the religions that are aggressive. judaism is a pretty passive faith in american terms, at least. "passing strange"... experience the real
http://www.youtube.com/wa...NFbc7gLzQE | |
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cborgman said: chiltonmusic said: You know I usually stay open minded about attacks on faith but I am kind of bored with his schtick on Religion. First off its disingenuous. He has never attacked Judaism like he has attacked Christianity and Islam. I say be consistent and if you are going to attack one attack all. Secondly I have heard it all before from him. He is an atheist and like most atheist he believes that people of faith are crazy and wrong! I get it okay I can move on from there. Don't get me wrong I love his show and I watch it all the time. But I can't take it anymore from him and as I said I don't think he is being very genuine. in fairness, he is aggressive towards the religions that are aggressive. judaism is a pretty passive faith in american terms, at least. I don't think all Christian denominations are "aggressive." I think fundamentalists are the most aggressive, and certain denominations are more aggressive than others. I would think the same is true of Judaism, too. Some are more aggressive--even passive aggressive than others. I think any organized religion is very powerful--or can be very powerful and dangerous because there are people who seek power and domination within those religions. It's people, not religion itself. | |
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lascantas said: cborgman said: in fairness, he is aggressive towards the religions that are aggressive. judaism is a pretty passive faith in american terms, at least. I don't think all Christian denominations are "aggressive." I think fundamentalists are the most aggressive, and certain denominations are more aggressive than others. I would think the same is true of Judaism, too. Some are more aggressive--even passive aggressive than others. I think any organized religion is very powerful--or can be very powerful and dangerous because there are people who seek power and domination within those religions. It's people, not religion itself. most of the people he interviews in the film are fundamnetalists. "passing strange"... experience the real
http://www.youtube.com/wa...NFbc7gLzQE | |
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cborgman said: lascantas said: I don't think all Christian denominations are "aggressive." I think fundamentalists are the most aggressive, and certain denominations are more aggressive than others. I would think the same is true of Judaism, too. Some are more aggressive--even passive aggressive than others. I think any organized religion is very powerful--or can be very powerful and dangerous because there are people who seek power and domination within those religions. It's people, not religion itself. most of the people he interviews in the film are fundamnetalists. But MOST religious people aren't fundamentalists! LOL So right there, the film misrepresents religious people. I am reading this book called The Great Derangement. It's interesting because there is a part about fundmentalists churches. However, this is very extreme. These people are crazy, really. Sorry but they are. | |
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lascantas said: cborgman said: most of the people he interviews in the film are fundamnetalists. But MOST religious people aren't fundamentalists! LOL So right there, the film misrepresents religious people. I am reading this book called The Great Derangement. It's interesting because there is a part about fundmentalists churches. However, this is very extreme. These people are crazy, really. Sorry but they are. the movie never paints itself to be a painting of basic religious people. it makes no secret that it is about fundamnetalists. that's why i think it's called "religulous" and not "religous." "passing strange"... experience the real
http://www.youtube.com/wa...NFbc7gLzQE | |
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jockeyb4u said: I think it's just another lame attack on faith by Bill Maher. Maybe some religions are "out there" but who is he to mock them. If your not a believer, why can't you just walk away? Why do you feel the urge to try and talk someone out of their faith?
Bill Maher is just another failed comedian who found his niche when he started preaching to the bitter filled conspiracy theorist! By the same token why do religious folk slways try and "convert" as many people as possible?...ahhhh cuz it says so in the bible Same thing, one wants to understand with his brain, the others with their heart. [Edited 3/22/09 8:15am]  | |
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Ugot2shakesumthin said: jockeyb4u said: I think it's just another lame attack on faith by Bill Maher. Maybe some religions are "out there" but who is he to mock them. If your not a believer, why can't you just walk away? Why do you feel the urge to try and talk someone out of their faith?
Bill Maher is just another failed comedian who found his niche when he started preaching to the bitter filled conspiracy theorist! By the same token why do religious folk slways try and "convert" as many people as possible?...ahhhh cuz its says so in the bible same thing, one wants to understand with his brain, the others with their heart. yup "passing strange"... experience the real
http://www.youtube.com/wa...NFbc7gLzQE | |
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i haven't seen it. i have no desire to see it. i think bill maher is loudmouth asshole who is opinionated for the sake of being opinionated. the few times i've listened to him, i've been turned off by his self-righteous demeanor and clear inability to be objective on any matter. he's very typical of those in his profession...damn anyone who has their own opinion or belief that is different from his and stroke the ego of those who agree with him.
An individualist is a man who lives for his own sake and by his own mind; he neither sacrifices himself to others nor sacrifices others to himself... | |
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sassybritches said: i haven't seen it. i have no desire to see it. i think bill maher is loudmouth asshole who is opinionated for the sake of being opinionated. the few times i've listened to him, i've been turned off by his self-righteous demeanor and clear inability to be objective on any matter. he's very typical of those in his profession...damn anyone who has their own opinion or belief that is different from his and stroke the ego of those who agree with him.
i walked away from religion. no picket signs, no anger towards the religious community, no need to insult or change their views. i guess i don't understand why others can't do the same. then again, non-thinking people NEED to be led. Non-thinking people are those who are involved in religion? This is interesting. In fact, one must be able to think in order to be free. It's a parodox(?). At the same time one has to let-go when the thinking is through. But I do not consider it "not-thinking." I consider it letting go, and letting God judge.. not man. To me it's important to offer choice. So it's true fundamentalists don't think.. they recite. But I don't think this is true of all religious people. It might not be true of all fundmentalists either. | |
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lascantas said: sassybritches said: i haven't seen it. i have no desire to see it. i think bill maher is loudmouth asshole who is opinionated for the sake of being opinionated. the few times i've listened to him, i've been turned off by his self-righteous demeanor and clear inability to be objective on any matter. he's very typical of those in his profession...damn anyone who has their own opinion or belief that is different from his and stroke the ego of those who agree with him.
i walked away from religion. no picket signs, no anger towards the religious community, no need to insult or change their views. i guess i don't understand why others can't do the same. then again, non-thinking people NEED to be led. Non-thinking people are those who are involved in religion? This is interesting. In fact, one must be able to think in order to be free. It's a parodox(?). At the same time one has to let-go when the thinking is through. But I do not consider it "not-thinking." I consider it letting go, and letting God judge.. not man. To me it's important to offer choice. So it's true fundamentalists don't think.. they recite. But I don't think this is true of all religious people. It might not be true of all fundmentalists either. man needs to judge. and man needs to be judged. that is when we're forced to think, forced to live up, defend, and investigate our own beliefs. without being judged, all our thoughts, beliefs and actions are based on a dead dogma. the problem is man doesn't want to be judged because he may find out he's being irrational, unproductive, and wallowing in self-destruction. in order to be kept from judgment, man says "it is not my place to judge." oh, but to the contrary if we were not to judge, we would make very little progress as a people. religion frees people from thinking. they have a set of rules placed before them and all they need to do is follow the rules. on the opposite end of that is the person who believes in no religion and lives by their every whim, again not thinking but simply acting. spontaneously acting on every whim, with no thought, is no better than the religious man who has no thought of his own but only does what he's been trained to do. An individualist is a man who lives for his own sake and by his own mind; he neither sacrifices himself to others nor sacrifices others to himself... | |
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cborgman said: chiltonmusic said: You know I usually stay open minded about attacks on faith but I am kind of bored with his schtick on Religion. First off its disingenuous. He has never attacked Judaism like he has attacked Christianity and Islam. I say be consistent and if you are going to attack one attack all. Secondly I have heard it all before from him. He is an atheist and like most atheist he believes that people of faith are crazy and wrong! I get it okay I can move on from there. Don't get me wrong I love his show and I watch it all the time. But I can't take it anymore from him and as I said I don't think he is being very genuine. in fairness, he is aggressive towards the religions that are aggressive. judaism is a pretty passive faith in american terms, at least. Well its passive if you don't live in Gaza or the West Strip! But beyond that (because I am huge supporter of Israel) to just attack two religions to me is short sighted. Either you hate religion or you don't which one is it? The fact that he won't attack other faiths is transparent to me. Also I like Bill alot its just to me when he goes on these anti religious rants he puts himself in the Bill O Rielly catagory and that ain't a great place to me imho. THE CARDINAL HAS SPOKEN!!! | |
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sassybritches said: lascantas said: Non-thinking people are those who are involved in religion? This is interesting. In fact, one must be able to think in order to be free. It's a parodox(?). At the same time one has to let-go when the thinking is through. But I do not consider it "not-thinking." I consider it letting go, and letting God judge.. not man. To me it's important to offer choice. So it's true fundamentalists don't think.. they recite. But I don't think this is true of all religious people. It might not be true of all fundmentalists either. man needs to judge. and man needs to be judged. that is when we're forced to think, forced to live up, defend, and investigate our own beliefs. without being judged, all our thoughts, beliefs and actions are based on a dead dogma. the problem is man doesn't want to be judged because he may find out he's being irrational, unproductive, and wallowing in self-destruction. in order to be kept from judgment, man says "it is not my place to judge." oh, but to the contrary if we were not to judge, we would make very little progress as a people. religion frees people from thinking. they have a set of rules placed before them and all they need to do is follow the rules. on the opposite end of that is the person who believes in no religion and lives by their every whim, again not thinking but simply acting. spontaneously acting on every whim, with no thought, is no better than the religious man who has no thought of his own but only does what he's been trained to do. No.. it's not about following the rules. It's about understanding we do not know everything. That even with the rules.. we do not know everything, so this is why we cannot judge. It's about understand the paradox. It's about understanding the complexity of life.. but at the same time the simplicity of it. No.. for me, religion is not about "the rules," but more about freeing myself from the judgment of man and judging man, interestingly enough. It's about finding this place of peace.. at another level where there is just love.. nothing else. It fills me up, you know? You know somebody once told me--really studying something showed him what he did not know. And then trying apply it.. it was like he had to start all over. This is what religion is to me.. or the study of it. You go in thinking you will learn all the answers, but then all you have is more questions. Then you try to apply what you have learned, and it's even more confusing.. because there is so much paradox.. and complexity.. that person is not always right by following the Book.. just like with anything else. So.. it's a shame that a lot of people think religion is about following the rules. Well.. nothing is that easy, but at the same time it's also simple. This is the beauty of it. [Edited 3/22/09 10:37am] | |
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lascantas said: Catholic here! I haven't seen it, but it's not like I've been avoiding it.
I just haven't seen it. Maybe we can rent it one night? Catholics come off looking sane compared to the rest of the people he interviews. The priest at the Vatican was a complete crack up, and the priest at the observatory was great, and the monk on the street reminded me of the parish pastor at my church growing up. it is necessary to help others, not only in our prayers, but in our daily lives. If we find we cannot help others, the least we can do is to desist from harming them.
Dalai Lama |
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Ace said: jockeyb4u said: he started preaching to the bitter filled conspiracy theorist!
Maher's not into conspiracy theory. Believe it or not, Bill is dead set against conspiracy theorists (especially those who are convince that 9/11 was an inside job). Tupac "Makaveli" Shakur (RIP 1971-1996) & Michael Jackson (RIP 1958-2009)
2 men that had their lives taken away the moment they were speaking out AND rebelling against the dark side of the music industry once too often. |
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lascantas said: sassybritches said: man needs to judge. and man needs to be judged. that is when we're forced to think, forced to live up, defend, and investigate our own beliefs. without being judged, all our thoughts, beliefs and actions are based on a dead dogma. the problem is man doesn't want to be judged because he may find out he's being irrational, unproductive, and wallowing in self-destruction. in order to be kept from judgment, man says "it is not my place to judge." oh, but to the contrary if we were not to judge, we would make very little progress as a people. religion frees people from thinking. they have a set of rules placed before them and all they need to do is follow the rules. on the opposite end of that is the person who believes in no religion and lives by their every whim, again not thinking but simply acting. spontaneously acting on every whim, with no thought, is no better than the religious man who has no thought of his own but only does what he's been trained to do. No.. it's not about following the rules. It's about understanding we do not know everything. That even with the rules.. we do not know everything, so this is why we cannot judge. It's about understand the paradox. It's about understanding the complexity of life.. but at the same time the simplicity of it. No.. for me, religion is not about "the rules," but more about freeing myself from the judgment of man and judging man, interestingly enough. It's about finding this place of peace.. at another level where there is just love.. nothing else. It fills me up, you know? You know somebody once told me--really studying something showed him what he did not know. And then trying apply it.. it was like he had to start all over. This is what religion is to me.. or the study of it. You go in thinking you will learn all the answers, but then all you have is more questions. Then you try to apply what you have learned, and it's even more confusing.. because there is so much paradox.. and complexity.. that person is not always right by following the Book.. just like with anything else. So.. it's a shame that a lot of people think religion is about following the rules. Well.. nothing is that easy, but at the same time it's also simple. This is the beauty of it. [Edited 3/22/09 10:37am] Why the need to understand everything? furthermore, why turn to something that is even more irrational and without reason just because you DON'T understand everything. seems like the most ILLOGICAL and IRRATIONAL direction to go if one is seeking knowledge. you say religion, for you, is freeing yourself from the judgment of man and from judging man...yet you're tying yourself to another set of rules and judgments...and this entity now judging you can neither be seen nor known until death, if even then. that is hella irrational! that is a gigantic contradiction. you are freeing yourself from one master and tying yourself to another. how about creating your own values and morals based on what is best for you, individually. by "individually", i mean what is best for you, by you, without the need of others to make it realistic or possible and without the need to burden others with your values? you say religion is not about following rules...what happens to me if i don't follow the rules of a religion? what might a religious organization do to me if i don't follow the rules? what would i be looking for in that religion and what would i be told about obtaining those goals if i didn't follow rules? religion is control. it is manipulation. this is not said out of hate or anger or fear, just out of simple, rational thought. if one is kept away from what one enjoys...or required to "enjoy" other things...one is ruled by another. there's nothing free in that. An individualist is a man who lives for his own sake and by his own mind; he neither sacrifices himself to others nor sacrifices others to himself... | |
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