Religulous
There is a great new movie out called Religulous. Bill Maher is the star of the documentary. He goes all over the world interviewing religious leaders and people who have an extreme belief in God. I don't question my faith, but Maher has some shocking points that made me think about it all in the big picture.
There is a religion in Amsterdam called Canabis. Marijuana is the prime focus. The believers go into a room, get high and worship God. There is another man who was once gay. He is now married to a former lesbian woman and they have three kids. He works to help gays and lesbians become straight, God helps him. He still looked very gay to me. Everyone in the world worships a god in a different way or not at all.
I would like to hear what you thought of this movie. And if you have not seen it, I strongly suggest it.
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Guys, guys, it's naive and irrational to think that religion itself leads to violence and bloodshed. Religion is a beautifully humanistic trait that is essential to human nature. The only reason it gets violent is that people hold on tight to their beliefs and if those beliefs are challenged they have a tendency to react aggressively. It's not religions' fault that people are killed in crusades, holy wars, inquisitions, terrorist attacks etc. it's the fault of the people who get corrupted and carry out these deeds.
I really don't think it's religion that does bad things, it's the corrupted followers that due the bad things. And listen, obviously some religions are ridiculous, but that's just because some people are ridiculous enough to believe in them and give them a following.
Spirituality is also a beautiful and necessary thing without which there would be much more suffering.
Oh and speaking of suffering, Dyman you mentioned that the three major causes of suffering are "gods, guns, and glory"? Maybe during the age of imperialism, but these things aren't infallible enough to be considered as the main causes.
I'm just gonna throw out two of the Four Noble Truths because I want to:
1. What is the Noble Truth of Suffering? Birth is suffering, aging is suffering, sickness is suffering, dissociation from the loved is suffering, not to get what one wants is suffering: in short the five categories affected by clinging are suffering.
2. The Origin of Suffering is attachment to the three desires: the desire for sense pleasure (kama tanha), desire to become (bhava tanha) and desire to get rid of (vibhava tanha).
[Samyutta Nikaya LVI, 11]
The movie was produced so as to generate profits.Lets not loose sight of this fundamental obvious; the other was mahers ambition.If you have watched his show on HBO the guy is an atheist, he doesn't say so but technically through his rhetoric you know he is.Is the driven by an agenda i might not know, but it clearly broadcasted mahers views on religion for everyone to "see".The point here is its all entertainment, and anyone who takes it seriously is the same as mahers jokes,pathetic.Another thing the movie is rated R i believe so an adult not children watch it.Make up your mind
Although I haven't actually seen the documentary yet, I have to disagree with you on some points. The main purpose of a documentary is not to generate profit, but to provide the public with knowledge that either has been hidden or can be hard to find. Documentaries are non-fiction movies- based off fact. There really is a religion that worships God by getting high. You cannot create a documentary based on lies and propaganda, otherwise it would not be a documentary. If any type of journalist (and yes, a documentary maker can be considered a journalist) tries to make outright lies look like fact, they can be sued. For lots and lots of money. So yes, documentaries should be taken seriously because that is what they are MADE for. To look at the shocking things in society that no one wants to face. Want a real shocker? Watch Bowling for Columbine. Maybe you'll pay attention to some things there if religion is too touchy a subject for you.
can you watch it online or do you have to rent it?
Actually it is only i theaters right now... I saw it at the Neptune
Bill Maher is an anti judeo-christian bigot.
He did not focus on just one religion, dwyman is right. You have your opinion and we have ours. And you really summed up exactly what the movie talks about... Religion tends to cause violent reactions and strong opinions. I asked for peoples opinions, so thanks for giving yours.
Violent reactions? How is posting on a message board a "violent reaction"? And since when are strong opinions a bad thing?
If you want to talk about violent reactions, lets discuss the attacks by gay militants on churches and old people for voting against gay marriage. Or heck, how about the 100 million+ people that have been murdered in the name of atheistic communism? Its ridiculous to claim that religion causes violence when it is obviously and clearly human nature that causes it.
Those acts weren't endorsed by any of the gay orginizations.Oh and by the way *cough cough* Crusades *cough cough* inquistion.
I'm not trying to start measuring contest here, I am merely relaying the idea that humans are naturally violent and almost any cause can drive people to do it.
You wouldn't want to start a measuring contest, because that would lead to people realizing that of the three causes that lead to all suffering (God, greed, glory) god by far takes the cake in terms of most people killed and most people opressed. I mean that in terms of ways to justify actions, not underlying motives, I blieve greed would win that one.
There is not contest, we don't need one, the contrast is obvious.
Ok, you want one, you got one. 100 million people killed in one century by atheist communism, unmatched by any religious movement. Even Islam has not killed that many people. And that does not include the atheist movement during the french revolution that resulted in thousands of deaths. Atheists can be just as blood thirsty, IF NOT MORE SO, than any religious people.
He is apposed to all religions, he didn't focus on one religion during his film, nothing he said was unfair, thank you for recycling everything the conservative religious christians say and posting it here.
I take it that you never watch his HBO show and didn't see his "the pope is a nazi child molester" comment. The guy is full of disgusting vile. Of course, he is going to limit that in a movie though, he is out there to make money after all.
there was a rule brought to vote by the catholic church: Should we ex=communicate priests based on one confirmed instance of child molestation? It was voted down.
Thanks for the suggestion I would love to see it. I find it odd that people seem to make excuses for behaviors by "doing it in the name of religion". My dad likes to remind me that religion is a man-made thing, and while I am a firm believer in God, we can't always trust what the believers of our God (or gods) say. Sometimes it is best to look past all of the rituals and interpretations and ask yourself what you actually beieve. I think Bill Maher's point, while humorously conveyed, is a serious one. With religions like Canabis out there, it is obvious that those man-made interpretations of religion are definately not always sound.
I think you meant to say *Religulous*
Thanks!