Bill Maher at the Oscar’s

Rose Schwartz — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 20:26:00 +0000

According to The Friendly Atheist, Bill Maher said the following at the Oscar’s last night:

I know it’s a touchy subject, but someday we will all have to confront the notion that our silly gods cost the world too greatly.

Too bad I don’t care for award shows or I would have seen it live. Eh… that’s what videos are for!

In response to PZ Meyer’s post post today on Bill Maher’s ‘moaning’ at the Oscar’s, I have to say I agree with him:

There’s a reason Maher wasn’t nominated for an Oscar, and I think it’s because his documentary took no risks, and didn’t probe very deeply.

Yet I still enjoyed Religulous a lot.

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Rose Schwartz — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 17:58:00 +0000

Last night, I saw Religulous. Director Larry Charles was supposed to hold a Q&A session afterward, but he had to cancel due scheduling conflicts. Even so, my husband and I were still very excited.

For most comedies these days, as I sit before the large or small screen, I come to a disheartening realization that I had already seen the funniest moments in the previews and trailers. That was not the case with Religulous. I found myself laughing (almost non-stop) throughout the movie. In addition to the documentary’s hilarity, I’ve come across the review that it’s “preaching to the choir”, which I’ll agree with on some points but not in totality.

There was definitely a sense that if one is religious, he/she may not feel a home. Bill Maher may have uttered a few Really‘s and Come on‘s that could possibly upset the deep believer. With that said, the movie is potentially for those in between. The agnostics and even the irreligious deists and theists; which I would explain as those who realize religion is harmful but still may believe something. Moreover, I would love for this movie to reach a larger audience, to encompass the ones who still check the Christian, Jewish, Muslim, etc box but either don’t really believe or just don’t really think about it. It’s time they do.

After all the comedic interviews, Bill Maher gives an epilogue that is truly amazing. A serious call to all, encouraging the audience to understand the harm the worldwide religions are causing.

Hopefully, it will explain our irreligious standpoint. That no one knows and doubt is a good thing. It’s what keeps us humble. It’s not about believing in a supreme being or an ever-glowing energy ball (or not); it’s about growing up and away from religion’s stranglehold for the good of humankind. He ends with a notion I couldn’t agree with more: for us to expect our world civilization to continue to aspire and advance, we must leave religion behind.

The Jewmanist » Religulous

Bill Maher at the Oscar’s

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Religulous Trailer