Religulous, directed by Larry Charles (Borat), follows controversial comedian Bill Maher on his quest to ask people some tough questions about their religious beliefs. The film opens by introducing Maher's own religious upbringing. His mother was Jewish and his father Catholic. Maher and his sister were raised in the Catholic tradition, but he admits he found himself skeptical of some of the most fundamental tenets of faith.
Bill Maher Travels the American Bible Belt
Maher's journey takes him through the heart of the American Bible Belt, primarily the Southeastern United States to Florida. He meets with long-haul truckers in a mobile "trucker's chapel" and with the leader of a church in Florida for "reformed" homosexuals. Along the way, he points out to many the discrepancies between the religion they practice and the words from the Bible they follow--including the lack of direct reference to God's condemnation of homosexuality. Most people he speaks to, especially those at Florida's Bible Land amusement park, express a dogged determination not to waver in the face of such contradictions. It becomes obvious that Maher did his homework for this project as he dryly deflects attempts to hide behind scripture by pointing out that the authors of the Bible (most notably Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and St. Paul) never met Jesus. In fact, most of the modern Bible was not assembled until many years after the crucifiction.
Asking Tough Questions About Faith
While interviewing a formerly Jewish man who now operates a Christian store, Maher asks why the man is not willing to kill himself for the promise of paradise in heaven. Although his approach borders on the impolite at times, Maher's line of questioning drives at an earnest point: Why do people believe what they believe? The dogmatic response of many in the film is that it's because it's what they believe. Maher persists in his doubt, saying that since nobody knows for certain any answers about the afterlife they cannot say for certain what will happen.
A Journey to the Holy Land
Religulous concludes with a trip to the Holy Land and a visit to the Temple Mount, where Maher carries his questioning style to Muslim and Jewish leaders--sparing none in his quest for definitive answers. Instead, he seems confronted by more contradictions, most notably in the form of the Muslim tour guide who matter-of-factly informs him that non-Muslims are not allowed to be where Maher is interviewing him at that moment. The film closes with Maher making an impassioned plea for people of all faiths to give up their religion before they bring about the apocalypse in the name of Holy War.
Religulous Controversial but Ultimately Important
It goes without saying that Maher touches on more than just a few tender nerves in this film. He, and Lionsgate Films (W., Farenheit 9-11), have built careers on being politically incorrect. In Religulous, Maher does not seem to be trying to make himself a leader of an atheist movement so much as getting people to take a good look at why they believe so strongly in something that comes across as so irrational when broken down into its components. He directs his questions at all faiths, so it is not anti-Christian, -Jew or -anything as many critics have railed. Ultimately, his point seems to be a concern for the state of the world, and that an argument can be made for religion being part of the problem not the solution. Whether one agrees with this point or not, Religulous is not a film to be dismissed without serious and sober consideration.
Joseph Knox - I have a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Maine, where I graduated with Cum Laude honors and a member of the Phi ...
