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« Reply #16 on: October 13, 2008, 08:15:25 PM » |
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I watched an episode of that. It made me very depressed...
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"Those who find ugly meanings in beautiful things are corrupt without being charming. This is a fault.
Those who find beautiful meanings in beautiful things are the cultivated. For these there is hope."
--Oscar Wilde
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Miranda
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« Reply #17 on: October 13, 2008, 08:51:39 PM » |
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Just to clear things up, Bill Maher is not anti-God. He is anti-religion. He actually believes in God, but feels the church is an unnecessary bureaucracy in his relationship with God.
I have heard though that in this film Maher does show the extremes of religion and does not give a moderate view of it. He is trying to prove his point and presents examples that will do just that.
Personally, I cannot wait to see it though.
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Miranda
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« Reply #18 on: October 13, 2008, 09:45:18 PM » |
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Rather a cowardly way to do it, don't you think? I mean, I could make a similar movie to show that black people are more violent than white people, and all I would have to do is feature black gangs and drug dealers and play a lot of rap music that promotes drugs and drive-by shootings. Meanwhile, I could film white people in libraries and florist shops and play Mozart. Of course, I would conveniently leave out the fact that most serial killers have been white, and that most black people do not fit the drug-dealing, drive-by shooting "gangsta" stereotype. And I certainly would not even think of interviewing black people who are opposed to violence. That would blow my "point" right out of the water. So, by making that movie... Did I prove my point? Is it true that black people are more violent than white people and we're better off without them? I hope not... and I also hope I don't get my ass kicked for even using this as an example. But the principle is the same. Either way, you're promoting ignorance and bigotry. It does give me the warm fuzzies to know that he has become the very thing he claims to be against, though.  He is promoting ignorance and bigotry by asking questions?? By challenging the idea of religion in our society?  |
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Overseer
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« Reply #19 on: October 14, 2008, 07:36:02 AM » |
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I think this quote here sums it up nicely: By the film's climax, at Megiddo, the site in Israel where it is predicted Armageddon will occur, when Maher starts fulminating against religion, he begins to sound like the fire-and-brimstone types his film sends up.
While even believers can support Maher's skepticism, when he denounces the faithful in sweeping absolutes at film's end, he sounds as absolutely certain as those he has mocked for the previous 100 minutes.
Comic Maher has faith in his lack of faith; Philadelphia Inquirer |
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"Those who find ugly meanings in beautiful things are corrupt without being charming. This is a fault.
Those who find beautiful meanings in beautiful things are the cultivated. For these there is hope."
--Oscar Wilde
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Brandy
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« Reply #20 on: October 14, 2008, 09:33:23 AM » |
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I think I might see it. I say "think" and "might" because I say I want to see a lot of movies, but never make it to the theater and then the list gets so high, I forget about most of them when they come out on DVD... Anyways, he may be slamming religion, but I think he's taking the extreme cases on purpose. I wish I could find the article I read (I tried). The point of it is supposed to be funny, as well as make you think a bit. Dane Cook made me laugh.  |
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Anxiety
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« Reply #21 on: October 14, 2008, 10:39:16 PM » |
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The movie fell short for me. Just to correct a small thing regarding the unfounded speculations that he wouldn't interview "smart religious people": He interviews a Catholic astrophysicist, and one of the heads of the Human Genome Project who happens to be a devout Christian.
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Miranda
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« Reply #22 on: October 14, 2008, 10:41:32 PM » |
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It makes you wonder... if he's so sure of what he thinks he knows, why DIDN'T he ask better educated people? Was he afraid he might be wrong? Hmm... Intellectual dishonesty at its finest. Instead of interviewing people that are his equals -- or better yet, superiors -- in intelligence, he interviews the least educated. It's basically bullying. He's like the fifth grader beating up the second grader for lunch money. He's picking fights he knows he can win. Anyone who doesn't see a problem with this is as intellectually dishonest as he is.
Not sure why I feel the need to tell you something you could find yourself online - easily - but, Bill Maher frequently speaks to people who are his "superiors" intellectually on his talk show. He often does have on religious scholars and he does engage them in mature, respectful discussion. Before you criticize someone for doing something, make sure he or she actually does it, ok? Oh, and be careful where your pointing that "intellectually dishonest" accusation please. |
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Anxiety
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« Reply #23 on: October 14, 2008, 11:01:08 PM » |
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He interviews the astrophysicist about evolution and science and some of the negative effects religion has had on science. He asks the biologist about justified true belief and the standards by which something should be believed.
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Overseer
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« Reply #24 on: October 15, 2008, 10:38:41 AM » |
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Not sure why I feel the need to tell you something you could find yourself online - easily - but, Bill Maher frequently speaks to people who are his "superiors" intellectually on his talk show. He often does have on religious scholars and he does engage them in mature, respectful discussion. Before you criticize someone for doing something, make sure he or she actually does it, ok?
Oh, and be careful where your pointing that "intellectually dishonest" accusation please.
I've read about 10 different reviews of the movie, from people all over the country for various newspapers, and they all had that same comment about it. One even said it was a shame that he took that approach: "The lack of insightful commentary keeps the spotlight focused on Maher. That's not restraint; it's a missed opportunity." These comments come from both people who rated the film highly, and ones that rated it poorly. |
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"Those who find ugly meanings in beautiful things are corrupt without being charming. This is a fault.
Those who find beautiful meanings in beautiful things are the cultivated. For these there is hope."
--Oscar Wilde
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