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Religulous Reviews
October 5, 2008 on 3:14 am | 14 Comments
“If you’re an atheist or an agnostic, you’ll be completely on board and happy to tag along with Maher as he travels the globe asking people about their faith – everywhere from Jerusalem to the Vatican to Amsterdam, where he finds not only the Cannabis Ministry but also a Muslim gay bar (with two people in it).” — Christie Lemire, Associated Press writer
Just a quick summary of some of the buzz generated in the limited release of the film:
- RottenTomatoes.com – 65% (“Fresh”)
- Roger Ebert – 4.5 out of 5 stars
- Roger Moore, The Orlando Sentinel – 4 out of 5 stars
- Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News – 4 out of 5 stars
- Kyle Smith, New York Post – 3 out of 4 stars
- Robert W. Butler, The Kansas City Star – 3 out of 4 stars
- Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly – A minus
- Steve Persall, St. Petersburg Times – A minus
After you see the movie, please let me know what you thought. Whether you are a believer or a non-believer, I am interested in what you have to say. Okay. I lied. If you are a believer, I am not so much interested in what you have to say. You believe in an invisible man in the sky, so your judgment should be called into question from jump street.
Review information retrieved from the Religulous Wikipedia page.
14 Comments »
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Saw it!
Here’s my rather short review: http://doubtingeventhomas.blogspot.com/2008/10/movie-review-religulous.html
Comment by Doubting Foo — October 5, 2008 #
I saw it last night and LOVED it. I would give it a 9.7 out of 10.
It was really funny, really thoughtful, enlightening, and motivating in an unexpected way.
I am an atheist, but I think that it has a lot to offer for believers of any faith. I would highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.
Comment by Shayna — October 5, 2008 #
I’m glad you enjoyed it. I would like to think religious people would see this movie to broaden their horizons, but horizon-broadening is discouraged by many groups. While they may not explicitly say it, these people are taught to accept without question, and when they do question, they are taught to accept answers with no basis in fact.
I saw The Passion of the Christ when it came out, and I found it to be highly educational. Not so much the film (I already knew how it ended), but the group dynamic in the theater.
Comment by God is Pretend — October 5, 2008 #
I am a seminary student working on an MDiv. I saw it this Saturday and absolutely loved it. It is a powerful, humorous, and actually endearing film. Despite the much appreciated mocking tone towards profanities such as “The Holy Land Experience,” Maher seems to be just as willing to listen as he is to make a point, which is something people don’t seem to give him enough credit for. I loved his interaction with the priest outside the Vatican and the other priest at the observatory. Great interaction and dialogue there. I also loved the points made by the second Catholic priest who articulately reminds people that what we know of as modern science (and its methods) came so far after the Bible written that we can’t expect the Bible to be scientific. That in and of itself is illogical! I also like what Maher said toward the end about “not knowing.” Specifically how he said, “I know you don’t know…because I don’t know, and there is nothing about you that makes you better able to know than me.” (or something along those lines.) I have been learning about God, trying to find answers to faith and spirituality, for the better part of my life now, and I am finally at a point where I realize that I am no better off now than when I started. That sucks because it took me $100,000 in school loans to realize that not only did my questions not get answered, I now have more questions!
Anyway, that’s kind of not the point. The point is, Maher isn’t without hope, at least I don’t this so. And, the most important thing is that he provides a voice, avenue, and language for so many people who are saying, hey, this doesn’t make sense after all. It’s a tough and lonely place to be sometimes.
My only criticism is that he doesn’t do a very good job at finding people who are an intellectual match. I question his decision to only seek out the dumbest people of faith he could possibly find.
Comment by Danielle Graham — October 7, 2008 #
I wish I could be alive when these absurd beliefs of dead men are laughed at finally by everyone for what they really are. Viva the day of a global post Christian Era…
Comment by nick — October 7, 2008 #
I saw it with a couple of non-believing friends. I thought it was decent, though not great. It wasn’t *that* funny. However, Maher did a good job of nailing religion to the cross.
Comment by MB — October 7, 2008 #
From the Quotes page:
“Today’s religion will be the future’s mythology. Both believed at one time by many; but proved wrong by the clever.†— Steven Crocker
http://www.godispretend.net/quotes
Comment by God is Pretend — October 8, 2008 #
As a man brought up in a religious household, and a man who made a conscious decision to leave the church, I am very much looking forward to the time where one can read about religion in history books and laugh at man’s foolishness. Unfortunately, all the positive things done in the name of religion DO NOT even come remotely close to excusing the vast list of crimes and utter hated bred from them. Maher has it right, the only possible stance one can have on the issue of God, is doubt. Not necessarily the doubt of the existence of the divine, but knowing that what people wrote a few thousand years ago CANNOT be true. People invented stories, I repeat stories, to explain what could not be explained at the time. We now have answers to much of what man only could attribute to a magical being(s) so therefore the stories are proven to be exactly that.
Comment by Ryan Palmer — October 8, 2008 #
Just saw it. Loved it. When you and Megan finally get to Atlanta, let me know what you think.
Comment by Andrea — October 20, 2008 #
I am seaching for some idea to write in my blog… somehow come to your blog. best of luck. Eugene
Comment by Eugene — October 22, 2008 #
Even before this movie i was convinced that religion did more harm then good. this movie did just confirm this.
I also loved his remark that a lot of people had questions about their religion but didn’t want to admit these to anyone.
I’m also looking forward to read about religion in the history books as one of man’s greatest flaws. Unfortunately i don’t think this will be in my lifetime and I’m just a 20 year old guy.
When watching this movie i was thinking about starting my own “religion” using the moral of the story: doubt the certainty of god. Because that is what they all preach, they and only they know who the real God is and even more disturbing how to get him on your side.
One can just hope that this movie becomes enough of a hype to start a discussion about this subject. Wich is doubtfull
Comment by Bart — December 25, 2008 #
I just watched the movie, totally great. I can’t wait til ppl realize the danger’s caused by blind faith. We should question everything instead of being led blindly by sheep. Religion is the only thing that has total control of people to the point of killing for it. I think the world would be a better place if it never existed. It came at a time when science didn’t exist, and maybe it did help bring civilization into the modern age, but in my opinion it will destroy everything we know wayyyy before the earth dies from natural cosmic causes. I just wish people were not so brainwashed to let this happen, especially when everyone has a fuctioning brain and can think for themselves…. its a shame
Comment by tonez — January 28, 2009 #
“It came at a time when science didn’t exist, and maybe it did help bring civilization into the modern age,”
Consider the following quote:
Comment by God is Pretend — January 28, 2009 #
I’ve added this movie to my all time favorite great movies of all time! It actually took me almost 4 hours watching the whole thing the first time because I can’t help re-winding almost every little part of it. Totally seriously hilarious! I do that when I see a great movie. did the same thing with The Godfather, Young Frankenstein, Midnight Cowboy. EVERYONE should see this movie!
Comment by Ron Parel — November 9, 2009 #