Religulous

I recently watched the film Religulous, in which Bill Maher goes around talking to people about what they believe. It's a fairly entertaining documentary, though certainly not the best ever made. I don't have too many complaints to put forward about it; I know Bill isn't a philosophy buff or a theologian, so when he would get things a little wrong I couldn't hold it against him.

What I like most about the movie is that even a lay person who is indifferent towards religion, science, or philosophy can still get the questions being asked and the message that's being given. Lay people of all walks of life can still understand what Bill's trying to say, whether they agree with him or not. This is exactly the kind of talk we need to be put forth. So many people want to relegate religious questions to the clergy, and say that reason and logic have no place to answer them. We need to be talking about how our leaders believe things that our not supported by or in spite of evidence. We need to discuss the affects religion has on people. It should be open to public discourse, not something that is put away because someone's sincere beliefs might get trampled on.

I was very happy that the movie called upon reason and rational discourse to solve problems instead of relying on hocus pocus and bronze age theology. However, if you're looking for a concise, serious, academic discussion about religion, I'd suggest looking elsewhere, like a Richard Dawkins interview. Bill Maher is an entertainer, and while he brings up good questions, he's not necessarily doing it for the sake of learning. He likes to make jabs at religion, and does it in comedian fashion. If you're looking for an entertaining look at religion through a heathen's point of view, then I'd say Religulous is worth your time.