Religulous
It’s really interesting to see the approach Bill Maher brings to religion in his comic and enlightening documentary “Religulous.” He’s more than a little irreverent towards the idea of organized religion in all of the right ways, seeing acutely how the monolithic ideals of the church can almost brainwash people to not think for themselves about issues of faith and religious beliefs. And it’s not just Christianity or Islam- all the religions can mess with simple common sense and cause a distortion in worldview in anyone (Maher also discusses Mormons and Scientology). But at the same time he seems genuinely interested in allowing the people he interviews the dignity of voicing their opinions openly, even if he feels like they’re full of it. Let’s face it- that alone makes this a complete tonic compared to Ben Stein’s lecturing and rambling “Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed.” Dissent wasn’t allowed, either. Maher allows for respect of everyone’s views by simply allowing them to be heard, no matter how ludicrous they seem. Still, make no mistake whose movie this is- Maher does chime in on all accounts.
Maher has a unique stake in such discussion. He was raised Catholic in a household with one Catholic parent and one Jewish parent; he didn’t even realize of the latter one until later. One day, he and his family stopped going. Maher didn’t mind- as a teenager, he hated going to church. Even his early days in stand up took a wry look at religion that is sure to offend the faithful as much as it makes the regular Joe laugh hysterically. The past few years have only fed the flames of his, what some might call blasphemous, worldview on religion, with the rise of the evangelical right and the potency of radical Islam throughout the world. So a couple of years ago, he set out with “Borat” director Larry Charles- an inspired choice to direct; this film resembles that phenom in more ways than one- to explore the influence and different types of faith throughout the world and America. The result is scary in how indoctrinated some people are, and scathingly funny in how Maher nails them to a “T” even as he gives them a moment to make their views known. The result is more balanced than any recent Michael Moore film- and yes, I say this as a support of the man and his work- and more provocative and intelligent than “Expelled.”
Like Moore, Maher is simply expounding on his own views as the host and writer of “Religulous,” but he goes many places Moore would otherwise be afraid to, like giving voice to the people who don’t share his beliefs. That’s what gives the film so much of its’ juice, resulting in many of Maher’s funniest comments when its’ all said and done. If Moore is preaching to the choir, Maher is giving the non-followers a platform for their own right to free speech. That doesn’t make what they say any scarier to the free-thinking among us.
