Sunday, October 5, 2008

Replies to "Religulous"....

Bill Maher picks the easy targets throughout this heavily edited Moorer-like expedition into "Religion". I have not seen the movie -- just as I plan not seeing American Carol, but from what I've read, it is just an expedition into the ego of Bill Maher in the form of a very weak rant, unburdened by any actual intellectual exploration of world-views. Evidently, when anyone says anything remotely sensible, Maher takes the easy way out, using the magnetics of editing it until the compass points to his previously decided conclusions....

Here's the skinny:

"... At one point, he interviews a scientist who believes in God and sees nothing inconsistent with science and religious faith. This man is no hick, and it would have been nice to hear what he had to say. But Maher doesn't give him a chance to talk. Maher's not interested in talking."

Mick LaSalle
San Francisco Chronicle

“Maher can target Christians because, if they take their calling seriously, they will heed the words of Jesus, which include: "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" -- or in this case "mock you". It would be helpful if Maher would expand his definition of religion a bit and discuss worldviews. I'm sure he has one and wonder if he would be willing to articulate it.


If not, some questions: How did we get here? What time is it (i.e. in history)? What is our purpose in life? What is the source of [his] truth? It sounds like he is judging religious people against some moral standard he expects them to recognize as valid. Great, he should tell them how he stumbled upon it or how it was revealed to him.

There are people (atheists and theists alike) who are taking this discussion much more seriously and demonstrating some intellectual rigor in the process.”

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