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movie review - Religulous

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-seven years and one million words

I was very disappointed with this film by Bill Maher. Maher's a funny and intelligent individual and I figured that this would be insightful and entertaining. Instead I found it poorly written and off-putting.

While I understand Maher's frustration with organized religion as a source -- or exacerbation -- of many conflicts in the world I didn't care for his methods in this investigation. Time and again, he'd find someone with a religious bent, and attempt to discuss their views. But instead of letting these parties speak for themselves, he would time and agaiin cut them off an present his jaundiced view. I found it telling that the only time he cut an interview short was the one time that his interviewee wouldn't allow Maher to interrupt and shout him down with whatever view Maher had brought to the interview.

At the end Maher attempts to pin on a message that anti-religionists should stand up and take back the world in favour of rationalism. But by the time he's delivering that message he still hasn't made the case that we should. If anything, by hectoring and laughing at a variety of people along the way, we come to identify with those whose views Maher is mocking.

Well, not all of them -- some seem outright fools who don't know what they're talking about. But even with those Maher would have been better served to simply let them condemn themselves with their blithering rather than attempt to highlight their deficient thinking. But Maher never really gives them a chance.

Not recommended.