I should preface this entry by stating that this was suggested by my brother so I could understand his current views on god/religion. What I saw and heard left me in a little bit of shock. You see, Bill Maher's "documentary" of the "current state of world religious views" was really nothing more than an excuse to show off just how rude and intolerant someone can be when they've decided they are right and you are WRONG. This was extra hard for me to swallow because my brother and I had been brought up in a home of religious tolerance. We learned very young that not everyone saw the world or lived their lives in accordance to the tenants we were taught on Sunday. Instead of condemning people for choices or seperating ourselves from people with different beliefs, we embraced the differences, found beauty in the variety, and gained good friends of many different ideas -- Hinuism, Buddhism, Islam, Juddaism, Agnosticism, Athiest...
I had to force myself through this movie. I could have choked on Maher's openly arrogant, insulting attitude toward the people he was "interviewing." Even though he is a well known comedian, his position as documentarian might have encouraged him to leave the satire at home. If he were an agnostic asking others questions about how they "know" or if they really believe Jonah literally spent three days in the belly of a big fish, he may have allowed for an open and interesting dialogue. But, I don't think that was his purpose. He wanted the people of America who believe in god to look ridiculous and attempted to do so by cutting them off, mocking their replies, and inserting snippets of hollywood films/news footage, etc. with written commentary.
Throughout the film, Maher asks the question, "What if you're wrong?" I don't know if the people he asked wouldn't entertain the idea because they were afraid it was a blasphemous idea to entertain. I don't have that problem and would like to answer it... What if I am wrong about the "God lens" I see the world with? What if I am wrong about the afterlife I believe in and spend my whole life attempting to better myself, my family, and my neighborhood in kindness and being a wise steward of the life I see as a gift? What if I spend my mornings and evenings gazing at a beautiful sky and find that there was no painter as I believe there is? Is that really so bad, Bill? You seem to think that a life of selfish indulgence and pleasure seeking is the way to go. But I don't value those things. So, even if it turns out that I am wrong, I am not wasting my life in believing there is a Heavenly Father who hears and answers my prayers. I leave you to choose for yourself how you would spend your days. I must say though, that I don't believe the Armegeddon you fear will be avoided if everyone treated others with the disdain and disrespect you did throughout the film. What if you're "wrong"?
I had to force myself through this movie. I could have choked on Maher's openly arrogant, insulting attitude toward the people he was "interviewing." Even though he is a well known comedian, his position as documentarian might have encouraged him to leave the satire at home. If he were an agnostic asking others questions about how they "know" or if they really believe Jonah literally spent three days in the belly of a big fish, he may have allowed for an open and interesting dialogue. But, I don't think that was his purpose. He wanted the people of America who believe in god to look ridiculous and attempted to do so by cutting them off, mocking their replies, and inserting snippets of hollywood films/news footage, etc. with written commentary.
Throughout the film, Maher asks the question, "What if you're wrong?" I don't know if the people he asked wouldn't entertain the idea because they were afraid it was a blasphemous idea to entertain. I don't have that problem and would like to answer it... What if I am wrong about the "God lens" I see the world with? What if I am wrong about the afterlife I believe in and spend my whole life attempting to better myself, my family, and my neighborhood in kindness and being a wise steward of the life I see as a gift? What if I spend my mornings and evenings gazing at a beautiful sky and find that there was no painter as I believe there is? Is that really so bad, Bill? You seem to think that a life of selfish indulgence and pleasure seeking is the way to go. But I don't value those things. So, even if it turns out that I am wrong, I am not wasting my life in believing there is a Heavenly Father who hears and answers my prayers. I leave you to choose for yourself how you would spend your days. I must say though, that I don't believe the Armegeddon you fear will be avoided if everyone treated others with the disdain and disrespect you did throughout the film. What if you're "wrong"?
