Movie review: Religulous

by Alex Bentley

There are many subjects that a filmmaker could deal with that would naturally draw controversy: Sex (especially involving underage participants), politics, racism, etc. However, virtually no topic is as controversial as religion, especially in a film that challenges people’s beliefs.

Of course, comedian Bill Maher has never been one to play it safe, and so with his new documentary, Religulous, he doesn’t stop at disputing one religion – he takes on all of them. Maher, along with director Larry Charles (Borat), criss-crossed the globe to talk to leaders, experts, and followers of many of the world’s religions, including Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and Mormonism.

The result isn’t so much an exploration of why people believe in different faiths, but rather a scathing indictment of them. Maher, whose mother was Jewish and whose father was Catholic, admits up front that he’s no fan of religion. Consequently, Maher never gives off the impression that he truly wants to understand the inner workings of the respective religions; he just wants to expose the blatant hypocrisy and lies inherent in them.

In that respect, his points come across loud and clear. Maher repeatedly questions why anyone would believe that men lived to be 900 years old or that there were talking snakes and spontaneously burning bushes, as appear in the Bible. He’s also incredulous that no Muslim will admit to him that the Koran encourages retribution, certain sects of Jews repudiate the Holocaust, and Mormons and Scientologists have beliefs that involve events occurring in outer space.

Religulous is often very funny, with Maher taking well-deserved potshots at the most outlandish interviewees, including a man who claims that he’s literally the second coming of Jesus (and not just because “Jesus” is part of his name). However, the film often feels too straightforward; many of his objections to certain religions are right out of Theology 101. Also, organized religion has been around since virtually the dawn of man; asking people to explain their faith, even in the face of evidence that should refute it, is a mission that’s doomed to fail.

As entertainment, Religulous is top-notch, so long as you’re not easily offended. The film does contain a lot of interesting information about various religions, including the idea that several that predate Christianity have tales that contain remarkable similarities to the story of Jesus Christ (supposing, of course, that Maher is telling the truth). However, Maher falls well short of truly delving into the intricacies of religion. His debates are fun to watch, but likely won’t convince those who don’t hold his beliefs. In the end, he’s just preaching to the agnostic/atheist choir.

• Staff
• Verified User
• Anonymous