Bill Maher hates your (fill in the blank) religion

In Bill Maher's new documentary, "Religulous," the film's protagonist--Maher himself--feels the same way about the film's subject matter at the beginning as at the end: In other words, he thinks religion is a big crock of spit. You know irreverence is the order of the day when Maher, reacting to a smooth-talking black preacher's boast that he got a great deal on his $2,000 suits, drolly observes, "I find it interesting that you're a Christian, you used to be a Muslim but you buy all your clothes like a Jew."

"Religulous" doesn't open until Oct. 3, but after seeing the movie I couldn't wait to grill Maher about how he managed to get so many deeply religious figures to actually talk to him, since it's obvious to anyone whose ever watched Maher's act (on "Politically Incorrect" or HBO's "Real Time With Bill Maher" or in a comedy club) that he wasn't much of a believer. In many ways, the film is a comic bookend to Sam Harris' "The End of Faith," a humorless best seller that views religion as a bastion of superstition and moral hypocrisy. Although Maher embraces Harris' belief that religion is a destructive force that has brought great pain and suffering into the world--at one point he calls it a neurological disorder--Maher is always searching for the humor in every situation. A longtime acolyte of George Carlin, when Maher confronts a religious zealot or hustler, he prefers mocking over scolding.

Rolling his eyes, often full of derision, Maher gets in his licks with everyone, from a guy playing Jesus at a Holy Land theme park in Orlando to Muslims at a gay bar in Amsterdam to a rabbi who advocates the dissolution of Israel (he wears a card with the slogan "A Jew Not a Zionist"). As everything from "The Gong Show" to "Borat" has proved, real people and situations are often undeniably funnier than anything scripted by the best comic minds. In Holland, Maher is in the midst of questioning a somber Muslim cleric when he's interrupted by the cleric's cellphone, whose ring tone is Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir."

So how did Maher manage to get all these people to actually talk to him? Since "Religulous" was directed by Larry Charles, who also did "Borat," I suspected that subterfuge and trickery were involved. I was not far wrong. Here's how Maher pulled it off:

On how he got people to talk to him: "It was simple: We never, ever, used my name. We never told anybody it was me who was going to do the interviews. We even had a fake title for the film. We called it 'A Spiritual Journey.' It didn't work everywhere. We went to Salk Lake City, but no one would let us film there at all."

On the element of surprise: "Larry Charles' theory is--just keep going till they throw you out. I guess he learned that on 'Borat.' The crew would set up and at the last second, when the cameras were already rolling, I would show up. So either they'd be seen on camera leaving the interview and lose face or they'd have to talk to me. It was like--'And now here's ... Bill!' You could usually see the troubled looks on their faces. At the Holy Land theme park, the PR woman freaked out and finally told us to leave. She was definitely not a happy camper."

On his encounter with Arkansas Sen. Mark Pryor, who tells Maher he believes the biblical account that Earth was created 5,200 years ago: "He's not going to be happy with this movie. I suspect he's going to say that the editing is not favorable to him [laughs]. And he's not completely wrong about that. But we didn't make anything up. When I told him I was worried about people [with such literal interpretations of the Bible] running the country, he's the one who says, 'Well, you don't have to pass an IQ test to be in the Senate.' "

Tomorrow: Bill Maher tells us what he really thinks about religion.

photo of Bill Maher and Larry Charles by Alexandra Lambrinidis/Lionsgate

Comments

[Milo]

Congrats to Bill Maher and thank goodness someone out there ses the destructive divisive ways of all religion . Any moron who thinks the earth is 5000 yers old should not be working at a fast food restaraunt much less representing our country in the senate of course he is representing arkansas . At the end of the day let individual thought and responsible action and deeds lead us not some fancy dressed hypocrite in a 50000 dollar car . Im with Bill Maher all religion is equally ridiculous

[cody mccall]

Amen, Brother Bill.

[Rock Doc]

Outstanding! Thanks, Bill, we need your voice crying out in this irrational wilderness. Unfortunately, you'll probably be drowned out by all the pious believers who express their dissent through death threats and other acts of hatred. You got courage, man.....

[Bill The Pill]

Bill Maher sure hates a lot of things, but he seems to worship money and fame at the expense of others with this latest "ploy" he terms trickery. I think it's too close to fraud to be lightly dismissed and aired as if it is art. Bill is working hard to insure that he dies sad, alone and unloved. I bet he'll hate that too.

[adam]

Funny is funny and the truth hurts sometimes!
Bill, keep opening eyes and minds!

[Georgie]

Brilliant! Can't wait to see this.

[Toby]

I believe Sam Harris' book is titled, "The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason" -- not, "The End of Truth" as written in the article.

[Fran]

Sam Harris did not write "The End of Truth." He wrote "The End of Faith." The end of faith should be the beginning of the search for truth.

A Freudian slip there?

[David]

Finally, "Glorified Superstition" exposed for what it truly is.
Unfortunately, when merged with the nation-state & governing it (Religion)
can become truly deadly as "we" have witnessed over many
centuries. Now, if only "humans" could be satisfied with simply
living a full life; working hard; having some fun...then dying. The End.
This planet would be truly better off. You live. You Die. That's it. Period.
Now, Have a Good Day.

[1hipchik]

Bill Maher is smart, funny and I agree with a lot of his views. Now, if he could just figure out why HE HATES WOMEN SO MUCH I would watch his show again. But as soon as he started calling Hillary Clinton a "bitch" and saying he was "gay for Obama," I didn't feel as though I could take his commentary seriously anymore.