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.

[Funkacide]

I wish someone would cast the demons out of Bill Maher.

[Karl Engels]

This documentary is about Religion as much as Borats movie was about America. From what I can tell this movie is meant only to mock religion by interviewing some of it's wackiest subscribers. Finding and interviewing a jesus freak, ignorant catholic or screaming muslim isn't that hard or creative. So bravo to Maher for going out there and putting some thought provoking material together.

Also, it sounded like Bill was about to say "god knows what could have been accomplished in this world (if religion had never existed)." I'm guessing he would have added that last part. This type of thinking is simplistic and shows Maher doesn't really understand the human race. Or it could just be a simmering bitterness towards religion, maybe as a result of some inappropriate touching from a religious figure when he was young.

[Balanor]

Bill Mayer hates religion as much as he loves humanity.
The outrages of religion are too numerous to cite here or in a dozen books and films, but the latest that comes to mind is condemnation of stem cell research by religions when these religious cons understand that the results of that research will forever change the lives of humans and safeguard our children from diseases that should have been wiped out years ago.
Do you want to begin to understand what religion has done to enslave and destroy humanity?
You might start with James' 19th century work "The Varieties of Religious Experience". You might stretch your mind a little and read the writings of the late U.G. Krishnamurti which are free on the Internet. Do not confuse U.G. with that other famous Krishnamurti named Siddhu. Simply google "U.G. Krishnamurti" and open your mind.
Try to remember that as much as we hate the things done in the name of religion, even more we love humanity and dread the evil way that humans have been manipulated and conned out of their possessions. Where would science be today with the intentional destruction of science and scientists all these centuries.
The fact that we exist and experience this incredible life with all its joys and sorrows is the greatest miracle of the universe. How much more could we love and nourish life if we freed ourselves from the half-literate criminals that operate under the mantle of religion!
My daily prayer is "Thank you, dear god, whoever or whatever you are, for allowing the lifeform, me, to be conscious and experience this odd thing we label life!"
The process of evolution.....the process of the univese from The Big Bang until now should be our source of wonder, that some gods created by ignorant desert dwellers to control their people.
In closing, I quote Roman Catholic Pope Leo I who is cited on Vatican documents in ink and manuscript paper centuries ago saying "This myth of christ has served us well!"
Google that fact sometime and verify for yourself.
Or, google the late 19th century magazine article by an old woman who clarified that her father penned a fictional novel earlier in the century which he would read to the family at dinner time. The stable boy enjoyed the stories and copied the manuscript for himself.
The stable boy was Joseph Smith and the old woman said her dad's fictional novel was eventually published as The Book of Mormon.
Or, read the original Epic of Gilgamesh from the old Sumerian civilization where you'll discover that the Babylonians initiated the Genesis stories which their captives, the Habiru(or hebrews) carried back to their homeland "as the word of God!!!"
Perhaps, you can think about the pharoahs who named their royalty with names like Thutmose.....an offspring of that royal name being Moses.
Think! think! That is all that old Bill Mayer wants you to do.
The greatest salesmen/conmen in the world can sell "air" to the masses. These crooks call themselves priests, rabbi's, imama's, pastors, evangelists; and do they ever live magnificently selling nothing but "hot air"!

[TJFRMLA]

ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT! I can't wait to see it. Thanks Bill for being the voice of reason in this wilderness of BLIND (DEAF & DUMB) FAITH.
Beleif wouldn't be so bad if they only kept it to themselves, weren't allowed to pass it on to children, couldn't hold public office and had to pay taxes on income if their institutions.

[Kevin]

He mocks people for fun, fame, and profit. He's little more than a school yard bully.

[john]

I'm a believer who is in total agreement with Bill Maher on the issue of religion. The belief systems of the world are very elegant and beautiful philosophies which help us find our own personal place in the Universe. But genuine belief has little to do with the self-absorbed, intolerant, judgmental, and often greedy people who claim to speak for their religion. Bill is going after those people and that can only be a good thing. The Senator who looks Bill straight in the eye and says he believes the Earth was created 5,200 years ago is saying that for political reasons, not religious reasons. It's part of what keeps him in office. He's just exploiting his constituency and they don't even realize it. Good for you, Bill.

[Tom]

FINALLY! There is somebody who sees and speaks of the absolute absurdity in organized religion. When will the rest of this country wake up. We're the laughing stock of Europe on this issue (in addition to all other issues).

[Nancy Benstead]

It is great to see so many positive comments on the subject. David - your phrasing was very sensible and non-confrontational - good going. Were I to fill in the blank I would say "brainwashed"

[Pachecosita]

I am so excited. I can't wait to see a film that I can relate to. I was a hard core christian all my life until I opened my eyes and mind. The changed comes from understanding our place in this universe. Religion will suffer a lot of transformation and some of them will disapear, just like many ancient religions that do not exist anymore. Let's make fun of them while they're still here. EDUCATE YOURSELF!

[pete staff]

Alll religion are no more than mythology. Lenin stated it correctly religion is the opiate of the masses. A perfect example is the religous right. Spitting out thier hate of every thing and evey one who do not believe the way they do. Trying thier best to take over our government . They would lead us in to a theocarcy. Made by them and for them. With them in command. Preparing us for thier end time. With more wars in the middle east. Iran iwould be next on thier agenda. With Israel as thier weapon. Making way for thier second coming. At a cost too all of us. A world in religous wars every were.

[Tom Dwan]

Sam Harris' book is far from humorless. The first couple of chapters are nonstop laughter. This whole idea of religion is a joke in itself, and Harris and Maher do a great job of highlighting that.

[Saved]

Yeah, Well, the worst thing for an Atheist is that at the end of the day who do you thank? Yourself? Hahahaha...

Bill Maher is so full of himself he doesn't recognize he's full of hot air.

[Pam]

Thank you Bill! I'm always tired of being the lone person in almost any group who thinks religion is a moral atrocity. They always have some rationalization of why it's such a good thing, but that's a crock. Relgious people seem to have more hatred in their hearts than love. They feel it necessary to say "I'm a Christian"... and to me that's a warning to watch my wallet. As Albert Einstein once remarked "the bible is a fairy tale". OF COURSE IT IS! People act like God took a pen and wrote all that superstious, ridiculous bullsh.. down and that makes it so. Completely irrational. I am not an atheist...I have no idea what's going on in the spiritual world and I don't have the arrogance to pretend that I do.

[Quan]

As John Lennon would say:

Don't believe in Bill Maher

I just believe in me ( not me and Yoko) !!!

[FW]

To use Carlin/Maher language:

You stupid f___heads!!!. Without belief in something higher (true or false) we wouldn't have the Acropolis in Greece, Macchu Picchu, Stonehenge and many other amazing sites around the world. Belief in higher powers inspires us to many things, some good some bad. Atheism, humanism, lust for power land and riches have led to lots of ugly things in history. Religion might have been some of the icing on the cake in these instances, but like a good detective, you gotta look past the obvious sometimes. Read your f----ckin' history books.

--There I feel much better now.