movie: Religulous
Over the weekend I watched two very different movies that came out around the same time attempting to appeal to what some might consider to be the radical left and the radical right… although politics in reality is not that clear cut. There was first the messy, overly blunt and underly funny An American Carol. Next was the interesting, but not-quite satisfactory Religulous.
I’m not going to do a full on movie review of both pieces. Instead, I am writing this post because I really truly wish that Religulous had been made into a documentary TV series (a la 30 Days) and by a host whose purpose was to inspire conversation and debate on sensitive topics, rather than come across as a smart ass who apparently has the intelligence and the “luxury not to believe”.
Bill Maher is no Carl Sagan or Skeptic’s Guide to the Universe, and while I understand that his intent was not so much to make agnosticism or atheism “look good” as it was to make religion look stupid… making someone feel angry, embarrassed, or confused is not a road to enlightenment. There is a taboo in this country about questioning matters of faith, a taboo that I think needs desperately to be broken. Not because I’m an atheist looking for converts (quite to the contrary), but because with talking comes knowledge, with knowledge understanding, and with understanding comes peace. Misinformation and myth about who believes what and why is dangerous, especially about matters so core to how we live, how we raise our children, and how we vote.
I’m hoping that someone might stumble upon this post, and make that TV series I so desire, and to make it easy, I’m laying out a list of possible episodes below. These are topics that Bill Maher touched on in Religulous that I found interesting, but he did not give satisfactory analysis to. I want two sides debating, I want passionate people and objective historians, I want real statistics and scripture passages.
1. Are Islam and the text of the Koran inherently violent?
Let’s start this controversial conversation off with a biggie. If we could theoretically replace the belief in Islam with the belief in any other religion (say Christianity) in the Middle East, would it still be a violent place? Would suicide bombers be finding passages in any other holy book that gave them inspiration for violence? Is it just a matter of politics or is it a matter of religion?
2. Can science and religion co-exist?
How do different religions reconcile modern science? How do different religions cherry pick what science to believe or not believe? We have creationists on one side trying to use science to explain religion and promote a message of “mass conspiracy” from evolution scientists. But then we have the Vatican condemning intelligent design as “bad science” and supporting evolution. Then you have people like Richard Dawkins attempting to use science to disprove God.
3. Can you be rich and religious?
There is a big disconnect in the selfless poor lifestyles of Jesus Christ (or was he poor), monks, Buddha, and many other religious figures versus the ornate churches of Catholicism and the rich and famous lifestyles of televangelists. Is there something fundamental in the text of the Bible (or any religion) that denies one the rewards of this earthly world?
4. Is God an American?
That’s not the exact question I’m asking, but I couldn’t resist the reference to Bowie. God and country, separation of church and state. Many people think it’s right, many people think it’s wrong, and it’s interesting to know why. But more interesting to me is what was intended. What did our founding fathers want and what relationship did they have with religion? And what did Jesus think about nationalism? Are there policies of the “religious right” that actual go against the teachings of Jesus? If we were truly a Christian nation, what would that mean?
5. Do you need religion to be moral?
This is one of the biggest arguments against non-believers, that religion provides the moral backbone of humanity and that if religion was not there, all would be chaos. An interesting point to argue, I know where I stand… simply put that one that does not believe in an afterlife at all is likely to value this one life on earth pretty highly. Why doesn’t the 10 Commandments include “rape” and “child abuse”? What moral codes are included in ALL religions? Which ones contradict each other? What religious codes have made it into law?
6. Can you be homosexual and religious?
What are the texts in various religions that address homosexuality? Furthermore, what is the historic context (language, culture) around these texts? How do homosexuals reconcile their belief in an organized religion such as Christianity or Islam? How do fundamentalists who are adamantly against homosexuality based on religious belief reconcile Jesus’s message of tolerance and acceptance?
7. Are we genetically programmed to believe?
Is religion fundamental to our biology? Is it good or hazardous to our health? What goes on in our brains as a result of “faith”? Are some people more biologically designed to have faith than others? There have been some interesting studies done in this area. What other activity gives us the same brain patterns as praying or faith, or are there any substitutes for true belief?
8. What is a religion and what is a cult?
This one is a very interesting one to me. There are many Christians who would believe that creationist scientists are taking it “one step too far”. There are also many Christians who would classify Mormonism as a cult. And certainly many religious people are quick to call Scientology a cult. Can one believe in talking snakes but claim other’s beliefs in space gods as too “far fetched”? What is the line that distinguishes the believable from the implausible? What makes a cult a cult? Is a cult more dangerous than other religious belief?
9. Is believe in the “end of times” dangerous?
Are we reaching the “end of times”? What are the signs in the various religions that not only mark an “end” to life as we know it, but are showing that we are somehow approaching that mark? Are there people within our government who believe that the end is near and how does this affect the way they govern? How does this affect people’s everyday actions? How does this affect the way they vote and raise their kids? Is the “end” making us crazy or more cautious?
10. Where does religion come from?
There is a long a detailed history of religion. It’s existed for as long as humans have existed as a way to explain the unexplainable. Religions have influenced each other throughout history… stories of flood, virgin birth, resurrection. Is the Bible an original or a collection of far more ancient stories? Or is this anecdotal proof found across the world that these types of mass events (flood) did indeed happen?
11. Are we alone in the universe?
Aliens… let’s just put it out there. Does religion make room for aliens? And if they don’t, how do you reconcile the shear odds that the universe is so vast and so ancient that there must have been or be other life out there somewhere? Then again, are there scriptures in many religions that not only make room but somewhat acknowledge “unexplained phenomenon”?
12. Will secularization hurt society?
This is a different question than the morality question. Assuming religion and non-religion have equal impact on morality… are there other ways that secularization will hurt society? For instance, can we remove religion so much from everyday society (government, schools) that we create a sort of intolerance to religion? How do you balance tolerance for all faiths against tolerance for no faith at all? Does the diversity of religions provide conflict or a necessary cultural patchwork? Are we in danger of cultural homogenization?
I will leave episode #13 in the hands of you. What question about religion or lack of religion are you dying to ask? What questions keep you awake at night?
Marta Strickland
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February 25th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
WOW!!! Fantastic list for a series whose underlying purpose is understanding, and not proselytization. Mythology, religion, philosophy, science, history and world events have been passions of mine since I was a child. Or, perhaps I should say these are my “single passion”, as I view them as an entangled web with a common core. In all the years I have delved into as many sources as I can find on these topics, I have not yet found a good format which brings diverse experts and questions together to explore the very topics you mention in your list. A few times I thought I’d found a possibly fair-to-good one, I was disappointed to discover that the undercurrent was to save my soul and convert me to the producers’ religious dogma, or to make a mockery of a religion or group one does not understand. I am 200% with you on this Marta!!! Now, if we could find the financial support, we could make it happen.
February 25th, 2009 at 5:13 pm
hey marta!
finally a thoughtful atheist!
i can certainly address a lot of those excellent questions from a christian perspective, possibly dispelling a lot of the negative stigma culture and many christians themselves are responsible for creating. i can also attest to much of the corruption in the both catholic and protestant church over the years and take it back to the core of scripture both historically and contextually. i can assure you blind faith is no faith at all.
since my conversion theology, history, and apologetics have been my number one priority. obviously faith is more than total and complete physical evidence but my faith wouldnt be as strong as it is today if i didnt understand and research the many great philosophers and thinkers both within christianity and outside of it.
as far as bill maher goes, eh.
as far as science goes…i think that the two can exist. i think the conversation needs to be open more though. watch “expelled”. it is not so much about intelligent design being “right” as it is about opening up the debate. many intelligent design scientists have no religious affiliation at all.
besides, religion is the true antithesis of Christianity.
im ready to make this film
February 25th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
oops. i apologize if i referred to you as an atheist!
i jumped the gun.
February 25th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
Hey Cory, thanks for sharing your thoughts and I hope you are serious about making a film! I’d love to see it.
I’m a hestitant to admit atheist… a little because of the cultural baggage that carries, but also because I believe so full-heartedly in asking questions and questioning what you think is true, remaining open minded. I guess we all have to look at our heart to what we hold true, but never be afraid to challenge our thinking. So I guess an atheist who loves learning all she can about belief systems and is willing to be disproven, which I know might sound like agnostic, but I see it as different.
So, as someone who needs to challenge myself… I should probably see “Expelled”. I’m such a hard core science geek believer Carl Sagan fan that it will certainly rub me wrong ways. But I want to be informed and I want to open up the debate, even if it’s a side I don’t agree with.
March 5th, 2009 at 11:58 am
marta. interesting post. i think you are asking some good questions. i would love to get into this discussion, but for it to be meaningful and so that we can communicate more clearly, i have to lay a sort of foundation. at the outset, no matter how much one would like not to admit it, all of us are biased. it’s never a question whether we are or are not, it’s more a question of which bias is the best bias to be biased with… and we all think our own opinion is the best. with that in mind, i noticed that all of your questions have been formed with the pre-supposition that there is no God. from an atheistic standpoint, one can have said religion w/out there being any god at all. in fact that is what atheism is at it’s core, it’s a religion without God. i say this because you and i have a foundationally different perspective to what the word “religion” means. i agree with cory that christianity and religion are incompatible. so when you use the word religion and when i use it, we are using it with completely different meanings.
March 5th, 2009 at 11:02 pm
I’ve been reflecting on your list, and I keep going back to the cartoon up top. I’m not exactly sure whatit has to do with your questions, but I often hear that verse quoted by people who seem to think that Jesus is somehow forbidding people to pray in public… However if you read that verse in context, that’s not what Jesus is talking about at all. He is dealing with an attitude of the heart, not the action of prayer. Basically if our motivation when we pray or give to the poor or help those in need, is so that other people will see it and think we’re spiritual, or we see it somehow as doing God a favor, then that’s all the reward you’ll get. It’s in this very context in fact, that Jesus recites what many people refer to as “the Lord’s prayer”, arguably one of the most famous prayers ever given. And he does it publicly! How religulous can you get! ; ) Read it in it’s entirety in Matthew 6:1-20.
March 9th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
8. What is a religion and what is a cult? This is a good question. It has a lot to do with what I said earlier about religion. I’m really glad you asked it. It forced me to sort some things out for myself. I thought about it for a while, had some back and forth discussions with another friend and these are the conclusions that came out of it…
I don’t think there is much difference between a religion and a cult, but usually the term cult is used to describe someone else’s religion, while not seeing mine that way. So in a sense, everything can be seen as a cult.
But I don’t think Jesus came to start a religion at all, and certainly not Christianity. Jesus came to introduce us to his Father and to invite us to engage in a relationship with him, which produces a vibrant community of interconnected brothers and sisters, all over the world. I see religion, as we have come to talk of it in our day, as man’s efforts to earn God’s approval. Thus around the life of Jesus a religion called Christianity has emerged. Many of its practices run counter to the teachings of Jesus, but no one seems to mind. Thus in our day one can be a good practioner of a religion called Christianity and not know the Father at all. So I make a real distinction between those practicing a religion, and those growing in relationship with him and learning to follow him.
The early church didn’t have a religion called Christianity. They were considered a cult. What people judge something to be, however, isn’t nearly so important as to what it actually is. Many honest-to-God believers of past days have been persecuted by religious powers who find them threatening to their power and economic survival.
March 11th, 2009 at 11:08 pm
Thank you for the continued discussion Scott. I really did not think about the implications of the word “religion” itself when I used it. I admit that I use it more casually and interchangeably with words like “Christianity” and “belief” and “faith”, even though I perhaps know that they aren’t interchangeable… as a habit. But you are absolutely right, they all mean very different things.
I think we are especially attached to the words that people place to try and define our own beliefs, which is why I struggle with categories such as “atheism”, “agnosticism”, “skepticism”, “humanism”, etc… feeling like each one comes with it’s own set of assumptions and baggage and misuse that doesn’t really describe what I feel inside.
Anyway… I do think you are also right about “everything can be seen as a cult”. Even the more and more I get interested and involved in the skeptical movement, there are times where I take a step back in resistance to be part of anything organized, anything that imposes standards and group think. But then I find something else I really like that draws me in deeper. Ultimately, everything is a cult to someone else… who is looking in from the outside.