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The film's title is a combination of the words "Religious" and "Ridiculous," thus providing a one-word summary of the film's tone and intent. The film follows Bill Maher as he travels to various locations throughout the world for the purpose of demonstrating the absurdity of religious belief. Maher accomplishes this by seeking out believers and posing questions which allow the respondents to appear foolish in their responses. As one reviewer put it: | The film's title is a combination of the words "Religious" and "Ridiculous," thus providing a one-word summary of the film's tone and intent. The film follows Bill Maher as he travels to various locations throughout the world for the purpose of demonstrating the absurdity of religious belief. Maher accomplishes this by seeking out believers and posing questions which allow the respondents to appear foolish in their responses. As one reviewer put it: | ||
− | :''Mr. Maher's M.O. involves getting in the face of a believer, making a mockery of his or her beliefs, asserting his own atheism and then waiting, in the hallowed tradition of "Candid Camera," for the amazed, outraged or, in some cases, amused response.'' | + | :''Mr. Maher's M.O. involves getting in the face of a believer, making a mockery of his or her beliefs, asserting his own atheism and then waiting, in the hallowed tradition of "Candid Camera," for the amazed, outraged or, in some cases, amused response.''<ref>Joe Morgenstern, 'Religulous', ''Wall Street Journal'', Oct. 3, 2008. </ref> |
The bulk of the film is directed at Christianity, Judaism and Islam, however, approximately four minutes of film time is directed at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Filming the Mormon segment was apparently a challenge for Maher, as his attempts to use subterfuge to obtain his interviews weren't always successful. According to Maher, | The bulk of the film is directed at Christianity, Judaism and Islam, however, approximately four minutes of film time is directed at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Filming the Mormon segment was apparently a challenge for Maher, as his attempts to use subterfuge to obtain his interviews weren't always successful. According to Maher, | ||
− | :''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 Salt Lake City, but no one would let us film there at all.'' | + | :''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 Salt Lake City, but no one would let us film there at all.''<ref>Patrick Goldstein, [http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/the_big_picture/2008/08/bill-maher-hate.html "Bill Maher hates your (fill in the blank) religion"], ''Los Angeles Times'', Aug. 7, 2008.</ref> |
Eventually, Maher had to settle for interviewing two ex-Mormons, who were more than willing to mock their former religion right along with him, noting that to leave Mormonism is to commit "social suicide." | Eventually, Maher had to settle for interviewing two ex-Mormons, who were more than willing to mock their former religion right along with him, noting that to leave Mormonism is to commit "social suicide." | ||
==How does the film treat Latter-day Saints?== | ==How does the film treat Latter-day Saints?== | ||
− | *It is interesting to note that while Maher interviewed believers for most of the film, for the LDS segment he chose to interview two ex-Mormons. The interviews, which lasted a total of three hours, were arranged by an officer of the Ex-Mormon Foundation. According to her, Maher's three hours of interview time with these two ex-Mormons "was a 3-hour laugh-fest!" | + | *It is interesting to note that while Maher interviewed believers for most of the film, for the LDS segment he chose to interview two ex-Mormons. The interviews, which lasted a total of three hours, were arranged by an officer of the Ex-Mormon Foundation. According to her, Maher's three hours of interview time with these two ex-Mormons "was a 3-hour laugh-fest!"<ref>Sue Emmett, "Fun News About Bill Maher's New Film - Religulous!", posted to Recovery From Mormonism board, Sept. 25, 2008. "If any of you have noticed that in the last year or so, Maher has gone off about the Mormon religion several times on his show and in interviews, that's a direct result of his 3 hours..."</ref> According to one reviewer at the ''Baltimore Sun'', Maher interviewed ex-Mormons because "no practicing Mormons would talk with him." <ref>Michael Sragow, [http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/movies/news/bal-to.religulous03oct03,0,3004745.story Bill Maher's spirited humor carries 'Religulous'], Oct. 3, 2008.</ref> |
*The film mocks temple garments, referring to them as "magic underwear." A still picture of a man and woman in garments (an earlier version of a photo originally posted in the "Undergarment" article in Wikipedia) is displayed. | *The film mocks temple garments, referring to them as "magic underwear." A still picture of a man and woman in garments (an earlier version of a photo originally posted in the "Undergarment" article in Wikipedia) is displayed. | ||
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=={{Further reading label}}== | =={{Further reading label}}== |
How accurately does Bill Maher's film Religulous portray Latter-day Saints?
The film's title is a combination of the words "Religious" and "Ridiculous," thus providing a one-word summary of the film's tone and intent. The film follows Bill Maher as he travels to various locations throughout the world for the purpose of demonstrating the absurdity of religious belief. Maher accomplishes this by seeking out believers and posing questions which allow the respondents to appear foolish in their responses. As one reviewer put it:
The bulk of the film is directed at Christianity, Judaism and Islam, however, approximately four minutes of film time is directed at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Filming the Mormon segment was apparently a challenge for Maher, as his attempts to use subterfuge to obtain his interviews weren't always successful. According to Maher,
Eventually, Maher had to settle for interviewing two ex-Mormons, who were more than willing to mock their former religion right along with him, noting that to leave Mormonism is to commit "social suicide."
Non-Mormon critics have also realized how biased and sensationalistic the film is. It is interesting to note that many of these quotes come from reviewers who actually liked the film. A sample of media quotes about the film:
—Mark Hemingway, Maherly Fair, National Review Online, Oct. 7, 2008.
—Gary Wolcott, Religulous doesn't have much of a prayer, Tri-City Herald, Oct. 2, 2008.
—Duane Dudek, There’s no doubt ‘Religulous’ rips faith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Oct. 2, 2008.
—Chris Hewitt (St. Paul), 'Religulous' has a host so good, it will renew your faith in the docu-essay, St. Paul Pioneer Press, Oct. 4, 2008.
—Glenn Whipp, Maher ridiculous in 'Religulous', Los Angeles Daily News, Oct. 3, 2008.
—Mick LaSalle, 'Religulous' - comic on a crusade, San Francisco Chronicle, Oct. 3, 2008.
—Andrew O'Hehir, Bill Maher vs. the "talking snake", Salon.com, Oct. 2, 2008.
—Joe Morgenstern, 'Religulous', Wall Street Journal, Oct. 3, 2008.
—Stephen Whitty, Religious 'doco' funny but a fixed fight, Newark Star-Ledger, Sept. 30, 2008.
—J. R. Jones, Fishes and Loaves in a Barrel, Chicago Reader
—Neely Tucker, Religulous, Washington Post, Oct. 3, 2008.
—Carrie Rickey, Comic Maher has faith in his lack of faith, Philadelphia Inquirer, Oct. 2, 2008.
—Colin Covert, Maher finds 'Religulon' in documentary, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Oct. 2, 2008.
—James Berardinelli, Religulous, ReelViews
—Nick Schager, Religulous, Slant Magazine, Sept. 20, 2008.
—Jeff Vice, "Maher is Smug in 'Religulous'", Deseret News, Salt Lake City
—Sean Means, Review: Maher takes on religion but sounds like he's preaching to the agnostic choir, Salt Lake Tribune, Oct. 2, 2008.
—Gary Thompson, "Maher's 'Religulous' fights to a draw", Philadelphia Daily News
—Armond White, The Gospel According to Maher, New York Press
—Rafer Guzman, 'Religulous', Newsday, Oct. 1, 2008.
==== It is curious that Maher felt that the best way to ridicule Latter-day Saints was to enlist the help of those who would be guaranteed to mock the Church. It raises the question: What was he afraid of that he could not solicit or use the opinions of believing Latter-day Saints? It may be just as well—those whom he chose to interview simply repeated the standard mockeries of the Church in true "God Makers" fashion. These criticisms have long been asked and answered. One movie critic alluded to Maher's approach to interviewing believers as similar to "shooting fish in a barrel." In the case of Mormonism, however, he appears to have simply chosen fish that were already caught.
== Notes ==
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