While I sometimes chafe at Bill Maher’s seemingly excessive self-assurance, just as I chafe at say, Pat Robertson, I think he poses questions Christians profit from being able to answer–whether or not he cares to listen to the answers. I’ll be going to the movie.

I checked out disbeliefnet. It’s quite elaborate and mocking. It’s like the old line Mort Sahl used to say at the end of his monologue, “If there’s anyone here whom I haven’t offended, I apologize.”
In the Bible it says in the end times “men will be lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.” That seems to be the trend in the West. Some, like Maher, take pleasure in mocking others’ beliefs. But, if pleasure is the ultimate measure of living, one might consider that people enjoy and get pleasure out of their religious beliefs too. So they’re on the same page as hedonists in some respects.
We’re all searching for lives that are meaningful. Religion has been a part of that search for many millennia. We all tend to look to the transcendent, beyond the mere facts of science, to find meaning in life. I can take a joke, but I don’t think a spiritually declining society is that funny.

I have followed Bill Maher avidly since the days of ‘Politically Incorrect’ on ABC (in the 90s).
Even Maher isn’t totally void of spirituality. He somewhat subscribes to Deepak Chopra and speaks about the virtues of some of Mr. Chopra’s products and techniques.
Personally, I find Mr. Chopra genuine. I use a bio-feedback device he endorses on his website and have read several of his books.
I go to the Church of Religious Science. Last season, Mr. Maher interviewed a Californian and fellow parishioner of my church and said that Religious Science was the church of hair splitting.
That’s alright!
I totally agree with Ron’s post above and ditto: “I think he poses questions Christians profit from being able to answer–whether or not he cares to listen to the answers. I’ll be going to the movie.”
I think the problem with fundamentalists and hard-core folks (there are SOME hard-core New Agers, Wiccans, Scientologists, Hare Krishnas, etc. too) is that they don’t understand that doubt is an essential component of faith.
The alternatives to faith are knowledge (which can be helpful) and delusion. Neither of these alternatives is the same as faith.
I think questioning faith allows for exploration and growth.
I think Bill Maher (John Stewart & Steven Colbert) have actually done a great service in the political spectrum too. Their ability to mock and raise doubts about all sides in the political arena seems to be more honest than the cable and network news.
God bless Bill Maher!

Yes, I will see Mr. Maher’s movie. It would be wrong to say to people you need to The Passion of the Christ and then tell them to avoid a movie like this one. The reason is that we need not have a monologue, but a dialogue. Without the discussion that a movie like this will attempt to begin there is no real understanding.
As to the questions, these are, though attempting humor, legitimate. We need to ask these kind of questions. What they do is keep us honest. They make us work through some of the issues that trouble people and they also require us to “fess” up because it is faith that we follow not certainty. I believe it was Walter Bruggeman that said the search for certainty is the beginning of idolatry.

I don’t go to the movies very often. I’ll probably give this a pass but it doesn’t mean that I won’t go see it. Christians have always been able to laugh at them selves. As kids we have asked these very questions. Being able to see pass these things and not take ourselves to seriously has made us stronger.
Bill Maher is a comic/satirist/political junkie. I hope that he does offend everybody and that they can laugh at themselves. I have been accused of being a heretic because I have called the creationists “Flat-Earth Christians” who fail to see God as the only true Father and Author of Science.

I’ll definitely gonna see it!!

I like Bill Mahar, have always appreciated his sense of humour, as well as his intelligence. He is an equal opportunity offender, and no race, religion, gender or political party is safe from his barbs. I will see this as I enjoy his take on everything.

Pretty sad world when religious differences intervene. Bill Maher is a satirist and an American. Pretty much has freedom to say or do as he pleases. Those who disagree with his views need to be a little more open minded and answer some of his questions, in my opinion. I plan to see the movie and expect to learn something about myself and my concept of religion/spirituality. Recommend everyone see the movie and then comment.

I find Maher extremely funny except when I find his hostility toward faith extremely offensive. I realize that most of his attacks really only are aimed at those who are both politically conservative and religiously far right conservative. But he paints with such a broad brush that he seems completely dismissive of any legitimate faith. Interestingly, he tones down the anti-Christian rhetoric if someone like Jesse Jackson or Cornel West is on his show.
I don’t find his questions difficult to answer from a faith based perspective at all. Much like certain militantly atheist scientists, he seems to believe that he’s completed defeated Christianity when all he has really done is attack the most conservative versions of it.

why don’t you run for president, I would definatley vote for you and I know that my family would. I agree with everything that you say. I went from middle class to now low class..There has to be a better way, your comments make me believe.