Religulous

Religulous 

Directed by: Larry Charles

Writer: Bill Maher

Starring: Bill Maher (Himself), Tal Bachman (Himself), Jonathan Boulden (Himself), Steve Burg (Himself), Francis Collins (himself), George Coyne (Himself), Benjamin Creme (Himself), Jeremiah Cummings (Himself), Jose Luis De Jesus Miranda (Himself), Fatima Elatik (Herself), Yahuda Etzion (Himself), Reginald Foster (Himself), Mohamed Junas Gaffer (himself), and Bill Gardiner (Himself).

  

  Bill Maher starts off in Megiddo, also known as Armageddon, el-lejjun the place where the final battle is to take place.  The city of Megiddo dates back 8,000 years; the city ceased to exist after the Persian invasion of Palestine some 2,300 years ago. Today the ruins what was once a regional reign of King Solomon.

  Maher sets off on a Spiritual Journey to bring organized Religion into sharper focus for both, himself and his viewers. He brings to the table historical information and challenges Religion as a whole.  The interviews are focused on not just the Faithful and there beliefs but the Biblical stories written long ago.  The writers of the Bible observed Jesus and his path, followed and with the knowledge in that time, wrote down all the experiences with the son of God.  Maher takes what he knows and exposes uncomfortable issues within Religion and simply wants answers that people ask. Why? does the Bible and the teachings of Jesus reject homosexual, Dinosaurs and man coexisted, A spiritual leader shouldn't be a wealthy man, but meek and humble, the teachings of Jesus pointed out clearly that a rich man will not enter the gates of heaven, War, destruction, hunger, all in the name of Religion.

  The Egyptian culture they believe Horus is the son of God, Osiris born to the virgin mother.  baptized in a river by Anup the Baptizer who was later beheaded.  Horus was tempted in the desert, healed the sick, the blind cast out demons, and walked on water.  He raised Asar from the dead, which translate to Lazarus.  All this was written in 1280 BC, before the time of Christ.  Maher digs deep and yet, what he finds are more questions.  

  Bill Maher interviewed Jeremiah Cummings a minister who like all ministers have followers that believe in the word of God.  Maher opens up with the "Bling" focusing on the rings, the expensive shoes, clothes.  He tells the minister about the exert from the Bible, where Jesus clearly says about the rich man.  Jeremiah Cummings disagrees with Maher.  needless to say many have fallen after Maher interviewed the Minister; he filed a suit which failed because of the content of the interview, statements made by Cummings not only made people mad, but empowered them.   

  The deep core of the documentary film by Charles and Maher is not just the faithful but our founding fathers.  The US Constitution, and founding fathers did not base Religion as a foundation.  Jefferson knew of the problems and challenges it would face, and that is why this nation is purely secular.  "respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, " and in Article VI, which prohibits "religious tests" for public office. these provisions are evidence that the country was not founded as officially Christian. 

  A documentary is not a movie, let me go by saying i review movies, with that being said this documentary intrigued me.  Not because i want to slander all Religion but i just wanted to see other points of view.  I live in the bible belt which in some cases make it very hard to think out of the box.  The overall filming was good, with the expert Larry Charles at the helm.  Bill Maher humor and picking with all the people he interviewed was funny, made the film move, not like other documentary films that are slow boring.  Maher brings a different taste, which in turn make this entertaining.

  Religion is a huge subject matter; people get mad when Homosexuality is mentioned, Founders, science, evolution of man, God, Jesus, the whole big bang.  Faith, Religion in respect to all faiths, is like jumping in a pool for the first time, is it cold, hot.  What if i drown, fear takes over and you are left with decisions.  Jump in the pool and have fun, or go back to the hotel and sleep it off.  Faith is faith, you either make a choice or don't.  Bill Maher just brought some subject matter to light which makes some folks uncomfortable.  

  See the film, enjoy the subject matter if that's your thing, or it may not be.  Either way the doc. film was entertaining, and most important it makes you think out of the box.