freedomofreligion.myfreeforum.org

Just Snowy · super star constellation Joined: 13 May 2006 Posts: 66

Per DD's request. Chat away!

Religulous
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Where there's a witch, there's a way.

DurhamDawg · Sliver STAR Joined: 08 May 2006 Posts: 225

Thanks, snow....

Here's a link to a preview of Bill Maher's new film, "Religulous":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qB8fPJ6zds8

And a quote from a wikipedia article about the film (due out in Oct.):

"Religulous is a documentary directed by Larry Charles and starring American comedian Bill Maher, host of Real Time With Bill Maher on HBO. According to Maher, the title of the film is a portmanteau derived from the words "religion" and "ridiculous," implying the satirical nature of the documentary that is meant to mock the concept of religion and the problems it brings about. Known for his stance against religion, Bill Maher's views on the various world religions are explored as he travels to numerous religious destinations, such as Jerusalem and the Vatican, interviewing believers from a variety of backgrounds and groups, including Jews for Jesus, Muslims, polygamists, Satanists, Hasidic scholars and even Rael of the Raelian Movement. In the trailer and documentary Maher also interviews research neuroscientist Andrew Newberg, MD, (author of Why We Believe What We Believe) who brain-scans people at the University of Pennyslvania as they pray, meditate and speak in tongues. "

link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religulous

I'm a big Bill Maher fan and am really looking forward to this film.
_________________
"Faith is believing what you know ain't so." - Mark Twain

ReasoningFilly · Bronze Star Joined: 03 Feb 2007 Posts: 178

Very interesting! I'll definitely be on the look out for this!

I'm probably going in a completely different direction here, however, I still want to say this.

I feel that people (Christians, Muslims, etc) believe what they believe because of what they've been taught/told through their lives. They take it as fact, because that's all they've learned.

I, for one, love the fact that Science is taking things in a different direction, and has been for years. Many do not want to allow their minds to sway in another direction, so they tend to call it blasphemy.

The writers of the Bible, I feel, wrote what they were taught. It's what they believed to be true. Funny how every natural disaster was considered to be opposite of that...and believed to be acts of an angry God.

Jericho is a prime example. The belief system was that God made the walls come tumbling down, when, in fact, Jericho just so happened to be built on a fault. Earthquakes were a common occurance, however, people didn't understand that at the time.

OK, sorry for going off in that direction. Thanks for the links DDawg, and like I said, I'll be on the look out for it!

DurhamDawg · Sliver STAR Joined: 08 May 2006 Posts: 225

No need to apologize, Filly! The thread can go in whatever direction people want it to go!

I agree that people often believe in religion simply because it's what they've been taught. That was certainly the case for me when I was a child, until I got old enough to start thinking for myself and questioning things.

I think another problem with acceptance of science is simply that it's harder to understand than myths and legends are. It's harder to understand a process like evolution, for instance, which takes millions of years and requires study and research and evidence, versus just thinking a magical god did it all. Understanding science requires mental effort that a lot of folks just aren't willing to expend. Much easier to simply make stuff up, or believe what others have made up.
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"Faith is believing what you know ain't so." - Mark Twain

ReasoningFilly · Bronze Star Joined: 03 Feb 2007 Posts: 178

Well said DDawg. I'm on a bit of a different thinking process though.

To me, it's MUCH easier to believe Science. I like proof. I like evidence. Maybe I should have been a Forensic Scientist, lol.

I know that this is elementary to say, and that it's been said often, over the years, however...it's quite odd to me, that people will live their lives being taught of Religion, Santa Clause, The Easter Bunny, etc...and when they're told that Santa and the Bunny aren't real (let's not forget the tooth fairy too), it's accepted, but when they start proving that natural disasters were the cause of many things in Biblical times, people don't want to accept that.

I must admit, the people in Constantine's time (Constantine included) did a most excellent job of making certain that 'fear' would keep many under control.

DurhamDawg · Sliver STAR Joined: 08 May 2006 Posts: 225

Yes, fear is a great motivator. If you don't believe in Santa or the Easter Bunny, the worst consequence is you get no presents or candy (actually, though, you'd probably still get those things, unless your parents are really mean). But if you don't believe in god, people tell you you're going to burn in hell-- and your religious parents are probably not going to step forward and admit that the whole thing is really just a made-up myth, like with Santa. So many people cling to the religion they grew up with out of fear -- not just fear of hell, but also fear of being different, being outcast, not being part of the majority, being criticized, etc.

I think lots of folks have doubts and are probably really agnostics when you get right down to it, but they still call themselves Jews or Christians or whatever because they want to go along with their crowd and not be seen as rebels or an oddballs.

I think another factor is the illusion of control. If you think god controls the weather, then you can believe you have a measure of control over the weather if you pray for the hurricane to miss your city, for instance. Whereas the non-believer knows and accepts that he or she has no control over the weather, and neither does anyone else.
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"Faith is believing what you know ain't so." - Mark Twain

ReasoningFilly · Bronze Star Joined: 03 Feb 2007 Posts: 178

Do you remember the interview that was going on with Elizabeth Smart's parents?

I can't remember what show it was on....maybe Larry King.

Anyway, Polly Klaus' dad was there too.

The Smart's were saying over and over that God answered their prayers, and brought Elizabeth back home safe and sound. They had prayed and prayed for her safe return, and God answered.

Mr. Klaus spoke up and said "I prayed and prayed too. Why wasn't Polly sent home safely"?

There was silence after that.

DurhamDawg · Sliver STAR Joined: 08 May 2006 Posts: 225

I think I do recall that.

One of these things I was happy to lose along with my god-belief was the idea that there's a god out there who cruelly denies some folks what they are praying for, and just lets them suffer. The "cognitive dissonance" created by believing in a good god who allows evil to happen, or even makes it happen, was a big sticking point for me. A lot of folks who believe in god then find it necessary to be angry with god for this reason. This is no longer a problem for me. Bad things happen not because of gods or devils or any other kind of supernatural beings. They happen due to various causes -- some natural, some created by humans, and nearly all of them out of any individual's control. I find this a lot easier to live with than the idea that there's a good and all-powerful god up there who loves and cares for human beings, but sometimes allows the most innocent among us to suffer untold agonies for no apparent reason.
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"Faith is believing what you know ain't so." - Mark Twain

ReasoningFilly · Bronze Star Joined: 03 Feb 2007 Posts: 178

Talking about evil things being done for no apparant reason...

We have these meaniehead neighbors that are that way! I'm about to give up smudging for them when I do my burnings at night, because nothing seems to work....and I'm tired of wasting my resins.

DurhamDawg · Sliver STAR Joined: 08 May 2006 Posts: 225

See? I toldja there was no god.....

_________________
"Faith is believing what you know ain't so." - Mark Twain