Religulous (2008)

Note:  This review was originally posted to my Epinions account.

 

I don’t usually watch documentaries.  Every so often, though, I come across one that strikes my interest.  I’ve liked Bill Maher on occasion and I have been known to watch documentaries that deal with religion.  Based on what I saw of this one, I could tell that Maher wasn’t a huge fan of religion.  I figured I’d give Religulous a try.

That being said, I’m hard pressed to call this a documentary.  You can tell that Maher is on a mission of sorts to debunk, mock or ridicule religion.  In once scene, he interviews someone who has created devices to get around Judaism’s ban on not using machinery on the Sabbath.  (How the devices don’t count as machinery is beyond me.)

When he talks to various religious people, you can tell that he’s holding back his contempt, but just barely.  Other scenes, like a decked-out priest, are shown to hold up the person as an example of what religion shouldn’t be.  (If Jesus gave to people, why is a priest wearing expensive clothes?)

Maher also visits a Christian-themed amusement park in Florida.  While talking to a person who portrays Jesus, Maher asks the employee how God can be three things, referring to the Trinity.  The employee responds that water can be three things:  liquid water, water vapor or ice.  It’s the one time that I recall where Maher was caught off guard and remotely recognizes that someone has a point.

Maher also looks at other religions and groups, such as Scientologists and Muslims.  I don’t want to give the impression that Maher is picking on one or two religions.  The main focus here is on religion in general and how it’s gotten to the point of being ridiculous.

The problem here is that when you look to debunk something, or even to support it, you can usually find what you need.  That’s not to say that religion isn’t full of crackpots and losers.  However, the movie doesn’t really do much to analyze anything.  There weren’t any moments where I felt Maher looked deeply into anything.

Take the contraptions to get around using machines on the Sabbath.  Maher didn’t really go in to detail on why the machines were necessary or why you weren’t allowed to use machines on the Sabbath.  The entire thing took a few minutes.  Then you were on to the next thing.  I think a movie like this could really do more justice by looking a little more deeply rather than holding it up as something that’s beyond rational belief.

There are a lot of better movies out there that deal with the issue of religion better.  Many focus on one aspect of religion, such as child abuse or a particular group of people, that do a better job of showing the hypocrisy or ridiculousness of religion and its adherents.  Even if you’re looking to slam religion, I’m sure there are better examples.

If the movie comes on TV, you might watch a few minutes of it.  Otherwise, I wouldn’t bother with it.

IMDb page

Jesus Camp (2006)

Note:  This review was originally posted to my Epinions account.

 

I’m having trouble remembering where it was that I first heard about this movie. It may have been through NetFlix, which occasionally recommends a movie that I might like. One of these movies may have been Jesus Camp, which is about a camp called “Kids on Fire” in Devil’s Lake, North Dakota.

It’s run by the Reverend Becky Fischer, who wants to have a place to teach kids how to live Christian lives. Early in the movie, Rev. Fischer speaks to the camera and tells how Muslim Jihadists are trained young. She feels that she could do the same for Christian kids.

The movie seems to focus on her and three kids: Levi, Tori and Rachael. Levi, who is home schooled, believes that Darwinian evolution is unproven. His mother asks him about how it’s ridiculous. Another likes to dance, but only to Christian music and not “for the flesh” as she put it. Most of the movie takes place at the camp with some time setting up the three aforementioned children. There are also segments with Mike Papantonio, who seems to have his own radio show. However, it seems to really be only to give some sort of narration, for lack of a better word.

While watching the movie, I remember thinking that this is another Fahrenheit 9/11. Those, like myself, that don’t believe will probably look at the movie and think how horrible it is that children are put through this, effectively being brainwashed. Those that agree with the methods may look at this and think that Becky Fischer is a hero, having done the right thing.

This movie seems to be neutral in its presentation of its subject. You don’t have someone trying to put too much of a spin on it. Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, who made this movie, didn’t appear in it as Michael Moore did in his movie. The movie presented Evangelism from the inside. I don’t think the camp was to be presented as good or evil.

If anything, I thought it came off as a little ridiculous. What makes someone think that approaching someone will convert them? Has anyone actually ‘seen the light’ after being approached? Rachael approaches someone at a bowling alley and tries to convert them. She seemed optimistic about it. There was also another case where one of the girls approached some men in a park. As she was walking away, she made a comment about how she thought they were Muslim or something simply because they didn’t seem that interested.

I have to wonder if the kids in the movie will watch it in 25 years and see what they were like. I could see some of them following the pat that Rev. Fischer set out for them. However, I could also see some of them finding a future outside of Christianity and looking back at this, thinking how naive they were. This isn’t to say that they’ll be screwed up or anything. It’s just that they might think to themselves, “What was I doing? Did I actually say that to someone?”

At 85 minutes, it’s not a long movie. I’d definitely recommend watching it. At the very least, it’s a look at what goes on at that particular camp. 

Trailer

Magnolia Pictures page