Though it may seem unconnected, everyone should see Maher's flick Religulous.

[NRaleighLiberal]

If not directly applicable to all of the mess that Republicans made of the country (world?) over the past 8 years, the way that it illuminates the power of the belief system is very applicable to things indeed. Organized religion has been an extremely successful, profitable (for few) business that has preyed on the less fortunate by appealing to their vulnerabilities - forever. Bill Maher skewers them (gently, really). I think that it is essential viewing for everyone. It makes you open up your mind and really think. And question. And that is a GOOD thing.

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

1. I'll pass.

I have enough people on here telling me I'm wrong, ignorant, bigoted/sexist/homophobic, or a bad person for following a religion of my choosing.

[NRaleighLiberal]

5. It doesn't really do that. But...your choice! I'll take any opportunity to make me question my

beliefs

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

6. See that's not what I heard from others on this board.

What they took away from it was that people should not be allowed to adhere to any belief that has (even tangentially) contributed to suffering in the world.

[NRaleighLiberal]

8. I can see how they might think that. For my wife and I, it just prompted

Interesting questions. Then again, we are both very gray -no black and white issues for us. Life is always a journey, never to be completely sorted out - so we welcome anything that makes us question what we believe.

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

13. Being grey myself, I find that encouraging.

I'll give it a shot. Thanks.

[Bill McBlueState]

11. they shouldn't be allowed?

Neither of us has seen the movie, but I wonder what mechanism Maher proposes to disallow people from being religious.

[MedleyMisty]

12. What's wrong with that?

If the belief contributed to suffering, it's a bad belief.

I would take issue with the "allowed to adhere to any belief" bit, though. I'd change it to "People should not be allowed to harm others based on their harmful beliefs." For example - hate gay people all you want but you shouldn't be allowed to beat them and kill them and discriminate against them and keep them from getting married. Your right to hate them ends where their rights begin.

Oh, the you there is a general you directed to homophobic people, not a personal you directed at you. I have no idea what your feelings about homosexuality are.

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

14. No, I agree with you.

The gist these folks took from it could be stated as "Since Christianiy/Judaism/Islam/whatever has contributed to suffering, no one should be a Christian/Jew/Muslim/whateverist."

[Common Sense Party]

15. Amen to that. The "big tent" doesn't include believers, apparently.

[NRaleighLiberal]

16. I am a believer, saw the movie, am in the tent and found it provocative and interesting.

I think it depends upon how much people are willing to open their mind. Close minded lefties can be as bad as close minded righties.

[Common Sense Party]

17. Sure--so long as it's the believers that are the ones opening their minds.

Heaven forbid that the anti-religionists (rampant here on DU) ever open their minds to the idea that believers are not crazy, not deluded, not blindly clinging to some fairy tale, etc.

[UnrepentantUnitarian]

2. I think the "questioning" thing is essential.

To me it's not so much about "what" a person believes as "how" he/she believes...on what kind of solid ground is it based, and how tightly or dogmatically it is held. When people begin with an admission that they just really don't "know" anything theologically, scripturally, then they are not likely to cause nearly as much trouble to other people -- believers or nonbelievers--as those who assume to have absolute knowledge of religious revelation. Again, I believe in questioning, and I reserve the right to question and to keep on questioning the everyone's beliefs...myself included.

[No.23]

7. Well stated. Well done.

Which is also why Socrates received the treatment that he did.

Heaven forbid our next generation learn the value of questioning the authority of beliefs.

Theirs and others.

Now if only we could include that lifeskill in the public schools' curriculum, eh?

[geckosfeet]

3. Maher doesn't really cover any new ground and he comes off as preachy.

But it was hilarious seeing the jesus theme park and I loved that one italian priest he talked to after getting kicked out of the vatican.

[NRaleighLiberal]

4. Maybe no new ground, but pulling it together in one bite was useful - and when you realize

how much death and destruction has been carried out in the name of all of the various "Gods" it is breathtaking...and sad.

[geckosfeet]

18. As I said - no new ground.

[southernyankeebelle]

9. I will

I went to WalMart to see if they had it. Of course they didn't. Forgot they are the religious rights biggest censors. I went to our Bookstore. Order it online at amazon.com. Before you judge the movie see it. Have an open mind. That still won't drive me away from god. He is giving you food for thought. Get your head out of the sand.

[NRaleighLiberal]

10. Well stated. My wife and I are "spiritual" but exactly who or what God

may be to us shifts and evolves.

[applegrove]

19. There is a laugh in every scene. It is very funny.