Conversation or Confrontation?
Thoughts about Bill Maher’s new movie, Religulous
I recently saw Religulous, a film that’s billed as the “No. 1 sacrilegious comedy in America.” It’s supposedly a documentary, in which comedian Bill Maher (of Real Time with Bill Maher and Politically Incorrect) travels the world asking religious practitioners questions about their faith. Though Maher makes fun of every world religion, as well as some minor ones, about two-thirds of the film focuses on Christianity.
At the beginning of the film, Maher says he’s on a spiritual journey. But instead of interviewing well-known pastors or Christian academics, Maher poses complicated theological and philosophical questions to truck drivers, a Christian bookstore owner, and an actor who plays Jesus at The Holy Land Experience, an Orlando theme park.
Los Angeles Times movie critic Kenneth Turan said Maher’s “reliance on skewering people who are no match for him in glibness, persuasiveness or even intelligence finally leaves a sour taste.” Indeed.
Maher makes his view clear on the Religulous website: “There is nothing more ridiculous than the ancient mythological stories that live on as today’s religions.” Still, I hoped there might be a few moments in the movie when Maher got sincere about seeking. So I focused on how I might answer his questions. This was an exercise in futility: I could barely string together two thoughts before Maher changed the subject.
I soon realized it wouldn’t matter if Maher was interviewing the most brilliant Christian debater on the planet. He wasn’t interested in contemplating faith—just in mocking religion. Richard Corliss of Time magazine writes, “Maher seems interested less in conversation than in confrontation, so his movie is less essay than inquisition.”
This got me thinking: With whom am I sharing my faith? Do they really want to converse, or just argue? I thought about how the Apostle Paul spent varying amounts of time in different cities as he spread the Gospel. One stop was Athens, a city full of philosophers, where people “spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas” (Acts 17:21). Some of the Athenians seemed to take Paul seriously: They brought him before the Areopagus, a powerful council, and asked him to speak.
But it doesn’t seem many were open to what Paul had to say. We’re told that only a few believed (whereas in some other cities, thousands became Christ-followers). Perhaps the people of Athens weren’t really listening to Paul. Perhaps they were interested in educating themselves further, but not in contemplating Paul’s words. In any case, Paul moved on.
I think there are times when I need to move on. Some years ago, I was contacted by The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, a news parody that airs on Comedy Central. A representative from the show wanted to discuss an article I’d written for Christianity Today. My first thought was, Woo hoo! What a great way to share my faith! But something inside gave me pause.
I decided to ask two trusted Christian friends whether I should return the call to the show. Both responded, “Absolutely not.” They told me I’d get ripped to shreds, I’d be dismissed as a religious kook, and the message of faith I wanted to convey wouldn’t be heard at all. While I wasn’t concerned about being mocked, I realized it didn’t make sense to take part in a show that had no interest in letting me talk about Jesus.
My time, effort, and energy are better utilized talking to people who are interested in conversations about faith. I have one friend who’s been asking me questions about God for the past five years. I’ve shared my faith journey with her and listened to her doubts.
My friend often challenges my statements and she asks tough questions, yet I find it easy to talk to her. I know she’s listening to me, and I’m listening to her—even when we don’t agree. I don’t know if she’s any closer to believing in God than she was five years ago. But I’m thrilled that we both know each other better, and I feel privileged to participate in her spiritual journey. Every minute I’ve conversed with her is time well spent.
Honestly, if I tried to share my faith with someone like Bill Maher or Jon Stewart, I’d be doing so out of foolish vanity. I can’t match wits with them. Perhaps the body of Christ is meant to share faith as a body. For example, I’ve referred friends who are struggling with addiction to a Christian addiction counselor. And I’ve asked a Christian friend who’s a scientist to help me devise some “talking points” about science and faith. In conversations with seekers, the only thing better than an honest “I don’t know” is being able to add, “… but I have a Christian friend who might be able to answer those questions.”
I’ve added Bill Maher to my prayer list. I’m praying that God will give Maher every opportunity to recognize Him. (Maybe Maher will run into Lee Strobel, Alvin Plantinga, or William Lane Craig!) But if Maher happens to request an interview with me for Religulous 2, I’ll have to pass until he’s open to real conversations about faith.
Posted at 10:05 AM on October 22, 2008.
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I'm going to put my flame-suit on!
If the movie had been made with a substantial focus, on say, Islam or Judaism, followers of those faiths would be up in arms! They would protest, boycott, write letters, scholars would write editorials--you name it. They do not allow their faith and their God to be dragged through the mud.
I get tired of people bashing our faith--bashing each one of us! We do a lot of good in the US and world through our charities, our work, how we raise our families, help our communities, and in our committment to live generously and compassionately in all things as we are commanded to do. I don't think it helps our cause or our witness in any way to let such negative, unfair commentary go by without an articulate, direct, aggressive challenge.
Have you ever noticed how much bolder ugly challenges to our faith like this movie have become? Can you imagine anyone daring to say anything like this fifty years ago? What has changed?
I certainly won't lend credibility to it by paying the $10 to go see it. This issue really touches a nerve wiith me. Blessings, BJ.
Posted by: Friend in LV on October 22, 2008
I am not sure you did the best thing. I don't know that Christ wouldn't have pierced Jon Stewart's heart through your words, and made him listen to you. I must say that I believe that door was opened to you. I don't fault you for your decision--please be clear about that. I'm just trying to pose an opposing opinion because this is likely to happen to us all before we're 6 feet under. We cannot assume that just because Jon Stewart or even Bill Mahrer or our neighbor across the hall talk the way they talk about religion, that we aren't the one who might give them pause to think. Paul said that God took the foolish things to confound the wise. Both those guys fit "the wise" category, and it might just be that your sweet nature repeating what the Spirit gave you to say would have been just the ticket.
Posted by: Sandra on October 23, 2008
For people who just want to argue or mock (because they have a way with words), I think we should pray that they should have an encounter with God as Paul did. Then when they ask questions, they will be ready and more open to get a response.
Ada
Posted by: Ada on October 24, 2008
You might also be interested in Craig Hazen's review of the movie
http://www.biola.edu/news/articles/2008/081007_hazen.cfm
Hazen is the director of the Christian apologetics program at Biola University
Posted by: Joseff on October 25, 2008
I like the way you just spoke plainly and simply about that movie. I don't even want to go see it because I would get so frustrated listening to Bill M. and to people who can't just give a simple reason for the hope that is in Christ.
I do believe prayer for Bill M. is a good thing to do. If Christians are doing their job, Mr. Bill has a lot of prayers going for him. The one redeeming thing about people who mock the faith is that it should help us all to seek a closer relationship with Christ, BE READY to give an answer to one who asks what the reason for the hope that is in us, and be ever so grateful for the measure of faith He has given us who believe...by grace, through faith we are truly saved. Wouldn't Mr. Bill be a dynamite witness when he becomes born again? Look at apostle Paul and others...C. S. Lewis, the "Amazing Grace" writer and many more.
Posted by: susan on October 25, 2008
John 15:18-19 NIV
The World Hates the Disciples
"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you."
Jesus tells us that because we are Christians, we will be persecuted. Whenever I am, personally, I count it as joy.
-H.M.
Posted by: Holly on November 1, 2008
That movie is one of the ways Bill M. is doing to try to silence God's call in his heart. Nice try!!!!
Posted by: Pedro Pardo on November 1, 2008
I would probably be hesitant to talk to Maher. I haven't seen the movie, but I respect his intelligence, and his very sharp wit. It sounds like he slipped over the edge into mean-spiritedness and mockery with the movie. John Stewart, on the other hand, is rarely mean-spirited, and is usually pretty even-handed in his gentle teasing of everybody. It's obvious he's fairly liberal, but not excessively so. He's usually pretty nice to his guests, even if they have points of view different from his. I haven't watched him in a few months, so his approach may have heated up a little. I find he usually wants his guests to be funny, and the overall tone to be good-natured teasing. Stewart, I actually would converse with. I'd probably be a little more wary of Steve Colbert, because he likes to say outrageous things that sound buffoonishly ultra-conservative, so he likes conservatives to sound really outrageous, because that's his alter-ego character. I'm sure he's actually pretty liberal.
MJ
Posted by: Mary Jane on November 3, 2008
Re: Maher
I thank you for your adding Maher to your prayer list, because I saw the confrontational because it wasn't a documentary and I believe the Lord could use Maher mightily for the Kingdom.
Here is something I copied and pasted from Prophet Kim Clement's Vault regards the plans the Lord has for Maher. Please read. Thanks.
..."Bill Maher, do you know who that is? God said I am preparing to meet him. God said even he can be funny. God says he has taken a grip of reality in terms of religion but he has become bitter and twisted and I am going to go and I will deal with him in a very kindly manner. For I wish to raise up a voice in the kingdom and that will become a voice that will shout triumph for Christ says the Lord"....
From the Mouth of Prophet Kim Clement...see link below.
http://www.kimclementvault.com/prophecyread.asp?num=249
Posted by: JenFad on November 3, 2008
This is one of the situations where the "don't cast your pearls before swine" passage is easy to understand. On the other hand, someone on the show's staff or (depending on editing) perhaps someone in the audience might have been stirred by your participation.
Posted by: MaryTN on November 6, 2008
good one and keep it up with positive frame.
Posted by: myself on November 23, 2008
I believe that you did the right thing by not accepting an interview with Bill Maher. The reason I said this is because of what Jesus said when HE said that we are to "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swines, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you" Matt 7:6. This seems like something Bill Maher "gets off" on. The dogs and swines here refer to those who have deliberately rejected the message of truth.
Evil persons are deserving of condemnation and yes, we have a responsibility under God to warn them of the conseguences of their actions; but if they are still unrepentant, further efforts to convince them of the sinfulness of their ways will result in no benefit. They are more likely to resent and attack those who pass judgement on their ungodly conduct.
And here again where Paul admonished Timothy: "...Keep that which has been entrusted to you, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called..." I Timothy 6:20. This clearly conveys a very important message to us that we are to avoid empty talk devoid of truth and "oppositions" which are heretical arguments used to oppose truth.
Posted by: Aggie on November 30, 2008
Holly says: Aggie, thanks so much for taking time to share your thoughts. You said some things that I've been thinking about a lot lately. I heard from the Lord through your good words today.
Posted by: Holly on December 1, 2008