I actually do make comedy films for a small production company in TX.
But anyway, I know it is easy to make fun of and there is some genuine criticism to be made of undue religious influence of the kind you mentioned, the crusades, fatwahs, mass suicides or whatever.
But I have seen clips of the movie and seen other things he has said, he is not just making fun of the most ridiculous and extreme versions of religion. He is entitled to his opinion and viewpoint, I am just making the case that his film does nothing good.
You could say it is just so very un-Christian of him to make such a film.
Actually, it was very Christian, in that Christ as he's described in the Bible would have been very unhappy with a lot of the things Bill pointed out in the film---hatred, violence, greed, pride and power-seeking, all brought about in His name. Since you haven't seen the film, you really aren't qualified to judge the arguments it makes. If you don't like the film's premise, fine. Don't see it. I didn't see "Passion of the Christ," but I didn't go around criticizing it, either.
His film does nothing good? It did me a lot of good. When you do subscribe to any religion, people look at you like you're something evil or immoral. If you believe in a logical, rational approach to the "big questions," you are branded an evil heathen. Here's a man willing to stand up and say, "Hey, at least 16% of the population don't believe this stuff. Here's why."
I never thought I would see the day when someone had the guts to stand up in public and point out the ridiculousness of all organized religions. It did me a lot of good to see this movie.
I know what you mean. Some people with a religious slant, call people who don't believe in God horrible and immoral. And maybe some of them are. But I doubt that you or Bill Maher, deserve a heretic's death.
I never saw Passion of Christ either. I don't need Mel Gibson's version for my faith. What you describe as good is still bad. It just perpetuates the animosity felt on both sides. The truth is that the right to believe or not believe in God is given to everyone and we should just respect that and debate or discuss it intelligently and kindly.
And you are right. I am sure that God looks down on all the things done in his name and most of it is just a way to get money or something else.
That being said, there are many, many wonderful and amazing things done in the name of a god and because of religion.
