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Bill Maher’s new film, RELIGULOUS set for October Release

By Michael Lang on Aug 23, 2008 in RELIGION - OR LACK OF

BILL MAHER It’s no secret that , host of Real Time With Bill Maher on HBO, thinks and feels that religion is a joke and that its practitioners are delusional for believing in something that is not there.

Well he has now put his talents and views into a new documentary directed by Larry Charles and starring himself called . 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 organized religion and the problems it brings about.

And if early reviews are any indication, this film is sure to piss off a lot of people!

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, the Vatican, and Salt Lake City, interviewing believers from a variety of backgrounds and groups, including Jews for Jesus, Muslims, polygamists, Satanists, Hasidic scholars BILL MAHER in RELIGULOUS 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.

In one hilarious scene, Maher interviews Jesus. Ok. it’s not the real Jesus but a actor portraying Jesus at the vacation resort in Orlando Florida appropriately named “The Holyland Experience.” Maher actually asks some very interesting questions that most believers would have difficulty answering.

If the name Larry Charles seems familiar….it should! He is the prolific television writer, producer and director whose credits include Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm, and who attended the 2006 Festival as the director of comedy mega-hit Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan.

Here is a trailer of the film now set for release on October 3rd of 2008.

AROUND the BLOGOSPHERE:

Bill Maher’s ‘Religulous’: Oscar Bait? - When I attended a press screening for Bill Maher’s "Religulous" in New York on Tuesday, it struck me like a lightning bolt on the road to the Kodak Theatre via Damascus: yeah, "Religulous" will probably be nominated for best docu at the …

The Rapture Right: Boycott Bill Maher’s Religulous - Thanks to CrucieFiction for the link.

Bill Maher’s Religulous Documentary is Evidently ‘Brilliant’ - Bill Maher’s Religulous is a documentary following Maher’s take on the current state of world religion. It’s controversial, it could potentially cause protests, and it’s "brilliant." In order to be eligible for an Oscar, the Academy’s …

MEANINGFUL WATCH: BILL MAHER RELIGULOUS - Mark your calendars: If you’re in NY or LA it’ll be out before August 31 (and therefore be within qualifying time for the Oscars). It opens Oct 3 everywhere else.