"Religulous" thesis

[Matt Menge]

I just saw Bill Maher's movie entitled "Religulous" and he seems to
believe that if you are religious you will ultimately be unable to
escape the web of fanaticism. That is to say, he seems to think that
religion will first seem reasonable but you will gradually gravitate
towards one of the many fringe beliefs displayed in his movie.

What I find discomforting about Maher's approach is that it is often
precisely the feeling of victimization (rather than religion in
itself) that causes people to gravitate towards fringe groups. So,
rather than preaching a gospel of level-headedness he is trying to
lead people away from religion altogether. This will in turn lead to
a feeling of victimization by the religious and thus more fringe
groups (which he believes might cause World War III).

Matt

[d***@aol.com]

Post by Matt Menge
I just saw Bill Maher's movie entitled "Religulous" and he seems to
believe that if you are religious you will ultimately be unable to
escape the web of fanaticism. =A0That is to say, he seems to think that
religion will first seem reasonable but you will gradually gravitate
towards one of the many fringe beliefs displayed in his movie.
What I find discomforting about Maher's approach is that it is often
precisely the feeling of victimization (rather than religion in
itself) that causes people to gravitate towards fringe groups. =A0So,
rather than preaching a gospel of level-headedness he is trying to
lead people away from religion altogether. =A0This will in turn lead to
a feeling of victimization by the religious and thus more fringe
groups (which he believes might cause World War III).
Matt

And what he doesn't mention is that secularist groups are not immune
to fanaticism either... Communisim, Thermadorians, Nazis etc.

Daryl