MAHER MOCKERY OF MUSLIMS MAY BACKFIRE

Maher Mockery of  Muslims May Backfire

In Religulous, due to be released in 500 theaters this week, comedian Bill Maher travels to numerous religious sites, such as Jerusalem, the Vatican, and Salt Lake City, interviewing believers from a variety of backgrounds, including Jews for Jesus, Christians, and Muslims.

            Best-selling author and TV co-host Ray Comfort said, "I don't blame Bill Maher for mocking religion. Manmade religion has left a trail of destruction throughout history--from the Roman Catholic Inquisition, its famous Crusades against Islam, and pedophile priests, to hypocritical Protestant ministers and money-hungry televangelists. I can see why he took the trouble to make the movie. In one sense, it's overdue."

             However, the author said that although the film is bound to be popular in the U.S., it may badly backfire on Maher. Comfort said that in 2007 he befriended the atheist who received national attention for encouraging other atheists to post videos of themselves  blaspheming God. "I emailed him explaining that Muslims translate the name 'God' as 'Allah,' and suggested that he rethink what he was doing. Muslims killed a number of people for merely publishing cartoons of their prophet Mohammad. I also reminded him that author Salmon Rushdie is still hiding in fear of his life for his Satanic Verses. All it would take is a report on Arab television that Americans were making videos blaspheming Allah and saying, 'And I am not afraid,' to stir a response. After I sent that email, the blasphemy challenge seemed to disappear very quickly."

            Comfort warns that Hollywood has gotten away with mockery of Christianity, but many Muslims aren't so tolerant. "How will they react to a movie that critics describe as 'a blasphemous detonation of all things holy'? Even Maher's casual jesting with his Jesus could be offensive to Muslims, who believe Jesus was a prophet. Imagine if the movie catches the attention of Arab news, which reports, 'American Comedian Mocks Allah in Popular Movie.' Already, the International Herald Tribune's lead article was titled "Maher vs. God." The movie's website www.lionsgate.com/religulous/  links to a site that has a Muslim symbol with the word "Bastard" beside it. While that site has a sense of anonymity, the famous comedian doesn't, as his face is easily recognizable. I wouldn't want to be in Maher's shoes, or even in the seat of a theater that upsets Muslims. We are living in volatile times. We don't need this sort of thing right now--religious intolerance. I seriously suggest that he postpone the release date, and do a little last-minute editing."

            The Canadian Press said that Maher "dissects organized religion, but he's doing it in his laceratingly funny, typically sardonic way . . . But Maher undermines his arguments at the end when the tone turns sharply serious: He tries to make a connection between religion and all the wars and violence in the world, and he does it with the same kind of certitude he just got done condemning others for having."

            Comfort added that he also believes Maher is straining at gnats and swallowing a camel with his movie. "He is speaking the truth when he talks of religion's trail of destruction. But religion comes in second when it comes to committing atrocities down through the ages. Atheistic communism is number one. It is responsible for more than 100 million deaths. The problem isn't religion or atheism. It's human nature. That's what needs to change." 

            Comfort is the author of Hollywood Be Thy Name (Bridge-Logos), which looks at Hollywood's history of blasphemy and why it is so out of step with mainstream America. It explains why movies such as Religulous wouldn't have made it to the box office before the 1950s, and what it was in 1962 that opened the floodgates to unrestrained blasphemy.

By Ray Comfort Email: email@livingwaters.com Click here for bio and archived articles

Comfort article Posted On: 10/15/08 09:57:39 AM Age 36, TN I think what Mr. Comfort is trying to express here is the fact that the expected (ie required) response by Muslims for blasphemy of their God is violent. Sura 8:59 in the Koran is one of many examples of a command for violence against infidels (being anyone who is non-Muslim). Most Americans are clueless about what most Muslims think about non-Muslims. Keep in mind that "most" Muslims do not live in America, and I would venture a guess that most Western-raised Muslims have no idea about how Islam is actually preached and practiced in Islamic dominated countries. Required reading for all Americans should be "Because They Hate" by Brigitte Gabriel. This is an eye-opening book that, even if written from a biased perspective, is quite disturbing for the future of America. I would just ask that all Americans study the facts and history of this topic before spouting politically correct rhetoric. Good question Posted On: 10/10/08 08:13:26 AM Age 28, ND You beat me to it. All part of the latest scheme. Posted On: 10/08/08 08:02:42 AM Age 40, AL It is clear to me that the movie by Bill Maher is just anoter link in the latest scheme Saten has authored. It looks like a frantic last ditch effort to deceive and confuse as many as possible before the end. Satan has placed his top people in stratigic places to be the most effective. Main stream telivision being the most obvious. I am glad to know there are other Christians are aware of this scheme. My question is what are we doing to counter? re: Maher, Christianity and Islam Posted On: 10/05/08 07:05:03 PM Age 31, IA Would you define "Christianity," please? Is no one else finding this kind of passive-aggressive? Posted On: 10/04/08 09:42:01 AM Age 22, IL I love how Comfort makes this all about the Muslims. Because, certainly, Muslims are the only people ever known to retaliate against anything with violence. The KKK? Clearly Muslim. I mean--I don't agree with what Comfort's saying at all, but that's not the point. This article is really just a clever way for this site, and Ray Comfort, to bring this movie to people's attention: he /knows/ he doesn't have to attack it himself. All he has to do is talk about it. Ya'll will do the rest (as these comments show). Is no one else bothered by this blatant manipulation? Calling all Christ followers! Posted On: 10/03/08 03:51:58 PM Age 37, MT Shouldn't we pray for Bill? Excellent disection of Bill Maher and Religon Posted On: 10/02/08 06:32:27 PM Age 65, OR Ray, your message strikes to the heart of apostate Christianity and empty-hearted atheism. Stated very well, this article should be read from the pulpit in most American churches because it is a lesson to be learned by church leadership. However, your warning to Maher may return with mockery but then what would you expect from Satan's workers? A greater concern is when thrill seaking "seekers" might just be viewing the movie when a Islamic terrorist bomb explodes in the theater! The blood would be justifiably on the hands of Maher and those who produced the movie. Maher, Christianity and Islam Posted On: 10/02/08 03:22:58 PM Age 53, IL The reason Christianity is mostly the target of Maher's film is simple. It's the religion of his culture and the religion he's been surrounded by his whole life. I never understand why Christians get mad when American atheists don't rail against Islam. It makes sense for them to rail against Christianity. After all - in America - it's not Islamists damning them to hell on tv and picketing abortion clinics, discriminating against gays, etc. So if Bill Maher was born and lived in the middle east he may well be protesting against Islam. (And to be honest he thinks all religions are crazy - that's why Islam IS included in the film.) DTP55 Posted On: 10/02/08 01:13:08 PM Age 55, TN I agree with Ray. Hollywood's New Tone Posted On: 10/02/08 01:10:28 PM Age 50, FL It seems to me Hollywood is taking a different tact when it comes to religion and Christianity in particular. Maher's movie is one of the latest examples how Hollywood has changed from simply mocking religion/Christianity to exclaiming it AND it's followers to be dangerous, because they believe that war is inevitable, etc. Consider actor Matt Damon's recent comments about Vice Presidential hopeful Sarah Palin: "I really want to know if she believes dinosaurs and people lived together 4,000 yrs ago. This women would have the nuclear codes...." In other words, the fact she believes in the commonly held young earth creationist view, she is dangerous. We can expect this kind of thing to continue.