Perhaps some of you have seen the new documentary, Religulous, featuring Bill Maher. For those people who have not and possibly never will, the plot consists of Maher interviewing various devout believers of major religions, showing how ridiculous their beliefs supposedly are, and making a huge point of displaying how they sometimes cannot come up with a smart-alecky answer to his philosophical questions.  For atheists and agnostics, this is supposed to be the epitome of humor, guaranteed to have them rolling on the floor laughing.

However, my question to you is this: why would anyone consider denigrating the belief system people have had their whole lives comical?  To me, and several others, it was an example of blatant disrespect to the majority of people on this planet who happen to have a faith in a higher being.  Is someone really “stupid” just because they were taught from birth that certain things occur a certain way because of a certain metaphysical deity?  Are they “ludicrous” because they can look beyond society and see the divine beauty of the universe in a way that cannot really make sense to someone who has not had the same kind of religious teaching they did?

Ironically, my religious views and Maher’s are actually in sync.  I, like him, choose not to be affiliated with a large, organized denomination and constantly question the existence of a higher power.  However, my answer is a firm, confident “No.”  Why should anyone have the right to label others idiots simply because he refuses to see the other side of the story?  Especially since he is actually in the minority, and not the majority.  How does Maher know, exactly, that he isn’t the idiot in this situation?  Now, I’m not saying he doesn’t have the right to judge others, because in a country like America, he obviously does.  He can poke fun at people he doesn’t agree with when he’s hanging out with his friends as much as he wants.  We all do it.  But to go up to people, filming them while trying to prove how “low” their intelligence is, and then proclaiming he has produced a comedy, is completely uncalled for.  What good, exactly, does it do for him to harass others about something that brings them comfort?  Absolutely nothing.  It’s disgusting.

Everyone has their opinions, and no one will ever agree on everything with everyone they meet.  That’s normal, and it’s perfectly understandable if one side lacks facts to maybe politely explain them.  But opinions should be respected, not made jokes out of.  In fact, I strongly encourage listening carefully to the explanations of the other side.  After all, what if you’re wrong?  Wouldn’t you like to quietly accept that rather than be humiliated in homes all over the world?  Honestly.

–chelliejellie10