Fireproof 1, Religulous 0
Religulous, the new anti-religion documentary by TV talker Bill Maher, is neither funny nor insightful, according to Biola's Craig Hazen:
Maher is pitching this film as mavericky—telling the truth about religion that everyone else is afraid to address. But Religulous is nothing more than filthy, nudie, druggie, and obtusey. There is little to laugh at and nothing to learn (except maybe that if you quit being religulous you get to act like Caligulous).
Nor is it all that profitable, grossing just under $4 million so far. This trails by far Fireproof, an unabashedly religious flick that has raked in about $13 million (albeit entering theaters a week earlier).
Now that's funny.
posted by Stan Guthrie at 1:05 PM
StanGuthrie.com
3 Comments:
I stumbled across your blog looking for information on the Religulous movie. I read your comment and then browsed your blog a little bit. I clearly understand why you wouldn't be interested in this film and that's fine with me. What I don't understand is why the linked review was written. I am unfamiliar with your relationship or association with Biola University, if any, but it's not like anyone from that school would actually go watch the movie. He could have wrote the review in three sentences. "Just a reminder, blasphemy is bad. This movie is blasphemy. Therefore, don't watch it." From an outsiders point of view, wouldn't he be bettering the cause and his university by spreading the word of Jesus instead of "Preaching to the Choir." Just a thought.
Ryan,
I have no connection with Biola, but this is an evangelical, not a fundamentalist, school committed to engaging with culture, not fleeing from it. Given its proximity with Hollywood, I would be surprised if it doesn't regularly critique, and participate in, the film industry from a Christian viewpoint. We evangelicals try to honor Jesus and spread the word in many ways.
Stan
Ryan,
As Stan indicated, Biola is actually more culturally-engaging than you might expect.
I know people who work at and attend the university:
Biola ...
- has a competitive film program (http://www.mcom.biola.edu/) along with being a sponsor of a major media conference each year (http://www.biolamedia.com/)
- is engaged in New Media ventures (http://www.biola.edu/news/articles/2008/080930_newmedia.cfm)
- supports the arts (http://www.biola.edu/news/articles/2008/080919_ahmanson.cfm)
- publishes or houses peer-reviewed academic journals in psychology, education, spirituality, and philosophy http://www.biola.edu/academics/)
With just their Torrey Honors program, Craig Hazen's apologetics program, and their undergraduate and graduate programs in philosophy, Biola might very well excel in helping to form Christians that are both thoughtful and actively participatory in culture and civic life.
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