Is Bill Maher just RELIGULOUS?

God bless, Bill Maher. Heck, why not? Doesn’t mean anything to him anway. The self-proclaimed prophet of doubt believes in little other than pancake make-up and the power of love, self-love, that is. (He rhapsodizes about masturbation the way others speak of grandkids and kittens.) Either Maher is a completely self-absorbed curmudgeon or… he just plays one on tv. Certainly, he is funny. He may even be well-read. Isn’t that enough? Perhaps. But imagine how much more he could accomplish if he truly listened. To others.

In RELIGULOUS, Maher doesn’t explore global spirituality so much as he simply mocks the devout for their beliefs. (It’s a small-minded world, after all.) Granted, many of the faithful he questions spout some, um, incredible logic, but rarely does the Politically Incorrect inquisitor hear them out. By ignoring the explanations of those he disagrees with, Maher undercuts his own argument, proving himself as unbearably dogmatic as the NeoCons he so detests. He’s Doug Feith hitting below the Borscht Belt.

RELIGULOUS might have addressed compelling questions about humankind’s compulsion to embrace superstition in an age of science, but Maher would sooner call folks idiots. RELIGULOUS might have examined the specific story-telling elements that unite so many theologies, but Maher would rather use the similarities to further divide the suckered stooges. RELIGULOUS might have facilitated a compassionate understanding of those with whom we do not see eye-to-eye-of-God, but Maher would rather interrupt his guests than risk them deflecting his punchlines.

Consequently, Maher probably believes RELIGULOUS registers a knockout when actually it should be disqualified for the star’s unsportsmanlike bum rush.

Amen?