Religulous or Fireproof?

I went to the movies today with my friend David Dean. In one theater was FIREPROOF and the other theater was RELIGULOUS. Which one did we see?

RELIGULOUS.

Here are some thoughts.

There was no one in the theatre for FIREPROOF. They only time the theatre is packed for that is when churches buy a block of tickets and sell them to Christians and then they all flock to the movie together. Why is that? My friend Matt went with a church group and said it was so sad to see a group of 400 people laugh at jokes that only made sense to you if you were a believer. He did say they talked about porn but because it was a Christian movie did it without saying the word porn. Who knows, if you like Kirk, go see it.

As far as RELIGULOUS goes. I thought it was great. Bill Maher is a guy who is searching for answers. He does not claim to have the answers in fact he claims to not know what to believe so he travels the world talking to people about faith. He even put up a website called disbeliefnet.com (notice the XXXchurch add on the site). He says that it is easy to have faith if you are in jail but in the world today it is a luxury to not have faith.

I don't get why Christians are calling to boycott RELIGULOUS and some of the same groups say we should flock to FIREPROOF? He makes fun of all religions in this movie because he is not a believer. Stuff we do, stuff the Mormon's do, stuff the Scientologist do can sound crazy at times. You can get caught up on that or you can look at Bill as a guy like your neighbor or your co-worker or you boss that have doubts and questions. He mentions in the movie that 16% of people have no belief in God. This movie is from that perspective and he interviews people often times he is asking questions instead of providing answers.

The production on the film is great, the interviews look sharp and it will make you laugh. If you are a Christian you will be embarrassed at some times in the movie based on what people of our faith say and do. I love the truck driver in the movie.

Early on in the movie, Bill visits a Truck Stop and they are holding a church service. He interviews some of the truckers. One guy gets upset because Bill does not believe like he does and he storms out of the room. The other guy ( the one I like ) answers Bill's questions. He shares about what Jesus has done in his life. He then asks Bill if he can pray for him and the scene ends with Bill being prayed for. I like that guy. Most of the other Christians portrayed in the movie....not so.

Bill reminded me of Donny Pauling and my many conversations I had with Donny prior to September 2006. Donny is intelligent. Donny was convinced God was not real but Donny kept coming by our booth, so that showed me that Donny really was not convinced...he was searching.

My two cents, Bill does not do a movie about this stuff unless like Donny, he too is searching.

Tomorrow, I will take the kids to see Beverly Hills Chihuahua. No write up about that one.

Bonus - A crtique of RELIGULOUS that is featured on disbelief.net ......

TRAVISharger. wrote on October 4th 08 at 09:25AM

Hey...awesome blog. Totally agree...sure bill can get under peoples skin...but I have curiosity in the flick.

Personally I think you guys show go on his show sometime... make sure you know your stuff cause ream ya...probably read books like God Delusion. Or specifiically ask not to talk about religion...but just what you guys do.

I think you guys are fun guys that he would enjoy...if all fails tell him you're friends with ron jeremy.

miguel wrote on October 4th 08 at 01:00PM

haha wow that YouTube video is funny, kinds reminds me how I don't want to be like. It's like xxxchurch is the opposite, which I love. I might go check out the movie out of curiosity.

Oh and btw I love the way they justified that guy who said he was Jesus. Idk if they knew, but he literally thought he was the physical Jesus LOL and they justified him like that LOL Jesus obviously talks about people like them, but its all good. You gotta love everyone no matter their belief

Posted from my iPhone

Phil wrote on October 4th 08 at 01:52PM

I realize your style is different than that of the Fireproof movie. But do you think it is essential in addressing a mainstream audience to use the word pornography to address the issue?
I saw the Fireproof movie and believe it was a decently executed move. A little "talkie", but some pretty good action scenes as well. And while we're on the subject, if we can't get Christians to support Christian-made national releases, how are we supposed to be able to support the increased access to the gospel (not to mention sexual addiction in this specific instance) that these productions provide?
I hope you will go to Fireproof, especially given the subject matter. Your review here is probably important. What other movie has come out this year that treated sexual addiction?

Emily wrote on October 4th 08 at 08:25PM

First of all: it is Religulous, not Religious.

How can we love God if whilst waiting for him to return, we have to live in misery? absurd. he should remove misery so that we may love him.

You never adressed the issue of beleiving in a talking snake? C'mon you take that literally???

When did 'Left'- i.e.- Democrats mean godless?

There are a variety of clips of other religious events b/c the movie isn't about Christians only, he takes jabs at everyone. Obviously you haven't seen the film, what are you afraid of?

Do some research, speaking in tongues was only meant to be done by the very elite and special, not for anyone. And there is no translation for it, check your bible mister.

Christ, white? Are you kidding me??? C'mon give me some verses where there would be a WHITE MAN in the Middle East??? Are you nuts??

So you are implying Bill Maher is gay b/c he visited a gay bar? So am I a politician if I go to a courthouse to interview them? Am I a whore if I go to a whorehouse to interview them? Am I a farmer if I go into a feedstore to interview a farmer? Absurdity.

Read your Bible again BOYS.

Boaks wrote on October 4th 08 at 09:51PM

lol @ the critique video
I'm so sorry people like that claim to represent Christ.

Ted wrote on October 5th 08 at 10:10AM

just a little feedback, you did a great job. I too get offended by Bill Maher. However, please let me know where you find in the Bible that Jesus is white. I think everything else you mentioned is true, but saying Jesus is white is an opionion. I think to stand up for Jesus we must be 100% factual, if not we become as the person we are exposing. Thank you for defending Jesus.
In Jesus Love,
Ted

Phil wrote on October 5th 08 at 04:12PM

1 Corinthians 12:8 For one person is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, and another the message of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 12:9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 12:10 to another performance of miracles, to another prophecy, and to another discernment of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.

1 Corinthians 14:27 If someone speaks in a tongue, it should be two, or at the most three, one after the other, and someone must interpret.

canadianjosh wrote on October 5th 08 at 06:10PM

Lionsgate didn't make this movie. I don't even think Lionsgate makes movies. They distribute, and simply pay to get it into theaters...

canadianjosh wrote on October 5th 08 at 06:13PM

PS: That critique video is sad. It actually embarrasses me. Jesus is white? I wanna hear that sermon...

biker118j wrote on October 5th 08 at 08:02PM

Even more interested in the film now. Also that video pissed me of at first. Now though I am pretty sure it's satire at least most of it. Kind of feel like they still want to ban it though.

Posted from my iPhone

Mark wrote on October 5th 08 at 11:55PM

The video can't be serious.

At least I pray it isn't.

There was too much satire in the youtube clip for it to be real.

Hartline wrote on October 6th 08 at 01:00PM

Your blog entry seems to be more about belittling the traditional Christian church than it is about interjecting any real unbiased review of the two movies. I went to the movies on Friday night to see A Flash of Genius. Fireproof was so sold out that many people couldn't even get tickets that were standing in line to buy tickets. Thus, your review is certainly dishonest, at best. And the current financial take of Fireproof vs. Religulous shows that Fireproof took in over $4 million this weekend vs. $3.5 million nationwide for Religulous. Even more relevant to your bias against traditional Biblical values is the clear Biblical admonish not to cast your pearls before swine lest the swine turn around and trample you. The idea that you would seek to sell Bill Maher for anything other than what he is, which is an atheist hater of Christianity, demonstrates your true intention of mocking those who adhere to a strick intrepretation of what is right and what is moral. The fact that you would even give money to a movie that mocks everything that Jesus Christ stood for on the cross and in His sacrifice reveals the utterly lost path your type of religous patronage has accomplished. And the fact that you even remotely honor Maher's movie is almost demonic. We are, as Chritians, not supposed to make covenant with darkness, lest the darkness overtake our minds. And of course, we will see in the end what happens when you run this course of your's. For the Bible says that you will reap what you sow. And the fact that you mock traditional Biblical values and you sow money into the likes of Maher's pockets reveals now what you will be reaping down the road: great persecution from the godless culture that has given Maher a platform.

Paradox wrote on October 6th 08 at 05:39PM

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA you guys got pwned, The guys in the youtube video (The Rapture Right) are a parody, they are not really Xtian..... and I bet the guys running this site are exactly the same.

MTof X3 wrote on October 7th 08 at 10:01PM

You're crazy... Fireproof was great... I think you and this Kirk Cameron thing is old news... kiss and make up would you?

el clinto wrote on October 7th 08 at 11:14PM

@MT: you forgot to attach glitter graphics...come on now. *wink*

Robert Tarpinian wrote on October 8th 08 at 06:13AM

the movie was purposely editted to make beleivers look like weirdos...the guy interviews people weak in faith and sends a bad impression

i agree religion is rediculous, but there is a fine line between religion and the Truth.

mrdanman101 wrote on October 8th 08 at 12:02PM

While I do agree that the religious fanatics of our day make me cringe at times and angry at others, I don’t think Bill Maher had in mind the idea to inspire evangelicals to drop the show and start being real.
I must admit I’m not impressed with Maher. It was obviously his goal to go out poke fun at religious extremists. To say that he’s truly searching I think might be stretching it a bit. If he were truly searching don’t you think he’d go and chat with Rick Warren who authored the 2nd bestselling book of all time, The Purpose Driven Life.
I currently think Maher like many comedians is blinded to much by the entertainment industry to be on a real authentic search for truth. He’s out to make ratings..nothing more.
My rating for Religulous is that it’s fast food for the mind.
While I do agree that the religious fanatics of our day make me cringe at times and angry at others, I don’t think Bill Maher had in mind the idea to inspire evangelicals to drop the show and start being real.
I must admit I’m not impressed with Maher. It was obviously his goal to go out poke fun at religious extremists. To say that he’s truly searching I think might be stretching it a bit. If he were truly searching don’t you think he’d go and chat with Rick Warren who authored the 2nd bestselling book of all time, The Purpose Driven Life.
I currently think Maher like many comedians is blinded to much by the entertainment industry to be on a real authentic search for truth. He’s out to make ratings..nothing more.
My rating for Religulous is that it’s fast food for the mind.

Paul wrote on October 9th 08 at 09:46AM

Religulous - This movie ought to be a wake-up call to Christians. I don't think we realize how we make ourselves look to non-Christians. We say stupid things because we don't get into the Bible enough to understand rational answers to tough questions that seekers are asking.

Fireproof - Okay, it was cheesey Christian acting, but I think we have to give a little credit to Sherwood productions. It's one church in Georgia that is making an effort to make media relevant to our society. If they had the budget and backing that Bill had for Religulous it would have been even better. And I would contend that the more people support films from Sherwood, the more money they'd have to make better productions. Plus it was nice to be able to see a movie where you knew there was going to be some redemptive element. I took some non-Christians to it and they enjoyed it in spite of the acting and it was an encouragement to their marriage.

I know Kirk Cameron and his honchos don't like xxxchurch, but this ministry can be the bigger man and extend the olive branch to these guys who are making an effort that's a lot more impressive than Christian t-shirt companies ripping of popular slogans. At least Fireproof was original.

Phil wrote on October 9th 08 at 03:27PM

Craig
There have been several comments (mine included) on this blog that have questioned you motives for shunning Fireproof in favor of Religulous.

I think it's a pretty serious charge, but there has been NO staff response on the comments. Does someone care to weigh in?

TRAVISharger. wrote on October 11th 08 at 01:33PM

@ phil.

Are you serious?

First I think it has little to do with it being christian.... I think part of the reason they saw Bill's movie is because overall they would rather watch a documentary than another "made for tv style family movie".....honestly without the christian message Fireproof is just like a disney channel movie....nothing wrong with that....actually it did a pretty good job at what it did...but it wasn't "Big Fish", "Dark Knight", "Braveheart" or "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" type movie. I dont think they care for "family films"...especially of TV quality...and especially for $10 tickets.

Now as for the their pick..I think it was probably more out of curiosity than anything....also they look like the kind of guys that like to laugh....not a fireproof type audience.

And Kirk Cameron outside of growing pains makes many want to turn their head....while Bill happens to make many at least curious to watch...and he's there type of crowd....they hang out with guys just like him...Ron Jeremy for example....also as christians why wouldn't you want to see what mainstream critics are saying, i'm always interested in books like "the God Delusion" and stuff...

Its not a "Serious Charge"....they really didn't "SHUN" fireproof...they just had more interest in the latter.

If you like Kirk...go see fireproof with your kids...I have nothing against that...my Mom is all about that stuff (she also liked Left Behind, uggh....)....but Whats wrong with wanting to see a cynical documentary made by an atheist comedian?

Again I think it good for the church to be embaressed once in a while.

Phil wrote on October 11th 08 at 03:08PM

Nothing wrong with wanting to see the Maher movie. I agree with engaging the culture.

But something is wrong when a group like xxxchurch -- who claims to be in the anti-porn business -- can't review a mainstream movie that deals with the subject.

What got me was the backhanded insult that Craig delivered when he said that he'd go see a stupid dog movie with little redeeming quality for his next movie outing. THAT was the shun.

Oh, and unless you've gotten your own $100k movie distributed nationally, I'm not really sure that you can judge them against Hollywood blockbusters budgets who can spend more than 1000 TIMES what this church spent on the movie.

phillip from LA wrote on October 11th 08 at 06:19PM

they spent $500,000 not $100k my friend (according to CNN)...i know some better uses for that amount of cash especially in movie making...

http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Movies/10/10/christian.fireproof.success.ap/index.html

Trent wrote on October 18th 08 at 09:58PM

I think it is important for this ministry to at least check fireproof out before making a blanket statement about it. Perhaps it wouldn't be your cup of tea but why even include it this way in your review of the other movie. It was just an immature jab at it.

I would be nice to see a little more unity in the body of Christ. I agree that Christians should watch Riligulous if only to see what the world thinks of us. Especially those who want it banned or boycotted. But fair is fair. And from what I have read in this article, you have not been fair.

TRAVISharger. wrote on October 20th 08 at 05:43PM

I still dont understand what people have against Craig's blog....

This is the same guy who years ago had no interest in Narnia (see dirty little secret podcast like 15ish)...why would he like Fireproof?

I just dont get why someone has to see a movie because it was christian? Let people see movies based on there preference....again they were probably more interested in a comedy/documentary than a family movie....thats all it comes down too..

He was never dissing "Fireproof"....If i had a choice of where my $20 went...i would go see Religulous or W......and I would rent Fireproof.

TimeForTruth wrote on November 6th 08 at 09:44PM

I have to disagree with you on this one Craig. My wife and I both found Fireproof very inspirational and helped us open our eyes to the faults in our marriage. You dont have to dive head first into the fire to feel the flames of pornography, but believe me when I tell you that as a recovering porn addict the fire is never fully extinguished. Addicts need "positive" influence from any resource that will deliver it.

As far as Bill Maher, well... I'll be nice. Its easier to criticize faith than to develop it.

underoathfan88 wrote on November 13th 08 at 01:24PM

i love how offended everyone on here is getting about this freaking fireproof movie. isn't it just like christians to be in their own little sub culture with their own special heart felt movies...this is ridiculous. and how do you know bill maher isn't searching? whoever told him to read rick warren's stupid book is an idiot. he is just a man! he doesn't have all the answers to the faith!! another misconception of the beautiful christian subculture (sarcasm).
maybe you all are offended because maher makes some points that hit too close to home? take a joke. put your big kid panties on and stop being sensitive.

Trent wrote on November 13th 08 at 02:27PM

Underoathfan you have missed the point. At least in my case. I don't appose Bill Maher. I haven't even seen his movie. I just think we shouldn't put down a Christian movie either. The comments made about it just didn't belong in a review of the movie Religlous. On a website that is about being open and honest and not judging a book by it's cover those comments were not fair. Remember the world knows a Christian by his love for his bretheren. Not for his love of the things of the world. Isn't it the so called "Christian's" lack of love that the world sees as hippocracy in the Church. Why not promote both movies or not mention one at all.