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Staging Religion

Shelby Chalis

Last updated: Monday, December 1st, 2008

Many people tend to shy away from or become completely engrossed and passionate in discussions which involve religion. Religion has a way of getting under peoples skin (which can be taken in both a positive or negative context.) You have devout believers, passive believers, skeptical believers, and of course non believers. Every human being on the planet has some opinion on religion. A film called “Religulous” follows a comedian Bill Maher around the world talking to believers of various religions. The film is shot documentary style. Maher, once a self described skeptic has changed his tune, and now would much prefer to be called a rationalist, a term he has coined. This term therefore insinuates anyone who does have any belief to be irrational. Maher says he preaches the gospel of “I don’t know” and feels that if he is not certain of a higher being then how can anyone else know? Maher, in an interview on the television program “The Hour”, went on to express how all these questions which surround the construction of the universe cannot be taken seriously when religion gets thrown into the mix. It produces what Maher describes as being “stories” and “fairytales.” The main criticism that Maher received from critics regarding the film was that he took on only extremists. Maher’s response to that has been “it’s all extreme, it’s all extremely irrational.” Maher’s film is utterly fascinating.

Previously never before have I embarked upon such a passionate non-believer that is not frightening. (Usually one finds such passion in religious extremists.) The film raises many interesting questions; the one that seems to stick to my mind is the question of ancient myths justifying the hypocrisy facing our world - whether it be to justify a war, a political campaign or even inherent to our everyday decision making process.

While “Religulous” can be found in theaters, the novel “I don’t believe in Atheists”, by Chris Hedges, is out on the bookshelves. He believes that there is a war being raged between religion fundamentalists and what he sees as the new breed of atheists. Hedges believes this new breed of atheists to be just as dangerous as the religious extremists for he believes they both see evil as a external enemy rather than a internal one. This new breed of atheists, as Hedges points out, feel society can be made perfect once we rid ourselves of religion altogether, therefore religious people can be seen as the embodiment of evil. Hedges also explains how he feels that there is no morality in religious people, that religion is merely a way of being. Chris Hedges does prove to give a very intriguing interpretation of the religion concept, and he seems to be someone who situates himself in the middle of this religious crossfire. His main point seems to be that to take away religion from the word institution and replacing it with impulse, will prove to be a more accurate way of describing religion, or as others simply describe it as being faith.

Irshad Manji, a Muslim woman, has come out with a film titled “Faith without Fear” and brings with it a very different perspective on religion; the focus being on Islamic principles. Her film depicts her travelling the globe on her journey to mend her faith in Allah and her love for freedom. Manji receives many death threats when she speaks out on some of the flaws that she feels plagues her religion (the lack of rights for women being one of them). Many would just abandon the faith altogether, Manji responds to this idea by saying “walking away from faith would be like running away.” Despite what her own fellow believers have said about her, one Muslim women going so far as to call her “the devil in disguise.” Manji still holds onto her faith. “The struggle is what it’s all about. Notions of faith are secure enough to answer to questions.” The core of her beliefs does not lie in the religious institution but in faith, for she believes that religion cannot be questioned like faith. The whole concept of faith is constantly resurfacing itself in religious conversation. Manji’s belief is to remove the whole religious dialogue altogether and make the sole concentration be on the concept of faith. “The God Delusion.” The title alone can make one draw their own conclusions as to where the author of these novels beliefs lie. The author Richard Dawkins, an outspoken atheist (no surprise there), can be quoted as saying “Faith, any faith, does not deserve any respect.” All bets seem to be off; this man seems to have a few problems with God. What is the problem with believing in God according to Dawkins is “It is a matter of belief without evidence.” He believes that believing in something without evidence is a tragedy within itself. However, is it not the whole purpose of faith that there is no need for evidence? Dawkins only wishes to see truth - truth that he feels only scientific evidence can bring.

Whatever differences in views, all of these outspoken individuals have they still possess one attribute in common, and that is they have a strong belief in where they stand when religion is in question (whether one chooses to even label it as religion or not.) Religion is meant to be an open ended question, open to interpretation with no real answer key, no matter how many people claim to possess it. For such a touchy subject it never seems to get treaded on lightly, nor will it ever be treated any differently. Whether you take on the role of the devoted, the pacifist, the skeptic or the non-believer all of these actors share one common element, they all have no idea how the play they are staging is going to end.

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