Religulous (translated in Mexico as "Reli ... what, do not criticize me, I will not name) is a documentary that attempts to analyze the religions. The protagonist is Bill Maher, a very acid, critic, comedian and atheist (or at least anti-religious) who does not hesitate to criticize his program Real Time things that seem ridiculous about religions and belief in gods - among other things. Overall, the documentary is very good. Coldly exposes many rituals, customs, and analyzes up to ridicule their logic to the proponents of religion. He makes fun of circumcision, Jews, Muslims, Catholics, Christians, silly practices, scientólogos, quacks, has no regard for anyone.
The film, obviously, is not without controversy. As explained, the mock or dominant major religions, has its consequences to the believers. However, it also had a strong critique by their "allies" because Bill Maher won by Richard Dawkins Atheist Alliance International (AAI). The problem is that Bill is a strong activist PETA (People Eating Tasty Animals) a denier of the germ theory, and consequently, an anti-vaccine. It is assumed that Richard Dawkins Award given to outstanding atheists promote atheism and scientific culture. The award is given exactly:
Richard Dawkins The prize will be awarded each year to honor an outstanding atheist whose contributions to increase public awareness of the visa is not theistic, that through writing, media, arts, movies and / or increase scientific knowledge, blah, blah, blah.
This conflicts with the anti-vaccine agenda. Well, some notable skeptics, he left his mother. Here are a .
The reason is that entry, I saw the movie again (I think I've seen some 4 times since he left in 2008) and this time I noticed two things I do not look very "scientific" they say.
gay gene
Maher, interview with a guy who is an ex-gay (if possible). This man says that "there is no gay gene", and immediately enters a scene between Bill Maher and a certain Dr. Dean Hamer Author of The God Gene and asked Maher if he discovered the "gay gene" to which, Dr. Hamer mentioned yes. Cut the scene and continue with the ex-gay.
The scene with Dr. Hamer is obviously on purpose to discredit the ex-gay, however, the words he uses are not appropriate. Not all people know about genetics (I'm not saying I know everything), do not have to know if they are not interested. But, I have repeatedly found that some people believe there is a gene for eye color, height, hair type, ie specific phenotypic characteristics. But this is not true, and it is not so easy, in fact, is a bit complicated.
To cut a long story, a phenotype does not depend on "the gene" as Maher makes it look, but many. Maybe, yes, there is a gene that helps much more to give this feature, but does not depend on one, as does watching the documentary.
In fact, the Wikipedia article of Dr. Hamer mentioned that there are several genes that predispose humans to be gay. Maybe I hear pedantic, but such details are necessary if we want to win an award that "increasing scientific knowledge." In other words, helped to create or follow up on a meme , being somewhat ironic that Richard Dawkins coined the term meme XD
religion as a neurological disorder
Here I'm going to throw a theme that I have little knowledge and that if the shit, I do know.
A little later in the documentary, interview with Dr. Andrew Newberg , a neuroscientist who has studied the relationship of the brain with religious beliefs, neurotheology. A very interesting topic. Maher made the comment that for him, religion is a neurological disorder.
I think it's wrong.
As I said, I am far from knowing the subject thoroughly, and I threw a quick search and did not find anything to confirm his belief. Here is a list of neurological disorders
What is a neurological disorder? It's just a mess
body's nervous system. And a "disorder", medically speaking, is an abnormal condition that affects the body. Some neurological disorders are dementia, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, neuroinfection, some are related to poor nutrition.
Does religion enter into these rankings?
I read many classifications of Neurological Disorders and most are classified as stated earlier, problems with the agency. Trauma, autoimmune diseases, genetics, tumors, head injuries, factory defects. I have not found anything that supports what he says Maher.
is well known that we are predisposed to be religious and believe in gods. In our history, we have created thousands them.
Of course, not born believing in a particular god, but our brain wiring itself is a bit biased in our search irremediable (and ridiculous at times) of patterns in our environment to survive. Is this a neurological disorder? Maher may refer to the indoctrination and zombification some people for their personal god, but calling neurological disorder, it makes me cross the line.
I do not want to give a bad impression of the documentary. If you want to find out about other religions and practices (at least the most dominant) is a very good guide, there are jokes, have tragedies, sarcasm, black humor, culture, even going to find one of charlatans and clowns who say it's the second coming of Jesus Christ ... the dude is from Puerto Rico.
The documentary I've seen it at Blockbuster. Worth renting.
PD. On the wiring of our brains, Michael Shermer has written a very good , which is in English only. Perhaps at some time to translate it for the blog, is worth it.
0 comments:
Post a Comment