The most obvious flaw in Maher’s documentary is that it’s one sided. He offers many examples of religion that’s extreme, dishonest, hypocritical, or anti-freedom. It’s an often-funny visual tour of bombs exploding and charlatans peddling faith-based snake-oil. In fact, most believers would agree with many of Maher’s attacks. The problem is his conclusion that flim-flam artists and jihadists represent the totality of religion.
\nIt’s hard to know where to begin in rebutting that. For this post, let me just start with a few obvious points about American history. Most major American social reform movements that improved the status of the disenfranchised or maltreated were fueled by religious faith:
\nAbolitionism
\nThe civil rights movement
\nThe drive to end child labor
\nEnvironmentalism
\nThe creation of public schools
\nSuffrage and women’s rights
\nThe progressive era move to create a social safety net
\nCreation of the eight hour day.
\nIn addition, much of our charitable sector arose out of religious impulse. Among the institutions of civil society dedicated to social progress that have religious origins:
\nYMCA
\nSalvation Army
\nThe Red Cross
\nCatholic Charities
\nHabitat for Humanity
\nBoy Scouts
\nGoodwill
\nAlcoholics Anonymous
\nWhat have I left out?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The most obvious flaw in Maher’s documentary is that it’s one sided. He offers many examples of religion that’s extreme, dishonest, hypocritical, or anti-freedom. It’s an often-funny visual tour of bombs exploding and charlatans peddling faith-based snake-oil. In fact, most believers would agree with many of Maher’s attacks. The problem is his conclusion that flim-flam…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":49,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-348","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\n