The website for the upcoming documentary Religulous describes Bill Maher as “known for his astute analytical skills, irreverent wit and commitment to never pulling a punch.”
While I’m eager for documentary filmmakers to expose the self-contradictory fictions and power-grabs that corrupt religious institutions, I’m afraid I see little insight or humor in the following short excerpt.
(Click here for the AfterElton.com video.)
The “ex-gay” man is John Westcott, a Florida man who walked away from a seven-year committed gay relationship to become an antigay activist.
Nowadays, Westcott proclaims he is freed from the “gay lifestyle” and says “I don’t believe that anyone is gay.” In the curiously named New Man Magazine in 2006, Westcott asserted long-rejected myths about homosexuality as if they were fact:
“There are many root causes [for homosexuality],” Westcott says. “But some of the common denominators are: A breakdown in a same-sex parent relationship, not relating to other male peers, an early exposure to sexuality and sexual abuse.”
Earlier this year, Westcott violated Canadian TV ethical standards with an ad that supported antigay discrimination as a means of suppressing the visibility of gay people and increasing the visibility of self-closeted ex-gays.
Maher has been prone to cherry-pick various religions’ lunatics, as if one group’s fringe could automatically discredit the entire group. Has Maher resisted that temptation with Religulous? We’ll find out in 10 days: The movie enters broad release on October 8.
Tags: Bill Maher, documentary, John Westcott, video35 Comments »
RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URL
I doubt that he does, from looking at his trailer. He kinda reminds of Penn & Teller’s Bullshit in that sense. He picks out something he doesn’t like and then “disproves” it by picking out the extreme within it.
I think he is extremely intelligent and astute, but he’s not perfect or an end-all-be-all.
I really truly believe that people would find reasons to hate without religion. Just like I think without religion people would find reasons to love.
Comment by Emily K — September 28, 2008 @ 10:55 pm
I’m really excited about ‘Religulous’, and have been waiting to see it for months. Even better, I hate going to the threatre – but this one will less likely draw in parents with their big-mouth kids LOL
If anything, Westcott (and actually Stephen Bennett too) is a perfect example of spineless men to avoid, if you’re a gay man interested in the long term. If he’s proned to be religious and has no backbone, he’ll walk off with any skank with a bible who’s intent on snatching him up, right at your front door.
Comment by Scott — September 29, 2008 @ 5:42 am
I think that Maher’s point was to make the “ex-gay” thing look foolish. Sometimes it’s better to let things speak for themselves. In my opinion, this video interview did that.
I can’t wait to see the movie.
Comment by Chris — September 29, 2008 @ 10:53 am
I think Westcott comes across as defensive and evasive, though part of that may be due to us not seeing what transpired earlier in their discussions.
Maher was the one who looked a bit foolish to me. I support his objective to some extent, but his method seems slapdash.
Comment by Mike A. — September 29, 2008 @ 1:43 pm
Scott, I see your point regarding Westcott’s “spineless” infidelity to his partner — though for all we know, they may have parted agreeably over a number of issues. (Frankly, how long would you want to continue in a relationship with an increasingly prejudiced and doctrinaire ex-gay?)
However, unless you have material evidence of subsequent sexual misconduct by Westcott, please refrain from baseless accusations of skanky hook-ups. Thanks.
Comment by Michael Airhart — September 29, 2008 @ 9:47 pm
You say Maher cherry picks religion’s lunatics (there are certainly very rich pickings to be had!). Well, look at the statistics, like the number of Americans who believe the Universe is less than 10,000 years old (just under 50 percent, according to newsweek).
But, you only have to look what at the tenets of the religion say, and what the religious leaders say, to decide whether it’s poisonous or not. At the heart of all these outreach schemes by ex-gays is the ultimatum reportedly made by the supposed Jesus of Nazareth in Matt 25:41, to ‘accept my loving message or face eternal fire’ – not unlike the threat made by al Qaeda, or fanatics blowing other muslims to bits every day in the middle east right now.
If it’s alright to base beliefs on revelation and superstition, without evidence, then you give credibility to the ex-gay industry. The temptation to fall for their message is there. Bill Maher is continuing the great work done by Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris and others, in showing how faith rots the mind.
Comment by Adrian T. — September 30, 2008 @ 6:29 am
Adrian, if Maher’s documentary presents stats like that, then his case will be a lot stronger than if he simply picks a couple of Florida and Texas fundamentalists and expects the audience to assume they are typical “Christians.”
Even then, your statistic would suggest that the other 50 percent of Americans aren’t in complete denial of reality. I still question the allegiance of moderate Christians to a heavily edited, sometimes-barbaric document that hasn’t been substantially updated in 1,800 years to reflect modern knowledge, but my point holds: What’s true of some, isn’t true of all.
Do you have a link to the statistic? I don’t doubt it, but I think folks should be able to see it for themselves.
Comment by Michael Airhart — September 30, 2008 @ 9:44 am
“However, unless you have material evidence of subsequent sexual misconduct by Westcott, please refrain from baseless accusations of skanky hook-ups. Thanks.”
Hi Michael – I wasn’t just referring to his story; Stephen Bennett’s story, as I recall, is very similar (woman shows up on his front porch, “talks him out of homosexuality”, and then he leaves and gets married with that woman).
And then there’s this story, which may be of interest:
http://davidsopenforum.blogspot.com
Sorry if any misunderstanding – I wasn’t playing favorites LOL
Comment by Scott — September 30, 2008 @ 11:08 am
Michael – I recognize I risk tarring all the faithful with the same brush and that many are good inspite of their faith – but while ever people buy into the offer of everlasting life, then they risk being hostage to its contents.
There are a number of polls; I note a new Gallup one http://www.pollingreport.com/science.htm – that only 50% of the world’s most powerful nation should accept reality, 199 years after Darwin – (if you look carefully, the figure is actually 15%!) is something to be really concerned about.
Here is a more worrying statistic as well, from 2000: 44% of people believes Jesus will come back to judge the world in the next 50 years. The end of the world will come soon – (and most likely, this is something to be welcomed, and there’s no need to worry about global warming, because the righteous will have been raptured up by then). It’s a serious question, especially after live warheads have been flown across the country on b52s: should people like this be trusted to serve in the military at all?
http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/1999/at2000/stories/religion/index.html
The good news is, to Christians gay or straight, is that change is possible: even Mother Theresa could not believe it in the end.
Comment by Adrian T. — September 30, 2008 @ 12:32 pm
Michael –
There are a number of polls; I note a new Gallup one http://www.pollingreport.com/science.htm – that only 50% of the world’s most powerful nation should accept reality, 199 years after Darwin – (if you look carefully, the figure is actually 15%!) is something to be really concerned about.
And, more alarming, from 2000: 44% of people believes Jesus will come back to judge the world in the next 50 years. (should people who welcome the world’s end be trusted to serve in the military at all?)
http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/1999/at2000/stories/religion/index.html
Comment by Adrian T. — September 30, 2008 @ 12:38 pm
Michael, here are the poll reports… plenty to choose from.
http://www.pollingreport.com/science.htm
Comment by Adrian T. — September 30, 2008 @ 6:52 pm
Since Jews effectively “update” the Torah all the time with the Oral Law, what is everyone’s opinion of us?
And don’t let that ‘pesky holocaust’ keep you from taking pot-shots. Surely we’re as deserving of the despise thrust upon us by men like Dawkins as Christians are.
Comment by Emily K — September 30, 2008 @ 8:59 pm
Good point, Emily. I dare fundamentalist Christians to explain how they presume to declare God’s word, the Holy Spirit, and human knowledge to be dead and frozen as of 1,800 years ago. And how do they claim with a straight face to be Jews’ best friends while praying for Armaggeddon?
As for various atheists’ opinions of Jews, I’m clueless — feel free to enlighten us.
Comment by Michael Airhart — September 30, 2008 @ 10:12 pm
Well, my point wasn’t that we’re “better” than Christians. I mean, our book is 5,000 years old. But when you read texts like Richard Elliott Freidman’s Commentary on the Torah, it’s very refreshing.
I really don’t know Atheists’ opinion of us honestly. I would assume they would take shots at us for “hating” arabs and torturing palestinians or hating Muslims or something. Three things that absolutely don’t apply to me, that i’m not able to give you biblical reasoning to advocate.
Comment by Emily K — September 30, 2008 @ 10:32 pm
Emily, I decline your invitation to judge “you’ as a collective group, or to blame you for ancestral wrongs — the consequences of this kind of thinking can be seen in Belfast, Beirut, Baghdad! (Being able to discriminate is actually a good thing.)
But I imagine this is what many atheists might wish to say: you’re also atheist about wotan, thor, zeus, poseidon, jesus, mithras, shiva, the great ju ju up the mountain and thousands of other inventions – you’re nearly there, why make an exception for one particular god you happen to have been brought up to believe in? Well, you did ask….!
(Stats were at http://www.pollingreport.com/science.htm , Michael)
Comment by Adrian T. — October 2, 2008 @ 1:44 pm
[...] Maher interviews “ex-gay” John Westcott in a clip of his upcoming movie [...]
Pingback by XGW Digest: October 4, 2008 | Ex-Gay Watch — October 4, 2008 @ 6:01 am
I totally agree that homosexuality is indeed a choice. It is a behaviour…we are not to be controlled by our impulses! Thats foolish. Check out Joe Dallas for some great resources!
Comment by Daniel — October 7, 2008 @ 11:23 am
Is heterosexuality a choice? Who are you to say we should not be controlled by our impulses? Did you choose heterosexuality? Why not preach against those who act on their impulses to cheat or steal from others? Or act on their impulses to murder or rape? Get over your sexual hangups, fool.
Comment by DaveTheWave — October 7, 2008 @ 12:10 pm
“Check out Joe Dallas for some great resources!”
But Joe Dallas is a lunatic.
Comment by Scott — October 7, 2008 @ 3:37 pm
Here’s an interesting book review on Joe Dallas – speaking of resources, it seems he uses whatever pops up in his imagination:
http://www.whosoever.org/v3i4/book2.html
Comment by Scott — October 7, 2008 @ 5:37 pm
The earlier comments about John Westcott being spineless and having no backbone could not be further from the truth. He courageously made a decision that virtually everyone else mocked: his willingness to believe that just as Christ conquered the power of death, this same power could transform John’s life.
He has chosen to walk by faith and not by sight, through which he has experienced personal growth and greater freedom (i.e., finding ultimate security in God’s love for him). In my eyes, it takes a solid foundation of moral courage to persevere in honoring such a radical decision to walk out of homosexuality. How on earth could this be equated with being spineless?
Comment by Scott Moffet — November 23, 2009 @ 9:59 am
@Scott Moffet,
John Westcott’s decision was not “mocked” on this page, it was discredited.
Westcott did not change his orientation, nor did he preach grace and reconciliation to outcasts. Instead, he sought to mislead the public about the nature of sexual orientation, the nature of his change, and the inherent freedoms that he and others seek to take away from LGBT North Americans.
Westcott is anti-freedom, anti-affection, anti-sexuality, and anti-honesty. Ultimately, that makes him anti-life, since many people find life unbearable without such things as affection, freedom and honesty.
There’s nothing courageous or faithful about Westcott’s so-called “walk.”
Comment by Michael Airhart — November 23, 2009 @ 8:39 pm
First of all, Happy Thankgiving to Michael (and other readers).
Your recent comments sound very judgmental, and I wonder from what basis you’re able to draw such conclusions. Rather than attack John Westcott’s character, would it be possible to simply declare that your overall perspective about homosexuality greatly differs from his? Then, you are free to question and challenge the basis of his conclusions. However, attacking his character–especially with unfounded accusations–is absolutely inappropriate and destroys any opportunity for the “reconciliation” you apparently desire.
I have known John for several years and can guarantee you that he offers grace, honesty, and compassion to each of the people who interact with his ministry. He longs for each person to experience the freedom that Christ intends for all who embrace His truth (John 8:31-32). John seeks to serve those in the body of Christ who experience unwanted homosexual desires, a ministry for which many of us are grateful. May all of us honor the second greatest commandment: “To love our neighbors as we love ourselves” (Matthew 22:39). Blanket, unsubstantiated accusations do not reflect this spirit of grace and compassion.
Comment by Scott Moffet — November 26, 2009 @ 1:42 pm
Scott Moffet:
The notion of “ex-gay” is consumer fraud by definition. When pressed, the leaders of such groups merely say they are suppressing their natural sexual orientation. Like actors playing roles, they change their behavior, not who they are inside. Such a facade can rarely last long term and often destroys families in the name of family values.
http://www.truthwinsout.org/ex-gay-is-not-necessarily-straight/
Exodus is also a hate group that repeatedly calls GLBT people “perverse” and “sexually broken.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=556j8cucFCs
Additionally, Exodus board members go to conferences in places like Uganda that plan to “wipe out” gays. Are we supposed to be impressed by such “love” and “compassion”.
Speaking of “compassion”- why are you offering it? Once we drop the fundamentalist baggage and come out as openly GLBT, our lives are usually quite wonderful.
Indeed, I offer my compassion to fundamentalists caught up in ignorance and narrow mindedness. They really can escape this trap and lead more robust and fulfilling lives if they just learn to open their minds a bit. There is an amazing world of medicine, science, art, literature, pleasure and love – if they just overcome their oppressive conditioning. Millions of people have done so, including free-thinking people of faith.
Given the ex-gay industry’s undeniable record of vitriol and intolerance (which Wescott is part of) you have a lot of nerve talking about us being “judgmental” and asking for “reconciliation”.
It is also astounding that after portraying GLBT people in such unflattering ways (perverse??), that you have the chutzpa to say, “John seeks to serve those in the body of Christ who experience unwanted homosexual desires.” Excuse me, but John is the cause of such cognitive dissonance and self-loathing, not the solution.
Catch a clue Moffit. A person’s sexual orientation is only “unwanted” after he or she is made to feel unwanted by his or her church, family, friends and society. Take away the Exodus-induced blame and shame, and suddenly the incredible feelings of sexual attraction and love become quite “wanted” and desirable.
“Ex-gay” is about applying extreme psychological pressure to make people feel like freaks who need to fit in and conform to avoid rejection and persecution.
Far from benign, as you disengenously present Westcott and such programs, Exodus causes a great deal of harm, depression, stagnation and pain in the lives of many people.
If you want true “reconciliation”, why not start by being honest for a change and drop the obvious, self-righteous propaganda that falsely portrays you as a victim – not the victimizer you and Westcott truly are. When you no longer sound brainwashed, perhaps we can have a genuine intellectual conversation.
See survivors: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViaMczTmrkA
Comment by Wayne Besen — November 26, 2009 @ 2:37 pm
I’m gay and always have been, i have a amazing son and wife…im sorry for every bible thumber out there who say oh its choice its the life style you choose…. BS on you John was a fag always a fag… sorry and your girl will always love pussy….. so with that said if it is such a choice for us you are saying that you choose to be straight and its ok but i cant choose to be gay, please all of you are just trying to make life more difficult for everyone knowone choose to be gay knowone chooses straight god makes everyone different for a reason because if we were meabt to all be the same we would all be white, all be skinny, and all wear a white sheet for clothes….. think about it….
Comment by Ilovemywife — May 16, 2010 @ 4:25 pm
I disagree with John and believe his views are wrong and damaging, but I do not believe he deserves the hate from those who disagree with him.
Comment by lucasboden — September 27, 2011 @ 5:34 am
The main argument is based on the Bible. I believe that bible is word of God. According to the bible homosexuality is a sin both in old & new testament. But due to the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, the people have been given grace to come back to God. This is true for murderers,adulterers,sexual immoral people too. By the grace of God we can overcome our sins.
Comment by Daniel John — December 20, 2011 @ 12:13 am
Daniel John? ‘based on the Bible’? Gee, I didn’t know that. First time I heard that one (snicker, smirk)! I think you have your theology a little messed up because according to the fundie worldview ‘we can overcome our sins’ is totally wrong. Jesus overcomes ‘our sins’, we can do nothing. But then, you have to think about gay christians – how do they fit into your worldview? You’re really out to lunch, biblically & in the reality-based world.
Comment by Devin — December 20, 2011 @ 9:36 am
Daniel John, you need a better quality of Church, with a better understanding of theology. You sound like you are still trapped in some second rate fundy job type “church” that still considers being gay a sin.
Look up a local Presbyterian, Episcopal, Lutheran, or United Church of Christ congregation.
You REALLY need a theological education, and have NOTHING to offer anyone here on this subject, as your words show.
Comment by Gene — December 20, 2011 @ 9:57 am
Gene…
I’ve been using your “better class of Christian” meme for quite a while. It’s a good one.
how are things gonig iwth your husband?
Comment by Ben In Oakland — December 20, 2011 @ 11:09 am
Ben, (all others), I have gotten my Christmas miracle. My Husband is about to be transfered to a rehab hospital from the accute care one he was transferred to recently. The doctors are (pleasantly) shocked, and yes, the word “miracle” has been used a lot by the hospital staff.
Two months ago, I was planning a funeral. Now, I am planning a life with him Ben. There will be months of pain, and hard rehab, and back steps, and putting bars on the walls of my bathrooms, and, I am THRILLED.
I guess I just don’t have a good fundamentalist/conservative idea of what a marriage is, because I was prepared to stand by him, feed and even clean him if his mind did not recover for decades….in contrast to the Pat Robertson view of marriage…you know, where a man can leave his wife (or husband in this case) if Alzheimers or another illness makes them less than the vibrant person we once loved. Guess I need a more conservative, less educated, fundamentalist Pat Robertson like Baptist church, don’t ya’ think Daniel John?
(for the slow..yes, that last part was dripping with bitter sarcasm) ;)
Glad the Better class of Church thing is useful for you Ben. It is, after all, true. (works for Jews also by the way)
P.S. I have heard the best definition of a Baptist/ Conservative Fundamentalist Church. “It’s a place to feel better about yourself and worse about others”…so sad, but SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO TRUE.
Comment by Gene — December 20, 2011 @ 12:45 pm
PS Ben…the comment about it working for Jews was a reference to the impressive tolerance and grace of most reformed and even some conservative congregations, vs the Orthodox.
Comment by Gene — December 20, 2011 @ 12:46 pm
Congratulations Gene, I hope your husband continues to improve and you two can share a wonderful life together.
Comment by Priya Lynn — December 20, 2011 @ 1:40 pm
Even some of the orthodox are coming around, or trying to.
I’m happy for you. We’ve been through two surgeries for two cancers. Yeccccccch. But, fortunately, it all came out all right, so to speak, in the end.
Comment by Ben In Oakland — December 20, 2011 @ 3:44 pm
Gene, I’m happy for you and your husband.
Merry Christmas!
Comment by Richard Rush — December 20, 2011 @ 6:23 pm