On the subject of faith

TORONTO — Comedian Bill Maher says he’s not normally the type to make political donations, but he was so moved by the words of Republican vice-presidential running mate Sarah Palin that he immediately cut a cheque — for her opponents.

Maher, in town to support his new film Religulous at the Toronto International Film Festival, has based a career on political humour and eagerly ripped into Palin when the topic was put before him.

"I tell you I do not ever make a habit of giving money to politicians, but when I saw her make that speech I ran to my chequebook and sent money to Barack Obama," Maher said.

"She is scary."

Religulous, director Larry Charles’s first film since the outrageous Borat, documents Maher’s travels around the world as he confronts Christians, Muslims and Jews about their faith.

The film’s underlying argument is that religion needs to be abolished before faith leads to the destruction of humanity.

Palin is a staunch Christian who has said, among other things, that the Iraq war is "a task from God."

Last week, Palin gave a fiery speech to the party faithful that pulled no punches against her Democratic rivals.

Maher’s appraisal of her oratory skills were succinct: "She snarls."

"It was like, wow, I will send (Obama) whatever I have to to keep this woman out of the White House."

Noting that Obama has also professed himself a man of faith, Maher quipped: "I hope he’s lying."

Faith and politics go hand-in-hand in America, Charles said in a separate interview.

"You cannot get elected anymore in the United States without being a person of faith, without professing your faith," he said.

"You’re a pariah in American society if you’re someone who questions these basic foundations of belief."

The film sees Maher posing those questions to hilarious effect — if audience reaction during a recent screening is any measure — to priests, rabbis, imams and, among others, a man who plays Jesus at a theme park.

The degree to which faith is ingrained in American politics can be blamed on former Democratic president Jimmy Carter, Maher said.

"He’s the first one that brought all of that into it, ‘my personal relationship with God’ and ‘my faith is so important to me,’ " Maher said.

"I put it on him, absolutely."

The Republicans seized on faith as a political virtue and "took advantage," Maher added.

"We have retrogressed. That is not progress, that is going in the opposite direction from a country that was founded very specifically on the idea of separation of church and state," he said.

"The founding fathers were very, very clear on that."

Palin’s beliefs may not accord with his views, but Maher says there is an upside to Republican presidential candidate John McCain choosing her as a running mate.

"When I saw her get the nomination, as a citizen I was not happy," he said.

"But I said selfishly, ‘This is not going to be bad for my little movie.’ "

Religulous opens in theatres on Oct. 3.

’You’re a pariah in American society if you’re someone who questions these basic foundations of belief.’

Article Courtesy : Bill Maher