“Religulous,” the latest pastime of HBO’s own Bill Maher, is due for release in the fall of 2008, a movie that in all regards seems to perfectly exemplify the growing mainstream attitude of this generation.

Following the little snippet trailers online, the film looks to be a solid two hours of Maher firing off prepared questions to slack-jawed religious zealots, who, as far as Maher is concerned, wallow in their own stupidity. You don’t have to disagree with the movie’s religion-can-get-ridiculous statement to see the profound arrogance in Maher’s tactics.

Irreverence, much to the chagrin of many of today’s youth culture mainstays, is not a virtue. Whether these methods are for show, for profit, or for real, they certainly send the message of emotional and spiritual disregard whatever the subject, assuming of course that you can get a laugh.

Sean Keady

Mount Desert