In his 2008 movie Religulous, Bill Maher argues that the U.S.’s founding fathers
ID: 409353 • Letter: I
Question
In his 2008 movie Religulous, Bill Maher argues that the U.S.’s founding fathers weren’t as religious as they’re taken to be. In defense he mentions that John Adams said
(A) This would be the best of all possible worlds if there were no religion in it.
The quote is taken from an 1817 letter to Thomas Jefferson in which Adams says
(B) Twenty times in the course of my late Reading, have I been upon the point of breaking out “This would be the best of all possible Worlds if there were no Religion in it”!!! But in this exclamation I should have been as fanatical as Bryant or Cleverly. Without Religion this World would be Something not fit to mention in polite company, I mean Hell.
The longer quotation from Adams reveals a point much different from what’s implied by the shorter one. Is it possible to criticize the evidence that Maher offers for his conclusion? Why?
a. No. The movie is billed as a comedy and it is inappropriate to critically analyze a comedy since the claims are not intended to be taken seriously.
b. No. (A) is contained in (B) so it is not possible to say (B) without saying (A). Since Adams said (B) it follows that Adams said (A). So it is appropriate to say that he said (A).
c. Yes. It would only be evidence that Adams wasn’t religious if he had used sentence (A). Instead he mentioned sentence (A).
d. Yes. Maher has a history of mocking religion by employing deceptive tactics and misleading editing. This is just another example.
e. Yes and no. Maher is not a credible authority on the words of John Adams. We have little reason to think that an entertainer like Maher would quote Adams correctly. So we shouldn’t accept his evidence but we also shouldn’t hold him to too high a standard.
Explanation / Answer
option E is correct.
individually he may have his openion, but it should not insist on the remaining. in this movie, he have two different oepnions about religion and given two different statements.