Now that Bill Maher’s “Religulous” has been released, U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor will come in for more attention for his on-screen appearance in a film that attacks organized religion.

Pryor tells Stephens Media that he regrets having agreed to to the interview.

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He’ll be OK. The heavy-handed approach will have a narrow appeal and offend many, as Pryor recognizes.

“I think he’s trying to make me out to be a joke, and really what he’s doing is attacking people of faith,” Pryor said. “That’s unfortunate. I don’t like that. I wish I’d not been a part of it now that I know how it’s been used.”

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The article explains how the interview came to pass. Too bad the unedited version isn’t available.

Pryor consented to the interview for what he thought would be a discussion related to the annual National Prayer Breakfast. Pryor was chairman of that event.

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Instead, the camera rolled for an hour as Pryor and Maher went head-to-head on religious issues, Pryor said.

“It was very hostile,” Pryor said. “It was very hostile toward religion and Christianity in particular. It really almost was like a debate between the two of this.”

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The hour of footage was pared down to less than four minutes in the movie.

… Pryor said a tape of the complete interview would show he was “pretty successful in making a solid counterpoint” to Maher’s arguments against religion.

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In the movie, Pryor openly acknowledges his Christianity and that he believes Jesus is the way to be reconciled with God.

“I really felt like I held my own,” Pryor said Thursday. “I’m not afraid or embarrassed to defend my faith.”

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