Stephen Fry with a spot on answer about God.

[Hamlette]

Link to tweet

?s=10&t=uZXNUhR5BcXpF-tNWbX2Yw

[Metaphorical]

1. I so love Stephen Fry!

nt

[chowder66]

2. That was great!

[brooklynite]

3. Just to clarify, this dates to 2015.

[Hamlette]

4. ah, thanks, I didn't know

it's still spot on, IMO

[certainot]

29. i'm surprised it doesn't get a lot more play.

i use a similar shorter version but that's fantastic

[Brainfodder]

5. War Famine Plague Trump Platypus

[erronis]

11. You pass the memory test!

Better than I did the last time with much simpler words....

[BSdetect]

6. You can't budge the old religious guy. He's so invested in the shit.

[Hamlette]

7. and he doesn't like calling God a monster.

Last edited Wed Sep 28, 2022, 05:52 PM - Edit history (1)

since I was raised an atheist, my investment is in people like Stephen Fry.

I remember reading someone calculated how many people died violent deaths at the hand of God in the old testament. Can't remember the number but it was astonishing.

[Solomon]

52. i loved the expression on his face!

[Hamlette]

60. priceless

[Ferrets are Cool]

8. JFC, I love that answer. And the diatribe.

And all so-called Christians are going LALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALAL

[johnnyplankton]

9. I'm not a believer or an atheist but

The answer is actually pretty self-righteous and childish IMO...

[erronis]

15. Really? Then the question is just as childish and should be answered thusly.

Why should someone ask about some monotheistic thing living behind some silly gates? How would that be presented to a Buddhist or another non-abrahamic religion? The question was clearly christo-centric and can be answered in any fashion a true non-believer wants.

[Layzeebeaver]

25. and his answer is the one that the Christo-centric world must hear

so it is spot on.

[wnylib]

16. Agree. As simplistic as the literalism of Evangelicals and fundies.

[TeamProg]

24. Huh? Not at all. Evangelicals think the earth is 7000 yrs old, they don't bother themselves with

scientific evidence. Their eyes and ears are shut.

[wnylib]

28. True. As I said, their view is fundamentalist and

literal. They believe in the 6000 year old earth based on taking Biblical genealogies and other verses as literal fact and calculating them. A very simplistic, childish view of religion.

[TheBeam19]

64. They're equally obnoxious, at the very least.

[certainot]

31. it's right on. the pearly gates part meant they were talking about the same god. a guy with

a white beard in the clouds who wants people to be afraid of him and kneel to him while he craps all over the planet.

religion can be useful but that's just silly.

[Grins]

34. Why? He responded on his questioner's terms

He took his beliefs and used it against him.

[brooklynite]

53. Actually you are...

The two terms are mutually exclusive. Either you believe a god exists or you don't. If you do you're a theist. If you don't you're an atheist.

[niyad]

54. Please show where Stephen was wrong.

[uponit7771]

75. +1, anyone can proffer strawman positions without reference

[NJCher]

10. Never bought into it

Even when I was a little kid. Said I was going to make my own religion. I studied the world's religions using books from the library.

Point is that even at about age 8 I knew their idea of Dog was b@$#@$.

By age 16 I had written a paper for psychology entitled "Human Manifestations in Religion."

[OMGWTF]

22. Same here -- I was forced to go to Catholic schools for seven years until they raised the tuition

and my parents couldn't afford it any longer. But before I left to go to the public school for eighth grade I managed to get into an argument with a nun about abortion -- this was in 1968. I loved to ask them tough questions and if they couldn't answer them, their pat response was always, "There are things you're not supposed to understand."

Whaddabunchabullshit!!!

[NJCher]

47. :)

[Hamlette]

61. my friends would beg me to go to Sunday school with them and ask the hard questions

I was raised in Mormon Utah and even in elementary school they loved it when I disrupted their church classes. The first think the teacher would ask the new kid was "which church do you go to?"

When I was in the 4th grade I said to my mother "everyone believes in god, it must be true". She replied "just because everyone believes in something doesn't make it true". More people should think like Mom.

[malaise]

12. Music to my ears

Perfect
Rec

[mjvpi]

13. You thought God was an architect, now you know. It's something like a pipe bomb ready to blow.

Jason Isbel

[BMW2020RT]

17. 👍🏼

[nycbos]

14. This Jewish atheist says...

... hell yeah.

[Talitha]

18. Nicely done, Stephen!!!!

[Sky Jewels]

19. God is a fucking asshole.

I'm glad it's not real.

[tblue37]

20. Deafie here. What did he say? Thanks. nt

[Hermit-The-Prog]

30. Don't know if this will help, but it's encouraging ...

https://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/new-glasses-for-the-deaf-and-hard-of-hearing-display-subtitles-while-people-speak-1.6009806

[tblue37]

49. I will undoubtedly get a pair when the preview & testing phase is over!

[Hermit-The-Prog]

51. I've seen 'apps' that do real-time captioning, but don't know how well they work.

[Hamlette]

59. way cool! thanks for posting

[Chellee]

43. Transcript - except for the bit that I couldn't understand.

Byrne: Suppose what Oscar believed in when he died, in spite of your protestations, suppose it’s all true! And you walk up to the pearly gates, and you are confronted by God. What will Stephen Fry say to him, her, or it?

Fry: I will basically, (unsure) odyssey, I think I’d say, “Bone cancer in children? What’s that about? How dare you? How dare you create a world that there is such misery that is not our fault? It’s not right. It’s utterly, utterly evil. Why should I respect a capricious, stupid, mean-minded God that creates a world that is so full of injustice and pain?” That’s what I would say.

Byrne: You think you’re going to get in?

Fry: No! But I wouldn’t want to. I wouldn’t want to get in on his terms. They’re wrong. Now if I died, and it was Pluto, Hades, and it was the twelve Greek gods then I would have more truck with it, because the Greeks were… they didn’t pretend not to be human in their appetites, and in their capriciousness, in their unreasonableness. They didn’t present themselves as being all seeing, all wise, all kind, all beneficent. Because the God that created this universe, if it was created by God, was quite clearly a maniac, utter maniac, totally selfish, totally. We have to spend our life on our knees thanking him? What kind of God would do that? Yes, the world is very splendid, but it also has in it, insects, whose whole life cycle is to burrow into the eyes of children, and make them blind. They eat outwards from the eyes. Why? Why do that to us? He could have easily made a creation where that didn’t exist. It’s simply not acceptable. So, you know, atheism is not just about not believing that there is a God, on the assumption that there is one, what kind of God is he? And it’s apparent that he’s monstrous, utterly monstrous, and deserves no respect whatsoever. The moment you banish him, your life becomes simpler, purer, cleaner, and more worth living, in my opinion.

Byrne: That sure is the longest answer to that question that I ever got in this entire series.

Fry: *laughs*

[tblue37]

50. Thank you so much! nt

[Victor_c3]

21. I had an epiphany like that when I was in Iraq 18 years ago

What sort of god would allow young children to be slaughtered as a byproduct of war? One day, a group of armed gunmen saw a large group of children playing soccer in my sector. They got out of there vehicles and murdered more than 20 children. What sort of god allows that to happen?

[flashman13]

41. I had my epiphany at age 6 when a nun was telling me I would go to eternal damnation and torture if

I skipped church on Sunday. WTF!! I have always known bullshit when I hear it!

[SergeStorms]

23. The correct answer to Fry's query is, of course.....

"original sin". Cripes, I'm a secular humanist and I know that.

We're made to pay for Adam's and Eve's original sin of eating the forbidden fruit from the tree of knowledge.

You didn't know that, ya' bunch of commie pinko weirdos? ✝️ I'm so glad the United States was formed as a christian nation!

[niyad]

58. As i responded to the archbishop who trotted that one out (shortly

bbefore I was excommunicated), "I do not accept being punished for something my sister or a classmate did, and I sure as HELL do not accept being punished for something somebody supposedly did back whenever." For some reason, the old guy was not amused. Actually, he was not amused by the whole "conversation".

[SergeStorms]

66. Yeah, they be that way.

They make up the rules as they go along and can't understand why people are turning their backs on religion.

I was raised a Lutheran - a left-handed catholic - and when I raised questions in confirmation classes about certain subjects I was branded a "bad seed". I finished the classes and was confirmed ( I think I was 13 at the time) and to this day I never attended church again.

Sounds like we had very similar experiences with organized religion.

[Karadeniz]

26. Christian theology is so misunderstood that his response makes sense to most people. If you'll

read the Prodigal Son and retitle it The God System, you'll find the basic structure of Christian theology. Son=Soul. Father=Soul Source. Towns/rulers=spiritual levels, ending up here. Overseers/Managers=
Those spirits/gods in charge of the earth level. Swine=Unclean flesh
(human bodies). Many swine=many incarnations used by the one soul to work off karmic debt, described in another parable.

Having souls carry the nature of the all-good God/Source to earth permits the spiritual elevation of the human mind and behavior, improving earth and society. Having souls which have lost their strength as they move away from their "home" is where karma comes in.

No all-good God has anything to do with cancer in children. The lesser authorities, yes, because it's in groping with problems, this imperfect world, that the soul grows.

[Act_of_Reparation]

45. Sounds like you made this up yourself.

[Karadeniz]

46. Of course it does!!!! The people who knew the theology, because they wrote it, were labelled

heretics, their writings were burned and knowledge was lost. People weren't allowed to read the Bible in their own language to think about the messages Jesus said were hidden... and they surely are. Society would be better off with the original Christianity. Paul said there were many gods, but no one wants to think about that. No one wants to think about why Paul doesn't quote Jesus or mention anything about Jesus's life except Mary and Bethlehem. LOTS of room for improvement in modern Christianity!!!!!!!

[Sky Jewels]

65. No matter how you slice it,

it’s still just a bunch of mythological nonsense made up by humans.

[Karadeniz]

67. To those who have experienced another reality...and there are thousands... it doesn't matter what

another thinks. It would be nice if everyone was on the same page, but that'll never happen! The only thing that matters is using one's life to do good.

PS: You're right about the mythology! It developed as a tool to explain things. Jesus is so close to Mithras, it made the early Orthodox very uncomfortable!

[Ford_Prefect]

27. I grew up in the liberal side of the Presbyterian church. My dad was an activist in the

Civil Rights, Peace and Ecology movements. He was also a Presbyterian Minister. He tried to find ways to interpret Christian thought from a humanist perspective. He most particularly did not accept the idea of original sin as poisoning every life thus requiring a permanent state of guilt from believers.

I found that although my father and those he knew in our faith, and in other faiths were conscientious and sincere in their understanding of humanity I could not use their language of faith to describe the world I saw. I could not ascribe events and values to any "higher power".

In short it did not make sense to me.

I never argued with my father or others about faith, since that is what belief is.

I have never felt that anyone could excuse immoral or dangerous behavior by means of the argument that GOD said it was so. I have witnessed countless ignorant or manipulative people do just that throughout my life and it never accounted with the Bible I read as a child, nor with the genuine Christian theology I am aware of as adult.

Humans make their own decisions which have real and immediate consequences in the real and immediate world. People who try to inject that old testament vengeful GOD into the discussion as a verification of their beliefs, prejudices, and actions are ignorant and as far from the model of Christ's actions, humility and love as anyone could be. Clearly they have not actually read the good word they so often refer to.

While I do not practice the faith of my father I do respect those who find it helps them cope.

For those who feel GOD is a whip to flog others with I have several answers. One of which may involve splinters...

[ProfessorGAC]

32. Bravo

A question I've often asked is why would a perfect bring be needy?

[Lucinda]

33. ❤️ ✿❧🌿❧✿ ❤️

[Roy Rolling]

35. I thought the same thing

When I was 14 years old.

The question: Why does God allow misery and not create 24/7 utopia?

His response is as trite as the millions who answered before him the same way, being asked the same Saint Peter/Christian “Pearly Gates” question.

People wonder why youth are becoming more disillusioned with spiritual and metaphysical sciences. It’s like a dentist who may break a tooth—I’m not gonna go back to that dentist.

People have problems beyond the color of a mermaid’s skin nowadays, but spiritual organizations aren’t solving it. They’re teaming with the material-world idiots who are causing the problems like climate change, human migration, war, disease, and pestilence.

So being a contrarian like Fry is sexy, but following his advice won’t cure the problems churches/synagogues/mosques/temples/government burden us with and suck money from us any more than atheists. Atheism is recognized as a religion, following the atheist religion is no better than any other religion. Sorry, folks. We’re on our own. Atheist or theist.😂😂

[Farmer-Rick]

56. Atheism is Not a religion

Being an Atheist means that you don't believe there is enough evidence for a god.

You theists have a whole system of beliefs about a god. Christians have all this theory about sin and and imaginary soul and a moral god and life after death. It's a whole system of beliefs.

But atheists only say you have not presented enough evidence for a god. That's it, nothing more. There isn't enough evidence for me to believe in a god and not a single theist has met that burden of proof ever in the history of the world.

So, if I don't believe in big foot, is that a religion too? If I don't believe in ghosts and demons and monsters, is that a religion too?

No one has presented valid, identifiable or sufficient evidence for the existence of a god or a big foot. I do not believe in either.

[Solomon]

63. Yep. I don't get the "atheism is a religion" thing. It's a defensive maneuver but its not correct.

I grew up baptist from day one, I mean there was a reason to go to church every day. Choir rehearsal, usher rehearsal, prayer meetings, etc. etc. but I just couldn't get over the fact that Ku Klux Klan worshiped Jesus too. Couldn't get over why God would allow priests, using his name, to bugger little children. Why tornadoes and hurricanes would destroy so many innocent people, while "christians" would brag, "God sure is good", "all the time". What utter bullshit! Here was Peter who supposedly walked around with Jesus, saw all the miracles, etc. who, when the time came, said "I don't know the motherfucker". Not once. But three fucking times! And yet here we are more than 2,000 years later when nobody has seen Christ, and people want to condemn me for saying "no, none of it makes any sense". People need to grow up and take responsibility. It's the same story as Santa Claus but for adults.

How can Christ die for your sins save the world for everyone but people are still going to hell anyway? What the fuck did he die for? Doesn't make the slightest bit of sense. If he died to save the world, then there's nothing else to do. Everyone gets to go to heaven. But no, if you don't worship the beast he will send you to hell for allllllll eternity. What a crock of ...

[Farmer-Rick]

68. One atheist I know puts it this way about Jesus

God sacrificed himself to himself to appease himself over rules he himself made up.

If we weren't indoctrinated as small children with these crazy religious ideas, we would not believe any of them.

[Sky Jewels]

80. Right. Even as major myths go, Christianity's basic story is utterly convoluted and ridiculous.

None of it makes a lick of sense.

And it's a steaming load of oppressive, women-hating bullshit.

[Act_of_Reparation]

81. It's almost like it was made up on the fly...

...3,000 years ago by a bunch of dudes with no formal education.

[Sky Jewels]

82. Goat herders high on magic mushrooms is my guess.

[Hamlette]

83. then it turned out to be a great way to control people and they stuck with it

[Sky Jewels]

84. Yep. Funny how all the major characters in their tall tales are male

and the women are just vessels, not worthy of any status in society. Mary's claim to fame is that she got raped. Eve gets blamed for the fall of humanity. It's almost as if ... and hear me out ... these myths reflect the values of a very patriarchal, women-hating society. And an all-powerful Sky Wizard is good for scaring people into forking over their money to the Great Grifting Ring known as religion.

[Act_of_Reparation]

72. If I had a dime for every time I had to post this...

[calimary]

36. Bookmarking for later.

[Midnight Writer]

37. Gnosticism myth is that the Creator God is essentially a "monster", an abomination

created from his mother Sophia's dalliance with Darkness.

[Wild blueberry]

38. Happy to be an atheist

Good on you, Mr Fry!
Thank you for posting.

[flashman13]

39. So sayeth Lazurrus Long / Robert Heinlein

[WheelWalker]

42. Sir Harry P. Flashman?

Gotta love a scoundrel. Much respect for Fraser's work. Heinlein the more. We appear to have similar literary tastes. Or do I misread your reference?

[WheelWalker]

40. If at death I found myself at "Pearly Gates"

I'd be keeping my fucking mouth shut.

[sky_masterson]

44. David Attenborough may have inspired some of this

[Hamlette]

57. thanks for this

[sky_masterson]

78. You are Welcome.

Thank you for the original post.

[Farmer-Rick]

62. When I was stationed in DC

There was this 12 year old girl found dead in the basement if her parent's house. She had died from lack of food and water in the most disgusting unsanitary conditions. She had been in the basement since she was born and was systematically tortured. Her sister knew she was there and said she was being punished for being bad. Her parents felt no remorse and kept repeating how bad that little girl was and she deserved her punishment. It was mostly the father that did the torturing.

Why did a supposedly loving god allow this? Where was that little girl's angel to rescue her? Why didn't god help her? What horrible thing could this small child have done to deserve to be tortured for her entire life?

I am glad there is no evidence for a god, because if a god exists it is a cruel and horrible monster.

[kairos12]

48. On point completely.

[niyad]

55. I am reminded of Mark Twain's "Letters From The Earth".

[lindysalsagal]

69. He's so right. I didn't know he was an atheist.

[Edim]

70. Totally selfish! Haha..

Yes, nothing but the self. That's what 'god' is. Infinite self.

[msfiddlestix]

71. Recommending for learning something new

Didn't know there were such things as insects that embed themselves in the back of the infants eyes and eat them blind.

wow.

Pretty much in agreement with Fry, though I don't particularly identify as an Athesiest, more Agnostic. However am firmly anti-religious.

Anti-Relious Organizations to put it more specifically. The Root of a hell of a lot of EVIL in this world.

Christians who ask "What would Jesus Say" when addressing Christian Fascists are missing the point by a thousand miles.

It's never about "Jesus", it's about everything in the old testaments. a very evil narrative filled with evil fables and edicts.

[shrike3]

74. I know religious people. I know lots and lots of non- and anti-religious people

The nons and antis aren't any worse than the religious, but they sure aren't any better, either. Misogyny, racism, elitism, you name it. It's alive and well in those who hate religion as well.

I'm pessimistic about mankind's future because the darkness comes from inside us, not from without. We share more of our DNA with the chimp, a violent and tribal species. Which pretty much describes us to a T.

Thousands of years and we still haven't figured out how to rid ourselves of the worst of ourselves. Earth will probably be better off without us, so it can build again.

[msfiddlestix]

77. Agree completely

I bring up the point only because the context of the darkness stemming from Religious groups across the spectrum are determined to project their beliefs on all of us through laws and changes to the constitution permitting their rule.

And the diabolical ruthlessness of that fact must have a spotlight 24/7, imo.

[shrike3]

73. This has been posted before. Sure it'll be posted again.

In the end, we're left with ourselves, which ultimately isn't a pretty picture.

[BlueIdaho]

76. Not a fan of any of the Abrahamic Religions

Too much blood, vengeance, and guilt for me.

[llashram]

79. interesting

given the alleged evil angel God created that allegedly ended up here. I get there, at the "pearly gate" if I'm one of the chosen. I ask why Satan and God's punishment of loading every human being born from the beginnings here with a sin nature for the "disobedience" of those 2 in the 'Garden". I would also ask what those two did...to curse our world with evil...because of the "snake" and Eve and the "tree" notwithstanding and Adam partake also of the 'gift' offered by the occupant entity at "the tree". Misogyny started with this 'incident' I feel. "The woman made me do it".

Faith in American religion is a challenge. I understand Fry's reluctance about the knees getting dirty. I just can't bow to any human or celestial entity. I can't live on my knees. 20 years of being on my knees taught me this challenge of 'faith' in a God.