To be disappointed that Stephen Fry isn't....

[BertrandRussell]

....going to be tried for blasphemy? I was so looking forward to it!

'But that wouldn't have been his opinion. Why shouldn't he say what he thought'
It isn't always what someone says, its the way they say it. So saying 'I don't believe but if I did meet god I'd ask why he allows all the suffering' isn't that dissimilar to " mean-minded, stupid god who creates a world.... full of injustice".
Just more polite . Why use the word stupid to describe something he doesn't believe in but plenty of people do. It is belittling.

Huh Bert? Surely it's the interviewer's job to come up with the questions, not the interviewee? As questions go, I think those asked in this series were great.

"Just more polite . Why use the word stupid to describe something he doesn't believe in but plenty of people do. It is belittling."

I can't remember how he used the word stupid. Did he say that people who belived in God were stupid?

"Huh Bert? Surely it's the interviewer's job to come up with the questions, not the interviewee? As questions go, I think those asked in this series were great."

Sorry- I thought you were talking about the questions Fry said he would put to God........

If you have an opinion on something and soemone asks you what it is you would tell them.

If someone asks you what your would say to a god if they existed you tell them.
Thats kind of how an interview works. It would all fall apart if the person said "I am not going to tell you" especially when Stephen has made his views on god quite clear on previous occaisions.

We cant legislate on peoples opinions on something.

He wasnt being nasty about anyone who has a religious belief, he was stating the conversation he would have if HE was to meet 'god'.

If we had allowed religion to continue as it was many years ago without question we would still have Magdalen Houses, and many more priests would be getting away with sexually abusing boys and girls. Women would still be 2nd class citizens (well more than we are now) gay marriage wouldnt exist and rape in marriage would be legal!

There is no reason why people cannot question religion or 'god'. Its called theological debate. Bloody hell even the differing christian sects dont agree on things!

Steamtrain
Thanks!

Have spent half the afternoon re-watching Dave Allen and laughing my socks off. Timeless, just so clever, really missed.

Oh right. Yeah, the questions that SF said he would ask god were unimaginative and unoriginal and lacked insight or preparation. Just like the rest of the answers he gave during the interview. ITV2 could have churned it out as one of their weird holographic "An Audience With A Dead Celebrity" shows.

And David Attenborough is only an agnostic in the same way that Richard Dawkins is.

I agree. His agnosticism stems from his humilty, which makes him even more of a secular saint in my eyes. He was explaining opening a termite hill and observing all the insects, busy at their purpose and oblivious to his presence because they were blind. He said something like: 'What if I, like them, just lack the sense that would allow me to be aware of an omnipotent being?'

I don't think he does believe in a God or gods and he's talked about it lots. But it seems truer to science to say 'I cannot prove this so I'm going to have to say I don't know. Though I strongly suspect that to be the case.'

I believe Dawkins is an atheist not an agnostic. Attenborough has joked that 'maybe he's braver than me.'

Fry and Dawkins lack his charm - but they are entitled to express their views and I agree with them.

I have to say that it's a common trait of theists when asked an awkward question to turn on the questioner........

It must be lovely for all those people with such certainty about their convictions, I wish I had that.

What Attenborough says about not knowing what we can't know about God makes sense - personally I've always wondered why God created so many that can feel no genuine faith if he exists.

the questions that SF said he would ask god were unimaginative and unoriginal and lacked insight or preparation

I guess YOU opinions would be so much more fascinating? And how does one prepare answers in advance of being asked them?

While I understand where SF is coming from in terms of his view on God, I just wondr what would have happened and if he's get away with if he'd slammed Islam/Buddist etc beliefs, ? .

Userwhatever, the questions asked in this programme are pretty much the same on each show.

If we had allowed religion to continue as it was many years ago without question we would still have Magdalen Houses, and many more priests would be getting away with sexually abusing boys and girls. Women would still be 2nd class citizens (well more than we are now) gay marriage wouldnt exist and rape in marriage would be legal!

Ah yes SF the great womens rights activist - NOT!
He's an abuse apologist
He had NOTHING to do with bringing down the Magdalen homes, and he doesn't give a fuck about the current maternity hospital/charity sisters issues going on in Ireland
Pur-leese spare me the comparison that is an insult to whistle blowers and campaigners and trail blazers of the issues you've quoted

No he's fucking not, don't be such a dick.

Userwhatever, the questions asked in this programme are pretty much the same on each show

You do understand that they are filmed BEFORE they are aired, yes?

"While I understand where SF is coming from in terms of his view on God, I just wondr what would have happened and if he's get away with if he'd slammed Islam/Buddist etc beliefs, ?"

Oh, purhlease! Not that again!

TinselTwins- I think the previous poster was talking about the freedom to question and challenge the religious establishment, rather than attributing any achievements to Fry personally.........

""While I understand where SF is coming from in terms of his view on God, I just wondr what would have happened and if he's get away with if he'd slammed Islam/Buddist etc beliefs, ?"

He didn't attack any particular religion, though. He attacked the idea of religion in general.

Of course, deep down, you know he's right. That's why he makes you so angry. No-one here has been able to come up with a sensible answer to his argument. You haven't even tried.

I think Dave Allen was much cleverer, definitely not smug and the way he often (always?) ended with May Your God go with you took the sting out of anything he he said in the programme. I think comedy is an excellent medium for questioning things.

On the other hand Attenborough does it beautifully as well, as someone said he has a humility in his explanations. Fry not so much.

Willow I don't think it is true that you must answer a question, I often hear people being interviewed who will decline to answer certain questions.

Tinsel
Did I say it was all down to SF?

Of course it's not don't be bloody ridiculous. It's because people asked questions over the years, people challenged the secrecy and challenged the morals of so called Christians. If we never challenge anything we would still be living in the dark ages.
He was asked what he would say to A god
There are many 'gods' but the same question could be asked of all of them whatever their name is.
I dont agree with what he said about women either but that's not what the thread was about.

Ha! Sweaty Fry wouldn't dare diss Allah

www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/stephen-fry-hits-back-at-accusations-of-islamophobia-8793025.html

Google is your friend when shit posting

Given that the hypothetical god he was asked to address is the one at the centre of both Islam and Christianity, if you think he's 'dissing' the god of the bible, he is most certainly 'dissing' Allah, too.

But, y'know, don't let that stop you.