Stephen Fry on confronting god after death

Dan_Solo · 01-02-2015 10:10PM

Ghost Buster wrote: »

But its Gay Byrnes show. Thats the point. Its a personality lead programme.

Perhaps he should just interview himself every week then if that's who the show is really about.
"So, Gay, what do you think of God?"
"Marvellous, simply marvellous. Roll it there Collette."

Ghost Buster · 01-02-2015 10:23PM

Dan_Solo wrote: »

Perhaps he should just interview himself every week then if that's who the show is really about.
"So, Gay, what do you think of God?"
"Marvellous, simply marvellous. Roll it there Collette."

Were currently talking about his Lyric FM show.............

StudentDad · 01-02-2015 10:59PM

I haven't seen this episode. I have seen the clip. I have alot of respect for both men. Gay asking awkward questions on the Late Late and raising contentious issues etc. Stephen speaking his mind and also raising issues of importance.

That's the beauty of freedom of expression. You don't have to like what is being said. The important part is the right say these things. The minute you go down the road of, 'no don't like that, someone shut him up.' You're into censorship and all the problems that flow from that.

I am a firm believer in the right to practice religion or not. Both are valid. Where I draw the line is where religious belief is imposed on a society regardless of the views of individual citizens.

If my neighbour is religious and lives a religious life. That is his choice. I as his neighbour am equally entitled to live my life as I see fit. The only common ground between us is law.

SD

RobYourBuilder · 01-02-2015 11:06PM

I haven't seen this episode.

The full episode hasn't been aired yet. On RTE 1 in twenty odd minutes for anyone that's interested.

floggg · 01-02-2015 11:22PM

UCDVet wrote: »

My point is:
1.) That evil existing (child with leukaemia) does not disprove the existence of God.
2.) That a lack of communication with God, does not disprove the existence of God.

I'm not asserting that God exists.

I dont think thats what people are saying, or Fry for that matter.

Its a case of, if there is a god, he's a dick.

The non-believe in him is a separate matter, based on there being absolutely no evidence that he exists.

Mountainsandh · 01-02-2015 11:39PM

It's on RTE right now.

Love Stephen Fry, love his use of language, he's so well spoken, he could talk rubbish I'd still enjoy it.
As it happens, he doesn't talk rubbish, he's got a fascinating mind, and a great way to synthesize complicated matters.

And I agree with him on the God bit, he owned Gay.

The Waterford Whispers News Gay's head exploding clip is brilliant.

feargale · 01-02-2015 11:41PM

Dan_Solo wrote: »

Where the hell are you getting this from? If asked for an opinion I'll happily tell any theist going they are delusional. Nobody here's even hinted at standing at the church door shouting about at the delusional as they go about their delusional business, so you can reel that one right back in again.

Just say it with respect and sensitivity. Snide comments about people sneaking home from mass reflects more on the immaturity of the remarks than on the massgoers. I'll reel it in when the pollock gets the message.

Tarzana2 · 01-02-2015 11:51PM

chakademus wrote: »

There's something so insufferable about Stephen Fry.

I so agree and it's nice to see your post get so much thanks.

There's just something so self-regarding and smug about him. (slyly self-regarding, he does the whole self-deprecation thing on the surface) He's also quite the attention seeker.

It's nauseating how deified he is both here and in the UK. I don't completely dislike him, but don't get what the big deal is either.

Baggy Trousers · 01-02-2015 11:58PM

What an utterly fascinating person. I had no idea. I would love to meet him.

Un Croissant · 02-02-2015 12:06AM

Did they cut the famous clip?

SaveOurLyric · 02-02-2015 12:11AM

catallus wrote: »

His show on Lyric is the best thing in the world.

Mmmmmm. Sarcasm ?

If Fry were familiar with it he probably would have cited it as another reason why god is a despicable character. 'Why god, why ? Why would you, all powerful and loving, destroy something that was once good and on the side of the angels? You are simply too cruel'.

Baggy Trousers · 02-02-2015 12:14AM

Well done RTE, great interview with a fascinating and highly intelligent man.

sonofenoch · 02-02-2015 12:17AM

cloud493 wrote: »

http://i.imgur.com/0FEOiUz.gif

Made me laugh anyway.

He looks like some random persons nan when eastenders has been switched off early

Mountainsandh · 02-02-2015 12:22AM

Tarzana2 wrote: »

I so agree and it's nice to see your post get so much thanks.

There's just something so self-regarding and smug about him. (slyly self-regarding, he does the whole self-deprecation thing on the surface) He's also quite the attention seeker.

It's nauseating how deified he is both here and in the UK. I don't completely dislike him, but don't get what the big deal is either.

I think if you don't like the accent and turn of phrase, it's easy to misjudge people like him. Just like it's easy to misjudge someone with a rough accent and a certain type of vocabulary.

And of course we have to bear in mind that the very purpose of most of his TV appearances nowadays is to talk about himself. Like a lot of great thinkers, he is expressing his opinion, commenting on the world according to him (which is exactly why he is asked to appear on shows), not just describing the world.

I don't think there is a cult about him, simply people who enjoy listening to him, and recognize a great thinker when they hear one.

Mountainsandh · 02-02-2015 12:27AM

Baggy Trousers wrote: »

Well done RTE, great interview with a fascinating and highly intelligent man.

I have to say, I'm rethinking my comment that he "owned Gay". I don't like Gay , I've had my fill of his patronizing conservative attitude back from the time of the Late Late, I tried listening to Lyric once or twice and he drove me mad ; but I have to say, he conducted the interview well, and despite his pantomime expressions, let his guest lead the way.

floggg · 02-02-2015 12:32AM

UCDVet wrote: »

You're free to offer up your own belief or to explain why a teapot orbiting the sun is nonsense. And the people who believe are free to either listen, or remain wilfully ignorant.

I'm a big believer in freedom. You're free to make your point against the teapot - to protest laws based on the teapot. You're free to lobby governments too. And, survival of the fittest and all, the best beliefs will win out, given enough time.

I really wouldn't have any problem with a teapot-based government, if it is the will of the Irish people that this teapot thing is so important. If I disagree with it, I'd protest the pro-teapot movement, until it was no longer appropriate. Then I'd either accept the new status-quo, fight against it, or move on to a more sane country.

I would be very much opposed to a tea-pot based government, for the same reasons I would be opposed to a christian or islamic government.

I believe in freedom of religion, partly because I believe each person should be free to choose their own believes, but most importantly because i both believe in and need the protection of freedom FROM religion.

Tarzana2 · 02-02-2015 12:37AM

Mountainsandh wrote: »

I think if you don't like the accent and turn of phrase, it's easy to misjudge people like him.

Nah, that's not why I dislike him, give me some credit please. And, with respect, I think it's the "accent and turn of phrase" that has so many people fawning over him. You even said yourself that he could talk rubbish and you'd still enjoy it.

I don't think I put him in the pantheon of great thinkers either, TBH. He is clearly curious and has encyclopaedic knowledge of many things, but reading and retaining information isn't creating knowledge or bringing anything new.

There absolutely is a cult surrounding him.

Dan_Solo · 02-02-2015 12:40AM

feargale wrote: »

Just say it with respect and sensitivity. Snide comments about people sneaking home from mass reflects more on the immaturity of the remarks than on the massgoers. I'll reel it in when the pollock gets the message.

Since, as I was saying, nobody has suggested doing this, why are you insisting on continuing to use it as an example of those awful down your neck type atheists? You know, the ones the bible bashers can't seem to actually identify unless they lie through the teeth about them?

StudentDad · 02-02-2015 12:41AM

Schrodingers teapot? :P

Frito · 02-02-2015 12:47AM

StudentDad wrote: »

Schrodingers teapot? :P

You'd never get a cat inside a teapot.

Mountainsandh · 02-02-2015 12:57AM

Tarzana2 wrote: »

Nah, that's not why I dislike him, give me some credit please. And, with respect, I think it's the "accent and turn of phrase" that has so many people fawning over him. You even said yourself that he could talk rubbish and you'd still enjoy it.

I don't think I put him in the pantheon of great thinkers either, TBH. He is clearly curious and has encyclopaedic knowledge of many things, but reading and retaining information isn't creating knowledge or bringing anything new.

There absolutely is a cult surrounding him.

We'll agree to disagree then, because I disagree on just about everything in your post, but don't see the point in ... pressing my point, for you to in return press your point ad infinitam...

edit : just not one of those "boards" night for me.

suicide_circus · 02-02-2015 01:00AM

http://southorangecounty.petsitpros.com/files/2014/08/tea-pot-cat.jpg

Frito wrote: »

You'd never get a cat inside a teapot.

shruikan2553 · 02-02-2015 01:02AM

feargale wrote: »

I read and quoted your post in full.

No problem about Mr. Fry answering a question or volunteering an opinion. Why don't you read your post again, in particular the part I highlighted. You seem to have a problem about people minding their own business going to mass, a problem incidentally that you share with the likes of the late Mr. Paisley and a number of American fundamentalists. Tolerance, dialogue and debate are on the wane in the western world, and not least in A&A.

Im going to help you out here, what I said is called sarcasm. I never said I had a problem with people minding their own business, you are just making stuff up. Im not sure what the aviation forum has to do with this, I have read some very informative and interesting threads there, they are quite helpful and even have a thread where you can ask pilots questions.

were probably having to sneak home from mass to prevent them being attacked by the roving gangs of atheists.

I can assure you that there are no roving gangs of atheists. People do not need to sneak home from mass in case they are found by these non existent groups. If you see a group attacking someone I recommend contacting your local garda station or 999.

hotmail.com · 02-02-2015 01:16AM

I'm not sure Gaybo was surprised at what Fry said...I think he was in awe at the excellence of his answer.

AryaStark · 02-02-2015 01:25AM

conorh91 wrote: »

He's an agnostic isn't he? Certainly on the skeptical spectrum of agnosticism, but I doubt he'd describe himself as an atheist.

I'm probably wrong though.

I don't really follow his gameshow.

No he is definitely an atheist and defends his position a lot. He is a great speaker for atheists. I love this debate ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpK8ji1tADg

floggg · 02-02-2015 01:33AM

RobertKK wrote: »

Tell me who was the last person charged and sentenced under any blasphemy law here? People make a fuss about it as if it was something used.

A similar defence was tried by the Irish State in the Norris case, and was rejected by the ECHR. It was found that even if nobody had been prosecuted under it for a number of years, the mere fact that the law was in place left a threat hanging over them which was a violation of (privacy) rights in of itself.

Similarly, the mere fact that the blasphemy law exists means people have to keep it in the back of their minds, which may restrain them in what they may say or do (if even subconsciously).

AngryHippie · 02-02-2015 01:46AM

Timberrrrrrrr wrote: »

The sooner more people start doing this the better, The world would be a much better if religion was wiped out.

I 100% disagree with this.

It must not be wiped out, it must be preserved as a warning to those who come after. A warning as to the dangers of blind faith, submission and servility.

Aside from the fact that it is designed fundamentally to be impossible to wipe out. The harder you try, the more radical the remaining "Believers" are.

Better to gradually isolate them from positions of power and influence, relentlessly challenge their beliefs and actions. eventually you will find that the rational have all abandoned ship, and the ones left are just the raving nutters.

Woodville56 · 02-02-2015 02:23AM

hotmail.com wrote: »

I'm not sure Gaybo was surprised at what Fry said...I think he was in awe at the excellence of his answer.

Gay Byrne is no theologian so the excellence of Fry's answer must be seen against him pushing an open door unchallenged. He's been hawking this anti religion thing about for quite some time now and being an actor, he puts in a well polished performance - helps keep his media profile up too I suppose. If he's so angry and aghast at a deity who permits suffering and disasters to befall people, I'd love to know what his rationale is for when bad things happen good people ? If he doesn't believe in the existence of a vengeful God, how does he explain suffering in his atheistIc mindset? Seems to me his logic would be something along the lines of "ah well, sometimes sh*t happens "

Melisandre121 · 02-02-2015 02:27AM

This interview was the first time I had ever heard the word "capricious" and I'm now trying to fit it into as many sentences as I can. In fact many of you Boardsies are quite capricious.

Tarzana2 · 02-02-2015 03:13AM

Melisandre121 wrote: »

This interview was the first time I had ever heard the word "capricious" and I'm now trying to fit it into as many sentences as I can.

I love that word, it's very useful. I knew it before Stephen Fry said it though.

Stephen Fry on confronting god after death

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