STEPHEN FRY

Probably being a semantic freak here, but for my own understanding I think of 'belief' and 'faith' as distinctly different frames of mind.

I believe that my mechanic exists. I can see his work and I can verify, with another mechanic, if he's actually done anything he said he did. This requires no faith on my part.

'Faith' to me is a state of mind and perception that asks no questions, demands no answers nor proof, and offers no validations. In fact, the simple act of ASKING does technically undermine the core at the definition of 'faith'.

I don't like bigotry in any form, though I wrestle with various types of biogtry I might hold. As an atheist, I don't like the idea of a believer feeling punished for having faith in a god anymore than I do the idea of atheists being punished for not having faith in a god. I hope the day never comes that atheists put believers on the rack till they deny their faith or die. But given we're human beings and prone to behaving badly in groups drunk with power, one never knows...

I would like for any god(s) to stay out of the laws of the land and having any influence over any other public domain until said god(s) make themselves available and proveable to scientists and/or atheists. LOL

"I've even heard some say that religious people deserve whatever bad things happen to them."

That certainly goes to show atheists can be as boorish as anyone else can.

I don't know where you're living, but I think there's definitely a kind of militant intelligentsia in many societies right now. Partly because, I think, for some people it's 'fashionable' to state that they are atheists. There's a (false) assumption on their part that this makes them instantly more intelligent and 'knowing' than someone who believes in a god or gods. I think they're as irritating as religious fanatics.

In the states, some of us had parents who told us,"Never discuss religion and/or politics at the dinner table.". That might be true for any other location. Here, people tend to be very emotionally attached to whatever they think is 'right' and the goal socially is to try to get along ( 'be polite' ). So, depending which side of the fence you're on, or if you're sitting on it,(so to speak), and depending on who the majority is at the table, the debate can go from heated to violent pretty quick lol

Hmm...I thought I had a point to make in all that. Maybe not...

I'd just rather that if people can not discuss any of it in absence of insults and degradation, they'd practice the 'no religion or politics' rule. I don't walk around announcing I'm an atheist. In fact, the only time I do is if someone asks me directly what I believe or, less often, I'm being 'evangelized' in some manner.

I think the seperation of church and state is important for a lot of reasons, but the one in the states I think of first is that if a certain religious majority had their way, we'd have a totally Christian government. Well, where does that leave the other believers in a society such as Buddhists or Muslims or Jews, etc etc?

Oh, btw...welcome to the ramblers club LOL

My name is Francine and I am writing from Quebec, Canada. I am a first time contributor to this forum. I have no idea if there is any chance that Mr. Fry will read this but I guess it's every subscriber's hope that what they write will come to his attention. So in the spirit of optimism, I will address myself to you Mr. Fry, thanking you in advance should you choose to respond.

My sister and I have been having an ongoing friendly debate about religion, and you've just popped in one of our conversations following a viewing of a clip from a recent interview where you say that unlike your buddy, the late Christopher Hitchens - (hurts so much to say "late"), you have no problem with individual theists. I would appreciate if you could elaborate on this comment since it is at the heart of a recent exchange. To put you in further context, I am pasting a section of our conversations on this topic, essentially two short emails. The first one was written by my sister and the reply is mine.

To: colorbuff@live.ca
Subject: RE: Stephen Fry

Maybe Stephen isn’t such an acerbic atheist. Perhaps he just happens not to believe himself but doesn’t have any problem
with those who do. Just like some people believe that there is a God but they don’t hold a grudge against atheists. It is possible
not to share a view without having strong disdain or resentment for those on the opposite side. I personally don’t mind so much
what people believe as long as they are not judgemental and aggressive toward the other side. Granted, it would be more challenging
in the context of a more personal relationship such as a romantic one but otherwise I have no issue being friends with people who don’t
share my beliefs and as you know can certainly appreciate and even admire people who have very different views. I’m guessing that’s
how Stephen might feel as well.

REPLY :

Good for Fry that he is at peace with theists , makes life a lot easier.
As you know, it does not come as easily to me

If there is something that I view as morally and/or intellectually corrupt,
unless the subject can be effectively avoided,
I will experience some discomfort discussing the subject with its supporters
Fortunately, I manage to avoid the subject rather effectively. but
if the subject does come up, then what I can do to help preserve good relations is one or all of the following:

-remind myself
of everything I like about this person (which is generally not hard to do)

-remind myself
that they most likely have enough sense not to be influenced by the nastiest elements of the philosophy/religion/political viewpoint)
(ie: bigotry, misogyny, homophobia, violence, ignorance . ..which is harder to do)

-remind myself that they probably didn't chose to have this ideology
It was implanted early in their brains in the most vulnerable stage of their development
and that not everyone has the open-mindness or courage to question what was imprinted into them that way
so it should probably not be held against them.
This one works particularly well for me, perhaps because of my inclinations towards the social sciences

If you use these tactics, you can befriend almost anyone actually.

It strikes me that Fry made a point of saying that he had no problem with Individual Theists (rather then theists in general)
which to me indicates that he is probably keener on the very moderates or watered down theists
(the kind that don't dwell too deeply in their religion, just associate with it as a result of their upbringing
or the kind that get a fuzzy feeling from believing in God but don't follow scriptures like Tony Blair)

Then again, maybe Fry has no problem with individual theists because they have less power then say a activist religious movement
that may actually do some damage (ie: affect school curriculum at the detriment of science, make church contributions compulsory , hamper freedom of expression, outlaw gay sex, criminalize abortion and all these delightful things that would bring us back to the dark ages if some of these groups had their way).