Stephen Fry on Catholicism, from the Intelligence Squared debate.

By: Miles Pieri | Minutes: 08:52 | Views: 398,902
Uploaded: November 10th, 2009 (3 years, 6 months ago)

National treasure Stephen Fry joined  provocateur extraordinaire Christopher  Hitchens to debate against Ann Widdicome and the Archbishop of Abuja, John  Onaiyekan. The topic was 'Is Catholicism a force for good in the world?'.  Needless to say, Hitchens & Fry didn't  think so. Also needless to say, they  provided the most convincing arguments  of the evening.
Mr Fry's passionate and  emotional speech is presented here in  its entirety, along with his closing  remarks.
You can watch the entire  debate, which runs about fifty minutes,  by going to:    www.intelligencesquared.com

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View 23 Comments (UnModerated)

Raptor Jesus: its impossible to justify being part of one of a modern religion against someone who has studied your religion.

hgshsfjsyjs: islam is not perfect!! You're cult preaches murder, hate, wickedness, child rape, animal cruelty..... the list goes on and on. I will quote mohammud's own words if you want.

hgshsfjsyjs: Get out of here islamist. You follow a murdering, thieving, psychotic, paesophile ''prophet'' and cannot possibly contribute here. You're posts demonstrate great ignorance.

gologabob: Its sad that as a non christian I'd do a better job defending the cause. I wanted to point Stephen's comments on being condemned by the church if you have not had a baptism are untrue. The thief's conversion (one of the thief's on the cross with Jesus) is sometimes given as an example of the necessary steps one must take to arrive at salvation through Christ. Further, the argument is presented that baptism is not necessary for salvation since the thief had no opportunity for it.

Salman Ahari: unlike christians who believe the sin is all on eve not adam aswell which is wrong because firstly we are all equal in gods eyes no matter what.

Salman Ahari: In Islam we believe a pious women is better than a pious man, rights and equality for women is not something which is against women in Islam it is something which if FOR women, Infact our prophet said "Verily, Heaven lies under the feet of our mother.'' meaning if we want to go to heaven first we must do is to make sure to do and is the most important thing is to take care of our mothers, Islam is the only religion which is for equality of women both Adam and eve sinned in the garden of eden

Salman Ahari: I dont consider myself part of a sect because the quran tells us not to divide into sects and to be one ''Ummah'' one people i am a Muslim, i do watch the TV and it griefs me greatly to see brother kill brother but its the reality of the world we live in where ever there is hatred among a people there will be the corporations and superpowers trying to make a clash of the two sides, in the quran it sais if you kill youre brother intentionally you will go to hell, Islam is perfect Muslims are not.

Nukethelotofthem1: Peace ! you're having a laugh, don't you read newspapers or watch the news on TV ? Muslims are killing fellow Muslims on a large scale daily basis. In Iraq Sunni and Shiites are killing each other bombing markets and city streets. In Pakistan the Taliban shot a young girl in the head just for wanting an education. The killing between Muslims sects has already begun in Egypt as it has in Libya, so much for the Arab Spring. In 1400 years Islam has never brought peace only death and destruction.

Salman Ahari: If somebody truly wants the truth it can change them and can be guided they need to have an open heart though- i never believed in god and considered my self an agnostic about 1 year ago i hated islam especially because of history i have and because of the way it was portrayed across the media, but even through the corruption and lies i cam to accept islam i came to relise the truth of islam and what it really is about peace, love and unity of the whole of mankind.

Salman Ahari: Your info about Islam lacks greatly ''Nukethelotofthem1'' Inshallah you would take the time to research the one thing which you hate so much you will find out the word Islam you used translated into english Means ''Peace,Submission,Belief in the one god''

Salman Ahari: The proof is the message sent down through the holy scripture, Now you can look for proof of the existance of the (Almighty,All wise, All powerful) Creator through a small ''youtube comment box'' but you would get much better ''proof ''in reading the scripture revealed -The holy Quran which confirms the messages sent down before it, The torah and The gospel.

Salman Ahari: "[Musa (Moses)] said: "Verily, you know that these signs have been sent down by none but the Lord of the heavens and the earth (as clear evidence i.e. proofs of Allah's Oneness and His Omnipotence.). And I think you are, indeed, O Fir'aun (Pharaoh) doomed to destruction!"" [Al-Isra 17:102]

Aethelhald: Prove God is a he. Prove "he" was there before anything else.

Aethelhald: I don't need to prove God exists, the burden of proof lies with those who claim God does exist. I only need to deny it and demand they prove it before I myself believe it.

Nukethelotofthem1: Close your eyes, think for a minute and try to imagine what the world will be like when Islam finally takes over. Makes you shudder doesn't it.

Nukethelotofthem1: Well said.

Miles Pieri: If you've not seen it, I'd strongly recommend the documentary Collision. It's follows Hitchens and Pastor Douglas Wilson traveling across the United States on a book tour together. Wilson, for the most part, is quite an amiable chap and, while not exactly an intellectual match for Hitchens, at least puts up a bit more of a fight than these two. I think you'll enjoy it!

Beau Moore: Great debate, great things said. However, couldn't the representatives across from two of the most articulate, charismatic and well educated (and also fairly attractive) human beings on the planet be something a little more than 1) a man that does not primarily speak English and 2) a hostile, unattractive, undersexed woman. Not to say I didn't like the result, but more I was hoping for someone to give Hitchens and Fry some fair competition, not just targets for rhetorical steamrolling.

Beau Moore: Well, actually, someone as competent and brave as Stephen Fry did... And he's still alive, well, and publishing. His name is Rushdie, one of the most powerful voices of the modern enlightenment movement.

James Hetherington: For what? To what point or purpose does it MATTER if we believe in God or not? Why does nobody see its pretty blasphemous to accuse God of being SO petty he will punish greatly those who do not believe he exists, or somebodies particular interpretation of his will? Quote all you want, words are wind. There can be comfort in religion, stop tarnishing it with ignorance.

Salman Ahari: God does not entend in the quran to show of his scientific ability, Thats not his will, his will is to guide humanity to the truth, but if you are indoubt of God the almightiest competence thats a different issue.

Salman Ahari: This verse god talks about his creation in more detail: ''We created man from the purest kind of clay; then made him a drop in a secure receptacle; then formed the drop into a clot and formed the clot into a lump and formed the lump into bones and clothed the bones in flesh; and then brought him into being as another creature. Blessed be Allah, the Best of Creators! (Surat al-Muminun, 12-14)''

Salman Ahari: There are so much signs and proofs, how he has created for us fruits plentliful and diverse which come out the ground which we eat and with modern science we can see the vitamins and minerals the provide for us how good and pure they are for our health.

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