God -according to Stephen Fry

[lucky]

What a belter, don't on the fence there Stevee..

http://www.filmsforaction.org/watch/ste ... ef=Default

[slimmouse]

Didnt watch the video, cos the brief intro says it all.

Atheist Stephen Fry on Irish television show The Meaning of Life with Gay Byrne is asked, supposing he existed, what he would say to god - whom he describes as a capricious, mean-minded maniac.

Be careful what you wish for, Stephen.

Used to love Blackadder to bits though.

Edited to add that I have just watched the full video and have nothing further to add.

[Grizzly]

Blackadder

?

That's Rowan Atkinson, if I'm not mistaken.. Perhaps Fry had something to do w/balckadder?


On topic, God I wish we had more thinkers in this line as opposed to the dumbed down non critical thinking population around me.

[slimmouse]

Blackadder

?

That's Rowan Atkinson, if I'm not mistaken.. Perhaps Fry had something to do w/balckadder?


On topic, God I wish we had more thinkers in this line as opposed to the dumbed down non critical thinking population around me.

My own personal favourites of the Blackadder Genre, are the last two series.

Blackadder goes forth, the final series, the whole fucking thing, is just a wonderful example of the creative thinking that lay in all of our minds, just bursting to get out.

Kinda like with Stephen Fry, when he attempts to describe God.

His role in the entire series as a capricious mean minded maniac is like a mystical experience in itself, when you look at that, and then read the above quote.

Of course Like any of the rest of us he doesnt know what the fuck hes talking about.

Nonetheless, be careful what you wish for is still my most articulate reply.

[slimmouse]

Nonetheless, be careful what you wish for is still my most articulate reply.

Though, to quote Joan Armatrading, Im open to persuasion

[Iamwhomiam]

He played a role in it, too, according to wiki. Shame we didn't get to see such humorous shows here in the states. Our psychotically perverted puritan leaders think nothing of the slaughter of thousands but what's in it for them assure us we still will never see a title like "The Secret Policeman's Balls" on US network television, most unfortunately.

The Black Adder, the first series of Blackadder, was written by Richard Curtis and Rowan Atkinson and produced by John Lloyd. It originally aired on BBC1 from 15 June 1983 to 20 July 1983, and was a joint production with the Australian Seven Network.

Conceived while Atkinson and Curtis were working on Not the Nine O'Clock News, the series dealt comically with a number of medieval issues in Britain: witchcraft, Royal succession, European relations, the Crusades, and the conflict between the Church and the Crown. Along with the secret history, many historical events portrayed in the series were anachronistic (for example, the last Crusade to the Holy Land ended in 1291); this dramatic license would continue in the subsequent Blackadders. The filming of the series was highly ambitious, with a large cast and much location shooting. The series also featured Shakespearean dialogue, often adapted for comic effect; the end credits featured the words "Additional Dialogue by William Shakespeare".

[Asta]

I totally am going to ask the Creator about insects. Good question, Mr. Fry.

[slimmouse]

I totally am going to ask the Creator about insects. Good question, Mr. Fry.

FWIW, I might duly advise Colonel Melchett to wander down to whats left of the Amazon and imbibe some real life.

I shouldnt wonder that he'd be better placed to give you an opinion after that.

[Asta]

To quote the good Colonel: If nothing else works, a total pig-headed unwillingness to look facts in the face will see us through.

I do understand there is a purpose for most insect species, but I would not get too upset if ticks and fleas were to become extinct.

[slimmouse]

I do understand there is a purpose for most insect species, but I would not get too upset if ticks and fleas were to become extinct.

Yeah, Well.

Whatever floats your own boat I guess.

[Asta]

What's with the attitude, Slimmouse? Is it the insects, Stephen Fry or atheism that is causing you to not be much fun to chat with?

[slimmouse]

What's with the attitude, Slimmouse? Is it the insects, Stephen Fry or atheism that is causing you to not be much fun to chat with?

Speaking personally, it is none of the above.

I do however offer my condolences for your own perception of my squeaking.

[slimmouse]

I do understand there is a purpose for most insect species, but I would not get too upset if ticks and fleas were to become extinct.

Yeah, Well.

Whatever floats your own boat I guess.

Hey Asta, apologies for sounding so obtuse.

No big fan of mosquitos myself. The lil blood sucking fucks. Never feel any regrets about clapping them to death, if not physically, then via the sound vibration that the clap creates. Both are good in that respect, within this particular dimension.

We must also probably remember that the mosquito isn't doing this out of any kind of malice- its more about neccessity

I think what I was also trying to say is that I wouldnt want them extinct though.

After all, thats part of the experience.

[BrandonD]

I wrote an essay about this exact subject in my teen years: if God existed then I would not worship him anyway, I would instead become a true martyr, condemning my soul to hell in protest of an insane and unjust world.

This prompted my mother to take me to some officials in our catholic church, who had a surprisingly mild response to all of this. They had no objections to my statements, and instead told me that I would be "just fine".

Many intellects who come to the conclusion that the christian god does not exist at some point in their lives just get off at that stop on the train, and plant their flag. There exists quite a lot of social incentive to do this. But since my teen years I've learned and experienced a lot of things that have made me realize that the atheist point of view is ultimately reactionary, and reactionary assessments of the world are at best crude approximations of reality.

If one reaches "atheism" at some point in his life, there exists a great social incentive to define one's identity with this belief. This hinders a person's chances to further discern his own internal relations to the world around him.

This may not be the case with other atheists, I am speaking only for myself.

[Asta]

Well, Slim, I have to admit that I thought a lot about you today while I was driving into town (I live in a rural farm area) and I was trying to figure out what I said that was offensive. You are not obtuse. Maybe cryptic. I didn't quite understand the Amazon reference, but I suspect that there are a lot of wondrous species of beautiful insects that are being destroyed by "development".

My husband was bitten by a small tick in our garage last summer, and his health .... it's been a nasty fight with the infection for almost a year now. I don't know why creatures like ticks exist except it's the works of evolution. There is some niche that needs to be filled by a creature that has no other purpose than to feed itself and bring suffering.

And it really doesn't have anything to do with God. It has more to do with life on this planet, the conditions, the evolution of species, the opportunities that nature grabs and exploits just because it can.

I used to live in a big city. Living in a rural area has exposed me to a new world of insects I am not familiar with, but I do love the cicadas, the dragonflies, huge crickets, praying mantis, butterflies, moths, and other insects I have no idea what they are. Oh, caterpillars, I gave up my entire parsley bed to caterpillars because they were so beautiful, and their beauty was worth more than the parsley.

I appreciate greatly your apology, I hope we will be friends here. You didn't have to apologize, I just needed an explanation. BTW I did have a great time reading the quotes from Colonel Melchett on the Black Adder IMDB site. Thank you for sending me over there, it was a treat!