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Originally Posted by Chris
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Saying that you prefer the Greek gods to the Christian one is akin to screaming “I did classics at school!” and is really just showing off. It’s also morally corrupt, because the Greek gods rather liked raping and murdering – and were often immune to human pleas for compassion.
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That was Stephen Fry's point wasn't it? That he doesn't believe in either but that he prefers the Greek gods because they don't pretend to be accommodating to the human race.
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Not only has theology dedicated itself for thousands of years to unpicking that problem but the answer to it is there in the very Bible itself ... I’m not saying anyone has to believe what I write, but please don’t act like it’s never been said before or that the answer to Fry’s facile question doesn’t exist. Dear Stephen imagines that he’s the first person in history to wonder why folks suffer. He’s not. He is, however, strangely upset about something that he doesn't even believe in. Who gets angry about an imaginary conversation?
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I don't Stephen Fry thinks he is the only person who has wondered why folks suffer nor is he upset. He just doesn't believe in a god, was asked why and give his answer. It appears to the Tim Stanley who is imaging these feelings of anger.
---------- Post added at 20:47 ---------- Previous post was at 20:38 ----------
I mean wasn't the question Fry was asked also a bit facile anyway?
It's not a unusual question for an atheist to be asked what they will say if they're wrong and they find themselves in, a seemingly very literal, conservation with God. I think it wrongly assumes that atheists have made a decision to reject God almost out of spite or anger towards 'him' rather than simply being unable to believe. So what could we really say? "Opps"?
To be honest I wonder if there is even a vindictive motive behind the question, a implication that our judgement day is coming and we're going to get it.