Article: Stephen Fry and God by Ian Paul

In this featured article, theologian, writer and speaker Ian Paul responds to Stephen Fry's recent comments to Gay Byrne about the god he doesn't believe in.  Byrne asked Fry what he would say to God if he was wrong.  Fry responded:

"How dare you? How dare you create a world to which there is such misery that is not our fault. It's not right, it's utterly, utterly evil. Why should I respect a capricious, mean-minded, stupid God who creates a world that is so full of injustice and pain. That's what I would say.

Now, if I died and it was Pluto, Hades, and if it was the 12 Greek gods then I would have more truck with it, because the Greeks didn't pretend to not be human in their appetites, in their capriciousness, and in their unreasonableness … they didn't present themselves as being all-seeing, all-wise, all-kind, all-beneficent, because the god that created this universe, if it was created by god, is quite clearly a maniac … utter maniac, totally selfish.

We have to spend our life on our knees thanking him? What kind of god would do that?"

You can watch Fry's response here.

Ian Paul's response is here and well worth your time!  Further, here are some notes on the problem of evil that may prove helpful.

How would you respond to Stephen Fry?  Feel free to share in the comments below!

Courage and Godspeed,
Chad