Stephen Colbert talks about his Christian Faith, God, and Hell on NPR

[bennettmosher]

I think I have found a new respect for Steven Colbert.

[karenanne5]

that was awesome. I would love for Steven Colbert to have been my catechist growing up! Things would have just made a lot more sense. I think it's so important that we look outside of what we have been taught about Catholicism or Protestantism or whatever, and listen to what he just said. He was talking about LOVE. I think that goes beyond religion, race, sexual orientation. the most important thing in humanity is LOVE.

[jakebowkett01]

I don't dislike someone because of their religion (which can be changed or dropped by the way, unlike race), however they do pay a price in terms of respect. Basing a belief system on 2000 year old scripture is foolish. Even assuming it began as the word of 'God' (a baseless assumption) it has been subject to numerous translations, additions and omissions. Furthermore, many religious people are Christian, Islamic, etc by mere accident of birth. Absolute morals from an arbitrary source.

[Jiggus12345]

And here I thought hell was an eternity of gnashing of teeth and agony. Nice of Colbert to avoid the truth with his kids, because after all, that's not what religion is about.

[MckyMseNTarotCrds]

Wow. I bet all the little snarkster Colbert/Stewart fans aren't going to be happy about this. I already see one jackass posted here, "You let me down, Colbert." haha. Well, sorry, buddy...that's the thing about choosing irony as a way of life: sometimes it bites you on the ass.

[ClintColesCorner]

huh, this was a different interview.

[FIGHTFANNERD3]

he's an atheist you idiots

[Cynthia6480]

@FIGHTFANNERD3 did you not listen to what he said? he obviously believes in God and hes actually Catholic *facepalm*

[1949rickray]

God is love? Have you read the bible? God is a monster! You let me down Colbert!

If you want to become an atheist, read and study the bible! That'll do it for sure! That's why there are so many xians, they don't even read and try to understand their own beliefs! Fuckin' dumb-asses! What a fruit cake nation those Americans are.

[jrmiller777]

@1949rickray Wow! In contrast to Colbert, your rhetoric is so refined. I have rarely read someone with such a keen grasp of the English language. What a great example of the superior intelligence of the atheist mind.

[1949rickray]

@jrmiller777

The truth is a bastard, isn't it?

[MyMorningView]

@1949rickray Do you have a strong grasp of Aramaic, Hebrew and Latin? Have you studied biblical culture to understand the style of writing and meanings of biblical translations? If you have please disregard all of this, if not then I'd ask you to stop "trolling." If you read the bible WITHOUT an education and leadership than you're bound to make such drastic conclusions.

[geeepo]

@1949rickray I agree with you.

[Alejandro1313sixx]

@1949rickray Who cares if he believes in Retarded fairy tales? Im atheist and i still think Stephen is badass regaurdless of his beliefs... He has great content...

[Cajaquarius]

@1949rickray What is it with atheists who define themselves entirely by what they don't believe? Jeez, you must be one empty person to live a life running around in a smug haze like that.

[brainfreeze91]

Man I would have LOVED to have had CCD with Colbert!

[bromink1]

Spot on description of Hell, Stephen! Not only as being the absence of God, but knowing what you are missing.

[hugeackman]

@jazzx251 not teaching one's child religous faith is wrong.

[CrimsonDragonStar]

@hugeackman i suppose that goes for other religions too....or just yours?

[hugeackman]

@CrimsonDragonStar the parent's.

[CrimsonDragonStar]

@hugeackman so all parent's should be obligated to lead their children down a path, simply because it is the way the parent was raised...and so on and so on...no one should be able to just be a kid, and grow into themselves, make up their own mind when they are ready, but forced into whatever mold their parent's make for them?...wait...of course religious people want that!...how foolish of me...its the only real way to keep followers...breed them...free thought?...blasphemy!

[hugeackman]

@CrimsonDragonStar

yes, parents have an obligation to teach what they know to their children. your strawman is falling apart.

[CrimsonDragonStar]

@hugeackman ahh...there it is...teach what they "know"...that, i will agree with...look both ways before crossing the street...please, thank ou, youre welcome...wash your hands, brush your teeth and all that...but what does teaching what you know to your kids have to do with forcing your religion upon them?...religion has nothing to do with knowledge, but faith...belief in something, despite proof...even in the face of proof to the contrary...force fed to innocent children...should be a crime

[hugeackman]

@CrimsonDragonStar there are many different kinds of belief in God. I believe in the Universe, the big bang, etc. that is creation, that is God. I can teach that to my kids. I never said force them to believe, I said teach them. your prejudice is clouding your judgment. to decide that freedom of religion should be illegal is like saying freedom from religion should be illegal.

[CrimsonDragonStar]

@hugeackman shouldnt that freedom go to children?...thats what i want, for everyone to make a logical decision for themselves...to form an opinion on their own, instead of being led down a path long before they understand its implication...i dont care which imaginary friend you wish to follow, as long as you dont pull your children unwittingly behind you

[hugeackman]

@CrimsonDragonStar you think the Universe is imaginary? 'free' thinking indeed

[CrimsonDragonStar]

@hugeackman and exactly where did i say that?...if you use the term "God" in reference to the universe, and not a specific deity, then by all means, say so now....but if so, i would say that is a misuse of the word, and would have nothing to do with religion at all, unless you worship stars and planets...which these days, wouldnt surprise me...

[hugeackman]

@CrimsonDragonStar "I believe in the Universe, the big bang, etc. that is creation, that is God." -me

" dont care which imaginary friend you wish to follow" - you

thats exactly where you said that.

have fun building strawmen, I'm gonna go converse with smarter people now.

[CrimsonDragonStar]

@hugeackman good luck with that...no one smarter than me would bother...and i also remember saying "and this is in regard to religion"...didnt i?..."I believe in the Universe"...could you be more vague??...actually, you probably could...let me say this again, as it seems you missed it earlier...forcing your point of view, ANY point of view on an adolescent is borderline torture and should be treated as such, whether its your child or an entire youth group...period..quote me on that all you like!

[CrimsonDragonStar]

@hugeackman and if you do choose to expose your child to one religion, when they are old enough to understand it, for actual education purposes, then show them many...not just yours...and show them that they have the option to choose none, that faith is not a prerequisite for a full happy life....do that, and ill concede the point...and this is in regard to religion, not the origin of the universe or of life on earth...

[CrimsonDragonStar]

@hugeackman so you teach your child muslim beliefs?...and mormon?...and norse, greek, roman, judaism?...doubtful

[hugeackman]

@CrimsonDragonStar I don't have kids. but yes, I would.

[FIGHTFANNERD3]

@hugeackman wrong idiot 

[NMikeM]

Way to go Mr. Colbert!

[jesusmessiah1611]

/watch?v=TYAdHKOEdJg

[melora72]

@jesusmessiah1611

That is a great example of the typical Bible worshiper'a misconception of Catholicism. They don't worship the Bible as the be-all and end-all of knowledge and truth. They don't worship idols and saints either. .

[veganmochi]

Spirituality or religion doesn't mean that he is a bigot, or homophobic, or intolerant, or no longer funny. Everyone needs to be allowed the freedom, and the respect, to have their faith, whether that be in a supernatural power or none at all. Funny, it's not okay when evangelicals or extremists of any stripe espouse their distain for others' beliefs, yet, it's okay for those on the polar extreme to do the same? C'mon, now. Judgement, it is clear, comes in many forms.

[drgregsgurl]

This is sad. I had respect for Colbert. Now it's gone :( 

[techniquefan123]

@drgregsgurl Because he's catholic,thats kinda ignorant. 

[Walnut1871]

@drgregsgurl That's extremely discriminatory. I imagine you're opposed to racism, homophobia and the like? Because disliking someone because they're religious is like disliking someone because they're Gay, Asian, etc.

[insanemagicguy]

@Walnut1871

You don't choose your race or sexual orientation.

[EddieTheFishReturns]

@Walnut1871: A more accurate statement would be that it is akin to disliking those who dislike others because they are Gay, Asian, etc.

[geeepo]

@Walnut1871 Um, no. Being religious is not like being Asian or gay because people choose to be religious, nobody chooses to be Asian or gay (though some people may argue that point).

[Cajaquarius]

@geeepo Being religious is a choice? Prove it.

[karenanne5]

@Cajaquarius didn't you choose not to be part of a religion? No one can force you to be apart of a religion.

[PumpingSmashkins]

@Walnut1871 Absurd comparison. It's perfectly reasonable to criticize one's beliefs, while it's obviously ridiculous to criticize a person for something over which one has no choice, such as race.

[DudeOpen]

@drgregsgurl u may have lost respect for him, but he may have gained many others

[Xigano1]

How disapointing ...

[fwfassett]

Jesus talked much about hell - where there would be weeping and gnashing of teeth. See Matthew 5:22,5:29, 5:30, 10:28, 18:9, 23:15, 23:33, Mark 9:43, 9:45, 9:47. You can look them up at BibleGateway (dot) com.

[markshfr1]

right while i am listening to this, it says it has 666 views. brilliant.