Stephen Fry on Catholicism, from the Intelligence Squared debate.

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:
http://www.intelligencesquared.com

• Category

  News & Politics

[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.

[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!

[Miles Pieri]

I don't see how he seems 'insecure' in his (lack of) faith. Care to offer an example? As an atheist myself, I'll say this: I've yet to meet an atheist who claimed to 'know' that there's no god, but I've met plenty of believers who claim to 'know' that there is one - based purely on that dodgiest of concepts: Faith. To my mind, you can't get much more 'emotionally driven' than that. One person's 'unshakeable' faith is another person's definition of the lack of critical thinking skills.

[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.