Editing Stephen Fry (section)

===Views on religion===
Fry has repeatedly expressed opposition to organised religion, and has identified himself as an [[atheist]] and [[Secular humanism|humanist]], while declaring some sympathy for the [[Greek mythology|ancient Greek belief in gods]].<ref>{{Citation|title=Stephen Fry on God {{!}} The Meaning Of Life {{!}} RTÉ One| date=28 January 2015 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-suvkwNYSQo| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211028/-suvkwNYSQo| archive-date=28 October 2021|language=en|access-date=12 December 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In his first autobiography, he described how he once considered ordination to the [[Anglican]] priesthood, but came to the conclusion that he "couldn't believe in God, because [he] was fundamentally Hellenic in [his] outlook".<ref name="Fry">{{cite book|last=Fry|first=Stephen|title=Moab is my washpot|publisher=Arrow books|year=2004|orig-year=1997|page=[https://archive.org/details/moabismywashpot0000frys_u0u3/page/382 382]|isbn=978-0-09-945704-6|url=https://archive.org/details/moabismywashpot0000frys_u0u3}}</ref> He has stated that religion can have positive effects: "Sometimes belief means credulity, sometimes an expression of faith and hope which even the most sceptical atheist such as myself cannot but find inspiring."<ref>Stephen Fry, ''The Spectator'' Lecture at the Royal Geographical Society, reprinted as "Would I live in America? In a heartbeat", ''The Spectator'', 9 May 2009, p. 28.</ref> Fry claims to have been expelled from [[Salt Lake City]], Utah, because of a joke made about doctrines of [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]].<ref>{{cite episode|title= Empire|series=QI|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzpH-PkMw74| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211028/fzpH-PkMw74| archive-date=28 October 2021|season=5|number=12}}{{cbignore}}</ref>{{primary source inline|date=January 2025}}

In 2009, ''[[The Guardian]]'' published a letter from Fry addressing his younger self, explaining how his future is soon to unfold, reflecting on the positive progression towards gay acceptance and openness around him, and yet not everywhere, while warning on how "the cruel, hypocritical and loveless hand of religion and absolutism has fallen on the world once more".<ref>{{cite news|first=Stephen |last=Fry|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/apr/30/stephen-fry-letter-gay-rights|title='The Guardian': Stephen Fry's letter to himself: Dearest absurd child|work=The Guardian |access-date=10 May 2009|location=London|date=30 April 2009}}</ref> Later that year, he and [[Christopher Hitchens]] participated in an "[[Intelligence Squared]]" debate in which they argued against [[Ann Widdecombe]] and Archbishop [[John Onaiyekan]], who supported the view that the Catholic Church was a force for good. Fry and Hitchens argued that the church did more harm than good, and were declared the victors after an audience vote. Fry attacked the Catholic Church's teachings on sexuality and denounced its wealth.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://archive.catholicherald.co.uk/article/23rd-october-2009/1/atheist-duo-convince-crowd-that-the-church-is-not-|title=Atheist duo convince crowd that the Church is not a force for good|first=Ed |last=West|work=The Catholic Herald|access-date=18 February 2012|location=London|date=23 October 2009}}</ref>

In 2010, Fry was made a Distinguished Supporter of the [[British Humanist Association]], stating: "it is essential to nail one's colours to the mast as a humanist."<ref>{{cite web|title=Stephen Fry: "it is essential to nail one's colours to the mast as a humanist".|publisher=British Humanist Association|url=https://humanism.org.uk/2010/02/04/news-447/|date=10 February 2010}}</ref> Later that year, Fry joined 54 other public figures in signing an open letter published in ''The Guardian'' stating their opposition to [[Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the United Kingdom]] being a state visit.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/sep/15/harsh-judgments-on-pope-religion|title=Letters: Harsh judgments on the pope and religion|work=The Guardian|access-date=16 September 2010|location=London|date=15 September 2010}}</ref> On 22 February 2011, Fry was presented with the [[Lifetime Achievement Award in Cultural Humanism]] by the Humanist Chaplaincy at [[Harvard University]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://harvardhumanist.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=148:hch-presents-stephen-fry&catid=6:latest-news&Itemid=38 |title=Letters: HCH Presents Stephen Fry |work=Humanist Chaplaincy at Harvard |access-date=27 January 2011 |location=Cambridge, MA |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110226101954/http://harvardhumanist.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=148%3Ahch-presents-stephen-fry&catid=6%3Alatest-news&Itemid=38 |archive-date=26 February 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://theageofblasphemy.wordpress.com/2011/01/24/395/|title=Stepehn (sic) Fry Wins Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award in Cultural Humanism|work=The Age of Blasphemy blog|date=24 January 2011|access-date=15 December 2012}}</ref>

When interviewed in 2015 by the Irish broadcaster [[Gay Byrne]], Fry was asked what he would say if he came face-to-face with God, to which he replied: "Bone cancer in children: what's that about? How dare you? How dare you create a world where there is such misery that's not our fault? It's utterly, utterly evil. Why should I respect a capricious, mean-minded, stupid God who creates a world which is so full of injustice and pain?"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/01/30/atheist-stephen-fry-delivers-stunning-answer-when-asked-what-he-would-say-if-he-came-face-to-face-with-god_n_6581710.html?1422648370|title=Atheist Stephen Fry Delivers Incredible Answer When Asked What He Would Say If He Met God|work=The Huffington Post UK|date=30 January 2015}}</ref> Within days, the video was viewed over five million times.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/stephen-fry-responds-to-the-meaning-of-life-controversy-1.2093869|title=Stephen Fry responds to The Meaning of Life controversy|author=Rosin Agnew|date=6 February 2015|newspaper=The Irish Times}}</ref> Fry later stated he did not refer to any specific religion: "I said quite a few things that were angry at this supposed God. I was merely saying things that [[Bertrand Russell]] and many finer heads of the mind have said for many thousands of years, going all the way back to the Greeks."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/stephen-fry-responds-to-christian-backlash-after-confronting-god-with-bone-cancer-in-children-whats-that-about-10027984.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/stephen-fry-responds-to-christian-backlash-after-confronting-god-with-bone-cancer-in-children-whats-that-about-10027984.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Stephen Fry responds to Christian backlash after confronting God with 'Bone cancer in children? What's that about?'|date=6 February 2015|work=The Independent|access-date=9 April 2017}}</ref> "Because the God who created this universe, if it was created by God, is quite clearly a maniac, utter maniac."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/stephen-fry-blasphemy-ireland-probe-investigation-richard-dawkins-arrest-a7728321.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/stephen-fry-blasphemy-ireland-probe-investigation-richard-dawkins-arrest-a7728321.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Richard Dawkins challenges police to arrest him for blasphemy|date=10 May 2017|work=The Independent}}</ref> In May 2017, it was announced that Fry, along with broadcaster [[RTÉ]], were under criminal investigation for blasphemy under the [[Blasphemy law in the Republic of Ireland#Defamation Act 2009|Defamation Act 2009]], following a complaint from a member of the public about the broadcast: the case was dropped after [[Gardaí]] confirmed that they had not been able to locate a sufficient number of offended people.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/stephen-fry-blasphemy-probe-dropped-after-garda-fail-to-find-substantial-number-of-outraged-people-35692915.html|work=[[Irish Independent]]|title=Stephen Fry blasphemy probe dropped after gardaí fail to find 'substantial number of outraged people'|first=Cathal|last=McMahon|date=8 May 2017}}</ref> The following year, in 2018, the article on blasphemy was removed from the Irish Constitution following a referendum.

He has praised [[Anglican Church of Canada|Anglican]] priest [[Michael Coren]]'s book ''The Rebel Christ'', saying: "Integrity, wit and passion. A fine advocate for the best of Christian thought and a faith that encompasses the human as well as the divine."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.premierchristianity.com/apologetics/a-famous-atheist-endorsed-my-book-about-jesus/14707.article|work=Premier Christianity|title=A famous atheist endorsed my book about Jesus'|first=Michael|last=Coren|date=19 January 2023}}</ref>