Javier Bardem

[u/Timbucktwo1230]

Context of the Quote

The quote originates from an archived interview featured on platforms like IMDb. In the full discussion, he was speaking candidly about his vulnerability to intense media attention in Hollywood, his perspectives on belief systems, and his personal philosophies.

The complete segment of his statement reads:

In an interview, Javier Bardem expressed his feelings on his public perception in Spain versus America, the vulnerability caused by media attention, and his views on religious manipulation. He stated, "I do respect people's faith, but I don't respect their manipulation of that faith to create fear and control".

Bardem's Views on Religion
Atheism:

Despite a traditional Catholic upbringing, Bardem has long identified as an atheist.

Institutional Critique:

He often distinguishes between personal spirituality and organized religion, criticizing the latter when used to create fear or exert control.

[u/Day_Old_Paper]

The main problem is that many religious people have forgotten this… the religion you’ve chosen is the set of rules YOU must live by, not the set of rules everyone else has to live by.

[u/Winjin → u/Day_Old_Paper]

The problem starts when one of the core tenets is spreading the religion to others, though. 

And then there's the catch that as soon as their know and knowingly decline, they're not good people

[u/Legitimate-Ebb-7296 → u/Winjin]

That’s why religions like Buddhism, Judaism, Druze, Yazidi, Hinduism, Janism, etc. are best since they don’t proselytize.

The tenet of spreading religion to others is a cancer.

[u/academicgangster → u/Legitimate-Ebb-7296]

These non-proselytizing religions still exert control, fear, and inflict generations of deep trauma upon the people in their cultural sphere. They are not 'best'.

[u/Legitimate-Ebb-7296 → u/academicgangster]

As far of religions go, yes they are since they are ethnoreligions similar to countries that could care less about forcibly converting non-believers.

Every country exerts control, that’s the point of society but when you start wanted to colonize others via your religion to spread it, that’s a problem.

It’s like Denmark vs Russia, both are countries, both control their population but one is expansionist

[u/blahblah19999 → u/Legitimate-Ebb-7296]

"Best" is doing some heavy lifting here.

[u/Legitimate-Ebb-7296 → u/blahblah19999]

Not really, same as countries. When comparing USA and Russia, America is best in terms of individual freedoms. They obviously have problems but comparing the two and declaring one better for its people is fair and necessary otherwise you fall in to relativism.

[u/Howned01 → u/Day_Old_Paper]

My religion says murder is wrong.

Shouldn't I be able to enforce something that I find absolutely and 100% immoral?