r/PoursTea • u/Timbucktwo1230 Therapy For All 🩷 • Jun 21 '26

Sipping Tea Javier Bardem

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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.

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u/Yasimear Jun 21 '26

Why on earth would I ever respect a religion that teaches that I should burn in hell for all eternity for loving the "wrong" person.

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u/BlueMikeStu Jun 21 '26

You don't have to respect the institution or the text it's based on, but if the person who follows it is not hateful to you for not following it and you routinely disparage it to them personally, you are now the hateful one.

I have plenty of Christian neighbors who don't say a bad thing to me even though I don't go to church or believe in God and are good, kind, and supportive members of my community. Throwing that back in their face by bringing up my problems with the Bible would be me seeking conflict with them and make me in the wrong.

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u/Yasimear Jun 21 '26

I dont like to "hate" anything. It's exhausting.

You're making a whole lot of assumptions about me as a person based off absolutely 0 information. Examine that.

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u/BlueMikeStu Jun 21 '26

I never said you did.

The very important word I placed in that first sentence is the word if, which is the general rule I follow and made no value judgement or accusation either way. I even started by directly agreeing that you don't have to or shouldn't be expected to respect the religion.

I then followed it up with me explaining I have many religious neighbours who don't do that to me, and explained I would be wrong to do that.

IF the first thing you thought was that I was making an assumption about you directly, that's on you.

Examine that.