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/NadeshikoEatingPasta]

I take them on a case by case basis. Not all religions are the same, and not all organized religions are equal. Some are unobtrusive or even culturally beneficial, others are full of shit practices and beliefs. If you're out praying in the street and blocking traffic because you know you can assert dominance in that regard, your religion is shitty and disruptive. If you're organizing food kitchens and collections to help the poor, your religion is useful.

[u/bakeacake45 → u/NadeshikoEatingPasta]

You are describing the practices of community of people in a specific congregation not a religion. SWithin any religion you will have congregations where the people decide that charity is the main focus, you might have a congregation next door, same religion where they focus on something else.

No religion is monolithic. There are good and bad congregations within every religion.

[u/NadeshikoEatingPasta → u/bakeacake45]

You are describing the practices of community of people in a specific congregation not a religion.

In much of human history even through to the modern day, the two are inextricable. Culture and religion are strongly tied, because they both come from the people.

No religion is monolithic, but there is a range each one operates within. With the exception of the occasional outlier, there's not going to be a colossal difference between any two given congregations. And something that is a basic practice in keeping with a religion's core tenets (like charity, or the practice of celebrating a given holiday, or dietary habits) are probably not going to differ much if at all. That's kind of how religion facilitated community in the past; if you moved somewhere new, even to a new country, you could be relatively assured that if you found your church there that it would be what you expected. A McDonald's in Alabama isn't going to be that much different from a McDonald's in Oregon, generally. Kind of neat actually.