A Night of Stephen Fry

Wow.  Stephen Fry is an amazing speaker.  We got to the church where Stephen Fry was to accept a Lifetime Humanism Award in Harvard Yard an hour before the doors opened.  We were about 7^th in line.  For the next hour, crowds came and joined the line, which extended far into Harvard Yard.  And it was cold.  In that hour, the temperature dropped about 10 degrees.  I also heard a great deal of verbal abuse about Christians and religion, which made Jason and myself feel a little…uncomfortable.  I was wondering what we had gotten ourselves into.  Then the Humanism staff handed out wristbands that had something to do with there not being a God.  Jason and I passed.  When they finally let us in, I collected our tickets and we made a mad dash for seats.  We sat in the first pew of the left center section that was open for non VIPs.  Then we waited, my camera ever ready.  There was an opening act so to speak.  She was a ukulele player and singer, and it seemed like she was singing funny songs, but no one could quite make out the words, her mic was not lined up properly.  After she sang about 4 songs, the Humanism Chaplaincy members got up to make speeches and introduce Stephen Fry, who came out of a side door. 

Now, for those of you who don’t know what this humanism thing is all about, it’s basically a non-religious group of atheists who get together on Sunday and talk of doing good. 

Stephen Fry accepts the award and takes the podium.  He then talks for maybe 45 minutes in a very well put together speech.  Very eloquent.  But in it, he makes the point that a true Humanist would not condemn and mock those who do believe in God.  Just as religious folks shouldn’t try to push their beliefs on others, Humanists should not push their beliefs (or lack thereof) onto religious folks.  It kind of went against what those standing on the steps of the church during the cold hour beforehand were saying. 

What kept distracting me during his speech, besides the tall man in front of me who managed to constantly block my view of the podium, was the three women sitting to my right.  You don’t have to believe in any religion to be respectful of said religions.  The one immediately to my right had her Chucks on the pew in front of her the whole time.  The next two women had their feet resting on top of the pew Bibles.  One of them in her smelly socks.  You don’t have to believe in God, but at least be respectful of the items in the church, who are kindly letting your event take place in their church.  And when Mr. Fry did in fact drop the f-bomb twice as part of his speech, don’t stand up in front of everyone afterwards and rejoice in such foul language being spoken in the allegedly sacred space.  It is a sacred space, don’t be gleeful. 

I’m all for believe what you want, but as Stephen Fry explained, don’t offend other people while doing it.

The staff Q&A section was first.  4 very well thought out complicated questions were asked before Ukulele Girl got up to serenade Stephen for her question.  She offered her body to bear him a child in a very funny song.  I thought if he turned anymore red, he might explode.

The book signing followed, though I hadn’t brought a book to have him sign, nor could I afford one they were selling in back.  I took a few more snapshots and we headed home.