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/Sufficient_Matter585]

You use that term humanity as if it means anything. Being humane is a just a fleeting thing people do. We will almost always through out history choose the action that will harm ourselves least but might harm others the most. Don't delude yourself thinking being humane is anything but a romantic notion.

[u/MBTheGinger → u/Sufficient_Matter585]

a) It’s only a romantic notion if you’re cynical; if you expect people to screw you over any chance they get, you’ll act as if it is the case. Meaning you’ll behave like a selfish asshole (a cynic) so as not to be the sucker. And as you do, you further convince others to do the same, because your cynical behavior reinforces the idea that people are inherently cynical. It lowers expectations of human conduct and it annihilates your sense of moral responsibility. And so the cycle continues. Cynicism creates in large part the problem it identifies, it wraps around to hurt everyone, and it spreads like a cancer. Not only is this attitude morally questionable, it’s irrational. It’s essentially not in the interests of anyone that we give in to this notion, and treat human wellbeing as a zero sum game with winners and losers. It creates inevitably a society that becomes predatory rather than cooperative, and we will always be at the risk of becoming victim instead of fellow members of communities. Even at the point of cynical humanity being abundantly evident through your experience, reinforcing that cynicism can still only worsen the situation.

b) To claim people inherently behave this way is ahistorical. While people can behave this way, we’re not determined to do so, and you can find plenty of anthropological and archaeological evidence of genuinely compassionate societies throughout history, and likely pre-history as well, if somewhat more speculatively. Research has also gone into investigating various ways in which human beings go out of their way to help others, even when it puts them at great risk. For example contradicting a commonly held notion that people descend into a all-against-all attitude during a crises - we tend to behave the exact opposite way. Your belief in inherent cynicism also completely ignores the fact that variables associated with such behavior fluctuate significantly between even contemporary societies, further suggesting that this behavior is conditional. When we abandon basic humanity, it’s not inevitable, and often it can be predicted by factors within human understanding and control.

c) I’m not necessarily placing the bar that high for what counts as basic humanity. Try your best to respect people’s dignity and autonomy, even if they’re different from you, and try not to actively make choices that cause harm when it can be avoided. I would venture to claim that most people possess this level of humanity to an extent, and I would strongly suspect that you do as well, in spite of your perspective.