Shadowing Practice: Stephen Fry on God | The Meaning Of Life | RTÉ One - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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The End
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Suppose what Oscar believed in as he died in spite of your protestations Suppose it's all true
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and you walk up to the pearly gates
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and you are confronted by God What will Stephen Fry say to him her or it?
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I will basically What's known as the Odyssey?
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I think I'll say bone cancer in children.
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What's that about?
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How dare you?
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How dare you create a world in which there is such misery that is not our fault?
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It's not right.
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It's utterly, utterly evil.
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Why should I respect a capricious, mean-minded, stupid God who creates a world which is so full of injustice and pain?
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That's what I'd say.
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And you think you're going to get in on that?
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No, but I wouldn't want to.
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I wouldn't want to get in on his terms.
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They're wrong.
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Now, if I died and it was Pluto, Hades, and if it was the 12 Greek gods, then I would have more truck with it, because the Greeks were...
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They didn't pretend not to be human in their appetites and in their capriciousness and in their unreasonableness.
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They didn't present themselves as being all kind, all beneficent.
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Because the God who created this universe, if it was created by God, is quite clearly a maniac.
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Utter maniac.
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Totally selfish.
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We have to spend our life on our knees thanking him?
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What kind of God would do that?
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Yes, the world is very splendid, but it also has in it insects, whose whole life cycle is to burrow into the eyes of children and make them blind.
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They eat outwards from the eyes.
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Why?
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Why did you do that to us?
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You could easily have made a creation in which that didn't exist.
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It is simply not acceptable.
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So, you know, atheism is not just about not believing there is a God, but on the assumption that there is one,
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what kind of God is he?
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It's perfectly apparent that he's monstrous, utterly monstrous, and deserves no respect whatsoever.
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The moment you banish him, your life becomes simpler, purer, cleaner, more worth living, in my opinion.
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That sure is the longest answer to that question that I ever got in this entire series.

About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will engage with a thought-provoking discussion by Stephen Fry about the existence of God, the nature of suffering, and the implications for humanity. By listening to Fry’s articulate arguments, you’ll practice recognizing complex sentences, enhancing your comprehension of deep philosophical themes, and improving your ability to express nuanced opinions in English. This lesson will provide you with an opportunity to not only expand your vocabulary but also refine your speaking skills through the shadowing technique.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Capricious - prone to sudden changes; whimsical.
  • Maniac - someone exhibiting extremely wild or violent behavior.
  • Injustice - a lack of fairness or justice.
  • Beneficent - doing good; performing acts of kindness.
  • Monstrous - extremely ugly or cruel; inhumane.
  • Respect - due regard for the feelings, wishes, or rights of others.
  • Odyssey - a long, adventurous journey; often used in a metaphorical sense.
  • Misery - a state of great distress or discomfort.

Practice Tips

To get the most out of this lesson, incorporate the shadowing technique into your practice routine. As you watch the video, try to mimic Stephen Fry’s tone and pace. His articulate speech and expressive delivery can serve as a model for improving your own English speaking practice. Here are some tips:

  • Start by listening to small segments. Replay the video multiple times to fully grasp each phrase before attempting to shadow.
  • Focus on the emotional tone and inflection in Fry's speech. Notice how he emphasizes key points, which can help you sound more natural in conversation.
  • Vary your practice speed. In some instances, slow down to catch difficult phrases, then graduate to matching Fry's pace as you become more confident.
  • Pause after key phrases to repeat them aloud. This will help you practice intonation and rhythm, essential for sounding fluent in English.
  • Use this video as a daily practice tool. Consistent shadow speech using such insightful content will enrich your vocabulary and comprehension of complex topics.

By the end of this lesson, you should feel more comfortable discussing challenging themes in English and expressing your thoughts clearly, just like Stephen Fry.

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.