Howard Stern

Radio Personality/Author/Actor

From the 30 November 2004 show:

Speaking of children's books, Howard said he picked up the Bible and started to read it for the first time the other day. He said the book is genius because it explains the world in such a simplistic way, like the way you talk to a child. Everything in the world is explained by saying "God" created it. Like it just says that the world was dark, then God decided to create light, but not for all the time, just for some of the time, and that he put stars in the sky to light up the earth a little at night, but the stars also light earth a lot during the day, etc. Howard said he was surprised at just how easily the Bible read. He noted that it doesn't tell you "why" anything is the way it is, just that God wanted it that way and that's that. Howard said he gets real nervous when he does raps like this, so he must believe in God in some way. Robin said she thinks it's silly when people turn to God at the end of their lives and start praying for forgiveness and stuff, but Howard said Robin knows we'll all do the same thing. Howard said he starts praying to God when he has so much as a cold.

submitted by Frank Lefler

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During his April 12, 1995 E! network show, Stern said "Here's what happens when you die--you sit in a box and get eaten by worms. I guarantee you that when you die, nothing cool happens."

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Camille Paglia interviewed Stern in the Advocate in promotion of his book Miss America. Paglia asked "How do you feel about religion and politics?" Stern responded "I'm sickened by all religions. Religion has divided people. I don't think there's any difference between the pope wearing a large hat and parading around with a smoking purse and an African painting his face white and praying to a rock."

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A reader writes "Howard Stern has said many times that he thinks there's no god and that any religion, no matter how elaborate or how many people practice it, is no different than a 'caveman worshipping a big rock'."

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Stern is also known for saying quite the opposite. On his radio show he has repeatedly said "I believe in God -- I'm afraid not to".

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Another reader writes in to quote Stern from his radio show, this time suggesting he's a theist: "I definitely believe in god and I thank him for me being alive"

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Towards the end of the April 14, 1999 show, a caller asked Howard if he believed in God. The caller appeared a bit disoriented, possibly drunk. Although Howard wasn't explicit, he implied "no" as an answer. One of the things he said, "I can't believe there's a God stupid enough to create an idiot like you."

The contributor also notes that Howard has lamented how he goes to synagogue with his family although he thinks it's nonsense.

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A reader reports that on April 23, 1999, in the wake of the Colorado school killings, Stern got really frustrated with a caller: "Please with the God talk. Hate to break it to you, but there is no God." Howard was really serious, because he couldn't believe that there would be a god when "God's children" are gunned down.

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On May 13, 1999, in a telephone interview with Politically Incorrect's Bill Maher, Howard asked Bill if he believed in God. "Yeah, I believe in God, but not in religion. Don't you?"

Howard replied, "No."

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Howard further elaborated upon his views during an extended interchange with a caller during the July 23, 1999 show. The caller repeatedly claimed that "Jesus Christ will hold [Howard Stern] responsible for his wickedness." Howard responded by saying that "man created god" and questioned whether Christ actually ever existed.

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On August 19, 1999, Stern was conducting a phone interview with Marty Ingels, who was expressing complaints about George Carlin's comedy content which included statements about religion is a bunch of bullcrap. At one point, Mr. Ingels asked Howard if he believed in God. Howard replied that he didn't.

And perhaps his co-host Robin Quivers shares the same point of view, as later in the show the topic of aging came up. She said to Howard, "I believe we will start believing in God as we get closer to death."

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Howard Stern Show 3/9/00 10:15am The subject of Ash Wednesday came up late in the show and it led to a whole discussion about religion. Howard was saying how when he sees a businessman-type of person walking down the street with ashes smeared on his head it turns him off and he thinks that there's no way he'd deal with them. He wondered out loud if General Manager Tom Chiusano got ashes yesterday. Stuttering John came in and confirmed that Tom did indeed get the smudge on his head. Howard said that Tom should be fired. Both Gary and Stuttering John told Howard that they find it hard to believe that there is a God out there but they want to. Howard believes that once you're dead, that's it. He doesn't believe that there's an after-life. Chiusano eventually came in to talk about why he gets the ashes on his head. He told Howard that after he had his bout with cancer a couple of years ago he started to think and started to go back to church. He now goes regularly and gets his ashes each year.

Howard told Tom that he sees religion as being very similar to his Obsessive Compulsive Disorder because you do silly little rituals to protect yourself from bad things in both. Tom agreed with him. He also tried to say that Howard's meditation is a form of a ritual but Howard said he does that so he can get some rest during the day.source

--- From the May 21, 2004 show, guest Chaunce Hayden of Steppin' Out magazine interviewed Howard:

Chaunce Hayden: Which do you consider yourself more, an agnostic or an atheist?

Howard Stern: I am... What? Define "agnostic", please.

CH: Someone who thinks there could be something out there, but doesn't know what. They're not saying you definitely believe there is no god...

HS: I don't want to answer.

Robin Quivers: Why not? Everybody knows who wants to know

HS: I know intellectually there is no god. But in case there is, I don't want to piss him off by saying it.

RQ: Why do you know intellectually, when there are some scientists, some brilliant people, who don't know?

HS: There can't be a god. If you watch the tape of that guy [Nicholas Berg] getting his head cut off, there's no way.. no god could allow that. If I was god, I'd say, "Listen, I can't allow this. I'm gonna stop it." Like just as about when his head was about to be cut off, I'd go, "You know what, I'm gonna break the Arabs arms."

RQ: Well, I don't believe there's a god.

HS: That's what I'm saying. If God is compassionate, he would never allow..

RQ: But you're going through this whole intellectually, "I know but"...