'Succession' star Brian Cox says the Bible is 'one of the worst books ever'
Veteran British actor Brian Cox minced no words in saying that Bible is “one of the worst books ever.”
The Independent reported that the Succession star appeared on The Starting Line podcast to discuss his views on religious belief.
The 77-year-old actor, who’s an atheist, was asked whether he felt organized religion had impeded human progress, to which he responded, “Oh considerably, yes.”
“I think religion does hold us back because it’s belief systems, which are outside ourselves,” he is quoted as saying.
Cox said religion has “led us into all kinds of horror,” citing the Holocaust and the wars in Ukraine and Gaza as examples.
He also described organized religion as patriarchal, with the “propaganda” going right way back.
“The Bible is one of the worst books ever, for me, from my point of view,” he said. “Because it starts with the idea that Adam’s rib [is where] this woman was created, and they’ll believe it ‘cause they’re stupid enough!”
In any case, Cox believes that people may need spiritual guidance though not from the Bible.
“They need it, but they don’t need to be told lies,” he said. “They need some kind of truth, and that (Bible) is not the truth. It is not the truth, it’s a mythology.”
On a personal level, Cox said he found the answers to life’s biggest questions through acting.
He said theater is the “one true church,” since it’s the “church of humanity.”
Cox is known for his roles in Succession, Braveheart, Rushmore, Zodiac, and the Bourne franchise. He’s also a classically trained Shakespearean actor.