ICC Note: After issuing several verbal attacks against church leaders who are at odds with his policies, Philippine President Duterte on June 22 questioned the logic of the Bible creation story and called God “stupid.” His comments drew sharp criticism from the Catholic-majority nation, especially bishops who feel that the leader has crossed the line.

06/25/2018 Philippines (UCA News) – Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, after spewing diatribes against Catholic bishops and priests in recent months, has turned the focus of his tirades on God.

Speaking during a technology summit in the southern city of Davao on June 22, the president questioned the logic of the Bible creation story and called God “stupid.”

Duterte said he found fault in the creation story, questioning how Adam and Eve brought about “original sin.”

“Adam ate [the apple], then malice was born. Who is this stupid God? This son of a bitch is stupid if that’s the case,” he said.

“You created something perfect and then you think of an event that would tempt and destroy the quality of your work,” added Duterte.

The president, who has been at odds with church leaders who criticized his administration’s policies, questioned the Christian concept of “original sin.”

“It’s something that your mother and father did, you were not part of it, then you have original sin. What kind of religion is that? I can’t accept it,” said Duterte.

The Philippine leader, who was born and was baptized Catholic, said he believes in a “universal mind” but said he could not picture God as a human being.

“I really believe, I have this faith and abiding thing about … but don’t believe in religion,” he said.

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