Jon Hamm: ‘I don’t get the mystery of faith. I’m too much of a math guy’

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I’m not sure if Jon Hamm gave this interview to The Irish Independent or if the newspaper has reprinted an interview Hamm gave with another outlet. For what it’s worth, I can’t find these quotes anywhere else, so I think this is an original piece. Jon is promoting Million Dollar Arm, Mad Men and various assorted projects, and as always, he’s brassy and opinionated. You can read the full piece here and here are some highlights:

His disdain for social media: “This constant recording of your life and updating of your ‘status’ . . . I don’t do that. No event ‘happened’ unless you took a picture of it. Going to a concert or a ballgame, are actual things. But you’re not watching because you’re busy trying to record it so you can tell your friends about it and put it on YouTube. It’s totally meaningless.”

Religion: His parents’ deaths put him off religion “fairly early on in a real quick way”, he says. “That was pretty much it for me. I don’t get the mystery of faith. I’m too much of a math guy. The numbers didn’t add up so I was like, ‘OK, moving on.’ I don’t need an afterlife; I don’t need a second act.”

His career post-Mad Men: “I’m not struggling, but that presents another set of difficulties: you don’t know if a project’s going to be good or be bad. There are a lot of things I wanted which have gone to other people.” For example? “Ridley Scott’s new film The Martian. It should be amazing, it’s a beautiful script and I was like, ‘I’d like to do that’. They were, like, ‘ . . . it’s not for you’. It’s going to be Matt Damon.”

Reality shows (UK): “The Only Way is Essex and Geordie Shore point a camera at awful people and then get them drunk and shake the box. They’re supposed to make you feel better as a person by showing an example of a more terrible person so you can sit above them and say, ‘Well, at least I’m not that person.'”

He’s okay with reality shows about actual talent: “All of those, The Amazing Race, Britain’s Got Talent and Project Runway are showcasing people who have talent. I don’t watch them, because I find them manipulative, but I do appreciate that at the end of Top Chef, a guy who was plugging away in some kitchen in Pittsburgh gets a shot at opening his own restaurant.”

Fame: “I’ve seen it. I know Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, George Clooney, Leonardo DiCaprio. I wouldn’t trade my life for theirs. It’s horrible. You can’t go anywhere; you can’t do anything. Matt’s actually got the right balance and George has a pretty good life too. Don’t get me wrong. I’m just saying that they have this double-edged sword that you really can’t control.”

[From The Irish Independent]

It kind of bothers me that Jon Hamm can get away with talking about what films he really wanted to get and who has a sucky life because they’re famous. If a woman was saying these things, she would be blasted by many people, at least that’s what I believe. Plus, there’s an element of “get off my lawn, whippersnappers!” to Hamm’s refusal to accept social media and reality shows as the new normal. Granted, I think there’s a lot about Selfie Culture that’s stupid, and granted, I don’t watch most reality shows either. So I’m not sure what my point is except that Hamm needs to be my curmudgeon boyfriend. Yes, that’s my point.

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Photos courtesy of WENN.

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139 Responses to “Jon Hamm: ‘I don’t get the mystery of faith. I’m too much of a math guy’”

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  1. Charlie says:

    You can be both religious and a math guy, you know?

    I like Jon as an actor, but he’s so self-important in real life.

    • lia says:

      I like what he said about religion. When I was 8 I lost someone from my close family and that’s how I reacted too. But yeah, a little bit self-important, I have to agree

      • lisa says:

        i dont see why people are all butt hurt that he isnt into religion, he said it isnt for him, not that it shouldnt be for everyone

    • Charlie says:

      I know it’s not what he implies here, but it bugs me that people seem to think that science and religion are the complete opposite and act like every Christian is a fundamentalist.

      • elisa says:

        Exactly. I agree Charlie. Not every Christian is a fundie. Not every religious or spiritual person is a Christian.

        Personally, religion (I am Catholic) has helped me pull through times – when I lost my twin sister in a car accident and when my first-born daughter passed away at five months old. If I thought I would never see them again, I don’t know how I would get up most mornings. But I can also see how such losses could cause someone to lose faith.

        I would never belittle anyone’s belief system – Christian, Buddhist, agnostic, atheist, whatever. I just didn’t like Hamm’s tone here either.

      • Charlie says:

        Exactly. I am Catholic too, and left liberal. It can be done! 😀
        I have friends that are Orthodox, Muslim, atheists, agnostic and we all get along just fine. You just have to respect other people’s beliefs.

      • Kiddo says:

        He said it didn’t add up FOR HIM. Not you. How is it that the tone is offensive? That’s like saying you are offended by an interview with someone who mentioned that they are Christian, and it added up for them after the deaths of family members. There is no proselytizing in either example.

      • Gale says:

        Elisa, you pulled yourself through those tragedies. You had the strength within you to get through it. It’s a disservice to yourself to credit religion when it’s was all you

      • TheOriginalKitten says:

        What Kiddo said.

        Funny. On a similar topic, I had a party at my house a couple weeks ago and three of my friends that were there are all very successful scientists. The topic of religion came up and all three conceded that the number of scientists who are actually religious is greatly exaggerated. The vast majority are not.

        That being said, I know plenty of people who are believe in both God and science, but none of them have chosen to make a career out of either belief in God of study of science.
        If that makes any sense…I need more coffee…

      • Esmom says:

        elisa, so sorry for your losses. I can’t even imagine. I was raised Catholic and I found very little comfort in it, in fact it tended to exacerbate my anxiety. I don’t take offense at Hamm’s tone, he’s just saying that religion doesn’t work for him but in no way seems to be judging those who are religious.

      • Charlie says:

        Kiddo, I did say that I see that he’s isn’t saying that, and I don’t think what he said was offensive. Personally, I know many scientists who are very religious. Actually, the most religious person in my family has a PhD in chemistry.

      • Kiddo says:

        @Charlie, sorry I should have added @elisa who said, “I just didn’t like Hamm’s tone here either“.

        As to belief or non-belief, does it matter what position someone holds? It hasn’t been proven in any arena, so what someone allows for as possibilities in any profession is a bit of a moot point. People believe what they believe. Again, I don’t think Hamm was attempting to qualify himself as an expert who did tests, if you look below, I basically said he was being cheeky with the use of the word “math’, saying it didn’t add up for him, within his own life experience and (possibly) the lack of hard proof in general.

      • dani says:

        Christians (the religious ones) are extremely stupid. the idea of this religion is like lets take ideas from all the other religions and lets put a santa cluass hat and Christmas tree and all that stuff. it’s like not!!! very smart and deep and i can understand him completely

      • Francesca says:

        @Gale…. I am certain Elisa knows best how she has navigated what sounds like some truly terrible times in her life. How arrogant of you to attempt to correct her.

      • Dani Lakes DDS says:

        @Gale –

        How is Elisa doing herself a disservice by believing that is was religion that helped her through her hard times? Maybe you’re trying to be supportive, but it comes across as dismissive. She knows what helped her through, and if her faith is what did it, who are you to say otherwise? How rude of you.

      • Mel M says:

        @Dani- Wow, how have you met every single religious Christian in the world so that you were able to make a sweeping statement like that? Please let me know your secret.

    • Tristan says:

      Science and religion ARE complete opposites. The former requires the burden of proof & the other requires blindly accepting the dogma, mostly illogical, decided upon by a bunch of people many centuries ago who didnt know any better. In a world where most natural phenomena have been explained by science, it is amazing that so many billions of people are so insecure about the inescapable fact of their mortality, that they need this useless crutch of illusions. Accept that this is all there is, that we are just constantly repackaging atoms, and make the most of the one shot you DO have to live & enjoy life to the fullest. Unless you are a complete psycho & want to get away with murder & brutality, in which case join ISIS in Syria & Iraq

      • GoodNamesAllTaken says:

        Remind me not to call you when I need comfort. Lol

      • Lex says:

        I hear ya Tristan. Aside from all of that jazz, most religions’ stance on life issues important to me just do not mesh at all; while there are of course liberal religious people who, for example, are cool with , or who are homosexual themselves, it just goes directly against religious teachings which is something I could never sign up to . It feels more about controlling people and I don’t need the comfort of an afterlife in my life.

      • als says:

        @GNAT – LOOOL
        @Tristan – I never got the ‘make the most of the one shot you DO have to live & enjoy life to the fullest” advice (although I have often heard it) – I automatically assume that people saying this are on Ecstasy so I ask them to share some pills and they look at me in funny ways.
        I think my atom is f@@@ed up!

      • Adrien says:

        Nope, Tristan, you can have faith without following a religion. As for Jon Hamm, of course you won’t get it, you said it yourself, it’s a mystery.

      • TheOriginalKitten says:

        LOL, GNAT!

      • maybeiamcrazy says:

        @GNAT Hahaha
        @Tristan I wouldn’t discard religion only as a fear of mortality. I have met many religious peaceful people that are not part of a weird violent religious cult. Ignorance and religion are deadly when combined but not every religious person is ignorant.

      • Jaded says:

        You can be spiritual without aligning with any specific religion. I happen to believe in a spiritual life after death, but wouldn’t dream of proselytizing about how “my belief is the only true belief” because we just don’t know what’s awaiting us on the other side. My only take on organized religion is that it has spawned the worst, most catastrophic wars and hatreds on the planet. I hope that more people start leaving behind the old dogmas and embrace the idea of “spiritual humanism” which recognizes the validity of all peaceful religious practices in developing the spiritual and compassionate nature of humanity.

      • Hally says:

        Oh honey, that’s where you’re wrong. Religion and science are not opposites, you can’t really compare them since they are apples to oranges. Religion and science are not mutually exclusive, you can be both religious as well as a supporter of scientific discovery. People have such a hard time with that even though it’s a pretty simple to work out logically. Also, a lot of self proclaimed “science” and “math people” think just because you can’t prove something exists it must not exist, which is weird because if science has taught us anything it is that we are still highly ignorant, and that there is so much left to discover. I don’t think religion should be judged using scientific standards, because faith just isn’t something you can measure empirically.

      • Decloo says:

        @Jaded. Amen to that! (said ironically). I agree with you completely. I think organized religion is one of the worst things to happen to humanity. I think that those people who identify with a particular religion shouldn’t be afraid to be critical and questioning of it. Anyone can feel spiritual and derive comfort from that and are lucky to be able to do so. Why certain people feel the need to blindly follow dogma that is not just vastly outdated but apocryphal to begin with is beyond me.

      • Anony says:

        Religion and Science ARE opposites. Many people are chiming in about spirituality. You can have spirituality without Religion. Science: Question everything, don’t believe anything without statistically significant evidence. Religion: Don’t question anything, do as we tell you, think as we tell you. Accept everything we tell you without one ounce of evidence. Oh and please save your breath, the bible, which is printed by HUMAN BEINGS is evidence of nothing. Maybe if the text magically illuminated in gold when you opened it and light shone done from the sky it could be ‘evidence’.

      • From North of Boston says:

        @Hally, well said. People can embrace both science and religion/belief in a higher being. Each, at its most basic, are ways for human beings to try to understand the “truth” about who we are, how/why we are here, what fuels this world/universe around us, how we can live better lives. I’m not saying everyone has to embrace both, but I think people who insist that no one can be both religious and a scientist may have a very narrow view of one or both of those subjects.

        Curiosity, developing theories and testing them, examining what you see, questioning what you think, what you believe to be true, what details or patterns you may be missing…those things can be a component of both scientific and religious examination.

        Plus both science and religion can go badly when people get together and start to believe their dogma is the only “truth” and that people who don’t believe as they do are stupid or evil or to be mocked/ignored/destroyed. Narrow-mindedness or fundamentalism is destructive no matter what core beliefs are being clung to.

    • eastsidej says:

      Yes he’s just so above it all…so enlightened.

    • Andrea says:

      I suppose but my bf is a math professor and he says he would love to see the day that there were no more religions period (he knows it is a dream, but he feels it is a wonderful utopia in his mind). He feels nothing but wars and death have come out of religion and he is mostly true.

    • sandra says:

      You can be, but religion defies logic…

    • joan says:

      He’s entitled to his opinion. But maybe the reason he and Bill Maher are so hung up on getting high and chasing women is because they reject religion.

      They don’t realize you can have a meaningful spiritual life without organized religion.

      And if you aren’t in touch with your own spirituality it really leaves a void that you try to fill with selfies or alcohol or sex addiction.

      • Kiddo says:

        Really? I don’t have religion nor consider myself spiritual (whatever that entails), I’m not high all the time, don’t take selfies, nor abuse alcohol or have a sex addiction. But I hope you don’t lose your meaningful spirituality, based on what that barrier is keeping you from.

      • chaine says:

        Wow. I don’t have any religious or spiritual belief any more, but I don’t consider myself to have a “void.” I’m a productive member of society who contributes time and money to my community. I’m actually much happier and more relaxed and accepting of other people than I was when I was a “saved” Christian; I’m not an addict or alcoholic; I don’t look for multiple sexual partners, as I’m happily married to a similarly non-religious spouse; I don’t take selfies (not sure why you think taking selfies is a sign of a lack of religious belief anyway? it’s just a sign of vanity).

        Can I make a friendly suggestion? You should get to know some actual agnostics and atheists rather than projecting onto all of us your speculation about why two celebrities engage in activities of which you don’t approve.

      • Kiddo says:

        @chaine, There seems to be a disconnect in that religious and/or spiritual people also succumb to various addictions. And sleeping around, or getting high, using alcohol and taking selfies aren’t inherently unethical actions to begin with. It is only when damage is done to one’s self or others that may cause concern or require the need for change. Otherwise, whose business is it anyway?

    • Sea Dragon says:

      When a public figure says they’re into Science or Math, I’ve always interpreted it as a soft way of voicing “I’m an Atheist”. Say those words aloud and there’s controversy and backlash. Say you appreciate the reason and logic of the Sciences an you’re okay.

      I think Hamm’s awesome. One of the few +40 men I consider really sexy.

  2. MrsBPitt says:

    I wish UPS would deliver that package to me!!! Oh my!!!!

  3. Toot says:

    I can understand losing his parents so young (10 for his mother and 20 for his father) can definitely shape your views. I’ve come to the same conclusion myself about religion.

  4. elisa says:

    I’m kind of with him on social media – it’s just too much, everywhere, and all the time. I’m amazed at the sheer volume of some of my family members’ posts on Facebook. How do they even have the time? And the photos and selfies? Must so many people post photos of their meals?

    Although, my feelings are undoubtedly influenced by my job in an academic library where our administration really pushes us to use social media ALL THE TIME to get students into the library. I know it has a role in promotion, but I am just burnt out with social media – especially when students are using it in the classroom instead of paying attention. But that is another rant.

    I also don’t see why religion and math or science or what have you has to be mutually exclusive.

    • Linn says:

      I guess I’m a bit of a hypocrit when it comes to social media. I rarely use them myself but I do enjoy seeing what others are posting. Especially when it comes to people recording ballgames or concerts to put them on youtube.
      I wouldn’t want to spend the whole evening looking through a camera but I would have never seen concerts of many of my favorite artists if other people wouldn’t be willing to film.

  5. Godwina says:

    “No event ‘happened’ unless you took a picture of it. Going to a concert or a ballgame, are actual things. But you’re not watching because you’re busy trying to record it so you can tell your friends about it and put it on YouTube.”

    There may be an onion on my belt but I’ve been saying this for a while. It was my first thought when the Magnotta case broke–get used to serial killers now having to record and post their kills because otherwise “it didn’t happen.” Standing next to people at fireworks shows on Canada Day not watching but recording, fiddling, recording, fiddling, missing half of everything… And it’s not even about selfies–it’s about being able to post something, anything, to make it “real” after the fact rather than be in the real actual moment, whether you’re in the shot or not. What JH said. And I’m the daughter of a photographer who loves her camera. Who still thinks it’s messed up.

    Onion. Belt. Whevs.

    • Sherri says:

      “There may be an onion on my belt…”

      MARRY ME.

    • Nicolette says:

      +1. You’re absolutely right, people are so engrossed in recording everything that they miss out on the actual event. How many times have I been at a school event and instead of parents enjoying their children they have their faces buried in their phones or tablets. Or being at a concert which isn’t exactly cheap these days, and spending the whole time filming. I personally want nothing to do with social media. This site is my social media, period.

    • Esmom says:

      I’m with you 100%. I don’t mind seeing the occasional photo or interesting tidbit from people I know. But some people are seriously out of control. I know someone on FB who writes a parenting blog and she seriously posts more in a single day than I do in a year. Like 10-15 photos/videos per DAY of her family and/or herself. I constantly wonder how she can possibly be “in the moment” with her family if she is posting and replying to the comments 24/7.

      • mimif says:

        Esmom, this is totally OTT but I wanted to tell you I googled the possible BB spin off “Better Call Saul” that you mentioned the other day, and accidentally read a total spoiler. Needless to say, I’ve been wearing all black and haven’t eaten in days.
        *buries head in tighty whities*

      • Esmom says:

        Oh no, so sorry. I never stumbled into any BB spoilers so I have not lived through your pain. Hopefully you can re-immerse yourself into WW’s world, hug those tighty whities extra tight and somehow forget what you’ve seen.

    • maybeiamcrazy says:

      I am a 22 year old and I hate taking pictures or recording the concert. I feel like an ‘old soul’ when my friends rush into taking as many pictures possible LOL. I don’t mind it unless someone records a concert right in front of me. Then… I might lose it.

    • Algernon says:

      I took like, eight pictures while on vacation last month. But I had a really good time, because I wasn’t fiddling with my phone the whole time.

      My mom was recently being sad that she doesn’t have a lot of photos of her now-adult children (seems like the heavy picture-taking stopped around junior high). I told her that that would change with the advent of grandchildren, but also that when I reflect on memories of our family together, we’re *together*. It’s not us and then dad off taking pictures. It’s all of us being together, doing whatever. That time is more valuable and precious than a photo. And having seen someone devolve with Alzheimer’s there comes a time when the doctors make you put away all photos because they’re confusing and distressing, so the notion that they’ll help you remember isn’t necessarily true. I’d rather just live my life and have fun than take a bunch of pictures.

      That said, we did promise to take a family photo every Christmas, just so she has something new to display at work.

      • Godwina says:

        “I’d rather just live my life and have fun than take a bunch of pictures.”

        Me too. The older I’ve gotten, the fewer photos I take on vacations and during events. Mainly because the photos I took when I was younger never get looked at, and the one time I did review them, it was a “meh” experience. Not quite worth the fuss.

        I do admit to taking architectural photos when I travel, because it forces me to look at cityscapes differently and see things I otherwise wouldn’t have seen. To get up close to ancient doorjambs and cool woodwork. Maybe that’s how it works for fireworks, school recitals etc for other people. Dunno.

    • Decloo says:

      That reminds me of a time in a museum in Italy not long ago and there were several Japanese tourists who went up to each painting, first videotaping the painting and then videotaping the label. I don’t believe they ever looked at either with their eyes.

      • From North of Boston says:

        I took a tour of some castle ruins while on vacation a while back. There was one woman who was filming non-stop: the guide, the ground, the rocks, everything, but never interacting with anyone or taking a moment to just appreciate the beautiful place where she was and the company she was with.

        At one point she turned to her husband and finally spoke, saying “I can’t wait to get home and watch this!” The rest of us just rolled our eyes and backed away.

  6. Kiddo says:

    I don’t have a problem with anything he said. He wasn’t attempting to convert anyone away from their faith. Every time this subject comes up, there seems to be a group of people arguing their point of faith plus science, it’s a sort of a new age missionary project. Just let it go, he’s not threatening alternative belief systems because they don’t align with his. He used the word ‘math’ in a subversive cheeky way, saying that the equation didn’t add up for him, not that he set out to un-prove the existence of god through physics or another science.

    I don’t think he was trying to brand the celebs as having terrible lives. He may not have articulated it in the best way, but what I think he was saying is that their lives, that experience, for him, would be burdensome, if he was living in the same conditions. We’ve all said things like that. Obviously their fame has trade-offs, maybe the price or the weight of the scale toward loss of privacy, would be too high for him. I would, of course, like to have more security and money, but fame, at least in being physically recognized, followed by the masses, constantly recorded, photographed and analyzed: No thanks.

    • Sixer says:

      I agree with you on all points. (I’m going to disagree with you one of these days, Kiddo, so don’t get complacent!)

      I disagree with Hamm about social media, however. I use social media all the time. But I don’t post pictures of my roast potatoes or wail for sympathy every time I get a runny nose. The people I interact with don’t do that stuff either. Well, some of my relatives do, but I just skim over them unless it’s their birthday.

      There seems to be such a narrow view of social media held by so many: that it’s only about the minutiae of daily life or celebrities screeching abuse if one of the peasants dares to criticise them. But social media is what you want it to be; that’s the point and the joy of it. I talk with peers about art and politics. I seek out and connect with people I’d never get to meet and connect with in my offline life. I gain new perspectives, get new ideas.

      I think John Hamm should try social media. If he just avoids the rest of Hollywood there, he might find some fabulous stuff.

      • Kiddo says:

        I’m in agreement with you there. I’d be the biggest hypocrite in the universe, since I enjoy this site, which, unfortunately does indulge my time and make the work day longer, but it’s fun and a welcome diversion from life, work and world problems. Some of the people here, including the writers, are genuinely good, funny and smart. As to posting the mundane, it is tiresome. I think some people use it as a competition or to prove to themselves that their life is good.

        However, I do think social media is more ‘loaded’ for celebs. Maybe Hamm can comment somewhere anonymously.

      • Sixer says:

        Only if he DMs thee and me and lets us know it’s him!

      • Kiddo says:

        There’s no way to DM anyone here. Maybe he already posts, hmmm.

      • Sixer says:

        Are you Jon Hamm in disguise? I’m Tom Hiddleston in disguise.

        No! I’m Spartacus!

      • Chris2 says:

        I agree with all he said. He’s not saying he’s too intelligent for religion, but that his brain focusses on the here and now, and the provable. I dunno, I always think he sounds very droll, but many others don’t see that at all.
        I had’t thought of this, CB, as part of what we mean by social media….cos I don’t and won’t Facebook or Twitterate. Worse, I don’t watch TV, haven’t done for 25 years, and these reality shows sound like unimaginable horrors to me. So I guess I’m a grumpy, solitary old git too!
        The internet though….sooo in love with it. You can discuss your varied interests without exposing your privacy, and of course there are cats all over the place.

      • Sixer says:

        I count Facebook, Twitter, blogs, messageboards and anywhere with a comment section as social media!

      • Chris2 says:

        Really, Sixer? Maybe I’m more with it than I thought!
        I do love joining in here, and I’m with a couple of other, academic bloggy sites for discussions too…..I suppose tis that here we have a common interest/purpose and wish to enjoy that in company….,.whereas the big social media names seem limitless, and cramned with thrusting narcissists ( saving your presence, m’dear!)
        Nah really, my main grouch is about too much noise and chatter, that’s what the ‘no tv’ thing’s about, simple peace and quiet, so I extend that to not getting involved with who knows whom on those sites, (as well as my preference for privacy).. …Celebitchy’s got a cosy feel to it, and is contained, as it were.
        But I know I’m just boring/odd! 🙂

        btw thought if you t’other day….fossicking through LPs I found my old LKJ one from 1980. As good as it was all those yrs ago. 🙂

      • Kiddo says:

        @Chris2, You might be odd (fellow oddster, here), but you are NEVER boring.

      • Sixer says:

        @Chris

        What Kiddo said. Odd is good; not boring!

        I think, Twitter, for example, can be noisy. But it doesn’t have to be. You can find what you want and filter out everything else. My feed and conversations centre on the things I always find interesting and want to keep up with, and I add and remove stuff of current interest. And I keep tabs on people I can trust to find interesting things more quickly than I do!

        I was playing Inglan Is A Bitch on Spotify just this morning! It’s in my “Yoof of today? Music of today? They don’t even know they’re born! Kanye WHO?” playlist!

      • TheOriginalKitten says:

        I love how British people always say “I have not done” without the noun.
        Odd is the best. I actually fear boring people and boredom in general.

      • joe spider says:

        @ sixer

        Well helloooooo Tom! 🙂

        @ TheOriginalKitten – why put in the verb when everyone knows what you mean without it? Having said, I hadn’t thought about it before.

        Might put “done so” on occasion.

    • TheOriginalKitten says:

      Yes exactly, Kiddo, you said everything I was thinking.

      It seems that so many people take atheism as a condemnation of their own beliefs.
      I’m secure enough in my (non)beliefs that I don’t get offended by people who subscribe to a particular religion. Belief in God is not a rejection of my atheism. As long as you keep your religion out of my politics, we’re good.

      I don’t know..I enjoy Hamm’s patented frankness-verging-on-grumpiness. He’s outspoken and he doesn’t seem to GAF. I dig him.

      • Ag says:

        i agree with you guys. and you hit it spot on, TOC. a lot of people i know, including family members, take my atheism as a condemnation of their belief system, whatever that happens to be. dude, i am not trying to dissuade you from anything. i just want to be able to express freely that i don’t believe, as you want to express freely that you do.

        and you are SO right – it’s all about security in your own belief system. like the slightest opposition to it or expression of a different belief/non-belief system will shake the foundation of someone’s religion. if it does, well, that is not my doing…

        i like hamm a lot in his interviews. he says what’s on his mind, which is refreshing, esp in the celebrity world. and what he says isn’t vapid or nonsense.

    • GoodNamesAllTaken says:

      I agree. I have a faith, but I have no problem with what he said. I have a problem with some of the commenters saying basically that that faith is a crutch for weaklings who don’t know better, and if you’re religious, you can’t believe in science, but he just said it wasn’t for him. Everybody has to find their own path.

      • Kiddo says:

        I don’t think that is the case. Some people genuinely believe.

        And even though I’m not one of faith or religious, as an agnostic, there are some tenets I can certainly agree with, for example, don’t murder anyone. If someone isn’t stepping over your rights to believe or not believe, nor trying to convert, live and let live. In my family, there is a mix.

      • Sixer says:

        I think of my lack of faith as a faith, you know.

        I can pinpoint exactly when I became an atheist: at a funeral of a relative when I was seven or eight. I just KNEW my great aunt hadn’t gone to heaven because there wasn’t one. I’ve never wavered from that basic conviction since that day. And of course at that age, I didn’t have the knowledge or maturity to make a rational decision. Things I have learned since then may well have strengthened my atheism but they didn’t create it.

        So, in a funny, back-to-front way, my atheism is a kind of faith. I expect other people to respect that, so why on earth wouldn’t I respect other people’s own conclusions about religion and faith, whatever they may be? (Provided they’re peaceful.)

      • GoodNamesAllTaken says:

        Exactly. I give credit to anyone who goes to the trouble and has the depth to figure out what they believe. I have no problem if it’s different than what I came up with as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone else.

      • TheOriginalKitten says:

        @GNAT-I tried to comment above about the posts that are like “No, YOU did that, YOU got yourself through tough times, stop crediting religion for it” but I’m having trouble with this thread loading. Anyway, I think younger atheists say sh*t like that without realizing how incredibly insulting it is. If someone is saying their religion was a coping mechanism that enabled them to overcome adversity, they shouldn’t then be patronized by being told that their Faith wasn’t what got them through it.

        As I’ve said many times that I was raised atheist but it’s been a journey for me as far as how I approach religion and people of Faith. When I was younger I would say shit like “it wasn’t God, it was YOU” without understanding that a comment like that was discarding the beliefs of others. Nowadays, I take a blanket approach to religion with a “live and let live” attitude. I’m fine with everyone believing in whatever they want to believe in, just don’t try to impose your beliefs upon me and we’re good to go.

        But the atheists who say “religion is for the weak” might just be going through a stage in their journey. Not to excuse them, but just know that they don’t speak for all of us.

        On another note I took Valerian root at 3AM because I couldn’t sleep and as a result, I’m a mess today. Please excuse my utter lack of articulateness….I suck.

      • Kiddo says:

        @Sixer, my destination to this point was a gradual undertaking. I started by asking millions of cynical questions in Sunday school and church at a very young age, so my irreverence toward absolute authority took shape early. Things also didn’t ‘add up’ for me eventually; including customs and different religious practices intermingled for conversions, traumatic personal life experiences, injustices, the randomness of the world, the lack of proof, and the history of religion being used as a negative control mechanism for citizenry (although, admittedly some biblical ‘laws’ have stood out as a benefit to society and have carried on through the legal system in terms of murder and theft, for example). Having said all that, I don’t know everything, but I live according to the revelations (maybe a bad choice of words) I’ve arrived at each point in life, and so here I am.

      • Chris2 says:

        TOKitten
        Lucky you, valerian does nowt for my insomnia. However…..the cats go doolally over it! Not irresponsible-druggy, like passive spliff smoking, just bizarro fun times on the carpet.

        At my Ma’s recent funeral, this entire faith conversation seems to have been hovering. All of us, my brothers and cousins, around my own age, are raving atheists but each expressed profound gratitude that Ma had her Catholic faith allowing her to expect prompt reunion with Dad, and to greet death as a gift. At the reception I chatted with old childhood chums, 2 of whom are, bogglingly, high in some new lay part of the parish heirarchy…..I knew them as a pair of vicious skinheads! I was rabbitting on and mentioned losing my faith in childhood, as part of a school tale I was telling. Wham! Both grabbed my arms and begged me to allow the Lord back into my life ( 50 years later!) Jeez, I doubt Cool Pope knows quite how muscular the Church can be!
        😉

      • TheOriginalKitten says:

        Wait your CATS have valerian root, Chris? That’s safe?
        Speaking of cats, I don’t usually take valerian root but I had both the cats in bed last night-the older one sleeping politely and unobtrusively on the pillow next to my head and the kitten (who is about 8.5 lbs already) sleeping almost on my face. And HE DOESN’T MOVE. He’s like dead weight…I tend to toss and turn so…annoying to have this huge lump taking up half the bed…can you imagine what it’s like when I’m dating someone?

        But I digress-the situation you describe is exactly why I don’t do the “God didn’t help you, YOU did it on your own” sh* to believers. Just like I don’t appreciate the patronizing sanctimony behind “You just haven’t found God yet.”
        I think it’s wonderful that your mom could welcome death as a reunion with your dad. Sigh. I do envy her in that sense.

        Edit: @Sixer-Mary Jane, Ganja, endo! It’s non-pharmaceutical (well, depending) and will help you sleep like a baby. My guy is away right now hence the Valerian root.

      • Sixer says:

        Man, if someone has a non-pharmaceutical cure for insomnia, I’d love to hear it. I sleep fine – but only after I’ve managed to fall asleep. It’s the falling that takes forever.

      • Kiddo says:

        @Sixer, I’ve found that exhaustion, following a long round of insomnia, works. lol with tears?

      • Ag says:

        re insomnia – i read that, oddly, eating a banana about an hour before you go to bed will help you fall asleep. and apparently passion fruit.
        http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/health/spirit/best-foods-for-sleep/#page=5

      • Kiddo says:

        Thanks @Ag. It’s funny you posted that. I rarely buy bananas, but just did, since I read that women don’t get enough potassium. I will try it.

      • Chris2 says:

        TOKitten
        I buy valerian teabags for the cats….de-stringed, they’re safe for them to play with, lick to disgustingness, rip up etc. they roll around and act loopy exactly as with catnip….it must be related.
        Perfectly safe, I checked with Mr Vet. (a puny excuse…he looks like Colin Farrell)

        Dunno about Sixer, but I’m unable to get weed now. It was certainly the best thing for sleep.
        🙁

      • Sixer says:

        I’m going to try a banana – it’s better than exhaustion!

        @Chris – when we had the Sixlets, we decided that doing anything illegal was to stop, even if we disagree with the particular law (as both Mr Sixer and I do regarding drugs laws) so weed is a no go. When they gone done growed up, and Mr Sixer and I are the only people we affect if caught doing verboten things, and if I’m still sleeping badly, I will revisit this idea!

      • TheOriginalKitten says:

        I had NO idea, Chris! Fun. I noticed that the container said that you can empty the Valerian root capsules and make tea..maybe I’ll bust out the sewing machine and make Valerian root toys for the kitties. Thanks for the tip! Also, I wish my vet looked like Colin Farrell 🙁

        @Sixer. I always wondered how I would feel about that–whether weed would be forbidden or not if I had kids. When I was younger I would have said definitely forbidden but as I get older and meet smokers who have well-adjusted, happy and healthy kids I do wonder…The whole “do as I say not as I do” conundrum…

      • Sixer says:

        @OKitt

        Honestly? It’s not to do with setting an example to the Sixlets. I mean, I do try to set an example, but according to my own lights. They’re both well aware I support legalisation, for example. And that I think a joint does not a junkie make. If weed were legal and it would help me sleep, I’d smoke it and tell them why.

        It’s to do with them being my ultimate responsibility. So I can’t risk a criminal record, which might affect family finances (fines) or job prospects (employer checks) or even jail (not that I’d ever do anything likely to get jail time, but the principle is what I’m talking about).

        If I were still agitpropping over political issues when I had them, which I used to do a lot before I had them, I would have given that up too – because of the risk of arrest.

  7. Jess says:

    I kind of agree with him on religion, my father is a scientist and that belief system shaped my own growing up, but I also agree with another poster about not being able to get through the death of a loved one without the thought of seeing them again. So I guess I’m in the middle somewhere. Jon is spot on about social media though, people are so obsessed with documenting their moments that they actually miss the moments completely, I’m guilty of it as well. When I go on vacation now I make a point to keep the phone away from me so I’m not tempted, I take a few pictures here and there but that’s it, I try to be in the moment instead of worrying about what people will think of it.

    Anyway, love Jon, annoying self importance and all! 🙂

  8. als says:

    Hamm would get blasted too if he was a bigger name. Right now, all he has is a TV show that’s ending and by the looks of things Mad Men won’t go down like Breaking Bad.
    Mad Men finish will be slower and more painful – audience-wise.

  9. Emma33 says:

    I thought it was an interesting interview and I liked what he had to say about fame. Jon Hamm (like Oprah, who has commented on this) came to fame late and this can have an impact on how your perceive it. Oprah said something once about being grateful her personality was already formed by the time she was famous, because the fame then didn’t shake her sense of self.

    I get the feeling that Jon has a similar perspective. He knows what it was like before he was a famous adult and he can see life from both sides; fame has its perks but so does anonymity. I also think this might account for Jon’s frankness in interviews. He isn’t scared to lose what he has, unlike some other actors who may do anything they can to grimly hang-on to their celebrity.

  10. Al says:

    I find him extremely likable and relatable. He comes off as grumpy admittedly, but never off-putting. If it were up to me, I would cast him in any and every movie and turn him into a huge moviestar like Brad or Leo. I think he has the face that belongs in front of the camera. He’d be a great Marc Anthony opposite Cleopatra in a movie someday. In front of the camera, he has that sort of ‘grandeur’ about him. Yet maybe that is only wishful thinking or projection of my perception about him.

    That being said, I am fascinated by how mundane his private life is and how much of a non-star energy he seems to carry around with him. People want him to have the disposition, bravado and polish of a moviestar from the 50s, but with him that will always remain only a fantasy. In real life, he is shooting way below his potential and capabilities.

    Somehow my fave actors right now are these bonafide TV names like Charlie Hunnam and Jon Hamm etc. They are all handsome, sexy and ‘able’. Yet it seems none of these guys has that superstar appeal, or some particular desire for A-list level fame. They lead extremely unremarkable lives with average-looking women (who seem to make them very happy, I’ll give them that).

    Say what you want about Brad Pitt, but he has been sitting on that megastar throne for two decades now and the magnitude of his stardom has become truly incomparable. Nobody even comes close. And it doesn’t seem like he is trying that hard. People are just taken with him like a force of nature.

    I guess some people just have ‘it’, whatever ‘it’ is… and some people just don’t.

  11. Jen says:

    agree with his point if view on all of it. and don’t think there is any reason he shouldn’t voice it.

    • Victoria1 says:

      me too, I loathe social media and the obsession that people have with it. I was at a bachelorette party this weekend and the whole weekend was about pictures and what to post online. I’m like really, can we just party and let go? I think people have this idea that if it’s not recorded, it didn’t happen. I like cranky Jon Hamm, we can bitch on the porch together drinking beers and reminiscing about the good old days. (I’m only 32, LOL)

  12. lucy2 says:

    I agree with him completely on reality shows, and on the overuse of social media. It’s good for some things, but so many people are addicted to it and can’t do anything without connecting that to it. And no one needs to see a photo of your kid EVERY DAY after school (I’ve got a couple of those in my FB feed. Every. Day.)
    As for the faith stuff, to each their own. Find what works for you and feels right for you, don’t push your views onto anyone else who isn’t asking, and respect the beliefs of others. That’s about it, IMO.

  13. Josefa says:

    Yet another one to add to the list of “hates social media though clearly has no idea of how it works” celebrities. Only a small bunch of crazy people don’t actually enjoy a concert for posting it on social media. The vast, sane majority will snap a picture, upload it to fb or instagram and call it a day. And really… you only have to share as much as you want. The people who use social media to seek attention are teenagers. The way older gens treat facebook reminds me of how kids think of dentists. They are so scared, until they get there and notice it wasn’t bad at all. Except on political holidays. Social media is absolutely awful when people start talking serious stuff.

    And do people really watch the “shore” reality shows to feel better about themselves? I thought you were supposed to be laughing at stupid people doing stupid things while drunk. Like live-action cartoons.

    • Chris2 says:

      Well I’m an older person with a strong aversion to Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and all the rest of those ‘sharing’ setups. I’m not in the least afraid of them, just utterly lacking in interest! It’d be as out if character for me as joining a hockey team, or drinking beer with ice cubes…
      🙂

      • Kiddo says:

        I disowned facebook and twitter a while back. It’s enough that the government and other for-profit data collectors/harvesters have a substantial dossier on everyone, why make it that much easier to surrender your privacy and give them multiple avenues to drop individual psychologically-based propaganda for moving policy or pushing product?

        Some people don’t use those forms of social media, not because they don’t get it, or understand it, but because they understand it all too well. You are the product that is bought and sold.

      • mimif says:

        Word. I erased all my info from the internet (and have to re-erase every 4 months or so) because I do not want my personal info bought or sold. No PayPal, no catalogs, no spam, no thanks.

      • Kiddo says:

        Some other considerations: duckduckgo, betterprivacy, disconnect, ghostery and privacy badger. Although who knows what info they are giving out? At least they might be somewhat effective on slowing down the collection of websurfing by some data miners. I won’t post anywhere with requirements for a facebook or twitter account and internet provider email addresses. No autofill for orders, no cards on account. I’ve started to use more cash when I can in brick and mortar shops.

        Where/how are you going about erasing info?

      • mimif says:

        Yeah ditto to everything you wrote. I don’t use gmail anymore and I always surf either privately or anonymously (as far as I know). Do I sound paranoid? 😉

        It’s fairly time consuming to erase your info. I contacted the major companies that were displaying my info (Intellius, etc.) and requested to opt out, some require proof of identity (like a DL) while others like Radaris require you to register with them to “hide” your info. (That really annoyed me, that I had to create an account to “delete” my info, so of course I used a burner email.)

        Do a duckduckgo search for erasing your online identity and there are a few good articles about the specific companies you need to contact. It’s all aggregated, which I’m sure you know, so you have to stay on top of it in order to keep your info out of Google’s crawl.

        Sorry for the long post and ¡viva la Revolución!

      • Kiddo says:

        No apologies, moobwhitezillif, I cut and pasted your post and will follow your instructions. If only you were simply paranoid, life would be sweet.

    • Algernon says:

      “And do people really watch the “shore” reality shows to feel better about themselves?”

      Yes. Most everyone I know that watches trashy reality TV says it makes them feel better about themselves.

      Also, there’s a real generation gap with social media. Of course there are older people who are very proficient with it, but a lot of the people who dismiss it out of hand, like Jon Hamm, tend to be forty-ish and up. It’s just not their thing, as a generation.

      • Josefa says:

        Well, that’s weird. Everyone I know just laughs at the crap they are doing. When we want to feel better about ourselves we donate money to charity or something.

        I can understand an overall aversion to sharing stuff on social media, I just hate when they paint us as this special snowflakes that need attention 24/7. There’s people like that, but a small minority.

      • Syko says:

        It’s not always age. I’m 72 and a real Facebook junkie. I don’t post personal stuff, and don’t really enjoy reading the posts of those who do, but I like the memes and news articles that show up, and I like Bejeweled Blitz.

  14. Steph says:

    I actually agree with Hamm on a lot of things with the exception of faith. Faith to me is very personal and private and people should not criticize another person’s beliefs or lack of beliefs.

    I agree with him on reality shows. I love those shows which actually display competitors with talent,like design,cooking,dancing,singing and even weight loss.

    I also agree with him on social media,my friends and I debate this topic often.

    He appears to be very real and rational.

    • Tulip Garden says:

      I knew if I kept reading through the comments, I would find someone that articulated my thoughts: That’s you!
      *tips hat*

  15. Dawn says:

    I get what he is saying and I agree with him especially about religion. I don’t think he is off putting at all, I think he is just telling us how he feels about the subjects he was asked about. He was a teacher so if this acting thing doesn’t work out for him he can always go back to that!

  16. tealily says:

    Love it. Love him.

  17. Micki says:

    I didn’t get quite how the natural circle life-death can put anyone off religion.I meant it’s integrated in any religion, but anyway, that’s his choice.
    I was ribbed the wrong way when he talked about the shitty life of many celebrities just to backtrack in the same breath that nearly all of these people got a certain private zone and it’s not so bad really…

  18. Andrea says:

    I grew up Catholic and I felt more at peace once I stopped going to church and practicing religion personally. When I was Catholic, I was constantly worrying about death and going to heaven or purgatory. It seems soo silly to me now. I personally have a hard time hanging out with devout religious people since our beliefs seem so polar opposite, we have nothing to agree on.

  19. Jackie says:

    @ Gale. I completely agree. Christianity takes away any sense of self worth. You are nothing and can do nothing with God. When I grieve, I depend on those around me and the coping skills I’ve learned through the years. I hate when people won’t give themselves the credit they deserve.

    • ataylor says:

      Christianity takes away any sense of self-worth? Unless you are able to speak to every single Christian on this planet and ask and analyze them regarding their self-worth, then my I suggest therapy, since it seems you are projecting your inner feelings upon others.

      • Jackie says:

        How many times you heard a Christian say they are nothing without God, can do nothing without God? They work hard, bust their asses, become successful and thank God first and foremost. All without realizing it took their work and their diligence. They don’t give themselves credit for their own achievements and at the same time, it would imply that other religious people who struggle financially or in school or in any other way isn’t being helped in quite the same way. I think it’s strange for people to thank God for being blessed with a home, a job, good health, food and water and being completely oblivious to the faithful who pray for those same things and will die because of a lack thereof. Seems like God provides well for those in wealthy countries while the prayers of those in developing countries remain unanswered.

  20. emmie_a says:

    Why are people bashing him for HIS opinions? He doesn’t come off preachy or holier-than-thou and he’s not telling us that we have to think like he does – he’s just stating how he feels. There’s really nothing offensive to be argued here.

  21. paranormalgirl says:

    I don’t see where he was bashing faith or religion. Just stating his opinion. I found the Catholicism of my youth very very comforting. I never knew my parents and was raised by nuns in a children’s home. I derived much comfort and peace through the rosary and through adoration. I am no longer a practicing Catholic, but I still believe in a higher power and practice Green Witchcraft. And there are times when I still derive comfort and peace through the rosary and through adoration. But that’s ME. I don’t expect nor care if someone agrees with me or not. Just don’t belittle my belief system and I won’t belittle yours. I have faith. And I am a scientist.

    As for social media: it has a place. I use facebook to keep in touch with some of my colleagues in the paranormal community who live far from me. I don’t use twitter or pinterest. But social media serves a purpose for many people. And I can’t judge.

  22. joe spider says:

    I guess I’m agnostic (ie hedging my bets!) but I keep coming back to “if God sent his only son to save the Earth, how come it is such a mess?”

  23. Name not found says:

    Totally undertstandable, his attitude against religion, however a math guy? And what number? I don’t believe in afterlife either, but I will not brand my reason as being a math person. Sit down and don’t flatter yourself Jon.

  24. RobN says:

    I like how dismissive he is of reality shows but then he knows the names of all of them and what the winners get.

  25. First of All says:

    He doesn’t need an afterlife but he’ll have one.

  26. Chris says:

    Loved what he said about social media and religion. I have no interest in social media either. I see people needing to constantly check for updates on their iPhones all the time. Whether it’s in staff meetings at work, between sets at the gym or by ignoring the people they’re with. It seems like compulsive behavior to me.

  27. Kate says:

    I agree with him on all counts except social media.

    I recently went to a 3 day music festival. I took hundreds of photo’s and shared maybe 30. And I’m getting comments telling me to put the phone down and enjoy the music…Dude, it takes less than a second to take a photo. Like I said, I took hundreds, but I honestly only had my phone in my hand for 10 minutes over that entire long weekend. Taking a photo is not a time consuming thing to do. Hell, even the people I saw filming entire sets weren’t being distracted from the show, they’d just taped their phones to their hat! If anything they were more focused on the show since they had to be facing the stage the whole time in order to film.

    It’s human nature to want to share your experiences. People have shared images, whether drawings or paintings or photography, forever. It’s a big part of how we connect.

  28. Tincy says:

    If he is such a mathematical and scientific person, why did he go into acting for a living?

  29. carin says:

    Wow. I really don’t get how religion is such a big issue in the US… Life works pretty fine WITHOUT religion for those who chose their life to be without it. Really, as a foreigner I ask: Why is religion so incredibly important to you?

    • Andrea says:

      Particularly in the SE and SW, people cling to their guns and religion from my experience. It seems to be passed down from generation to generation and anyone in the NW, California, and NE are viewed as mostly foreigners, yankees, with too liberal viewpoints. There is a great chasm within the US possibly because it is so vast of a nation. I lived in the SE for awhile after having grown up in the NE and I must say, sometimes I wonder if the US would have been better off if the SE had just seceded, harsh I know, but the two sides will never agree on anything.

    • ramona says:

      A lot of people in the United States are still hung up on the idea that morality can only be derived from religion.

      Silly concept, but alas. When it’s repeated to you, day in, day out, you start to believe silly things. I still can’t believe school kids have to say “under god” in the Pledge of Allegiance. Not only is the Pledge a form of civil religion to begin with, but then infusing it with god? Sheesh.

  30. ramona says:

    I think Jon Hamm actually described his atheism in a very light, non-confrontational way. As a university religion professor and fellow atheist, I think he answered a question that could have easily become pretty heavy in a smart fashion.

    I think as people are free (in my country, at least) to participate in any religious movement that they choose, or not participate in a religion at all, that we should all just respect one anothers’ choices concerning the matter. However, what really makes me livid is when people claim to be a Christian, or a Hindu, or an Atheist, etc., and have no idea what the heck they’re talking about. You’d be surprised how many people call themselves a Christian, or a Muslim, etc., and misrepresent the religion they claim to believe in. Drives me up a freaking wall.

    Anyway, this is me, shutting my fat mouth now.