The incoming head of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland has accused Stephen Fry of spiritual blindness.
The English comedian denounced God as "monstrous" if he were to exist, during an RTÉ interview with Gay Byrne on The Meaning of Life.
The Rev Ian McNie, 64, has been elected moderator-designate by the church and will lead around 240,000 people across the island when he takes up office in June.
He said: "Until Stephen Fry's spiritual blind eyes are opened he will say what he has said - because he has said what he has said he has only confirmed what the Bible teaches.
"He has been an asset to the church cause, enabling us to know that the Bible is true.
"I felt sorry for the man that his understanding of life is simply confined to the here and now and from his position of atheism there is no hope for the future."
Mr Fry was asked by Gay Byrne what he would say to God.
He responded: "How dare you create a world in which there is such misery that is not our fault? It's not right.
"It's utterly, utterly evil. Why should I respect a capricious, mean-minded, stupid God who creates a world which is so full of injustice and pain?"
Pressed by Mr Byrne over how he would react if locked outside the pearly gates, the comedian said: "I would say: 'Bone cancer in children? What's that about?'
"Because the God who created this universe, if it was created by God, is quite clearly a maniac, utter maniac. Totally selfish. We have to spend our life on our knees thanking him? What kind of God would do that?"
On how to explain the wonders of the world, Mr Fry launched another attack on an all-seeing God creator.
"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. They eat outwards from the eyes. Why? Why did you do that to us? You could easily have made a creation in which that didn't exist. It is simply not acceptable.
"It's perfectly apparent that he is monstrous. Utterly monstrous and deserves no respect whatsoever. The moment you banish him, life becomes simpler, purer, cleaner, more worth living in my opinion."
Mr McNie also said the time would come when a woman led the organisation.
The conservative evangelical from Ballymoney, Co Antrim was elected with an overwhelming majority of the church's presbyteries.
The Church of England has voted to allow women bishops and some women already head comparable regional presbyteries within Ireland.
However, a female minister failed to be elected moderator-designate during Tuesday night's vote.
Rev Liz Hughes, who was one of the four up for nomination, was outvoted for a second year.
Mr McNie told the BBC he shared concerns about a woman taking on leadership of the church but later distanced himself from the remark.
He said: "I believe the time will come when that will happen and I will be part of the church that is involved in that and be willing to be involved in their higher role.
"I would submit very readily to that; if the Presbyterian Church elects a woman moderator within the next number of years they will have my full and complete and utter support."
Mr McNie succeeds the Rev Michael Barry and will officially take up office as the 176th moderator on June 1.
