Ricky Gervais gave a defense of atheism on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. The British comedian and actor is an outspoken atheist, and Colbert is somewhat of a rarity in comedic circles: a devout Catholic. Unlike similar conversations with Bill Maher, this was far more gracious than it was testy.
Ricky Gervais has never been shy about sharing his beliefs. (Photo: Getty Images)
So this is atheism in a nutshell, said Gervais. You say, Theres a god. I say, You can prove that? You say, No. I say, I dont believe you then. So you believe in one god, I assume but there are 3,000 to choose from So basically, you believe in you deny one less god than I do. You dont believe in 2,999 gods. And I dont believe in just one more.
Colbert explained that his gratitude for existence needs to be expressed and winds up being directed toward God. Gervais explained his gratitude for existence is displayed in an appreciation for scientific discovery. We want to make sense of nature and science. It is too unfathomable everything in the universe was once crunched in some small atom, said Gervais. But you dont know that, Colbert interjected. Youre just believing Stephen Hawking, and thats a matter of faith in his abilities. You dont know it yourself. Youre accepting that because someone told you.
Stephen Colbert is a rarity in comedic circles for his deep Catholic faith. (Photo: Getty Images)
Gervais then explained why Colberts argument wasnt compelling to him, and did so in such a succinct manner that Colbert had to give him credit. You see, if we take something like any fiction and any holy book and any other fiction and destroyed it, in 1,000 years time, that wouldnt come back just as it was, Gervais pointed out. Whereas if we took every science book and every fact and destroyed them all, in 1,000 years theyd all be back, because all the same tests would be the same result. Thats good, Colbert acknowledged. Thats really good.
Previously on Colbert: Jon Stewart Reveals Trumps Next Executive Order:
Tell us what you think! Hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram or leave your comments below. And check out our host, Khail Anonymous, on Twitter.
Go here to see the original:
Ricky Gervais and Stephen Colbert Debate Atheism - Yahoo TV (blog)
- Chapel Hill police: Parking dispute may have led to triple shooting [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Chapel Hill killings shine light on particular tensions between Islam and atheism [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Atheism and obesity - Main Page - Conservapedia [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Demographics of atheism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Atheism - Main Page - Conservapedia [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Atheism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- science against atheism - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Conversations Regarding Atheism & Theism - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- My Journey to Atheism - Part 5: Faith in God as an Adult - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Russell Brand Rips Stephen Fry's Atheism - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Book about Jaclyn Glenn @jaclynglenn #freespeech #atheism #freethought - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Response to Atheism Episode 6 - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Atheist Analysis S04 E07: Interview With Peter Boghossian/ Street Epistemology /Atheism Evangelism - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Atheism Unleashed Presents.. 5 Stupid Questions... - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Follow-up to "Defining Atheism" - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Atheism Implodes Hard - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- God, Science & the Big Questions: Leading Christian Thinkers Respond to the New Atheism - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Does Atheism Lead To A Bad Society? - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Atheism vs India Revisited 9 - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Robert Richert 'Communicating Atheism' - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- John Lennox exposes Peter Atkins and the truth of his Atheism - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- My Testimony - from Atheism to Biblical Christian - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- How to Convert a Theist to Atheism - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Materialism begets atheism removing inherent spiritualistic realization *Nouman Ali Khan* - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Creation,Evolution, Christianity and Atheism - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Atheism, World Religions 1 - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- How I Got Saved From Evolution/Atheism To Christ - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Atheism - Why Atheists Are Atheists - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Atheism Not Belief - War on Easter - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- A Christian defines Atheism - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Atheist Dan Barker proves Atheism is madness - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- St. Athanasius & Why Atheism in on the Rise - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- LIVE Multi-Topic Hangout. Atheism, Christianity, My Personal Life With Sarah - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- The Deceit Of Atheism - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Atheism-is-Unstoppable-2: What a moronic video! - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Cool People in Heaven Song #freespeech #atheism - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Atheism-is-Unstoppable-2 is a douche. - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Atheism - Man's Biggest Delusion - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Atheism Unleashed Presents.. The Animated Atheist. - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Atheism is Irrational - Crazy Atheists Compilation - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Response to Atheism Episode 5 - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Neil deGrasse Tyson Talk Science Religion Morality and atheism. - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Is Atheism of the Devil? - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Is Atheism a "Man Thing"? - The Stats (+ muslims) - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Fr. Barron on Atheism and Philosophy - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Part 1 Election: Jacob and Esau; Atheism & Agnosticism Debunked - Video [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2015]
- A Short Talk About Christianity VS Atheism - Video [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2015]
- The Rules Of Atheism - Video [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2015]
- A few current events relevant to atheism - Video [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2015]
- Finish Drive Into City Of Lancaster, PA 2/11/15, Atheism Is An Ideology - Video [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2015]
- 'The Atheist Experience' Responds To Me - Video [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2015]
- Atheist Psychologist Admits Atheism is Unscientific - Video [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2015]
- Understanding Atheism | Session 1 | Asadullah Ali - Video [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2015]
- Atheism: No Good, No Evil, No Hope | Big Objections | Andrew Wilson - Video [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2015]
- Atheism vs India Revisited 9a - Video [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2015]
- Atheism is... - Video [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2015]
- Hamza Tzortzis vs Lawrence Krauss - Islam or Atheism which one makes more sense? The Big Debate - Video [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2015]
- Stupid Anti-Vaxxers - Eric Hovid on How Atheism Causes Suicide - Stupid Ads - DPP #83 - Video [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2015]
- Theism vs Atheism with Christjahn Beck - Video [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2015]
- Session 1|| Understanding Atheism|| Asadullah Ali - Video [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2015]
- New Atheism and a Meaningless Universe | William Lane Craig, PhD - Video [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2015]
- Richard Dawkins slams video that claims to 'destroy atheism' [Last Updated On: February 16th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 16th, 2015]
- Atheism - New World Encyclopedia - Info:Main Page - New ... [Last Updated On: February 16th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 16th, 2015]
- Does Atheism Exist? - Video [Last Updated On: February 16th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 16th, 2015]
- Understanding Atheism | Session 5 | Asadullah Ali - Video [Last Updated On: February 16th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 16th, 2015]
- Understanding Atheism | Session 3 | Asadullah Ali - Video [Last Updated On: February 16th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 16th, 2015]
- Meeting of the Minds: Eve Reele - Moderate vs. Extreme Atheism 2/3/15 - Video [Last Updated On: February 16th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 16th, 2015]
- Understanding Atheism | Session 2 | Asadullah Ali - Video [Last Updated On: February 16th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 16th, 2015]
- Don't blame Atheism. - Video [Last Updated On: February 17th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 17th, 2015]
- Bibles atheism moms why me? - Video [Last Updated On: February 17th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 17th, 2015]
- A C Grayling - Atheism, Theism and Proof - Video [Last Updated On: February 17th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 17th, 2015]
- 2 reasons why it's a bad week to be an atheist [Last Updated On: February 18th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 18th, 2015]
- North Carolina shootings do not represent Atheism [Last Updated On: February 18th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 18th, 2015]
- Godless Voices Podcast 2/10/2015: Atheism is a Suicide Risk - Video [Last Updated On: February 18th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 18th, 2015]
- Religious Atheism - Video [Last Updated On: February 19th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 19th, 2015]
- Session 3|| Understanding Atheism|| Asadullah Ali - Video [Last Updated On: February 19th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 19th, 2015]
- Muslims targeted in the US [Last Updated On: February 20th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 20th, 2015]
- Atheism can't CAUSE anything - Video [Last Updated On: February 20th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 20th, 2015]
- Atheism is a Terrible Motivator - Video [Last Updated On: February 20th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 20th, 2015]
- Oh No Is Atheism Destroyed - Video [Last Updated On: February 21st, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 21st, 2015]