Ricky Gervais says atheism shouldn't offend

[alphafour]

I think Piers was pretending to go against Ricky to make for an interesting interview. I don't really think Piers thinks that Atheists are offensive. I just can't see him being that stupid.

[aubiedog2011]

But I have a question...If you believe in God and live a Christian life and you die only to find out you were wrong, what harm has it done?? HOWEVER, if you choose not to believe, live your life in a sinful way and die, only to find out YOU was wrong.... you're in ALOT of trouble. My point is, If I as a Christian am wrong then I'll be alot better off when I die then someone who was an Atheist or Agnostic. My two cents to all who choose not to believe...... You better PRAY you're right.

[RyanGoodyear]

@aubiedog2011 faith through fear of the alternative...? Yay!

[aubiedog2011]

@RyanGoodyear I never said you should be a Christian out of fear of the alternative. Nor did I imply that. What I said was, if you choose NOT to believe in God then you had better hope you're right because if you're wrong you will be alot worse off than someone who chose to believe. Also, you speak of fear. Well if you're so sure you're right, there should be nothing to fear, right?

[aubiedog2011]

@RyanGoodyear If there is a certain amount of fear, then sounds to me like you're not completely sure about your beliefs. I do not fear death because I am certain that I will be going to Heaven. According to your beliefs, there should be No alternative. You die and you merely cease to exist. I am not critizing you about you beliefs. Its unfortunate to me that you choose to believe the way you do, but Im not offended My whole point to my inital comment was that MOST people who are

[aubiedog2011]

@aubiedog2011 Cont. non believers get very upset and offended when someone confesses their belief in God but not other religions. I was merely making a point that Christianity is almost always attacked but other religions are accepted and tolerated. Maybe it is because Christianity poses a greater threat to your beliefs (or lack of beliefs) than other religions. Who knows?

[cortJPS]

@aubiedog2011 He doesn't have fear of death either. He knows that there is nothing after death so lives his life the BEST way, when he is alive. And gets his present right here, right now...Maybe you can do some bad stuff thinking that you'll punished for that later on... Well, he doesn't. All... Now...

[aubiedog2011]

If a person chooses to believe or not thats their issue. Personally, I think one reason some people choose not to believe in God is because they want to do and act however they want without any consequences. It's not easy being a Christian in today's world. The easiest thing to do would be to NOT believe and live life they way you want to. People who choose to believe (most of them) try and live life according to the Bible and God's word. That's not easy to do.

[aubiedog2011]

It alaways amazes me how people who claim to be non-Christians get SO annoyed when someone confesses to believe in God. A person can say they are Buddhist or Muslim and they're applauded and totally accepted, but you admit to being a Christian and people suddenly start foaming at the mouth and go out of their way to verbally attack you. Being a Christian shouldn't bother anyone, but it does for some reason. 

[Paul1979RUFC]

if it turns out that there actually is a heaven and a hell, and heaven is where all the militant christians go, then im happy to go to hell with all the normal people. None of my friends and family hold any real religious beliefs, so at least we'd all be united again at some point.

But heaven was invented by man, way before people ever dreamed we would one day be able to fly through the sky and beyond, its all nonsense.

[timelincan]

i like his take on it and i think hes respectful of other peoples belifes

[timelincan]

i don't care if people tell me god doesn't exist everyone thinks differently what offends me is when people say im an idiot for what i believe in like for example many of the comments below

[n0mad2012]

@timelincan People get frustrated at the ignorance that is required of religious people. I personally can't tell if the belief in a deity is down to idiocy or ignorance. Maybe a mixture of both. I'm sorry but that is just the way it is.

[timelincan]

@n0mad2012 i have the right to believe in what i want i don't care if you think its stupid because your a close minded bigot. i dont force my views on you so dont tell me mine are stupid

[n0mad2012]

@timelincan "Close minded" means to be unwilling to receive or listen to new ideas. I am in fact the opposite of that and thoroughly enjoy learning new things. Hence why I read a lot about religion. (If anything you are the one who is close minded). If I was a "Bigot" it would mean I am intolerantly devoted to my own beliefs and/or hatred against those with different beliefs. This is not the case, the only thing I don't tolerate is ignorance irrational thought. Religion often causes bigotry btw

[n0mad2012]

@timelincan ***ignorance and irrational thought*** (typo correction)

[Nuuccii92]

@timelincan I don't believe that n0mad2012 was calling you or believing in god idiotic or ignorant but the way we see Christians portrayed in the media that is what i THINK he was talking about. I mean i thought Christians were nice but when you actually look you see that they are just as EVIL as Satan himself, Just because someones christian i ain't going to hate on them but because i'm gay they will hate on me, maybe not the everyday Christian but as a group they will.

[aubiedog2011]

@Nuuccii92 Please explain why you believe Christians are just as evil as Satan. If you dont believe in God, then you shouldn't believe in Satan. Also, it seems ok to lump all Christians into one group and to judge them according to a few bad seeds. But if I said all non believers are EVIL, I would catch it from all sides because Im "judging" people. You cant have it both ways. Common sense should dictate that everyone calling themselves Christians are NOT Christians.

[aubiedog2011]

@aubiedog2011 Also, I am a Christian and I dont hate you because you're gay. Just because I believe differently than you doesnt automatically mean that I HATE you. I don't. I dont believe in your choice of lifestyle but I dont hate you. So please dont put all Christians into one group.

[Nuuccii92]

@aubiedog2011 Exactly the comment i wanted! This comment can be shoved right back at Christians. It seems ok to lump all gays into one group and protest against them, even after hearing due to this kind of behavior CHILDREN and young adults have been killing themselves because people are getting the wrong end of the stick, you should be trying to stop these people. If you have an infect foot you don't just leave it you get rid of the infection and cure it! HELP US AND WE HELP YOU!

[Nuuccii92]

@aubiedog2011 forgive me for making it pretty gay friendly but it's christians holding us back and it's kinda sad the nice "caring" religion being the real evil, also the satan thing is due to context not down to my belief.

[DctrNugget]

You call yourself religious and god loving people .. when you write stupid arrogant comments on videos of ricky Gervais .. before you start judging others look at yourself .. we all have the right to have your own views but please dont start dictating the ways of god on youtube ..ricky is totally right even tho i dont agree with him about existance of god it his opinion and hes not dictating his opinion so leave him alone !

[Lucassandro25]

lol@ religious people being offended. thats what you get for believing all the bullshit written in 2000 year book, you just look like a moron to atheists.

[wishuwasme2]

u idiot! its the way u said it that made it offensive

i'm a christian and i found that very offensive

atheism doesnt offend me, u can beliveve in whatever u want but dont make jokes about religion, its not gonna be funny just offends people and u took it too far

everything u said at golden globes was too far!!

this the first time i even heard of u and i didnt like u every since u started talking at golden globes... its so true u made bad first impression on me

[n0mad2012]

@wishuwasme2 Don't make jokes about religion? I'm sorry but if somebody insists on believing something so unbelievably foolish then I, and others will thoroughly take the piss.

[195ashes]

He missed the elephant in the room. Even if you overtly mock a Christian, which view is more deplorable? That your being foolish and wasting your time (atheist accusation) or that your going to suffer for eternity for not believing in god (Christian accusation)?

[100pjp001]

God's given us a mind to use so Ricky's just using his and making his own conclusions, not offensive to have his own opinions that's the beauty of it all. Freewill the right to be an individual!

There are some things I'll disagree with him on but it's his right to have his views.

[jpride100]

well said ricky,the host needs to just take that for a mind fuc k

[22bbn]

WOW I LOVE YTOU RICKIE YOU ARE THE BEST

[pooja94ekbote]

For the record, I am neither atheist nor a Christian. What I see here in the comments section, however, is the same mentality of many religious people. Why do many of you feel it's worth your time to keep telling people that "religion is wrong" or "religion is fake" if they disagree? That's the same attitude missionaries take! I respect and understand that you're an atheist, but my message to you is the same as the one I give to bell-ringers: don't try to convert me; you're wasting your time.

[FunkyMonkyeez]

Ricky Gervais makes sense when he talks about how god isnt real. But i understand how people like to think that when we die we fly up to heaven and see all our loved ones but i suppose the truth is when your dead your DEAD

[bzylizzy]

Yes very well said, I totally disagree with him but he is absolutely right when he says he is entitled to his own beliefs....

[MissDarlz]

I think he handled that really well, kudos Gervais

[kissurworm]

you can believe what you want to believe and i know what i believe in that doesnt mean either one of us is wrong

[Alas07X]

just being human. that simple.

[itistime777]

 It offends God.

[MrRyanification]

@LomTang Your point?

[garlicluva]

Ricky is a national treasure that the English love. Piers is an arrogant, lying, self serving gobshite. He might have got lucky in America, but in his own country is he detested. So, please keep paying him money he doesn't deserve America, because we really don't want him back.

[MaRiAtheHeDg3hOg]

This is pretty awesome. I myself am a Christian, but the problems that most non-religious people have with some Christians are ones I have with them, too. I completely agree with what he's saying about the "monopoly on good." Love and happiness are things everyone can understand, just things that come from within; and whether one attributes it to a higher power is his/her choice. Ricky may annoy some, but he can be really insightful. And he's being respectful!

I'm gonna get thumbed down, huh? D:

[MrQtipss]

He really is one of my favourite people right now.

[toolworks]

Ricky Gervais is a national treasure. Morgan can just stay in the USA for all we care, Fuck him.

[Jez2008UK]

I'm not religious but I am spiritual - and I really respect Ricky's beliefs. That is the thing, they are his *personal* beliefs and no one has the right to tell anyone what to believe.

[Ricscott]

@Jez2008UK very good point, nobody has the right to question Gervais's attitude on the subject either, that includes piers morgan

[stratocasterrelic]

@AbbassehRowling Hes just watching what hes says as its a touchy subject.

[balloonchicken]

Ricky Gervais: spot on. Piers Morgan: I wish the Americans knew what a nasty piece of work you actually are.

[MrSmokingfly]

@balloonchicken We do.

[250689aaron]

a national jewel

[MegaJoshua1979]

morgan is such a slimy ass

[Aardvarked88]

Piers Morgan desperately pandering to the American audience, cringeworthy to the extreme.

[GeorgieWise]

It's hard to accept that brain function, awareness and life ends at death, but it does. I take great comfort in that. Jesus was a cool and generous person. Try that on for size and see how it fits. At the very least it will be an improvement on our current Xtian obsessed society hell bent on perdition for anyone they hate and eternal glory for themselves for being so good. Yeah, I'm mocking their sorry silly asses, damn right.

[leopardgeckocrazy]

How is him not being religious supposed to offend people? Grow up...

[TheLegendOZelda360]

I find it hilarious that christians, on youtube 905 of there videos have no comment abillity or ratings.

[Murfs13]

I agree with EVERYTHING he says...

[SleepEat3D]

@zabellaz09 not all religions are a fraud Buddism teaches people to be kind a caring , and the Buddah the person they worship is not a god but a prince a prince that actually exsisted that why if i were to be religous i think i would be a buddist but im not so dont think im tryin to push you towards religion cause im not i hate it as much as most of you guys

[briandpowers]

Religion has made one major error. It has failed to incorporate humour. Humour helps people survive and thrive. I am inspired by Gervais, Bill Hicks, Monty Python etc. Those people prop me up when I have fallen.

Religion is a loaded gun. Fine in caring hands. Caring fingers will only pull a trigger to defend the innocent. But there are many selfish people around the world who belive that their faith justifies mini-genocide.

[AtheismKills]

@briandpowers I love comedy too, but how would you feel if people constantly mocked and ridiculed you for liking comedy? What if scientists said that anyone who liked comedy was a retard and pointed out that comedy wasn't literally true? Religion means to connect, both with God and with other people. It means to have morals and to help others. It should always be a force for good, unfortunately evil men will always find something to use as an excuse, whether its nationalism, politics, etc.

[betterdrummerjoe]

@AtheismKills YOU ARE A MAJORITY. Atheism constitutes just 1.6% of Americans, Christianity accounts for 78.4%. Please stop acting like you are being discriminated against. YOU AREN'T.

religions.pewforum. org/reports

[AtheismKills]

@betterdrummerjoe I'm not American, I'm British. Not everyone in the world is American!

[ajax201000]

peple who believe in something that is unproven and ridiculous should expect to be mcked by logical people,

[tomabwhite]

Piers is just pandering to his new audience. I'm not saying every American is stupid, but that a lot are! Women were made from Adam's ribs...GROW UP you fucking retards!

[NormacHC]

Would of liked him to be a bit more aggressive.

[cortJPS]

"Unlike religious people, I look all religions equally" THAT'S THE WORD... Think about it....

[AtheismKills]

@cortJPS Unlike linguistic people, I look at all languages equally. Unlike nationalist people, I look at all countries equally. Think about it...

[cortJPS]

@AtheismKills This doesn't against my saying. If you love people just because what they are, religions, countries, languages are not "problem" anymore. Respect to all, without offending or insulting the other, that's what he says...

[bierbuik]

@AtheismKills Definitely. He's basically saying that religious are scumbags and idiots for thinking themselves as superior to other religions. But it's clear that Ricky in some way looks down on religion as well. of words. He treats them the same, yes, just as a moderate Christian treats all other religions and atheists the same. He really doesn't state anything extraordinary. It's a cheap trick of words.

[Blake4014]

@cortJPS Yep, thats a totally golden quote Im gonna use in the future. :-D

[jcliveron]

ohhh pooor believers one person admits not believeing likethem and they get ofendeeeeeddd ohhhhhhh pooor people is their perdition to see one non believer alive funny and strong ohhhhh pooor people ohhhh oo tey just poooorrrrrrr ohhhhhhhh h

[vaassen1992]

So, as I read all the comments that people have left here I have come to the conclusion that Christians are too close-minded and that non-Christians are too quick to judge the Christain beliefe. Why can't somebody say that they don't believe in God? Why can't somebody have different views on the world? Is that a crime? Also, yes, Ricky did answer Pierce's question about what happens to a person after they die; he siad that they decompose and that there's no such thing as lingering spirits.

[kamikrazi123]

@vaassen1992 Because it's so damn clear to any critical thinker that reads the religious text that it is bull shit written by scam artists who exploits people's hopes and fears.

Because religion has committed atrocities to countless people and human spirit throughout mankind's history.

Man has always wanted answers about life. Religion provided these things until modern science came along to explain the existential questions.

[FoKingFo]

It actually took 7 days for the Earth to be created, and he never really answered Pierce's question about what happens when you die. I think he's uncertain about what he believes.

[nerdynerdy2009]

@FoKingFo This is a serious question; Are you mentally retarded?

[RageOfTheKage]

@FoKingFo You are an Idiot.

[FoKingFo]

@RageOfTheKage Take's one to know one?

[RageOfTheKage]

@FoKingFo yep

[FoKingFo]

@RageOfTheKage Thus resulting sir, as you, are an idiot.

[RageOfTheKage]

@RageOfTheKage That I am

[Jsandholdt]

@FoKingFo cus you we're there right, you saw it happen? No wait, let me guess. "God" answered your prayer, and told you. No wait, maybe you "just believe" in that? Good for you, the rest of us will just turn to scientific facts.

[FoKingFo]

@Jsandholdt He avoided the question yah fuckin idiot

[jeezuschryst]

@FoKingFo "It actually took 7 days for the Earth to be created" you say that as if it were fact. what actual evidence is there to support such a claim?

[ckyhim89]

@FoKingFo

According to the bible, God used 6 days to create the earth, and rested on the 7th. Get your "facts" straight.

I don't know what you believe, frankly I don't care, but being uncertain about what one believes is not a bad thing. No one, I repeat, no one in the world KNOWS exactly how or when the universe started, that's why people say they BELIEVE, and not that they KNOW.

[Izabellaz09]

Religion is the biggest fraud in human history? Tru to that!! =)

[xppoker]

Religion is the biggest fraud in human history. Religion is so fucken retarded that only dumb, mindless tool would believe that shit.

Ricky rules!!!

[madeye1]

Although I thought it was funny and it didn't offend me in any way shape or form - this question missed the point a bit. It wasn't the mention of atheism which caused offense. Nobody is saying he shouldn't be able to express his personal beliefs - Its the fact his sentance was "Thank you to God for making me an atheist". Like I said, I found it funny but surely Ricky can appreciate that there is a difference between stating your atheism and stating your atheism by mocking religion.

[spencerjohn2k]

Good for you Ricky!