Ricky Gervais: Smug git who thinks he's right about everything

Well, at least he's right about the existence of God.

Why don’t you believe in God? I get that question all the time. I always try to give a sensitive, reasoned answer. This is usually awkward, time consuming and pointless. People who believe in God don’t need proof of his existence, and they certainly don’t want evidence to the contrary. They are happy with their belief. They even say things like “it’s true to me” and “it’s faith.” I still give my logical answer because I feel that not being honest would be patronizing and impolite. It is ironic therefore that “I don’t believe in God because there is absolutely no scientific evidence for his existence and from what I’ve heard the very definition is a logical impossibility in this known universe,” comes across as both patronizing and impolite.

Patronizing? Impolite? Ricky? Surely not.

Actually, in this essay for the Wall Street Journal, no less, he makes his point with intelligence, wit, and even, dare I say it, a touch of humility.

As an atheist, I see nothing “wrong” in believing in a god. I don’t think there is a god, but belief in him does no harm. If it helps you in any way, then that’s fine with me. It’s when belief starts infringing on other people’s rights when it worries me. I would never deny your right to believe in a god. I would just rather you didn’t kill people who believe in a different god, say. Or stone someone to death because your rulebook says their sexuality is immoral. It’s strange that anyone who believes that an all-powerful all-knowing, omniscient power responsible for everything that happens, would also want to judge and punish people for what they are.

Being a cynical git with the nagging feeling that Ricky Gervais is too damn smug for his own good, I so wanted to find something to gripe about in his article... but I can't. In fact, I think it's the personal plea for atheism that I'd love to have written.

So thanks, Ricky. Maybe you deserve to be pleased with yourself, after all.

Unlike some of the commenters thereof:

History shows Jesus lived and is God’s son. Of course, naysayers continue to come up with explanations for how Christ’s body was stolen, etc., and that the man seen who resembled Christ after Christ’s body “disappeared” was not, in fact, Jesus at all.

On the contrary, faith itself will provide not only answers, but it will actually answer questions we never even thought to ask. The world becomes a much more coherent place and life itself becomes bountifully rich.

I read this and feel bad for Ricky Gervais, he is so funny. I would think he should doors investigation further than his mom and older brother, for we all have this yearning in our heart for Jesus, only He can fufill it. How about the evidence of Christ’s ressurection? Without yes faith is a lie. Here what makes it the one truth…5 strands of evidence for the factual resurrection: 1. Primary the empty tomb; post resurrection appearances; the transformation of the apostles 2. Secondary: the emergence of the Christian church; Sunday became the day of worship