Ricky Gervais And Stephen Colbert Rekindle Their Religious Debate With A Surprising Twist

[rug]

ANDREW ROBERTS
05.19.17

Ricky Gervais returned to The Late Show on Thursday night and Stephen Colbert wasted little time bringing up the last time The Office star was on the show. Faith clashed with fact in a spirited debate on religion between the very Catholic Colbert and the Atheist Gervais, something they both couldn’t seem to wait to do again this time around. While it wasn’t anything like the first time and paled in comparison to Colbert’s obscenity-filled run in with Bill Maher. But they do debate which of them will be heading to Hell the fastest, who is the only guaranteed entry into Heaven, and the status of Jesus as “the bedrock of western civilization.”

The interesting part doesn’t come until later in the interview when Colbert pulls out something Gervais seems to hate more than religion: Tolkien and The Lord Of The Rings. While talking about Gervais’ time in Reykjavik, Colbert tosses out that the folks in Iceland believe in elves and will build their roads with elven homes in mind. It’s this moment where Tolkien comes up and Gervais hits a wall. He’s not a fan of “nonsense,” which Colbert can’t believe because Tolkien is fantasy and it’s supposed to be fun.

“What’s wrong with nonsense? Does everything have to be real to you?”

This forces Gervais to return to the debate and award Colbert a slight victory. If nonsense is in, so is religion apparently and all the wine a man can drink while calling it the blood of Christ. It’s almost more of a shock that he hates hobbits and their large testicles but we can live with that moment where Gervais says he is a Catholic.

http://uproxx.com/tv/ricky-gervais-stephen-colbert-religion-debate/

Video at link.

[Eliot Rosewater]

1. Religion is nonsense, Colbert cant say that and insult half his audience.

Even I as I write this I dont want to insult friends here at DU.

Of course there is no god, but as a liberal I stay away from that topic as it would divide us.

[rug]

2. When someone uses religion to divide, that person is no liberal.

It doesn't matter whether religion is being promoted or attacked. When the purpose is to divide, especially here, you're dealing with a troll.

[Eliot Rosewater]

3. What in the world are you alleging?

That if I say religion is nonsense but want to leave it at that, I am a troll?

sigh

That sure is a strong faith you have there if my one little comment requires you call me the ONE thing you should NEVER call someone like me.

[rug]

5. Not at all. You are far from a troll. Your post was spot on.

But there are clearly some here who do nothing but attack religions, soon followed by mocking not simply religious belief, but religious believers. You could find them among the PPRed and among the active, right here on the first page.

[Eliot Rosewater]

7. Oh, ok...sorry

I can run with the best of them, atheists I guess they are called.

I have a rich history with organized religion to draw on and to form my opinions with.

But at this stage of the game, division is the last thing we need.

[rug]

8. Amen.

[AtheistCrusader]

4. Assumes facts not in evidence.

[rug]

6. States a demonstrable and replicable fact.

Don't worry, AC, I wasn't thinking of you. You have a variety of posts. Others are more monomainiacal on the topic of religion.

[guillaumeb]

9. So true.

As any glance at profiles will show.

[littlemissmartypants]

10. Talk me off the ledge.

No reason. Loners got boring? I'm floundering. Thanks for the post, rug.

♡lmsp

[rug]

11. My pleasure, lmsp.