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Monday, December 20, 2010
Religion Ricky Gervais: Why I'm an Atheist
Posted by Anthony Hecht on Mon, Dec 20, 2010 at 10:14 AM
What he said. I'm bookmarking this to refer to whenever this topic comes up for the rest of my life.
Especially:
Why don’t I believe in God? No, no no, why do YOU believe in God? Surely the burden of proof is on the believer. You started all this. If I came up to you and said, “Why don’t you believe I can fly?” You’d say, “Why would I?” I’d reply, “Because it’s a matter of faith”. If I then said, “Prove I can’t fly. Prove I can’t fly see, see, you can’t prove it can you?” You’d probably either walk away, call security or throw me out of the window and shout, ‘’F—ing fly then you lunatic.”
And his conclusion sums it all up perfectly:
“Do unto others…” is a good rule of thumb. I live by that. Forgiveness is probably the greatest virtue there is. Buts that’s exactly what it is - a virtue. Not just a Christian virtue. No one owns being good. I’m good. I just don’t believe I’ll be rewarded for it in heaven. My reward is here and now. It’s knowing that I try to do the right thing. That I lived a good life. And that’s where spirituality really lost its way. When it became a stick to beat people with. “Do this or you’ll burn in hell.”
You won’t burn in hell. But be nice anyway.
1
"Morality is the good you do when no one's watching."
(I forget who said that, and...)
Religious people are moral relativists too. They just rarely admit it.
(I forget who said that, and...)
Religious people are moral relativists too. They just rarely admit it.
2
It's always nice when uber-rich folks who made a fortune in entertainment deem themselves philosophers and theologians.
Stick to getting another season of Extras out, Ricky.
Stick to getting another season of Extras out, Ricky.
Posted by ($8239f8h248cerfehjf23@&*@ebdjhb23f237OCDBO#BD*(#
on December 20, 2010 at 11:50 AM
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3
@Oregometry: I hear ya, but it's better than "First of all I got to thank the One, the Higher Power, the Man Upstairs In Whom All Things Are Possible because without God none of this would've happened. Also, my Mom, thanks."
4
@Oregometry: Did he claim to be a philosopher? Or just give an opinion? A lot of Christians seem to spout off regularly, why should the atheists keep their mouths shut?
5
Good point, C&B.
Todd, I'd rather he be entertaining with his opinions rather than just regurgitating Hitchens, et al, to sound educated.
At least Luke Scott gave an interesting interview, as bigoted and awful as it was.
Todd, I'd rather he be entertaining with his opinions rather than just regurgitating Hitchens, et al, to sound educated.
At least Luke Scott gave an interesting interview, as bigoted and awful as it was.
Posted by ($8239f8h248cerfehjf23@&*@ebdjhb23f237OCDBO#BD*(#
on December 20, 2010 at 1:05 PM
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6
Re: "deeming himself a philosopher"
FUN FACT: Ricky Gervais received honors for his study of philosophy during college! (Does one have to be paid to be a philosopher in order to be a philosopher?)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricky_Gervais
FUN FACT: Ricky Gervais received honors for his study of philosophy during college! (Does one have to be paid to be a philosopher in order to be a philosopher?)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricky_Gervais
7
Wm. Steven Humphrey, I stand corrected! Preach on, brotherman.
Always been a huge fan of Gervais' comedy, for what it's worth.
Always been a huge fan of Gervais' comedy, for what it's worth.
Posted by ($8239f8h248cerfehjf23@&*@ebdjhb23f237OCDBO#BD*(#
on December 20, 2010 at 3:15 PM
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