Ricky Gervais Discusses Religion, Atheism, and The Invention of Lying

[Cheap_Trick]

http://friendlyatheist.com/2009/09/27/ricky-gervais-discusses-religion-atheism-and-the-invention-of-lying/

Ricky Gervais has been making the media rounds the past few weeks to talk about his new movie The Invention of Lying.

In the movie, lying leads to, among other things, the invention of religion.

When Mark Bellison learns to lie, he learns it can be used to comfort people, not just for personal gain. Something close to Gervais’s heart.

“I’ve been an atheist all my life,” he continues, “but I always knew that if my mum asked me when she was dying if there was a heaven I’d say yes. I’d lie. I think that’s how religion started – as a good lie. If you’re not an atheist you can watch this film without getting angry. I watch films about angels, love ’em. I don’t think you have to treat something that comes down on one side as propaganda.”

“I don’t see why we would ever get hate mail,” said at the movie’s press conference. “We decided that in this world, that’s how religion started. It’s an alternative world. It’s in no way atheist propaganda. I love films about angels and things like that and I wouldn’t go, ‘Oh, they’re coming down on one side here.’ Like ‘It’s a Wonderful Life.’ I don’t leave the cinema with my faith or lack of it challenged. I don’t think people should take this as anything other than an artistic choice.”

The ever-earnest Garner embraces the prospect of controversy. “Isn’t it great if does start a conversation? Religion is something worth examining and your faith is something worth questioning. So I think if this movie asks that of people, that’s not a bad thing.”

I'd expect the death threats, pickets and self-righteous indignation to begin Friday. The fundie nutjobs are getting bold enough, they might even blow up a theater or two. They've threatened to before. Remember "The Last Temptation of Christ"? Hell, I think even "Dogma" got some threats.

[Brickbat]

1. I almost rioted over "Dogma" becuase it had Alanis Morissette in it. Man, she drives me up the wall.

I get looked down on sometimes from religious acquaintances because I let my kids believe in Santa for a few years. "We don't lie to our kids," they say primly. Um-hmmmmmmmmm.

Anyway, Ricky Gervais is the shizzle.

[Cheap_Trick]

2. Alanis? Isn't it ironic.

Don't you think?

:rofl:

[KatyMan]

3. Gervais is awesome

My favorite comedian of all time, although I don't think that's quite the word for what he does. I like his "If god exists, why did he make me an atheist?" line. That's pretty funny.
He and Eddie Izzard are two of the funniest people on the planet, and possibly the two funniest out of the UK.

[dugaresa]

4. my son can recite izzard's routines. he loves him

[KatyMan]

5. Me too. Very Pythonish, and I believe

he stood in for the late Graham Chapman in some live Python events. John Cleese even called him the sixth Python. High praise. His humor isn't for everyone, it's very stream of conciousness, but if you like that sort of thing and can keep up, he's amazing.

[Arugula Latte]

6. Ricky is English, so he has an expectation that people will be reasonable about this.

Yeah, good luck with that, Ricky. This is Amurika -- home of millions of rightwing dumbfuckistani psychoXtians.

[Bolo Boffin]

7. Yes, but it's worth pointing out that reasonable people will react in one way

and rightwing dumbfuckistani psychoXtians will react in another, and we don't need to be held hostage by them.