Comedian Ricky Gervais has engaged in a debate about theology with the Archbishop of Canterbury ”“ confessing at the end that he might have “blown his image” by taking life seriously.
The ‘Office’ star told Dr Rowan Williams he was concerned about “brainwashing” of children who are sent to faith schools at an early age, comparing teaching that God exists to belief in Father Christmas.
“Because I believe in evolution, I believe that a child’s brain is a sponge, and it is meant to be because it believes everything it is taught because it has to survive,” Gervais said on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Simon Mayo show.
“I think if the first thing you are exposed to is that there is a God and you should do these things, I think there is a problem with that.
“For example, if your kids at the age of seven came to you and said: ’There isn’t a Santa is there?’ you would say: ’No there isn’t’ would you?”
Dr Williams replied that faith schools expose children to the full range of human experience and values and he did not believe they indoctrinated people.
I wonder if Gervais would have preferred the Orthodox Letter or the PB’s letter.