Being able to laugh at serious topics

If you search “religious debate” into YouTube, you won’t find any shortage of material. Most of the videos are around the 1 hour mark and you’ll find yourself listening to arguments that just go around in circles.

It reminds me a lot about politics — especially with the two party dominated structure in the United States. You have your side that you support — and you will defend that position no matter what the ‘other side’ says. Often the arguments can become heated, abusive and deeply divisive.
However amongst all these videos on YouTube, there’s one short 4 minute 47 second video that I think shows how it doesn’t need to be this way at all.
Ricky Gervais is one of the most notable atheists and Stephen Colbert is a devout Catholic. I have really enjoyed both their comedy for many years now and found their debate on religion incredibly refreshing.
Aside from their different beliefs, it’s clear that they both have a huge amount of respect for each other. They find common ground through their comedy by being able to make each other laugh, while making their points.
Comedy is a great tool that can cut through differences. To be able to laugh at quite dry, serious topics like these helps to get rid of the barriers that we put around our beliefs and brings a common ground that allows a connection.
Gervais suggests to Colbert that they have more in common than he may think. He points out that there are approximately 3000 documented Gods that people believe in.
“You don’t believe in 2999 Gods, and I don’t believe in just 1 more” — Gervais
Colbert can’t get his mind around the thought that everything came from seemingly nothing. Fair enough too — I feel like that’s one of the hardest concepts to get your head around even for scientists. However, I really like his thoughts on having a God that allows him to direct his gratitude towards.
“I have a strong desire to direct that gratitude to something or someone, and that thing is God” — Colbert
I think the ability to show gratitude is incredibly important for happiness. If having a God gives people a way to direct that gratitude, it can only be a good thing.
It’s a short and sweet debate on religion and although it doesn’t have a clear winner or loser, the good natured banter they have between each other I think shows how we should handle discussions like these. It’s okay to have views that you are firm on and it’s okay to have differences. These are big topics that we are trying to figure out for ourselves. We are complex beings, and our religious beliefs are just one part of what makes us who we are.
Gervais and Colbert will never convince each other of their beliefs and they show how little this matters in the big picture. Debate is a good and healthy thing and with laughter included, it’s even better.
Thanks for reading! Please feel free to connect and get in touch with me about anything and everything: thomas@thomasmakesstuff.com | www.thomasmakesstuff.com | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
