Ricky Gervais
Comedian and outspoken atheist; talks about God, death, meaning and animal rights.
10 videos analysed · 44 quotes checked word for word · updated 2026-10-18
Key facts
- Born in Reading, England, in 1961. Wikipédia 2026 · Ricky Gervais
- Patron of Humanists UK; vegan; gave 1 million pounds to animal charities in 2023. Wikipédia 2026 · Ricky Gervais
- Won the Humane Society International's Cecil Award in 2018 for campaigning against trophy hunting. Wikipédia 2026 · Ricky Gervais
Positions
click a row to see the evidenceIn his 2010 Wall Street Journal essay he asks believers: 'Why do YOU believe in God?' and says the burden of proof is on the believer. On Colbert he calls himself 'an agnostic atheist technically', since no one knows, while saying 'atheism is only rejecting the claim that there is a god'. In another clip he says he is 'atheist, not agnostic', 'one of the few things I'm sure of in life'.
- Atheism is only rejecting the claim that there is a god. The claim comes without proof, so he does not believe it: 'You say there's a god, I say can you prove that? You say no, I say I don't believe you.' Video 2025 · Ricky Gervais And Stephen…
- A believer already rejects thousands of other gods for good reasons. Those are his reasons too: 'You deny one less god than I do.' Video 2025 · Ricky Gervais' 28-Minute…2
- 'Mysterious ways' is not an explanation for suffering: it is what someone says who does not know the answer. A god who is all powerful and kind seems overwhelmingly impossible to him. Video 2020 · Ricky Gervais & Russell Brand…2
- 'God has always been around' does not answer where everything comes from, though he understands why people say it. And asked 'why not pray just in case?', he asks why you do not hang garlic over the door in case there is a Dracula. Video 2020 · Ricky Gervais & Russell Brand…2
- On the label, he is technically an agnostic atheist, because knowledge and belief are two different questions. He is still sure of his atheism and says he cannot make himself believe, though he wishes there were a god. Video 2020 · Ricky Gervais & Russell Brand:…2
Why is there something rather than nothing? Something must have made the universe, and that is God.
He says the real question is how, not why. And answering that God has always been around does not explain where everything comes from, even if he understands why people say it.
No one can know there is no god, so you are really an agnostic, not a convinced atheist.
He agrees he is technically an agnostic atheist, but says he is still an atheist: atheism is only rejecting the claim that there is a god, and it is not a belief system.
See 1 more objections
Why not pray just in case? If you are wrong, you lose everything.
He asks why you do not hang garlic over your door in case there is a Dracula.
Defends : The celestial teapot: who must prove it?, The problem of evil, Against the first cause: "the universe is just there"Criticizes : The wager
He does not believe in absolute morality: 'we invented morality as a code to live by so we could all be as happy as possible'. He says morality existed before any god, and that the Golden Rule is not religion.
- He does not believe in absolute morality: people invented it as a code to live by, so that everyone could be as happy as possible. Video 2020 · Ricky Gervais & Russell Brand:…
- God has nothing to do with being good: there are good and bad Christians and good and bad atheists. It worries him if someone refrains from murder only because God is watching. Video 2026 · Ricky Gervais Just Broke…2
- He is good to people because it is how he wants to be treated, not for a reward in heaven. Video 2025 · Ricky Gervais' 28-Minute…
Without God, what stops anyone from murdering? There is no point in being good.
He says it is a scary thought that someone is only not murdering because God is watching. He is good to people because it is how he wants to be treated.
On The Late Show (2017) he argues that if all science books were destroyed they would be rebuilt in a thousand years, but a holy book would not come back the same. He says he will 'always follow the evidence, whatever that is', and that he does not want 'to live my life by a belief in something that I have no evidence in'.
- He does not want to live by a belief in something he has no evidence for. He will always follow the evidence, and would test any evidence offered. Video 2020 · Ricky Gervais & Russell Brand:…2
- Ideas should not be given human rights, so they can be ridiculed without hurting anyone. Religion's greatest trick, he says, was telling people they must never ridicule the idea. Video 2025 · Ricky Gervais' Best God Debate…2
- He is optimistic because he thinks logic, science and kindness will win over fear and nonsense. Video 2025 · Ricky Gervais on Atheism, Jesus,…
Atheists take the wonder and beauty out of the world.
He says that is not true: he feels as much awe at a tree, a mountain or a river as anyone who thinks God made it.
Criticising or ridiculing an idea hurts the people who hold it.
He says ideas have no human rights, so they can be ridiculed without hurting anyone. Religion's greatest trick, he says, was to tell people never to ridicule the idea.
With Richard Dawkins (2012) he says his sense of meaning comes from self-worth, close family and friends, and creative work. In 2019 and 2020 he adds: 'We're not special, we're just lucky', life is 'a holiday', and we are here 'to enjoy it and help other people enjoy it'.
- We are not special, just lucky to exist. There is no god to give life a meaning, so meaning has to be found: life is a holiday between two non-existences. Video 2020 · Ricky Gervais & Russell Brand:…2
- The point is to live life fully, not hurt anyone, enjoy it and help other people enjoy it. Video 2020 · Ricky Gervais & Russell Brand:…2
- He lives by values like forgiveness for a different reason than believers: because this is his only time on Earth. Video 2026 · Ricky Gervais Just Broke…
Without a god, life has no purpose and nothing is worth living for.
He calls it a myth that atheists have nothing to live for: they have nothing to die for, and this is their only time on Earth.
No sourced position yet on: Source of knowledge, Certainty, Mind and body, Freedom, Human nature.
On the big questions
Does God exist?Atheism
Atheist since about age eight or nine; says belief is not evidence and that he cannot make himself believe.
- Atheism is only rejecting the claim that there is a god. The claim comes without proof, so he does not believe it: 'You say there's a god, I say can you prove that? You say no, I say I don't believe you.' Video 2025 · Ricky Gervais And Stephen…
- A believer already rejects thousands of other gods for good reasons. Those are his reasons too: 'You deny one less god than I do.' Video 2025 · Ricky Gervais' 28-Minute…2
- 'Mysterious ways' is not an explanation for suffering: it is what someone says who does not know the answer. A god who is all powerful and kind seems overwhelmingly impossible to him. Video 2020 · Ricky Gervais & Russell Brand…2
- 'God has always been around' does not answer where everything comes from, though he understands why people say it. And asked 'why not pray just in case?', he asks why you do not hang garlic over the door in case there is a Dracula. Video 2020 · Ricky Gervais & Russell Brand…2
- On the label, he is technically an agnostic atheist, because knowledge and belief are two different questions. He is still sure of his atheism and says he cannot make himself believe, though he wishes there were a god. Video 2020 · Ricky Gervais & Russell Brand:…2
Why is there something rather than nothing? Something must have made the universe, and that is God.
He says the real question is how, not why. And answering that God has always been around does not explain where everything comes from, even if he understands why people say it.
No one can know there is no god, so you are really an agnostic, not a convinced atheist.
He agrees he is technically an agnostic atheist, but says he is still an atheist: atheism is only rejecting the claim that there is a god, and it is not a belief system.
See 1 more objections
Why not pray just in case? If you are wrong, you lose everything.
He asks why you do not hang garlic over your door in case there is a Dracula.
Defends : The celestial teapot: who must prove it?, The problem of evil, Against the first cause: "the universe is just there"Criticizes : The wager
The question on the site: all the argumentsDoes life have a meaning?A meaning to create
Meaning comes from self-worth, relationships and creative work.
- We are not special, just lucky to exist. There is no god to give life a meaning, so meaning has to be found: life is a holiday between two non-existences. Video 2020 · Ricky Gervais & Russell Brand:…2
- The point is to live life fully, not hurt anyone, enjoy it and help other people enjoy it. Video 2020 · Ricky Gervais & Russell Brand:…2
- He lives by values like forgiveness for a different reason than believers: because this is his only time on Earth. Video 2026 · Ricky Gervais Just Broke…
Without a god, life has no purpose and nothing is worth living for.
He calls it a myth that atheists have nothing to live for: they have nothing to die for, and this is their only time on Earth.
What makes something right?Morality questioned
He holds that morality is invented by people, not given by a god or the Bible.
- He does not believe in absolute morality: people invented it as a code to live by, so that everyone could be as happy as possible. Video 2020 · Ricky Gervais & Russell Brand:…
- God has nothing to do with being good: there are good and bad Christians and good and bad atheists. It worries him if someone refrains from murder only because God is watching. Video 2026 · Ricky Gervais Just Broke…2
- He is good to people because it is how he wants to be treated, not for a reward in heaven. Video 2025 · Ricky Gervais' 28-Minute…
Without God, what stops anyone from murdering? There is no point in being good.
He says it is a scary thought that someone is only not murdering because God is watching. He is good to people because it is how he wants to be treated.
Should we fear death?Nothing to fear
He does not like dying but does not mind being dead: it is like the 13.5 billion years before he was born. He also calls never existing again 'quite sad'.
- After death is like the 13.5 billion years before you were born, and that was all right. It is the symmetry of non-existence. Video 2018 · Ricky Gervais Chooses Dogs Over…2
- We are tourists who never exist again, and that is fine because we will not know about it. He admits it is sad and that he does not want to die. Video 2019 · Ricky Gervais on Atheism, Jesus,…23
- It is a myth that atheists have nothing to live for: it is the opposite, they have nothing to die for, and life is precious. Video 2026 · Ricky Gervais Just Broke…
Death is an evil because it takes away all the good things we would still have lived.
He agrees it is sad and says he does not want to die. But he does not mind being dead, since it is like the billions of years before he was born.
Defends : The symmetry argument
The question on the site: all the argumentsShould we believe without proof?No belief without evidence
He says the burden of proof is on the believer, and that what he does not buy is 'the supernatural thing'.
- He does not want to live by a belief in something he has no evidence for. He will always follow the evidence, and would test any evidence offered. Video 2020 · Ricky Gervais & Russell Brand:…2
- Ideas should not be given human rights, so they can be ridiculed without hurting anyone. Religion's greatest trick, he says, was telling people they must never ridicule the idea. Video 2025 · Ricky Gervais' Best God Debate…2
- He is optimistic because he thinks logic, science and kindness will win over fear and nonsense. Video 2025 · Ricky Gervais on Atheism, Jesus,…
Atheists take the wonder and beauty out of the world.
He says that is not true: he feels as much awe at a tree, a mountain or a river as anyone who thinks God made it.
Criticising or ridiculing an idea hurts the people who hold it.
He says ideas have no human rights, so they can be ridiculed without hurting anyone. Religion's greatest trick, he says, was to tell people never to ridicule the idea.
Do animals matter as much as we do?They have rights
He supports animal rights and is vegan.
The question on the site: all the argumentsIn their words
I don't like the idea of dying, I just don't mind being dead.
Surely the burden of proof is on the believer.
We're not special. We're just lucky.
I'm going to always follow the evidence, whatever that is.
1 more quotes
I can't make myself believe something I don't believe. I wish there was a god.
How the ideas evolved
Click a step for details1969Stops believing as a child
At about eight, while drawing Jesus, his older brother asks why he believes in God. This starts his doubts.
2010Why I'm an atheist (WSJ)
He writes a holiday essay for the Wall Street Journal explaining his atheism, then answers readers' questions after a strong reaction.
2012Sex, death and the meaning of life
In Richard Dawkins's documentary he says his meaning comes from self-worth, loved ones and creative work.
2017Atheism in a nutshell
On The Late Show he calls himself 'an agnostic atheist technically' and sums up atheism: 'can you prove that? No. Then I don't believe you.'
In their words« I'm an agnostic atheist technically »Says he is technically an agnostic atheist, because no one knows, and he is still convinced of his atheism. watch
« You say um uh there's a god I say can you prove that You say no I say I don't believe you then »Summarises atheism in a nutshell: someone claims a god, he asks for proof, gets none, and does not believe. watch
« atheism is only rejecting the claim that there is a god Atheism isn't a belief system »Says atheism is only the rejection of the claim that there is a god, not a belief system. watch
2018Cecil Award against trophy hunting
Humane Society International gives him its Cecil Award for his campaign to end trophy hunting. He had won its Genesis Award in 2015.
2018Before birth, after death
Asked what happens after death, he answers with the 13.5 billion years before birth. On praying 'just in case' he says: why not hang garlic in case there is a Dracula?
In their words« I DON'T WANT TO DIE I I LOVE LIVING IT'S BRILLIANT IT'S THE BEST THING EVER »Says he does not want to die: he loves living and finds life the best thing ever. watch
« WHAT WAS LIKE THE 13.5 BILLION YEARS BEFORE YOU WERE BORN I THINK IT'S LIKE THAT »Answers 'what is it like after you die?' with 'what was it like the 13.5 billion years before you were born? Like that.' watch
« WHY DON'T YOU HANG GARLIC OVER YOUR DOOR IN CASE THERE'S A DRACULA »Answers 'why not pray just in case?' by asking why not hang garlic in case there is a Dracula. watch
2019Richard Dawkins Award; After Life
He receives the Richard Dawkins Award and starts the series After Life, about grief and death.
201960 Minutes Australia
He says he has been an atheist since eight or nine, has no problem with spirituality, and that religion's 'greatest trick' was to forbid ridiculing its ideas. Life is 'a holiday' between two non-existences.
In their words« I've been an atheist since I was about eight or nine »Says he has been an atheist since about eight or nine. watch
« religion's greatest trick wasn't making people some believe there was a god It was it was telling you you shouldn't ever ridicule the idea »Says religion's greatest trick was not making people believe in a god but telling them they must never ridicule the idea or question dogma. watch
« I've never had a problem with spirituality I still don't »Says he has never had a problem with spirituality, only with organised religion. watch
2020Dying and being dead
On The Late Show he says he dislikes the idea of dying but does not mind being dead.
2020Talking God with Russell Brand
On Brand's podcast he rejects absolute morality, says 'mysterious ways' is not an explanation, and finds meaning in being lucky to exist.
In their words« mysterious ways isn't an explanation okay that that to me is someone who doesn't know the answer and says mysterious ways »Says that 'mysterious ways' is not an explanation for suffering: it is what someone says who does not know the answer. watch
« he's always been around I don't simple as that in it so you know it doesn't answer the question but i get it »Says that 'God has always been around' does not answer the question where everything comes from, though he understands why people say it. watch
« technically I'm an agnostic atheist because one deals with knowledge and one deals um with belief »Says that technically he is an agnostic atheist, because knowledge and belief are two different questions. watch
2021Conversations with Sam Harris
He starts Absolutely Mental, an audio series of conversations with the philosopher Sam Harris.
The arguments 5
The site's arguments they defend or criticize, and why. Click a title to see the full argument.
Answers 'what is it like after you die?' with 'what was it like the 13.5 billion years before you were born? I think it's like that.'
'You say there's a god. I say can you prove that? You say no. I say I don't believe you then.'
Says 'mysterious ways' is not an explanation: it is what someone says who does not know the answer.
Says 'God has always been around' does not answer where everything comes from, though he understands why people say it.
To 'why not pray just in case?' he replies: 'why don't you hang garlic over your door in case there's a Dracula?'
Allies and opponents
Richard DawkinsClose
Dawkins gave him the Richard Dawkins Award in 2019 and called him a 'witty hero of atheism and reason'.
Sam HarrisSparring partner
He has said that a podcast with Sam Harris always turns to mortality, death and morality.
RRussell BrandSparring partner
They talk about God, death and morality on Brand's podcast; Brand is spiritual, Gervais an atheist, and they find common ground on tolerance.
SStephen ColbertSparring partner
On The Late Show the Catholic Colbert and Gervais debate God and death with humour.
Signature ideas
Burden of proof on the believer
Rather than defending atheism, he turns the question around and asks believers why they believe.
One god less
On The Late Show (2017) he says a believer already rejects thousands of gods, and that he just goes one god further.
Ideas have no human rights
He separates people from ideas: people deserve respect, but ideas can be ridiculed 'without hurting anyone'. He says religion's greatest trick was to make its ideas sacred.
Closest and furthest
how it is computedAmong the philosophers
Among today's voices
Take the Compass: 5 minutes to find out which philosophers you are closest to.
All sources (55)
- A Holiday Message from Ricky Gervais: Why I'm An Atheist Wall Street Journal Speakeasy (link page) · 2010 *
- Ricky Gervais: why I'm an atheist (excerpt) Why Evolution Is True (quoting the WSJ) · 2010
- Sex, death and the meaning of life. Part 3 Wellcome Collection (Richard Dawkins documentary) · 2012
- Ricky Gervais tells Stephen Colbert he dislikes the idea of dying but doesn't 'mind being dead' MEAWW (The Late Show with Stephen Colbert) · 2020
- Ricky Gervais Wikipedia · 2026
- Ricky Gervais talks mortality, grief and hope ahead of After Life series 3 Pocklington Post · 2020 *
- Ricky Gervais's Atheism Claims Answered Catholic Answers (Trent Horn, on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, 1 Feb 2017) · 2017
- Ricky Gervais on being an atheist: it's just the supernatural thing I don't buy Center for Inquiry forum (quoting the New York Daily News) · 2015
- Ricky Gervais & Russell Brand: God VS Atheism - Full Episode YouTube (Russell Brand, Under the Skin) · 2020
- Ricky Gervais & Russell Brand: God VS Atheism - Full Episode (death and meaning) YouTube (Russell Brand, Under the Skin) · 2020
- Ricky Gervais & Russell Brand: God VS Atheism - Full Episode (morality) YouTube (Russell Brand, Under the Skin) · 2020
- Ricky Gervais & Russell Brand Discuss God & Atheism YouTube (Russell Brand, Under the Skin) · 2020
- Ricky Gervais Chooses Dogs Over Gods YouTube (The Late Show with Stephen Colbert) · 2018
- Ricky Gervais on Atheism, Jesus, and the Meaning of Life | 60 Minutes Australia (meaning of life) YouTube (60 Minutes Australia, republication) · 2019
- Ricky Gervais And Stephen Colbert Debate Religion YouTube (republication) · 2017
- Ricky Gervais Just Broke Christianity's "PERFECT" Arguments YouTube (republication) · 2026
- Ricky Gervais' 28-Minute TAKEDOWN of Christianity YouTube · 2025
- Ricky Gervais & Russell Brand Discuss God & Atheism YouTube · 2020
- Ricky Gervais & Russell Brand Discuss God & Atheism YouTube · 2020
- Ricky Gervais on Atheism, Jesus, and the Meaning of Life | 60 Minutes Australia YouTube · 2025
- Ricky Gervais Chooses Dogs Over Gods YouTube · 2018
- Ricky Gervais And Stephen Colbert Debate Religion YouTube (republication) · 2017
- Ricky Gervais & Russell Brand: God VS Atheism - Full Episode YouTube (Russell Brand, Under the Skin) · 2020
- Ricky Gervais Just Broke Christianity's "PERFECT" Arguments YouTube (republication) · 2026
- Ricky Gervais & Russell Brand: God VS Atheism - Full Episode (death and meaning) YouTube (Russell Brand, Under the Skin) · 2020
- Ricky Gervais on Atheism, Jesus, and the Meaning of Life | 60 Minutes Australia (meaning of life) YouTube (60 Minutes Australia, republication) · 2019
- Ricky Gervais Breaks Down Religion in 10 Minutes YouTube (republication) · 2025
- Ricky Gervais & Russell Brand: God VS Atheism - Full Episode YouTube (Russell Brand, Under the Skin) · 2020
- Ricky Gervais And Stephen Colbert Debate Religion YouTube (republication) · 2017
- Ricky Gervais & Russell Brand: God VS Atheism - Full Episode (morality) YouTube (Russell Brand, Under the Skin) · 2020
- Ricky Gervais on Atheism, Jesus, and the Meaning of Life | 60 Minutes Australia YouTube (60 Minutes Australia, republication) · 2019
- Ricky Gervais Schools Opie & Anthony on Atheism & Religion YouTube (republication) · 2014
- Ricky Gervais Just Broke Christianity's "PERFECT" Arguments YouTube (republication) · 2026
- Ricky Gervais And Stephen Colbert Debate Religion YouTube · 2025
- Ricky Gervais And Stephen Colbert Debate Religion YouTube · 2025
- Ricky Gervais Just Broke Christianity's "PERFECT" Arguments YouTube · 2026
- Ricky Gervais Chooses Dogs Over Gods YouTube · 2018
- Ricky Gervais Just Broke Christianity's "PERFECT" Arguments YouTube · 2026
- Ricky Gervais & Russell Brand: God VS Atheism - Full Episode YouTube · 2020
- Ricky Gervais on Atheism, Jesus, and the Meaning of Life | 60 Minutes Australia YouTube · 2025
- Ricky Gervais Chooses Dogs Over Gods YouTube (The Late Show with Stephen Colbert) · 2018
- Ricky Gervais & Russell Brand: God VS Atheism - Full Episode (death and meaning) YouTube (Russell Brand, Under the Skin) · 2020
- Ricky Gervais on Atheism, Jesus, and the Meaning of Life | 60 Minutes Australia (meaning of life) YouTube (60 Minutes Australia, republication) · 2019
- Ricky Gervais Chooses Dogs Over Gods YouTube · 2018
- Ricky Gervais & Russell Brand: God VS Atheism - Full Episode YouTube · 2020
- Ricky Gervais Just Broke Christianity's "PERFECT" Arguments YouTube · 2026
- Ricky Gervais' Best God Debate Performance Ever YouTube · 2025
- Ricky Gervais on Atheism, Jesus, and the Meaning of Life | 60 Minutes Australia YouTube · 2025
- Ricky Gervais on Atheism, Jesus, and the Meaning of Life | 60 Minutes Australia YouTube · 2025
- Ricky Gervais Just Broke Christianity's "PERFECT" Arguments YouTube (republication) · 2026
- Ricky Gervais Just Broke Christianity's "PERFECT" Arguments YouTube · 2026
- Ricky Gervais & Russell Brand: God VS Atheism - Full Episode YouTube · 2020
- Ricky Gervais' 28-Minute TAKEDOWN of Christianity YouTube · 2025
- Ricky Gervais on Atheism, Jesus, and the Meaning of Life | 60 Minutes Australia YouTube (60 Minutes Australia, republication) · 2019
- Ricky Gervais & Russell Brand: God VS Atheism - Full Episode (death and meaning) YouTube (Russell Brand, Under the Skin) · 2020