Ricky Gervais, a self-proclaimed atheist is creating a new sitcom called the “Afterlife”.
Teaming up with “Dexter” producer Clyde Phillips, the English comedian and atheist, will start a show about an atheist who dies and goes to Heaven – with controversy sure to follow.
Though Gervais will not star in the show himself, he will appear in some cameos.
The pilot episode is currently being written, according to the magazine, and filming is set for 2012.
Not the first time Gervais has tackled the topic of faith. The 50-year-old actor, an Honorary Associate of the National Secular Society, previously wrote two pieces for The Wall Street Journal entitled, “A Holiday Message from Ricky Gervais: Why I’m an Atheist” and “A Holiday Message from Ricky Gervais: Why I’m A Good Christian”.
In the articles, Gervais argues that being a Christian or an atheist doesn’t necessarily make someone a good or bad person. He also outlines his previous belief in “the Christian God” which was now substituted by science and evolution, facts and truth.
“The existence of God is not subjective. He either exists or he doesn’t. It’s not a matter of opinion.
“You can have your own opinions. But you can’t have your own facts.”
Spurring a slew of comments from Christians, several religious leaders also responded, most notably Christian author Lee Strobel, who was once an atheist himself.
Whereas Gervais looked at the evidence and found no reason to believe, Strobel found all the more reason to believe after studying the evidence.
“In the end, after I had thoroughly investigated the matter I reached an unexpected conclusion: it would actually take more faith to maintain my atheism than to become a follower of Jesus,” he said.
“The evidence is what tipped the scales.”
Full Story: Christian Today