Ricky in Archbishop religion debate

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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 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. He added: "Belief in Santa doesn't generate a moral code, it doesn't generate art, it doesn't generate imagination, belief in God is bigger than that."

In a largely light-hearted conversation, Gervais told the Archbishop that God's "biggest mistake" was giving him free will.

At one point, Dr Williams explained Islamic and Christian traditional thought about angels and the creation of human beings.

At the end of the conversation, Gervais observed: "That was fantastic - have I blown my image - taking life seriously?"

Mayo joked: "Do you think he is a secret Christian under the atheist facade?" Dr Williams joked: "I'll give him time."

Gervais also asked "What's the Archbishop plugging?" to which Mayo responded, "I think he is plugging Christmas." Gervais said: "Of course, I love Christmas, I say go for it. Brilliant."