A Christian who openly discusses his faith will be on American late-night television screens next year. Comedian Stephen Colbert is looking forward to taking over CBS' "Late Show" when David Letterman retires in 2015.
"Obviously I'm thrilled and honored to be taking over for you," he told Letterman on April 22, when he was a guest on the late night talk show. Letterman responded that he too was thrilled.
Colbert appeared on "The Daily Show" on April 23 to say goodbye and express his adulation in his new position.
"It's become clear to me that I've won television," he told "The Daily Show's" Jon Stewart.
Christians are also thrilled that a man of demonstrative faith will be appearing in millions of homes five nights a week.
Colbert teaches Sunday School when his schedule allows. He also appointed a Jesuit priest as official chaplain of "The Colbert Report" and frequently hosted religious leaders on his Comedy Central show.
The comedian also took on Bible critic Bart Ehrman on "The Colbert Report," and stated that he believes that Jesus Christ is the son of God, and that the Word is true. Although, he inserted jokes between his assertions, he still made it clear that he is a believer. He also defended so-called inconsistencies in the Bible by saying that Jesus is so big, that the disciples could only understand certain aspects of him.
Colbert credits his mother for instilling faith in him at an early age,
"She taught me to be grateful for my life regardless of what that entailed, and that's directly related to the image of Christ on the cross and the example of sacrifice that he gave us," he told the New York Times.
The comedian certainly has a lot to be grateful for. He and his wife, Evelyn, have three children, Madeleine, Peter, and John, and come next year, he will also be hosting one of the top late-night television shows in the country.
