Reality show gives points to clerics for converting Atheists
A new Turkish game-show asks clerics to convert atheists and awards prizes for the most conversions; I think the atheists should get points for resisting the pitch, too -- it's only fair (and the atheists should win supreme if the cleric loses faith altogether!).
Faiths compete on Turkish game show (via Derren Brown)
A new game show on Turkish television will pit a Greek Orthodox priest, a rabbi, an imam and a Buddhist monk against one another in attempt to convert atheists to their respective religions.In each episode of Penitents Compete, to be broadcast by Turkey's Kanal T television station in September, the four faith guides will try to persuade 10 atheists of the merits and truth of their creeds...
An eight-member team of theologians will vet contestants to ensure they really are atheists before deciding who will participate in the show.
the latest
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I smell a rat. There's no way that the atheists would be allowed to come out ahead considering how strong the religious elements are in Turkey.
Easy prediction: all or almost all of them will be converted because all of them are paid to play the part of the gutless atheist.
That show would be scripted in such a way even in the most western liberal country. Religion is one of the most powerful means of mass control everywhere, no government would let this control slip away from their hands.
My family's church calls people like me "pre-christians."
Sadly (because it would be a cool idea), there is no honest way this show can work. You can tell when someone gets a Jeopardy question right, or who's Price is Right, but you'll never know how someone really feels about god.
Even if the atheists got points for staying true, it would be a question of which prize is better and how good an actor are you?
Being that its from Turkey, I foresee lots of miraculous conversions.
Maybe this is a good thing. When several unique religions are are seen in close proximity to each other, the thought that follows is "Well, obviously they can't ALL be correct". The thought that follows that is "Maybe NONE of them are real".
(Carl Sagan said this years ago)
Since there's no outward, concrete "symptom" of belief, how can the show authenticate it's "conversions?" How can it even establish the bona fides of the athiests? It's not like we have a glowing "A" on our foreheads when we don't believe.
Like Nanuq, I am tempted to see this program as propaganda. Especially given the tendency of clergy to misrepresentation when they think it's for the greater good, and especially given the tendency for "reality" programming to engineer the performances only slightly less than professional wrestling.
All I can say is - good luck to the religious people! Atheists, especially in Turkey, probably have their beliefs justified by logic; good luck bypassing that.
I dunno, for a free trip to Tibet I'm pretty sure that I could get a case of temporary Buddhism.
I want to see an agnostic against all those faiths plus atheism. Seems more fun that way.
You don't have to believe in gods to be a Buddhist. There's some acceptance of a "spiritual" aspect regarding reincarnation, but, no gods are required.
I don't care about the show or religion or even atheism, but I sure want one of those Oakland A's-styled "Atheist's" jackets. What league do they play for?
"There's no way that the atheists would be allowed to come out ahead considering how strong the religious elements are in Turkey."
I have never been there so take it with a grain of salt but my understanding is that Turkey's culture is very secular. Some people who have visited the US from Turkey feel the the US is far more religious and hostile non-believers or foreign religion than their home country.
That may be less true in cosmopolitan metro areas where many BB readers are but I can see it in suburban and rural areas. I live in Minnesota and here in the city it's pretty secular but the suburbs are total Michelle "Obama is a islamofscist gonna enslave us all" Bachmann territory.
Personally, I think someone should conduct an anthropological study of the natives here. Their quaint beliefs and sometimes disturbing rituals and practices. Quite unlike those of more civilized places like Turkey, India or even the EU.
Hilarious. I strongly suspect that making religion look like a trivial, self-interested, and internally contradictory spectacle was not the intent of this show, though it may well be the outcome.
I do hope that subtitled versions find there way to the interwebs...
how about a game show where all show their resolve of belief in an afterlife?
My money's on the Buddhist monk.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUf3r3cB4zg
This has to be staged. As real as professional wrestling.
I can't imagine anyone actually changing belief systems in the course of a game show, and I'm having difficulty believing any actually reverent clergy would participate in a ridiculous circus like this. I wouldn't be surprised if everyone involved was a paid actor.
Where you can order this shirt:
http://www.revolutionbooks.org/T-Shirts-s/4.htm
H.
"I think the atheists should get points for resisting the pitch, too"
Why? These atheist have already won far more than the theists ever could.
"An eight-member team of theologians will vet contestants to ensure they really are atheists before deciding who will participate in the show."
How?
actually, God exists. I've got Him right here. Don't I, You sweet little hog-tied bitch? (THWACK!) Yeah, Ya like that, don't Ya? (THWACK!)
I'd like to see their vetting process for a "true atheist".
Hell, I'd like to see anyone's vetting process for a true Christian, Jew, Muslim, or Buddhist, while we're at it.
"There's no way that the atheists would be allowed to come out ahead considering how strong the religious elements are in Turkey."
During my brief time in Turkey I found it more religiously tolerant than here at home in the US. I was impressed seeing mosques, synagogues, and churches all in close proximity with people of all those faiths mingling. I spoke openly with many people about being an atheist and met other atheists who seemed very comfortable there.
That said, I still think the show is going to be rigged and is doomed to the results being unprovable as well.
lessing turns in his grave... guys, you should read a lot more![GE Lessing - nathan the wise]
A different article has an interesting quote from the chief executive of the television station.
@ Glossolalia Black
Ah, yes, the "no true Scotsman" defense. :D
ANY belief is relative!
Now go wrap your head around that one.
We don't approve of anyone being an atheist. God is great and it doesn't matter which religion you believe in. The important thing is to believe," Soylu said
Then the Buddhist monk will have to be from a sect which deified the Buddha and, even then, the clinical approach to knowledge of his 'religion' should still be at the forefront. It should present a tougher challenge for the 'atheist' (if that person is really one...) and heighten the interest of the discussion. Put that on P2P!!!
Whatever happens it should make for more interesting TV than most of what we have in NA. I wonder if the conversions will require SFX?
God is great? Ohhh yeahhhh... especially when ya tighten the straps first...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggiMCGt0B9U
Tak, what is it with all the flagging lately? Missing Cheney?
They should give a trip to some atheist hotspot (Las Vegas? Galapagos Islands?) for contestants who maintain their atheism. That way, you won't have people lying about a conversion just to get a trip.
missing the big "O" there, Innocent?
only one correct answer for Jehovah:
http://cache.gizmodo.com/assets/images/gizmodo/2008/08/spanking.jpg
Nope, t'was an innocent pun. The 'O' is mandatory only when flogging with long, thick, powerful, suckery tentacles... one of the best feature of the True God, as you should know. :P
but I sure want one of those Oakland A's-styled "Atheist's" jackets
Me Too
I want to watch this show. Seems like there's gonna be a lot of zany antics!!!
I'm with Ill Lich - screw the show, where can I get that Oakland A-ish Atheist gear?
I would first like to see an episode of this. and then I will write my comment. cos otherwise I would only repeat most of what has been said already..but this way I could add something more :)
http://www.sinfest.net/
yeah anymore info on the jackets? I WANTTTT...
"We are giving the biggest prize in the world, the gift of belief in God," Kanal T chief executive Seyhan Soylu told Reuters.
"(sigh)... And a new car. Happy?"
http://api.ning.com/files/ShD*KjKm8RU-646opBRSEm6ghLaIGo1zHSQ741SKKIHhNpHiezQCFKIqpvOoz1jZNy90CFHlxQ1u-6-7L579H2CENq5Gz15V/jesussymbol.jpg
To nanuq;
What do you know about Turkey? I'm an atheist too. I never hesitated to show my believe in Turkey. My muslim family, neighboors, etc. I've been in the USA for ten years and I've had couple of really ugly reactions about my views. Please don't jump right away without knowing it. I don't know where you live, but wherever you live, before looking at things, please take your glasses off, throw it while when you are really looking. Why, not only you, but we are all socially/culturally blind and our subjective perspectives create and feed our enemy, which is cultural illusion.
This sounds like the beginning of a terrible joke:
"A priest, a rabbi, an imam and a monk walk into an atheist bar..."
I too call BS. Jews dont go fishing for converts, in fact the tradition is to turn away potential converts several times. Even if the potential convert is serious, it takes a year of study at least as well as some other things. Its not Islam or Christianity where you just say the right words and you are accepted. Also there are any number of injunctions against a Jew making a mockery of their faith like this so I just dont buy it.