« Four Stone Hearth 70 Is Up
Main
Mark Twain On Patriotism »
July 3, 2009
Evangelism As A Reality Show
Evangelism to what religion? In Turkey, like the United States, it doesn't seem to matter all that much as long as nonbelievers convert to some religion or other. Here's a couple of snippets from the Guardian.
"The project aims to turn disbelievers on to God," the station's deputy director, Ahmet Ozdemir, told the Hürriyet Daily News and Economic Review.That mission is attested to in the programme's advertising slogans, which include "We give you the biggest prize ever: we represent the belief in God" and "You will find serenity in this competition".
Only true non-believers need apply. An eight-strong commission of theologians will assess the atheist credentials of would-be contestants before deciding who should take part.
Does it really take eight theologians to determine that someone is an atheist? I guess they don't want any lying theists to cheat their way onto the program.
Contestants will ponder whether to believe or not to believe when they pit their godless convictions against the possibilities of a new relationship with the almighty on Penitents Compete (Tovbekarlar Yarisiyor in Turkish), to be broadcast by the Kanal T station. Four spiritual guides from the different religions will seek to convert at least one of the 10 atheists in each programme to their faith.Those persuaded will be rewarded with a pilgrimage to the spiritual home of their newly chosen creed – Mecca for Muslims, Jerusalem for Christians and Jews, and Tibet for Buddhists.
You see, anything is better than being an atheist. If I were to convert to Baal worship, would they send me to Ugarit for a week or so?
There are at least two ways to read this show that are not really mutually exclusive. One can read it as an example of the all too common prejudice against nonbelievers. But one can also read it as an indication of religious tolerance in Turkey. But, like Mark Twain and Brian Leiter, when it comes to religion, I prefer indifference to tolerance.
Then atheists may not be the only problematic folk. It seems that here in the United States, nuns may be inefficiently religious.
Posted by Duane Smith at July 3, 2009 1:44 PM | Read more on Religion |
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.telecomtally.com/mt/mt-tb.cgi/2924
Comments
Post a comment
Please read Abnormal Interest's Comments Policy.