TV gameshow looks to convert atheists

Parent Cafe
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<p>Turkish TV gameshow looks to convert atheists
Fri Jul 3, 2009 8:21am EDT</p>

<p>By Daren Butler</p>

<p>ISTANBUL (Reuters) - What happens when you put a Muslim imam, a Christian priest, a rabbi and a Buddhist monk in a room with 10 atheists?</p>

<p>Turkish television station Kanal T hopes the answer is a ratings success as it prepares to launch a gameshow where spiritual guides from the four faiths will seek to convert a group of non-believers.</p>

<p>…</p>

<p>[Turkish</a> TV gameshow looks to convert atheists | Entertainment | Reuters](<a href=“http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSTRE5622D020090703?feedType=RSS&feedName=entertainmentNews&rpc=22&sp=true]Turkish”>http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSTRE5622D020090703?feedType=RSS&feedName=entertainmentNews&rpc=22&sp=true)</p>

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<p>Forwarding to my atheist, college-aged son.</p>

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<p>I’m just going to say it…I don’t know that I would be able to resist to “converting” considering the prizes! The hardest part would be picking a destination, I mean religion. </p>

<p>Well, that would be hardest Earthly part. I’m not a believer but I hardly want to find out I’m wrong by being confronted upon my death that false conversion is a serious offense.</p>

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<p>"ISTANBUL (Reuters) - What happens when you put a Muslim imam, a Christian priest, a rabbi and a Buddhist monk in a room with 10 atheists?</p>

<p>Turkish television station Kanal T hopes the answer is a ratings success as it prepares to launch a gameshow where spiritual guides from the four faiths will seek to convert a group of non-believers.</p>

<p>The prize for converts will be a pilgrimage to a holy site of their chosen religion – Mecca for Muslims, the Vatican for Christians, Jerusalem for Jews and Tibet for Buddhists."</p>

<p>Many if not most Buddhists are atheists. Most do not believe that Buddha was God. They believe he was awake – aware in the present moment, something that’s possibly for everyone. They don’t believe he was God.</p>

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<p>Jews aren’t allowed to proselytize.</p>

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<p>“What happens when you put a Muslim imam, a Christian priest, a rabbi and a Buddhist monk in a room with 10 atheists?”</p>

<p>There’s a punch line in there somewhere.</p>

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<p>Buddhism is also not big on proselytizing. </p>

<p>There would be more fireworks if they stuck people in a room with sunni and shia imams and / or any of a number of Christian sects. They get along about as well as the proverbial cats and dogs - suggest visiting the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to see that in action.</p>

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<p>Is it fair for the atheists to convert the mythology believers? All of the contradictory religious beliefs are reason enough to be an atheist. I’d place my bets on Buddhism- a philosophy that even some mainline Christian ministers practice.</p>

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<p>Why didn’t they invite Richard Dawkins? Or any scientist, for that matter?</p>