This will be like trying to make Frank Zappa laugh.

Kozaru: The only difference between planet Kolob and a talking snake is a few thousand years.

Wow. Well said!

anfrind: NExD: you are woefully ignorant. I pity your existance on this earth.

/doesn't go to church
//your a douchebag still

You are woefully spiteful. I pity your existence on this earth.

/and your poor grammar

indeed. now dont let me stop you from your douchebaggery activities tonight. goodnight.

FTA: What happens when you put a Muslim imam, a Christian priest, a rabbi and a Buddhist monk in a room with 10 atheists?

You get 14 atheists.

Everyone's an atheist. Everyone doesn't believe in some religion out there. The ones calling themselves atheists just happen to not believe in one fewer god than the theists.

Turn it around and try and convert the religous. Now you got something.

I am not a religious person, though I do believe in God. This doesn't make me wrong any more than not believing in god makes someone wrong. I can see why folks don't believe or are not religious. I think, if God wants atheists to believe, he, himself should come down and try to convert them... Otherwise leave them alone...no one has any business trying to impose their beliefs on anyone else...

ne2d: A team of theologians will ensure that the atheists are truly non-believers and are not just seeking fame or a free holiday.

wat

they want to make sure they don't get any seecrit Muslin's

Fine upstanding Catholic here. Don't believe in God or any supernaturalism. But it's a cool religion as they go.

I am an atheist, so I am getting a kick out of these responses. Nice title subby.

Proud2B_American: I am not a religious person, though I do believe in God. This doesn't make me wrong any more than not believing in god makes someone wrong. I can see why folks don't believe or are not religious. I think, if God wants atheists to believe, he, himself should come down and try to convert them... Otherwise leave them alone...no one has any business trying to impose their beliefs on anyone else...

I think God needs to do some housekeeping with his current believers before worrying about getting new ones.


/hotlinked

Proud2B_American: I am not a religious person, though I do believe in God. This doesn't make me wrong any more than not believing in god makes someone wrong.

It doesn't work that way. Just because you want to feel like everyone is right so we can all hug doesn't make it so. There is as much reason to believe in any kind of God as there is to believe in Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, ghosts, or Neo from the Matrix. God is a myth. We made him up. Just like the rest of our myths. Why do you give certain myths a pass when you obviously don't believe others?

Arxane: The ones calling themselves atheists just happen to not believe in one fewer god than the theists.



"Well, you see, it's one fewer. When we need that extra reduction, and we're already at one, where else can you go, you know? So we had these Atheist models customized with a special "Zero" setting..."

I'd be willing to bet that athiests are the last people they will actually recruit for this. They will grab a pool of the undicided, wavering non-religious, and agnostics. They will then label them athiests and still struggle to convert any. There will be all types of social pressure mechanisms applied to try to get them to convert, but actual athiests are probably the LEAST likely demographic they can come up with for those to work on. Most have been bombarded with challanges to thier beliefs and social pressure, it just wont work.

TheGreatZarquon: "Well, you see, it's one fewer. When we need that extra reduction, and we're already at one, where else can you go, you know? So we had these Atheist models customized with a special "Zero" setting..."

Total win.

"Doing something like this for the sake of ratings is disrespectful to all religions. Religion should not be a subject for entertainment programs," High Board of Religious Affairs Chairman Hamza Aktan told state news agency Anatolian after news of the planned program emerged.

So... who wants to marry a millionaire midget on t.v. instead?

/ah, the sanctity of marriage

delphi_ote: geom_00: I am a Catholic, and proud of it... WHATEVER your religion is. I accept it."

What about a religion that believes in raping children? Is that cool? Can you just get along with them? Or do you actually have some method of filtering out beliefs are absurd? If so, I'd like to know how "magical man who isn't a man killed himself so he could forgive us for breaking his rules" doesn't classify as absurd.

Also, is Catholicism on the same level as Mormonism? Or are their beliefs a little wacky? How about the Scientologists? Is that cool, too? Do you ever go out and worship Thor or Shiva? Do you read Dianetics with the Bible? Or would that be silly? If so, why do you call yourself Catholic instead of Wotanist or Hindu? It seems absurd to use one label if you'll just believe anything anyone tells you. If not, why do you say you accept all religions instead of being honest and telling everyone the truth: you believe a certain collection of silly things you don't want criticized, so you're giving a pass to all other people who also believe obviously false things? If this is the case, it doesn't matter what's true or false as long as people are deluded in SOME way, so you can be excused for being deluded as well.

I like you

kxs401: If you are burned by the holy water, you don't win. There's no fooling the holy water.

Although, we do sometimes help the decision along.
During the ceremonies, we use holy water.
For the testing, we use H2SO4-ly water. Just getting a head start on the whole sulfurous brimstone lake thing, ya know.
/you gotta rig the tests, just ask the town leaders of Salem!

FTFA: 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.

Is there a religion centered in Vegas? Because I'll totally convert if it means a free trip.

Monty845: I'd be willing to bet that athiests are the last people they will actually recruit for this. They will grab a pool of the undicided, wavering non-religious, and agnostics. They will then label them athiests and still struggle to convert any. There will be all types of social pressure mechanisms applied to try to get them to convert, but actual athiests are probably the LEAST likely demographic they can come up with for those to work on. Most have been bombarded with challanges to thier beliefs and social pressure, it just wont work.

THIS

Or they'll get someone who is actually devout, and "convert" them

/I'd watch if they got Dr. Dawkins on the show

I'm agnostic and don't care to be converted. Try as you might, you're wasting your time. If anything I lean towards Buddhism.

TheGreatZarquon: Arxane: The ones calling themselves atheists just happen to not believe in one fewer god than the theists.

"Well, you see, it's one fewer. When we need that extra reduction, and we're already at one, where else can you go, you know? So we had these Atheist models customized with a special "Zero" setting..."
Our amps go to eleven and our faiths go to zero?

delphi_ote: geom_00: I am a Catholic, and proud of it... WHATEVER your religion is. I accept it."

What about a religion that believes in raping children? Is that cool?

Then I guess Islam believes in terrorism and jihad. For that matter, every pro-life follower condones killing people who give abortions and pro-choice followers believe that it is okay to forcibly abort children. Is that truly the case for these groups?

Come on. Just because a small fraction of people in one group do something, regardless of what that group is, does not mean that the entire group condones radical actions and beliefs. No matter what group it is, there are always people who take things way too far. Even atheists.

ShawnDoc: DamnYankees: GAT_00:
Well, Tibet is beautiful, and I would recommend everyone go there if you have the chance. It's just a strange pick for the Buddhist Mecca.

That's no more strange than The Vatican for Christians. For Catholics sure, but not "Christians". A better choice would be Jerusalem. And for Buddhists, I'm guessing a better choice would be Nepal.

or, perhaps, Bodh Gaya, India

I'm not stubborn enough to say I'm nonconvertible. If you've got a sound argument, I'd like to hear it.

The sad thing is I'm smart enough to know that other peoples' definition of "sound argument"--especially when it comes to religion--is pretty far off of mine...

NExD: //your a douchebag still

What, exactly, is a "douchbag still," and why do we feel we need to somehow concentrate or purify douchebaggery?

rkane1: are they gonna fix homosexuals too? that would be awesome!!

Are they broken? Who broke teh gheys?

or

Getting them fixed will not help anything, they are not breeding.

The love of money is the root... I don't remember the rest, but your mother's a whore.

serial_crusher: I'm not stubborn enough to say I'm nonconvertible. If you've got a sound argument, I'd like to hear it.

The sad thing is I'm smart enough to know that other peoples' definition of "sound argument"--especially when it comes to religion--is pretty far off of mine...

Wouldn't a "sound argument" involve proof?

Monty845: I'd be willing to bet that athiests are the last people they will actually recruit for this. They will grab a pool of the undicided, wavering non-religious, and agnostics. They will then label them athiests and still struggle to convert any. There will be all types of social pressure mechanisms applied to try to get them to convert, but actual athiests are probably the LEAST likely demographic they can come up with for those to work on. Most have been bombarded with challanges to thier beliefs and social pressure, it just wont work.

This.
In fact, I'll go so far as to say that all their "atheists" will be non-practicing Muslims.

FormlessOne:What, exactly, is a "douchbag still," and why do we feel we need to somehow concentrate or purify douchebaggery?

You won't be asking that after the nationwide roll-out of Massengill Vodak.

the_sidewinder: delphi_ote: geom_00: I am a Catholic, and proud of it... WHATEVER your religion is. I accept it."

What about a religion that believes in raping children? Is that cool? Can you just get along with them? Or do you actually have some method of filtering out beliefs are absurd?...If not, why do you say you accept all religions instead of being honest and telling everyone the truth: you believe a certain collection of silly things you don't want criticized, so you're giving a pass to all other people who also believe obviously false things?
I like you

Ultimate test for the 'religiously tolerant' crowd:

Yeah. People who want to adhere to religions that were killed by your ancestors.

Especially the polytheistic ones. Funny how the Christian-type community can't handle less than one or more than one god.

A team of theologians will ensure that the atheists are truly non-believers and are not just seeking fame or a free holiday.

Wild assumption, but you'll be ensuring the atheists aren't truly atheistic. I have yet to hear a convincing argument for anything beyond the natural; I am doubtful within the span of a month a few holy men of nonsensical beliefs and traditions could convince me of an anthropomorphic energy with concern for this pale blue dot as written down in contradictory, generic books.

God is great and it doesn't matter which religion you believe in.

Wait, are you suggesting that simultaneously the Jews, Christians, and Muslims, even Mormons, all possess the final word of God? To my knowledge, to the Gods of each of those faiths it very much does matter which religion you believe, and to the adherents of those faiths it very much does matter which sect of which religion you believe.

We are giving the biggest prize in the world, the gift of belief in God.

What does second place get?

Kliffoth: Because they have a little voice inside them that doubts. Seeing someone sure in their non-belief angers and fills them with guilt, so they lash out. Christianity (I'm not saying other religions don't but Christianity is the one I'm most familiar with) conditions you, usually from when you're a small child, to feel guilty for questioning God's existance.








Somehow I don't think you know the Christian tradition well enough then. Questioning and challenging notions of God's existence and grappling with religious doubts has been one of the major themes of Christian religious thought and theology (not to mention Judaism) for a very long time. And I'm not a Christian or Jew, yet I'm very religious and have no problem with atheists. I think secular humanists are far more interesting than just shouting "no" to everyone else, but that's where some people are at. After all, yelling "no" isn't really an ethos.

vertiaset: Atheists love it when they can shake the faith of a religious person, they call it "deconversion" and laugh about it amongst themselves. Why? I have no idea.

"they"?

Wait, so let me get this right. The contestant, an atheist, has to face a challenge: 4 belief structures. If the contestant fails to meet the challenge and succumbs to one of the four, then his punishment for losing is being sent to that holy land for more lecturing.

What is the prize for overcoming the challenge, maintaining your atheism, and winning the game?

I don't believe it.

seems like FOX would pick this show up pretty quick.

The truth is any atheist or even someone who might be spiritual but still have their mind grounded in reality wouldn't give two shiats about this show. Much like organized religion it's absurd and shouldn't waste your time with it. Just like a growing percentage of everything these day's it's just a scam to make money/ratings.

*goes back to playing Red Faction*

While we are at it, it would be a good idea to clarify what it means to be an athiest...

Not an Athiest:
Wavering believer
Agnostic
Non-practicing believer
Non-religious
Someone who disbeleives in a paticular religion but follows another thiestic religion or is in one of the above categories

If we are to follow the dictionary, an athiest is anyone who does not believe in a diety. But in common usage today, Athiesm typically means the active rejection, and not mere lack of beleif in all dieties, and furhter, all other religious beliefs. No spiritualism, no wicanism, etc...

Oh yeah, and religions that consider human sacrifice of nonmembers to be an event to be held as often as possible.

Kinda puts Rastafarian weed-smoking in perspective.

vertiaset: Atheists love it when they can shake the faith of a religious person, they call it "deconversion" and laugh about it amongst themselves. Why? I have no idea.

Proof? Evidence of this happening? Full of shiat douchebag? I'll go where the evidence takes me.

vertiaset: Atheists love it when they can shake the faith of a religious person, they call it "deconversion" and laugh about it amongst themselves. Why? I have no idea.

I love it when I can shake or strengthen the faith of anyone, I call it "discussion" and do so with anyone possible. Why? Because I am less than worried about anyone willing to talk.

FieroEtnl: delphi_ote: geom_00: I am a Catholic, and proud of it... WHATEVER your religion is. I accept it."

What about a religion that believes in raping children? Is that cool?

Then I guess Islam believes in terrorism and jihad. For that matter, every pro-life follower condones killing people who give abortions and pro-choice followers believe that it is okay to forcibly abort children. Is that truly the case for these groups?

Come on. Just because a small fraction of people in one group do something, regardless of what that group is, does not mean that the entire group condones radical actions and beliefs. No matter what group it is, there are always people who take things way too far. Even atheists.

I Thank you.

Monty845: If we are to follow the dictionary, an athiest is anyone who does not believe in a diety. But in common usage today, Athiesm typically means the active rejection, and not mere lack of beleif in all dieties, and furhter, all other religious beliefs. No spiritualism, no wicanism, etc...

Wrong, but thanks for playing.

Atheists still actively maintain that all atheism means is simple disbelief in gods.

And considering you can't even spell atheism, you can kindly shut up.

Bender The Offender: vertiaset: Atheists love it when they can shake the faith of a religious person, they call it "deconversion" and laugh about it amongst themselves. Why? I have no idea.

Proof? Evidence of this happening? Full of shiat douchebag? I'll go where the evidence takes me.

I'm not sure if I have ever 'deconverted' anyone, but I know I have gotten people to self identify as athiest after claiming they were religious. I don't think I really changed thier mind about any of thier beliefs, it was more a coming out of the 'athiesm closet'... I nonetheless gloat about it!

FieroEtnl: delphi_ote: geom_00: I am a Catholic, and proud of it... WHATEVER your religion is. I accept it."

What about a religion that believes in raping children? Is that cool?

Then I guess Islam believes in terrorism and jihad. For that matter, every pro-life follower condones killing people who give abortions and pro-choice followers believe that it is okay to forcibly abort children. Is that truly the case for these groups?

Come on. Just because a small fraction of people in one group do something, regardless of what that group is, does not mean that the entire group condones radical actions and beliefs. No matter what group it is, there are always people who take things way too far. Even atheists.
The difference comes when it's a systematic acceptance of the crime. While I don't doubt that most Catholics are correctly repulsed by the sexual abuse by the clergy, the upper echelons of the church actively worked to not only cover up the crimes, but move the offending priests around to new parishes so they could continue their crimes. The Catholic church is unique in that it's totally structured from the top down. No other religion has that kind of organization. There's no corresponding Pope of Islam, Judaism, or Hinduism. (Though if there were, I've little doubt that you'd see the same problems.) And the issue with the Catholic church is that the abuse was known within the organization. It's sad that more Catholics didn't leave the church because of that nonsense.

And I've never heard of an atheist that attributes any criminal act to his atheism, but there are plenty of believers that do awful things because of their beliefs. And that can include big awful things like murder, as well as small awful things like indoctrinating children in outdated methods of thought (like abstinence-only education) or forcing their beliefs on others (like the anti-abortion crowd).

Convert them to what, exactly? Bahai? Completely annoyed?

Arxane: Everyone's an atheist. Everyone doesn't believe in some religion out there. The ones calling themselves atheists just happen to not believe in one fewer god than the theists.

That is the most idiotic "point" raised in support of atheism yet. First of all, anywhere from 1/3 to 1/2 of the world is polytheist, not monotheistic, and polytheists don't practice other people's religions, but they don't disbelieve them either. Second of all, contrary to most atheists's perceptions, most religious activity worldwide is based in praxis and social identity, not belief, and thirdly, the monotheistic fundamentalists Farkers go crazy over tend to take other religions and their beliefs very seriously--just as demonic (per)versions of their own. This hackneyed and trite "one less god" quip is prima facie evidence that the person who uses it has no actual understanding of the nature of religion and religious people. Stop using it if you want to be taken seriously as an intellectual force.

I like how it's the Muslims that immediately leapt to the defense of atheists who just want to live their lives. Turkey's a strange place, but they're OK in my book.

SpaceLord: geom_00: I am a Catholic, and proud of it. I go to my church, I pray, I try to follow the Catholic way.

My Difference, if you are atheist, Jewish, Muslim, Scientology, FSM man, WHATEVER your religion is. I accept it. I could care less if you worshiped satan himself. Your life is your life. Literally, sorry to quote Rodney King, but "Why can't we all get along?"


Matthew 28:19-20

Read those verses.

/agnostic

I've heard more atheists and agnostics on Fark quote scripture than any Christian evangelist. You cry when religion doesn't accept evolution and yet here when geom_00 tries to open up a bit, you're first in line to say "SORRY CAN'T LET YOU DO THAT!"

Tomorrow you will be posting in disbelief at your perceived intolerance of religion that you and your ilk are so motivated to keep in existence. Fark you.