Turkish Game Show Tries to Convert Atheists

As the article indicates, it really was "only a matter of time" before something like this cropped up on television. Had I bet on it, I would have chosen the good old US of A to host the first version of this, but the Turks beat us to it.

What makes this even funnier are the comments below the article. I was hoping for a lot more arguing, but I think there is a good "conversation" going about whether or not Atheism is a "religion in its own right". For the record, it's not. And yes, it is because it is like calling "bald" a hair color. Atheism is a belief, which is different from a religion (which is a system of beliefs) in that religion requires both faith and ritual. There are no atheist rituals (that I know of) unless you count trying to educate mono- & poly-theists that atheism isn't about satan-worshipping. (Well, it's the mono-theists, I think, that believe that. Most of the polytheists I know are more accepting of the different viewpoint of atheism.) And as for faith, that's a tricky one. Some atheists claim they don't have faith or that they prefer logic and proof to faith; but I like to say that I have faith that there is no sentient being watching over us who has a plan and interest in our well-being. I have about the same "proof" in my belief that the mono-or poly-theists have in theirs (unless you count lack of evidence on one side as proof of the opposite side, in which case, I believe--pun intended--I have the edge as an atheist.)