Because clearly we should be appeasing the religious on our show.

[F4lconF16]

http://www.salon.com/2014/08/09/i_spent_a_day_watching_atheisttv_and_it_was_horrifying/?utm_source=Mic+Check&utm_campaign=9cb0db5dc2-Mic_Report_8_8_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_51f2320b33-9cb0db5dc2-285388977

The Christian right has some things figured out. These days, Christian entertainment isn’t just the didactic “700 Club” — it includes spectacles as high-flying as History’s miniseries “The Bible” or as wacky as GSN’s “American Bible Challenge.” If these entertainments, relying as they do on knowledge of the source material, do any converting, that’s a fringe benefit; they exist to further galvanize the faithful in their beliefs.

American atheists haven’t learned from these projects, it seems. The recently-launched AtheistTV, which is available over the Internet and through the Roku streaming device, frames itself as an outreach project of sorts. It consists of acquired programming (for instance, from the Richard Dawkins Institute), with call-in shows and broadcasts of speeches and rallies. All of these set forth the tenets of atheism — there’s no “American Bible Challenge”-style tomfoolery here.

And yet after watching four hours of its programming and even despite my own lack of religious belief, I find it hard to imagine that even a casual nonbeliever would tune in, let alone someone on the fence about the existence of a higher power. AtheistTV adheres to nasty stereotypes about atheism — smugness, gleeful disregard for others’ beliefs — to a degree that’s close to unwatchable.

(Snip)

After the rally broadcast, in the final episode of “The Atheist Experience” I watched, both hosts recommended that viewers tune into “Cosmos,” on Fox. That show, starring the scientist Neil deGrasse Tyson, made the argument that the religious right had deleterious effects on the world by using concrete examples from history. The show also inspired awe by presenting something in which to believe — the majesty of the universe, the wonders of science. It wasn’t reacting to any doctrine; it was doing something all its own.

AtheistTV has a similar opportunity to inspire, and instead feeds its viewers a diet of scorn. The “Atheist Experience’s” new co-host, Don Baker, pivoted from talking “Cosmos” to introducing today’s topic: “I’m talking again about the failures of Christianity. I’m just scratching the surface — a lot of failure! So much fail. But today I’m going to talk about Christianity’s dependence on ignorance.

“Christianity requires ignorance — and con games require ignorance too.” I shut it off. A game of three-card-monte may be frustrating, but one can keep walking by. A person shouting at you on the subway is far more irritating.

Oh boy! They didn't say religion was awesome! The horror!

Really? It was "unwatchable"? It was "horrible"? Because nothing says happiness and unicorns like Christian tv preaching that I'm going to burn in hell and I'm worse than a nazi. Zombi-man-christ, this is annoying that we can't just have an atheist tv station that is truly atheist. I don't like your beliefs; I think they're stupid. I'll defend to the death your right to have them. But I sure as heck am not going to respect something that doesn't deserve it. Maybe that's fitting the angry atheist stereotype, but I'm past caring. I'm tired of this bs double standard.

(Disclaimer: I haven't seen the full show, so maybe I'm wrong and it really is offensive. Maybe there is homophobia and misogyny like the link says, in which case I'll denounce it as well. But still. The hate coming from the right and you're not happy with me not respecting their beliefs? Right.)

[trotsky]

3. Tone trolling, plain and simple.

Can't disagree with what's said? Then just attack the person saying it for being too mean.

[Warren Stupidity]

4. gosh have we seen this sort of behavior on DU?

hmmmmm....

nah, can't think of anyplace just chock full of tone police and alert nannies. Nope. Nothing comes to mind.

[onager]

5. Reminds me of a movie board...

Where a bunch of us were discussing the 2008 German movie "The Baader-Meinhof Complex."*

The board had people from all over the world. But one American jumped right in to express disgust that the movie showed NAKED PEOPLE! Even CHILDREN! The horror!

Other posters pointed out that the movie opens in a German nudist camp. "What did you expect the members to be wearing? Tuxedos? Burqas...?"

Well, this is an atheist channel. What did you expect them to be doing, praising Jebus? Trying for that "outreach among us liberals" that has worked so well? You know, the way we all got together and defeated Prop 8 in California, with help from the good liberal Mormons?

Especially in American media, religion has gotten too much of a pass for way too long.

As we say in the South, sometimes before you can put a mule to work, you have to get his attention. And sometimes the only way to get his attention is to hit him upside the head.

Stuff like "The God Delusion" and "God Is Not Great" were a couple of good licks upside the head of religion. And especially its dominant American strain.

I'd much rather see this channel go the same way. I'll be cranky enough to say that the WORST thing to happen would be a bunch of accomodationists and faitheists taking over, and turning it into a snooze-fest of brown-nosing the religious. AGAIN!

*Excellent movie about the Baader-Meinhof gang of the 1970s. No, not all fanatics are motivated by religion. Though I guess we can reflect that the real intellectual leader of the gang was Gudrun Ensslin, a liberal preacher's daughter. Willing to die for Jesus one day, willing to die for Marx the next...

There's a hilarious scene in a PLO training camp, where the PLO try to impose Islamic "modesty" rules on a bunch of radical Euro leftists.

Just my usual morning ranting...

[PoutrageFatigue]

6. Stupid article...

...written by someone either with an agenda, or too fucking stupid to understand the topic..

[mr blur]

9. Welcome to the group! (nt)

[Curmudgeoness]

7. "despite my own lack of religious belief"

Here we go again----the old "I am an atheist, but....." article.

"AtheistTV has an opportunity to inspire", you know, like the History Channel inspires us with American Pickers and Pawn Stars. Or how the Discover Channel inspires with Fat 'n Furious and Deadliest Catch. And the most inspiring of all is TLC (The Learning Channel!) with Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.

We realize that most people get bored with educational or specialized TV, but there are people who mourn the loss of TV that makes you think.

[AlbertCat]

11. They could air....

.... "Black Jesus"



Or I know...

a show where we dub different but hysterical dialogue into scenes from "God's not Dead", "Heaven is for Real" and "Mary, Mother of Christ"!


Or an ID type show: "Mad Scientist!"

[Curmudgeoness]

14. And they didn't hire you to help them

put the channel together! Much the shame.

They could also have that same quiz show about the Bible.....with atheists vs. believers. That could be a lot of fun.

[Lordquinton]

8. This one line in here

" adheres to nasty stereotypes about atheism — smugness, gleeful disregard for others’ beliefs"

It's always a stereotype of atheists, but it perfectly describes a lot of Christians in this country, so how is it different? And what did you expect watching something called Atheist TV? Granted, with what we get when we turn on the History channel, one would have an expectation of pawn shops and repo guys who don't believe in Jesus (but are totally fine with those that do)

[AlbertCat]

10. gleeful disregard for others’ beliefs

Oh yeah!

Every time I think of how I don't believe Vishnu came to earth as Krishna, I just giggle and clap my hands!

[mr blur]

12. Well I have gleeful disregard for others’ beliefs, it's true.

So what?


Kind of sums it up nicely.

[Curmudgeoness]

15. It is also a stereotype

for Democrats. Those damned elitists!

[Manifestor_of_Light]

13. I'm not going to appease anybody.

I'm not going to bring up religion but I'm not going to STFU either. They have hundreds of radio and TV channels for their propaganda but they don't respect people who don't believe, but KNOW that rational thought and the scientific method works, and that there is no evidence in many peoples' experience for the existence of god.

The burden of proof is on them. Sounds like the writer had an ax to grind. They think the existence of atheists who actually talk about it must be an affront to their beliefs. Too bad. We got this thing called the First Amendment.

They have the freedom to speak but I have the freedom to tune them out.