Turkish reality show to turn atheists to believers

This is NOT the best way to turn atheists into believers nor to educate Turkey's Muslims about other faiths:-


Christian, Muslim, Jewish and Buddhist leaders will attempt to convert non-believers in a Turkish TV game show designed ‘to turn disbelievers to God’. An eight-strong theological team will vet entrants to ensure they are genuine non-believers and then monitor their progress during the show. Those whose religious transformation is genuine will win a pilgrimage to the spiritual home of their new faith. Muslims will visit Mecca, Christians and Jews go to Jerusalem and Buddhists travel to Tibet. The show’s producers say it will educate Turkey’s Muslim majority about other faiths, but critics believe it will trivialise faith and God.

Sources: The Guardian (2/7); Daily Telegraph (3/7)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jul/02/turkey-penitents-compete-gameshow
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/turkey/5729452/Turkish-gameshow-attempts-to-convert-atheists.html

Rebuke For Anti-Israel Carol Service

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
A London carol service organised by Jews for Boycotting Israel and Open Bethlehem, a Palestinian campaign group, has been condemned by the current and previous Archbishops of Canterbury. ‘Bethlehem Now: Nine Alternative Lessons and Carols’ featured rewritten carols which focused on denouncing Israeli security measures. The Twelve Days of Christmas included ‘Twelve assassinations, Eleven homes demolished, Ten walls obstructed, Nine sniper towers’. The Rector of St James, Picadilly said he had received dozens of complaints and would ‘think twice’ before allowing a repeat of the service.

Source: The Times (2/12)