Comments on: 30 Days – Part 1 of 2 http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2006/08/07/30-days-part-1-of-2/ by Hemant Mehta Fri, 25 May 2012 21:49:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Friendly Atheist » 30 Days - Part 2 of 2 and more… http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2006/08/07/30-days-part-1-of-2/#comment-429 Friendly Atheist » 30 Days - Part 2 of 2 and more… Sat, 12 Aug 2006 02:41:11 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2006/08/07/30-days-part-1-of-2/#comment-429 [...] For those who read the earlier posting, my friend Andrew asked that it be taken down, just in case opinions of his were mistaken to be opinions of the family on the 30 Days show.  But I finally had a chance to see the episode today, so you get to hear my take instead.  (Yes, exciting!) Overall, the portrayal of Brenda was much more positive than I expected it would be.  The showed her nice, normal family.  They showed her calm explanations when questioned on her morality and how she raises her children.  She never seemed to lose her cool in situations other atheists might have felt overly defensive about, such as the Bible study. The side footage of Morgan Spurlock explaining what public reaction to the word “atheist” was (Communists, need help, etc) and the actual reasons for how “In God we Trust” and “Under God” came into being were helpful as well. [...] [...] For those who read the earlier posting, my friend Andrew asked that it be taken down, just in case opinions of his were mistaken to be opinions of the family on the 30 Days show.  But I finally had a chance to see the episode today, so you get to hear my take instead.  (Yes, exciting!) Overall, the portrayal of Brenda was much more positive than I expected it would be.  The showed her nice, normal family.  They showed her calm explanations when questioned on her morality and how she raises her children.  She never seemed to lose her cool in situations other atheists might have felt overly defensive about, such as the Bible study. The side footage of Morgan Spurlock explaining what public reaction to the word “atheist” was (Communists, need help, etc) and the actual reasons for how “In God we Trust” and “Under God” came into being were helpful as well. [...]

]]> By: FriendlyAtheist http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2006/08/07/30-days-part-1-of-2/#comment-427 FriendlyAtheist Fri, 11 Aug 2006 06:26:41 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2006/08/07/30-days-part-1-of-2/#comment-427 Part two needed a couple edits that I'm unable to do, so it is pulled for now. It'll be back soon. :) Part two needed a couple edits that I’m unable to do, so it is pulled for now. It’ll be back soon. :)

]]> By: Siamang http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2006/08/07/30-days-part-1-of-2/#comment-426 Siamang Fri, 11 Aug 2006 06:21:54 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2006/08/07/30-days-part-1-of-2/#comment-426 What happened to the part two post? It was on before... was it pulled? What happened to the part two post?

It was on before… was it pulled?

]]> By: Friendly Atheist » 30 Days - Part 2 of 2 http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2006/08/07/30-days-part-1-of-2/#comment-423 Friendly Atheist » 30 Days - Part 2 of 2 Thu, 10 Aug 2006 20:33:35 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2006/08/07/30-days-part-1-of-2/#comment-423 [...] As stated in an earlier post, my Secular Student Alliance colleague Andrew Stangl knows the atheist family that was featured on last night’s episode of 30 Days.  As they all live in Kansas City, Andrew was at their home for the viewing party and submitted this report.  The opinions are his own and not necessarily mine or the atheist family’s.  It’s meant to be read by those who saw the episode, but it should readable even if you did not see it. At 7:26 PM, I arrived at the home of Brenda and Mark [last name omitted].  This family of six had undergone an immense amount of stress and strain during auditioning and production, but this was a happy occasion. Brenda, the star of the 30 Days show, greeted everyone who entered her home with enthusiasm and warm tidings. This began a series of conversations with the many other guests, including relatives and friends of Brenda’s children, who were all happy and excited to share in this experience. In all of the conversation, nothing turned into a theological debate or something that in any way detracted from what was certainly a celebration. This was one of those few occasions that is simply dominated by good food, good friends, and good times. [...] [...] As stated in an earlier post, my Secular Student Alliance colleague Andrew Stangl knows the atheist family that was featured on last night’s episode of 30 Days.  As they all live in Kansas City, Andrew was at their home for the viewing party and submitted this report.  The opinions are his own and not necessarily mine or the atheist family’s.  It’s meant to be read by those who saw the episode, but it should readable even if you did not see it. At 7:26 PM, I arrived at the home of Brenda and Mark [last name omitted].  This family of six had undergone an immense amount of stress and strain during auditioning and production, but this was a happy occasion. Brenda, the star of the 30 Days show, greeted everyone who entered her home with enthusiasm and warm tidings. This began a series of conversations with the many other guests, including relatives and friends of Brenda’s children, who were all happy and excited to share in this experience. In all of the conversation, nothing turned into a theological debate or something that in any way detracted from what was certainly a celebration. This was one of those few occasions that is simply dominated by good food, good friends, and good times. [...]

]]> By: Emily http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2006/08/07/30-days-part-1-of-2/#comment-422 Emily Thu, 10 Aug 2006 03:50:04 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2006/08/07/30-days-part-1-of-2/#comment-422 I saw the show tonight! I thought it was great. They portrayed both sides fairly, I thought. I really LOVED Brenda. She is so gentle - she says everything I'd want to say, the way I wish I could say it. (In real life I'd be rolling my eyes uncontrollably...) Did anyone else notice the phrasing of some of the Christians' questions? Like, "Would you accept that Jesus is the son of God...." or "What did Christ ever do to you?" I thought this was interesting because a long time ago, I noticed something. Most Christians do not really *believe* in atheists. They believe that deep down, atheists believe in God...but are denying his existence for some reason....spite, maybe. The phrasing of some of the questions Brenda was asked gave this away. I can understand it in a way....because I often think, "But....deep down they know it's all B.S., don't they?" I saw the show tonight! I thought it was great. They portrayed both sides fairly, I thought. I really LOVED Brenda. She is so gentle – she says everything I’d want to say, the way I wish I could say it. (In real life I’d be rolling my eyes uncontrollably…)

Did anyone else notice the phrasing of some of the Christians’ questions?
Like, “Would you accept that Jesus is the son of God….”
or
“What did Christ ever do to you?”

I thought this was interesting because a long time ago, I noticed something. Most Christians do not really *believe* in atheists. They believe that deep down, atheists believe in God…but are denying his existence for some reason….spite, maybe. The phrasing of some of the questions Brenda was asked gave this away.

I can understand it in a way….because I often think, “But….deep down they know it’s all B.S., don’t they?”

]]> By: Eliza http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2006/08/07/30-days-part-1-of-2/#comment-421 Eliza Wed, 09 Aug 2006 23:08:52 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2006/08/07/30-days-part-1-of-2/#comment-421 Start making the popcorn! (Good for Brenda. I think I would have popped a gut if I'd been put in the home of an evangelical Christian family for a month. They would have kicked me out of their weekly Bible study, that's for sure! ;) ) Start making the popcorn!

(Good for Brenda. I think I would have popped a gut if I’d been put in the home of an evangelical Christian family for a month. They would have kicked me out of their weekly Bible study, that’s for sure! ;) )

]]> By: Siamang http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2006/08/07/30-days-part-1-of-2/#comment-420 Siamang Wed, 09 Aug 2006 22:07:13 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2006/08/07/30-days-part-1-of-2/#comment-420 I agree! I'm excited. I hope it's not a disappointment. I agree! I’m excited. I hope it’s not a disappointment.

]]> By: Karen http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2006/08/07/30-days-part-1-of-2/#comment-419 Karen Wed, 09 Aug 2006 20:54:40 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2006/08/07/30-days-part-1-of-2/#comment-419 <blockquote>I disagree. I think this set up makes more sense from a purely television aspect. Atheists don’t DO anything. Christians go to church, go to bible study, go to choir practice, go on missions, etc.</blockquote> Well, some atheists don't do anything. But the woman that Hemant met at a conference obviously is in more "active atheist" mode, so I imagine maybe she goes to atheist group meetings or humanist society functions, etc. An atheist family might also attend a UU church, or participate in church-state separation activities, belong to Atheists United, attend skeptics lectures, etc. So, for dramatic impact, they couldn't pick a "do-nothing" atheist family, they'd have to choose differently. But since the participant was a regular churchgoer as a young person, just going to church won't present a huge culture shock for her. Unless her hosts belong to an extremely "out there" church. I guess we'll see tonight! ;-)

I disagree.

I think this set up makes more sense from a purely television aspect.

Atheists don’t DO anything.

Christians go to church, go to bible study, go to choir practice, go on missions, etc.

Well, some atheists don’t do anything. But the woman that Hemant met at a conference obviously is in more “active atheist” mode, so I imagine maybe she goes to atheist group meetings or humanist society functions, etc. An atheist family might also attend a UU church, or participate in church-state separation activities, belong to Atheists United, attend skeptics lectures, etc.

So, for dramatic impact, they couldn’t pick a “do-nothing” atheist family, they’d have to choose differently. But since the participant was a regular churchgoer as a young person, just going to church won’t present a huge culture shock for her. Unless her hosts belong to an extremely “out there” church.

I guess we’ll see tonight! ;-)

]]> By: Mike C http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2006/08/07/30-days-part-1-of-2/#comment-415 Mike C Wed, 09 Aug 2006 14:32:02 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2006/08/07/30-days-part-1-of-2/#comment-415 Hemant, As soon as I saw the previews for this episode, my first response was "They stole Hemant's idea!" :) But what I like about your experiment over theirs is that you got to see a wide diversity of Christian expressions. As for how much the girl I work with knows... I really can't say. I haven't wanted to be too pushy about bringing up religious topics with her since she didn't really seem interested in talking about them. -Mike Hemant,

As soon as I saw the previews for this episode, my first response was “They stole Hemant’s idea!” :) But what I like about your experiment over theirs is that you got to see a wide diversity of Christian expressions.

As for how much the girl I work with knows… I really can’t say. I haven’t wanted to be too pushy about bringing up religious topics with her since she didn’t really seem interested in talking about them.

-Mike

]]> By: Hemant http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2006/08/07/30-days-part-1-of-2/#comment-413 Hemant Wed, 09 Aug 2006 06:24:18 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2006/08/07/30-days-part-1-of-2/#comment-413 Mike-- I know what you're saying about atheists not necessarily coming from Christian backgrounds. The point I was trying to make was that even those from non-religious families usually do have an idea what Christianity is all about. We see it so many places (preachers on TV, Christian friends, the Simpsons, etc.) It might have been vague, but I did know a little about the Christian world. My experiment was to see if the churches offered anything I hadn't expected or considered. Which is more in depth than I think 30 Days will go. I'm curious what the girl you work with knows about Christianity. Surely she has some idea of what it's all about. I agree she'd learn a lot from immersing herself in the culture, but I'm curious what she'd find that she didn't know about. Mike– I know what you’re saying about atheists not necessarily coming from Christian backgrounds. The point I was trying to make was that even those from non-religious families usually do have an idea what Christianity is all about. We see it so many places (preachers on TV, Christian friends, the Simpsons, etc.)

It might have been vague, but I did know a little about the Christian world. My experiment was to see if the churches offered anything I hadn’t expected or considered. Which is more in depth than I think 30 Days will go.

I’m curious what the girl you work with knows about Christianity. Surely she has some idea of what it’s all about. I agree she’d learn a lot from immersing herself in the culture, but I’m curious what she’d find that she didn’t know about.

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