Penitents Compete
Encyclopedia
Penitents Compete is a Turkish reality television series in which a Jewish rabbi
, a Buddhist monk
, a Greek Orthodox priest
, and a Muslim
imam
will attempt to convert a group of 10 atheists each week. It was scheduled to begin airing in September 2009 on Turkey
's Kanal T, however, the launch was intentionally delayed until after Ramadan
ended. Kanal T's Deputy Director Ahmet Özdemir has said that the goal of the show is "to turn disbelievers into [believers in] God," but that which God they choose is up to them. He also believes that the show will be helpful for those interested in learning about other religions. Any converts will be offered a free pilgrimage
to one of four holy sites – Mecca
, Vatican City
, Jerusalem, or Tibet
. The newly-converted will be followed by a camera crew to ensure that the trip is a pilgrimage and not a vacation. 200 atheists had already applied as of July 5, 2009, and were being pre-vetted by an eight-person team of theologians to ensure that they truly were atheists, and not simply seeking to gain fame or fortune.
Seyhan Soylu
developed the show, which will be produced by Ayşe Önal and hosted by Gülgün Feyman. Ali Bardakoğlu
, the head of the Diyanet İşleri Başkanlığı (Presidency of Religious Affairs) in Turkey, has stated that no Turkish imam will be allowed to participate in the show. Soylu responded by stating that Tunis
ian imams would be used instead if need be, and also claimed that Bardakoğlu was "committing a sin" by not providing the show with an imam. Advertisements for the show read: "You will find serenity in this competition," "We give you the biggest prize ever; we represent the belief in God," "Believe, repent, God will forgive you", and "We reconcile opposite poles."
As the BBC
reports, "The programme has prompted a mixed reaction in mainly Muslim Turkey, with some saying it would be good for interfaith relations and others saying such discussions were 'inappropriate' for television." Hakkı Devrim, a television commentator and columnist for Radikal
, said the idea insulted religion. "Religion is not a science, and it is not open to discussion," Devrim said in an interview for Hürriyet
, expressing concerns that atheists would receive a forum to express their views. He "advised Kanal T not to take the risk of airing such a show in Turkey". Professor Mustafa Çağrıcı
, an Istanbul
mufti
, has also expressed concerns about religion being discussed on television, worrying that it would confuse people and "have negative consequences". According to the Jerusalem Post, "Jewish authorities...are vehemently opposed to the program, since according to Halacha, active proselytizing is forbidden." Rabbi David Rosen
, director of the American Jewish Committee
's Department for Interreligious Affairs, said in an interview about the show, "[a]s a Jew, it is against our world outlook to seek to proselytize". More generally, he stated that he thought the show was "tasteless": "Matters of faith, profession and lifestyle commitment are not something that should be decided on a reality show." However, sociologist Nilüfer Narlı from Bahçeşehir University
has said that the show demonstrates a "rising curiosity toward religion" over the past 10 years in Turkey. The Guardian
and CBC
News have remarked some people may see the show as promoting a further intolerance towards atheists in Turkey, a secular country where a large majority of the population is deeply religious. The opposition of the ruling Justice and Development Party
has accused the show of having a secret "Islamist agenda", which the series has denied.
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
, a Buddhist monk
Bhikkhu
A Bhikkhu or Bhikṣu is an ordained male Buddhist monastic. A female monastic is called a Bhikkhuni Nepali: ). The life of Bhikkhus and Bhikkhunis is governed by a set of rules called the patimokkha within the vinaya's framework of monastic discipline...
, a Greek Orthodox priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
, and a Muslim
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
imam
Imam
An imam is an Islamic leadership position, often the worship leader of a mosque and the Muslim community. Similar to spiritual leaders, the imam is the one who leads Islamic worship services. More often, the community turns to the mosque imam if they have a religious question...
will attempt to convert a group of 10 atheists each week. It was scheduled to begin airing in September 2009 on Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
's Kanal T, however, the launch was intentionally delayed until after Ramadan
Ramadan
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which lasts 29 or 30 days. It is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex during daylight hours and is intended to teach Muslims about patience, spirituality, humility and...
ended. Kanal T's Deputy Director Ahmet Özdemir has said that the goal of the show is "to turn disbelievers into [believers in] God," but that which God they choose is up to them. He also believes that the show will be helpful for those interested in learning about other religions. Any converts will be offered a free pilgrimage
Pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a journey or search of great moral or spiritual significance. Typically, it is a journey to a shrine or other location of importance to a person's beliefs and faith...
to one of four holy sites – Mecca
Mecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...
, Vatican City
Vatican City
Vatican City , or Vatican City State, in Italian officially Stato della Città del Vaticano , which translates literally as State of the City of the Vatican, is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, Italy. It has an area of...
, Jerusalem, or Tibet
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
. The newly-converted will be followed by a camera crew to ensure that the trip is a pilgrimage and not a vacation. 200 atheists had already applied as of July 5, 2009, and were being pre-vetted by an eight-person team of theologians to ensure that they truly were atheists, and not simply seeking to gain fame or fortune.
Seyhan Soylu
Seyhan Soylu
Seyhan “Sisi” Soylu is the director of Turkish television channel Kanal T. She is involved in the controversial program "Penitents Compete".he is a travestite and a well known figure of the post modern coup of 28 February.-References:...
developed the show, which will be produced by Ayşe Önal and hosted by Gülgün Feyman. Ali Bardakoğlu
Ali Bardakoglu
Ali Bardakoğlu is the former president of Diyanet İşleri Başkanlığı and as such the highest Islamic authority in Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.-Background:...
, the head of the Diyanet İşleri Başkanlığı (Presidency of Religious Affairs) in Turkey, has stated that no Turkish imam will be allowed to participate in the show. Soylu responded by stating that Tunis
Tunis
Tunis is the capital of both the Tunisian Republic and the Tunis Governorate. It is Tunisia's largest city, with a population of 728,453 as of 2004; the greater metropolitan area holds some 2,412,500 inhabitants....
ian imams would be used instead if need be, and also claimed that Bardakoğlu was "committing a sin" by not providing the show with an imam. Advertisements for the show read: "You will find serenity in this competition," "We give you the biggest prize ever; we represent the belief in God," "Believe, repent, God will forgive you", and "We reconcile opposite poles."
As the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
reports, "The programme has prompted a mixed reaction in mainly Muslim Turkey, with some saying it would be good for interfaith relations and others saying such discussions were 'inappropriate' for television." Hakkı Devrim, a television commentator and columnist for Radikal
Radikal
Radikal is a daily Turkish language newspaper, published in Istanbul. It has been published since 1997 by Aydın Doğan's Doğan Media Group ....
, said the idea insulted religion. "Religion is not a science, and it is not open to discussion," Devrim said in an interview for Hürriyet
Hürriyet
-External links:* * ** * *...
, expressing concerns that atheists would receive a forum to express their views. He "advised Kanal T not to take the risk of airing such a show in Turkey". Professor Mustafa Çağrıcı
Mustafa Çagrici
Mustafa Çağrıcı is a Turkish professor for Islamic theology and currently mufti of Istanbul. Çağrıcı was born in Sivas. He guided Pope Benedict XVI during his visit to the Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Istanbul on November 30, 2006.-External links:* *...
, an Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
mufti
Mufti
A mufti is a Sunni Islamic scholar who is an interpreter or expounder of Islamic law . In religious administrative terms, a mufti is roughly equivalent to a deacon to a Sunni population...
, has also expressed concerns about religion being discussed on television, worrying that it would confuse people and "have negative consequences". According to the Jerusalem Post, "Jewish authorities...are vehemently opposed to the program, since according to Halacha, active proselytizing is forbidden." Rabbi David Rosen
David Rosen (Rabbi)
Rabbi David Shlomo Rosen CBE is the former Chief Rabbi of Ireland and currently serves as the Director of the American Jewish Committee's Department of Interreligious Affairs and the Robert and Harriet Heilbrunn Institute for International Interreligious Understanding...
, director of the American Jewish Committee
American Jewish Committee
The American Jewish Committee was "founded in 1906 with the aim of rallying all sections of American Jewry to defend the rights of Jews all over the world...
's Department for Interreligious Affairs, said in an interview about the show, "[a]s a Jew, it is against our world outlook to seek to proselytize". More generally, he stated that he thought the show was "tasteless": "Matters of faith, profession and lifestyle commitment are not something that should be decided on a reality show." However, sociologist Nilüfer Narlı from Bahçeşehir University
Bahçesehir University
Bahçeşehir University is a private educational institution in Turkey, on the European side of Istanbul. The Turkish National Assembly authorized the establishment of the University of Bahçeşehir by the Bahçeşehir Uğur Education Foundation in 1998. An academic and strategic protocol was signed...
has said that the show demonstrates a "rising curiosity toward religion" over the past 10 years in Turkey. The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
and CBC
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
News have remarked some people may see the show as promoting a further intolerance towards atheists in Turkey, a secular country where a large majority of the population is deeply religious. The opposition of the ruling Justice and Development Party
Justice and Development Party (Turkey)
The Justice and Development Party , abbreviated JDP in English and AK PARTİ or AKP in Turkish, is a centre-right political party in Turkey. The party is the largest in Turkey, with 327 members of parliament...
has accused the show of having a secret "Islamist agenda", which the series has denied.