30 Days: An Atheist Among Christians
This is an episode of the "30 Days" television series which takes people from differing backgrounds and ideologies and places them together for 30 days in order see what impact they make on each other. In this episode a suburban atheist soccer mom is sent to Frisco, Texas to live with a devout family of suburban evangelicals whose lives are wrapped up in the modern megachurch and all that lifestyle entails.
This is a particularly disturbing video in both its development and conclusion. The absolute embarrassment of today's evangelical in presenting the Biblical faith demonstrates the failure of evangelical apologetics, antinomianism, and arminian theology. Add to that the modern super-church and you've got a shabby defense of the faith.
The atheist woman was carefully chosen by the producers. She's intended to draw your sympathy with her tales of persecution by Christians. You're left with the impression that atheists are just like Christians only without the God. Believe you me, a good many atheists are quite radical themselves and hardly portray the pathetic personality of this selected woman. I choose the word "pathetic" carefully. She's intended to "arouse pity through vulnerableness or sadness."
The conclusion is intended to push tolerance and acceptance--whatever that means in this case. Both the atheist and the Christians "learned" from one another, and all go on their happy way. The question of God's existence is not resolved. Mostly because the Christians make such a poor showing. This frail little atheist "rocks" their little worlds with her tough questions.
Note to the producers: Next time you wanna send out an atheist, I've got several homes you can send them to!
