Would You Like An Outspoken Non-Theist To Host A Prime-Time Cable News Show?

[ihavenobias]

As many of you are probably aware, Cenk is (and often times organized religion in general) who's pointed out the irrational absurdity for years. If he wins this slot, he'd have to be the most outspoken non-theist with his own show in the MSM, unless there's someone else who hides it well (which kind of kills the "outspoken" part).

Then again it'd be interesting to see what constraints would be placed on him and the show. And how fragile are these slots? One rant on fundamentalism away from a cancellation? I don't know the answer to that, but considering what a huge block of the total population we are (14% on the *low* end considering many people can't or won't admit it IMO), a network would be stupid to cancel a show that could potentially serve a clearly under-served audience/market.

[vixengrl]

1. I think it would be interesting--but the flak would look like the following:

"So, if we have a non-believer wearing his non-belief on his sleeve, then shouldn't all hosts wear their own belief systems on theirs?"

I don't actually have a problem with that--it's the exploited belief systems of the believing hosts who might try a call-out in response, or the guests who try and bring their own faith-bias up on such a show, that would suffer from exposure. In my opinion, the problem with an open confrontation with non-belief for believers is quite often the discovery that one's own house is "builded upon sand." People often don't "think about what they do think about" as the great film Inherit the Wind puts it. The "kiss of death" problem would not so much be a rant against "fundamentalism", so much as a challenge to mainstream belief and the culture of assuming that most people by and large are believers, that would become problematic. The question of just "what" people do believe, and the realization that even among Christians, historically, there has been dissent deemed "war-worthy" might be seen as too much.


(The "Christian Nation" myth about America absolutely depends upon the idea that there is only one kind of Christianity. As a nation that reveres the Puritan pilgrims, it helps that we historically ignore that Oliver Cromwell was a Puritan, and therefore sidestep exactly why England kind of wanted Puritans to be elsewhere. We also don't consider Roger Williams, the Quakers and how they failed to bare the head to kings, and also were all against war and slavery, and we ignore the fights between Catholics and Baptists and so on that made Jefferson write up a creed about religious freedom in Virginia. In other words, we aren't often enough exposed to the idea that religion in America is also about dissent, and also apostasy in America, and even unbelief.)

[ihavenobias]

5. I agree, there's potential conflict.

More than anything I could see MSNBC being scared by an open non-theist who's had rants (in writing and on video) that could offend a great many people. And yes, people almost never deal well with discovering that their houses are "built on sand" as you put it.

I'd still be interested in the attempt.

[Joe the Liberal]

2. I think Cenk would be great...........

I'm hoping he gets the slot.

[lutherj]

3. Okay, just got to ask, are you on Cenk's payroll? Are you a producer with

the program? Not that I have a problem with that. I enjoy the TYT clips that you post. But I'm just wondering.

[ihavenobias]

4. Here are the answers to your questions...

1)-I'm not on the payroll.

2)-I'm not a producer. Granted, considering #1 that's obvious, but I answered anyway.

:)

[stpalmer]

6. Yes, PLEASE!

Someone smart, preferably.