To Catch an Atheist

Chris Hansen’s coming to get you.

He already got one guy.

The first man to come that day was a 37 year old software developer Frank Smith who drove over 200 miles to meet our famous atheist alone here in this house. Online he was calling himself “Ultimate747” and claimed he was a 21 year old college philosophy major.

That Atheist Guy’s Blog has a transcript of what happened to poor, unfortunate Frank:

Chris Hansen: Hi there, what brings you here today?

Smith: What? Uh… who are you?

Hansen: We’ll get to that later. I have copies of your chat transcript here. Why would a grown man like yourself be interested in driving over 200 miles to discuss the problem of evil?

Smith: Is Professor Dawkins here? I thought he was going to meet me.

Hansen: Oh, you were planning to meet Richard Dawkins? Have you met other atheists before?

Smith: No. Well, not really, I…

Hansen: Because it says here you often meet up with other atheists. By the way, what’s in your bag?

Smith: Um, I just brought some books. (laughs nervously)

Hansen: (looking at the books) The God Delusion? The End of Faith? Do you have any idea how this looks?

Smith: I wasn’t going to do anything crazy. I was hoping he could sign his book and maybe we could have a beer.

Hansen: So you brought alcohol too? Well, I should tell you I’m Chris Hansen with Dateline NBC and we are doing a show on atheists meeting online. Now you are free to go, but if you have anything you want to say, we’d like to hear it.

But he’s not free to go.

Outside that door, others are waiting for him…

Poor Frank.

[tags]atheist, atheism, Chris Hansen, Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion, The End of Faith[/tags]

Sunworshiper

Chris Hansen asks, “Do you know how this looks?”

Is there something wrong with discussing philosophy and two bestsellers? Does Hansen also find it abnormal when religious fanatics proselytize?

If NBC has aired this, or will air this, can someone provide more info?
FriendlyAtheist

It’s just satire 🙂 No need to worry.
Steelman

Speaking of the media and atheism…sort of:
I was listening this morning to a brief radio interview of a boy and his mentor. They were in Omaha, Nebraska. They had met and become great friends through the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program. The boy was a Christian (presumably; he mentioned God), and the mentor was an atheist. They spoke about how well they got along, and how much they learned from each other, despite the fact that one was a believer and the other wasn’t. Of course, it was NPR, but still a good sign I think.
Maria

Speaking of the media and atheism…sort of:
I was listening this morning to a brief radio interview of a boy and his mentor. They were in Omaha, Nebraska. They had met and become great friends through the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program. The boy was a Christian (presumably; he mentioned God), and the mentor was an atheist. They spoke about how well they got along, and how much they learned from each other, despite the fact that one was a believer and the other wasn’t. Of course, it was NPR, but still a good sign I think.

That’s great. I have to say this satire is pretty funny
The Unbrainwashed

To Sunworshipper:
How could you possibly think this was real? I’m also shocked you haven’t spent a sleepless night watching reruns of ‘To Catch a Predator’ at 3 in the morning.
Logos

I am shocked that anyone would want to watch it!
Sunworshiper

I don’t watch TV very often so I was taken hook, line, and sinker.
NYCatheist

Thanks Hemant, I’m glad you found it amusing. 🙂