‘A Muslim, a Christian, a Buddhist and a Jew walk into a house with 10 atheists…”

What sounds like the start of a bad joke actually will be brought to life on Turkish television this fall. If you don’t believe in God, perhaps a stint on reality TV will help change your mind. At least that is what the creators of “Penitents Compete” are hoping for.

The new reality show is set to premiere in September on the Turkish television station Kanal T, The Jerusalem Post reported July 6. The program places 10 atheists with four religious leaders who each represent a different religion. Throughout the course of the show, they will try their best to convert the contestants into God-fearing believers. Up for grabs is a trip to the converter’s religious holy site — Mecca for converted Muslims, the Vatican for converted Christians, Tibet for converted Buddhists and Jerusalem for converted Jews.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

Not everyone, however, is happy with the show’s concept. In the same Jerusalem Post article, Rabbi David Rosen, director of the American Jewish Committee’s Department for Interreligious Affairs, noted that it is against the religious law of Jews to attempt to recruit someone into the Jewish faith.

Regardless of your opinion of the show, “Penitents Compete” demonstrates that America is not the only country with crazy ideas for reality television.

The Forward is free to read, but it isn’t free to produce

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.

Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.

This is a great time to support independent Jewish journalism you rely on. Make a gift today!

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.

$90 $180

$360

Other amount