So... Keith David is meant to be a cool ass M****** F*******

But today I caught ... whatever the hell this is on my twitter feed.

Is this... real? Is this actually a legitimate television show that existed at some point. What in the holy hell is happening to my world?

I feel dirty.

That was... offensively stupid.

I can't tell if this is serious or if it's satire.

Offensively Stupid or Stupidly Offensive? I'm having trouble deciding.

For some reason I doubt you're part of the intended audience of this show. There's probably plenty of religious folks in the black community that enjoy watching this show, it wouldn't be on the air otherwise. Same goes for the Tyler Perry flicks, sometimes people just enjoy entertainment that shares similar values and morals as them.

so I'm closing my eyes and trying to imagine this is a bad episode of Gargoyles.

I don't think anyone is the intended audience for a show that would actively promote whats on display here, which is probably why (did a quick check) it only ran for 6 episodes :P

Wow...I'm not even sure what to say about that.

I mean, it's one thing if at the end they said "well, I realized that no matter what someone may believe, it's the content of their heart that matters. We should all cast asides our differences and love each other, even if we disagree."

But nope, it's just "nah, fuck that guy!"

It would be great to watch the shit storm that a reversed roles version of this episode would create on fox news and all across my bible-thumping state of Georgia. But whatever, there are probably people that really like this stuff and its best to just ignore it, even if the message of nonacceptance feels really slimy.

The most bizarre thing about the clip is that the atheist actually came off as intelligent, calm and sympathetic, and yet the viewer is apparently supposed to identify with the family of one-liner spouting bigoted idiots. He lost his parents because of his beliefs and now he loses another person he loves? Kind of messed up.

Who the fuck eats in a suit at a family dinner?

Correct me if I'm wrong but uhh... is that orange soda?

Holy shit what a disgustingly offensive show. Wow.

It's a god fearing man's soda of choice.

The tone of this video is really bizarre..

Yeah, I've never seen such incredibly strong anti-atheist sentiments in what I assume is a syndicated tv show. The way they're all not only intolerant of his beliefs, but literally offended by them is really out there - in terms of TV that is, in real life I'm sure certain religious people react even worse.

"How can you love anyone, if you don't love God?"

"how can you love anybody, if you don't love god". Really show, really?

The tone of the show... what the frig is going on?

I kind of want to slap that family. The only normal person on that show seems to be the atheist.

>_>

Who loves orange soda?-- No, wait, definitely not a suitable occasion for that.

Yes sort of normal, but pay careful attention to the dialogue they give him. Rather than have him say "I do not believe in God" they instead have him say "I deny the existence of God".

That was the thing I can't reconcile. Clearly this show is being written for extremely religious folks, why would they even bother making the atheist a good person? Not saying it would make sense to make him a total evil drug dealing sex addict or anything, but they go way out of their way to make atheist the identifiable and morally right person in the scene when the entire crux of the scene is that he's undeniably in the wrong. They don't even make him a morally aloof, Dawkins/Hickens sort of atheist; other than seeming overly prepared for a religious discussion, he's totally level headed and reasonable and tries to end both conversations with a compromise.

Forget the family in the scene, why on earth would anyone write this show that way?

Everyone else seems to be coming at this from a different direction than from me.

I found this to be written from someone that has gone through this experience. The religious people are played off as the wrong not the right.

The ending of the show seems like this is not a one episode story, that guy is going to come back in the next or few episodes and state his case maybe even win over people. Maybe still be persecuted except with the woman behind him despite their different beliefs.

There was little things like "If a state trooper pulls you over. Wont you be praying to god?!" what? prey to god so he may continue doing bad things? and that is what the dude rebuttled with, that bad people are forgiven.

While good people who their only "sin" is not following or believing in god must be cast in exile.

Then there was the little quip from one of the family members "You would be better if he was gay!".

This seems like an atheist point of view not a religious person that most seem to think.

Also Keith David is an actor, he could be acting as an abusive rapist of a father yet it doesn't make him one. I think he is just acting as a extremely religious father.

I dated a really religious girl for a year. I was open about my atheism and we debated, never to change one anothers mind. Yet because we were nice and loving people we did not let it split us apart.

Which I think this show is trying to teach that morale.

Which I would like to watch the show and the episodes after to see if my thoughts are founded.

The difference in this case is that in those instances it's not being portrayed as a positive thing while this very much is (Bigotry YAY!). Independant contractors working on the Death Star should come to mind here. The show is in fact, totally legit in what it's putting on display here.

http://tvone.tv/shows/belles.html

EDIT: Typo

I can't tell if they are making fun of bigots or if they are authentically preaching intolerance. The fact that the atheist is a completely reasonable and good person while the religious people are obnoxious and ignorant is really confusing. It's like the writers know that the show and its audience are terrible and are secretly writing to make fun of them. Really odd.

This is why I think Akyho may be correct. The only way this clip makes sense to me is that it is taken out of context. I get the feeling that this is just a drama that is acknowledging the beliefs held by these characters, but isn't necessarily praising or condoning them. It just doesn't seem to line up with the way christians like to portray themselves and atheists.

In spending the last 15 minutes trying to research. All I know is the same opinions and the show only ran for 6 eps, with this episode being 5. The next episode seems have nothing to do with the previous episode and by all the information ( which is little) it seems everyone is justified and correct in their reactions and opinions.

So yeah. I am wrong and it disgusts me I am wrong. I kinda wanted to be right cos jesus fuck!? how?! and from people who understand bigotry in their history and their day to day lives.

My only thoughts for back myself up and still be right is the writers planned a bigger storyline and it got boiled down to this. TBH I dont beleive that myself.

You dont tackle big issues unless you have the time to spend on them other wise...it goes bad. So they knew what they were doing.

@akyho: I can't seem to find a conclusion, do the family end up coming to an agreement and accepting his differences or does the daughter "see the light" and dump his non-god fearing ass?

Edit: http://tvone.tv/topics/love_and_relationships/dating/is-religion-a-relationship-deal-breaker-.html

@wampa1: right at the end of the video she says that she didn't want to see him again, then the dad's all relieved. It's all very pathetic.

Just as Rolling Zeppelin said. Also thanks for that link...because its on the official website of network that made the tv show. A black woman's article on it, who is employed by TV one to give her opinion. Which her Opinion is like the rest of us, that it was stupid insensitive and not a good message.

TV One viewer True (see their comment above) said it best when he/she questioned why Jil should remain SINGLE and have no FATHER FIGURE in the home for her daughter. Jil’s love interest (Jack) wasn’t a terrible person but he sure was treated like one. I’m not saying hook up with anyone just to say you have a man but the atheist in question was a man of integrity, NOT a bum. He was treated like a leper because of his belief and for that ONE reason and that ONE reason only he was escorted to the door.

With that said, I do respect Jil but I don’t agree with her actions or the actions of her family even though there are A LOT of black families that would act the same way whether we like it or not. Jil represents thousands of women just like her; single moms that are holding it down, working hard and doing their best to raise their children alone (for the most part) to the best of their ability. At this stage of the game, Jil’s number one focus is most likely her child and not a man. Like a lot of single mothers, she doesn’t just bring any man around her family or her child/children. And at the very minute, when she isn’t thinking about it, a “perfect” man walks in her life and because of his choice of or lack thereof of religion she lets him walk away. For that, I truly pity her because not everybody finds love and I think she missed out on something GREAT.

However....the actress who played the woman. blogs this on the SAME site.

http://tvone.tv/shows/belles/belle-s-blog/elise-neals-belles-blog-episode-5.html

Why I Loved This Episode

This is was one of my favorite episodes so far. Did you see Tami Roman going IN on those

BOURBON MASHED POTATOES

. LOL! The topics of religion and after life are important discussions that shouldn’t be taken lightly. I really enjoyed that this topic was in the show because it’s very interesting how African Americans view religion. The show Belle’s pushed the envelope and I like that.

You hope the character Jil finds love with someone someday. I remain hopeful for Jil that she meets someone that her and her family love. I think in the end, Jil keeps hope alive all in the name of faith.

As sad as that is all she says on the matter. it does ring the bell they were serious.

This was like watching a comedy sketch without any comedy. Weird.

As off-putting as this is to a lot of us, the bottom line is that this is very representative of a lot of Christian families, specifically traditional Southern Baptist families.

Maybe being from the south and being surrounded by this sort of thing has made me immune to it, but I didn't necessarily find it all that offensive. I found it to be a pretty accurate representation of the way a lot of people are in this region. It certainly sucks that people are that closed minded and that shows like this continue to promote and perpetuate that mindset, but I don't blame them for marketing a show to a very real audience that does think this way.

I'd certainly like for strongly religious Christians to be more welcoming to people with other religious views, but deep cable isn't really the place to initiate that change.

The YouTube comments for that clip are amazing! Horrible, backwards, racist and embarrassing in the best way possible.

Oh lawd thank you Jesus. Finally found a god fearing man with money!

YOU BOYS NEED JESUS, ALL YOU NEED!

I'm an atheist. This representation seems oddly too good, it's like the PC crowd's version of an atheist. Perfect manners, affluent dress, erudite.

Anyways, this is nothing atheists haven't got used to absorbing. Remember, despite being the least criminal and the most educated, only 45% of Americans would vote for a qualified atheist and 50% would disapprove of their child marrying an atheist. Atheists are America's most feared and most distrusted group. Despite being 25% of the country.

Keith David almost scared me back into religion. He even managed to turn this borderline offensive role into a badass performance. Really though, agree with pretty much everyone. Real uncomfortable to watch. And Orange Soda at dinner. Maaaaaaan.

How is this offensive? It's just a harsh reality atheists might come to face when dating a religious person. That doesn't make the show bad.

Keith, JUST PUT ON THE DAMN GLASSES!

@trafalgarlaw: It's following the idea I've heard pushed by SJWs, that if a show presents something, it is necessarily a prescription for everyone. So if Keith David says it's okay to hate atheists, then you should hate atheists. In the same way they think showing women scantily dressed is forcing other women to undress, or showing a racist on TV requires that they get their comeuppance immediately. Otherwise you're promoting bigotry.

Naturally I disagree.

@brodehouse:

Speaking for myself, I actually don't think this show is promoting bigotry. The main point here is just the bizarre tone of the show. It almost has a subversive, satirical quality to it and yet by all accounts it is attempting to portray a sincere representation of religious issues within black-American culture. I mean, I spent the whole time waiting for the laugh track to kick-in! Just a really strange clip all-around.

@fatcat222: Like I said, I disagree with the idea that a negative representation of a member of a group necessarily constitutes bigotry towards that group. I'm merely stating that this is a popular misconception.

And yes, as I said, the scene is really strange. Sympathetic characters heeling out on a rational atheist (and trust me, being an atheist doesn't mean you're rational or even reasonable), and they don't immediately get a moral lesson about judgement is... Weird.

So ya'll don't like bourbon potatoes or something?

and I guess that either Keith David is playing a part here, or dildos and sex jokes don't clash with his beliefs.

holy shit she flicked potatoes onto her arm with her tongue. what the fuck.

Duping Christians out of their money with total shit is something Mr. Perry does best.

"So...you don't believe in God? Dayum!!!"

I kept waiting for the laugh track to kick in. Ohh my, I better have some more of those mashed potatoes *laugh track*

@korwin: So you combat intolerance with intolerance? Cool story, bro.

Large portions of the black community are Christian or followers of Islam, so...yeah. How is this any different than someone who disagrees with the fear mongering climate "science" as a "flat earther"? Nothing.