A 16-year-old atheist girl in Ecuador received an obviously unwanted lecture about God after her audition on the show “Ecuador’s Got Talent” recently. Yes, the show is in Ecuador, but the way this girl was lectured is very similar to the way atheists are treated here in America. Any atheist can relate to unwanted lectures about how God loves us, all while being judged at the same time.
Young Carolina Pena had just finished her performance when, instead of being judged on her singing, she was given a lecture on the importance of God. One judge actually suggested her talent alone would not get her to the top without God. Thanks to Patheos, here is the translation of the exchange:
Judge Maria Fernanda Rios: Do you believe in God?
Carolina Peña: No.
Judge Wendy Vera: Well, you should, honey, so he grants you the miracle [of winning the contest]!
Judge Rios: Without God, we don’t get anywhere. You think being a self-taught singer will make you reach the top, but it won’t. You know why? Because there are things that can’t be seen. That’s where God’s love enters. You can feel God. God can help you. God helps you be better.
…
Judge Paola Farías: I only want to know why you don’t believe in God. It’s my own curiosity. I’m not judging you.
Peña: It’s because God has not given me a reason to believe.
Judge Farías: So what do you believe? Where did we come from?
Peña: I believe we die and we go back to where we were before we were born.
Judge Farías: And where were we before we were born?
Peña: Before we were born, we were nothing.
…
Judge Vera: I think that you’re still 16 years old. I believe that you have had a pretty good life so far. But there will come a time when you will suffer and the only thing that will help you get through it is the amazing love of God. It’s something you acquire when you are in a very difficult situation.
First of all, what do her religious beliefs have to do with her performance? Second, why did the judges even ask her that question? You would think Kim Davis was judging the show. You know, the woman who loves Jesus and all people, but is willing to defy the law to violate their civil rights.
Because of this exchange, the Atheist Association of Ecuador is not pleased and requesting an unedited version of the exchange. While she did make it to the next round, this may come in handy later if she is eliminated. As Patheos also reports:
“It could be used in court if the Atheists want to claim religious discrimination.”
This reminds me of the many attempts by our own government officials to implement Christian Sharia Law. While I do not have a problem with anyone’s religious beliefs, I do have a problem when those religious beliefs infringe on someone else’s rights.
While the video is in Spanish, the look on Carolina’s face says it all.
Check out the video, below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5e1sKWGPsxc
Featured image via YouTube screen capture
