That is literally how every episode begins. You could put that single statement on Reza's headstone, and there would never be any doubt as to who was lying there.He have had many opportunities to be a good journalist over the years, but it seems he always end up being his own agent instead of an agent of truth.His face is in almost every shoot, and in those few instances it is not, his voice is.This is not anything else than Reza selling us Reza.I'm not buying.

Mr. Aslan has the rare combination of being incredibly qualified on a topic, and the ability to engage on television with people. Basically, the Carl Sagan of religion, or he has the potential for that. He may be the best listener hosting a TV show today. His interviewing style makes for compelling moments of truth from his guests.The etic religious perspective is one we don't see much of on television, and this show's approach lends new eyes to familiar topics, such as Scientology.

Reza Aslan's 'Believer' was promoted as a show that would explore how all religions are the same at their core ~ that they basically possess similar expressions of faith and want answers to the same questions. The first episode, which focused on two different elements of a Hindu sect in India, was nothing more than an attempt to shock the viewer with revolting acts by an Aghori guru.In its premiere episode, Aslan meets with the guru on the filthy banks of the Ganges River. For the record, the Aghori are a Hindu sect that despises the caste system, and go to extremes to prove nothing and no one is untouchable. In displaying his beliefs about this, the guru forces Aslan to bathe in the highly polluted Ganges River, and afterwards covers his wet body with cremated remains. ONLY when the guru insists that he eat human brain matter does Aslan display any signs of resistance. He quietly turns to his producer and suggests they all just get up and leave immediately. But, the producer turns down his request and tells him to just keep doing what the guru says...which is when Aslan slowly eats the disgusting brain matter. I'm sorry...but it was SO obvious that the interaction between the producer and Aslan was scripted ~ trying to enhance the theatrics of the 'brain matter' moment. It was only when the guru started drinking his own urine did Aslan scurry away from the area like a scared little rabbit. Later in the episode, Aslan meets with more modernized Aghori people who run a leper colony, thus dealing with the caste system in a completely different manner than the eccentric guru. But, it was in the closing minutes of this program when I knew it was intended to be more sensationalist than serious. Although he had no reason to do it ~ no one was forcing him nor was he driving home a point ~ that Aslan drinks from the germ-infested Ganges River AND eats cremated remains! It's hard to believe someone would intentionally poison their own body just for ratings sake.But more than Aslan, shame on CNN for insulting their viewers with this tabloid trash masquerading as insightful journalism.