Atheist Billboards going up for the holidays

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

j/k....i think what it means is that atheists who espout their beliefs externally are seen as fringe kind of people in this country...kind of like PETA activisists or alien conspiracy peeps...or even evangelical christians.....they just seem like losers in general, like most people who define their existence and tell it to others who don't really give a shit.

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

i'm trying to figure out the point of these signs. they don't bother me, but is there one?

The point is that they're basically baiting christians for a reaction, nothing more.

As I mentioned, they really can't do this to muslims or jews, otherwise the signs would be met with either cries of antisemitism or extreme violence.

 

[rocketeer]

The point is that they're basically baiting christians for a reaction.

that's the only reason i can think of for them. seems like a waste of money.

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

that's the only reason i can think of for them. seems like a waste of money.

Its worth it to them because it gets christians up in a hissy fit. It would be like me putting up an Anti-Lakers billboard up by staples, I would kind of get a personal kick out of it...but again, to most, it would be a waste of money. It would generate controversy and laker fans would be pissed.

 

[rocketeer]

j/k....i think what it means is that atheists who espout their beliefs externally are seen as fringe kind of people in this country...kind of like PETA activisists or alien conspiracy peeps...or even evangelical christians.....they just seem like losers in general, like most people who define their existence and tell it to others who don't really give a shit.

i agree. it's not that people don't like atheists, they just don't like atheists who are extremely vocal about their beliefs. and people in general don't like any group of people that is extremely vocal with their beliefs(unless of course they have the same beliefs).

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

what it comes down to is that these guys are assholes putting these billboards up. i would know, because I am one myself.

 

[DaRizzle]

Its worth it to them because it gets christians up in a hissy fit. It would be like me putting up an Anti-Lakers billboard up by staples, I would kind of get a personal kick out of it...but again, to most, it would be a waste of money. It would generate controversy and laker fans would be pissed.

Until they found out it was put up by a disgruntled POR fan...then it would be funny

 

[Pontius]

that's the only reason i can think of for them. seems like a waste of money.

“No, I don't know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered as patriots. This is one nation under God.”

- George Bush


Is this a good enough reason? Or is your brain too tired from "thinking" of other reasons?

 

[Nate4Prez]

it's not that people don't like atheists, they just don't like atheists who are extremely vocal about their beliefs. and people in general don't like any group of people that is extremely vocal with their beliefs(unless of course they have the same beliefs).

+1

Just like MSNBC or FOX news, or whichever talk radio program you decide to listen too, people choose to listen to whatever fits their beliefs.

No ones beliefs bother me unless they are trying to force it one me, or are doing something to harm someone else.

 

[Javaanse]

wait, what?

Between now and the 2008 political conventions, there will be discussion about the qualifications of presidential candidates -- their education, age, religion, race, and so on. If your party nominated a generally well-qualified person for president who happened to be …, would you vote for that person?

Catholic-------95-------4

Black-------94-------5

Jewish-------92-------7

A woman-------88-------11

Hispanic -------87-------12

Mormon-------72-------24

Married for the third time-------67-------30

72 years of age-------57-------42

A homosexual-------55-------43

An atheist-------45-------53

link

Gallup Poll. Dec. 6-9, 2007. N=1,027 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.
Between now and the 2008 political conventions, there will be discussion about the qualifications of presidential candidates -- their education, age, religion, race, and so on. If your party nominated a generally well-qualified person for president who happened to be [see below], would you vote for that person?" Trend includes slight variation in wording.

----------Yes-----No-----Unsure
---------------%-----%-----%
Catholic
12/6-9/07-----93-----4-----3
3/2-4/07-----95-----4-----1
2/9-11/07-----95-----4-----1
5/30-6/1/03-----93-----5-----2
2/19-21/99-----94-----4-----2
2/3-8/37-----60-----30-----10

Black
12/6-9/07-----93-----5-----2
3/2-4/07-----93-----5-----2
2/9-11/07-----94-----5-----1
5/30-6/1/03-----92-----6-----2
2/19-21/99-----95-----4-----1
1/4-2/28/97-----93-----4-----3
7/10-13/87-----79-----13-----8
7/21-24/78-----77-----18-----5
4/19-24/67-----53-----41-----6
9/10-15/58-----38-----54-----8

Jewish
12/6-9/07-----91-----6-----3
3/2-4/07-----93-----5-----2
2/9-11/07-----92-----7-----2
5/30-6/1/03-----89-----8-----3
2/19-21/99-----92-----6-----2
9/10-15/58-----63-----29-----8
2/10-15/37-----46-----47-----8

A woman
12/6-9/07-----86-----12-----2
3/2-4/07-----89-----10-----1
2/9-11/07-----88-----11-----1
5/30-6/1/03-----87-----12-----1
2/19-21/99-----92-----7-----1
7/10-13/87-----82-----12-----6
7/21-24/78-----76-----19-----5
4/19-24/67-----57-----39-----4
9/10-15/58-----54-----41-----5
1/27 - 2/1/37-----33-----64-----3

Hispanic
12/6-9/07-----86-----12-----2
3/2-4/07-----88-----10-----2
2/9-11/07-----87-----12-----1

Mormon
12/6-9/07-----80-----17-----3
3/2-4/07-----77-----19-----4
2/9-11/07-----72-----24-----4
2/19-21/99-----79-----17-----4
4/19-24/67-----75-----17-----8

A homosexual
12/6-9/07-----56-----41-----3
3/2-4/07-----55-----42-----4
2/9-11/07-----55-----43-----2
2/19-21/99-----59-----37-----4
4/29-5/2/83-----29-----64-----7
7/21-24/78-----26-----66-----8

Atheist
12/6-9/07-----46-----48-----6
3/2-4/07-----48-----48-----4
2/9-11/07-----45-----53-----3
2/19-21/99-----49-----48-----3
9/10-15/58-----18-----77-----5

link

I don't think the main reason for using Santa is because they want to attack christians. The ad is equating belief in a god to belief in Santa Claus and thus calling religious people naive (or worse). They chose Santa because he is easily recognisable. It's an ad-campaign after all.

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

Again, Christians are an easy target because they don't have the special social stigmas that criticizing muslims and jews in public have.

Santa represents CHRISTMAS, which is a christian holiday. there's no denying that.

 

[crowTrobot]

Again, Christians are an easy target because they don't have the special social stigmas that criticizing muslims and jews in public have.

nice persecution complex you have there, but you're wrong. vocal atheists and atheist authors tend to speak out against radical islam way more than they do christianity. and they don't speak out against jews as much as fundamentalist christians because jews aren't trying to advance a dangerous political agenda in the USA.

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

nice persecution complex you have there, but you're wrong. vocal atheists and atheist authors tend to speak out against radical islam way more than they do christianity. and they don't speak out against jews as much as fundamentalist christians because jews aren't trying to advance a dangerous political agenda in the USA.

no, because Jews are a protected group under hate crime legislature.

Again, I'd like to see them put up an anti-Allah billboard and see if they live the night.

and what is this "dangerous political agenda" you're referring to? Paranoid much?

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

"but these bible thumpers! they're dangerous man! they're backwards man!"

please, this is rhetoric libby bullshit and you know it. they have their causes they support, like many people do...but seriously, who gives a shit about it. These atheists can attack other religious, but as I've stated and is fact, the Christians are very easy to attack because they don't have the same shields that muslims and jews have, not becaue of their "agenda".

 

[Pontius]

what is this "dangerous political agenda" you're referring to?

Ever heard of Armageddon?

 

[Furball]

nice persecution complex you have there, but you're wrong. vocal atheists and atheist authors tend to speak out against radical islam way more than they do christianity. and they don't speak out against jews as much as fundamentalist christians because jews aren't trying to advance a dangerous political agenda in the USA.

Dangerous political agenda? Yeah but pushing a pro gay marriage and pro abortion agenda isn't dangerous at all.

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

Ever heard of Armageddon?

explain.

 

[crowTrobot]

no, because Jews are a protected group under hate crime legislature.

the billboard is not a hate crime, or even a slander. it's not saying a thing derogatory about christians or anyone else. and they are using santa because he happens to be the subject of the song they wanted to use the "be good" line from (duh).

Again, I'd like to see them put up an anti-Allah billboard and see if they live the night.

"anti-allah" meaning saying allah doesn't exist or why believe in allah wouldn't be a problem. numerous atheist speakers/authors have publically trashed islam in general without repercussion. publically depicting and/or trashing muhammad would be a different story, but note that the sign isn't trashing jesus.

and what is this "dangerous political agenda" you're referring to? Paranoid much?

right now atheists are mainly concerned with the christian right undermining science and the environment. thankfully bush was such a bad example that the religious right won't have much influence in foreign policy for a while. the gay marriage thing is also socially divisive (obviously), as is their strict stand on abortion.

 

[crowTrobot]

Dangerous political agenda? Yeah but pushing a pro gay marriage and pro abortion agenda isn't dangerous at all.

if you can explain why gay marriage is dangerous without appealing to your religious belief in any way, since your religious belief means nothing to me, i'd be happy to listen. so far you haven't done that.

and NOBODY is pushing a "pro" abortion agenda. most atheists or other so-called "leftists" are against late-term abortion unless the health of the mother is threatened. at the same time they don't believe a zygote consisting of a few cells is a human. the abortion issue isn't nearly as black/white as christian fundamentalists like to paint it.

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

What aspects of undermining science and the environment are you referring to specifically? I've never heard of this, and am really wondering why the atheists really care. These ads seem more like a "hey, look at me, I'm relevant" more than anything.

If they really want to fight dangerous religious activities, they should buy a sign that says "Allah, if he were alive, wouldn't want you to hate us". or something lame like that.

But if they want to make up their lame signs, so be it. Atheists are irrelevant to society in general as most of the world has some sort of religious views.

 

[rocketeer]

“No, I don't know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered as patriots. This is one nation under God.”

- George Bush

Is this a good enough reason? Or is your brain too tired from "thinking" of other reasons?

no, not a good enough reason. of course, that's an incredibly stupid statement from bush.

like i said, i don't see the point. you're atheist. great. who cares? whether someone is atheist(or christian or jewish or muslim etc) or not really doesn't matter to me in any way.

link

my "wait, what" was more of you referring to someone being homosexual as if it were some terrible thing that would make them unqualified for holding public office.

 

[Pontius]

explain.

We have the potential to create Armageddon here on earth in Israel and a number of people look forward to that happening as it will be a sign of Christ's return. No matter whether it's caused my human tomfoolery, there are people out there who would believe it to be of a divine execution. I would call that dangerous.

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

We have the potential to create Armageddon here on earth in Israel and a number of people look forward to that happening as it will be a sign of Christ's return. No matter whether it's caused my human tomfoolery, there are people out there who would believe it to be of a divine execution. I would call that dangerous.

Uhhhh....yeah, I don't think most bible thumpers really want to nuke Israel. I would imagine most of them don't even care or know about that whole area. I don't. Don't give a shit about it really.

 

[Pontius]

no, not a good enough reason. of course, that's an incredibly stupid statement from bush.

like i said, i don't see the point. you're atheist. great. who cares? whether someone is atheist(or christian or jewish or muslim etc) or not really doesn't matter to me in any way.

Well, you missed the point then. It is a stupid statement, but a POTUS got away with saying it. The point of the ads is to create a voice so that the POTUS will never again be able to get away with saying such hateful things.

 

[rocketeer]

We have the potential to create Armageddon here on earth in Israel and a number of people look forward to that happening as it will be a sign of Christ's return. No matter whether it's caused my human tomfoolery, there are people out there who would believe it to be of a divine execution. I would call that dangerous.

hahaha. really? people look forward to us creating an armageddon on earth so that christ will return? sure. maybe some people do. crazy people. there are crazy people of all faiths(atheists included).

 

[Minstrel]

like i said, i don't see the point. you're atheist. great. who cares? whether someone is atheist(or christian or jewish or muslim etc) or not really doesn't matter to me in any way.

It's advertising for atheism. You may not care, but advertising clearly matters in terms of swaying people...if it weren't effective, people wouldn't spend millions on it to sell products and try to get elected.

As for why atheists would want to sway people, religion has a major effect on politics in this country. If there were no religious people, for example, the political landscape would look very different. Better or worse, obviously, is based on the perspective of the observer, but religion is important factor in our policy so why wouldn't people who dislike its effect run an ad campaign against it?

 

[rocketeer]

Well, you missed the point then. It is a stupid statement, but a POTUS got away with saying it. The point of the ads is to create a voice so that the POTUS will never again be able to get away with saying such hateful things.

ah, so in order to get your point across about not saying hateful things the proper course of action is to take shots at people who have different beliefs than you? i got it.

 

[crowTrobot]

What aspects of undermining science and the environment are you referring to specifically?

they are continually and doggedly pushing for teaching creationism as an alternative to evolution in public science classes. hard to believe in our enlightened era in such an advanced country that this would still be an ongoing fight, but it is a huge deal to a lot of fundamentalist christians. also their environmental agenda tends to be for short-sighted goals rather than long-term, presumably because they think the rapture is imminent.

Atheists are irrelevant to society in general as most of the world has some sort of religious views.

people who currently define themselves as atheists are a small minority, but that's more a matter of semantics than anything. the actual number of people in the world who DO NOT believe in an intervening god or gods is approaching 30% and is much higher than that among educated youth. the number of people who don't believe in "god" is hardly irrelevant.

 

[Pontius]

Uhhhh....yeah, I don't think most bible thumpers really want to nuke Israel. I would imagine most of them don't even care or know about that whole area. I don't. Don't give a shit about it really.

You wanted an example of a dangerous political agenda and I gave you one. I don't think most Christians want to nuke Israel either. But evangelical belief holds that there will be a great Satan who brings Armaggedon to Israel and in turn there will ensue a battle resulting in the end of days. Maybe you don't believe in that but it doesn't matter what you believe. There are still people out there who look forward to a great war in Israel and for no other reason than their faith.

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

they are continually and doggedly pushing for teaching creationism as an alternative to evolution in public science classes. hard to believe in our enlightened era in such an advanced country that this would still be an ongoing fight, but it is a huge deal to a lot of fundamentalist christians. also their environmental agenda tends to be for short-sighted goals rather than long-term, presumably because they think the rapture is imminent.



people who currently define themselves as atheists are a small minority, but that's more a matter of semantics than anything. the actual number of people in the world who DO NOT believe in an intervening god or gods is approaching 30% and is much higher than that among educated youth. the number of people who don't believe in "god" is hardly irrelevant.

Who cares if they are pushing to teach creationism. Its a world view held on to by most of the world, they should be aware of it. Not in science though, but it should be in some sort of historical curriculum.

What is their environmental agenda specifically? You seem to be purposefully vague here.

And people who don't believe in a higher deity ARE irrelevant. They are fringe people with a fringe agenda. So go ahead and advertise!