Questions that make you go “hmmmm…”
Over at Proud Atheists, a set of questions were posted regarding the increasing billboard and bus-ad campaigns. The original post address the ads from the Freedom from Religion Foundation, but these campaigns are not just from FFRF any more. They include ads from American Humanist Association, and many local chapters of the Coalition of Reason.
* Do you feel that the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) folks are going too far by posting signs in various cities?
* Should FFRF be able to post these billboards near a church, temple or mosque?
* Do you morally or financially support actions of this nature?
* Is Christmas an appropriate time for advertisement of the alternative views of non-believers and non-religious?
* How many church signs or other religious advertisements do you see on your daily commute to work?
I don’t know if anyone has noticed, but I DO have opinions about the various ad campaigns, and the insane Christians who get so damned bent out of shape over them. I just heard this morning about the one in San Diego, about which one woman says:
“I’m a Christian, and I was raised to believe in God,” Jessica Wleh of Mission Valley said after being shown a mockup of the billboard. “If I saw something like this, I would be very angry, extremely angry!”
and some dude says:
“It’s real negative,” Brian Burns of North Park told Fox 5. “I think that’s half of the reason of what’s wrong with the world now: people like that with these crazy beliefs.”
wow…. Why on earth would a Christian woman be “very angry, extremely angry” over a sign that says “Don’t believe in God? You’re not alone” ?? Makes no sense to be angry of that.
As for Mr. Burns’ comment, I agree: most of the problems in our country are people with crazy beliefs. After all, 9/11 was a faith-based initiative.
But anyway, lets go back to the questions posed:
* Do you feel that the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) folks are going too far by posting signs in various cities?
Absolutely NOT! They are not offensive, they are non-threatening, and make no abusive claims toward those who happen to be superstitious. They merely announce the fact that there are others who do not believe in God, and provide a way for those people to find each other. If the signs and ads were abusive or were more clear (i.e., that religious people ARE superstitious) that might be considered “going too far”, but as the ads are posted, they don’t. And yes, I DO believe religious people are superstitious, misguided, and that organized religion is directly responsible for most of the misery in this world. But I’m not going to waste money renting a billboard to say that. Those who know it already know it, and those who deny it will remain in denial.
* Should FFRF be able to post these billboards near a church, temple or mosque?
Of course! Why not? As long as the signs aren’t posted ON the property of a religious institution, it doesn’t matter where a sign is posted.
* Do you morally or financially support actions of this nature?
If I had the money, I would definitely support such actions. Absolutely!
* Is Christmas an appropriate time for advertisement of the alternative views of non-believers and non-religious?
YES! Christmas is not a “time”. Christmas is a one-day holiday in the middle of a series of other wintertime holidays. If Christmas-lovers can advertise and promote their holiday, why shouldn’t others be able to do likewise? It’s not like anyone is telling Christmas lovers to stop having their Christmas. But it’s a recognition that not everyone has Christmas — some people have other celebrations, some people don’t get involved in any of them. And there isn’t even a single recognized meaning for Christmas now, but many different meanings and traditions, and a whole host of stories about it. Who’s to say which is right or best? And who’s to say non-believers and non-religious don’t also have the right to share their holidays just as publicly as everyone else? The winter holidays are a time for many, many celebrations. It is NOT “just” Christmas time.
* How many church signs or other religious advertisements do you see on your daily commute to work?
My commute is no farther than the walk from my bedroom to my computer, so thankfully now I am no longer subjected to such religious nonsense. But when I was working and riding the bus to work, I was regularly faced with religious signs declaring a variety of curses on those who didn’t believe a certain way, usually of the “believe or burn” theme. Not very loving, kind, or welcoming.
Just driving in most towns or freeways, the number of religious based signage greatly outweighs atheist signage. In fact, here in the south, religious signs are almost as frequent as signs for liquor and xxx-rated naughty clubs!
* Do you feel that the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) folks are going too far by posting signs in various cities?
No. Everybody else advertises (churches, businesses, service providers, etc.) so why shouldn’t FFRF and other non-theist groups? How are they “going too far” by putting up billboards and signs saying “we exist, and you’re not alone”.
* Should FFRF be able to post these billboards near a church, temple or mosque?
They should be able to put up signs anywhere they’re able to buy/rent space, just as other advertisers are. The notion that some spaces are “off limits” because religious people might be offended is bull. Religious people never seem to care who they might offend so why should others walk on eggshells around them?
* Do you morally or financially support actions of this nature?
I do morally, and if I had the cash I’d chip in a heap to fund the ad campaigns.
* Is Christmas an appropriate time for advertisement of the alternative views of non-believers and non-religious?
Why not? I’m sick and tired of the way some people think the entire period of time between Nov. 1 and Jan. 1 should be devoted exclusively to the Christian holiday of Christmas. If you don’t say “Merry Christmas” instead of “Happy Holidays” you get your head ripped off. If you acknowledge the fact that several other holidays exist during that time frame you’re being “anti-Christian”. And if you dare to speak of anything that says “hey, we’re not Christians but we still exist” you might as well have taken the baby Jesus and slaughtered him on national TV. This stranglehold they have on the nation has to stop. Others live here and have a right to breathe and speak.
* How many church signs or other religious advertisements do you see on your daily commute to work?
I’m out of work at the moment, sadly.
November 17th, 2009 at 5:19 pmBefore I answer the questions, I want to give a bit of context to my statements. I’m a witch, and I consider my spirituality and religion a deeply personal matter. The idea of putting up billboards or signs to “promote” my religion in any sense just isn’t something I would do, and I don’t really get why anyone else would want to do so. Nor do I fully understand why atheists would want to do the same with their non-belief. At least with atheists, I can see where it serves the positive purpose of assuring other atheists who might feel isolated that they’re not alone. (I just think there might be better ways of accomplishing that.)
I also tend to look at it from a cost perspective. As I understand it, renting billboard space is not cheap. So when I look at a billboard, I find myself wondering what else that money could’ve been used for instead. Things like supporting food cupboards, homeless shelters, and other such charitable organizations.
But that’s just me. I acknowledge and support other people’s right to feel and act differently. So while I personally would not put up such billboards and signs, I fully support the right of anyone who chooses to do so.
* Do you feel that the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) folks are going too far by posting signs in various cities?
No. As I said above, I’m not sure it’s a good idea or worth it. But I think they’re well within their rights and the realm of civility to do so.
* Should FFRF be able to post these billboards near a church, temple or mosque?
Certainly.
* Do you morally or financially support actions of this nature?
I guess I morally support them, given the above caveats.
* Is Christmas an appropriate time for advertisement of the alternative views of non-believers and non-religious?
Yes.
* How many church signs or other religious advertisements do you see on your daily commute to work?
Honestly? I don’t pay attention to such things. I might pass one or two churches, which would have signs. However I spend most of my commute time on the expressways, which don’t have many advertisements around here to begin with.
November 19th, 2009 at 12:05 pm