Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[der Wandersmann]

From This Is True, a free email newsletter ...

PROPHETIC WORDS: After seeing Christian ads on placards on the sides of
   London buses purchased by a web site promising non-Christians will go
   to hell, British writer Ariane Sherine, 28, suggested atheists should
   buy ad placards for a more reassuring message. The British Humanist
   Association agreed to collect donations to buy the ads, and the 5,500
   pound (US$8,700) goal was met after just 10 hours. More than 109,000
   pounds (US$172,700) have now been collected, even though most atheists
   disagree with the proposed ad slogan -- "There's probably no God. Now
   stop worrying and enjoy your life." -- because the word "probably"
   isn't strong enough. While many British Christian groups think the
   banners are a good idea since they will stimulate thoughtful discussion
   (one has even contributed to the campaign), Stephen Green of Christian
   Voice predicts the displays will be quickly defaced by graffiti
   because, he says, with no hint of irony, "People don't like being
   preached at." (London Times, AP) ...Hey, remember: he said it, not me!

[LT]

I do find the ads hypocritical, and I even got into a rather nasty argument about this on another board.  I don't approve of the Christian ads either, but naturally according to some people I must just be some neo-con fundy upset that anyone would have the gall to question the existance of God.   

[t'Sade]

I'm just not really sure what the purpose of either ad is about. Of course, that related to my lack of understanding why my local churches have to advertise their business and go door to door asking if someone wants to join the church. For me, it seems like a power game as various churches fight for the money/attention/affection of their congregation instead of people gravitating toward the ones they believe in.

[Ludovico]

I got really involved in this in RL.  It's called intolerance - projected onto God.

[t'Sade]

Yeah, I can see that. The problem is, intolerance sucks regardless of who it is directed toward. I'm not really sure that I could disagree with the athesists on it, mainly because churches are allowed to do the same advertising. Now, if the religious groups couldn't, then I would say the athesists can't. As long as the rules apply to everyone, I think its something that has to be allowed. Kind of like saying that Nazis aren't allowed to have rights to protest (a ruling in Illinois a good number of years ago, mocked by the Blue Brother's movie). I may not agree with them, but I still fight for their right to say it.

[Ludovico]

The Skokie decision is still controversial. Some folks quit the ACLU  over it!

[t'Sade]

The Skokie decision is still controversial. Some folks quit the ACLU  over it!

People still tell me that decision is the reason to damn all of the ACLU over. The problem is, I think the right to speak up and say something no one wants to hear is a very important one. And something this country has a pretty good history about.

[Ludovico]

Agree - but the situation was unique because many concentration camp survivors lived in Skokie. It didn't limit freedom of speech, or even assembly - just affected one particular area.