Atheist billboard brings in the holiday season - Religion, God, and Theology

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Atheist billboard brings in the holiday season

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11-29-2010 , 02:14 PM

xxxxxkkkk

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I am new to this forum but I found this article interesting and thought it might be a good discussion point. It looks like Atheists.org put up a billboard depicting the 3 wise men and the nativity scene. The wording they put though is "you KNOW it's a myth, this season celebrate reason".

Curious as to how others might feel about something like this. Here is a link to the article if anyone is interested.

http://www.newjerseynewsroom.com/sty...y-season-in-nj

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11-29-2010 , 04:02 PM

kurto

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Oddly enough the article doesn't inspire much discussion from me. While the billboard is harmless enough, and I like the stated goals of the org. that posted it:

Quote:

1) To address those atheists who "go along to get along", and to encourage them to come out of their closets
2) To attack the myth that Christianity owns the solstice season.
3) To raise the awareness of the organization and the movement.

I don't find billboards all that relevent. There's such a clutter of ads and billboards everywhere you look that they all just become noise. I question the effectiveness of their approach.

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11-29-2010 , 05:05 PM

Turn Prophet

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Countdown to its appearance on Bill O'Reilly's "War on Christmas" segment begins now...

My honest reaction to this is, "meh." There are probably better uses of resources for secular advocates, but I'm not going to say this was a terrible thing.

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11-29-2010 , 05:37 PM

kurto

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Turn Prophet

the funny thing is I think the celebration of Christmas has so little to do with religion that its appearance on a "War on Christmas" segment should really be such a minor listing. I know this isn't saying anything new but the commercialization of Christmas has so overwhelmed its religious significance that this billboard is hardly noteworthy.

I have to admit as an atheist that I like the religious side of Christmas. If I spend Christmas with my family I still go to church with them and always find it kind of charming. Its a peaceful moment following weeks of stress related to the shopping and spending too much time with the extended family.

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11-29-2010 , 05:40 PM

batair

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Dont care for proselytizing billboards, but that eye for an eye thing does make sense sometimes.

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11-29-2010 , 05:52 PM

RJT

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Amber

I find the bad grammar offensive. Even rhetorical questions require question marks: You KNOW it's a myth? This seaon celebrate REASON!

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11-29-2010 , 05:53 PM

Splendour

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It's not their season or so they claim so why comment at all?

They could have been original and chosen to start their own tradition instead of disrupting someone else's happy time.

But obv they had an ulterior motive.

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11-29-2010 , 05:59 PM

kurto

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Quote:

Originally Posted by RJT

I find the bad grammar offensive. Even rhetorical questions require question marks: You KNOW it's a myth? This seaon celebrate REASON!

I think this is a little bit of a quibble. Its pretty standard in a lot of billboards to leave out punctuation. Also, is it a question or a statement?

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11-29-2010 , 06:01 PM

kurto

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Splendour

ha. Yes, best to look for an ulterior motive and ignore the multiple motives they listed. Nothing gets by detective splenda. Maybe it has something to do with the aliens who built the pyramids?

Also- perhaps Christians should have started their own traditions too instead of stealing all their rituals from other pagan celebrations?

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11-29-2010 , 06:18 PM

#10

RJT

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Quote:

Originally Posted by kurto

I think this is a little bit of a quibble. Its pretty standard in a lot of billboards to leave out punctuation. Also, is it a question or a statement?

I was being facitious.

It's a rhetorical question. (A statement made in the form of a question.)

I think it's a clever ad. The rhyming season with reason is catchy.

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11-29-2010 , 08:03 PM

#11

JoeyDiamonds

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******ed

Why not just promote your own beliefs/dis-beliefs?

How about the KKK put up a billboard saying "MLK Day.... just another day off for a dead N....."

Oh wait...people might find that offensive?

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11-29-2010 , 09:11 PM

#12

Dominic

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Quote:

Originally Posted by RJT

I find the bad grammar offensive. Even rhetorical questions require question marks: You KNOW it's a myth? This seaon celebrate REASON!

What makes you think it's a question?

"You know how to tie your shoes."
"You know it's a myth."

What's the difference?

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11-29-2010 , 09:23 PM

#13

EvilSteve

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How do you celebrate reason though? If you were invited to a "reason celebration", what would you wear?

(pointy ears obv)

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11-29-2010 , 09:32 PM

#14

Howard Beale

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I'd bet that a poll would show greater than 90% think '*******S!' when they see a sign like that.

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11-29-2010 , 09:39 PM

#15

batair

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Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeyDiamonds

If a religious billboard is directed at me by saying all have to come to Jesus and repent or face hell can i speak back by putting one up next to it which says thats all bs? Or is that offensive?

Last edited by batair; 11-29-2010 at 10:00 PM.

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11-29-2010 , 09:57 PM

#16

EvilSteve

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Quote:

Originally Posted by batair

If a religious billboard is directed at me by saying all have to come to Jesus and repent or face hell can speak back by putting one up next to it which says thats all bs? Or is that offensive?

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11-29-2010 , 10:05 PM

#17

RJT

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Dominic

What makes you think it's a question?

"You know how to tie your shoes."
"You know it's a myth."

What's the difference?

If they are targeting atheists, it is not a question. I took it as marketing to believers, as in : You do know it's a myth, right?

I could be wrong.

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11-29-2010 , 10:53 PM

#18

RJT

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Quote:

Originally Posted by RJT

If they are targeting atheists, it is not a question. I took it as marketing to believers, as in : You do know it's a myth, right?

I could be wrong.

I stand corrected. I just looked on their website. The billboard's target market is atheists. They want those who are in the closet to come out.

Probably the wrong forum for the OP then.

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11-29-2010 , 11:06 PM

#19

PeaceFr0g

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Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeyDiamonds

You don't do very good on those 'A is to B, as C is to..." type questions, do you?

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11-29-2010 , 11:09 PM

#20

EvilSteve

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Quote:

Originally Posted by PeaceFr0g

You don't do very good on those 'A is to B, as C is to..." type questions, do you?

D. Final answer.

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11-30-2010 , 12:23 AM

#21

WVUskinsfan

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In Washington DC a group had signs on busses last year that said, among other phrases, "Why believe in a god? Be good for goodness sake."

Being a DC native I don't recall any uproar from the public in DC, MD, or VA but Bill O certianly took issue with it.

This one that the OP posted seems like it is more offensive than the ones in DC

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11-30-2010 , 02:08 AM

#22

MelchyBeau

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Last December, I drove by a billboard everyday to work that said "Jesus is the only reason for the season"

In addition on I-8 there was a billboard that stated "Don't believe in God? You are not alone"

People were in an uproar over the atheist billboard, but not a peep about the Christian one.