Our local media is freaking out: City buses with athiest ads

[rainbow4321]

They've started a poutrage on the radio and TV news..."here in the BIBLE belt", etc...


Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/11/30/2669603/atheist-themed-ads-appear-on-fort.html#my-headlines-default#ixzz16sLsbLdZ


Starting today, the sides of four Fort Worth city buses will bear this message: "Millions of Americans are Good Without God."

Their sponsor, the Dallas-Fort Worth Coalition of Reason, says it's only coincidence that the atheist-themed ads will debut during Christmas season. They are not exactly apologizing.

(snip)



"We try to be fair to all parties in accepting advertising, and we do not discriminate among faiths or beliefs," T spokeswoman Joan Hunter said. "They met the criteria. If we receive other requests from other faiths, we'll evaluate them as well."

She said the ads would appear on four buses for the next 30 days. The ads, called "king boards," cover the sides of the buses, she said. Printing the ads and buying the space costs about $2,480, she said.

[niyad]

1. and the fundies get pissed off when we complain about THEIR stuff everywhere.

they really hate it when the tables get turned on them.

[kanrok]

2. Yawn

If you're outraged, then it's on you.

I find the timing interesting, and don't believe for a minute it's a coincidence that the ads are placed during December.

Other than that, it's a non-issue as far as I'm concerned.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[backscatter712]

16. We atheists need to be confronting religion more.

Too often, we stay quiet and let them monopolize the public mindspace.

That's how Pat Robertson became a billionaire.

If we don't stand up, make some noise, and tell people we're out there and what we think, the fundies are going to do that for us, and demonize us in the process.

Religion's become a destructive force in the world, and it's time religion got challenged.

[snooper2]

4. If a persons "faith" is so strong, why would this even bother them

Oh, never mind :rofl:

[fatbuckel]

5. Oh No! Another point of veiw! Halp!

[Arugula Latte]

22. Thinking and Reason make Gawd and Jebus cry!

:cry:

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

8. If I expound on the fact that I don't own a car, and go by fine without it...

...and point out the advantages of doing so (economic, environmental etc.)...

...am I "defining myself by what I'm not"? Am I being "infantile"? Am I "poking a finger in the eye" of somebody?

[backscatter712]

15. Well played!

:fistbump:

[KittyWampus]

20. Not really. If you walk you are pedestrian. If you bike you are a cyclist. See? It's that simple.

Defining your Self by what you DO rather than what you don't do.

And from your post above, it does seem your only real intent is to be confrontational rather than inspiring or welcoming.

Which is as bad as the Fundies. In fact, Atheists taking this tack end up being their mirror image.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

24. But in this case, what saves fuel and money and is good for the environment is NOT what you do!

It's exactly what you DON'T do!

Biker/pedestrian/skateboarder/pogo-stick-hopper/whatever is irrelevant for that discussion.

Sometimes the absence of something matters more than what's in its place. If anything.

[EOTE]

9. How else are you going to define Atheists/Agnostics than by what they are not?

Considering that Atheists, by definition, are those who do NOT believe in god. It may seem infantile to you, but these signs are in a ridiculously tiny minority compared to all the Christy billboards/advertisements seen around this time of year.

[KittyWampus]

19. I stated very plainly in my post and gave a perfect example. Atheists adhere to Reason

Science and Objective Observation of the Phenomenal World.

See? It's really simple.

[EOTE]

21. Sigh. I'm quite sure that theists will lay claim to reason as well.

If you look closely at the word atheist, you might notice something. It's basically the word "theist" with the prefix "a" (meaning not). It seems to me to be rather stupid forcing a "non theist" organization to describe themselves without making the comparison to theists. Perhaps you also have a problem with groups like Code Pink being opposed to wars. Perhaps they should just pledge themselves to reason instead.

[JackRiddler]

26. People become atheists and agnostics after applying reason to empirical evidence...

which fails to show the presence of certain discrete entities (Jehovah, Zeus, etc.) as described in the religious mythologies. They react to surroundings that often demand they see things that they don't see.

Generally, they acquire their self-designation as atheists or agnostics. Only a minority are taught to it as children.

Generally, religionists are trained in their self-designations starting in infancy. Converts and born-agains who arrive there by a conscious process as adults are a minority.

[HuckleB]

14. -1

[Fumesucker]

17. A-theist means literally "without belief in a supreme being".

Atheists need to have nothing in common besides that lack of belief in order to be atheists, it *is* what defines us as being atheists.

Go somewhere that isn't so religion drenched as the USA, like for instance the UK, and you'll find that those who lack belief in a supreme being are far less defensive because they are not constantly being attacked.

It's interesting how being constantly attacked puts people on the defensive, isn't it?

[Zoeisright]

7. God, these 'Christians' are so weak.

They get so fucking offended when their faith is questioned. If they really HAD faith they wouldn't get their panties in a wad any time suggests reality may be different from their view.

[Ezlivin]

10. And in the same paper the televangelist Marcus Lamb admitted an affair

And he started his ministry because he was saddened over the sexual problems of Jim Bakker, et al.

Oh the irony!

[rainbow4321]

12. The media spin on that has already begun

One of the TV reports about that have already said "and because of this, he has now started a NEW part of his ministry that is an outreach to couples with similiar marital problems" and, of course, what HE did was, of course, brought on by the devil trying to get his way, blah, blah, blah.

[BlueCollar]

11. This should be interesting...

As a resident of Fort Worth I'll be watching this...

Thanks for the heads-up.

:popcorn:

[backscatter712]

13. For an all-knowing, all-wise, all-powerful deity, he has a really thin skin, doesn't he?!

As do his followers...

You'd think that a person of faith with an ultra-powerful deity looking after him wouldn't be bothered by a few billboards or signs on busses.

But actually say something that challenges their beliefs, and watch them wig out. :rofl:

[Froward69]

18. yeah the rethuglicans here are freaking out about Kush-con adds on our busses

http://www.kushcon.com/index.html

http://www.9news.com/rss/article.aspx?storyid=166770

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/23006584/detail.html

notice NO article has the Conventions web site listed...

really republicans freak out at the slightest thing.

[Arugula Latte]

23. Waiting for the "atheists should keep it to themselves" trolls to show up on this thread ...

"This is too in-the-face of religious people! Quick, get mah smellin' salts!"

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

25. "Waiting for"? Ah, you got here before the deleted messages. -nt

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

27. I mean, after. Duh.

[WCGreen]

28. I thought we lived in a country that was all about religious freedom...

and freedom of expression...

I guess if you are a member of a Christian Sect you are allowed freedom of expression but any other belief or rationality is verboden.