FFRF Puts Up First-Ever Nontheistic Billboard!

[webmdave]

Reposted from http://www.ffrf.org/

 

The Freedom From Religion Foundation, which is the nation's largest association of atheists and agnostics, is unveiling what is believed to be the first nontheistic billboard in Madison, Wis.

 

The whimsical full-color 48-foot billboard mimics a stained-glass window and warns, "Beware of Dogma."

 

"We are launching a campaign to place freethought billboards up around the country, wherever an irreverent billboard is needed--which is practically everywhere!" says Annie Laurie Gaylor, Foundation spokeswoman.

 

"We don't go to Mass, but we can go to the masses," adds Dan Barker, Foundation co-president. "We think it is time for the rest of us to use the mass media to counter the ubiquity of religious messages on roadsides everywhere!"

 

(Madison, Wis., locals can look for it on the feeder road off the West Beltline next to Culver's Restaurant, facing west, Oct. 2-16, 2007.)

 

The Foundation will be erecting another billboard to greet attendees of its 30th national convention, meeting on Oct. 12-13 in Madison. A smaller billboard on East Johnson Street by Fordem Avenue (passed by nearly everyone coming in from the airport) will carry the "Beware of Dogma" message on one side, while the other side will sport the stained-glass motif and the words "Imagine No Religion."

 

http://exchristian.net/exchristian/2007/10...ontheistic.html

[ShackledNoMore]

I wonder what kind of response this rather restrained billboard will get?

 

Those poor, persecuted xians have plastered our land with religious billboards (as well as xian messages through all sorts of other venues) and they've done it with impunity. Now, with a low key billboard such as this out, just watch the screaming and yelling come in about those overbearing militant atheists taking over and denying them freedom of religion.

[R. S. Martin]

wherever an irreverent billboard is needed

 

I guess that's just me but I did have to read that line at least half a dozen times to see that it's saying "irreverent" as opposed to "irrelevant." I confess it caused me to reflect on the role of religion and the place the irrelevant demands in society.

 

But NOW I GET IT!

 

Irrevent! Go for it! Why revere the irrelevant anyway?!?!?!??!

[Robbobrob]

I bet that some places won't allow such billboards, on ethical reasons.

[R. S. Martin]

I bet that some places won't allow such billboards, on ethical reasons.

 

But that would be unethical and immoral and discriminatory!

 

It's simply WRONG to discriminate against women who are afraid of dogs! To warn ma against a dog is about the best thing you can do, isn't it? I mean, "beware of dog, ma!"

 

And the other sign--Imagine no religion--all that one does is appeal to the imagination. People are always lamenting how we lose our childlike imagination as we grow into adulthood--and according to the NT we are supposed to be childlike--Jesus said "unless ye become as this little child ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven." No person in his or her right mind is going to protest against such an encouragement--but I'm not saying protesting Christians are in their right minds.

 

If Christians are too weak to discipline their own thought processes, then perhaps what they need to do is grow up, take responsibility, and put away childish things. "When I grew up I put away childish things," right? It's in their own Holy Book. Paul and Jesus say quite a bit about disciplining one's thoughts. I know because I looked to the Bible for help when I needed it, and I found it. The possitive thinking strategy is there if you can get beyond, or disregard, the negative thinking that is also there. Phil. 4:8 would be a great place for them to begin. #_ftn1 #_ftnref1

So! Christians can go preach in the public square if they like, but they must be prepared for arrest and even martyrdom--and that without complaint. According to the NT, a real Christian praises God if allowed to be persecuted, i.e. imprisoned and killed for Jesus' sake. (Note: Persecuted here means to be physically imprisoned and/or put to death, not merely subjected to hearing or seeing an idea they disbelieve.)

 

Christians should also look at 1 Cor. 5:9-13. That passage clearly instructs them not to worry about what we do who are not part of their church. Paul tells them to worry only about the people inside their church. He says, "If I were to say not to have any doing with ANY 'fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters' (1 Cor. 5:10), you would have to go out of this world, so obviously I'm not telling you THAT!" Clearly, he's saying take care of those who count themselves as members of your own and let God take care of those outside. When today's Christians learn to do that, perhaps this world will be a better place.

[Fweethawt]

Now if we could just keep certain Christians™ from believing in vandalism.

[Taphophilia]

I love Madison WI, where the billboards are being put up. This is a town that for the past 37 years has an annual Great Midwest Marijuana Festival. I doubt they will get too much flack for the billboards.

[R. S. Martin]

Now if we could just keep certain Christiansâ„¢ from believing in vandalism.

 

The resources for this might not be available and the idea might be rather contraversial but I'll throw it out for what it's worth. What about an Eye For Eye Pact? In such a contract, for every percentage of nontheistic sign vandalism that occurs in a county the same percentage of sign vandalism would occur to Christian billboards in throughout the same county.

 

Thus, if there is one scratch on FFRF's only sign, there will be one scratch on every Christian sign in the county.

[Guest ThemOrUs]

I saw it for the first time the other day...I got quite a cackle out of it! The stained-glass look and gothic text just make the billboard...it's a hoot. It does seem to be ruffling some feathers around here, I heard Mic 92.1 (Air America) morning host Lee Rayburn mention it briefly this morning. Dan Barker has played some of the hate-messages FFRF gets on their radio program that airs on Saturday morning, wonderful examples of Christian love those calls are...<barf>...

 

Dan and Annie Laurie are kicking some ass...

[mwc]

Dan Barker has played some of the hate-messages FFRF gets on their radio program that airs on Saturday morning, wonderful examples of Christian love those calls are...<barf>...

Well, fortunately, those aren't True Christians. True Christians, as everyone knows, only do good things all the time. Those callers must really be Evil Atheists calling to protest the anti-religion signs to make True Christians look bad.

 

mwc