American Atheists at it again?

[InformedIgnorance]

It would be like billboards targeting homosexuals saying "You know it's a mistake, and you have a choice"

[Me Myself]

Originally Posted by InformedIgnorance

It would be like billboards targeting homosexuals saying "You know it's a mistake, and you have a choice"

1st- I honestly don´t think it´s that bad of a billboard. I mean, it has the right to be there and be as wrong as it is. People can ignore. But then, the counter billboard would be equally allowed: "You know it´s okay to be gay!"

2nd- the billboards didn´t target the theists but the closet atheists that feel hated or alone because of all the rest of community and people making them feel it is wrong to be an atheist (and thinking they will suffer eternally for it). Likewise, it forces this kind of intolerant people to accept atheism as an legaly acceptable belief with as much right to be as their beliefs .

I say more billborads like this should exist, because there are far more people trying to deny the rights of atheists and treating the atheist wrong for who they are than the other way around.

[InformedIgnorance]

It targets those that currently call themselves theists in an attempt to find those amongst them that are having difficulty with their faith... some would call that predatory

[Me Myself]

Originally Posted by InformedIgnorance

It targets those that currently call themselves theists in an attempt to find those amongst them that are having difficulty with their faith... some would call that predatory

Didn´t penguin put on a link saying that it targeted closet atheists?

I don´t know "predatory", quite honestly, it´s just an ad. If you are not interested, it won´t change your mind at all. Ads are not made to change one´s mind, they are made to remember you something (I tell you that because I study advertising) or at LEAST give you an emotional directive towards something.

In this case the ad would be a completely ineffective way of seeking converts. That doesn´t make it immoral or rude though.

[waitasec]

Originally Posted by InformedIgnorance

I agree that those billboards are offensive - heck I even said earlier that those 'Jesus Saves' billboards could potentially be seen as offensive since they imply that non believers NEED to be saved.

however, i don't see anyone protesting these billboards, do you?

i do see these protests however
Atheist Billboard to Protest Pennsylvania's 'Year of the Bible', Christian News

i googled
atheists protesting religious billboards

and this is what turned up

atheists protesting religious billboards - Google Search

[InformedIgnorance]

Originally Posted by Me Myself

Didn´t penguin put on a link saying that it targeted closet atheists?

And what are closet atheists? Oh yeah that's right, theists (and agnostics) who are experiencing difficulties with their faith.

Originally Posted by Me Myself

I don´t know "predatory", quite honestly, it´s just an ad. If you are not interested, it won´t change your mind at all. Ads are not made to change one´s mind, they are made to remember you something (I tell you that because I study advertising) or at LEAST give you an emotional directive towards something.

Emotional directive... as in it DOES provide direction, and for someone who is having problems with their faith, this is more likely to lead them towards the direction you want them to go, hence it helps sway those who are questioning, so it can 'change' minds. The fact that it only really effects those who are at such a point of questioning their faith is what makes it predatory (striking while their faith is weakened)

Originally Posted by Me Myself

In this case the ad would be a completely ineffective way of seeking converts. That doesn´t make it immoral or rude though.

Personally I do not find it offensive either; that said, it could readily be construed as such - particularly given that it uses the word 'myth' (with all its negative connotations) to describe what many people consider to be divine truth, integral to their understanding of themselves and reality itself.



Lol, well atheists do not really seem to concern themselves with complaining about billboards, instead they target the things that have a higher priority, such as the well established religious influences within areas that are supposed to be religiously neutral, such as prayer in schools and so forth.... when you compare the battles that atheists have against theistic influence on them, there are so many with much higher priority; on the other hand theists only have relatively few areas where there is real atheistic influence on them with a much lower level of priority... so their efforts can be directed against useless things like billboards; particularly when you factor in the fact that there are more theists than atheists, allowing their complaints to be heard more easily.

[Sunstone]

Originally Posted by InformedIgnorance

And what are closet atheists? Oh yeah that's right, theists (and agnostics) who are experiencing difficulties with their faith.

No, that's not correct. A closeted atheist is an atheist who has not come out to others as an atheist.

[InformedIgnorance]

In which case there is no need to tell them it is a myth is there? Since they already believe that. No, that is clearly directed at theists who are questioning their beliefs.

[Me Myself]

Originally Posted by InformedIgnorance

In which case there is no need to tell them it is a myth is there? Since they already believe that. No, that is clearly directed at theists who are questioning their beliefs.

Think a little bit more. It´s not about informing them it is a myth, it is about informing them they are not alone in "knowing" such, and that knowing it "being" it (atheist) is okay.

I agree, it is not very good in this as another I´ve seen (which was more specific about the subject of "you are not alone" ) but it still counts.

[waitasec]

Originally Posted by InformedIgnorance

In which case there is no need to tell them it is a myth is there? Since they already believe that. No, that is clearly directed at theists who are questioning their beliefs.

so???