# Are these very insulting Atheist billboards attacking Christianity & Mormonism really the way to go? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 23, 2012, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-very-insulting-atheist-billboards-attacking-christianity-mormonism-really-the-way-to-go/632357 "2012-08-23T05:33:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-very-insulting-atheist-billboards-attacking-christianity-mormonism-really-the-way-to-go/632357/221 "2012-08-30T06:08:53Z")
> [@kwimby](#): > > Right - especially when your position is objectively wrong but irrational fears, emotion and brainwashing compel you to believe otherwise? > > Those kinds of nuances? I’m not quite sure what you’re getting at. That atheists are objectively right, and believers are objectively wrong? In the strictest sense, there is no objective right and wrong when it comes to whether or not some form of God exists. Only subjective judgements reached by one’s own logic, evidence (or lack thereof), emotion, indoctrination, etc. despite the burden of proof on the believer’s end. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-very-insulting-atheist-billboards-attacking-christianity-mormonism-really-the-way-to-go/632357/222 "2012-08-30T06:11:32Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > In the strictest sense, there is no objective right and wrong when it comes to whether or not some form of God exists. Nonsense; either there’s a God, or there isn’t one. God can’t be real for you and imaginary for me. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-very-insulting-atheist-billboards-attacking-christianity-mormonism-really-the-way-to-go/632357/223 "2012-08-30T06:55:10Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Nonsense; either there’s a God, or there isn’t one. God can’t be real for you and imaginary for me. I didn’t say there wasn’t an objective reality to it. But we’re not privy to such knowledge in an objective manner; only subjectively. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-very-insulting-atheist-billboards-attacking-christianity-mormonism-really-the-way-to-go/632357/224 "2012-08-30T14:05:19Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > I’m not quite sure what you’re getting at. > > That atheists are objectively right, and believers are objectively wrong? > > In the strictest sense, there is no objective right and wrong when it comes to whether or not some form of God exists. Only subjective judgements reached by one’s own logic, evidence (or lack thereof), emotion, indoctrination, etc. despite the burden of proof on the believer’s end. God hates fags. That’s more than enough for me. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-very-insulting-atheist-billboards-attacking-christianity-mormonism-really-the-way-to-go/632357/225 "2012-08-30T21:16:53Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > God hates fags. That’s more than enough for me. I hate cigarettes too. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-very-insulting-atheist-billboards-attacking-christianity-mormonism-really-the-way-to-go/632357/226 "2012-08-30T21:44:22Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > I didn’t say there wasn’t an objective reality to it. But we’re not privy to such knowledge in an objective manner; only subjectively. That just underlines how ridiculous belief in God is; that believers feel the need to retreat to what nearly amounts to solipsism to defend it. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-very-insulting-atheist-billboards-attacking-christianity-mormonism-really-the-way-to-go/632357/227 "2012-08-30T23:09:54Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > That just underlines how ridiculous belief in God is; that believers feel the need to retreat to what nearly amounts to solipsism to defend it. And also why I find any platform that atempts to argue the existence of God in a scientific or emotional framework ridiculous. In this case, these billboards are trying to appeal to emotion in a fallacious way. Pointing out any negatives or contradictions of one’s faith, usually results in only more justification and hardened resolve to ignore any constructive discussion. At best, you can only come to a philosophical justification as a case for God. So far, any philosophical justications for God remain vastly unconvincing and void for myself; yet it’s ones prerogative to cling to one or not. And, at worst, you just believe there is a God, because you were told by someone else there is. Which is pretty damn pathetic. The third argument is you somehow gain “faith” in God, which I’ve never heard an adequate definition of what faith is, or how one is supposed to gain it. Any takers? ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-very-insulting-atheist-billboards-attacking-christianity-mormonism-really-the-way-to-go/632357/228 "2012-08-31T00:15:49Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > In this case, these billboards are trying to appeal to emotion in a fallacious way. Pointing out any negatives or contradictions of one’s faith, usually results in only more justification and hardened resolve to ignore any constructive discussion. I hear that _said_ a lot; but in the real world atheism or even just secularism only seems to make headway when people are willing to do just that. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-very-insulting-atheist-billboards-attacking-christianity-mormonism-really-the-way-to-go/632357/229 "2012-08-31T01:46:20Z")
Because it’s human nature to want everyone to agree with you. Look at how many stupid fights are started on fandom boards. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-very-insulting-atheist-billboards-attacking-christianity-mormonism-really-the-way-to-go/632357/230 "2012-08-31T02:05:17Z")
It doesn’t make sense to me to be to witness about atheism. I’d rather the issue be about separation of church and state, as that’s where the insidious nature of religion seems to really creep into the radical social conservative movement. If you really feel the need to plaster a sky-bumper sticker all over town, bring up a legitamate issue, rather than appealing to emotion (or anything else); like “You don’t want our government in your religion, and we don’t want your religion in our government. -Signed, the rest of America” ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2012, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-very-insulting-atheist-billboards-attacking-christianity-mormonism-really-the-way-to-go/632357/231 "2012-09-01T02:00:42Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > It doesn’t make sense to me to be to witness about atheism. > > I’d rather the issue be about separation of church and state, as that’s where the insidious nature of religion seems to really creep into the radical social conservative movement. > > If you really feel the need to plaster a sky-bumper sticker all over town, bring up a legitamate issue, rather than appealing to emotion (or anything else); like “You don’t want our government in your religion, and we don’t want your religion in our government. -Signed, the rest of America” I think that’s probably how most people are (religious and atheist, agnostic, whatevever). But the fanatics are the ones making all the noise. That and controversy sells, so they get the most attention. Plus it’s a lot easier to just slap a bumper sticker on your car than actually start a campaign to get prayer out of schools, or fight actual discrimination. (Meaning not just some people calling each other names) Getting the Ten Commandments off of government property, fighting against anti-semitism, or the whole blow-up over the Muslim community center near Ground Zero. ---
**Author:** ![kwimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dc4da7/32.png) [@kwimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kwimby)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2012, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-very-insulting-atheist-billboards-attacking-christianity-mormonism-really-the-way-to-go/632357/232 "2012-09-01T02:53:46Z")
Imagine if all that crap just went away. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2012, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-very-insulting-atheist-billboards-attacking-christianity-mormonism-really-the-way-to-go/632357/233 "2012-09-01T05:23:55Z")
It’s easy if you try. ---
**Author:** ![kwimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dc4da7/32.png) [@kwimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kwimby)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2012, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-very-insulting-atheist-billboards-attacking-christianity-mormonism-really-the-way-to-go/632357/234 "2012-09-01T12:04:35Z")
Objective reality: > [@Guinastasia](#): > > …slap a bumper sticker on your car than actually start a campaign to get prayer out of schools, or fight actual discrimination. (Meaning not just some people calling each other names) Getting the Ten Commandments off of government property, fighting against anti-semitism, or the whole blow-up over the Muslim community center near Ground Zero. Imaginative fantasy: > [@Guinastasia](#): > > It’s easy if you try. It’s really just one big grey area we shouldn’t concern ourselves with, right ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2012, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-very-insulting-atheist-billboards-attacking-christianity-mormonism-really-the-way-to-go/632357/235 "2012-09-01T12:47:18Z")
> [@kwimby](#): > > Imagine if all that crap just went away. Okay…I see it! [A city](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=15446385&postcount=178) with nice parks and great Asian food, at the southwest corner of Canada! ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2012, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-very-insulting-atheist-billboards-attacking-christianity-mormonism-really-the-way-to-go/632357/236 "2012-09-01T14:05:08Z")
> [@kwimby](#): > > It’s really just one big grey area we shouldn’t concern ourselves with, right For Og’s sake, **kwimby** stop hinting and snarking and beating around the bush and throwing out your little one liner rhetorical questions and just state a damn position. ---
**Author:** ![kwimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dc4da7/32.png) [@kwimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kwimby)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2012, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-very-insulting-atheist-billboards-attacking-christianity-mormonism-really-the-way-to-go/632357/237 "2012-09-01T15:27:52Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > For Og’s sake, **kwimby** stop hinting and snarking and beating around the bush and throwing out your little one liner rhetorical questions and just state a damn position. But wouldn’t that be ignoring the nuances of the issue(s)? Because ya’know after all, everything’s not just black or white! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2012, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-very-insulting-atheist-billboards-attacking-christianity-mormonism-really-the-way-to-go/632357/238 "2012-09-01T19:02:11Z")
> [@kwimby](#): > > Objective reality: > > Imaginative fantasy: > > It’s really just one big grey area we shouldn’t concern ourselves with, right My [reference](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imagine_(song)) just flew completely over your head, didn’t it? (Hey, I can be glib too) ---
**Author:** ![kwimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dc4da7/32.png) [@kwimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kwimby)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2012, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-very-insulting-atheist-billboards-attacking-christianity-mormonism-really-the-way-to-go/632357/239 "2012-09-01T20:09:40Z")
Glad to see at least you agree, then. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2012, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-very-insulting-atheist-billboards-attacking-christianity-mormonism-really-the-way-to-go/632357/240 "2012-09-01T21:34:47Z")
> [@kwimby](#): > > Glad to see at least you agree, then. With what? You haven’t made a clear point or opinion about anything, rather than making coy quips tagged at the end of other’s posts. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-very-insulting-atheist-billboards-attacking-christianity-mormonism-really-the-way-to-go/632357.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-very-insulting-atheist-billboards-attacking-christianity-mormonism-really-the-way-to-go/632357.md?page=13)