# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-very-insulting-atheist-billboards-attacking-christianity-mormonism-really-the-way-to-go/632357/61 "2012-08-23T15:23:05Z")
Speaking as a Catholic… I guess the big question for atheists is, just what is it you actually want to accomplish? If you want the religious majority of Americans to like you, to accept that you’re generally decent people and not all THAT different from your neighbors, then putting up a billboard like the one described is OBVIOUSLY self-destructive and stupid. If you just have a lot of money lying around and get a huge kick out of mocking Christians, of course, that’s a different story. Go ahead and have fun. We can take it. Just don’t whine later about how unfair it is that so many Christians automatically regard you as sphincters. Now, if you’re somewhere in the middle- say, you regard religion as antiquated and destructive and wish it would disappear, but you have religious friends or family that you’d rather not completely alienate… then you’re smart and sane enough to know that the billboard is a really bad idea, and you don’t need me to tell you. ---
**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 23, 2012, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-very-insulting-atheist-billboards-attacking-christianity-mormonism-really-the-way-to-go/632357/62 "2012-08-23T15:36:29Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > If you just have a lot of money lying around and get a huge kick out of mocking Christians, of course, that’s a different story. Go ahead and have fun. We can take it. Just don’t whine later about how unfair it is that so many Christians automatically regard you as sphincters. Except that Christians hated atheists when they were essentially silent. They _don’t_ hate atheists because of anything atheists say. They hate atheists for existing. And no, judging from all the whining I see over such _terribly offensive_ advertisements for atheism as [this](http://i.imgur.com/up1Tj.jpg) banned advertisement, you _can’t_ take it. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-very-insulting-atheist-billboards-attacking-christianity-mormonism-really-the-way-to-go/632357/63 "2012-08-23T15:39:16Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Speaking as a Catholic… > I guess the big question for atheists is, just what is it you actually want to accomplish? > > If you want the religious majority of Americans to like you, to accept that you’re generally decent people and not all THAT different from your neighbors, then putting up a billboard like the one described is OBVIOUSLY self-destructive and stupid. > > If you just have a lot of money lying around and get a huge kick out of mocking Christians, of course, that’s a different story. Go ahead and have fun. We can take it. Just don’t whine later about how unfair it is that so many Christians automatically regard you as sphincters. > > Now, if you’re somewhere in the middle- say, you regard religion as antiquated and destructive and wish it would disappear, but you have religious friends or family that you’d rather not completely alienate… then you’re smart and sane enough to know that the billboard is a really bad idea, and you don’t need me to tell you. Is that Pinchot National Forrest I see in your eye? I look at billboards across the country, church readerboards, editorials, transcripts of sermons, and religious programming, and I would celebrate being elevated to “sphincter” status, thank you very much. I am an atheist, and nothing I can say or do will make religion in general think kindly of me. This is a case of the mouse biting the cat, and while I expect a rebuke from the cat, I think I will not take the cat’s etiquette advice at this time. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-very-insulting-atheist-billboards-attacking-christianity-mormonism-really-the-way-to-go/632357/64 "2012-08-23T15:41:04Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > And no, judging from all the whining I see over such _terribly offensive_ advertisements for atheism as [this](http://i.imgur.com/up1Tj.jpg) banned advertisement, you _can’t_ take it. Back story on this one, please. ---
**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 23, 2012, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-very-insulting-atheist-billboards-attacking-christianity-mormonism-really-the-way-to-go/632357/65 "2012-08-23T15:44:09Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Back story on this one, please. [Here.](http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/atheist-group-challenges-colts-ad-ban-1.1279600) ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-very-insulting-atheist-billboards-attacking-christianity-mormonism-really-the-way-to-go/632357/66 "2012-08-23T15:44:45Z")
Actually, historically speaking, I think mocking someones religion just makes those people cling to it more stubbornly. It gives them a feeling of persecution. I have seen little evidence that mocking or scorn converted anyone to atheism, or to another religion. So I don’t think those who publicly mock the religious believers are doing it for the benefit of the believer, they’re doing it for their own gratification. My personal example: I had a Jehova Witness at my door. I was standing there politely listening to their evangelising. A person (who was a complete stranger to me and the JW) walking by noticed us. Accurately guessing what was going on, that person began mocking the JW. (The stranger didn’t stop walking, just kept throwing out his comments as he moved on.) But anywho, I stopped to think (while the JW continued to ramble on about how the Bible was a historically and scientifically accurate document) “Did this fella actually expect me or my visitor to slap are foreheads in a Doh! moment?” I don’t think he did. He was mocking the JW for his own amusement. Maybe it gave him a momentary feeling of superiority to think he was “better or smarter” than the JW. I am tempted to view these billboards the same way. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-very-insulting-atheist-billboards-attacking-christianity-mormonism-really-the-way-to-go/632357/67 "2012-08-23T15:46:18Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Except that Christians hated atheists when they were essentially silent. They _don’t_ hate atheists because of anything atheists say. They hate atheists for existing. > > And no, judging from all the whining I see over such _terribly offensive_ advertisements for atheism as [this](http://i.imgur.com/up1Tj.jpg) banned advertisement, you _can’t_ take it. I don’t see an advertisement, just a webpage banner… 😕 (Or was that the point?) ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-very-insulting-atheist-billboards-attacking-christianity-mormonism-really-the-way-to-go/632357/68 "2012-08-23T15:47:56Z")
I can’t get to thelink DT provided, but there was the recent controversy over an atheist ad that movie theaters in Texas agreed to show, then backed down due to pressure… [http://blog.chron.com/believeitornot/2012/04/texas-movie-theaters-refuse-to-show-atheist-ad/](http://blog.chron.com/believeitornot/2012/04/texas-movie-theaters-refuse-to-show-atheist-ad/) I think there was a thread on it here. ---
**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 23, 2012, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-very-insulting-atheist-billboards-attacking-christianity-mormonism-really-the-way-to-go/632357/69 "2012-08-23T15:53:17Z")
> [@mlees](#): > > I don’t see an advertisement, just a webpage banner… 😕 > > (Or was that the point?) No, that IS the advertisement that was rejected for being too controversial. The word “Atheists”, and the names & websites of two atheistic organizations. To quote the article I linked to in response to **Czarcasm** : > [@](#): > > The proposed ad - with the word “Atheists” along with the names and websites of the society and a second organization, American Atheists, in white print on a blue background - was intended to be content-free and “the most inoffensive message possible,” Mr. Vacula said. Naturally it still offended; atheists admitting they exist is offensive. ---
**Author:** ![Tad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@Tad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tad)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-very-insulting-atheist-billboards-attacking-christianity-mormonism-really-the-way-to-go/632357/70 "2012-08-23T15:55:44Z")
When it comes right down to it, I don’t respect the opposition or defense of a group, generally speaking, whose billboards breed the same kind of [hate](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OO9sxb8wl3E/S-wpKdNlKJI/AAAAAAAABSU/hifuWIcyH1I/s1600/2010-05-11+13.14.20.jpg), [ignorance](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_j9oDqG2zBGE/SSBmDUWcsEI/AAAAAAAACYA/RGi2-q0RZRo/s1600/christian%2Bbillboard%2Bone.jpg), and [fear](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_j9oDqG2zBGE/SSBmDmuTAkI/AAAAAAAACYI/czOb6cn6wZ8/s1600/christian%2Bbillboard%2Bfour.jpg) in equal (in fact, greater) measure. And per a comment like **astorian** : “If you want the religious majority of Americans to like you, to accept that you’re generally decent people and not all THAT different from your neighbors, then putting up a billboard like the one described is OBVIOUSLY self-destructive and stupid”. Agreed–but it’s similarly stupid for me to think that the billboards I’ve linked to necessarily represent you as a Catholic, just like it’s stupid for you to think that billboard represents me as a non-believer. That’s the problem with this conversation. But I also want to reject this very conversation on a few grounds. A.C Grayling refuses the term atheist and likes to call himself a naturalist because he thinks the universe is a well-described realm of natural law according to sciences. Atheist already positions someone in the wrong conversation, like calling oneself an “afaeriest” acknowledges the potential for the existence of faeries. To suggest that one is an atheist means that there is a legitimate conversation to be had about the legitimate existence of a being like God. That may seem like a minor point, and it’s arguable in a few ways, but it makes a very good point nonetheless. To argue with someone who believes in God already puts yourself in an arena where that God is a real thing, like arguing with someone against the existence of Santa Claus for lack of any evidence to the contrary. People made fun of it a little while ago with the [Flying Spaghetti Monster](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/6e/Touched_by_His_Noodly_Appendage.jpg/330px-Touched_by_His_Noodly_Appendage.jpg). That is important, I think, because the very conversation creates the borders and groups that define the conversation. That’s where my second objection comes in. When I read this atheist sign, it makes me think that there is some kind of atheist “group”–like there are denominations of religious groups, cults, and so on. But that isn’t really case. There are varying degrees of belief among non-believers–from the kind of “atheism” that Dawkins is famous for, to those people who fear the unknown but reject the certainty of a god-figure and so say “maybe” through agnosticism (which itself structures a “group” of people)–but there is no coherent group to be found. What I mean is that atheists/agnostics/etc don’t organize the way this particular sign suggests. There is no coherent head, system of beliefs or practices, leader or leaders (regardless of what the media and some thinkers would have people think), or ceremony, and so on. Ergo while there may be a group of people attempting to “convert” people to non-believer status, there is no group for those people, should they be converted, to convert to. That’s important for both groups because I think it puts the conversation back in the right realm. I don’t know what the correct protocol is for a mass debate, or if there ever even should be one. I recognize the dynamic nature of people’s individual beliefs separate from the churches they belong to, just like I recognize the wealth of belief systems for those who do not believe or participate in religious, cult, or spiritual organizations or practices or ceremonies. Conversations need to happen, I guess, on individual grounds if there is even any conversation to be had in the first place. The problem with billboards like in the first post are that they speak to very many people in too general terms while representing a group of people that don’t exist. So the conversation to be had afterwards, which is generally name-calling and the misinterpretation, is completely wrong from the outset. When it comes to how religious beliefs influence political, educational, or social realms, that’s a much tougher issue that is best dealt with through secular structures for the state, cities, etc. That’s a kind of debate that refuses the idea of conversion. Anyway, I don’t think any conversion debate would ever work, especially because atheists are arguing from the wrong position altogether–not to mention that I’m making it sound like there is such a group to begin with. Of course statistically such a group exists, but not really in any other ways. At the end of the day, I’m not really willing to ever get into a conversation with someone who believes in the legitimacy of the divine. That’s just not a conversation I think is worth spending my time on. Having said that, the atheist sign is really silly and stupid and the people who made it are falling into the same silly and stupid trap that tends to dictate the nature of these kinds of conversations. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-very-insulting-atheist-billboards-attacking-christianity-mormonism-really-the-way-to-go/632357/71 "2012-08-23T15:59:09Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Except that Christians hated atheists when they were essentially silent. They _don’t_ hate atheists because of anything atheists say. They hate atheists for existing. Perhaps you are familiar with the concept of [projection](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychological_projection). [QUOTE=Czarcasm] I would celebrate being elevated to “sphincter” status, thank you very much. [/QUOTE] Granted. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-very-insulting-atheist-billboards-attacking-christianity-mormonism-really-the-way-to-go/632357/72 "2012-08-23T16:05:37Z")
I heard an evangelist on jesusradio not too long ago use the line "rapists, thieves, murderers, and atheists.’ Sphincter is indeed a promotion from that status. ---
**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 23, 2012, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-very-insulting-atheist-billboards-attacking-christianity-mormonism-really-the-way-to-go/632357/73 "2012-08-23T16:08:55Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > I heard an evangelist on jesusradio not too long ago use the line "rapists, thieves, murderers, and atheists.’ > > Sphincter is indeed a promotion from that status. I recall reading as a teen an article by a bishop in the religion section of the local newspaper; he talked about how it was better to “kill for Kali” than it was to be an atheist, because at least someone killing for a “false goddess” upheld the virtue of faith. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-very-insulting-atheist-billboards-attacking-christianity-mormonism-really-the-way-to-go/632357/74 "2012-08-23T16:08:58Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > I heard an evangelist on jesusradio not too long ago use the line "rapists, thieves, murderers, and atheists.’ > > Sphincter is indeed a promotion from that status. I’m pretty sure **Shodan** wasn’t trying to compliment me. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Lowry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sam\_Lowry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Lowry)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-very-insulting-atheist-billboards-attacking-christianity-mormonism-really-the-way-to-go/632357/75 "2012-08-23T16:09:14Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > One thing is true though – there isn’t a mild enough billboard that someone won’t get offended by it. Take the famous “God mostly likely doesn’t exist – now get on with your lives” was still considered offensive despite not directly attacking religion and not declaring the non-existence of God dogmatically. Atheist organizations that put up billboards should pretty much ignore how the fundamentalists react. They’ll get upset no matter how nice or polite the ads are. However, there are a lot of casual church-goers, who attend because their peers do, and in those communities it’s expected that if you’re a good person you’re a church member, or at the very least you go on Easter and Christmas. And there’s others who don’t go to church, but describe themselves as vaguely religious, or spiritual or agnostic, because atheist seems too harsh and is often demonized. I don’t know how big these groups of people are, but I think they are fairly big, just they make less noise than the angry fundamentalists. > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I’d like to see atheism promoted the same way I’d like to see Christianity or any other religion promoted; by presenting its positive aspects rather than by attacking the negative aspects of other beliefs. The AAI would be a lot better off running the equivalent of the “[I’m a Mormon](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pjNWvEMYwo)” campaign. The fact that they’re running such a stupidly offensive campaign makes me wonder if they’re being secretly funded by religious groups. I agree. I’m not bothered by the billboards, but they aren’t going to win anyone over. Atheists are so often demonized, and some people seem to think that religion is required for someone to be a moral person. I think a more effective campaign would be to have billboards that say something like “It’s okay to be an atheist.” Have some ads that compare the rates of giving to charity, volunteering, and incarceration or other good and bad things between atheists and religious people. Make some ads highlighting specific atheists, both famous and non-famous, who are happy, productive, admirable members of their communities. I don’t know how big of an impact these ads would have, or how quick it would be, but I think it would be better than the current billboards. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-very-insulting-atheist-billboards-attacking-christianity-mormonism-really-the-way-to-go/632357/76 "2012-08-23T16:12:13Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Perhaps you are familiar with the concept of [projection](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychological_projection). Normally I’d agree with you when it comes to **DT** and being anti-religion, but there’s far more evidence of Christians denigrating and marginalizing atheists (simply for being atheists) on a grand, institutionalized scale than the other way around. The facts are on his side on this one. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-very-insulting-atheist-billboards-attacking-christianity-mormonism-really-the-way-to-go/632357/77 "2012-08-23T16:12:21Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I’m pretty sure **Shodan** wasn’t trying to compliment me. Well obviously, but your point that making it to shincter status would be an improvement is borne out by my example. Atheists really are seen as horrible, evil people on the same level as murderers. ---
**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 23, 2012, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-very-insulting-atheist-billboards-attacking-christianity-mormonism-really-the-way-to-go/632357/78 "2012-08-23T16:13:09Z")
> [@Sam\_Lowry](#): > > I think a more effective campaign would be to have billboards that say something like “It’s okay to be an atheist.” Have some ads that compare the rates of giving to charity, volunteering, and incarceration or other good and bad things between atheists and religious people. Make some ads highlighting specific atheists, both famous and non-famous, who are happy, productive, admirable members of their communities. I don’t know how big of an impact these ads would have, or how quick it would be, but I think it would be better than the current billboards. That’s been tried; they whip up just as much controversy and typically get banned. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-very-insulting-atheist-billboards-attacking-christianity-mormonism-really-the-way-to-go/632357/79 "2012-08-23T16:20:14Z")
[QUOTE=Tad–] And per a comment like astorian: “If you want the religious majority of Americans to like you, to accept that you’re generally decent people and not all THAT different from your neighbors, then putting up a billboard like the one described is OBVIOUSLY self-destructive and stupid”. Agreed–but it’s similarly stupid for me to think that the billboards I’ve linked to necessarily represent you as a Catholic, just like it’s stupid for you to think that billboard represents me as a non-believer. [/QUOTE] Sure. And the problem (on both sides) is to pick out the most offensive ones you can find and assert that they _are_ characteristic. These billboards make atheists look like assholes; Fred Phelps and so on do the same for my side, at least for people who are dumb enough not to make the distinction. The problem of how to proselytize effectively is one that missionary religions like Islam and Christianity (and even some forms of Buddhism) have studied for the last couple of thousand years. When religion is state-sponsored, the temptation is to use force and coercion, just as state-sponsored atheism (as in the former USSR and Albania) did the same. When (thank God) neither religion nor atheism is pushed by the state, we have to find other ways. I doubt very much if putting up billboards mocking people and their beliefs works well for either side. One way that is often employed, at least by the Christian church, is to do service to others. My church does this, for instance. We do not require that you be a member of our church, you don’t have to listen to a sermon - we give away water, wash cars for free, work in the food shelf, and wait until someone asks “why are you doing this?” Then we snow them under with witnessing. It seems to work better than putting up a billboard calling people names. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-very-insulting-atheist-billboards-attacking-christianity-mormonism-really-the-way-to-go/632357/80 "2012-08-23T16:24:06Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Sure. And the problem (on both sides) is to pick out the most offensive ones you can find and assert that they _are_ characteristic. These billboards make atheists look like assholes; Fred Phelps and so on do the same for my side, at least for people who are dumb enough not to make the distinction. > > The problem of how to proselytize effectively is one that missionary religions like Islam and Christianity (and even some forms of Buddhism) have studied for the last couple of thousand years. When religion is state-sponsored, the temptation is to use force and coercion, just as state-sponsored atheism (as in the former USSR and Albania) did the same. When (thank God) neither religion nor atheism is pushed by the state, we have to find other ways. I doubt very much if putting up billboards mocking people and their beliefs works well for either side. > > One way that is often employed, at least by the Christian church, is to do service to others. My church does this, for instance. We do not require that you be a member of our church, you don’t have to listen to a sermon - we give away water, wash cars for free, work in the food shelf, and wait until someone asks “why are you doing this?” > > Then we snow them under with witnessing. It seems to work better than putting up a billboard calling people names. > > Regards, > Shodan Oh, I see. So you’re not really doing these things to serve others…you’re conspicuously doing them in hopes that someone will casually ask why you’d wash a car for free, so that you can guilt them into listening to you for as long as you want to bloviate I mean witness. Cool tactic. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-very-insulting-atheist-billboards-attacking-christianity-mormonism-really-the-way-to-go/632357.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-very-insulting-atheist-billboards-attacking-christianity-mormonism-really-the-way-to-go/632357.md?page=5)