# Atheists at the door **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 4, 2013, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-at-the-door/660124 "2013-06-04T16:58:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Rhodes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhodes/32/273_2.png) [@Rhodes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhodes)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2013, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-at-the-door/660124/61 "2013-06-05T15:22:59Z")
> [@hotflungwok](#): > > … and in the end it would just come across as being anti-religion rather than pro-atheism. Agreed. A prankster in Salt Lake City changed a flashing construction sign from “EXPECT DELAYS” to “IT’S OFFICIAL - GOD DOES NOT EXIST”. Witnesses and reporters exaggerated the prank by calling it a “malicious attack on someone’s theology”. There was no “message against religion”. If a prankster had instead declared that “LDS IS THE ONE TRUE CHURCH” or even simply “JESUS SAVES”, would observers have seen it as a “malicious attack” or a minor nuisance? At least it’s electronic text and not spraypaint like the “Jesus Saves” graffiti I see so often in Houston. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2013, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-at-the-door/660124/62 "2013-06-05T17:01:42Z")
Despite having a religious content, this thread is an IMHO topic, not a debate. Off it goes. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2013, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-at-the-door/660124/63 "2013-06-05T17:08:35Z")
That said, I doubt that there would be much of a reaction. We already have a whole slew of atheism-promoting billboards and a small number of radio ads. I have seen almost no reaction to the billboards, and that tiny action tends to be along the line of a single pastor (typically, but not exclusively, of a storefront church), clucking his tongue that the country is going to hell. I have not heard any reactions to the radio commercials. If a bunch of atheists got together and decided to go door to door, I would guess that there would be a few towns, mostly, but not exclusively, in the Bible Belt who would try to limit such “solicitation” by atheists. Other than that, each individual encounter at someone’s front door would depend on the presentation and the personality of the recipient. _meh_ ---
**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:** [June 5, 2013, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-at-the-door/660124/64 "2013-06-05T17:16:02Z")
> [@panaccione](#): > > I’m not quite sure of your confusion. What I mean is that in the short term it would not go over well, but in the long run it would be for the best. You don’t think opposition would escalate? Let’s not forget that the religionists have(for the most part) established places and scheduled times where they meet and discuss issues. ---
**Author:** ![Mathematics](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@Mathematics](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mathematics)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2013, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-at-the-door/660124/65 "2013-06-05T17:26:29Z")
I don’t know what communities you guys live in, but I am certain that it would be taken far worse here than where you guys live. I’m from a poor county outside Saint Louis, MO. While atheism is common and accepted on the internet, people are still shocked, offended, and somewhat scared if you mention you are an atheist in my neighborhood. My parents wanted me to pretend to be a Buddhist instead of an atheist because they are regarded with less scorn in the community. (Okay, I know that many Buddhists are also atheists, but people around here generally don’t know that.) A lot of people literally have never heard of atheism or don’t believe it to be a possibility. I told one of my friends in high school that I was an atheist and she didn’t understand it. “Are you a Satanist? A Muslim? How can you just not be anything?”, she asked, genuinely confused. Granted, that was a few years ago, but people are very ignorant about atheists where I come from. So yes, I do believe that going up to someone’s door and proclaiming the “good news” of atheism would cause much shock and offense, although I’m not sure how many people would actually be violent. [edit] I doubt people would try to limit their freedom of speech, though. Generally political activism is not a popular hobby where I come from. ---
**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:** [June 5, 2013, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-at-the-door/660124/66 "2013-06-05T17:37:58Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > That said, I doubt that there would be much of a reaction. > > We already have a whole slew of atheism-promoting billboards and a small number of radio ads. > > I have seen almost no reaction to the billboards, and that tiny action tends to be along the line of a single pastor (typically, but not exclusively, of a storefront church), clucking his tongue that the country is going to hell. I have not heard any reactions to the radio commercials. I Googled “opposition to atheist billboards” and got quite a bit more than the occasional tiny action from single pastors, and as far as atheist commercials are concerned I haven’t heard any yet and Google doesn’t seem to be of help here-do you have any links so I can see how the public reacted to them? ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2013, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-at-the-door/660124/67 "2013-06-05T18:16:44Z")
Whether it is a telemarketer or a door-to-door evangelist, I react the same. When **I** feel it is time for a new product, _that_ is when I am in the mood to chat about it. Cold calling doesn’t work on/for me. As far as evangelical atheists, they would need to show up at just the right time for me to express something other than indifference. I don’t think I’m unique in this regard, either. ---
**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:** [June 5, 2013, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-at-the-door/660124/68 "2013-06-05T19:07:13Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I Googled “opposition to atheist billboards” and got quite a bit more than the occasional tiny action from single pastors, and as far as atheist commercials are concerned I haven’t heard any yet and Google doesn’t seem to be of help here-do you have any links so I can see how the public reacted to them? Has anyone else heard these atheist radio commercials that **tomndeb** referred to? ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2013, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-at-the-door/660124/69 "2013-06-05T19:28:01Z")
I’m pretty sure they’d get shot in my old (conservative, religious, Mississippi) neighborhood. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2013, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-at-the-door/660124/70 "2013-06-05T19:32:48Z")
> [@miss\_elizabeth](#): > > I’m pretty sure they’d get shot in my old (conservative, religious, Mississippi) neighborhood. …except if it was [Sheriff Buck](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCAjFhY_YOA). 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2013, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-at-the-door/660124/71 "2013-06-05T19:37:39Z")
> [@hotflungwok](#): > > They would react like [this.](http://thinking-critically.com/2010/07/18/door-to-door-atheists-bother-mormons/) I’d offer those guys a beer. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Quatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@Mr\_Quatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Quatro)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2013, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-at-the-door/660124/72 "2013-06-05T20:10:49Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > I’d treat them the same way I treat any door-to-door type. Polite refusal at first, escalating as needed to convince them to de-ass my property ASAP. Real followers of Jesus Christ don’t go door to door anyway too many demons in certain neighborhoods, but the good news is that i heard that if you put up an American flag in front of your door or property the Jehovah Witnesses will leave you alone. Honest injun … this ain’t no lie. by the way what would an atheist try to convince you of … “that there is no God”? give me a break 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2013, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-at-the-door/660124/73 "2013-06-05T20:13:23Z")
> [@Mr\_Quatro](#): > > Real followers of Jesus Christ don’t go door to door anyway too many demons in certain neighborhoods, but the good news is that i heard that if you put up an American flag in front of your door or property the Jehovah Witnesses will leave you alone. > > Honest injun … this ain’t no lie. Ummm… you heard wrong. That’s not been the case in my experience. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2013, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-at-the-door/660124/74 "2013-06-05T20:34:07Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > It actually sounds like a number to call if you think you might be an atheist. Remember-you call it, it doesn’t call you. Except in Russia… ---
**Author:** ![Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimmy_Gibbler)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2013, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-at-the-door/660124/75 "2013-06-05T20:54:18Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I Googled “opposition to atheist billboards” and got quite a bit more than the occasional tiny action from single pastors, and as far as atheist commercials are concerned I haven’t heard any yet and Google doesn’t seem to be of help here-do you have any links so I can see how the public reacted to them? So did I. If you have a cite to any reaction more severe than expressions of disapproval on internet message boards, I’d be gratified if you’d share it. ---
**Author:** ![pricciar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@pricciar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pricciar)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2013, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-at-the-door/660124/76 "2013-06-05T21:19:58Z")
How would people react if atheists went to funerals trying to convince people that gods didn’t exist? Would communities be as accepting of them as they are of Westboro Baptist, or would there be a backlash? ---
**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:** [June 5, 2013, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-at-the-door/660124/77 "2013-06-05T21:30:39Z")
> [@pricciar](#): > > How would people react if atheists went to funerals trying to convince people that gods didn’t exist? Would communities be as accepting of them as they are of Westboro Baptist, or would there be a backlash? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2013, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-at-the-door/660124/78 "2013-06-05T21:39:48Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > I bet there would be shotguns in at least some cases. And it is amazing how much religious crap is allowed to bother me. I get those Jesus prayer rugs, I get mailings from the local church when I move into a place, I get religious affirmations. I do not get religious people at my door, thankfully. But all of the rest is considered just fine…whereas I’m pretty sure if I sent out atheistic or even secular humanitarian pamphlets I’d be branded as a pariah pretty quickly, in my fairly Christian neighborhood (and honestly, what neighborhood in the States isn’t “fairly Christian”?) So you have to throw mail away? Truly the evil christians persecution of you is a tragic life no one should have to live. ---
**Author:** ![Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleeps_With_Butterflies)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2013, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-at-the-door/660124/79 "2013-06-05T21:55:05Z")
> [@pricciar](#): > > How would people react if atheists went to funerals trying to convince people that gods didn’t exist? Would communities be as accepting of them as they are of Westboro Baptist, or would there be a backlash? Please stop making him bust out his eyerollies just because you posted something that makes his OP look even more foolish. Reading along in this thread I’m starting to hear him with a different voice: [Look, I already told you! I take the backlash for being an atheist bravely by putting these threads out there on a messageboard that already skews atheist! I have people skills! I am good with these silly scenarios that don’t hold up in real life because people actually hate anyone who goes door to door! Don’t you understand that? WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAY27NU1Jog) ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2013, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-at-the-door/660124/80 "2013-06-05T22:06:28Z")
> [@Mathematics](#): > > A lot of people literally have never heard of atheism or don’t believe it to be a possibility. I told one of my friends in high school that I was an atheist and she didn’t understand it. “Are you a Satanist? A Muslim? How can you just not be anything?”, she asked, genuinely confused. I’ve heard the argument, or counter, if you will, of “Look, Atheists just don’t believe in one more God than you do.” You’ll get farther when you answer the “You mean you don’t believe in God??” gambit with “Which God are you referring to? Zeus? Odin? Baal?” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-at-the-door/660124.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-at-the-door/660124.md?page=5)