# JOHN316 License Plate Opinions wanted, especially from Athiest or Anti-theist Dopers **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 18, 2005, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john316-license-plate-opinions-wanted-especially-from-athiest-or-anti-theist-dopers/304473 "2005-05-18T20:44:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john316-license-plate-opinions-wanted-especially-from-athiest-or-anti-theist-dopers/304473/1 "2005-05-18T20:44:04Z")
Just saw this [story](http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/4874741p-4471616c.html) online today, and wondered - do you find the idea of a license plate with the legend: **JOHN316** to be offensive? If so, why? And would you have expected a favorable ruling from the Liscensing Board? In my mind I can understand why some people would find it annoying, but that’s different, to me, than being offensive. And while there are many Bible verses that I would find offensive that one seems to be one of the most innocuous ones. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john316-license-plate-opinions-wanted-especially-from-athiest-or-anti-theist-dopers/304473/2 "2005-05-18T20:49:08Z")
I think John should have saved his money for a 320 or bigger, anything with a 6 cylinder engine basically. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john316-license-plate-opinions-wanted-especially-from-athiest-or-anti-theist-dopers/304473/3 "2005-05-18T20:50:04Z")
A lot of people read John 3:16 to say that all non-Christians are damned. From a strict logical standpoint, it doesn’t actually say that, but it still could be an issue for some people. ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john316-license-plate-opinions-wanted-especially-from-athiest-or-anti-theist-dopers/304473/4 "2005-05-18T20:51:05Z")
I don’t know anything about John 3:16 outside of one Family Guy Joke. Although I dislike the Red Sox I don’t think thats what it really says in the Bible. ---
**Author:** ![Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f19dbf/32.png) [@Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Only_Mostly_Dead)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john316-license-plate-opinions-wanted-especially-from-athiest-or-anti-theist-dopers/304473/5 "2005-05-18T20:53:05Z")
I have more issue with the “Know Jesus, Know Peace. No Jesus, No Peace” bumper sticker. Maybe because I can pretend to be ignorant of the verse, but the sticker lays it out there pretty bluntly. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john316-license-plate-opinions-wanted-especially-from-athiest-or-anti-theist-dopers/304473/6 "2005-05-18T20:53:40Z")
> [@OtakuLoki](#): > > Just saw this [story](http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/4874741p-4471616c.html) online today, and wondered - do you find the idea of a license plate with the legend: **JOHN316** to be offensive? No more than those “In case of rapture, this car will be abandoned” or “Jesus loves me” bumper stickers. ---
**Author:** ![Ghanima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Ghanima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ghanima)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john316-license-plate-opinions-wanted-especially-from-athiest-or-anti-theist-dopers/304473/7 "2005-05-18T20:57:34Z")
I’m a pretty hard core atheist and I wouldn’t be offended. I might snort and roll my eyes, but I wouldn’t be offended. To me it has nothing to do with church and state, its a friggin license plate for cryin out loud. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john316-license-plate-opinions-wanted-especially-from-athiest-or-anti-theist-dopers/304473/8 "2005-05-18T20:58:11Z")
Atheist/agnostic/humanist/whatever checking in here… It doesn’t bother me at all. It actually makes me want a “DEADGOD” license plate just for counterbalance or just to be a jerk. Not sure which. (kidding) I would have a problem if the design incorporated by the government had JOHN 3:16 on it though. ---
**Author:** ![Stark\_Raven\_Mad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Stark\_Raven\_Mad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stark_Raven_Mad)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john316-license-plate-opinions-wanted-especially-from-athiest-or-anti-theist-dopers/304473/9 "2005-05-18T20:58:21Z")
If an atheist is supposed to know better, why make such a fuss out of it? I say apatheism is The Way. Screw them all. ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john316-license-plate-opinions-wanted-especially-from-athiest-or-anti-theist-dopers/304473/10 "2005-05-18T21:00:52Z")
I’m an atheist and the only thing that offends me about that plate is that someone else would not only get offended at it, but get so much so that they caused a ‘public outcry’. Clowns. ---
**Author:** ![jimpatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9e5f3/32.png) [@jimpatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimpatro)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john316-license-plate-opinions-wanted-especially-from-athiest-or-anti-theist-dopers/304473/11 "2005-05-18T21:03:12Z")
Not offensive, just gets a :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john316-license-plate-opinions-wanted-especially-from-athiest-or-anti-theist-dopers/304473/12 "2005-05-18T21:20:01Z")
Agnostic checking in. No, I have no problem with it. I’m not a Christian, but I don’t begrudge them their believes. I would also have no problem with a SHIVA plate, or a GAIA (Have a spelled that right?) plate. Live and let live. ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john316-license-plate-opinions-wanted-especially-from-athiest-or-anti-theist-dopers/304473/13 "2005-05-18T21:23:15Z")
I could have written \*\*Khadaji’s \*\* post word for word. ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john316-license-plate-opinions-wanted-especially-from-athiest-or-anti-theist-dopers/304473/14 "2005-05-18T21:24:02Z")
> [@ultrafilter](#): > > A lot of people read John 3:16 to say that all non-Christians are damned. From a strict logical standpoint, it doesn’t actually say that, but it still could be an issue for some people. 😕 I don’t doubt you’re correct in this. I just never heard of this particular interpretation. The explaination for it must be in the Super-Secret Misogynist Fundie Bible, that I don’t read. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![PinkMarabou](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ec9cab/32.png) [@PinkMarabou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PinkMarabou)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john316-license-plate-opinions-wanted-especially-from-athiest-or-anti-theist-dopers/304473/15 "2005-05-18T21:24:27Z")
Yeah, I’m atheist and it doesn’t bother me. Just gives me one more reason to laugh at you! ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john316-license-plate-opinions-wanted-especially-from-athiest-or-anti-theist-dopers/304473/16 "2005-05-18T21:25:30Z")
Or how about **Genesis** 3:16? > [@](#): > > Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire [shall be] to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. ---
**Author:** ![6\_6\_6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e0b2c6/32.png) [@6\_6\_6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6_6_6)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john316-license-plate-opinions-wanted-especially-from-athiest-or-anti-theist-dopers/304473/17 "2005-05-18T21:40:29Z")
Not offended… (The Bible reference was meaningless to me until I read the [story](http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/4874741p-4471616c.html) . …but I _am_ surprised that she got away with painting the colon. btw I have 666 on my own plate so I may be biased. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john316-license-plate-opinions-wanted-especially-from-athiest-or-anti-theist-dopers/304473/18 "2005-05-18T21:53:09Z")
This atheist believes that not only is it not offensive, but it’s a valuable public service. I mean, as long as nobody’s going around tattooing “obnoxious boob” on their foreheads, this is a useful identifier. Though I’m tempted to look into MAT61-8 as a response… ---
**Author:** ![Marlitharn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/779978/32.png) [@Marlitharn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marlitharn)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john316-license-plate-opinions-wanted-especially-from-athiest-or-anti-theist-dopers/304473/19 "2005-05-18T21:59:15Z")
I’m offended that she gets 7 digits to play with on her license plate. In my state we only get 6. Seriously, what crawled up the complainer’s butt and died? It’s a license plate. Get over it. It’s not like the vehicle owner came bouncing up to your car at a red light, stuck her head in your driver’s side window, and screamed, “HAVE YOU ACCEPTED JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR PERSONAL SAVIOUR??” while smacking you in the face repeatedly with a Gideon Bible. Sheesh. ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john316-license-plate-opinions-wanted-especially-from-athiest-or-anti-theist-dopers/304473/20 "2005-05-18T22:13:03Z")
It wouldn’t offend me, because I don’t know what a John 316 is, and don’t particularly care. Put on your car whatever is legal. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john316-license-plate-opinions-wanted-especially-from-athiest-or-anti-theist-dopers/304473.md?page=2)