Wearing religion on your sleeve?

Great Debates
1

“got jesus?”

“Smile God loves you”

“Isiah 41:10”

“Christians aren’t PERFECT, they’re just FORGIVEN”

These were the bumper stickers I saw on a pickup truck this morning. Now I am certainly not complaining about the stickers themselves! But it it got me to wondering:

Is it really appropriate to advertise your religion the way one would advertise a radio station? Or wear stickers like you were a Boy Scout and these are your merit badges?

Most religions have some kind of statement or decree that says one should pray in private and keep their religion in private. Muslims are the obvious exception (no critisicm, just a comment).

What do people feel about this? I can’t help but feel it rather cheapens the value of religion. Especially the one about “got jesus” as though Jesus were equivalant to a glass of milk.

I hear tons of complaints about gays wearing their “gayness” (as if it were the same person to person) on ther sleeve but no comments about whether it’s tacky to do the same for religion or not. I’m not here to spark a mega-debate, that’s why this is in IMHO. Please tell me what you think.

2

It is tacky to be so up front about your religion, just like being super-camp is tacky. Worse, people are surprised whaen they are treated differently as a result. It’s like they’re pigeon-holing themselves.

But, hey, that saves everyone else the effort…
Cheers.

3

I would hope that I would live my life in such a way to let others know where I stood and not need a bumper sticker proclaming anything.

YMMV

4

“got jesus?”

“Smile God loves you”

“Isiah 41:10”

“Christians aren’t PERFECT, they’re just FORGIVEN”

all translate to “Ah’m better’n yew!” Sincere Christians act their faith–the obnoxious ones who use their religion as a signifier of unearned superiority to everyone else are the ones who feel the need to show off.

5

Well said.

6

I actually forgot to add the most ironic thing of all.

She also had an American flag sticker that said “United We Stand.”

Need I point out the obvious?

7

I agree with these thoughts on trumpeting one’s religion. Let’s also not forget the “truth” fish devouring the “Darwin” fish on the rears of people’s cars. As if they can wish away Lucy and the first amphibians through the use of a Jesus fish.

But it’s also only fair to point out that some atheists can be just as annoying in exactly the same way. I’m referring to the ones who, whenever they see even the most mundane and inobtrusive religious custom being carried on, insist on telling us that it’s all a stupid crock.

8

Unpopular as it may be, I’ll try to put in a word for the Bible on their sleeve crowd.

The Bible says a lot of things, some of them seem contradictory. Yes, Jesus said that people should pray quietly and humbly.

But in the Acts of the Apostles (the Biblical history of Christianity immediately following Jesus’ death) there is this passage:

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

So there’s a substantial segment of Christians who believe that “witnessing” is just as important a part of their faith as accepting Jesus, being a good person, etc.

As for the bumper stickers, lapel pins, signs at football games, etc., it’s not my style, but it bothers me a lot less than those signs tacked up on telephone poles that say “I lost 30 pounds, call 555-5555.”

9

I find that it is insulting in a way. If colleague A walks in and says “HEY HAVE YOU GOT JESUS? I JUST LOVE JESUS AND I HOPE YOU DO TOO!!”

I as a Christian don’t think it is helpful at all. And yes what really pisses me off are things like “Got Jesus.” Using typical advertising techniques that belong in the gutter to try and “sell” religion is just disgraceful in my opinion and it isn’t cute. The Darwin fish being eaten by the truth fish is also bad as well. And the fact that they have a “United we Stand” sticker on their car or a “These Colors don’t Run” sticker really makes me question if I should be taking advice about important philosophical decisions from someone who thinks the motto “for us or against us” as an actual sound approach to international relations. These are the same types of people who say “God hates Fags” and such, btw.

10

All the WWDJ stuff makes me somewhat ill, especially when compared to all the other advertising crap out there.

Somehow, the idea of Jesus marketed like Jordache Jeans, Reebocks or Jello pudding makes me wonder if he’s rolling over in his grave.

11

WWJD, I mean.

Good thing it’s almost Friday.

12

As sensitive as I am to the evangelical calling of my christian brethren (and sisteren), I have to wonder why they are not able to see my faith in action through what I say and what I do. If you really want me to believe, present God in a way that is comfortable to me and makes sense. Don’t get in my face, don’t wave Jesus in my face, and don’t automatically assume that I am in need of saving, or I’ll walk away from you and never look back. Do you really want me to turn my back on God? Or would you rather be polite and listen to me before you make and judgements? Why wouldn’t it be ok to leave me with my well-formed faith, and help someone in crisis or who has truly lost their faith?

Vald/Igor

13

Maybe the above was a whoosh but for most of us Christians he isn’t in his grave anymore.

:smiley:

14

Oops…I just saw this post.

Yes. Witnessing is very important. However, to me, personally, how I try to live my life is my greatest witness. Not walking door to door asking people if they know the way to heaven. Not proclaiming God from a perch in the middle of the city. Not by wearing a T-shirt talking about how godly I am.

If I live my life on a consistent basis then I am certain I will do more in the field of witnessing than putting a bumper sticker on my car.

15

You know, my mom has one of these on her van and I don’t think she has an arrogant or show-offy bone in her body. It’s on there because it was a gift from a student at the school where she is principal and she, loving Jesus and believing that he loves everyone in return, thought it was cute. She can still act her faith with a sticker on her car.

Just sayin. Personally I think an entire bumper full of them is tacky, especially the sanctimonious ones like “I’m not Perfect, just Forgiven”. But it’s hardly the most heinous act ever carried out in God’s name, now is it?

16

“…rolling over in his grave.” – I love that joke!! :slight_smile:

17

Ok, what a perfect time to bring this up! I just saw a post on Daily Kos where he posted a picture of an 80 something lesbian couple finally getting married and sacrastically saying that it was the death of the instution. And someone from Mass. had a gread response about people with religion that I found very important. Here is the link to the following quote.

This attitude is IMO what Christianity should be about. LOVE! Its about realizing that every poor sod has to make it with his own lot in life and has to deal with it. If you can empathize with people who have had shitty lives then you know how bad it is. If you can love them for it then you are a special person, reguardless of which religion or creed. You know its not about being hateful or feeling better than someone else. If you hate some group of people, then you aren’t being religous. That’s it, end of story. If your nice demeanor is just simply a mental construct that allows you to be in line with religous teachings of “tolerance” then you still aren’t doing enough. These assholes who want to claim that God Hates X are simply wrong. I wish they would really learn what love is all about.

18

I’ve often wondered if there’s an equivalent line of stickers for the agnostic, atheist, or heck, people of other faiths.

“Got Reality?”

“Christians aren’t PERFECT. I’m a Jew”

“Lord, protect me from Thy followers”-I’ve actually seen this one

My personal least favorite witness-sticker is “In the event of rapture, this car will be unmanned”, and I could never come up with a decent response, until my girlfriend suggested “In the event of roadhead, this car will be unmanned”…

19

I’m with kunilou here.
I don’t personally care much for bumperstickers (I figure there’s no need to encourage vandals or police officers who don’t agree with my bumpersticker’s sentiment :slight_smile: ), but I think some of you are reading an insulting tone into things where it’s not intended.
I find it hard to see how “Smile, God loves you!” means someone is trying to make themselves look better than you. If I were a bumpersticker-preacher type and wanted to make myself look better than you, I’d get a bumpersticker that said, “Smile, God loves ME more than you!” :smiley:

For MOST people, I’d guess that the purpose of these Christian bumperstickers are probably:

  1. To get non-Christians interested. For example, I don’t have the verse Isaiah 41:10 memorized, so when I saw that slogan I went to http://bible.gospelcom.net to look up what it says. I doubt I would have gone to a Bible site if it weren’t for seeing that verse advertised. I’d guess that most Christians would consider it a victory any time they can get someone to look at the Bible.
  2. To help other Christians identify with the driver. Yes, it could be kind of like gay pride symbols: They both give you a chance to think, “Oh, cool, here’s one of my kind of people! I’m not the only one!” when you see a WWJD or a rainbow sticker.
  3. The driver just thought it was funny. I’m guessing that the “Got Jesus?” and “Christians aren’t perfect” lines are supposed to be jokes more than anything else. I doubt there is any deep meaning behind most of the other humorous stickers I’ve seen like “Mean people suck” or “Driver carries no cash; he’s married”.

I doubt that “Hah! I want to make everyone feel crappy for not being as debout as I am!” is the first priority for MOST of these people.

20

Count me in with kunilou and lavenderviolet. Those Christians who “advertise”, for the most part, are trying to pique interest, not display their “superiority”.

The “mainstream” Christian Churches do a pretty lousy job at preparing their members to share God’s Word. This presents a problem, since there are admonitions in scripture to do just that - Share the Word (note I’m not saying “force the Word down people’s throats”, “coerce the word”, or anything of that ilk). But nice Presbyterians and Lutherans are uncomfortable enough saying grace at the dinner table, so you’re not likely to find them button-holing people on the streets.

A nice, arm’s-length solution for these folks is the bumper-sticker route. It’s one step above thinking warm thoughts about the un-Churched (that’s a technical term), but a big step below grabbing 'em by the lapels. And they can always pretend their kid put it on the car if anyone calls them on it. Some may find it in poor taste, but I don’t think Jesus was really a big one on decorum anyway. I’d guess if a funny religious bumper-sticker made somebody smile, he’d Find It Good (another technical term).

Disclaimers: 1. All the above doesn’t apply to the carnivorous-fish decals - that’s just stupid. 2. Keep in mind that all generalities are false (including this one (including the one about Presbyterians and Lutherans)), but most have a germ of truth in them somewhere. 3. **rimshotdgansk ** is one of those weak-kneed “let me show my faith by example” type of Christians