# Your beliefs and thoughts on the "atheist billboard" **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 28, 2010, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beliefs-and-thoughts-on-the-atheist-billboard/562195 "2010-11-28T19:26:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**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:** [December 1, 2010, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beliefs-and-thoughts-on-the-atheist-billboard/562195/181 "2010-12-01T05:15:24Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > For religious reasons, you’re far more likely to be killed by a Moslem than by a Christian as seen by the '93 WTC bombing, 9-11 attacks, the Beltway Sniper, and the Fort Hood incident not to mention dozens of plots including the shoe bomber, the underwear bomber, the Times Square bomber, and the Portland Christmas Tree bomber. Against that what acts of terrorists have Christians committed [1] in America? Gay bashings, assaults on religious/racial minorities, thuggish right wing cops; not that I restricted my definition of “threat” to terrorism anyway. There’s plenty of oppressive laws and even more attempts to pass such laws. You are ignoring the fact that Christians _vastly outnumber_ Muslims in America. And that it is the Christians who control the levers of power in this country. I haven’t even knowingly _met_ anyone Muslim, much less been harassed or attacked by them. They are a nonissue for me, personally; an irrelevancy. Terrorism is only such a big deal because most Americans are such utter cowards. I’'m far more likely to die in a car accident or a bad fall or an animal attack than by terrorism. ---
**Author:** ![SecondJudith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5ac83/32.png) [@SecondJudith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecondJudith)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beliefs-and-thoughts-on-the-atheist-billboard/562195/182 "2010-12-01T10:33:12Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Gay bashings, assaults on religious/racial minorities, thuggish right wing cops; not that I restricted my definition of “threat” to terrorism anyway. There’s plenty of oppressive laws and even more attempts to pass such laws. You are ignoring the fact that Christians _vastly outnumber_ Muslims in America. And that it is the Christians who control the levers of power in this country. I haven’t even knowingly _met_ anyone Muslim, much less been harassed or attacked by them. They are a nonissue for me, personally; an irrelevancy. > > Terrorism is only such a big deal because most Americans are such utter cowards. I’'m far more likely to die in a car accident or a bad fall or an animal attack than by terrorism. A car accident in a car _driven by a Christian_, at that. Coincidence? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beliefs-and-thoughts-on-the-atheist-billboard/562195/183 "2010-12-01T10:42:31Z")
It’ll go well with my new [seasonal](http://shirt.woot.com/friends.aspx?k=16362) T-shirt. It’s OK, but I like ones that promote support and loving “Be good for goodness sake” is brilliant, especially this time of year. This one seems a bit more mocking of religion, which I try to avoid. Although I would buy a billboard that says “Jesus loves you thiiiis much” and showing him on the cross. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beliefs-and-thoughts-on-the-atheist-billboard/562195/184 "2010-12-01T15:02:30Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Gay bashings, assaults on religious/racial minorities, thuggish right wing cops; not that I restricted my definition of “threat” to terrorism anyway. You left out the anti-abortion groups, who kill doctors and innocent people while calling themselves “pro-life.” ---
**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:** [December 1, 2010, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beliefs-and-thoughts-on-the-atheist-billboard/562195/185 "2010-12-01T15:31:29Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > Obnoxious. > > But then I’ve never seen a billboard of any kind that I like. +1 & High-Five > [@fuzzypickles](#): > > It’s kinda cute, but nowhere near as awesome as [this billboard](http://images.cheezburger.com/completestore/2009/7/20/128925790510481527.jpg). I think IOU a beer… ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beliefs-and-thoughts-on-the-atheist-billboard/562195/186 "2010-12-01T18:40:41Z")
I’m not religious, but I respect those who are. I’m not sure trying to talk people out of religion is a good thing. ---
**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:** [December 1, 2010, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beliefs-and-thoughts-on-the-atheist-billboard/562195/187 "2010-12-01T19:16:03Z")
> [@control-z](#): > > I’m not religious, but I respect those who are. I’m not sure trying to talk people out of religion is a good thing. And how much respect should be given to those who would have you take up their religion? ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beliefs-and-thoughts-on-the-atheist-billboard/562195/188 "2010-12-01T19:43:06Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > You left out the anti-abortion groups, who kill doctors and innocent people while calling themselves “pro-life.” Which groups are those? I’m only aware of a few disturbed individuals, who are promptly condemned by major anti-abortion groups. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beliefs-and-thoughts-on-the-atheist-billboard/562195/189 "2010-12-01T19:52:52Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > And how much respect should be given to those who would have you take up their religion? None, I guess they think they’re trying to do the right thing but I’ll have no part of it. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beliefs-and-thoughts-on-the-atheist-billboard/562195/190 "2010-12-01T23:03:39Z")
Someone mentioned this billboard? It’s a Catholic response to the atheist billboard: [http://www.northjersey.com/news/113010\_Catholic\_billboard\_responds\_to\_atheist\_message\_outside\_Lincoln\_Tunnel.html](http://www.northjersey.com/news/113010_Catholic_billboard_responds_to_atheist_message_outside_Lincoln_Tunnel.html) ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beliefs-and-thoughts-on-the-atheist-billboard/562195/191 "2010-12-01T23:16:40Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > The people who put this particular billboard up are being obnoxious dicks, they undoubtedly KNOW they’re being obnoxious dicks, and are probably PROUD of being obnoxious dicks. Yes, just as obnoxious as the ones who put up the religious ones. And not nearly in the same class as the Mormons and Witnesses. Last one I talked to (mostly I just ignore them and don’t answer the door if I see two suited teen-agers out there), I told him that you have been trying for 2000 years and haven’t succeeded, why bother. I wouldn’t do it, but I can’t say I much care. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beliefs-and-thoughts-on-the-atheist-billboard/562195/192 "2010-12-02T00:38:52Z")
> [@Rushgeekgirl](#): > > Someone mentioned this billboard? It’s a Catholic response to the atheist billboard: > [http://www.northjersey.com/news/113010\_Catholic\_billboard\_responds\_to\_atheist\_message\_outside\_Lincoln\_Tunnel.html](http://www.northjersey.com/news/113010_Catholic_billboard_responds_to_atheist_message_outside_Lincoln_Tunnel.html) It’s inoffensive. Good for them. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beliefs-and-thoughts-on-the-atheist-billboard/562195/193 "2010-12-02T01:34:23Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Gay bashings, assaults on religious/racial minorities, thuggish right wing cops; not that I restricted my definition of “threat” to terrorism anyway. There’s plenty of oppressive laws and even more attempts to pass such laws. You are ignoring the fact that Christians _vastly outnumber_ Muslims in America. And that it is the Christians who control the levers of power in this country. I haven’t even knowingly _met_ anyone Muslim, much less been harassed or attacked by them. They are a nonissue for me, personally; an irrelevancy. > > Terrorism is only such a big deal because most Americans are such utter cowards. I’'m far more likely to die in a car accident or a bad fall or an animal attack than by terrorism. On all the social issues the liberal-progressive view has the upper hand. Abortion-nationally legalized Gay Rights-Gay marriage is legal in half a dozen states and civil unions/domestic partnerships in countless more School Prayer-No longer mandated Freedom of Speech-Virtually all porn except pedophilic ones are available Gay bashings are largely verbal-anti-gay violence is not by religious fanatics but by teenage thugs who’d beat a person up for any reason. Same for attacks on religious/racial minorities-many neo-Nazis are neo Nordic pagans for example. The “thuggish right wing cop” are largely the exception not the rule-after the Rodney King incident you can pretty much guarantee if a police beating happens Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton will quickly whip up a mass protest-riot. > [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > You left out the anti-abortion groups, who kill doctors and innocent people while calling themselves “pro-life.” They killed what a dozen or so people over twenty years while Muslim terrorists killed 3,000 in the 9-11 Attacks plus dozens more in other attacks. ---
**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:** [December 2, 2010, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beliefs-and-thoughts-on-the-atheist-billboard/562195/194 "2010-12-02T02:17:33Z")
> [@NDP](#): > > Here’s a wrinkle to the story of the Lincoln Tunnel atheist billboard. It’s not really aimed at Christians but rather [atheists who nonetheless celebrate Christmas (in particular, “closeted” ones).](http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2010/11/27/atheist-groups-billboard-targets-closet-non-believers/) > > So what’s the harm if I, as an agnostic or atheist, still do things like give gifts, put up a tree, get together with friends and family, and do other things that can outwardly interpreted as celebrating the holiday? None, I do that. In fact I regard the gift giving and celebrating with family to be if anything subversive of Christianity; that’s about family, generosity and acquisitiveness, not Christianity. > [@Skammer](#): > > > [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > > > You left out the anti-abortion groups, who kill doctors and innocent people while calling themselves “pro-life.” > > Which groups are those? I’m only aware of a few disturbed individuals, who are promptly condemned by major anti-abortion groups. Say what? It’s a nationwide terror campaign, with websites full of death lists, harassment campaigns, death threats to family members, songs and T-shirts [celebrating the bombing](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Robert_Rudolph#Fugitive) by Eric Robert Rudolph; that sort of thing. A few crocodile tears shed after the fact doesn’t qualify as anything but political cover. > [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > On all the social issues the liberal-progressive view has the upper hand. > > Abortion-nationally legalized And very difficult to get or effectively unavailable to many women. And we’ve condemned many women worldwide to forced childbirth or death with our anti-abortion “Mexico City Policy”. > [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > Gay Rights-Gay marriage is legal in half a dozen states and civil unions/domestic partnerships in countless more And illegal in others. And civil unions aren’t anything more than the modern equivalent of segregation; bigotry written into law. That’s the point. > [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > School Prayer-No longer mandated And still forced on people here and there, and only held back as much as it is by constant effort. > [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > Freedom of Speech-Virtually all porn except pedophilic ones are available Only with constant harassment and the occasional arrest for people with unpopular tastes like BDSM. > [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > Gay bashings are largely verbal-anti-gay violence is not by religious fanatics but by teenage thugs who’d beat a person up for any reason. Oh, nonsense. Gays get beaten and killed on a regular basis, and not just by teenagers. And you are just indulging in the standard routine of bashing humanit yin order to defend religion; somehow, raising someone from childhood with speeches about the Absolute Evil of homosexuals doesn’t instigate violence. The people doing the beating are just born evil - religion can’t _possibly_ be at fault. > [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > Same for attacks on religious/racial minorities-many neo-Nazis are neo Nordic pagans for example. The “thuggish right wing cop” are largely the exception not the rule-after the Rodney King incident you can pretty much guarantee if a police beating happens Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton will quickly whip up a mass protest-riot. Don’t be ridiculous. Thuggish cops assault, rob and kill people on a regular basis. Anything happening in response to that is a rarity. ---
**Author:** ![fuzzypickles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9d8465/32.png) [@fuzzypickles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fuzzypickles)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beliefs-and-thoughts-on-the-atheist-billboard/562195/195 "2010-12-02T02:40:40Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > It’s inoffensive. Good for them. Dunno about that…asserting that myth is reality (and presuming that I believe the same) comes across as pretty offensive to me. At least the atheist billboard has truth on its side. ---
**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:** [December 2, 2010, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beliefs-and-thoughts-on-the-atheist-billboard/562195/196 "2010-12-02T02:52:19Z")
> [@fuzzypickles](#): > > … has truth on its side. Personally, I don’t disagree with you, but I’ll add I can’t think of a single fanatical crusade that didn’t begin with different variations on those same last 5 words. Christianity vs Islam vs Atheism; might as well be Sonic vs Gyros vs White Castle: Stuff your gullets and what you spout out 6 hours later smells about the same. ---
**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:** [December 2, 2010, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beliefs-and-thoughts-on-the-atheist-billboard/562195/197 "2010-12-02T03:08:21Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > Personally, I don’t disagree with you, but I’ll add I can’t think of a single fanatical crusade that didn’t begin with different variations on those same last 5 words. And so do quite a few scientific and social revolutions. The fanatical crusades are so fanatical and destructive in large part because they don’t have truth on their side. You don’t need to be a fanatic to believe something when you’re actually right. Are people who inflexibly insist that the sky is blue and not plaid dangerous fanatics? ---
**Author:** ![fuzzypickles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9d8465/32.png) [@fuzzypickles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fuzzypickles)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beliefs-and-thoughts-on-the-atheist-billboard/562195/198 "2010-12-02T07:10:41Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > Personally, I don’t disagree with you, but I’ll add I can’t think of a single fanatical crusade that didn’t begin with different variations on those same last 5 words. Perhaps I should have said “fact” instead of “truth” – truth can be relative, but facts cannot. ---
**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:** [December 2, 2010, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beliefs-and-thoughts-on-the-atheist-billboard/562195/199 "2010-12-02T14:12:21Z")
> [@fuzzypickles](#): > > Perhaps I should have said “fact” instead of “truth” – truth can be relative, but facts cannot. Point well taken. (…and I don’t have the heart to tell Der Trihs that the sky by me is gray today. It might look blue later and there’s a good chance it will look black tonight. I look forward to being able to see subtle variations and nuances of gradual change, from beginning to end to beginning again, and all in just 24 hours. If only there was enough time in the day to enjoy it. ) ---
**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:** [December 2, 2010, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beliefs-and-thoughts-on-the-atheist-billboard/562195/200 "2010-12-02T14:18:59Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > (…and I don’t have the heart to tell Der Trihs that the sky by me is gray today. It might look blue later and there’s a good chance it will look black tonight. I look forward to being able to see subtle variations and nuances of gradual change, from beginning to end to beginning again, and all in just 24 hours. If only there was enough time in the day to enjoy it. ) Still not plaid. And you know quite well what I mean when I say the sky is blue; during the day, no clouds, etc. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beliefs-and-thoughts-on-the-atheist-billboard/562195.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beliefs-and-thoughts-on-the-atheist-billboard/562195.md?page=11)