Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Heather Spoonheim on March 28, 2011 at 2:17am

A very valid point, Alejandro, especially for marketing your own product.  I think what Robert is saying, and I am strongly agreeing with, is that Atheism is not the exclusive product of American Atheists.  There are many atheists who have to market themselves on a daily basis and in direct contact with family, coworkers, and religious neighbours.  Any ground that they may or may not have made with the people in their lives has no bearing on American Atheists.  The AA billboards, however, do have a strong bearing on the lives of thousands of atheists who have no interest in using an aggressive and confrontational approach.

 

I've never hidden my beliefs or backed down from debate when challenged, but now I've got other atheists calling me an 'apologist' because I'm not all gung-ho about insulting theists in an undignified manner.  Honestly, if I were to run across a group of people insulted by this campaign who asked me where I stood on the issue, it would be the first time in my life that I would consider closeting my atheism.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Rayne Cannon on March 28, 2011 at 2:28pm

Honestly, I think they arn't very "mature" ..... we want to be "better" than the Christian attitudes (and on billboards) and some of these messages arn't very respectful (although, the deep, dark part of me absolutly loves them b/c we are finally "allowed" to voice ourselves, lol)...... but at the same time, we have better thought processes and should be doing more/different to reach out to Atheists (or Agnostics) and not try to "convert" the Theists (wich is what I believe some of them are hinting towards).
Well, thats just my opinion on the subject....... There are too many asshole Christians out there.... not as many asshole Atheists.... and we don't want to create more... that just dosn't really make us seem very smart.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by William C. Walker on March 28, 2011 at 6:06pm

The billboards put up by FFRF & other groups aren't likely to please the zealots or change their minds. They are to show Americans that we're here, & to comfort those who HAVE serious doubts about the religion that was dumped on them as defenseless children. And it's working. The membership of FFRF is over five times what it was when I first discovered it.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Rayne Cannon on March 29, 2011 at 1:21pm

I agree that most of them are to help and they really get the message out there, and thats great. But some of them do seem like they sorta go down to the Christian level, however.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Robert Karp on March 29, 2011 at 1:51pm

I guess i should've posed this as a two part forum. Ok, so the billboard argument I can see the points and in terms of a marketing standpoint i can see how this would work. But for me, Silverman being out there and speaking to people the way he does, i'm talking specifically of the O'Reilly show here, is not the way to act and goes against the perception that I would like people to have of me as an atheist.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Heather Spoonheim on March 29, 2011 at 2:14pm

Perhaps I wouldn't go so far as to say, 'not the way to act', but I'm certain you really meant that in the context of 'goes against the perception that I would like people to have of me as an atheist'.

 

To that end, I fully agree.  There are always going to be really confrontational atheists out there who do a poor job of backing up that confrontation with the intellect to support their position, and I'm actually glad to stand beside them, behind them, or just stay away from them - whatever they like.  The big difference with Silverman is that he's perceived as not only representing a large body of atheists, but being representative of that large body of atheists.  In that regard, I think he has at least somewhat of an obligation to better prepare for prime time media appearances so he can put forth an image that more of us can respect - even if he is being smug, insulting, arrogant, or whatever.  I could actually respect a smug, insulting, arrogant representative that could make an argument for his stance by showing that O'Reilly is just as smug, insulting, and arrogant although without grounds because of his Bronze Age understanding of the world.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by William C. Walker on March 29, 2011 at 10:41pm

Robert, No matter what phrasing we use on billboards drawing attention to our existence,there are people who will take offense. F

• ▶ Reply

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• …
• 7
• 8
• 9
• Next ›
• Page