http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/53132983-78/utah-season-billboard-foundation.html.csp

The Freedom From Religion Foundation finally got around to putting up some billboards in Utah.

One of the billboards says: "Reason's Greetings"

Steve Benson is mentioned in the article.

http://exmormon.org/phorum/read.php?2,369072,369072#msg-369072



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/17/2011 03:11PM by steve benson.

I really like the "Yes, Virginia, there is no God" billboards.

That's a great cartoon. The subtext is a comparison of the two myths, Santa and God.

The next layer plays on the idea that children consider Santa to be a reliable authority.

There's the cultural reference to "Yes, Virginia ...", and the ironic pricking of that sappy story.

It made me laugh the first time I saw it. Laughter is good.

Quote from article:

Bernie Anderson, pastor at Wasatch Hills Seventh-day Adventist Church in Salt Lake City, said the foundation is free, like anyone else, to express a viewpoint. But he sees a little irony in the way they’re doing it.

"While they may not believe in God, they are still quite religious in their approach," Anderson said. "At some level, they are proselytizing, trying to convince others of their viewpoint."



Since when does religion have a monopoly on persuasion?

Seriously! The idea that it could be a "you're not alone this season, have some winter joy" message to all the atheists out there is completely absent from his comprehension.

Probably because every encounter he has, it's with the aim to win someone over to his side of thinking. Doing something without an ulterior motive is beyond foreign to him.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/17/2011 03:27PM by wittyname.

Yes, the pastor is flustered. And in his flusterization, he seems to condemn proselytizing.

Funny how the modus operandi of religious organizations, and even "faith" itself, are often seen in a negative light when a non-religious organization employs them.

So far there are 64 pages of comments following that article in the Salt Lake Tribune. A lot of people are hot and bothered.

Personal issues, big time.

That, plus he obviously can't step outside his own squeeze box.

And of course the Jell-O Belt believers are hot and bothered. Atheists have openly engaged them in the public square and these secret God-gripping doubters simply can't handle the pressure.



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 12/17/2011 05:12PM by steve benson.

Freedom FROM Religion billboards...in UTAH???

There outta be a law...:)

Nothing like a little hypocrisy from the locals. Notice all of the people complaining that "They're proselytizing!!!!"

Ignoring the ridiculously loose definition they seem to be using, is it suddenly against the rules to proselytize in Utah?

Maybe we should have billboards that say "proselytizing of any kind is bad." Will that satisfy these people?

Up until now, I thought it was OK the proselytize in Utah, encouraged even.

It's just the attitude of thinking they have "caught you" being "ironic." See -- you can't complain when we proselytize, 'cuz you're doing it too!

Well, yeah. And the problem has never been throwing ideas out there, or even trying to persuade others to share them. The problem is trying to control, manipulate, force, or in other unethical ways impose one's belief on others, or violating normal social boundaries while doing so. There is nothing unethical about a billboard.

The other problem is expecting others to ignore that behavior while being completely intolerant of any other viewpoint.

Are there atheists who act unethically? You bet! Are there theists who are respectful and open-minded? Of course! And vice versa, naturally.

The bottom line is that this pastor has created a straw man by trying to accuse FFRF of acting like a religion because they have expressed an idea. This just demonstrates that he is completely ignorant of the difference between "thought" and "faith".

Fortunately, freedom of speech and expression is alive and well.