Billboard asking people to skip church on Christmas stirs controversy

a reply to: intrepid

In reality there is very little "Christ" in Christmas

Except the wine bro - In Australia, it's usually stinkin hot on Christmas Day so there is lots of water and lots of wine. I often spill my wine in the pool so, you know, Jesus is present during those occasions because water into wine etc.

There is usually fish and bread too.

Did I mention the wine?

a reply to: Sublimecraft

I had no idea there was a Christmas/wine tradition in Australia!

That explains my favorite Christmas song:

a reply to: Abysha

We could start with the Christmas tree?

If you are devoutly fundamental, then you won't even have one although I think that interpretation of the verse is silly, myself.

originally posted by: intrepid
a reply to: Raggedyman

Says the one that called me insecure and "oracle"? Sounds like it bothers you imo.

To the rest of your post..... I agree.

I do think you are insecure, I can't imagine why you would accuse me of a pity party, unless you were trying to garner support or get a reaction.
The support because you need validity, a reaction to justify yourself

Simply, the sign doesn't bother me, the motives behind it do.
I think it was put there to garner a response, a negative response. To cause a divide

And yes oracle, why?
Because the pagan roots of Christmas have been discussed hundreds of times on this forum, hundreds of times in other places. I think again you are just trying to get a reaction, a reaction that makes you feel superior

Trying to invalidate my beliefs to make yourself feel good.
That's just bizzare, I can't think of any other motives behind your comments

If you want to believe the world is flat, that's fine, Santa, cool, evolution if that's your flavor, awesome, creation be my guest, aliens ufos demons fairys whatever
I don't need to run you or your beliefs down to feel good about myself, it just saddens me that there is such a divide and people on both sides are actively working to make it bigger

Personally I see this as an attack on Christianity, another day another attack on another group someone doesn't like. I am sick of all this bitterness from any side

a reply to: CharlieSpeirs

arrrgh! I often critisize Xtrians but what the jeebus? its not enough that they get their day off on Sunday, they want to tell xtiams how to act, implying they are not good people without the stranglehold of church meetings. I thought atheists were better than that

a reply to: CharlieSpeirs
This is a very empowering and good message.
We need to change the world, even if it's one billboard at a time.

Religion is one of the roots of all of our problems.

Throw away the crutch of God and stand up on your own two feet.

originally posted by: MotherMayEye
a reply to: Sublimecraft

I had no idea there was a Christmas/wine tradition in Australia!

That explains my favorite Christmas song:

Beer is also popular, and lots of people actually spend the day at the beach too. As much as I love the "Traditional winter Christmas" that I have experienced a few times (in Ireland), for me, Christmas is always about +35 degrees C, board-shorts, wine/beer, BBQ and beach....and presents for the kids.

a reply to: Raggedyman

I'm sorry that you took offense that reality disposed of your fantasy. I'm not sorry for pointing it out, just sorry you took offense. We've got enough of that to listen to today.

a reply to: burdman30ott6

I'm kind of befuddled as to why any atheist believes the majority of Christians give a damn whether others attend church or not. Your soul, your decision, your fate, not my circus, not my monkeys. The problems only arise when the atheists start trying to enact changes on traditions outside their own houses.

I'm kind of befuddled as to why Christians think the majority of atheists should give a damn about converting to their religion. It's your soul, your fate, not our circus, not our monkeys. The problems only arise when Christians start trying to enact changes outside of their own households.

originally posted by: Metallicus
a reply to: CharlieSpeirs

Wow, talk about a group I wouldn't want to influence me.

They sure do a lot of pontificating for people that don't believe in God.

Atheists kept their mouths shut, and their lack of belief to themselves for centuries. Especially if they knew what was good for them. Now that they're coming out fighting against centuries of oppression by the church, it pisses everyone off. You can criticize them all you want, but at this point, it's not going away, and neither is the "pontificating".

Growing up in a Christian family everyone has always made it a point to attend church or mass every time Easter or Christmas come up. They have stated how important it is to attend on those holidays, never mind the fact that sometimes people haven't attended churches in a long time. It was somehow a 'bad' thing if you don't attend.

Also, the meaning of the billboard is clear - you don't have to worry if you miss a church service during Christmas. Your morality is not dependent on attending churches.

It's funny seeing how some has claimed that it is aimed at Christianity and that's their goal to rile some up. If that was the goal, it has worked LOL.

originally posted by: Deaf Alien
Growing up in a Christian family everyone has always made it a point to attend church or mass every time Easter or Christmas come up. They have stated how important it is to attend on those holidays, never mind the fact that sometimes people haven't attended churches in a long time. It was somehow a 'bad' thing if you don't attend.

Also, the meaning of the billboard is clear - you don't have to worry if you miss a church service during Christmas. Your morality is not dependent on attending churches.

It's funny seeing how some has claimed that it is aimed at Christianity and that's their goal to rile some up. If that was the goal, it has worked LOL.

Well, it was the goal and, of course, it worked. Christians are feeling attacked just like Muslims are lately. Big whoop that this atheist group found yet another way to make Christians feel attacked.

I'd say the same thing to any group getting in a dig on Islam, too.

I can't even muster an LOL anymore.

The elite are profiting from a War on Terror by vilifying Muslims, and they are profiting from democratic spending policies by vilifying Christians.

It's not funny to me when the elite exploit religion for profit.

As I stated previously in this thread, I am an atheist. I'm just fed up with people scoring political points by exploiting regular people -- religious or not.

a reply to: CharlieSpeirs

As a gnostic I really don't care about religion other than the fact that it keeps man in a constant state of war, and limits mental capacity, but the fact that atheists only have the balls to attack Christians is lame.

The group said the billboards are intended to reach the millions of people who still attend church occasionally and call themselves religious, but have doubts about their beliefs.

“It is important for these folks who are on the fence about their beliefs to know that they can take that first big step and leave church,” said Nick Fish, national program director of American Atheists. “There are tens of millions of atheists in this country. We’re everywhere. And we don’t need church or gods to tell us how to be good people.”

What a bunch of jerks.

originally posted by: Anosognosia
a reply to: CharlieSpeirs

As a gnostic I really don't care about religion other than the fact that it keeps man in a constant state of war, and limits mental capacity...

That I debate. I said one doesn't need religion to be moral. That doesn't mean there's no value in religion for a good many people. They get out of it what they need.

.... but the fact that atheists only have the balls to attack Christians is lame.

Anyone really. It's getting old isn't it?

a reply to: intrepid

I don't mind Christianity being attacked as long as every other religion is attacked as well.

Atheists and people in general need to grow a pair and start going after other religions. Unless the goal of atheists is to usher in a new world caliphate.

originally posted by: CharlieSpeirs
This one is interesting, and we haven't had a discussion about the war on Christmas this month...
So I thought I'd throw this into the mix.

Billboards popping up in Colorado and North Carolina carry a message appreciated by some but not as much by others.

They feature a picture of Santa and the words, "Go ahead and skip church! Just be good for goodness sake. Happy holidays!"

Time for some outrage, am I right.

American Atheists, the group behind the ads, says their intention is to emphasize that being a good person isn't tied to attending religious services.

According to a quote at the source;
This may be insulting to those who do celebrate Christmas for religious reasons.

Big whoop, eh?

One person said they should have "worded it differently"...
How's that for PC?



Merry Christmas, everyone.

m.aol.com...

I remember seeing this a year or two ago. I find it mighty hypocritical that they'd be pulling their hair out in a fit of rage if someone put up a billboard that urged kids to go to church to celebrate Jesus's birthday on the 25th. They would be protesting to have it taken down. In good faith, I'd have to go deface this billboard if I saw it because that's what they'd do to one I support.

a reply to: Anosognosia

but the fact that atheists only have the balls to attack Christians is lame.

That's an outright lie. There are several outspoken atheists(anti-theists) who go after all religions, not just Christianity. You can start with Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris, and Richard Dawkins. There are several others.

originally posted by: Anosognosia
a reply to: intrepid

I don't mind Christianity being attacked as long as every other religion is attacked as well.

Atheists and people in general need to grow a pair and start going after other religions. Unless the goal of atheists is to usher in a new world caliphate.

See above.

Organized religion so fragile
that a billboard, cartoon or a Starbucks cup
can make a believer loose their minds.

originally posted by: Klassified
a reply to: Anosognosia

but the fact that atheists only have the balls to attack Christians is lame.

That's an outright lie. There are several outspoken atheists(anti-theists) who go after all religions, not just Christianity. You can start with Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris, and Richard Dawkins. There are several others.

originally posted by: Anosognosia
a reply to: intrepid

I don't mind Christianity being attacked as long as every other religion is attacked as well.

Atheists and people in general need to grow a pair and start going after other religions. Unless the goal of atheists is to usher in a new world caliphate.

See above.

I never said there is absolutely no criticism from atheists towards other religions. From what I have seen in general from your typical atheist or atheist group(not the likes of Hitchens or Dawkins) is that most attacks are toward Christianity.

It makes sense really. Christianity is the most popular religion in countries that have large populations of atheists, so of course that is going to be the main target. I just don't see other religions really attacked at all. Jews for the most part are off the table in general because of the risk of being labeled a bigot or anti-semitic. Muslims aren't known for reacting to criticism of their religion very well, so the risk of physical violence is always in the back of their minds.

Christians this day in age are for the most part very tolerant of criticism. So they are the obvious target of choice for atheists.