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Lawyerlady


On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

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Just....WHY????
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The most reliable annual “war on Christmas” fodder in all the land has arrived: A billboard, released by an atheist group, prodding at the religious foundation of the Christmas season with a reminder that atheists exist.

This year’s billboard — as it has in the past — comes from American Atheists. And this year’s billboard — as it has in the past — will fail to live up to the worst fears of its critics.

Don’t worry, Christmas is still coming. Billboards don’t cancel Christmas.

The billboard will appear in Memphis, Nashville, Milwaukee, St. Louis and Fort Smith, Arkansas — right in the middle of a handful of red states. The campaign, according to an American Atheists news release, is “aimed at in-the-closet atheists who are pressured to observe religious traditions during the holidays” and who might want to attend the group’s Memphis conference next year. Running from Dec. 1 through Dec. 24, the campaign will also give the group a lot of press coverage (like this article) in the lead-up to Christmas.

“Dear Santa,” the billboard reads. “All I want for Christmas is to skip church! I’m too old for fairy tales.”

Last year, the same group purchased a billboard in Times Square. A state senator took the bait and asked for the billboard to come down. The group responded by announcing it would put up a similar billboard in the senator’s home district, on Staten Island.

In 2012, American Atheists had ANOTHER billboard in Times Square, this one reading: “Keep the Merry! Dump the Myth!” Similar billboards from the group go back at least four years, to 2010.

Effective or not, the campaigns are certainly good at attracting attention to an affiliation that does not fare particularly well in public opinion polls.

According to a Pew poll on belief, many of the states targeted by the campaign have a smaller-than-average percentage of people who responded that they do not believe in God. In Tennessee, for instance, just 2 percent of respondents said they do not believe in God; 12 percent of respondents stated that they were religiously unaffiliated (the national averages are 5 percent and 16 percent, respectively).

But American Atheists said it is bringing the campaign to the South not because of the quantity of atheists there, but because “discrimination and mistrust of atheists is especially pronounced” in the region.

Although atheists (along with the religiously affiliated) debate the extent of backlash and discrimination atheists face across the country, that history is written into state law: Tennessee, along with seven other states, has a law on the books banning atheists from holding public office — though those laws are unenforceable thanks to a mid-20th century Supreme Court decision. In Mississippi, where the atheist group failed to secure placement for an ad in Jackson, two unenforceable laws prevent atheists from holding office and from testifying in court.

Overall, American attitudes towards atheists are not positive. In a poll earlier this year, a majority of Americans said that a belief in God is necessary for individual morality. And a temperature-based rating system from Pew measuring how people in the United States feel about different faith groups found that Americans, by a wide margin, have the “coldest” feelings for atheists and Muslims, of all religious groups.

Will this billboard change those numbers? Probably not. But every Christmas now comes with a war on Christmas. This billboard will help to kick off the season.

 

BBgcXlf.img?h=214&w=728&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f&x=410&y=265



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Lawyerlady


On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

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If you don't like the meaning of Christmas - don't celebrate it. It's that simple.

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Tinydancer


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A billboard is a big waste of money. It won't be changing anyones mind and Christmas is enjoyed by many athiest so I'm not sure they really have a point.

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Lexxy


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I don't get it. I don't go to church on Christmas but I really don't care if you want to go.

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flan327


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This makes me sad:

"Overall, American attitudes towards atheists are not positive. In a poll earlier this year, a majority of Americans said that a belief in God is necessary for individual morality."

flan

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Lexxy


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flan327 wrote:

This makes me sad:

"Overall, American attitudes towards atheists are not positive. In a poll earlier this year, a majority of Americans said that a belief in God is necessary for individual morality."

flan

 I agree it is a sad statement.  I believe myself to be as moral as anyone else.



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Lady Gaga Snerd


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Well, this is why people are annoyed by atheists. Nobody is making anybody go to church. Sooooo, don't go.

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Tinydancer


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Do you mean annoyed by certain atheist? I know many atheists who would think this is just as stupid as you do.

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Lady Gaga Snerd


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Atheists in general as GROUP tend to be highly annoying, yes.

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Lexxy


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Tinydancer wrote:

Do you mean annoyed by certain atheist? I know many atheists who would think this is just as stupid as you do.

 Exactly.  Equating all atheists with these nutters is like equating all christians with those nut job Hillsborough people.  Crazy people come in all religions or lack of.  Crazy is crazy.



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Lady Gaga Snerd


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Oh chill people. I have called out annoying Christians as well.


 

SHEESH!!



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Lexxy


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Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:

Atheists in general as GROUP tend to be highly annoying, yes.

 Whatever.  So do self righteous christians.



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Lady Gaga Snerd


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You can't make a single statement anymore without the "Well that doesn't apply to EVERYONE, wah, wah" type qualifier.


 

SHEESH!!



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Tinydancer


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Would you like it if someone said Christian as a group are highly annoying? There are definitely some really annoying Christians as well. It's not really fair to lump them all together.

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Tinydancer


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No one was wawa ing so I'm not sure why you would say that. I'm not an athiest but I found it wrong so I called it out...Sheesh...lol

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Lady Gaga Snerd


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Tinydancer wrote:

Would you like it if someone said Christian as a group are highly annoying? There are definitely some really annoying Christians as well. It's not really fair to lump them all together.

Of course there are.  But, Christians are often lumped.  As soon as anyone says anything wrong there are immediate references to the Westboro idiots.  Or, all right wing conservatives are lumped together.  Wah, wah, there is a lot of LUMPING all around!    biggrin



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Lady Gaga Snerd


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th?id=HN.608028899752413893&pid=1.7



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Tinydancer


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I only saw you lumping right now but if I see anyone else lumpimg I'll call them out too...

biggrin

 



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Lady Gaga Snerd


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Okay dokey! Lumpeth on!

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Lawyerlady


On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

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Well, since this is an organize GROUP of atheists that do this, that group is annoying. So, my comment applies to you only if you are one of them (or think or act like one of them).

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Lady Gaga Snerd


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My lumps, my lumps, my lovely lady lumps....

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I was commenting on LGS's post as she specifically lumped all athiest together. Your comment was rightly directed at this group of nutsos' and they are annoying I agree.

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Lady Gaga Snerd


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Ok, please forgive my errant lumping.

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Lawyerlady


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Does anyone else appreciate the irony of writing this letter to Santa and calling God a fairy tale? LOL.

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Tinydancer


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Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:

Ok, please forgive my errant lumping.

 Ooooh. That sounds sexy...lol



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Ohfour


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Lawyerlady wrote:

Does anyone else appreciate the irony of writing this letter to Santa and calling God a fairy tale? LOL.

LOL!!!!  HAHAHAHAHA!!!  Dumbasses... 



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flan327


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Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:

Ok, please forgive my errant lumping.

 Nope, no forgiveness for YOU!

flan



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lilyofcourse


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Look at the picture. Look at the message.

This isn't about adults. It is about influencing kids. You think kids don't read billboards? You don't think a 12 year old wont see that and think, "hey, maybe it is a fairy tale"?

This is geared toward the youth. It is a way for Satan to get another little seed in their brain that they don't need Jesus.



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Charley Harper
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I'd love to know why they're so offended by someone they don't believe in.

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Tinydancer


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Well my job as a parent is to make sure my kid knows about Jesus and what he did for us. Even without the billboard some people will question this. Hopefully what they've learned through their whole life will have more influence than a quick drive by a billboard. We can't make their choices for them but we can give them the information they need to make the best choice.

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lilyofcourse


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Yes. As a parent it is. But kids are influenced by all kinds of things.

All I am saying is don't get blind sided by the billboard and actually look at what it is saying and who it is saying it to.





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JPT


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Well, their money is just as good with the advertising company as the Christians who put up their billboards to proselytize.

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flan327


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JPT wrote:

Well, their money is just as good with the advertising company as the Christians who put up their billboards to proselytize.

 Indeed it is.

flan



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JPT wrote:

Well, their money is just as good with the advertising company as the Christians who put up their billboards to proselytize.

Christians are commanded to preach the word to all corners of the Earth.  Why do the atheists care? 



-- Edited by Ohfour on Tuesday 2nd of December 2014 02:21:38 PM

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Lexxy


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Ohfour wrote:
JPT wrote:

Well, their money is just as good with the advertising company as the Christians who put up their billboards to proselytize.

Christians are commanded to preach the word to all corners of the Earth.  Why do the atheists care? 



-- Edited by Ohfour on Tuesday 2nd of December 2014 02:21:38 PM

 Most don't.



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flan327


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Lexxy wrote:
Ohfour wrote:
JPT wrote:

Well, their money is just as good with the advertising company as the Christians who put up their billboards to proselytize.

Christians are commanded to preach the word to all corners of the Earth.  Why do the atheists care? 



-- Edited by Ohfour on Tuesday 2nd of December 2014 02:21:38 PM

 Most don't.

 Exactly.

flan



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Lawyerlady


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lilyofcourse wrote:

Yes. As a parent it is. But kids are influenced by all kinds of things.

All I am saying is don't get blind sided by the billboard and actually look at what it is saying and who it is saying it to.



 That's just it, they throw a fit if anyone dares influence their kids with the word of God, but let's put up that billboard to confuse Christian kids.  Hypocrites.



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flan327


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Lawyerlady wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:

Yes. As a parent it is. But kids are influenced by all kinds of things.

All I am saying is don't get blind sided by the billboard and actually look at what it is saying and who it is saying it to.



 That's just it, they throw a fit if anyone dares influence their kids with the word of God, but let's put up that billboard to confuse Christian kids.  Hypocrites.

 Do you really think that stupid billboard is going to "confuse" anyone?

flan



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Ohfour


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flan327 wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:

Yes. As a parent it is. But kids are influenced by all kinds of things.

All I am saying is don't get blind sided by the billboard and actually look at what it is saying and who it is saying it to.



 That's just it, they throw a fit if anyone dares influence their kids with the word of God, but let's put up that billboard to confuse Christian kids.  Hypocrites.

 Do you really think that stupid billboard is going to "confuse" anyone?

flan

So you don't have a problem with a billboard mocking Christianity, but you have a problem with "over the top" Halloween decorations?   



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There's so much us and them going on in this thread. It's a shame because neither the atheist nor the Christians of this board had anything to do with this billboard. All articles like this do is polarize people, make it all about us versus them. I'm pretty sure most of us would prefer to just live and let live.

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Lexxy


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Tinydancer I wish this board had a like button.

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flan327


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Ohfour wrote:
flan327 wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:

Yes. As a parent it is. But kids are influenced by all kinds of things.

All I am saying is don't get blind sided by the billboard and actually look at what it is saying and who it is saying it to.



 That's just it, they throw a fit if anyone dares influence their kids with the word of God, but let's put up that billboard to confuse Christian kids.  Hypocrites.

 Do you really think that stupid billboard is going to "confuse" anyone?

flan

So you don't have a problem with a billboard mocking Christianity, but you have a problem with "over the top" Halloween decorations?   

 If they're extremely bloody & graphic, yes I do.

flan



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Tinydancer wrote:

There's so much us and them going on in this thread. It's a shame because neither the atheist nor the Christians of this board had anything to do with this billboard. All articles like this do is polarize people, make it all about us versus them. I'm pretty sure most of us would prefer to just live and let live.

 Well, it would help if the atheists on the board who hate being lumped together with the group that does this would stop defending it.



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On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

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flan327 wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:

Yes. As a parent it is. But kids are influenced by all kinds of things.

All I am saying is don't get blind sided by the billboard and actually look at what it is saying and who it is saying it to.



 That's just it, they throw a fit if anyone dares influence their kids with the word of God, but let's put up that billboard to confuse Christian kids.  Hypocrites.

 Do you really think that stupid billboard is going to "confuse" anyone?

flan

 We are talking about kids, not rational adults.  It's blatently attacking Christianity and insulting it - calling our God a fairy tale. 



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Tinydancer


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Not all the atheist on this board are defending it LL. I don't see where anyone said this was a good idea whether they're Christian or atheist or something else.

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Lexxy


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Yeah, I never defended it. I said I don't want to go to church on Christmas. If you want to go to church on Christmas fine with me. I think it is a stupid billboard & meant to stir shyt up. But they paid for it so up it went.

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Lawyerlady


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Tinydancer wrote:

Not all the atheist on this board are defending it LL. I don't see where anyone said this was a good idea whether they're Christian or atheist or something else.

 I didn't say all.



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Lindley


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As a Christian a billboard is not going to diminish my faith in anyway. Also if you raise your children up as believers and encourage them in their faith, they would not be swayed by any billboard.

Do I like what the billboards say? no I don't, but we still have free speech in this country and that goes for those who do not believe as well as those who do. I do think it can open up debate with not only believers but also nonbelievers about the Gospel.

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Lindley wrote:

As a Christian a billboard is not going to diminish my faith in anyway. Also if you raise your children up as believers and encourage them in their faith, they would not be swayed by any billboard.

Do I like what the billboards say? no I don't, but we still have free speech in this country and that goes for those who do not believe as well as those who do. I do think it can open up debate with not only believers but also nonbelievers about the Gospel.

 biggrinbiggrinbiggrinbiggrinbiggrin



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Tinydancer


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Lawyerlady wrote:
Tinydancer wrote:

Not all the atheist on this board are defending it LL. I don't see where anyone said this was a good idea whether they're Christian or atheist or something else.

 I didn't say all.

 You didn't say some either and I can't find a single post saying this was a good idea from anyone.



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