Washington State Atheist Sign Stolen

Rhinocerous Surprise

Collin wrote:

I'm an atheist, but if atheists stole the sign I'd lose all respect for them. I truly feel everyone has the right to express his or her beliefs but they must be responsible for their words.

Your "Yeah, but seriously, atheists are idiots, and going to hell" is basically the message for atheists when we read the bible. We don't stand a chance. We are called "fools" in the bible and everyone knows the godless have no place near god. Jesus also represents that part of christianity, I think. His dad or Jesus or their sort of 'we're the same entity' thing made the rules. For the godless - in biblical terms - Jesus' birth just means they are going to hell and suffer for eternity.

Like I said, both sides are at fault. If the Christians had left the sign up, they'd actually have the moral high ground here, in my opinion. I know the Bible isn't exactly sympathetic to non-believers, but can people honestly say they get that impression from the nativity scene? In my opinion, there's a difference between celebrating your faith (nativity scene, winter solstice, or anything else) and attacking other people's beliefs. The nativity scene is harmless... the sign was not.

kenny olav

DOSW wrote:

How is putting a display in public for all to see, which bashes religion and tells people what to think, not pushing beliefs on unwanting people?

It's the equivalent of Christians putting up a sign that says "Believe in Jesus or you will go to hell," which would be blatantly offensive and a clear example of pushing a belief system on unwanting people. It's the same thing.

Yes, a nativity scene should not be placed in front of a civic building. It should be taken down. But to claim that putting a sign up which is blatantly offensive and obtrusive to others' belief systems is somehow OK, when atheists continually preach against it, is ridiculous.

I have no problem with the sign being offensive to Christians. I'm just asking that they tolerate it and not take the sign away an hour after its put up. And I'm not blaming all Christians for the sign being stolen. But the sign didn't stand much of a chance, even in a town like Olympia. Maybe I'm wrong, though, we'll see how this story progresses...

And maybe the group who put up the sign are a little too zealously athiest, but I admire people who have the guts to challenge unfounded conventions. In most parts of the U.S., its social suicide to declare yourself an athiest or agnostic, or really... anything other than Christian. But I think that's beginning to change... and I want to help bring that change. I resent my Christian upbringing, and I'm happy for my daughter that she won't get mindfucked by these people. She's 7, and we talk about what people believe about 'God', and none of it makes sense to her. It's that simple, really.

South of Seattle

Kenny Olav wrote:

I have no problem with the sign being offensive to Christians. I'm just asking that they tolerate it and not take the sign away an hour after its put up. And I'm not blaming all Christians for the sign being stolen. But the sign didn't stand much of a chance, even in a town like Olympia. Maybe I'm wrong, though, we'll see how this story progresses...

And maybe the group who put up the sign are a little too zealously athiest, but I admire people who have the guts to challenge unfounded conventions. In most parts of the U.S., its social suicide to declare yourself an athiest or agnostic, or really... anything other than Christian. But I think that's beginning to change... and I want to help bring that change. I resent my Christian upbringing, and I'm happy for my daughter that she won't get mindfucked by these people. She's 7, and we talk about what people believe about 'God', and none of it makes sense to her. It's that simple, really.

Luckily it's not social suicide on the west coast. I'd say 70% of the people I know aren't religious at all.

No one really gives a hoot what religion you are, because we're all people and that doesn't matter. It's petty to me to like or dislike someone because of religious beliefs.

jeffbr

mickeyrat wrote:

I do wonder now though, why they(athieists) haven't expressed their disagreement with either Judaism or Islam being that all three religions have the same root in monotheism. Or even the Mormons for that matter.

That is a good question. I know I'm equal opportunity when I make fun of religions.

Commy

South of Seattle wrote:

Luckily it's not social suicide on the west coast. I'd say 70% of the people I know aren't religious at all.

No one really gives a hoot what religion you are, because we're all people and that doesn't matter. It's petty to me to like or dislike someone because of religious beliefs.

wasnt' this in Olympia?


I would have agreed with you a few days ago, but this is absurd.

"thou shall not steal" apparently doesn't apply when you're dealing with billboards or atheists.

South of Seattle

Commy wrote:

wasnt' this in Olympia?


I would have agreed with you a few days ago, but this is absurd.

"thou shall not steal" apparently doesn't apply when you're dealing with billboards or atheists.

Yep. Oregon and Washington are pretty similar, religion wise.

Commy

South of Seattle wrote:

Yep. Oregon and Washington are pretty similar, religion wise.

I lived in Ballard for 4 years...

what I'm sayin is that Olympia should be one of the places atheists should be able to display their message-I agree, most people aren't religious fanatics over there...but to read this story? kind of surprising.

South of Seattle

Commy wrote:

I lived in Ballard for 4 years...

what I'm sayin is that Olympia should be one of the places atheists should be able to display their message-I agree, most people aren't religious fanatics over there...but to read this story? kind of surprising.

I don't think it's a problem with Atheists really, I just think it's the problem with the way these Atheists presented and handled it.

Urban Hiker

South of Seattle wrote:

I agree with what this guy said.

In all honesty. They should take down all of the displays at any type of establishment that is not privately owned. If it's privately owned then you can have whatever you want, as long as it's not hateful.

There are so many issues out there that have logical solutions, it's mind boggling sometimes.

I suspect this is the intention of the Atheist's sign. I think they are trying to push the issue.

Since the whole 'War on Christmas' campaign started, I have found myself more defensive about Christians declaring the season for themselves and now would definitely prefer that no religious displays be on public property.

sponger

In my opinion, atheists are right up there with homosexuals in terms of being a segment of society that is openly persecuted without reproach.

In most workplaces a person would have to be crazy to freely admit to being an atheist. It would in most cases result in loss of job or ability to be promoted.

The religious still make up a majority of the country, and that majority is absolutely convinced that their belief in god is what makes them better human beings than those who do not.

And that's what that sign was about. It's not about persecuting religious people or voicing hostility towards them. It's about helping people understand that thinking people are devoid of morals just because they don't nurture superstitions is fucking stupid.

catefrances

South of Seattle wrote:

Luckily it's not social suicide on the west coast. I'd say 70% of the people I know aren't religious at all.

No one really gives a hoot what religion you are, because we're all people and that doesn't matter. It's petty to me to like or dislike someone because of religious beliefs.

but would they have enough courage in their convinctions to openly declare their atheism?

CHANGEinWAVES

South of Seattle wrote:

At This Season of THE WINTER SOLSTICE may reason prevail.
There are no Gods, no Devils, no Angels, no Heaven or Hell.
There is only our Natural World.
Religion is but Myth and Superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds.

I like this....:D
it really sums up my self conclusions I made today!

South of Seattle

catefrances wrote:

but would they have enough courage in their convinctions to openly declare their atheism?

For sure. No one hides it. People are more likely to hide the fact that they are religious here

einatshaul

It's all about the Atheists' frustrations of not having their churches or maybe, should they start putting up signs at PJ concerts?...

Jokes aside, this incident really digs up interesting things, affirming to me again that Bill O’reilly is an idiot. I wish I could get CNN instead of that BS…

Commy

eh you don't want cnn. At least Fox is more entertaining.

catefrances

einatshaul wrote:

It's all about the Atheists' frustrations of not having their churches or maybe, should they start putting up signs at PJ concerts?...

Jokes aside, this incident really digs up interesting things, affirming to me again that Bill O’reilly is an idiot. I wish I could get CNN instead of that BS…

im an atheist. i worship in the church of the poison mind. aah the 80s... good times good times.

JaneNY

iamica wrote:

Here's a thought...just forbid all expressions of religion/statements against religion from being on government property. Let atheists and religious people keep their nativitys and signs on their front lawns, and leave it at that.

Yes this is what I had in mind too. Either every group gets to put up a display, or no one. It is not fair to give one group precedence.

unifiedscene

South of Seattle wrote:

"I thought it would be safe," Freedom From Religion Foundation co-founder Annie Laurie Gaylor told CNN earlier Friday. "It's always a shock when your sign is censored or stolen or mutilated. It's not something you get used to."

Dumbest broad alive award candidate right here. Yeah, who would have thought people might get angry or upset and react?

I think it's kind of a dick move on their part. It's one thing to put up a winter solstice sign, I'm cool with that. But to talk shit about someone's religion during their big holiday is an asshole move. If you had done some "fasting is for douchebags" sign during Ramadan, you'd ripped apart for hate speech. Or "fuck dreidles" during Chanukah. It's bullshit and they get no sympathy from me. Last I checked, most nativity scenes don't have a sign saying "PS all you atheists will burn in hell."

LikeAnOcean

Kenny Olav wrote:

Athiests are not pushing beliefs, we don't have any to push.

So, believing in no god is not a belief?

You have to believe in atheism. It's a belief. You believe in no god.


I'm agnostic. It's a belief. I believe nobody alive knows the truth. There is no way to know. We are talking about the unknown.

You are merely assuming there is no god as a non-atheist assumes there is a god. Both a belief.

keeponrockin

LikeAnOcean wrote:

So, believing in no god is not a belief?

You have to believe in atheism. It's a belief. You believe in no god.


I'm agnostic. It's a belief. I believe nobody alive knows the truth. There is no way to know. We are talking about the unknown.

You are merely assuming there is no god as a non-atheist assumes there is a god. Both a belief.

No, we believe in the facts presented towards us, we just don't believe in fairy tales.