Hmmm, Should We Be Mad?
October 24th, 2008
So, how do you feel when you see this? The atheist posters are the idea of the British Humanist Association (BHA) and have been supported by prominent atheist Professor Richard Dawkins. Here is what Dawkins had to say about the campaign. “This campaign to put alternative slogans on London buses will make people think - and thinking is anathema to religion.”
What do we do with this? Do we get angry and try and fight back, or do we use this as Paul would, to point to Christ? Do we tell people about the joy in our life that can only come from Christ and His redemption? Do we inform people that with Christ we have NO WORRIES in our life? How would you respond?
HT: CMS
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I think getting angry is up to the person that reads it, specifically. I certainly don’t think we should respond out of anger. This doesn’t make me angry. It makes me sad.
I certainly will be slightly even more sad or even upset if I see a poster with exactly the same font and coloring and there’s only something slightly different about it!
My question is this: Is there going to be a person that sees this, reads it and goes, “Oh, ok…I’m good. No God. No problem.” Does this poster have that much influence? And if so…who’s fault is it that it would be so simple for them to be convinced that God isn’t real?
I agree with Andy. I think this poster will confirm the fact that there are people out there don’t believe in a g(G)od, but I think it will have ZERO affect on one’s beliefs.
Our beliefs are the core of us. No matter what we believe, we live the way we do because of what we believe. Furthermore, faith, as it turns out, is not something most people take lightly. People either have faith in a god or they do not. Typically, people feel strongly about it, because, again, it’s belief, conviction, etc.
This sign is pointless and will have no effect.
Here in Seattle, we have a billboard that says “Imagine a world without religion.” That, I think is different. Faith is what we believe about God; Religion is [typically] how we get to g(G)od. If you are of the Christian/Bible perspective, you don’t believe you can do anything to get to God, but that He comes to you. All other religions differ here. I could handle less religion, for sure.
I think the logic is dumb. Where does it end?
“Do what thou wilt…” Anton Lavey, Founder of the Satanist church
I don’t get mad, but I worry what this does to the unbeliever who sees it and says to himself, “well, I have no one to answer to, so I may as well get the most out of life that I can…!” Whether that be committing adultery, cheating others to get ahead, having little regard for future generations and being a poor steward of the earth… on and on.
Honestly if there was no moral guidelines to answer for, wouldn’t you get away with as much as possible to “enjoy” your life? Regardless of who it hurt…? They’ll all just end up in the dust anyway! i.e. Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot…
Like Paul says in 1 Cor 15, if there is no resurrection then we are the fools! But it is because of God’s love for us, Christs love for us that we live our lives by the way His Spirit would direct us.
And you know what? I live my life without worry and have a lot of enjoyment anyway! Praise God!
I think it’s funny that they include “probably.”
As for what to do with it? Use it as an in to start speaking about Jesus. Give it a few weeks to penetrate the market and then launch a sermon series on Worry and Joy. Don’t reference the poster and certainly don’t make a parody of it (You don’t want to make Andy sad, do you?). But it raises the question in people’s minds, even if only subconsciously, so let’s talk about it openly.
They’re getting the soil ready by tossing on some fertilizer. Now let’s plant the seeds.
I think a church in the area should grab a hold of this and use it. Their campaign?
“We’re not comfortable with probably. Live life with confidence.”
As Christians, I think too often we react rather than being proactive about addressing the deeper issue. Billboards or signs like this don’t really disturb me because that’s what I would expect from someone who doesn’t believe in God.
I think Rob Bell said it best when he said,
Before, you had brought up the question on whether it was moral to “market” God. I say that we should market Him until everyone has heard the Word.
I agree that to be proactive is the best answer. Your questions are “how do we feel” and “what do we do”. I think that we should be thrilled that God gives us such an obvious opportunity to talk about being a Christian. I think that many of us, like me, are nervous about “walking across the room” to share our faith with a stranger. Now imagine that you are on a busy sidewalk as this bus drives by. What a conversation starter.
As for what I would like to do, I cannot recommend because it would de-face the advertisement, but I will send it to you if you would like to post it.
I agree that this ad campaign will not change the minds of people. But I do think that it will start conversations. I tend to think the conversations will be more on God and the church, than life without God though. Thanks for the though on this, as it has not happened in the U.S. yet, it is only a matter of time.
TR, I will post your defaced picture today too. I personally don’t think it would help, but I would have to say it would be kinda funny.