Controversial Christmas ads carrying atheist messages have cropped on buses all over Washington D.C. this week.
The ads proclaim, “Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness’ sake.” Naturally, the $40,000 holiday ad campaign has sparked a firestorm of controversy. A spokesman for the religious right appeared on Hannity & Colmes last night to denounce the ads using fiery language.
But the man responsible for commissioning the ads says he’s just trying to let other atheists know they are not alone this Christmas season: “We are trying to reach our audience, and sometimes in order to reach an audience, everybody has to hear you,” said Fred Edwords, spokesman for the humanist group. “Our reason for doing it during the holidays is there are an awful lot of agnostics, atheists and other types of non-theists who feel a little alone during the holidays because of its association with traditional religion.”
Edwords said the purpose isn’t to argue that God doesn’t exist or change minds about a deity, although “we are trying to plant a seed of rational thought and critical thinking and questioning in people’s minds.”
The ads are set to run through December.
This entry was posted on Friday, November 14th, 2008 at 9:20 am and filed under Business, Controversy, Holiday Fun, Religion, Special Occasions, TV/radio . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed or Trackback from your own site. This site is Gravatar enabled. Sign up to upload your own avatar.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Let everybody start shouting about how the world is coming to an end.
Momma used to say .. Keep living like there’s no God and When You die .. You’ll find out there IS
It’s so funny God is still in charge and always will be! I hate to say it but it will be a lot of knees bowed down on that day.
Our reason for doing it during the holidays is there are an awful lot of agnostics, atheists and other types of non-theists who feel a little alone during the holidays because of its association with traditional religion.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Isn’t the ole saying “if you can’t beat ‘em join ‘em”? He doses not have to feel alone during the holdiay season.
I can’t believe that a public transit would allow this promotional ad.
I think this campaign had already been going on in England and they are just bringing to America. I will just ignore it like I ignore most commercials. I don’t really care what they think. If they are right and I am wrong, I have nothing to lose… But if I am right and they are wrong, they will spend an eternity in Hades. I like my odds better!!
Why are the ads running just through December? H*** they should run them all year long if thats how they truly feel. People don’t just feel “alone” around christmas time, its all the time for some people especially those that don’t have anybody. Go sit down…
if you are strong in your beliefs you dont have worry about what other believe in or dont believe in. people get upset over a sign, but wont get upset over something they can actually change.
ok, and this is newsworty, because?????
I’m beginning to see less of entertainment negativity and more of worldly negativity. If I wanted that, I’d tune into the news.
What’s really going on people?
I have no words…I’m not even going to partake in the tomfoolery!
I saw this on Fox last night.
Easy answer…
Why believe in a God?
I believe in my God b/c I definitely didn’t escape the many potential downfalls life has thrown me on my own! I acknowledge that things have happened to my benefit that I can’t explain…things that were a direct result of God’s love for me!
@Avanti
Well said, that my point exactly there has to be a GOD i been trough and came through way to much for it to be any other way.
I ride a Metro express bus back to Fort Washington and yesterday the ad was on the bus we rode…heated debate the whole way home!!
I can’t be mad at them for provoking critical thinking. Most people don’t even realize “Christmas” has pagan roots and did not begin as a Christian holiday.
AVANTI…TESTIFY! YOU BETTER BREAK IT DOWN!
DON’T START NO CHURCH UP HERE…
Amen Fenix and Avanti! You BOTH took the words right out of my mouth!
Maybe it’s just me, but the way I got the ad was that believing in God shouldn’t be the only reason to be good. People should be good to be. . .good people.
That’s the message I got.
I am very firm in my beliefs so signs like that do not bother me. I believe in God and no atheist is going to tell me different. He needs to talk to the priest at my church. He was an atheist until he was on his death bed praying to God.
COSIGN HERMOSA!!
That’s exactly what I thought of it too. Honestly, makes sense to me. Believing in God should not be the only reason you’re nice to others. Not believing in God doesn’t mean you’re not a good person.
It seems like some folks are only nice around the holidays (”Aww, it’s Christmas/Thanksgiving/New Years, be nice!!” “Let me volunteer/give money/etc.”) then nasty the rest of the year. Same goes with church…triflin all week, then pious and proper Sunday morning.
They should have added “Kids, just be good for goodness sake…not just for the presents!!”
LOL!!
Morning everyone! =)
Awww are people getting upset… That’s too bad because GOD wouldn’t get upset about some AD. People need to grow up and let GOD. Oh well that’s my 2 cents.
DON’T TELL ME TO BE GOOD…I’LL BE GOOD WHEN I GET GOOD AND READY…
lmao
I all for the right to your own beliefs, but they are contradicting themselves in saying athiests feel alone during the holidays, hell they should! They ARE ALONE, on the holidays, in life and death!
lol @ DivineB…
I heard that! Be good when you get ready and not a moment sooner, huh? lol
Keely, you are so right! I always wondered. . . if you don’t believe in God, when you die do you go to hell or do you just die and fade into nonexistence?
LOL, I’m tryna get the real technical and sh!t!
Hermosa:
Thats a whole other blog………but the quick resolution to it is, we dont know, nobody has the REAL answer snd the ones that do cant translate it to us. LOL. Stay true.
LOL @ DIVINE!!!
Shunda said:
I am very firm in my beliefs so signs like that do not bother me.
_______________________________________________________
I co-sign 100%.
#17 pure said:
It seems like some folks are only nice around the holidays (”Aww, it’s Christmas/Thanksgiving/New Years, be nice!!” “Let me volunteer/give money/etc.”) then nasty the rest of the year. Same goes with church…triflin all week, then pious and proper Sunday morning.
_________________________________________________________
You shole damn right about that. BUT I think that time of year brings out the worse in folks. They fighting in lines and over parking spaces and over presents. They don’t “feel like dealing with these ppl”. I’ve had to check a few ppl around here about NOT respecting my diversity. I don’t celebrate Christmas. It has nothing to do with religion. It’s about the “paegenistic” mentality of it all. If its suppose to be about Jesus’ birthday and giving and blah, blah, blah. Where did this Santa Claus, reindeer, Christmas tree crap come in. I HATE how ppl go all year, KNOWING that this day comes around EACH and EVERY YEAR. SAME DATE. Yet and still ppl are continuously “unprepared”. WTF is it worth? Then they still wondering how they are going to pay light and gas bills, mortgage, put food on the table and the kids done been suspended from school for time and time again for fighting and are making bad grades. It’s just a mess if you ask me. I for one rather take my money and take my daughter on a cruise (which we do) or get on a plane and travel to somewhere different. Some kids don’t even leave their neighborhoods, but can stay there and show off their new Jordans and can’t multiply or divide……on a calculator. Miss me.
Oh and don’t bother trying to school me. I’ve done my research. I’m just sayin’.
*stepping off of soapbox*
*exits room left*
This DEF looks photo shopped to me….
#12 Liberty said:
Most people don’t even realize “Christmas” has pagan roots and did not begin as a Christian holiday.
__________________________________________________________
I just read your post and I couldn’t agree more.
#15 Hermosa said:
believing in God shouldn’t be the only reason to be good. People should be good to be. . .good people
________________________________________________________
Say THAT!
These folks around here are the NASTIEST when it comes to the holidays. It’s sickening. My dumb ass supervisor said “You don’t celebrate the true meaning of Christmas?”. I said “What is the true meaning?”. She got up, huffed and walked out…….without SAYING A WORD.
I was walking behind two older co-workers yesterday and they were talking about how the holidays are coming up and they are going to “be broke”. I said “Well you KNEW it was coming up, why would you want to keep repeating that cycle of going broke for Christmas”. Between all of the shopping gift giving and fa-la-la-la-laing, was going broke one of the pre-req’s to this day? I thought The Almighty wants his flock to be prosperous. I can’t see the reality of it.
@#12 Liberty …..tell it! lol. A lot of people don’t know
Changes a couple of letters in:
SANTA and you spell out SATAN.
LOL - They both wear “red”. LOL - i kid, i kid
LIBERTY PREACH IT! I’ve said those words before but people dont want to listen. Many people dont want to celebrate Halloween because it has pagan roots but dont even know that Christmas does as well..just silly! I love the ads but of course some brainwashed people will soon come in here and say how all of the atheists and agnostics will be burning in hell and don’t know a damn about their “religion” but whats been fed in the “book of fairy tales” (the bible) as Bill Maher would say..
And Bill Maher had a “serious” “relationship” with Super Head … so ANY of his credibitly got Sucked and Swallowed by THAT chick.
..and here one comes..and the fact that the whole theme of Jesus has been in circulation way before Christianity kills any credibility that the bible has
I’ll continue to believe STRONGLY as I choose .. Not here to argue and won’t argue anything ..
Thank you Jesus.
THANK GOD! I really didn’t want to get in debate about it and have to type a long ass response..
@prynn:
Like your logic, but not only do people know CHristmas is coming all year, but we all know death is coming and still yet a lot of people arent prepared leaving their families with bills and worries so that doesnt just apply to Christmas people need to start preparing for the future in general.
I pray this is not a strategy within the LBGT community to put a wedge between people and religion to satisfy their purposes in the long run. If so God Help us all.
the persons Black too, “oh Lord here it comes” targeting our community for their purposes. I can vote against Prop 8 without you attacking my beliefs. Now I’m just piss*ed and confused and not sure if I would stand behind the LBGT
Are you saying that the LGBT are a people without religion or God?
Is Deep Thoughts for real? I hope you’re joking… b/c if not then you are a joke. You jumped from one extreme to the next with that! I don’t even see a logical path for your so called “deep thoughts”… Wow.
I’m co-signing on everything kymystry said!!
What’s so wonderful is that this has done nothing more but bring attention to Christ.
He will have the victory regardless of these mediocre attacks.
One word:
HUMANKIND
Be both.
AIGHT THEN Prynn, I like that one!
@Abhor:
I wouldnt be me if I didnt respond to your comment. My thing is the sources that provided you with so much information………what makes them credible? I dont think any of us were in existence at the time, so what was the confirmation? Documented information right? WHo documents? ……….so just to respond to the “brainwashed” people, I dont rely on the good book solely or some “so informed” person either, I follow my heart and my OWN relationship with God, and the reason I HAD to respond is because I do believe and while I Would never damn anyone as you stated because thats not my job I also have to keep it real………we ALL rely on 3rd party resources for our beliefs or non-beliefs.
Sometimes “free speech” sucks. ? If it is “free speech”, why do the ads cost money? A thought to ponder during my yoga class….. hehehe
I just cant help wondering why those that claim to have no belief in God (or a god) spend so muc time worrying about what those of us that have faith do.
*shrugs shoulders*
Their ads, it don’t affect my relationship with Him. I love Him and that’s never gonna change.
I just hope that since this anti-Christ-mas being allowed people will stop whining and moaning about Christians and Christmas etc.
I know it won’t happen, but I can daydream can’t I ?
@ keely, prynsexx, hermosa….
i like what yall had to say
co-sign kissan