This Makes Me Laugh

[athoughtfulman]

I don't think they convert anyone. The most they can do is encourage someone to enquire further. If I saw a christian banner now, it probably wouldn't make me angry, no matter how outrageous it was. In fact, I think the more outrageous, the funnier it all becomes. When a poster is rude or obnoxious, there's no problem dismissing it. However when something is less confrontational, it can have a much stronger impact.

I've got no problem with christian's making stupid posters and whatever else, because it tends to make them look worse rather than better. By creating posters like the one in the first post, they do more to discredit themselves than anything else. Sure, some christians would love it, but some would despise it for it's intolerance. Then, as usual, there would be people all the way in between who would like it or dislike it for various reasons. But I hardly think there would be many who would take it seriously. Even a lot of christians I know would joke about it.

The only thing I wouldn't like about these different posters is that they tend to promote misunderstanding and are more in favour of muddying the water than using reason. I don't think christianity has any right to try to discredit atheism on a poster where it can clearly not be 're-butted', and the same goes for everyone else. It's just that christians have the most of them round. However like I said, the more outrageous they get, the less believable they are, regardless of what point they are trying to make. They're pretty much just propaganda for their respective parties. I wouldn't expect them to have a whole lot of an effect on people.

[Edwardo Piet]

I don't really think they convert anyone either. I'm just saying I cannot absolutely claim that they definitely don't - because, I'm not actually in anyone else's head - and I don't know if for instance anyone who was already approaching atheism (beginning to lose their "faith") - could have the banner just push them over the edge and lose it - for EXAMPLE. - I do not absolutely know that, I don't see how I can.

I think it is important on principle of free speech and different sides and people with different points of view should be able to express those views, and express themselves.
Apart from speech that is OTT and at the extreme, call it hate speech or whatever - apart from that, I don't think language itself should ever be disallowed - shouldn't be illegal.

In general, constricting expression of language (which is used to express whatever) which is what we use to communicate, I generally see as totally absurd and ridiculous.

It's like when you can't say something because it's "offensive" but then that's hypocritical when you have no right to be offended by the fact you can't speak your mind because it's them who are the offended ones...
For instance: I can be sensitive. But sometimes I think people (including myself) should also be allowed to be sensitive in response to other people's so-called 'over'-sensitivity.

I mean don't you ever have a right to be offended that you are being told to shut up because what you are saying is "offensive"? What if the 'offended' person is being rude?
Sometimes seems a little one-sided and unfair, even hypocritical and/or double-standards.

Kind of extrapolated some hypothetical ideas there, kind of running away with myself just hope I haven't gone too off-topic or run away with the subject at hand, or whatever.

EvF

[athoughtfulman]

No, I think you wrote that well.

I get sick of people who are like that, or people who have to be politically correct. They are more interested in trying to please everyone that the actual truth. The unfortunate thing is that when you try to please everyone, you end up pleasing no one very much.

If something is offensive to one person, it should still be allowed to be spoken. Unless it is an unfounded personal attack on their character, then we should be able to say what we want. It's the insecure people who cannot bear to hear someone speak honestly about what they believe or think.

Another thing which is similar is when people listen to you, don't tell you to shut up because you're being offensive but pay absolutely no attention to what you're saying. Sure they might listen to you, but you can tell that they've already written you and your 'crazy' ideas off. In my opinion those people are worse as they are just as ignorant but don't have the balls to be upfront about it.

When it comes to religion and atheism, I think both sides should have their say. I'm happy for christians to be able to make their case for this and that and to be able to advertise and so on. But if they want that right, then they have to be prepared for atheism to tear it's arguments to shreds. And once again it's the insecure people who react. The secure ones continue believing and are unaffected by the arguments.

The double standards thing needs to be abolished from our world. So long as religion can have it's say, then likewise atheism can too. And I believe the only reason some christians are afraid of atheism is because they see it coming to rob them of their 'GOD GIVEN' authority.

[Edwardo Piet]

I know what you mean about people holding contempt or resentment for you silently and already having disagreed without actually uttering a word. Like muttering in the back ground, the look on their face or you can just 'tell'.

I know people who when something you are doing is bothering them, they won't say a word and then later on they will come out and get pissed of about it.

And I will be like "You only had to ask".

Also I'm a man of my principles y'know? If someone is going to be a grumpy bastard and not actually tell me when I'm doing something they don't like (an example, I've got music on and they don't want it on/they want it turning down) - I'm not going to reward them with their grumpiness and 'guess' that I'm bothering them. For a start, I could be wrong! They might not be bothered, I might be wrong - OR they could be bothered about something else.

If they're bothered they should say, for both principle and practical reasons I believe. - it causes less confusion, and besides - I might be actually doing them a favour if the person can actually grasp the fact that if they simply ask - I'll usually be willing to oblige or at least negotiate anyway, and it's kind of rude - sometimes very rude I think - for them to be getting all pissed off and have it out with me later...

I also dislike or even hate that general thing some people do when they pretend not to be bothered by something to not hurt YOUR feelings and you actually believe them... - only to have it out with you later if they feel like it!! They try to have it both ways.

Great point about the 'God Given' authority thing being taken away,

And, fuck double standards - it causes a lot of problems in this world. But then again, so does a lot of things - so fuck all those things too then now that I think of it.

EvF

[leo-rcc]

Talking about "this made me laugh":

I think Comfort should debate someone with credentials equal to his own, and I believe I have found just the right person at the administrative office of our University of Texas. Unfortunately, hes still cleaning urinals in the mens room.

[Overmars]

[quote='Ted1205' pid='13616' dateline='1239274971']
Yes things like this happen in America all the time.I have people at school that won't even talk to me because I am an atheist. That is the only reason they have for not talking to me.

Same here and I don't give a damn about those self righteous pricks.

[Edwardo Piet]

Talking about "this made me laugh":

I think Comfort should debate someone with credentials equal to his own, and I believe I have found just the right person at the administrative office of our University of Texas. Unfortunately, hes still cleaning urinals in the mens room.

Haha! Yeah. Reminds me of when Fry and Laurie did a sketch when people where said to be complaining that "it is all very well to knock Mrs. Thatcher but what do are you going to put in her place?" and they said "No one may ever accuse us of that again" and then replaced her with a coathanger lol.

EvF

[Matt85]

No it's not. It's from http://objectiveministries.org in their kids section (in colour) http://objectiveministries.org/kidz/

It's not a parody site.

seriously guys if you want to piss yourself laughing check out the rest of that website. im in stitches over here.

[Darwinian]

And for all He's done for us, all Jesus wants is for us to love Him back! He wants us to love Him soooo much that any other love would be like hate: "If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple." I love Jesus more than ANYTHING... how 'bout YOU?

So, when children say to their parents, bothers and sisters, teachers, school friends and in fact everyone.. "I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU SO MUCH!!!" They are good little Christians doing exactly what Jesus wants them to do?

Sites like this should be banned as they are tantamount to child abuse!