Spreading Atheism

[gerrymander61]

I dunno, but it seems that Atheists are only angry against Christians, because apparently Allah tells Muslims to be Nice to nonbelievers, including Atheists? Just saying it seems like Atheists are trying to only make one enemy, rather then really they should be making an enemy of every religious organization, including Scientology.

That might be because the majority of us are from Western countries where the biggest number of religious people (i.e. "enemies" according to you) are Christians.

A little thing I wanted to point out to the religious folks here:
You get annoyed by atheists (or maybe just anti-theists) on forums like this one because you feel they are attacking you. Well, think about how it still is in the real world today. I'd say many of the more aggressive anti-theists are probably annoyed by real life persecution. Don't forget that the internet-standards (where a large number of atheists naturally congregate - students, pupils, scientists) don't apply to reality yet and that for many, fighting against religion here is a substitute to fighting against religion in the real world where they are still being oppressed for their lack of belief.

...or the Christian group with "IF IT'S NOT THE WORD OF THE LORD THEN IT'S WRONG" on a university campus?

Yesterday, actually, though it wasn't quite that wording. It's true I rarely see any Muslim propaganda, though.

As for atheists being supposed not to spread their word, WHY?

Pics or it didn't happen. Seriously though, unless you're attending some backwater redneck "university" then there's no way something that direct would get put up, or at least not be met with an outcry similar to the one at the OP's university.

To religious people, religion is about spreading the word of the god or gods or whatever that they choose to worship. They are actively pursuing their faith by trying to teach people their way. Spreading one's beliefs in such a way as an atheist serves absolutely no purpose other than shooting down other people's beliefs and telling the world that you are better than other people. It is for this reason that people tolerate things like the aforementioned "Jesus died for you" on campus because it is put up with good intentions and not purely for the purpose of getting a reaction by ridiculing other people's faith.

 

[Mozared]

Atheïsm needs to be spread just as urgently as christianity, hinduism, or any other religion. People who want to know more will always look for it. That said, I do think we can give a lot more and more interesting handholds to children and teens through the public school system. Discussing religion and atheïsm has a lot more value than some of the things people are now being forced to do.

 

[tenlong]

Those people putting up the words "there is probaly is no god." I am christian and i don't find that offensive. I may think they are wrong about that,but i won't be up in your face about that. If you ask what i think about, i will tell all about it.

 

[axia777]

By saying there is no God they are not trying to be dicks. Atheists are just spreading their beliefs about life. Many people see religious people trying to convert others to their religions as being very rude. But in reality they are just trying to spread their religion and beliefs. It is all equal.

Oh, I understand they're not trying to be dicks, it's just the way they go about their 'battles' against 'inequality' in the US. We're not even talking about how Atheists are treated Globally. What if OP had been attending a school abroad and it didn't have Christians on campus, but maybe Hindi or Muslim religious people? Would we be having this discussion at all?

Hell, in a lot of other countries there would not even be an Atheist club.

 

[Hunter2458]

By saying there is no God they are not trying to be dicks. Atheists are just spreading their beliefs about life. Many people see religious people trying to convert others to their religions as being very rude. But in reality they are just trying to spread their religion and beliefs. It is all equal.

Oh, I understand they're not trying to be dicks, it's just the way they go about their 'battles' against 'inequality' in the US. We're not even talking about how Atheists are treated Globally. What if OP had been attending a school abroad and it didn't have Christians on campus, but maybe Hindi or Muslim religious people? Would we be having this discussion at all?

Hell, in a lot of other countries there would not even be an Atheist club.

Yes, but let's also not forget that those other Countries don't HAVE a Constitution that states that, and I'm going to quote it because people take the term "Freedom of Speech" far out of context sometimes, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." Ah, doesn't it feel nice to be able to say "I hate Allah" and Not have someone black bag you, never to be seen again.

 

[Skeleon]

Pics or it didn't happen. Seriously though, unless you're attending some backwater redneck "university" then there's no way something that direct would get put up, or at least not be met with an outcry similar to the one at the OP's university.

As I said, it wasn't that wording.
I'll try to get it right from recollection. Something along the lines of:

"Follow the truth. How Christianity can have a role in your life today. Meetings at..."

It's not profane, it's not aggressive. That's why it is acceptable.
Same goes for Atheist groups. Don't get me wrong, we're free to put up anything we want. We have all sorts of religious/political/whatever propaganda hanging about for people to read. I'm not complaining about my university, I'm just saying this school mentioned in the OP must behave the same way my university does: Allowing all to advertise (unless they do it in a hateful or profane way, I guess).

It is for this reason that people tolerate things like the aforementioned "Jesus died for you" on campus because it is put up with good intentions and not purely for the purpose of getting a reaction by ridiculing other people's faith.

Neither is "god probably doesn't exist", it's meant to make people think and maybe even re-think their faith. It's supposed to stir people's minds, not ridicule them.

 

[scotth266]

Personally, I don't see the point of an Atheist society. What's to discuss? How you don't believe in a god/gods? Not exactly much to talk about there that can't be discussed in some sort of philosophy club, in my opinion.

The message was quite tame, so I imagine that the reason it was removed was because it was painted on. That's vandalism, innit?

Either that, or the reason gerrymander listed.

 

[Alex_P]

The message was quite tame, so I imagine that the reason it was removed was because it was painted on. That's vandalism, innit?

The implication is that the cannon is a designated "vandalism" space for students' self-expression. Like a little chunk of wall set aside especially for graffiti.

-- Alex

 

[scotth266]

The message was quite tame, so I imagine that the reason it was removed was because it was painted on. That's vandalism, innit?

The implication is that the cannon is a designated "vandalism" space for students' self-expression. Like a little chunk of wall set aside especially for graffiti.

-- Alex

Perhaps then the removal was because the cannon was meant as a place for artistic expression, instead of being a billboard for advertising clubs?

 

[Enzeru92]

There is always a double standard to everything
anyways I think that Atheism isn't really a religion but a way of thinking i for one am Atheist and never thought of it as a sort of religion but something slightly different

 

[Alex_P]

Perhaps then the removal was because the cannon was meant as a place for artistic expression, instead of being a billboard for advertising clubs?

Let's read the OP instead of guessing.
"On campus we have an old war cannon which is cemented to the ground in the center of campus and it is tradition for the various clubs and organizations on campus to paint it to advertise what their group is all about"

-- Alex

 

[tenlong]

double standards are a terrible thing, especially when it comes to religion or ideology's.
Christians and Atheists are never going to see eye to eye, and I should know my brother is one.
One of the things that the bible teaches is tolerance, even if you agree with someone (do unto others and so forth).
I think that the school should remember than when things like this happen.
Some people just only follow the teachings that are convenient for them.

I was personally left a church over double standard bull shit. I can't stand double standards. I am personally glad i found a church that treats everyone fairly.

 

[y1fella]

yes as much as they may deny it and also advertising for atheism is kind of against your beliefs right i thought you took a "whatever" or "I don't think about it" approach that i just don't under stand but if you really want to advertise i say okay but defacing public property is not a form of advertising its just idiocy (I'm christian by the way) and saying god doesn't exist like that is pretty much saying you are a idiot to well over a billion people. please respond

 

[Burnswell]

One big reason why athiests want people to see the error of religion, aka. 'listening to the voice in your head who tells you to burn things' is because they've read the bible and see nothing but a bunch of psychotics with voices in their heads telling them to kill everyone who is not in their tribe or who disagrees with them, and then defining a 'moral' action as whatever the voice tells them to do. Is sacrificing your son on an altar moral? If the voice in your head told you to then of course it is, in fact it would be immoral not to!

The bible reaveals a potential psychotic timebomb ticking in every religious mind, and some see it as neccessary for the greater good to explain that this is all madness before any more of this repeats itself.

 

[Skeleon]

but if you really want to advertise i say okay but defacing public property is not a form of advertising its just idiocy

Read the OP again, the cannon is meant to be used for advertisements.

 

[scotth266]

Let's read the OP instead of guessing.
"On campus we have an old war cannon which is cemented to the ground in the center of campus and it is tradition for the various clubs and organizations on campus to paint it to advertise what their group is all about"

-- Alex

In that case, I'm going to guess that it was for the reason that gerrymander listed. I personally don't see it as being antagonistic myself, but there are people out there who would think otherwise.

Like I said, flamebait. Polite, well-crafted flamebait, but flamebait nonetheless.

I don't see the point of clubs dedicated to a specific philosophy, really. At least with a general philosophy club you'd have a reason to talk about the benefits/drawbacks of your philosophy with followers of other philosophies.

You like holding grudges, don't you? I've left you alone this entire time, at Wilson's request. Yet you specifically pick me out to accuse me of trolling again. Sounds like someone is a little sore.

 

[lostclause]

... Wait.

Athiests. "Probably no God."

Eh... I'm trying to figure this out, but...

Probably? Don't athiests say "there is definitely no God"? Methinks those guys need to rethink the name of their little club

You know how Dawkins introduced the slogan with his bus campaign? They had to put in 'probably' to meet the Advertising Standards Authority's demands, they ASA was later asked to rule on the probability of god.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7818980.stm

Anyway, I think that it doesn't really matter. Yeah it's a bit unfair but so are a lot of things.

 

[Weaver]

Well I have been surfing around these hallowed forums for many months and I really like the community and the objective points of view of many members here so I have a question for you. On campus we have an old war cannon which is cemented to the ground in the center of campus and it is tradition for the various clubs and organizations on campus to paint it to advertise what their group is all about, and one day the Atheist society on campus decided they wanted to paint it. So one morning we woke up to see the following message on the cannon, "There is probably no God".

This seems fine to me but apparently the school did not think so and while there are no official rules regarding what can be painted on the cannon they were made to paint over it which is almost never done. What I do not understand is that we have an organization on campus called "Campus for Christ" and they are allowed to advertise with posters, give out free bibles and brochures and even conduct Christianity-based surveys during lectures but the Atheist society is not allowed to broadcast their message for one day?

I think that this is a double-standard on the part of the university and that the Atheists should be allowed to spread the word about their "religion" or lack thereof, depending on your point of view. So I ask you two things, is Atheism a religion, and should they be allowed to spread their message in any manner they please?

(Edited in paragraph form)

You go to the University of Guelph in Ontario, don't you?