This morning on the metro, trudging through a hangover, I got my taste of one of the pro-Christian counter-attack ads that have been created specifically in opposition to the infamous Washington DC Metro “be good for goodness’ sake” ads. Here’s what it looks like:
As indicated by the website address, this ad was sponsored by whydoyoubelieve.org. This isn’t the only pro-Christian, anti-atheist campaign. As Friendly Atheist points out, a Christian woman is trying to start an ad campaign to feature this sign in DC:
With a snazzy response of “‘Because I created you and I love you, for goodness’ sake’ -God.”
Loves us enough to send us to the fiery pit of hell if we don’t believe, but, hey, what else would an omnipotent being want?
My first impression of the “He believes in You, Good or Bad” ad was that it was actually the humanist ad (the design is deceivingly similar: 
),1 and that it had finally made its way into The Express (the free daily publication of The Washington Post), in a full-page back cover ad. I was impressed. And then I re-read it. And I laughed. It hurt, because of the hangover, but I still think it’s funny, because just like the other campaign noted above, it’s a “from God’s perspective” ad that reads more like a threat than anything. Reminds me of the kinds of threats you hear from Southern Baptists about believing or going to hell — fire and brimstone!
Okay, let’s analyze the ad, and the message it’s trying to send.
Pretend it’s a conversation. Religious person is talking to a fence-sitting doubter. The latter asks, “Why should I believe in god?” The former says, “Well, because He believes in You!” The fence-sitter perks up, “Well, I can’t think of a better reason! I’m in!” Bzzzzzt. Give me a break. It’s like me telling you that you should believe in the invisible pink unicorn, because It believes in You! Would you believe in the invisible pink unicorn if someone said that? I hope not. But that’s the very same lack of logic being presented in these ads: “Believe in something because I tell you to believe in it. And that’s all I’ve got.”
It all falls back to the bible. Every conversation I get in with a believer ultimately steers its way back to the fact that an old book says it’s right about everything, and because it does, it must be. I challenge you to find someone who believes, and ask that person about this ad. I’m going to find one person today and ask, and then I’ll post my conversation here. Will you do the same?
- funny how I can’t seem to access http://www.whybelieveinagod.org/ , the website for the American Humanist ad campaign. DOS attack? [<]
Tags: America, atheist, Baptist, bible, campaign, Christ, god, human, humanist, Logic, Love, metro, theist, Washington
If you would like to be taken seriously in your quest to make the world a non-religious place, try not to
write in such a belittling manor. Until then your just another website that is spreading it’s own form
of hate.
I love how whenever something negative about religion is presented straightforward and with honesty it’s “belittling.” Grow up people.
So… it’s okay if religious nuts tell me that I must believe in a god, because that god believes in me, and it’s okay for them to tell me that I’m going to burn in hell, and it’s okay for them to censor books because they depict parts of the human anatomy that God apparently doesn’t like, and it’s okay for them to be unquestionably accepted in society when non-believers are not, and it’s okay for them to go door-to-door proselytizing, and it’s okay for them to pass laws making “Under God” and “In God We Trust” parts of what were previously secular government and patriotic gestures, and it’s okay for them to try to pass laws about teaching creationism and intelligent design as viable alternatives to evolution in public schools, and it’s okay for them to make our kids in public schools be forced to recite pledges to their god, and it’s okay for the media to promote religious belief while laughing at anything skeptical, and it’s okay for the believers to harass non-believers,
but it’s not okay for me to call them out for doing all of that?
Bullshit. Despite your point of view, I’m trying to show how utterly stupid it is to be religious in this day and age, and if that sounds like hate, it’s because it IS HATE. I HATE religion and what it’s done to this world. I HATE it. Got that?
Sounds like your awfully religious in your own ideas.
actually it seems like there’s not much difference in what you’re spouting and what a southern baptist would
cry about. Your both responsible for the amount of hate you bring in the world.
I have talked to these people (e-mail correspondence on their website)
They are having fun with the challenge the atheist billboards represent. We get our sign and they get theirs. Fair is fair. Yay America!
Once again, Christians have to co-opt a piece of popular culture – in this case, the original humanist ad campaign – in order to make an impact. How many times has a cultural symbol been hijacked in order to sneak in a promotion of Jesus?
It’s strangely similar to porno movies, where they parody the titles (and sometimes even the plots) of famous mainstream films. The big difference I see is that the porno movie titles are often genuinely funny.
DC Atheist,
I agree. Free speech is fair, and we shouldn’t ever stop anyone from saying what they feel, in the public arena.
Of course, when I argue against what the believers are saying, I’m not arguing against their right to say it. I’m arguing against the actual message. It’s like a debate. (on signs)
One thing atheists and humanists are arguing about is that it’s not just accepted that non-believers can post messages of non-belief. Many believers try to chill the speech of non-believers, based solely on the fact that the message is about non-belief. That’s not right. They should take what they consider poison just as much as we should take what we consider poison. We don’t have to enjoy it, and neither do they.
The ads are actually a variation on a very old sales technique: “I like you”, which in turn is a variant of the familiar “ego stroking” routine. How better to make a connection to a potential buyer than to complement them? At one time or another, we all hear it from a salesperson. “Hey, nice jacket!”… before you know it, you’re buying the new refrigerator.
So, why not buy into God? He loves you!
We atheists could expand upon it. Just think:
“Masturbate! God loves watching you do it!”
“Pedophiles, God’s little helpers.”
“God already has you on the eternal torment plan. But, remember, He loves you.”
MAtt,
1. If you want people to take YOU seriously, take an English class. Your spelling and grammar make your comments unclear. Also, if it appears you are uneducated, then others are less likely to take your comments into consideration, because you will give the appearance of either being very young, or very stupid (or both).
2. Procrustes’ message was hardly hateful. He was analyzing the content of the anti-atheism campaign, and found it lacking. No atheist would truly be convinced by the ads. Theists may be unaware of it, but with those type of catch phrases being tossed around, they are really just preaching to the choir. If they truly wish to convert others, then a more compelling argument would be helpful. That “god believes in us” is just a cliche, and so overused that it has lost its meaning entirely, not that it meant much to begin with.
Procrustes has also, in the past, analyzed the campaigns of atheists, and found a few of them to be lacking, also. So he certainly isn’t showing any bias, unless you count a bias favoring good debate and intelligent questions. These ads, however, contained neither, and he was commenting on that, since hey, it’s America and anyone can say whatever they want, just as you are entitled to disagree with him.
3. If you are going to disagree, however, make sure that you fully understand the content of what you’re disagreeing with. Based on your statements, I would have to conclude that perhaps you didn’t quite grasp with full comprehension what he was saying, which is unfortunate, because he was hardly offensive, considering the subject matter, and he had a good point. That point, it seems, was lost on you, though, and if this is just another example of the state of the education system in America, I am saddened.
I sincerely hope that you go to college and learn proper English. We need more smart, hard working people in the world, and it would be lovely if you joined their ranks.
[...] this is but another log in the bonfire of the pro-Christian, anti-atheist/humanist campaign. It’s the next step in the overly defensive reaction to the Why believe in a god? humanist [...]
No to your last question at the end of your article ’cause I just don’t care. I know the answers I’d get back; so why even go that distance? There’s no point to it; just like their adverts really have no point ’cause everyone knows the cliché line that they spew forth, ’cause they were (or currently are) spoonfed the shit on a daily or weekly basis to counter any argument against God, and religion, or what not. It’s all ridiculous, and I see no point to contribute — that, and I’m quite a lazy person.
See, an Atheist needs to come out with an advert that says, “Do you believe in pink Unicorns? ‘Cause they believe in you! So, worship the pink Unicorn ’cause the pink Unicorn loves you.” or something as trivial as that. Nonsense is always nonsense.
-Nam
[...] then, there have been a number of pro-God counter-campaigns in DC (God believes in You, and the Foolish Atheist campaigns). One of the issues many rationalists have had with the response [...]