Posted on 12/18/2014 7:35:31 AM PST by SeekAndFind
The Freedom From Religion Foundation, one of the largest secular groups in America, announced it is erecting 11 different billboards across Chicago this week with various messages. Some of the ads ask people to "think for (themselves)," while others argue that kindness "comes from altruism" and not from "seeking divine reward."
"Research shows that atheists and other nonbelievers remain at the bottom of the totem pole when it comes to social acceptance. One reason for that is that even though at least 20% of the population today is nonreligious in the United States, many Americans have never knowingly met an atheist," said Annie Laurie Gaylor, FFRF co-president. "We're trying to change that."
The ads feature several atheist writers, bloggers, speakers and activists from FFRF and its chapter, FFRF Metropolitan Chicago.
The billboard presenting "Friendly Atheist" blogger Hemant Mehta says, "I'd rather put my faith in me," while another one with social justice activist Kimberly Veal reads, "We are here to challenge you to think for yourself."
An ad with Tom Cara, an atheist volunteer and FFRF chapter director from Niles, argues: "Kindness comes from altruism, not from seeking divine reward."
The 11 different billboards and their messages are featured on the FFRF website. The organization, which describes itself as a "state-church watchdog," says that it has more than 21,500 members nationwide, including 800 members in Illinois.
There have been a number of secular billboard campaigns that have been launched in December throughout the nation. American Atheists launched its holiday ads this year across several Bible Belt states, with a message to "skip church" this Christmas.
AA President David Silverman told The Christian Post that the group's billboards are aimed at atheists who are under pressure to participate in religious activities.
"We are using these billboards to spur intra-family communication because we believe the communication is desperately needed," Silverman said.
A separate FFRF holiday ad featuring an anti-nativity scene display at a city park in Arlington Heights, Illinois, was vandalized earlier in December.
The group issued a $2,000 reward last week for information on who vandalized the display, which featured a solstice sign and a large "A" for atheism light display. A metal sign depicting a "nativity" Bill of Rights scene in celebration of the freethought point of view was also damaged.
"It seems there is no peace, good will to all in Arlington Heights," said FFRF Co-President Dan Barker. "This is not just a heckler's veto, it's an attack on free speech in a public forum that is supposed to be open to all. This vandalism says the park belongs only to Christians — everyone else is an outsider."
Well, let’s give them the benefit of the doubt and say by altruism they mean “the spirit of kindness”, whatever essential part of their nature that causes them to want to be kind. It’s a subtle difference, but there is still a difference. Where does that spirit come from?
Altruism is the sacrifice of one's values as an end in itself. Since life requires the acquirement of values, altruism is anti-life.Altruism does not represent or derive from the principle of benevolence, good will and kindness toward others. Human life has value because humans were created in God's image, and kindness comes from the concern for the value of human life.
The line I’ve heard from atheists most is that when challenged regarding the nature of the universe, and the little bit of scientific method needed to discuss it, they “Don’t want to talk about that.”
“Atheists can’t understand it because they refuse to experience it.”
Well, let’s not say they all can’t understand. I understand it now, and I was in their position not too long ago. They don’t understand, but they certainly can, if they open themselves to God’s message.
They seem to agree that there should be standards,
just not Christian standards.
“Atheism” is simply rejection of God’s Law as the authority.
my retort is this:
it is cruel to be kind. being kind means that you are able to lie to someone, so that you can inflate their ego, without any expense of your own. it means that without any sort of overreach out of your own comfort zone, however large or small that may be, you extend yourself, your attitude, or any sort of ‘gift’ - physical or otherwise.
Now, if you are ‘moved’, ‘led’, ‘followed your nose/heart’, or just ‘played a hunch’, and did something for somebody that you might not do, any other day or frame of time, THAT is true kindness.
What the atheists are attempting to re-define, in their own dictionary, has already been defined, before this present resurgence of this strange bunch of people, so adamant that they follow no religion, but in fact, have defined themselves as religious!
“there is no right or wrong”?
I’m betting if you slugged him in the face and took his wallet he’d say that that, possibly, was “wrong”.
The ironic thing is that supposed atheists are so “concerned” for your salvation from religion, that they have become one.
An “atheist activist” is just another name for an evangelist.
If they don’t believe in faith, then how can they expect morality? Morality must have a basis that is rooted in something that no one can assail. If you have nothing like that, then it’s open season on civilization.
That is why there has never been an atheist civilization that didn’t collapse within the first two minutes. If I dont fear God, then why should I fear you? And if there is no creator, then you are just a collection of chemical reactions, and what is the value in that? You arent any better than a Starfish or a billion ants.
I went through a period of being an atheist, actually. I didn’t like it very much. Eventually I reached the conclusion that it just wasn’t real. I couldn’t do it anymore.
Not just Christian standards but no diety standards of any kind. Anarchy.
altruism is selfishness that has an ulterior motive. altruism will not keep food on the table. eventually altruism will stop by the individual.
illinois can ill afford altruism - look at the neighborhood obama is from - there the belief is in altruism - one of obama’s neighbors is louis farrakan.
Lucky for our public school educated public ... they don’t know the meaning of the word “altruism.”
In reality, atheists are moral parasites, and illogical to boot. They’re moral parasites because they adopt pretty much the Judeo-Christian altruistic ethic in complete contradiction to their proclaimed worldview. The only consistent atheist are sociopaths like Bundy or Dahmer. And the only way they can PROVE there is no God is to be God Himself, everywhere and everywhen simultaneously. They’re therefore merely expressing an illogical opinion when they proclaim there is no God.
Can you be good with out God? I can not be good even with God. the sign says millions are.
But these particular people putting the signs up must not be good or they would not lie.
Their signs say freedom from religious but if that were true of them they would not be trying to bring people into their religious group.
It has nothing to do with freedom from religion but just invitations into their religion.
Kindness. It's still a circular argument which says the desire to do kind acts come from a spirit to be kind. Both start from man in this argument so both much start from the place. It begs the question. And apart from God what makes "kindness" special or any "better" than self seeking ruthlessness? In nature the big fish eat the little fish, what makes that "wrong" for men apart from God? Expecially in a Darwinist construct where survival is the only virtue?
Where does altruism come from? These atheists should be able to find hundreds of examples of non-religious societies thriving with spontaneous altruism.
Do they get the irony that they live in a Christian nation, founded on godliness and Christian doctrine?
The only logical end of unfettered, honest atheism is nihilism. These folks need to read Nietzsche to see the futility and meaninglessness of their rantings.
“It’s still a circular argument which says the desire to do kind acts come from a spirit to be kind. Both start from man in this argument so both much start from the place.”
This argument might work, if man were some indivisible entity, with no component parts, but that is not the case. What part of man does the desire to be kind come from? Is it a rational impulse, based on logic and reason, from our conscious and analytical thought processes? Is it an instinct, bred into us by nature? Is it part of some conditioning that we receive through our upbringing? Or is it something more innate than any of those things?
According to the dictionary altruism is unselfish concern for others.
These punks which is what they are, (as I have been there )do not know that Jesus said the same thing two thousand years ago.
The difference is that Jesus knew what he was saying and meant it.
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