Krieger

Nope, they are either both stating their opinions or they are both making "blanket statements", but trying to single out the freethought sign as being "intolerant" is just pro-Closet Atheism BS.

Saying "Jesus is Lord" is declaring that Jesus is the only true deity. It is no different than what the freethought sign said.

We - atheists - are a minority in this country, so we should definitely be able to get our views out. Christians are the majority, and everyone in this country already knows what they think. All other minority belief groups (pagans, Buddhists, etc) should be able to easily get their views out to the public, in fact, we really deserve preferential treatment, because so many people in this country lie about us.

The Admiral

As a life long taxpayer to the state of wisconsin I feel it is my right and privilege to state that Tommy Thompson is a hypocritical piece of shit who knows full well that his religion is bullshit or he would not live as he does. He knows that if the catholic/Christian religion is true that he will burn in hell.

Prior to Thompson Wisconsin had a reputation for having about the cleanest state government in the nation. Now we are on a par with New Jersey. But the credulous fools who make up the electorate in this state elected him 5 times knowing full well what he is. How the hell do you explain it? Thank god for gin.

The Admiral

ybnormal

There is absolutely nothing intolerant about that sign. In other words, I'm suggesting that anyone claiming it is intolerant, proves that we have all been subjected to the same brainwashing which we like to pretend endures only in the minds of those who continue to believe. In other words, I'm suggesting that way too many folks have been properly conditioned to believe that their honest, free-speech opinions are intolerant to the intolerant. In other words, I'm suggesting that somebody's tight fist has way too many folks by their sensitive gonads. In other words, I'm suggesting that whatever the cause for activism, it will remain forever stagnant, so long as we feel the above-mentioned squeeze from the above-mentioned conditioning.

The Admiral

And furthermore I would like to apologise to all and sundry for my own hypocrisy because I once stood and had my picture taken with that crook. There were others in the picture but that doesn't excuse me.

The Admiral

atheist_in_foxhole

We are surrounded by people who insist that 2+2=10. They put "2+2=10" on our currency, in our national motto, in the Pledge, and even on license plates (in some states).

But it's offensive if a few people in Wisconsin put up a sign that says: 2+2=4?

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Rusting Car Bumper

Sorry. I see it differently. Saying "religion is myth and superstition" is intolerance.

I'm sorry if you can't see the difference. The fact that many atheists can't see the difference (which frankly is glaringly apparent to me) is why we will continue to have troubles until we get our shit together.

People who believe "Jesus is Lord" do not have consistent opinions about those of other religions. Some think they are all damned to hell and some think that some can be saved and not others and some think atheists can be moral and some don't and so on. To simply assigned a blanket belief to them all is to dehumanize and stereotype them.

DC

Rusting Car Bumper

On the second point I agree.

On the first, I disagree. Non-believers would be better off if, when experienced this sort of prejudice (vandalism), we would get sympathy with the message that was vandalized.

Agreed. How did MLK JRs non-violent direct actions draw many whites in? Because they were doing nothing but exercising free speech rights and they were brutalized by the cops and courts and so on.

Essentially putting a sign up which has a message that is more universally accepted would be a form of non-violent direct action. When its vandalized then the bigotry is apparent. However, when the vandalized message can be viewed as an attack itself then the waters are muddied in the minds of many.

As you say there is not enough strategic thinking.

DC

Melkor

That's a really good analogy... I'm keeping that one for future use!

Toto

"Jesus is Lord" is an intolerant, theocratic slogan. Some of the people who say it are nice people who don't in fact take the slogan at face value, and have managed to redefine the slogan to something acceptable in a diverse society, or just don't take it seriously. But that doesn't change the meaning of the slogan.

Still, I think freethinkers could do a better job of media relations. Saying "there are no gods" gets people defensive. Do you think it would improve things to say "we live good lives without belief in the supernatural"?

Shadowy Man

Would it be intolerant if Buddhists were to put up a sign that read the following?

"Belief in dieties is an attachment that mires you in Maya and prevents you from reaching Nirvana. Free yourself from attachments, follow the Buddha's Eight-Fold Path and attain enlightenment."

How do you think such a sign would fare?