Posted on 11/23/2009 3:57:34 PM PST by SeekAndFind
As Americans gear up for the holiday season, they're fine-tuning wish lists, digging out unfortunate Christmas sweaters and bracing for the onslaught of holiday advertising campaigns.
This year adds a new contender to the long list of groups vying for attention, and it comes with a twist. The American Humanist Association today launched its first nationwide "godless holiday campaign." Its slogan: "No God? ... No Problem!"
The ads, which show smiling people in Santa hats, will appear first on Washington, D.C., buses and subway trains over Thanksgiving weekend. In early December the campaign will expand to Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York and Chicago.
Humanism is a philosophy that says people don't need the framework of an organized religion or belief in a supernatural deity to live morally. Humanists believe people should lead their lives in a way that benefits society at large.
Or, as some of the ads put it: "Be Good for Goodness' Sake."
The American Humanist Association, based in Washington, D.C., promotes humanism and advocates for a secular government. Executive Director Roy Speckhardt said one purpose of the ad campaign is to build awareness of the humanist movement among people who don't already belong to a specific religion.
"We want to change the way people think and talk about nontheists, and to pave the way for acceptance of humanism as a valid and positive philosophy of life," he said in a statement.
Similar ads have appeared in the United States before, and not without controversy.
Earlier this month, a Cincinnati billboard sponsored by the United Coalition of Reason was taken down after the billboard company received threats. The ad showed a blue sky with white clouds and the words, "Don't believe in God? You are not alone." It was later put up at a different location.
A similar story played out earlier this year in Iowa when ads sponsored by the Iowa Atheists & Freethinkers were temporarily removed from Des Moines buses after the transit authority got complaints.
The Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority said it based its decision on an agency policy against allowing the word "God" in promotional materials. The ads were later put back up.
Speckhardt said he hopes the godless holiday campaign reaches people who fear prejudice because they do not belong to a traditional faith.
It's a group that's rapidly expanding. In 2008, one in five people in the U.S. did not claim a religious identity, according to a survey conducted by Trinity College.
"The challenge to Christianity in the U.S. does not come from other religions but rather from a rejection of all forms of organized religion," according to the survey's Web site.
Humanists are not out to cause a stir with their ads, Speckhardt said. "Of course, it's obvious that many people are also good with a belief in God. So I hope we can all find common ground."
God? No Problem!
I wonder if they would have the courage to post a “Don’t believe in Allah? You are not alone.” campaign slogan too and I wonder if the ad companies and media would continue to be so positive toward such a campaign.
Methinks no.
You mean a test of faith? I can handle that. It’s the kids, who are trying to find themselves that I worry about.
It has been my experience, and I think that of many others, that people who believe in no greater value than their own instant need tend to gravitate toward those inclined to provide it, at others' expense.
The result is that "needs" are commonly conflated with rights, so that mere desires become the subject of legal claim, including the purported "right" not to be exposed publicly to the religious faith of others, which is only one among many such false claims of "offense", from which some people infer it is the State's duty to protect them.
And, as dictatorship is the only extant form of government capable of providing this protection, many who deny God's existence are naturally impelled toward it, in the hope that they may be sheltered from beliefs by which they are personally offended and which cause them no harm, other than perhaps, to their consciences.
First, in the original use of this expression, Goodness is used here so as not to take the Lord's name in vain. Second, without God, what is goodness? Goodness is a quality of being good, but without God, who is the arbiter of goodness?
As for names of atheist holidays, how about:
I wish someone with money and time would have those signs you mentioned posted on billboards, busses, etc. “Don’t believe in Allah? You’re not alone.” Great!!
Sick Sick, sick people.
What's the point, if you can't get rid of the stupid Santa crap? In San Francisco, it's been Christmas since Nov 1st. All the stores went into full Christmas-mode the day after Halloween. Putting up trees, displays, lights, ornaments... And I saw yesterday that someone in a private residence has already put their tree up, BEFORE Thanksgiving. It's a painfully long season for those of us who hate SECULAR Christmas. And there's still over a month to go. Can't wait for the bell-ringers! (Not!)
What I'd like is a Santa-free Christmas. No red and green, no reindeer, no bell ringers, no jingles!!! (Some stores and radio stations are already playing Xmas songs.) If a store is playing jingles, I will walk out. (As I did the other night when I walked into a Baby Gap.) It's not even Christmas, it's not even Thanksgiving, it's just a calculating ploy to get us to buy. Macy's was no better, with red garlands and red trees. And that was last week.
They say that humanism is a valid philosophy and way of life—too bad they don’t give the same respect to believers. They want to be validated while tearing down religion every chance they get.
Then why did I see an article that cited 'humanist chaplins'?
Atheist Student Groups Flower on College Campuses [No Hope & No Change Voters?]:
In another sign of growing acceptance, at least three universities, including Harvard, now have humanist chaplains meeting the needs of the not-so-spiritual.
Perhaps they can worship on Obama’s birthday.
Who determines what is beneficial to society at large?
Why don’t they just not celebrate holidays they don’t like?
Can’t fool you. I spotted that angle right away as well. Liberals always insist they know what is the best for all of us, as long as it doesn’t involve individuality, creativity, liberty and other such things liberals shun.
There’s already a national holiday for atheists. April 1.
It’s very very sad, they have no idea what they’re doing. Faith is a gift! and a responsibility.
Why, how Christ like of you to propose putting your brother Christian out of business or out of his job, just because the city where they happen to live and work has a stupid policy.
Not at all the same as not patronizing a business that promotes this.
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