Is the following atheist tactic good sportsmanship or not?

[Father Heathen]

There is nothing wrong with enjoying and even celebrating myths as along as we're honest with ourselves and acknowledge that they are indeed myths. People do the same with Star Wars and Harry Potter in an almost quasi-religious way and none of them substitute their favorite fantasy stories with reality.

 

[Jeremiah]

"Is the following atheist tactic good sportsmanship or not?"


Who really cares? Looks pretty harmless to me, so let them do what they want.

 

[Midnight Pete]

Good sportsmanship? No, I don't think so. It's tame, but still a bit rude.

Who do they think will convert to atheism because of this?

 

[Anti-thesisofreason]

I would like to know, when did myth became a dirty word?

At least that's the way I read that bulliten board, then again maybe its just me.

 

[Midnight Pete]

I would like to know, when did myth became a dirty word?

No, it's not just you. The demonization of the word "myth" is a result of people conflating truth with fact.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

The problem, in my mind, is the state of civic discourse in this country, and not just about God. Politics is even worse. Nobody seems to take the high road anymore, and we're all suffering for it. The solution is not to eliminate discourse, however. Someone needs to lead by example.

"High road" discourse doesn't generally take place on billboards anyhow. And the fact that "low road" billboards are there doesn't seem to have prevented higher-level discourse on these sorts of subjects:

CBC News - Canada - Hitchens apparent winner in religion debate

Someone needs to put another billboard right below that one that says "Well duh, and thanks for ruining it for the kids".

The billboard doesn't say anything about Santa, so I think the kids will be okay.

Who do they think will convert to atheism because of this?

Nobody.

As the OP pointed out, the target of this billboard is "closet atheists". They're not looking to convert people to atheism; they're looking to convince closeted atheists to be honest about their beliefs.

 

[Willamena]

There is nothing wrong with enjoying and even celebrating myths as along as we're honest with ourselves and acknowledge that they are indeed myths. People do the same with Star Wars and Harry Potter in an almost quasi-religious way and none of them substitute their favorite fantasy stories with reality.

Fine, but that has nothing to do with atheism.

 

[Storm]

"High road" discourse doesn't generally take place on billboards anyhow.

Granted.

And the fact that "low road" billboards are there doesn't seem to have prevented higher-level discourse on these sorts of subjects:

CBC News - Canada - Hitchens apparent winner in religion debate

Not sure why you cited a Canadian example when I specified America.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Not sure why you cited a Canadian example when I specified America.

Because it's an event of international prominence. I happened to pick the CBC article, but it was heavily covered on the BBC and American news sources as well.

But if you want an example that actually occurred in the US, here's a recent one:

The Atheist Experience™: The Source of Human Morality debate videos

 

[Man of Faith]

Most atheists that I have debated say that "they could be wrong", so saying that they know it's a myth is a stretch. Unless they are just trying to reinforce to the atheist that they don't see any evidence for it, so know could mean believe.

 

[Father Heathen]

Who do they think will convert to atheism because of this?

Likewise for the christian billboards?

 

[Father Heathen]

Fine, but that has nothing to do with atheism.

It does, however, have something to do with the discussion. You may have noticed people in the thread claiming that calling something a myth ruins it for children. That's what I was addressing.

 

[Father Heathen]

Most atheists that I have debated say that "they could be wrong", so saying that they know it's a myth is a stretch. Unless they are just trying to reinforce to the atheist that they don't see any evidence for it, so know could mean believe.

Even if god existed it wouldn't necessarily make all of the ridiculous things that man has attributed to god true.

 

[bhaktajan]

Originally Posted by Midnight Pete
Who do they think will convert to atheism because of this?

Are all the world's prisons filled with Religious Zealots?
Are all the world's Law Courtrooms filled Lawyer who are Religious Scholars arguing theology?

Do insurance companies insure religious dictums?

Do pharmacutical companies insure themselves from religious dictums overdoses?

Are hate crimes preceeded by religious debates?

Some group simply posted the billboard so as to brag about it to their stripper girlfreinds . . . or worse.

 

[Magic Man]

I'm not sure it's in bad taste, but it's not a billboard I'd put up. Christmas has become such a secular holiday that it's not the best target for attack. I'm an atheist and I celebrate Christmas and I celebrate reason. Basically, I guess I'm saying it's not so much bad taste, but it seems ineffective and misdirected.

 

[Nepenthe]

I'm not sure it's in bad taste, but it's not a billboard I'd put up. Christmas has become such a secular holiday that it's not the best target for attack. I'm an atheist and I celebrate Christmas and I celebrate reason. Basically, I guess I'm saying it's not so much bad taste, but it seems ineffective and misdirected.

I agree for the most part, particularly with the "ineffective" thing. Maybe I'm just a jaded Los Angeles commuter but I haven't paid attention to a billboard in a long time. They seem like such a quaint way to advertise, kind of like putting your crappy band on MySpace. Does anyone pay attention to either one anymore?

I guess I'm wrong since I just read that revenue generated by billboard ads declined last year but are still doing better than radio and TV ads, while internet ads are growing steadily.

 

[Willamena]

It does, however, have something to do with the discussion. You may have noticed people in the thread claiming that calling something a myth ruins it for children. That's what I was addressing.

Sorry; I read it wrong.

In regard to ruining it for the kids, I think the presence of a billboard representing adults having something to fight about would ruin it more.

 

[waitasec]

how is that billborad ruining it for the kids?
santa's face isn't on it?

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Anyone smart enough to be a skeptic will eventually become an atheist. No billboard needed.

 

[Erebus]

I don't see any real problem with the billboard, but I don't see any real use for it either.

You don't really get many religious billboards in England since the older generations tend to be liberal Christians and the younger ones are often atheist/agnostic. Neither group particularly cares a massive amount about religion, so billboards would be largely ignored.
Still, when I see the American billboards (both the christian ones and this atheist one) I can't help but think, "right... what are you trying to sell?" they just don't influence me towards the religion... or non-religion. In fact, I suspect the atheist billboard could be more detrimental than anything. From what I've heard, atheists aren't exactly popular in America and if an atheist group (what exactly would an atheist group do or discuss anyway? "So, we're all agreed there is no god then? Good, see you all next week.") comes across as even remotely whiny, the reaction to them probably won't be a good one.