A group of atheists recently put up a billboard in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA that says "One Nation. Indivisible." It omits "Under God" which typically goes in between those two lines. It's a subtle campaign to remove God from the pledge of allegiance. I'm not American, so when I first saw the sign it didn't strike me that Under God was removed. Someone vandalized the sign by spray-painting "Under God" beneath the two lines with an arrow showing where it should go. I disagree with this act of vandalism. Atheists have a right to put up these billboards if they want. I may disagree with atheists, but I believe they have the right to hold their beliefs.If a Christian put a billboard up that said "Jesus is the answer", I would find it unacceptable for an atheist to spraypaint "not" after is.
Those are arguments from a philosophical point of view regarding freedom of speech. However, I also disagree on a practical level. Spray-painting this sign will only make it more newsworthy and therefore expose the sign to a much greater audience than previously possible. By doing this act of vandalism, the perpetrator is bringing more attention to the ad. Obviously this is not what they intended.
I heard some people bring up the possibility that this was actually done by an atheist to garner more attention. Obviously this would be a dishonest tactic, but we have no evidence of this, so until evidence is revealed, I think we can assume this is not the case.
In some countries, Christians are harshly punished for their beliefs. I believe I heard there are more martyrs now than ever before. Much of the persecution comes from atheist states, such as North Korea. If we believe that Christians should have the right to freedom of speech in these atheist countries, then we must extend freedom of speech to atheists in mostly Christian countries.
"we must extend freedom of speech to atheists in mostly Christian countries."
ReplyDeleteChrist almighty, you're /so/ generous!
"It offends me that there are Christian-majority countries in the world. It makes it harder for us to brainwash our kids into hating Christians."
Delete- Every atheist ever.
yeah i agree with you.
ReplyDeletein this case, the religious people (idk if they're christian or catholic or whatever) were just being childish and slightly hypocritical. God just simply isn't the answer for everyone.
Personally I think having "under god" in the pledge of allegiance is forcing god into people.
If this is the nation of freedom, freedom of speech, religion, etc, why do we have to make everyone say the same thing? it's a little conforming.
and for the record, i don't believe in the organized God, one that falls into a religious category, such as christian, catholic, muslim, etc. I do believe in something though. I'm more spiritual than religious.
so yeah, overall i think it was childish and unfair, and i think the athiests (and btw, it's not just athiests who want to take out the "under god" thing, too. i know a lot of people my age and younger, i'm 18, who don't think it's right.) should be able to express themselves in such a manner and have the religious people accept it as their belief.
This is why Christians are better than atheists.
ReplyDeleteChristians: "Atheists should have the right to free speech just like everyone else, and vandalizing their billboards is wrong."
Atheists: "A church? In MY hometown?! UNACCEPTABLE! BURN IT DOWN! SPRAY PAINT INVERTED CROSSES ON THE DOOR! SUE THE ENTIRE TOWN FOR DARING TO HURT MY FEELINGS BY LETTING CHRISTIANS WORSHIP FREELY!"
Recovering from atheism was the best decision I've ever made!