"Why Believe in God" ad campaign

[mousepod]

Last week, after Prop 8 passed, I was having a conversation with GC about religion, particularly about the comments that some were making about the various religious groups that went out of their way to push for the hateful legislation.

I was defending the people on LoT who were saying terrible things about the Mormon Church.

I guess I've grown to believe that most of the religious people that I've encountered in my life use their religion - and more specifically the dogma attached to their religion - as a crutch, something to give meaning and hope to their lives. When they stop using their crutch to prop themselves up and start swinging it around to hurt others, it reminds me that there are an awful lot of people walking around with potential weapons. And that scares me.

So when people say, "Hate the club, don't hate its members," I find it difficult to see the distinction. In theory, I support a libertarian reading of the 2nd Amendment, but I've been in places in America where people toting their guns around gave me the willies. I feel the same way about people who "cling to their religion."

This ad campaign makes me smile, because it underlines my reality that I don't need that crutch, and I don't have to assume that my fellow humans are cripples.

[lashbear]

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

Jesus died for my sins. I am making every effort to ensure that his death was not in vain.

Jesus Saves Sinners
...and redeems them for valuable prizes.

[alphabassettgrrl]

Personally, I have felt that there's something out there. I don't expect anybody else to believe me, and it doesn't matter. I felt it. Good enough for me.

Others have different experiences. I know some people have never felt that "whatever" that I did. Atheism is just as valid as belief, but please don't try to force others into believing the same as you do. I like the campaign if it asks questions; I like questions. And lets the atheists know they're not the only one. That's good. (Kind of like being visible makes gay people more accepted)

Never thought I'd cheer for an ad campaign.

[alphabassettgrrl]

What it personally seems to me is that there is a universal energy that people interpret as deity. We give it a face in our own minds but that doesn't mean that's what it is.

So yes, I think both together are quite likely.

[CoasterMatt]

I love the LoT.

[€uroMeinke]

Hey, I saw this on a Billboard off the 710 months ago - it made me smile and visit their website - but that was the non-Christmas version without the "be good for goodness sake" tag line.

[JWBear]

God is love.
Love is blind.
Ray Charles is blind.

Ergo: God is Ray Charles.

[Gemini Cricket]

I think the ad campaign is kinda cool.
I love promoting the idea that just because you're not religious it doesn't mean you're a bad person.

[Alex]

If I believed in heaven of a type worth being in (I add that caveat but the heaven generally believed in by those in the judeo-christian tradition does not appeal to me at all) I think the urge to suicide would be irresistible.

In the presence of such belief, continuing to live your temporal life is just a very odd form of masochism.

[innerSpaceman]

Maybe that's why certain Muslims are so cool with suicide, and Westerners see it as suckitude.