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Toronto Subway ads spark controversy..... (pg. 2)
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| Stassi |
| quote: | Originally posted by ownymcown
If churches are allowed to advertise, I say atheists should also be allowed to put up their own messages. |
especially since its a logical message and we never ask for donations. |
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| Blake |
Heh, the ad is kinda funny, but on the whole *shrugs* who cares. People need to get over themselves already :rolleyes:
Why would a being of infinite intelligence and manifestation give two s about a subway sign in the middle of Toronto on a spec of dust planet like this one anyways.
Oh snap! Someone put an ad up on a subway. Let me temporarily cease my infinite GODLINESS to go post an emo blog in my LiveJournal about how some people don't think I exist. What a blow to my ego *tear* :(
People don't make big deals about bull like this because it offends God. They make big deals about it because it offends THEM and challenges THEIR self concepts. That's why God made therapy. Get some and move on. God will be okay. |
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| Frequency Frank |
I am catholic, and actually don't find it funny. I can understand why people would, but I personally don't. No biggie, but let's take a step back here at why these signs might be wrong to have up.
What if on the subway, a group of skinheads put up signs that said "statistically, minorities commit the most crimes...watch out for them!". Most of the people who so passionately believe freedom of speech means you can say whatever you want would be up in arms over the fact that racism is allowed to be made into something funny. I'm of course not saying this is something I support, just trying to provide a point of reference for what I'm trying to get accross here.
Also, why is it OK to publicly mock the religion of millions of people, but not ok to mock their race? I am not suggesting that racism should be propagated, nor do I think that people shouldn't have a sense of humor about their religion/race. Essentially, I just think that we should respect one's religion, in the same vein that we would respect their race. |
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| DJ Eco |
Well, I see it from the other angle, Frank. I get your point, but have you really paid attention to how much in-your-face religion is out there? Everyday I have to walk through the 42nd st. subway station and deal with those nutjobs posting banners and signs all over the station yelling in our faces that we're all going to die if we don't talk to him and convert. Sorry man, but that's just not right. That's the last thing we as a people need to hear and deal with on our daily commute. The negativism of Christianity these days, the fear and the intensity of how it manifests itself around us is just too much. I shrug it off, but at the same time, I look at this rich group of people who put up the counter-argument as a joke on a Toronto subway and I say "right-on".
We should be outraged about the signs all over 42nd st. subway station telling us we're gunna die, but we're not. |
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| Frequency Frank |
| quote: | Originally posted by DJ Eco
Well, I see it from the other angle, Frank. I get your point, but have you really paid attention to how much in-your-face religion is out there? Everyday I have to walk through the 42nd st. subway station and deal with those nutjobs posting banners and signs all over the station yelling in our faces that we're all going to die if we don't talk to him and convert. Sorry man, but that's just not right. That's the last thing we as a people need to hear and deal with on our daily commute. The negativism of Christianity these days, the fear and the intensity of how it manifests itself around us is just too much. I shrug it off, but at the same time, I look at this rich group of people who put up the counter-argument as a joke on a Toronto subway and I say "right-on".
We should be outraged about the signs all over 42nd st. subway station telling us we're gunna die, but we're not. |
Are you really comparing subway nutjobs to signs posted by an actual organization? That's absurd. Point to one publicly posted sign posted by the actual catholic church (not individuals being idiots) that says you're going to hell if you don't repent/believe.
Do you think muslims are all murderers because some of them crashed a plane into a building? Of course you don't, because there are extremists in every religion in the world. The dudes in times square are just a tamer version.
Edit: Pardon my angry tone, I'm a little fired up this morning, haha. |
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| DJ Eco |
| quote: | Originally posted by Frequency Frank
Are you really comparing subway nutjobs to signs posted by an actual organization? That's absurd. Point to one publicly posted sign posted by the actual catholic church (not individuals being idiots) that says you're going to hell if you don't repent/believe.
Do you think muslims are all murderers because some of them crashed a plane into a building? Of course you don't, because there are extremists in every religion in the world. The dudes in times square are just a tamer version.
Edit: Pardon my angry tone, I'm a little fired up this morning, haha. |
It's okay man haha... I think you're not seeing the bigger picture. We're discussing a group of atheists who jokingly call themselves an atheist organization and posted a pretty light-hearted advertisement on their own dime and people are getting outraged by it? Why is there a Bible in every hotel in the country? Why did Obama have to have two different priests/ministers "perform" (in my opinion) at his inauguration? Why do churches get so much money from the federal government?!?! Why do churches ask so much money from their people and their followers?
It's sickening the hypocrisy at all levels of the church, and in all religions (Islam and Judaism are just as bad). Think about the life of a priest or holyman, how much of a joke it is to lead such an easy life? While millions of people are losing their jobs, working 3-4 jobs 18 hours a day to feed their kids and send them to school, the priests are telling us to give money to the church and to Africa and they're telling us how to raise our kids and how our marriages should be and how are family life should be reflected in what Jesus would want us to do.
Man, an advertisement on a subway telling people (pretty much) to "chill out" is the least amount of exasperation I would expect toward the hypocrite machine that is the Church (whichever Church it may be).
How about the lobbyists? Do you have any idea how much the Churches and church-related groups give to lobby their in Washington? It's sickening. The Catholic Church is one of the richest organizations in the world, it has the most valuable real estate in every city in every part of the world. There's your solution to global poverty, dismantle the Church.
It's everyone's freedom to buy out an advertisement on their own dime and the advertising committee for the subway system to reject/accept it. That's the least of our worries, man. Churches pumping millions of dollars into our politicians to make decisions which further their vision of a non-secular society, now that's something you should be worried about.
Thus, it goes way beyond the nutjobs I have to pass every day on the streets and subways of New York. The Church has an underlying presence in so many things that affect our world, and sorry man, but that's just effing scary. |
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| DJ Eco |
| ^^^And I'm not saying I'm right about religion or right about God or lack thereof... I'm just using the above points to prove the advertisement's message that people need to chill out when it comes to this stuff. There's so many worse things going on right now. |
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| Frequency Frank |
| quote: | Originally posted by DJ Eco
It's okay man haha... I think you're not seeing the bigger picture. We're discussing a group of atheists who jokingly call themselves an atheist organization and posted a pretty light-hearted advertisement on their own dime and people are getting outraged by it? Why is there a Bible in every hotel in the country? Why did Obama have to have two different priests/ministers "perform" (in my opinion) at his inauguration? Why do churches get so much money from the federal government?!?! Why do churches ask so much money from their people and their followers?
It's sickening the hypocrisy at all levels of the church, and in all religions (Islam and Judaism are just as bad). Think about the life of a priest or holyman, how much of a joke it is to lead such an easy life? While millions of people are losing their jobs, working 3-4 jobs 18 hours a day to feed their kids and send them to school, the priests are telling us to give money to the church and to Africa and they're telling us how to raise our kids and how our marriages should be and how are family life should be reflected in what Jesus would want us to do.
Man, an advertisement on a subway telling people (pretty much) to "chill out" is the least amount of exasperation I would expect toward the hypocrite machine that is the Church (whichever Church it may be).
How about the lobbyists? Do you have any idea how much the Churches and church-related groups give to lobby their in Washington? It's sickening. The Catholic Church is one of the richest organizations in the world, it has the most valuable real estate in every city in every part of the world. There's your solution to global poverty, dismantle the Church.
It's everyone's freedom to buy out an advertisement on their own dime and the advertising committee for the subway system to reject/accept it. That's the least of our worries, man. Churches pumping millions of dollars into our politicians to make decisions which further their vision of a non-secular society, now that's something you should be worried about.
Thus, it goes way beyond the nutjobs I have to pass every day on the streets and subways of New York. The Church has an underlying presence in so many things that affect our world, and sorry man, but that's just effing scary. |
To be honest, and back on the original topic, this isn't a slap in the face to just Christians. If you think that the 2% of atheists in the world have the right to publicly mock the 98% of people who aren't, then I guess that's fine. Just realize that the statement can be extrapolated to every single person who believes in God.
"Asking so much money from their parishioners"...nobody is forced to donate money in church, haha. It's 2008, that retarded version of the church died centuries ago, lol. You point out the "bad" places that the church gives money, but it's also far and away the largest contributor to charitable organizations around the world (including domestically).
In terms of hypocrisy, I think it's important to realize that the people at every level of the church are in some part interpreting the Bible. Much like our government, there are individuals (several of which are at a high level) that abuse their power and misconstrue the bible/legislature for their own selfish reasons. That doesn't make the church evil, and it doesn't make America the worst country in the world.
I'm not turning this into a "my religion is right" thing, because honestly who am I to make that kind of a statement. Either way, this conversation is one that is not really going to work on a messageboard. I'd be happy to have a beer with you and discuss my thoughts, but typing everything that I believe is sort of ridiculous, lol. That said, let's just say you're idea of "the big picture" is not mine. I think we have mutual respect for eachother, but the phrase "agree to disagree" has never applied more :)
At the end of the day, if I saw this on the subway, I'd say "dickbags" in my head, and keep it moving. I wouldn't be protesting and making a stink, and probably wouldn't even have given it a second thought, haha. |
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| Frequency Frank |
| quote: | Originally posted by DJ Eco
^^^And I'm not saying I'm right about religion or right about God or lack thereof... I'm just using the above points to prove the advertisement's message that people need to chill out when it comes to this stuff. There's so many worse things going on right now. |
Just saw this now, and I totally agree. While I think the ads are in poor taste, I don't really give a that they're floating around, haha. |
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| yankeeBaby |
| quote: | Originally posted by Frequency Frank
Also, why is it OK to publicly mock the religion of millions of people, but not ok to mock their race? |
you have to remember tho, frank, that while I see what you are saying here, religion is a personal choice, where as race is not. HUGE difference. |
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| Frequency Frank |
| quote: | Originally posted by yankeeBaby
you have to remember tho, frank, that while I see what you are saying here, religion is a personal choice, where as race is not. HUGE difference. |
That is an important distinction, but I don't think that makes it a fair target for ridicule. A lot of Jewish people identify themselves as such, not Israeli or whatever, so the line is quite fine in my eyes. |
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| Blake |
| The level of offense people take only has to do with their own Egos. I'm someone who believes 'God' exists, and yet I'm not offended by the ad. In fact, I think that if it weren't for a certain Divine/Universal animating force, the ad wouldn't have been able to be thought up or posted in the first place, which really just makes it doubly funny. So half of the ad *may* be wrong *shrugs*. The other half is still spot on. People probably SHOULD stop worrying about eternal damnation and live their lives to the best of their ability regardless.. |
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