Anyone have a few spare bibles I could have?

[crazylegsmurphy]

http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/80939089/

[Kiwi]

Funny.
Doesn't do the atheist cause much good though does it?

[crazylegsmurphy]

No?

I wonder about that....

[Kiwi]

Well, I remember my friend once saying to me, "I'd become a Christian but I'd hate to give up my favourite music." The assumption being you can't listen to Sonic Youth and follow Jesus at the same time. In the same way, it's not as if the atheist message should be: "You should give up your religion but you'll have to start watching porn."

[crazylegsmurphy]

In the same way, it's not as if the atheist message should be: "You should give up your religion but you'll have to start watching porn."

You're right, the message should be, "Become an Atheist and you can CHOOSE to watch porn without feeling like you're committing a sin."

Actually, I think the message is that it's kind of strange to promote the bible with all it's stories of sex, violence, and such, and then bitch about porn being bad.

One of these days, when I am rich and have endless time on my hands I kinda want to do a realistic illustration of the bible. I wonder if they would show those photos on Sunday morning on a big screen projector?

[Kiwi]

You're right, the message should be, "Become an Atheist and you can CHOOSE to watch porn without feeling like you're committing a sin."

Fair enough.

Actually, I think the message is that it's kind of strange to promote the bible with all it's stories of sex, violence, and such, and then bitch about porn being bad.

Well that's like saying people who enjoy Shakespeare have no right to bitch about porn either. Have you seen or read Titus Andronicus? Holy moly!

[crazylegsmurphy]

Well that's like saying people who enjoy Shakespeare have no right to bitch about porn either. Have you seen or read Titus Andronicus? Holy moly!

True, but not a lot of people use Shakespeare as a reason to teach the earth is 6000 years old....not to my knowledge anyway.

I don't think this is much different then when Ray Comfort handed out Darwin's book with that craptastic extra bit. Well, it's different in that it's more funny, and awesome for those who actually do it.

I'm actually curious to see how many people trade in their bibles. I wonder how many local hotels will be a few bibles short suddenly.

[Kiwi]

True, but not a lot of people use Shakespeare as a reason to teach the earth is 6000 years old....not to my knowledge anyway.

Aren't you the fallacy guy? Isn't this a red herring?

Anyway, you're right about it being a whole lot funnier than Ray Comfort's book. What would you rather be evangelized with: Origin of the Species with added extras or pictures of people with "added extras"?

Mostly I find it distasteful using porn as the sharp stick with which to poke Christians. (Did I just say poke? ) It reeks of studentsville to me. Funny, yes, but little more than a student stunt at the end of the day. I'm more likely to support atheist buses: http://www.nogod.org.nz/faq/

[StillSearching]

Why post this in the Fellowship Hall? Were you hoping no one would notice it?

Personally, I find their idea and their sign unhelpful. There are less controversial ways to get your point across. Having said that, as a proponent of free speech, I would defend their right to conduct the activity. I'm highly skeptical of their claim that they recycle the texts they receive. Why collect them if you're going to redistribute them for people to find and read? Given their radical approach, I'm guessing they dispose of them.

You're right, the message should be, "Become an Atheist and you can CHOOSE to watch porn without feeling like you're committing a sin."

I suppose it's also possible that an atheist might, after careful consideration, conclude that pornography, while not necessarily evil in and of itself, has the potential to become a consuming force in a person's life, and to cause problems with interpersonal relationships, and therefore might choose to avoid or at least minimize his exposure to it, and recommend the same to those around him. Do you think it's possible for a Christian to have the same view?

Actually, I think the message is that it's kind of strange to promote the bible with all it's stories of sex, violence, and such, and then bitch about porn being bad.

Are you honestly going to draw this comparison? Would you sit your 4-year-old kid down in front of a Saw movie? After all, Sponge Bob cartoons have plenty of violence in them, right? What's the difference?

True, but not a lot of people use Shakespeare as a reason to teach the earth is 6000 years old....not to my knowledge anyway.

Isn't this a red herring?

Perched on a straw man, mounted on top of a windmill.

[NH Baritone]

I have to admit this is probably my least favorite atheist consciousness raising exercise. Americans have a schizy relationship with pornography, and there are probably very few individuals outside atheist organizations that will grasp the point of this exercise. It would have been more on point to hold readings or print posters of the more objectional parts of the Bible. Their choice of action allows the relgiosos to puff themselves full of righteous indignation against those "immoral" atheists, and the non-reflective hordes will follow them lock-step ... before they sneak back home to catch the latest upload on XTube.

[tirtlegrrl]

I'm not really convinced that even the gross parts of the Bible are enough to justify the exchange (unless you have no kids and like porn better anyway). Some reasons:

1) Most people don't read the Bible, even if they own multiple copies
2) A lot of the language is euphemistic, like "feet" for "genitals" and other such odd substitutions
3) The gross parts are often located in the middle of REALLY boring sections, like Numbers. See also #1
4) No pictures.
5) I have NEVER heard of anyone in the habit or need of reading stories like the one where a drunk Noah gets raped by his daughters as a means of arousal. Boy, wouldn't that make a great Jerry Springer episode! "Help! I'm addicted to reading sex stories from the Bible! Three pastors tell all"