Comments on: A Response to the National Day of Prayer http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2010/05/06/a-response-to-the-national-day-of-prayer/ by Hemant Mehta Mon, 28 May 2012 13:22:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Daniel http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2010/05/06/a-response-to-the-national-day-of-prayer/#comment-465238 Daniel Fri, 07 May 2010 00:57:45 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=23966#comment-465238 Yeah, these need to be bumper stickers, IMO. Would buy right now! Yeah, these need to be bumper stickers, IMO. Would buy right now!

]]> By: The Godless Monster http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2010/05/06/a-response-to-the-national-day-of-prayer/#comment-465234 The Godless Monster Fri, 07 May 2010 00:13:13 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=23966#comment-465234 It's tempting to set up some of these icons of free thought as modern demi-gods, and some of us (I plead guilty) have. Politicians back then were just as full of hooey as they are now, "Founding Fathers" or not. The historical record bears out that they sometimes said and wrote what was expedient. Most of them were pragmatists above all else. Regardless of their flaws, I'm glad of the legacy they left for us. We need to safeguard it. It’s tempting to set up some of these icons of free thought as modern demi-gods, and some of us (I plead guilty) have.
Politicians back then were just as full of hooey as they are now, “Founding Fathers” or not.
The historical record bears out that they sometimes said and wrote what was expedient. Most of them were pragmatists above all else.
Regardless of their flaws, I’m glad of the legacy they left for us. We need to safeguard it.

]]> By: muggle http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2010/05/06/a-response-to-the-national-day-of-prayer/#comment-465182 muggle Thu, 06 May 2010 22:19:50 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=23966#comment-465182 Wow! FFRF just gets better and better! These are their best signs yet! And, yes, admittedly, far less offensive. I'm kind of glad for that myself. I never thought theirs too out there but I do think there's growing too much of a defensive trend (albeit understandably) among freethinkers resulting in too little tolerance of even those believers who are willing to live and let live. We defeat our own purpose if we become who we hate. Wow! FFRF just gets better and better! These are their best signs yet! And, yes, admittedly, far less offensive.

I’m kind of glad for that myself. I never thought theirs too out there but I do think there’s growing too much of a defensive trend (albeit understandably) among freethinkers resulting in too little tolerance of even those believers who are willing to live and let live.

We defeat our own purpose if we become who we hate.

]]> By: David D.G. http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2010/05/06/a-response-to-the-national-day-of-prayer/#comment-465161 David D.G. Thu, 06 May 2010 21:35:05 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=23966#comment-465161 These are outstanding! I just wish that they were offered as bumper stickers, too; I would be delighted to display them! These are outstanding! I just wish that they were offered as bumper stickers, too; I would be delighted to display them!

]]> By: Barry D http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2010/05/06/a-response-to-the-national-day-of-prayer/#comment-465133 Barry D Thu, 06 May 2010 20:23:25 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=23966#comment-465133 I don't know if you can force people to think. But you can hope to plant a little grain of quartz in the hiking boot of the mind. Sooner or later, one can't ignore it any more. :-) That's what I think that these quotes do. Short, sweet, and patriotic in that they come from our nation's early history. For those who think that patriotic American = fundie, they're the rock in the boot. Love it. I don’t know if you can force people to think. But you can hope to plant a little grain of quartz in the hiking boot of the mind. Sooner or later, one can’t ignore it any more. :-)

That’s what I think that these quotes do. Short, sweet, and patriotic in that they come from our nation’s early history. For those who think that patriotic American = fundie, they’re the rock in the boot. Love it.

]]> By: FFRF responds to the NDoP, “Question with boldness even the existence of a God.” « Le Café Witteveen http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2010/05/06/a-response-to-the-national-day-of-prayer/#comment-465121 FFRF responds to the NDoP, “Question with boldness even the existence of a God.” « Le Café Witteveen Thu, 06 May 2010 19:40:54 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=23966#comment-465121 [...] with boldness even the existence of a God.” I’m doing a bit of a repost here of a Friendly Atheist post … The Freedom from Religion Foundation launched a new bus campaign in response to the [...] [...] with boldness even the existence of a God.” I’m doing a bit of a repost here of a Friendly Atheist post … The Freedom from Religion Foundation launched a new bus campaign in response to the [...]

]]> By: Emily http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2010/05/06/a-response-to-the-national-day-of-prayer/#comment-465054 Emily Thu, 06 May 2010 17:28:47 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=23966#comment-465054 These are pretty sweet. Eye-catching without being offensive and they force people to think. Hell, maybe people will even do research! A girl can dream... These are pretty sweet. Eye-catching without being offensive and they force people to think. Hell, maybe people will even do research!

A girl can dream…

]]> By: Nakor http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2010/05/06/a-response-to-the-national-day-of-prayer/#comment-465051 Nakor Thu, 06 May 2010 17:25:28 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=23966#comment-465051 I think they're beautiful! (And I'm not even American lol.) As for the cherry picking argument, I'm not so sure. I don't remember which are which, but several of the founding fathers <i>were</i> either deist or atheist/agnostic, and if we're showing quotes to that nature, which are not misleading about their opinions and beliefs, then I think it's unfair to call it cherry picking. It's a favourite statement of the religious right to say that America was based on Christianity, and these statements make it very clear that such is untrue. I think they’re beautiful! (And I’m not even American lol.) As for the cherry picking argument, I’m not so sure. I don’t remember which are which, but several of the founding fathers were either deist or atheist/agnostic, and if we’re showing quotes to that nature, which are not misleading about their opinions and beliefs, then I think it’s unfair to call it cherry picking. It’s a favourite statement of the religious right to say that America was based on Christianity, and these statements make it very clear that such is untrue.

]]> By: Elga http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2010/05/06/a-response-to-the-national-day-of-prayer/#comment-465030 Elga Thu, 06 May 2010 16:28:13 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=23966#comment-465030 @SpanishInquisitor: Exactly...just getting people thinking is a great start. Anyway, I think these are brilliant. Wonder if I'll be seeing them on the streets of DC any thime soon? (Somehow I doubt it...) @SpanishInquisitor:
Exactly…just getting people thinking is a great start.

Anyway, I think these are brilliant. Wonder if I’ll be seeing them on the streets of DC any thime soon? (Somehow I doubt it…)

]]> By: John http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2010/05/06/a-response-to-the-national-day-of-prayer/#comment-465020 John Thu, 06 May 2010 16:04:01 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=23966#comment-465020 AWESOME! All of them! If I was yesterday's $266 million dollar lottery winner in CA, I would be financing these on every transit bus in the country-PERSONALLY! AWESOME! All of them! If I was yesterday’s $266 million dollar lottery winner in CA, I would be financing these on every transit bus in the country-PERSONALLY!

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