by Sjskeptic
The St. Joseph Skeptics had their sign stolen. It was a small sign that simply said, “Be Good For Goodness Sake,” and included the name of the organization and its website. It survived for three days until someone decided it was out of place surrounded by Christmassy style displays and ran off with it.
For nearly 30 years the City of St. Joseph, Missouri, has turned its Hyde Park into “Holiday Park” with nearly a mile of lighted tunnels, snowmen, Santas and a crèche complete with the requisite shepherds and wise men. After several months delay processing a request, the Parks Department consented to the Skeptics display and the group had the sign in place for the park opening the day after Thanksgiving. Two days later the sign, three supporting posts and even the light provided by the Parks Department had disappeared. About the same time, the organization’s web site was attacked and filled with profanity.
Two comments in the local newspaper are also worth noting:
“I want to know how (such) a group…can hold a meeting in a public building such as the Rolling Hills Library. Especially since it is a tax payer funded facility.”
“It also sickens me that this group was given a display in Holiday Park this year. While their message was not a bad one, what they state on their website has a certain connotation about it. I will post the quote. ‘As this was our first attempt at displaying our beliefs (or lack of them) we felt subtlety was called for. All in all, the work seemed worthwhile.’ ”
On the other hand, more than one comment said that stealing the sign was a “shame” and it “diminishes everyone.” Still, one person suggested the group stole the sign themselves to become martyrs. Others indicated that members of the Skeptics were a “group of gays,” none had jobs, and the members had “self-righteous attitudes.”
One of the Skeptic members posted:
The sign said “Be Good For Goodness Sake.” This is not only a line from a Christmas song, “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” it also expresses a different belief: You don’t need reward or threat of punishment to be good. It can come from intellectual understanding of your place within society.
As the theft of the sign illustrates, promise of future reward or punishment does not seem to work, so maybe doing the right things should be simply a personal choice.
It wasn’t surprising that drew little comment.
Undeterred, and aided by a $150 donation from the American Atheists sign fund, the St. Joseph Skeptic Society continued with plans to erect a duplicate sign in the same place. There is little hope it will remain.
Ephemeral Point: There’s a typo in the URL. You forgot the ‘s’ in “Joseph”.
That’s something I hope people think about regarding their religious groups. It would be nice if self-awareness spread caught on.
The irony is not lost on me.
well played, sir.
That’s a very elegant comeback from the skeptics – using the theft to illustrate their point that god-given morals work no better than secular morals.
Funny how theists who promote God’s supposedly absolute morality often think themselves justified in ignoring those self-same rules when they, personally and subjectively, think circumstances demand it.
Awww! Santa will put a lump of coal in the thieves’ stockings this year because the bible says “thou shalt not steal”.
1. Get duct tape
2. Get webcam
3. Set up replacement sign
4. Attach camera to nearby surface with duct tape
5. ???????
6. PROFIT!
Exactly what I was thinking.
Vandalism, theft, censorship – the three favorite pastimes of people who know what Christianity in practice really means.
I’m reading some of the comments at the article http://www.stjoenews.net/news/2009/dec/18/st-joseph-skeptic-society-gets-new-sign-holiday-pa/
Apparently, that town is full of smugly ignorant believers who regard facts as offensive and free speech as a majority privilege.
Two of my favorite comments so far:
Stay classy, Missouri.
How many Christians does it take to screw in a lightbulb?
None, REAL Christians only screw to have children.
Or just screw children.
Exactly what I was thinking.
… ouch
wow, a twist I wasn’t expecting (probably what the childern thought too!).
Use bigger bolts. “Trust in God, but tether your camel.”- Mohammed.
Dare I put this motto on a T-shirt?