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New anti-religion ads go mobile
Atheism organization advertises on Madison Metro, concerning Republican Suder
BOBBY BREITENBACH/Herald photo
Freedom From Religion Foundation’s ad campaign includes quotes from atheist personalities like Katherine Hepburn.
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An anti-religion organization is spreading mobile messages speaking out against religion on 50 Madison Metro buses for the next two months.
The signs, from the Freedom From Religion Foundation, are a compilation of six famous quotes taken from Emily Dickinson, Mark Twain, Katherine Hepburn, Butterfly McQueen, Clarence Darrow and Richard Dawkins, said Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-president of FFRF.
Gaylor said FFRF, an “educational,” nonprofit organization, is posting the signs to spread ideas concerning religion to the Madison public and giving bus riders something to look at while riding.
Gaylor initially proposed the ideas and the quotes selected are some of her favorites, she said.
“We’re spreading awareness,” Gaylor said. “People never knowingly met an atheist, and they contribute so much to society.”
She added she thinks the campaign will show people the famous faces of well-respected people who are not religious.
Additionally, Gaylor said it was especially important to put a quote from Butterfly McQueen, a black actress popular in the 1940s and 50s, because February is Black History Month.
“As my ancestors are free from slavery, I am free from the slavery of religion,” was the quote chosen from Butterfly McQueen.
Although the campaign supports atheist views, religious organizations in downtown Madison are not taking offense to the anti-religion message.
Megan Schmitz, University of Wisconsin junior and the chair of Badger Catholic, said because many Madison residents are liberal and may not believe in religion, she is not offended by the signs.
She said people are entitled to their own opinions, adding if posted signs read, “God is great,” people would not take offense either.
“They can say whatever they want to say,” Schmitz said. “I’m part of Badger Catholic [and] we do the same thing expressing we believe in God. Why can’t other students express their opinions?”
However on a state level, the FFRF movement struck a negative chord with religious politicians.
Rep. Scott Suder, R-Abbotsford, said FFRF is spreading a message of “hate,” adding the foundation is intolerant of Wisconsinites who believe in God.
“They’re an ultra-fringe wacko organization that is desperately trying to get attention, and I would just encourage people to just ignore them,” Suder said. “No one pays attention to anything they do.”
However, Gaylor said the FFRF has been an influential anti-religion group since 1976, and the organization, based in Madison, now has national appeal.
Despite Gaylor’s claims, Suder said the people funding FFRF need to “wake up and realize how out of touch and dangerous this group can be.” He said not believing in God is a choice, but there is no need for them to voice their opinions throughout Madison.
Gaylor said she wants to take her religious signs around the country, adding her goal is to post them on New York subways.
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““God is great,” people would not take offense either.” ….FALSE, FFRF would have a fit and people would be suing
“Rep. Scott Suder, R-Abbotsford, said FFRF is spreading a message of hate.” Why am I not surprised that this douchebag is a Republican?
Post ‘em where ever you like, MoonBeam!
God will forgive you…….
When Athiests start passing the basket for these things, you will know things have gone full circle.
I’m guessing if someone wanted to put up signs on the city buses saying “God Bless You”, those signs would not be allowed.
Welcome to Atheistic fascism.
I’m impressed by Schmitz, whose attitude is fair and tolerant. Why should she be offended by other people expressing their opinions? I’m not surprised that some of the posters above display the religious bigotry (atheistic fascism? get real). “They can say whatever they want to say,” Schmitz said. “I’m part of Badger Catholic [and] we do the same thing expressing we believe in God. Why can’t other students express their opinions?”
Why not indeed.
If all Christians agreed with Ms Schmitz, and fewer with nut-job Suder, then atheists wouldn’t need to post quotes just to get Christians to stop treating them like s**t. Does Suder think everyone who disagrees with him politically does so out of “hate”? Is his religion so fragile that it requires censorship to continue? No wonder 18% of Americans are now non-religious, and increasing every year.
“Suder said the people funding FFRF need to “wake up and realize how out of touch and dangerous this group can be.” He said not believing in God is a choice, but there is no need for them to voice their opinions throughout Madison.”
Yes, atheists are dangerous. I guess that’s why the prisons have no atheists, but lots of born-again Christians. And what kind of fascist insists that those he disagrees with should be silent?
An anti religious group is “out of touch and dangerous?” Seriously? How many wars have been started based on religion? Why were planes flown into the twin towers? Religion is the threat to this world. Atheists don’t feel the need to kill people to spread their ideals. They just put signs on buses.
Where the F is Abbotsford?
Scott Suder is just a politidian pandering to the bigots in his district
Religion has held the world hostage by the chains of ignorance in the cell of superstition for millenia. The greatest threat to all mankind is the belief and faith in various sky-fairy indoctrinations that overide common sense, reason and logic. Emotional resort and/or response to any given situation is asking for trouble regardless of theocratic affiliation.
I’d like an example of an atheist’s hate. Or is this an example of the other’s hate?
Dear Heather Burian,
FFRF is not an ANTI-religion group. We have no problem with religious people who respect the principle of separation af church and state.
Who are the REAL haters? Check out FFRF’s mailbag!
Christian signs are posted in public all the time. They are so commonplace that people don’t realize how often they see them. FFRF just wants people to know that there are atheists in this country and we have a right to express our thoughts as much as any other group.
it’s a persons choice to be atheist, as it is their choice to be religious. I choose to be religious, because none of us have the answer to how we came to be. I have a hard time believing our existence is a series of random events. I believe in science as well. When I die, if I just become worm food, then so be it I will never know, but if I die, and which ever religion you believe in, live an after life, come back as a dog, what ever the case, then we’ll know (without actually knowing) there is more to our existence. There are far too many questions on both sides to be a hard liner for one or the other.
Are you all brain washed? Wake the “Hell Up”! lIBERAL sOCIALISM is upon us you “Mindless Sheep”! Did you ever hear the term ‘Testing the waters’? These “Anti-American God Hating Extremist Liberals” Are going to destroy a once great country, and if you can’t see that? Then you have become one of the blind self absorbed Americans that this “Neo Fascist Regime” Are appealing to!
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Liberals invented freedoms man. Get used to it.
Our society will never see its potential unless we loosen the shackles and escape from the tyrannical oppression that is modern religion. We do not need a big imaginary man in the sky to make us happy do we? I think perhaps it is time to through out the superstitions of the past and head into the future.
Don’t you just love religion? It’s two-faced just like many people I know. I guess everyone born before Christ went to hell when they died. It’s a shame Jesus wasn’t there to steer them in the right direction. I AM TOTALLY BEING SARCASTIC. Religion is close-minded. Check out the definition of close-minded and try to argue that.