Texas has long been home to various religious billboards, and the North Texas plains cities of Dallas and Fort Worth have drawn more than an equal share. Dallas is one of several cities where, in 1999, an anonymous donor helped fund the now famous God Speaks billboards. The ads featured quirky little ditties signed by god, such as…
Clever, I must say, and apparently successful enough that the boards made a return engagement in 2005, eventually growing in number to some 5,000 signs around the nation. Still, I’ve always had a bit of a problem with the arrogance that would allow a mere mortal the authority to not only speak for the supreme being, but to sign his name to the “quotes.”
More recently a less arrogant, but enigmatic and equally mysterious campaign has posted billboards around the area. These signs feature sports stars, Hollywood celebrities and average people professing, “I Am Second”. Lou Costello would probably be asking, “Who’s on first?”
In addition to these well-funded campaigns, a drive down the byways and highways of North Texas treats the traveler to numerous amateur attempts at putting the name of god in the eyes of passersby.
So the god squad has their signs, and now those of us without the burden of belief have our own.
Starting the middle of next month, two billboards will be erected in the Metroplex. One along IH-35E near Loop 12 in Northwest Dallas, and the other in north Fort Worth at IH-35W and Braswell.
The sign’s message will encourage folks to visit www.dfwcor.org. The C.O.R stands for "Coalition of Reason," and the website will be ready for business coinciding with the unveiling of the billboards.
DFW isn’t the first area to see such signs. Similar billboards have been previously erected in Philadelphia and in Denver.
It’s good to know we aren’t alone.
More recently a less arrogant, but enigmatic and equally mysterious campaign has posted billboards around the area. These signs feature sports stars, Hollywood celebrities and average people professing, “I Am Second”. Lou Costello would probably be asking, “Who’s on first?”
In addition to these well-funded campaigns, a drive down the byways and highways of North Texas treats the traveler to numerous amateur attempts at putting the name of god in the eyes of passersby.
So the god squad has their signs, and now those of us without the burden of belief have our own.
Starting the middle of next month, two billboards will be erected in the Metroplex. One along IH-35E near Loop 12 in Northwest Dallas, and the other in north Fort Worth at IH-35W and Braswell.
The sign’s message will encourage folks to visit www.dfwcor.org. The C.O.R stands for "Coalition of Reason," and the website will be ready for business coinciding with the unveiling of the billboards.
DFW isn’t the first area to see such signs. Similar billboards have been previously erected in Philadelphia and in Denver.
It’s good to know we aren’t alone.
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6 Comments:
How long do you think it will be until someone tries to get them taken down?
Heh!
Can you say "shitstorm?"
We'll soon know. Today is the day of the big unveiling.
Pardon me while I pick a nit or two.
Why should you be offended if a "mere mortal" grants himself "authority to not only speak for the supreme being, but to sign his name to the 'quotes.'" if you don't believe in a supreme being? If you are truly "without the burden of belief", why would it matter to you what someone else says is the Word of God. You don't believe he exists so you must know the words don't come from him but from the speaker.
That point aside, are either the God Speaks billboards or the I Am Second media campaign a harmful thing? Both appear to be promoting peaceful and beneficial thought processes and ways of life that encourages viewers to be considerate and to be respectful of others. Sounds like a good idea no matter on which side of the "God" issue you fall.
Why should you be offended
Offended is not a word I used, and offended I am not. I have a problem with the arrogance. We have no means to verify statements supposedly made by god; we have to take it on faith that the “mere mortal” indeed speaks for god.
why would it matter to you what someone else says is the Word of God
God told Eric Robert Rudolph to blow up an abortion clinic and maim nurses. God told Denna Schlosser to chop off the arms of her baby girl. God is telling suicide bombers to kill themselves and others in the Middle East. Yes, I do have a problem with folks claiming to know what god says or means.
You don't believe he exists so you must know the words don't come from him but from the speaker
Which is exactly my point.
are either the God Speaks billboards or the I Am Second media campaign a harmful thing?
Yes, I believe they are harmful. They perpetuate a harmful myth and legitimize the authority of those who would speak for god. They enable people like Schlosser and Rudolph and grant authority to religious dictators. These people have no more moral authority than I, and I no more than they, but “speaking for god” gives them authority to order the flock into actions that are certainly less than godly.
Being considerate and respectful of others is a good idea. The problem is when certain individuals take it upon themselves to enforce that which god wants. You’d have to walk a mile in my shoes to understand how it feels to be a target of the godded, simply because I refuse to believe that which I cannot test for validity.
I do not need god in my life to be a good person.
I am not an agnostic , nor am i an atheist. I dont belive the ( choose your book here ) was penned by whatever or whomever has both the attention to detail and the " give a shit " to hold sway over our " soul " . I do believe we have a soul , and i believe what we do affects it so i guess i believe in both karma and an after life of some sort . I will say tho that every bit of energy folks put into fighting the battle of " my way or the highway " is imho counter productive . folks want to be fundamentalists or islamist well that is ok , uintil they take action to support said beliefs . Today its islam , yesterday it was the christians. Tomorrow it wont be me or mule .
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