Read this: "MADISON, Wis. - An atheists' group and a church are taking their rivalry on the road, using ad space on Madison Transit buses to display their competing messages. The Madison-based Freedom From Religion Foundation is spending $2,100 on six signs appearing for up to two months inside 50 buses. Each sign has a quotation questioning religion or giving reasons for not believing. A quote from the late actress Butterfly McQueen, who appeared in the movie "Gone With the Wind," says, "As my ancestors are free from slavery, I am free from the slavery of religion." In response to the ads, Pilgrims Covenant Church in Monroe said this week it purchased space on the outside of 11 Metro Transit buses for an ad quoting Psalm 14, verse 1: "The fool hath said in his heart, 'There is no God.'" The church's ads cover a large part of one side of each bus. The Rev. Ralph Ovadal said the foundation has a right to air its opinion, and the church has "the privilege to respond with truth from the word of God." The church's ads cost about $5,000. Madison Metro spokesman Mick Rusch said any ad sales help the bus system."
Of course, the obvious question of "Why?" always arises when people spend time, effort and resources to combat what they believe doesn't exist. On their Web site, the Freedom From Religion Foundation members advertise themselves as "freethinkers." I honestly don't know what they mean by that. I'm assuming they believe that anyone who espouses "religion" has somehow lost the ability to think freely for themselves. If so, we must assume, then, that (according to that line of reasoning) anyone who does not line up with non-faith-based logic is considered mentally handicapped in some form or another. But...again...it appears that their freethinking is costing them money, time and effort to fight against something they don't even believe exists. Maybe I'm not thinking clearly...but I don't get it.
Now...I do admire people who have convictions and stand their ground. Obviously, these individuals believe there is no God. They must. One does not spit in the face of God in a cavalier fashion or casually blaspheme His name. This group would not believe they are doing such...since they don't believe God exists. I'm guessing their understanding is that a mammoth number of people in the world have been duped by believing in God and they are seeking to awaken those people to their belief that He does not exist. From my perspective, the Feedom From Religion Foundation seems to be on a crusade to alter reality...a power they don't possess. Yes...I know that is my belief...and it is predicated on what I believe to be God's Word, the Bible. The Bible defines reality and eternity. It contextualizes life within the framework of God's creation and His will for His creation. And...free thinking, contrary to any other assumption, is very much built into God's creation. We are not puppets. We all choose to believe, do and pursue whatever we want. And...there are rewards and consequences to our pursuits. We must remember some important truths.
- Denying or ignoring God won't cause Him to disappear.
- Attacking believers in God won't eliminate belief in God.
- Calling yourself a "freethinker" doesn't make you one or cause someone else who thinks differently to not be one.
- Regardless of what any of us believe...we will all stand before God someday. (Yes...I know. You can say that is only my opinion. Time will tell and I am certain that is true.)
The Freedom From Religion Foundation Web site quotes atheist Richard Dawkins, who said: "The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction." Again...I ask...if that is true, why would Dawkins or anyone else waste their lives fighting fiction? For myself, I would rather build my life on a foundation of truth and pursue it. So...I build my life on Christ. What about you?
"The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God.'" Psalm 53:1
"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." Romans 1:20
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:16, 17
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