To get you up to speed, some atheists posted some confronting posters at uni. Deciding this would help people actually talk about God rather than dismiss Him, with your help I decided to respond in kind.
This is what I was going for;
wit·ty (wt
)
adj. wit·ti·er, wit·ti·est1. Possessing or demonstrating wit in speech or writing; very clever and humorous.2. Characterized by or having the nature of wit; funny or jocular: a witty saying.3. Quick to discern and express amusing insights or relationships.4. Entertainingly and strikingly clever or original in concept, design, or performance: a witty sculpture; witty choreography.
Some people claim this is what was achieved;
child·ish (chl
d
adj.
1. Of, relating to, or suitable for a child or childhood: a high, childish voice; childish nightmares.2.
a. Marked by or indicating a lack of maturity; puerile: tired of your childish pranks.b. Not complicated; simple.c. Affected mentally by old age; senile.
So here are the final posters as they currently appear at uni.
Some people avoid confrontation at all costs. This is sinful. My mother always taught me if you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all. However, when it comes to refuting error one must speak, even if it's not very nice.
Many people dismiss Jesus without thought. My hope and prayer is that these posters will not stop people from hearing about Jesus, but rather assist them in thinking further about the claims he makes.
That said, where do the posters fail?
The posters fail in being extremely moronic on the whole.
ReplyDeletePoster 1: Doens't make any sense from either side of the argument. You've mixed each view together and made no valid point except appearing foolish.
Poster 2: Read you bible is the worst argument a christian can use in a public argument. It's mindless and lazy.
Poster 3: Same as poster 2 but with a childish pun that simply makes the posters creator look unintelligent.
Poster 4: Has nothing to do with countering the poster you have juxtaposed it with.
Poster 5: Eh it's ok. You sure Jesus as punisher is the right imagery to present however?
Uh-oh, looks like we provoked a paroxysm!
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing we found our anonymous poster-er, Izaac. ;-)
I haven't posted anonymously once. So no.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI agree with much of paroxysm's critique, to be honest. Probably wouldn't have expressed it the same way though.
ReplyDelete@ Paroxysm
ReplyDeleteThanks for your thoughts. There are limits to what can be communicated in 12 words or less (and 12 words is almost too long).
Let me explain some of the thinking as I understand it behind each poster
Poster #1
The logic for the atheist is that the universe has always been - no one created it. Yet when it comes to God they would contend it is impossible that he has always been. Therefore not to necessarily promote a view that the universe is eternal I was hoping to bring out the idea that people trust the universe has always been while discounting the possibility that God has always been. One must hold the possibility if they believe in an uncreated universe that there is also the possibility of an uncreated God (or as we put it, the uncreated creator.)
Poster #2
There's was a pun. Our's is a pun. I don't see what your critique is.
Poster #3
If God exists why would he ever be contained by the English language? I would have preferred to respond to the nit-picking over words which is an excuse to ignore the concept. It's like trying to define infinity (the idea of eternal, never-ending) without referencing time. It is impossible. To define the time-less we must do so using time. But it then is never impossible to truly comprehend it using language.
Poster #4
Counter to what you believe, this interacts well with the poster. To be an atheist requires just as much trust (faith) as Christianity. However, the claim of atheism is usually that they are standing form some sort of neutral territory looking back. They are just as trusting as Christians, just as exclusive, but don't want to admit it. They just believe one thing, we just believe another. The original kind of hinted at this trust they have. That's positive. We were countering with our conviction which is that the if Jesus is really God then that has consequences. Just as if atheists are right there are consequences for Christians.
Poster #5
Jesus as judge is a predominant Biblical image. It's not good marketing from the world's sense, but God felt it an okay method.
#2 should read "Theirs"
ReplyDeleteParoxysm's thoughts are true to an extent, but obviously missing the intention of the posters.
ReplyDeleteThey are not supposed to be 'arguments' posed to win people over, or to 'counter' the original posters. They are supposed to provoke a bit of a laugh and a few questions from non-Christians to their Christian friends. If that's what it does, then mission successful.
Izaac:
ReplyDeletePoster 1: Actually that isn't the atheist argument. You've misunderstood it. The question of "who created god?" is merely a rebutal to the theist claim that for something to exist is must have a creator is somehow a proof of god. Atheists do not claim knowledge of creation, merely call out those who claim factual knowledge without proof.
Poster 2: Actually it isn't bad since theirs is also just a pointless pun.
Poster 3: HAHA OXYMORON HAS MORON IN IT YOU ARE FUNNY ENGLISHY SMRT!\
Face it you've used shitty english that makes you look as intelligent as my previous sentence. The bible make terribly inconsistant claims of god's infinate nature. I've still yet to meet a single theist that can explain why an apparently omnipresent being evolves in a linear nature in their stories. You've made no argument, you've stepped aside, thrown out a (moronic) insult and told them to work it out themselves because you don't have the knowledge to intelligently argue the point. And let's face it as far as debates on the merits of any deity go this is about as simple as they come.
Poster 4: Of course the original poster is about the thousands of gods you discount as false (including variations on your own).
Poster 5: Actually you're right. I was just grasping something to complain about there.
You say black (I say white). You say bark (I say bite). You say shark (I say hey man Jaws was never my scene and I don't like star wars). You say Rolls (I say Royce). You say God (give me a choice). You say Lord (I say Christ I don't believe in Peter Pan, Frankenstein or Superman.
ReplyDeleteAs well as enjoying quoting Freddie Mercury we'll just have to agree to disagree. I think Leah was on the money. One must understand the point of replying to the posters to judge their success or failure.