bible bus

as most of you know since you actually know me, i grew up in Michigan. im not sure if this is still the case, but there used to be a series of billboards along I-94 with messages from god. my favorite was one near Grand Rapids (the heart of Michigan's 'bible belt') that read "Don't make me come down there." -God

i dont know who put them up, but they were around for a while and few popped up on 96 as well. it always seemed odd to me, because i could never figure out what they were trying to do. the only one with an explicit message that i can recall went something like "Come over to my house on Sunday. Bring the kids. -God" that one is clear enough. but are they really trying to evangelize on the interstate or just out to get a few chuckles from believers and atheists alike?

well, leave it to DC to one up them. the America Humanist Association has bought a bunch of bus adds in the district with the slogan "Why beleive in a god? Just be good for goodness' sake." its the first ive heard of trying to spread humanism or any other kind of atheism or agnosticism other than individual efforts. it has also sparked a couple of responses from the religious establishment.

The Center for Family Development, a Catholic group, has bought adds on the buses saying "Why Believe? Because I created you and I love you, for goodness' sake." that one comes off as a condescending and patronizing, but i guess it is god. and American Muslims, a group from Florida, has put up adds there stating " Islam: The Message of Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad."

the Post/Newsweek are pitching this as an advertising battle between faiths, likening it to the Big Mac vs. Whopper and Pepsi vs. Coke. i dont quite see it that way, but maybe thats whats to come. it does seem to be a rather unwise use of money. i mean, wouldnt all these groups do better to sponser shelters or soup kitchens. i mean if you want to get your name out there, buy the naming rights to a big shelter and put a big ole sign out front. like stadium naming rights.

Humanism basically comes down to the 'do unto others' commandmant, so why spend money trying to get people to quit on god just to put all faith into one of his commandmants. i tend to throw myself into their lot, but i see their bus ads like i see most religious proselytizing and evangelizing: if youve got the extra time and money, why dont you use it doing all those lovely things you preach about like helping the poor and needy? but were not talking millions here, so im not incensed by it. in fact, looking on the bright side, it helps fund transit, which i like, so bring it on. ill just ignore it or marvel at it like most ads and go about my business.

thoughts? i wonder what Kurt Vonnegut would think about this...