But seriously, 'When you condemn all religions and say they are a fairytale, that is wrong'?? I imagine this guy doesn't mine seeing those anti-abortion billboards with babies saying 'jesus loves me too.' Then again, slapping someone else in the face is comedy, right?

"When you condemn all religions and say they are a fairytale, that is wrong,"

I'd called it critical thinking, but I'm probably shortlisted for hell.

Glad this was in Florida and not New Orleans or San Francisco. O'Reilly and Donohue will be feigning indignation for months, and I'm sick of the same old godless New Orleans/San Francisco crap. Fundamentalism is dangerous in whatever form it's cloaked, can't we just choose what and whether to believe for ourselves? Not just a nation of adults, but maybe a world of adults.

it certainly isn't effective as a logical way to address some of the pressing concerns having to do with religion. and on that level, it also discounts any importance religion has to family, tradition, and culture in ways that fairy tales do not play a significant role.

That is the real difference between (many) world religions and fairy tales or the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Nobody gives dates or locations for the resting place of Snow White.

That is only true for the religion-y person—the one who mistakes mythology for historicity, the symbol for the thing itself. If none of those supposed historical events actually took place, the mythology is untouched; neither is the sphere of human thought that gave birth to that mythology touched. History is irrelevant to the symbols' and allegories' conveyance of mythopoetic thinking—and it is that thinking (and not the "belief" or "faith" in religion) that distinguishes humankind from much of the rest of his world.

I didn't think the billboard's message was all that inaccurate.

I do think, however, that most of us (fundamentalist or atheist) refuse to listen to God's Word.

Hmmm, how's that working out with our so-called "Christians" nowadays?

Because isn't that just the smartest way to run a business in what would appear to be a fundie Xtian community?

@26:
Before you call the historical evidence for Jesus weak, read the list of sources on Alexander the Great:
http://www.pothos.org/content/index.php?page=historiography
Those sources which were actually written by eye-witnesses are generally lost. Most of the sources are written by Greeks, so if we're to discount Christian sources about Jesus for being Christian, why not discount Greek sources about Alexander for being Greek?

Alexander - King of Greece, undefeated in battle yet retains no eye-witness accounts of his life. Little non-greek sources on his 33-year life or 13 year reign.

Jesus - Galilean Peasant, works as carpenter most of his life, spends 3 years as a homeless traveling preacher before undergoing being executed. Retains two accounts of his life by eye-witnesses and two more written by the students of those eye-witnesses. One sentence summary of his life by non-follower (Josephus) dates to 95 AD.

If we're to call the historicity of Jesus into account, we would do well to burn all our history books, because the evidence for him is quite better than any other historical figure of his era.

But it's not historicity that convinces people to become Christians. People become convinced when they read the detailed accounts about Jesus (in the gospels) and become convinced that the His wisdom was inspired, His life was perfect and that He indeed is the image of God and not a man or the invention of men.

Yeah, that's what I always said about the gospels: what a perfect guy! Every single word of this makes total sense!

I mean come on. People become Christians because they were depressed and somebody cheered them up by taking them to church. Actually sitting down and reading that crazy nonsense is the last thing that is going to bring anybody around.

And no historian is asked to have faith that Alexander was real. They only need to footnote their sources.

but in a sense it doesn't matter, the fairy tales make more of an impression than the truth ever does.

Who wants to collect some cash for a similar billboard in these parts?

This series of sentences makes me want to cry.

I'll proof him...

The last time I made a trip down I-75 through southern Georgia and into northern Florida, the entire stretch is littered with an endless string of strip joints -- I mean, gentlemen's clubs -- featuring some nasty in-your-face skank.

Hmmmm, practically every civilization has some variation of creation and flood myths. Every religion is a variation on the same theme.

Every religion shows you some way to earn your own salvation except one.

True Christianity differs from every other religion in that there is no way you can earn your own salvation.

This is best summed up in the doctrine of Justification - Justification is an act of God’s free grace, wherein he pardons all our sins, and accepts us as righteous in His sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone.

No money, war, or coolaid drinking needed. Only a life that proves you have a heart changed to live a righteous life. Unfortunately, many get it wrong and end reflecting poorly on the rest of Christianity that is doing it right.

2Pe 3:3 - 10
I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles. First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.

Just remember who you are arguing with. I pray that you get it right.

It seems to be doing wonders for hedonism's favorite idols Paris, Lindsay, and Brittany.

Man, I don't care it it's trolling, it's damn fine trolling. Carry on, RZ. Carry on.

Does he give you triple your money back if you aren't Saved? Does he?

I mean that there are potentially an infinite number of religions to choose from, and only one of them pays off. Chances are the one you picked is not going to be the One. However, you can still pick the one -- the only one! -- that comes with a money back, nay, TRIPLE your money back, guarantee.

So yeah, FSM is "hip". FSM is "hot". But as you get older and get responsibilities, you start looking for a Savior who stands behind His product. Something to think about.

Could you provide a list of all of the civilizations that have their own variation on the flood myth?

I counted, and I only got one.

And a beer volcano.

Here you go!

http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/flood-myths.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creation_myth

Wikipedia also has a listing of flood myths.