On this route there is a particular billboard that stands out to me, right before I get on the highway. It's a picture of a woman's face, and next to it are the words:
"Millions of people are living happily without religion."
Maybe you've seen one like it?
Sponsored by the Center for Inquiry, the billboard is advertising secularism for people who don't have present beliefs or haven't committed to a belief system.
(I had to look up the definition of secularism.. )
This billboard at first made me angry. The way it ironically bore it's smiling face at me each time I headed to my place of worship. I just wanted to yell at the lady on the poster and be like, "Yeah well millions of people are living happily WITH religion too, lady!"
And living eternally I might add!
However, now when I pass the propaganda, it makes me giggle because what they are advertising, while it's not "religion", is a place or a group or a system of beliefs for people who don't have one, or who don't want to be "religious."
But isn't that part of the definition of religion? I mean take out the god or gods you believe in and the rituals and traditions and what have you, and a religion, a church is a group of people who share a set of beliefs who come together for support and for company and for peace of mind.
So, are they advertising:
"living happily without religion"
or
"living happily because we don't have to call ourselves religious even though for all intents and purposes we essentially are"
The last thing I want to do is debate secularism vs. christianity or any other religion, but if you think about it this seems like a case of the pot calling the kettle black, doesn't it?
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