Street Preachers

[cindianna_jones]

Zenda, you probably already know the answer to your question.

Atheism is defined as a lack of faith or belief.  It's pretty hard to preach that   It's not very interesting. It certainly, at its base level, can't offend anyone (althought some really get off on it), and, those who are atheists usually don't care.

Cindi

[Joelene9]

Tekla,
  I remember those Chick tracts from the mid-1970's!  I was aboard ship and I was in with a group of fundamentalist Christians who met near the bomb elevators during lull time.  Those tracts were quite popular then.  I would not compare my group to these other fundamentalists you hear about today.  We were quite flexible in our beliefs and the meetings were loose.  The mention of those Chick comics brought on good memories with my navy buddies. 
  Joelene

[Annah]

Kia Ora,

Have you ever wondered why there aren't any 'Atheist' street preachers !

We are constantly being told Atheism is like a religion- a belief system, and just like religion there are fundamentalist Atheists - So why no street preaching Atheists ?

OK there was a atheist bus billboard campaign a while back http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atheist_Bus_Campaign 

But I'm talking about 'Street' Preaching-standing on street corners with sandwich board and telling passersby "You are not sinners, because there's no god nor hell -so enjoy life !" That kind of street preaching...

Metta Zenda

While there is an outward appearance of differences between street preachers and billboards, the essence of getting the word out is the same.

There are Atheist proselytizers. I see it just as much as Christian proselytizers. And both can get just as ugly or just simply informative.

I think the point should be to worship or believe in what you want but don't try to force others into it...whether its Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Wiccan, Atheism, etc



This is a billboard but we found several of them in tract form at Barnes n Noble



Two weeks later we came across these Christian tracts. The back of them had a christian message

Both people tried to get their message across and we spent an hour finding all the tracts in our books before we closed.

[Anatta]

While there is an outward appearance of differences between street preachers and billboards, the essence of getting the word out is the same.

I think the point should be to worship or believe in what you want but don't try to force others into it...whether its Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Wiccan, Atheism, etc

Kia Ora Annah,

I couldn't agree more about people having the right to worship and believe what they like[just so long as their actions/beliefs don't harm others]...However  a person walking around or standing on street corners [often seen wearing a sandwich board or the like] and accosting passerby, is different from a stationary bill board...

And from what I gather Cindy's thread was in regards to the 'human' street preacher...Hence my comment when comparing apples with apples  "You might see Atheist bill boards[which are few and far between compared to religious ones] but one does not see Atheist 'in your face' street preachers!"...

However I could be wrong, perhaps you have actually seen some...

Metta Zenda

[Annah]

Kia Ora Annah,

I couldn't agree more about people having the right to worship and believe what they like[just so long as their actions/beliefs don't harm others]...However  a person walking around or standing on street corners [often seen wearing a sandwich board or the like] and accosting passerby, is different from a stationary bill board...

And from what I gather Cindy's thread was in regards to the 'human' street preacher...Hence my comment when comparing apples with apples  "You might see Atheist bill boards[which are few and far between compared to religious ones] but one does not see Atheist 'in your face' street preachers!"...

However I could be wrong, perhaps you have actually seen some...

Metta Zenda

Ive seen quite a few "Atheist Street Preachers." They don't go on a megaphone telling how everyone is going to hell but they do have their own ways of doing it.

I saw on Atheist group who had an anti baptism on the commons of one university campus. Atheist "blow dried" themselves off on their stage as a symbol of reversing their water baptism.

Here is a form of it at their Annual Atheist Convention
http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/atheists-conduct-de-baptisms/story?id=11109379#.TyDd9vnp4v0

So, they do have their own public displays....and they can also get downright nasty too...just as nasty as a fundie street preacher! I've run into some pretty arrogant atheists before.....they were just like Pat Robertson with their belief: they are right...everyone else is wrong. I ignore those people and feel sorry for em.

But like any religion or anti religion, you have the good, bad, and ugly. I just ignore the bad and ugly ones and concentrate on the good ones.

When I focus more on the good christians, buddhists, atheists, wiccans, etc etc I tend to ignore the "in your face Christians, buddhists, atheists, wiccans, etc etc."

[Anatta]

Ive seen quite a few "Atheist Street Preachers." They don't go on a megaphone telling how everyone is going to hell but they do have their own ways of doing it.

I saw on Atheist group who had an anti baptism on the commons of one university campus. Atheist "blow dried" themselves off on their stage as a symbol of reversing their water baptism.  * *=Zenda's insertion

Kia Ora Annah,

University campuses are know for different groups voicing their opinions.  But it's still not the same as street preaching Annah...Plus why would an Atheist want tell somebody they are going to 'hell' ?

I would go so far as to say even religious people[perhaps not fundies] would see the funny side of the anti-baptism prank...

Metta Zenda

[Annah]

Kia Ora Annah,

University campuses are know for different groups voicing their opinions.  But it's still not the same as street preaching Annah...Plus why would an Atheist want tell somebody they are going to 'hell' ?

Preaching on a campus as a non student to me is street preaching. You have someone preaching or explaining their own philosophies in public where people who may or may not want to hear it and the point of it is to get the attention of a passerby. The only difference is, it isn't on a street sidewalk. It's on a campus.

While it is true that an Atheist would never tell someone they are going to hell, nevertheless, it can be offensive to others when they tell people there is no heaven. Preaching the absence of an afterlife can be as offensive as preaching in a hell.

I would go so far as to say even religious people[perhaps not fundies] would see the funny side of the anti-baptism prank...

Metta Zenda

True, but there is also a hint of a type of disrespect. It would be like me doing something to a rug to make fun of the Muslim Rite of Prayer where they use the rug to pray towards Mecca. I would never be so insensitive as to make fun of someone else's beliefs. I would have no right or authority to do that.

[Cindy]

Back to my original point. I have no problem with people publicly stating there views and opinions, such is the foundation of democracy. What I object to is the perceived right of people to publicly express their views in a hateful and discriminatory manner.

I was also thinking of Speakers Corner (I think that is what it is called) in London, where people can express whatever views they wish but people can attend the place or not. I think that is a great idea.

I do not have religious beliefs, but I found it offensive that when I walked past this group I was shouted at down a microphone that homosexuality is a sin (BTW I'm not gay, I like guys) and I would be going to Hell. I don't care either way, but I did go up and tell the fools what I thought of them, not because I was ashamed or embarrassed, but because other people may not have my  kevlar skin. And indeed when they insulted the young girls I found that to be totally disgusting.

[Anatta]

Preaching on a campus as a non student to me is street preaching. You have someone preaching or explaining their own philosophies in public where people who may or may not want to hear it and the point of it is to get the attention of a passerby. The only difference is, it isn't on a street sidewalk. It's on a campus.

Kia Ora Annah,
Universities are places where philosophies are 'commonly' expressed-again I repeat they are still not "Street Corners"!

While it is true that an Atheist would never tell someone they are going to hell, nevertheless, it can be offensive to others when they tell people there is no heaven. Preaching the absence of an afterlife can be as offensive as preaching in a hell.

You're not comparing apples with apples here Annah - Again an Atheist is not standing on a street corner voicing his or her opinion to passersby...However it's possible when a Atheist is confronted by a street preacher[who 'is' standing on a street corner accosting passersby] they might choose to counter the preachers rhetoric by disputing that there is such places as heaven or an hell...

True, but there is also a hint of a type of disrespect. It would be like me doing something to a rug to make fun of the Muslim Rite of Prayer where they use the rug to pray towards Mecca. I would never be so insensitive as to make fun of someone else's beliefs. I would have no right or authority to do that.

  Still not apples with apples Annah, but nice try though....The Atheist group are just 'expressing' their personal view on baptism... There are thousands upon thousands of 'forced' baptisms each year where the parents of babies and small children[without consent] have them baptised-the children and babies have no say in the matter...

And when government agencies tallying up the amount of religious people there are [especially in Western countries like the US] along with other things they often use church baptisms records-even though some who were once baptised have become Atheists or Agnostics-They are still counted in the statistics ...Food for thought !

Metta Zenda

Kia Ora Cindy,

My apologies, I was staying on track with my original post re "No Atheist Street Preachers" but Annah and I seemed to have gone slightly off tracked...

BTW, when I lived in London I used to like visiting 'Speakers corner', I didn't participate- just to listen to what was being said and by whom...

Metta Zenda

[Annah]

Again, Zenda we will have to agree to disagree.

I see both sides of the issue and do not play favorites with one or the other nor will I vilify one group and praise another.

I see Atheist street preaching and I see Christian street preaching...whether off campus or on campus it is the same. It may not be the same where you live, but in America, they do the same thing. They stand on something, they use a megaphone, they may have banners and they preach their convictions.

To say people walking down the sidewalk has different philosophies as those walking on campus isn't accurate...at least here. The only difference I see is the actual name...but the definition and the spirit of it is the same from my experiences.

Ive pretty much seen it all as it is sometimes the nature of religion...even with Atheism.

[Anatta]

Again, Zenda we will have to agree to disagree.

I see both sides of the issue and do not play favorites with one or the other nor will I vilify one group and praise another.

I see Atheist street preaching and I see Christian street preaching...whether off campus or on campus it is the same. It may not be the same where you live, but in America, they do the same thing. They stand on something, they use a megaphone, they may have banners and they preach their convictions.

To say people walking down the sidewalk has different philosophies as those walking on campus isn't accurate...at least here. The only difference I see is the actual name...but the definition and the spirit of it is the same from my experiences.

Ive pretty much seen it all as it is sometimes the nature of religion...even with Atheism.

Kia Ora Annah,

You are still not comparing apples with apples...You are attempting to tweak the definition of "Street Preacher!" by classing a "university complex" as a high street ...

BTW not for one minute did I say that people who walk the street preaching have different philosophies to the ones on campus, however what's preached on campus stays on  campus so to speak...Now do you see the difference ?

And it has nothing to do with favoritism Annah, *Athesim over Theism* I was just stating something that over the years has come to my attention...That is "I have NEVER seen an Atheist STREET preacher...They might go to universities to express their opinion[just like the religious fundies often do] but NEVER on STREET CORNERS !


Metta Zenda  

[Annah]

Kia Ora Annah,

You are still not comparing apples with apples...You are attempting to tweak the definition of "Street Preacher!" by classing a "university complex" as a high street ...

And I will continue to do so. I wont change that. An atheist or a Christian or any other religious person with a megaphone outside preaching what they believe is street preaching. I don't care if its on a literal street, outside of a mall, strip mall, outside of a Chinese restaurant or a campus.

BTW not for one minute did I say that people who walk the street preaching have different philosophies to the ones on campus, however what's preached on campus stays on  campus so to speak...Now do you see the difference ?

What is preached on campus does not stay on campus. I've been in college long enough to know that's not true.

And it has nothing to do with favoritism Annah, *Athesim over Theism* I was just stating something that over the years has come to my attention...That is "I have NEVER seen an Atheist STREET preacher...They might go to universities to express their opinion[just like the religious fundies often do] but NEVER on STREET CORNERS !

really?





Sure does look like a street corner to me.

[Pica Pica]

In Harlesden, where I live, they have a clock on a roundabout called the Jubilee Clock. Here it is...



By this clock an old lady will frequently set up a crackling but loud pa system and sing hymns down it badly. Sometimes she will read from the Bible in the special 'Bible reading manner' (e.g flat, gabbled and with no pauses for punctuation or any aids to general meaning) - the manner shows that merely hearing the words is enough, not comprehending the meaning. Sometimes she is joined by an old man who yells at people that 'Jesus is the ting'. Oddly, they don't really interact with the public, they just stand and talk at the air.

On other days the Muslims go there. They are better organised, in uniform with pretty decent leaflets and they bring a table. They talk and gabble all over each other and try to get people to sign their mailing list.

Meanwhile the '1-pound-man' stalks between the HSBC bank and the Barclay's across the road, begging every white person he can find for 1 pound. A few years ago he was the 2 pound man, but the recession has hit him hard. He still has brand new trainers on though.

  - Sometimes all these people annoy me, but on the whole I find they make wonderful street furniture.

(But as for those who jump on the bus and intone in the Bible reading voice very loudly so all the bus hears, that's as bad as people with faulty headphones and a fondness for D&B).

[Pippa]

Said Lady has also appeared in Shrewsbury.  I think she must travel the Country.  I do not dissaprove of her preaching, we all have a right to free speech, but she is totally tone deaf.  I think the other regular buskers in town got together and threw her out of town!

[Anatta]

And I will continue to do so. I wont change that. An atheist or a Christian or any other religious person with a megaphone outside preaching what they believe is street preaching. I don't care if its on a literal street, outside of a mall, strip mall, outside of a Chinese restaurant or a campus.

Kia Ora Annah,

It's not so much we agree to disagree, but the way in which we each choose to define 'Street Preacher' for example the following definition from our friend Wiki :

"Open-air preaching, 'street preaching' or public preaching is the act of publicly proclaiming a religious message to crowds of people in open places. It is an ancient method of communicating a religious or social message, and has been used by many cultures and religious traditions but today is usually associated with Christian fundamentalism or evangelicalism !

And so from my view point a street preacher is a person who 'preaches' on the street[public place] to passersby and in some cases might accost them  with a barrage of verbal abuse "All you sinner will burn in hell... So repent now and be save –Hallelujah praise be to god !"

Now I've never seen an Atheist who stands on the street and yells at passersby things like  "Darwin loves you people-So evolve now by take Darwin into your hearts and be saved!" although I have seen bumper stickers on cars with "Darwin Loves You !"

BTW I've searched the net looking for 'Atheist street preachers' and all I have come up with so far are religious street preachers being 'confronted' by Atheists or Atheists 'protesting  in 'retaliation' of those religious street preachers, by giving them a taste of their owe medicine so to speak...The photos you have posted tend to 'back up' my findings...

However if you can actually show me a video clip that clearly shows 'Atheist Street Preachers' at work, on the streets, and not just in some kind of 'protest' against,[Like in the photos] then I will perhaps change my position, I very much doubt you will find such evidence...But please enlighten me I'm open to change....


Metta Zenda

[Annah]

However if you can actually show me a video clip that clearly shows 'Atheist Street Preachers' at work, on the streets, and not just in some kind of 'protest' against,[Like in the photos] then I will perhaps change my position, I very much doubt you will find such evidence...But please enlighten me I'm open to change....


Metta Zenda

Sigh

If I showed you a picture of a bird on an 8 by 10 foot poster board, you would doubt it was a bird.

Street preaching is getting the word out there in public about what you believe in (regarding religion) and doing it in a public setting. The same is true for atheist street preaching. It looks like those two people are expressing their (anti) religious beliefs to me. Or does it make you uncomfortable that you stated there have NEVER been an atheist street preacher and I showed you?

Also, here is a famous Atheist Street Preacher who preaches Atheism every Saturday night...yes ...on the streets:
http://www.altweeklies.com/aan/tempe-street-preacher-omar-call-preaches-the-gospel-of-atheism/Story?oid=800344


I showed you pics of an Atheist form of street preaching...and I showed you two different sets of picture. If you cannot at least admit you may be mistaken that Atheists NEVER do anything similiar to christian street preaching, then i wipe my hands of this. I mean, what do I know? I'm only getting a doctorate in this stuff.

The way you blindly still deny it happens even with pictures displayed reminds me of those religious people who will blindly deny something despite the proof right there (like evolution).

Somehow I knew you could not admit you were mistaken because, by doing so, may put a ding in the flawless examples of atheism and places it upon the level of other religions....almost making it just one of countless of beliefs out there that has its advantages and disadvantages and lacking perfection.

To follow something, knowing that it has flaws, is to be admired. To pretend that something that one follows is forever perfect is dangerous and wishful thinking. You can admit that Atheism has street preachers and still respect it.

[Annah]

AltWeeklies Wire » News » Religion

Tempe Street Preacher Omar Call Preaches the Gospel of Atheism
By Niki D'Andrea
Phoenix New Times | December 30, 2008

Usually, street preachers share the word of God. But this blue velvet guy is a different kind of preacher. He's a devout non-believer, and he preaches atheism.



http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2008-12-25/news/performance-atheist-omar-call-has-called-it-quits-on-god-and-thinks-you-should-too/

*(and he doesn't preach on campus, or in a bookstore, or in a coffee shop....he does it on a real street corner)

[Anatta]

Sigh

If I showed you a picture of a bird on an 8 by 10 foot poster board, you would doubt it was a bird.

Street preaching is getting the word out there in public about what you believe in (regarding religion) and doing it in a public setting. The same is true for atheist street preaching. It looks like those two people are expressing their (anti) religious beliefs to me. Or does it make you uncomfortable that you stated there have NEVER been an atheist street preacher and I showed you?

I showed you pics of an Atheist form of street preaching...and I showed you two different sets of picture. If you cannot at least admit you may be mistaken that Atheists NEVER do anything similiar to christian street preaching, then i wipe my hands of this. I mean, what do I know? I'm only getting a doctorate in this stuff.

The way you blindly still deny it happens even with pictures displayed reminds me of those religious people who will blindly deny something despite the proof right there (like evolution).

Somehow I knew you could not admit you were mistaken.

Kia Ora Annah,

Oooowoo What's with the harsh words ?

Anyway thanks for the link, it's interesting to note this guy's past history ...

It would seem you can't take the theist out of some atheists - Omar being the case in point !

BTW[Not to rub salt into wounded pride] but he is not  really what one would call a street preacher he's what's called an 'anti street preacher' protesting against street preachers... read the full article to see what I mean...

Anyway here's a few snippets...Omar Call's the guy's name..

"Back then, he was a devout Mormon mission  that he says go all the way back to the church's foundation. He's read the Book of Mormon several times over. He's read the Bible from beginning to end. He's read most of the Oxford English Dictionary. He learned Hebrew so he could read the Old Testament in its original language. He knows the scriptures well.
"I was a believer. I believed in Christ," Call says. "I have testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ and that I was saved to live with him in glory forever."

But about seven years ago, things began to change. Call lost his faith, and found passionate anger toward religion in its place. He officially left the church his parents had raised him in and announced his atheism to them on (of all days) Easter, upsetting his family and making subsequent holidays really awkward. Then he started coming down to Mill Avenue every Saturday night. The Secular Free Thought Society atheists followed but have gone from being brothers in arms to a cramp in Call's style.

This part is also interesting about his wife :

Amina spends her Saturday nights at home with friends. (Sometimes Curley's wife calls, and they hang out.) But she understands her husband's need for a public platform on his views, and accepts it because he enjoys it so much. She was with him the night he went down to Mill and saw preachers screaming into microphones for the first time, and remembers how furious he was about it. He told Amina (they met in college; she grew up without any organized religion) the Mill Avenue evangelists had no right to yell at people and call them sinners, that somebody should stand up to them.

At 19, he says he was quite secure in his faith, to the point of being "self-righteous."

Call's admission that he was an atheist was difficult for his family to accept, but his compulsion to publicly and skillfully debate preachers on Mill doesn't surprise them. When he and Jimmy Curley started coming down to Mill to debate, Call says, he approached it with the same zeal he showed as a Mormon missionary, and he hasn't lost it yet. What he has lost enthusiasm for is the Secular Free Thought Society always being on the same corner he's on.

Curley explains that he and Call aren't trying to convert people to atheism; all they want is to make people think, to have respectful and stimulating discussions when they come down to Mill!"

BTW I must say Annah, I have seen in some of your posts you often become quite frustrated I don't just mean with myself[It's water off a duck's back for me] but with other members too...At times it would seem you lack patience and the ability to control your emotions, and tend to become frustrated very easily...I hope this doesn't show when you are preaching to your congregation on Sundays...You do still preach don't you ?

Metta Zenda

[justmeinoz]

Back to the Rundle Mall lot.
When I was in Adelaide to meet Cindy, Sarah and Kelly I took in a concert in the city, and had to endure a harangueing outside the Casino while I waited for a tram. 
Not only are they loud, but they take it in turns when their voice starts to give out and they have a spare PA for when the batteries go flat in the first one.  It's a pity I didn't have time to stir them up a bit, could have been amusing. 

Karen.

[Anatta]

Back to the Rundle Mall lot.
When I was in Adelaide to meet Cindy, Sarah and Kelly I took in a concert in the city, and had to endure a harangueing outside the Casino while I waited for a tram. 
Not only are they loud, but they take it in turns when their voice starts to give out and they have a spare PA for when the batteries go flat in the first one.  It's a pity I didn't have time to stir them up a bit, could have been amusing. 

Karen.

Kia Ora Karen,

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't Adelaide "The City Of Churches"...

Metta Zenda