r/Antitheism • u/KitsapGus • 10d ago
Protesting Religion in Public
We have a number of religions that publicly advocate for themselves where I live. I'm thinking of getting a sign to counter "protest" by just hanging around the same vicinity. I live in a fairly liberal place so I don't think safety will be a major concern. Does anyone else have any experience that might be useful. I know it a contentious project but I feel strongly that there needs to be pushback in the real world, not just online.
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u/SapPhic-rage4209 9d ago
I just do small things like I have a gay pride flag hanging in the window in my house right across from my neighbor's side door that they always use to enter and exit their house. Because they're MAGA and hate it 😂
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u/Dominos_fleet 10d ago
I would just say try not to be a dick about it.
Maybe a " freedom from religion" approach vs openly shitting on it.
Honey vs vinegar and all.
Edit: i save the " fuck you, fuck off" approach toward religious people for their planned parenthood and the like hate protests.
Religion sucks but if they arent hurting people whatever. The second they start pushing their shit on others though...
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u/KitsapGus 10d ago
I agree. However, religion is a very dangerous project and causes real harm. Allowing them to present themselves as sigularly virtuous with no visible challenge seems to feed the cultural narrative.
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u/Gussie-Ascendent 9d ago
Religion inherently harms by confusing what's real with what isn't. And that's before you even look at how hateful some religions tenats are
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u/Athene_cunicularia23 9d ago
I've often thought atheist, agnostic, nones, etc. should be more proactive about promoting non-religion as an option. Billboards with subtle messages like "It's ok to not believe," would help normalize what many people already feel and encourage more nonbelievers to stand up and be counted.
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u/twistedredd 10d ago
I do believe this very idea is why I worship a spaghetti god. All hail her noodly goodness. Ramen!
Edit to add that it shows them how delusional they are.
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u/tnunnster 9d ago edited 9d ago
I absolutely love this idea! We need to model how street preachers operate. Show up in front of extremists churches, revivals, other religious events with "Relax. Hell Isn't Real." signs so the kids coming out have some counter input to consider.
Taking it further... like funides who protest outside Planned Parenthood, we need squads of antitheists in shifts outside Heritage Foundation and Focus On The Family offices and Turning Point events. Shame needs a resurgence.
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u/Jesus_peed_n_my_butt 9d ago
I did that a couple times.
I made a pretty spicy sign and I joined another person who stands outside their local Catholic church every Sunday and protests.
She has a bunch of signs and a megaphone. She is protesting all the abuse cases against kids and how the church covers them up.
When I joined her, there were about four or five other people out there.
You shouldn't expect too much violence if you're standing outside of church. Obviously that person would not be welcome back to that church if they became violent towards you, and, you have the law on your side.
You have the first amendment protection to express your opinion peacefully. I've gone to my local church and I would stand near the road on the public easement.
You can look up the public easements in your city or county to verify but if there's power lines overhead or a utility box, that's a public easement where you are allowed to stand.
Police don't really know what to do about protesters most of the time.
There's a lot of YouTube videos of people getting arrested for protesting and then you'd have to follow it up with a lawsuit and you can make a pretty penny off that.
I would recommend watching a couple first amendment auditors on YouTube just to get some of the language down that you might have to use.
If a cop asks for your id, you ask him what crime have you committed.
"I'm just peacefully exercising My first amendment rights on public property. I'm not blocking any roadways. If I'm not under arrest, then I don't wish to speak to you anymore."
I went to a church where they had police security. That's pretty frequent, at least around here. They'll be a police car in the parking lot and they're standing by the front door.
At this church, they were sheriffs. The sheriff's handled everything great. They just came out and stood near me and one of them was getting snippy cuz he didn't like my message but he wasn't trying to push me away or anything. The other time I went there, the sheriff was standing there and smiling and we were actually having a light-hearted conversation. Nice guy.
The city police pulled up pretty quickly when they saw me and I'm sure they would have not handled it as well as the sheriffs, but the sheriff's talk to them and then the City Police left.
Ask me anything. I would love a protest buddy.
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u/Jesus_peed_n_my_butt 9d ago
This is from the protest I went to with a bunch of other people. The main girl in this video is my spirit animal. I love her passion and energy so much.
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u/d4m1ty 9d ago
When you run into a violent christian, it doesn't matter where you are. It just takes one whackadoodle.
I was wearing a "Hail Satan" shirt in a MJ Dispensary and had a christian threaten to rip my clothing off and when I told him It wouldn't end like he thinks it would, he then goes to being armed. He then zipped out when I pulled out my phone to get his photo.
I would never put anything up like that at my home because of the whackadoodle that is out there. At least wearing a shirt, I can see your face.
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u/PossumKing94 9d ago
Unfortunately this is the path I have taken too. Putting up big hail satan signs would put a target on our backs from nutjobs.
With that said, though, I do feel like these are the reasons we should be openly seen too in order to encourage others who are of like mind to be bold in themselves.
I'm just sick and tired of theists.
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u/Gussie-Ascendent 9d ago
I don't wanna make ya scared or anything but I'd definitely recommend covering your face if you do that
And also have people with you
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u/CptBronzeBalls 10d ago edited 9d ago
My small town has a small Catholic college. Every fall, when the weather’s nice, some of the freshmen get high on righteousness and stand on Main Street holding “Pray to end abortion” signs. Of course they stop when the weather gets cold, because abortions don’t happen in the winter, I guess?
I have some free time during daytime, so I’m going to make my own sign so I can join them when I see them out there.
My best sign ideas so far:
FREE ABORTIONS
REASONABLY PRICED BACK ALLEY ABORTIONS
PRAY TO END PRIESTS RAPING KIDS
I’m open to other ideas too. Suggestions?
Edit: I just thought of this when I was trying to go to sleep: DON’T TAKE REPRODUCTION ADVICE FROM CELEBATES