Oklahoma. Were the home of Oral Robers University, Rhema, The Smalkowski Affair, GodTube, and a veritable cornucopia of Crazy Christian Crap. But that didnt stop the Tulsa Atheists from coming OUT in a big way! An ad on our local TV network!
Its simple, but its a start!
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I'm a graduate student studying the molecular and biochemical evolution of HIV within patients and within populations. I also study epigenetic control of ERVs.
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« Reason #5592557 ID Creationism is dead | Main | Blagging advice! »
Tulsa Atheists come OUT
Category: Atheism
Posted on: June 14, 2008 3:20 PM, by ERV
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Comments
Abbie, I would imagine Sally Kerns is crapping geometric shapes over this one. I'm imagining the look on her face right now, and smiling like a saint.
Oh, and you sparked quite an unexpected session over at Pharyngula, but you probably know all about it by now. All in good fun, I assure you.
Posted by: Paul Lundgren | June 14, 2008 3:50 PM
Tulsa? *shrug*
Now, for the, say, Tahlequah atheists to come out--that would take cojones.
Posted by: Sven DiMilo | June 14, 2008 4:12 PM
Teh Rocketh.
I suspect the TV station here would burn if they allowed such an ad on the air.
Good for Tulsa.
Posted by: JanieBelle | June 14, 2008 5:10 PM
This would have been more effective I think if it had more than just the picture (which also I can see as someone even who is an atheist as possibly finding offensive). If there's any followup planned, I'd have in the background pictures of different atheists (preferably good-looking ones of both genders. Nothing like appealing to humans' baser emotions) with a little about each one under them. Among other things, it could be very useful to make the point that atheists come from all walks of life and have all sorts of jobs(without using the dangerous f-word, it might be a good idea to try to make the point to people that not all atheists are academics in ivory towers)
Posted by: Joshua Zelinsky | June 14, 2008 5:33 PM
Oh, and since my last post didn't make it clear I should say this: I think that overall the spot is well done.
Oh, and thanks for reminding me about the Smalkowski incident. I had totally forgotten about that and now it has got me all pissed off again.
Posted by: Joshua Zelinsky | June 14, 2008 6:14 PM
Has the TV station gotten any firebombing threats yet?
I've been to Tulsa a few times, and I think it's pretty nice, really.
Posted by: Martin | June 14, 2008 6:36 PM
I recall the media coverage of the Smalkowski case but until today had no greater familiarity with it. Now, having read Chester's account, I am deeply moved.
I have spent the last half hour rethinking what I might say to beloved family members who have embraced faith in dreams and simple promises conjured up by ancient priests who feared life. Tears are running into my beard.
This episode reinforces my dedication to follow the advice of the gospel as in Mathew 10:16, to wit, "Therefore be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." (That scripture has always made me grin wickedly.)
I know that I would waste time trying to appall them with my apostasy but I have observed that I can confound them with my compassion. And the message is clear- I do it as a single human being without regard to myth, superstition or ritual. I do so because I know what it feels like to be alive, to wonder, to learn, to be confident, to be wounded, to be slurred, to be nearly lost in a world of conflict and contradiction. I do so because I am human. I do so because I want to.
And I know a personal victory that does not move the world, but moves those who know me. As a temple is built of individual stones, so is a society built of individual relations. I shall keep trying to be more "Christ-like" than any double handful of Christians and to do so of my own will. And thus I share Chester's victory as well as his expense.
Posted by: Crudely Wrott | June 15, 2008 5:48 PM
And to the Tulsa Atheists, well challenged! Live long, and prosper.
Posted by: Crudely Wrott | June 15, 2008 5:52 PM
Somewhat on topic, has anyone seen the latest Cectic http://cectic.com/159.html ?
Posted by: Joshua Zelinsky | June 18, 2008 11:21 AM
Thank you for this!
As result, I went to my first meeting of the Tulsa Atheists.
I was delighted at the thoughtful people I met.
And, amazingly enough, no one there had evidence of ever having had horns removed...
Thank you again for the post, ERV.
Posted by: Bob of QF | June 22, 2008 9:39 PM
No horns? Are you sure you had the right meeting? heheh Im supposed to be speaking at one of their meetings at some point!
Posted by: ERV | June 22, 2008 9:47 PM