I’ve been kept busy this month monitoring two Christian awareness campaigns that have been generating some discussion – both inside and outside the Christian community.
Whilst I’ve written several posts on the Jesus: All About Life campaign, the latest poster by Outreach Media (below) has received some attention by atheist bloggers (click to enlarge the image):
For links to some of the articles that have discussed the poster, check out – ‘Two media campaigns reveal Australia’s perceptions about Christianity‘
The poster outside a church in Dubbo has been graffitied to say “they’re too brainwashed to read the Bible”. A poster outside another church was graffitied with “religous [sic] propaganda is no better than this graffiti”, and another says “you are the brainwashed”.
A group or individual have targeted several of these posters in Sydney, covering them in black plastic and adding their own message, with a link to the Zeitgeist Movement website. Check out some photos below.
I have been contacted by someone from the Sydney Chapter of Zeigeist Australia who says that Zeitgeist Australia “does not encourage it’s members to post anti-religious or atheist messages in any form of medium and we are sure that no member of the Zeitgeist Movement Australia had anything to do with the alleged Sydney posters.”
Looks like the posters have struck a nerve – and this isn’t a bad thing, nor is it reason to shy away from doing this kind of outreach and community engagement. Being confrontational like this isn’t the approach to use in every situation, but for some audiences and for some messages it is an effective way of communicating truth. And let’s face it, communicating truth, in any form in the Australia of today, doesn’t usually receive a standing ovation.
I was reminded tonight as I was reading Luke that what Jesus said regularly rubbed people up the wrong way. In fact, Jesus’ words caused people to want to kill him! Take for example Luke 4:28-30:
All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff. But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.
And no servant is greater than their master, and if they persecuted Jesus, they will persecute his followers also (John 15:18-25). We need to be willing to speak the truth – in different ways, to different people – and be prepared a negative, even hostile response. For example, even talking about death and what happens when you die is a pretty unpopular discussion topic, but this is something that Australians should think about and be uncomfortable when they realise that their future is uncertain, and then rejoice as the come to know that in Jesus is the hope of eternal life. The glory of the gospel and our love for our neighbour should keep us communicating truth, even when the reception isn’t as positive as what we might like.
You might be interested in reading the notes that explain in more detail what the poster is communicating, and checking out a list of resources that respond to critical claims made about Jesus and Christianity.
Drenched in sarcasm, our was graffitied with the words: “wow. ironic.”
The poster in Dubbo actually was changed so it reads ‘they’re brainwashed to read the bible’
I like the idea of god. And the principals he advocates. But i do not like what some cristians do, eg world leader cristians. I think they are terrible. Thats why i will not become one.
I’ve seen atheist world leaders do far worse things. That’s (one reason) why I will not become one.
An atheist I mean.
Chances of me becoming a world leader are pretty slim at this point.
why are Christians attacking penguin publishing?
also i thought Athiests encouraged people to read the bible!
i have always been an athiest but i own 4 bibles… polyglott, king james, good news, and a study bible. after all it IS the most historically dominant piece of literature.
reading the bible is a good way to become an athiest actually..
hey yeah why penguin? do they publish a lot of athiest writers or something?
thats weird
Thank-you for being one honest enough to acknowledge that the Zeitgeist Movement has no interest in attacking Christians. We want to work with -everyone-.