Thanks Matt, hope you were able to raise the funds to repaint the church. Such actions (the initial vandalism) make our message so much harder to get across, considering that, as you say, we're already the most hated minority. However, actions such as yours will do much to amend that situation..
I feel embarrassed for the people that did this. Hopefully they saw this video and feel embarassed for themselves too. Since I can't see how they thought this was anything other than shooting themselves and the entire atheist community in the foot, I'm forced to believe there's only one possible explanation: they thought the spray paint would manifest more Matt Dillahunty's.
@nequillim I suspect you're a theist being Poe if so total fail since probably the majority of atheists would not back your sentiments, if not your sentiments are nothing but a detriment that most civilized and reasonable people avoid
Now were the vandals who did this REALLY atheists? A small random group of atheists? ORGANIZED atheists? Or just assholes who are trying to make atheists look bad?
It's stupid to feed an ingrained persecution complex that the Christian religion validates. Also, that's damaging private property just for the sake of antagonizing people for a goof :( . Not cool.
Churches are places of meeting that can be used after religions fall for the same thing. I don't like the beliefs, but defacing churches are like defacing future Greek temples in a way. Yeah, so people believe it now, but putting people on the defensive is just going to make it worse.
@JuryDutySummons I had something different in mind. Like, say, something that would actually contribute to us atheists physically repainting the church, rather than something that could be used for purposes that I do not agree with.
It shows where you heart is. Your physical, material, non-mind or spirit heart is. Raising money while being an "opponent group" to religions everywhere is just the epitome of empathy and compassion. And there is no God driving this thought, just genuine charity. Do let me know whenever you intend to collect money, as I (an atheist) will with no doubt give some.
Well said! I'm wondering if this was really done by atheists or if it was just some jerks putting-up graffiti for for kicks (and no political or anti-religious purpose).
Matt, please reconsider donating anything. I attended Westside Church and lived in Bend, Oregon for about a decade. Westside is a borderline mega church, it's one of those churches where even really conservative Christians would be uncomfortable there. On a couple occasions pastors talked in tongues, they're one of those "give 'til it hurts" churches with massive amounts of upper to upper-middle class people in attendance. I don't condone vandalism, but they don't need the money.
@TheWestAnemoi It's not about the money. It's about the statement. Atheists are (generally) not like this and we don't approve. Of course, there's idiots among believers and non-believers, but have you ever seen a Christian group pay for another Christian vandalizing an atheist billboard or ad? I hope they make a very big deal about paying for it to counteract the negative attention this has already received.
@RachaMacc My point is that this is only gaining attention because that's the kind of church Westside is. They could have had it painted over with their tons of volunteers and staff in the blink of an eye and it never would have been mentioned. But they didn't. It's a lose-lose in my opinion, either atheists pay up and then essentially admit to being responsible for some young douchebags, or do nothing and then get accused of not caring about (or even condoning) the vandalism.
Was probably a few kids who retaliated against a church that fed them lies their whole lives, or maybe it wasn't, but you sure as hell don't know either Matt so don't be such a condescending twat about it.
@maarakailet1 I felt he came off as condescending, as if judging the culprits (presumably teenagers) from his high horse when he really has no right to.
@machogun I can see that. It is a bit premature since nothing is known about the vandals' motives. However, pointing out bad behavior and criticizing it, on both sides, helps to keep the debate open and honest. Nothing is achieved when a discussion is reduced to name calling or in this case ridicule through vandalism.
The tide is definitely turning toward the atheist or secular side of society. Debate tactics (accommodating vs. aggressive) aside, vandalism is never right - you will only earn scorn from your opponents and from the larger society.
To be fair, some stupid bullshit (as long as it is mostly harmless) is necessary to jar these sheep into their human form... yet, damaging property is not only illegal but humanistically wrong.
At the same time, a part of me wishes they really feared for their lives like the church burnings of the civil rights era. I think it would bring out their inherent humanity and force them out of their comfortable slumber.
@JonathanTheAlchemist I just want there to be consequences for being wrong. Maybe it takes some violence for them to gain perspective on what persecution really is.
Exactly, that's what i've always said. Atheists have reality own their side.
FunkyWhitePimp 3 weeks ago
Its just a church who the hell cares. I hugs whoever vandalized the church
FutureScience2012 4 weeks ago
@FutureScience2012
What's so great about vandalism?
JonathanTheAlchemist 3 weeks ago
@JonathanTheAlchemist nothings grate about vandalism but when it comes to vandalizing churches I really don't care.
FutureScience2012 3 weeks ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Thanks Matt, hope you were able to raise the funds to repaint the church. Such actions (the initial vandalism) make our message so much harder to get across, considering that, as you say, we're already the most hated minority. However, actions such as yours will do much to amend that situation..
Dancinstan1 4 weeks ago
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Dancinstan1 4 weeks ago
Comment removed
Dancinstan1 4 weeks ago
One word Matt: BIG UP. oh wait...
nasty1182 4 weeks ago
its all part of gods plan
ClintIron 1 month ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
MATT YOU LOOK LIKE A GAY FAT FISH. LOSE SOME WEIGHT AND EASE OFF THE MCDONALDSS
JohnTrolling619 2 months ago
@JohnTrolling619 . The nick gave you out .
hldemi 2 months ago
I feel embarrassed for the people that did this. Hopefully they saw this video and feel embarassed for themselves too. Since I can't see how they thought this was anything other than shooting themselves and the entire atheist community in the foot, I'm forced to believe there's only one possible explanation: they thought the spray paint would manifest more Matt Dillahunty's.
msuders 7 months ago
That is just wrong. Its great we have people like Matt. Thank you
SuperMrAtheist 7 months ago 4
@nequillim I suspect you're a theist being Poe if so total fail since probably the majority of atheists would not back your sentiments, if not your sentiments are nothing but a detriment that most civilized and reasonable people avoid
robvlob 8 months ago
Now were the vandals who did this REALLY atheists? A small random group of atheists? ORGANIZED atheists? Or just assholes who are trying to make atheists look bad?
ridewave444 8 months ago 2
It's stupid to feed an ingrained persecution complex that the Christian religion validates. Also, that's damaging private property just for the sake of antagonizing people for a goof :( . Not cool.
Jaybird196 8 months ago
You said that you were raising money, where can we donate?
a11m0n 8 months ago
Add the link to the fund as soon as it's available so we can help out
AtheistActivist 8 months ago
We should do like atheist anquisitions, torture people till they stop believing :)
You know, as in puting them in a class with alot of information and science and stuff..
ILIYYILI 8 months ago
Churches are places of meeting that can be used after religions fall for the same thing. I don't like the beliefs, but defacing churches are like defacing future Greek temples in a way. Yeah, so people believe it now, but putting people on the defensive is just going to make it worse.
CraniumOnEmpty 8 months ago
@nequillim
The "war" is one of ideas. Assuming you're serious, you have nothing to be proud of.
chikkipop 8 months ago
@nequillim We don't have a 'duty' as atheists, and if we did, defacing churches isn't part of it.
Honestly, do you think that spraying graffiti on a church will convert people to atheism? What possible good could it cause?
timscottproductions 8 months ago
Like a boss
ojjy1111 8 months ago
Everyone should burn one church.
Ph7uX 8 months ago
@Ph7uX Sounds like a solution thought up by the insane
robvlob 8 months ago
@robvlob You missed a period.
Ph7uX 8 months ago
THANKS BRO!
jerseythedevil 8 months ago
god i love you so fucking much
henhicktaimon 8 months ago
You are fantastic sir.
EAUS1 8 months ago
Well put Matt. I was really upset when I read about it on FriendlyAtheist. I'm glad we are speaking out and doing the right thing to fix this. Bravo
arumney12 8 months ago
Thanks for calling 'em out, Matt.
jek21 8 months ago
Where can someone go to donate to help re-paint?
MeikamiB 8 months ago
@MeikamiB They pass around a plate every Sunday.
JuryDutySummons 8 months ago
@JuryDutySummons I had something different in mind. Like, say, something that would actually contribute to us atheists physically repainting the church, rather than something that could be used for purposes that I do not agree with.
Anybody else?
MeikamiB 8 months ago
@MeikamiB That would be cool... if a local atheist group would volunteer to re-paint the building.
My initial response was more of a snarky joke. :P
JuryDutySummons 8 months ago
Vandalism is not the answer.
OldFuck1864 8 months ago 33
@OldFuck1864 It's the question. YES is the answer.
JuryDutySummons 8 months ago
Something similar in a church in Eugene, not FSM but still shows us in a negative light.
arouska 8 months ago
haha the one dislike has got to be from the guy that did this. lol.
mrVDyne 8 months ago
Matt you have the same house phones as me :3
Tasuret 8 months ago
It shows where you heart is. Your physical, material, non-mind or spirit heart is. Raising money while being an "opponent group" to religions everywhere is just the epitome of empathy and compassion. And there is no God driving this thought, just genuine charity. Do let me know whenever you intend to collect money, as I (an atheist) will with no doubt give some.
TheUlalume 8 months ago
Well said! I'm wondering if this was really done by atheists or if it was just some jerks putting-up graffiti for for kicks (and no political or anti-religious purpose).
Miahb0510 8 months ago
Woot! Go Matt!
maarakailet1 8 months ago
Matt, please reconsider donating anything. I attended Westside Church and lived in Bend, Oregon for about a decade. Westside is a borderline mega church, it's one of those churches where even really conservative Christians would be uncomfortable there. On a couple occasions pastors talked in tongues, they're one of those "give 'til it hurts" churches with massive amounts of upper to upper-middle class people in attendance. I don't condone vandalism, but they don't need the money.
TheWestAnemoi 8 months ago 2
@TheWestAnemoi It's not about the money. It's about the statement. Atheists are (generally) not like this and we don't approve. Of course, there's idiots among believers and non-believers, but have you ever seen a Christian group pay for another Christian vandalizing an atheist billboard or ad? I hope they make a very big deal about paying for it to counteract the negative attention this has already received.
RachaMacc 8 months ago
@RachaMacc My point is that this is only gaining attention because that's the kind of church Westside is. They could have had it painted over with their tons of volunteers and staff in the blink of an eye and it never would have been mentioned. But they didn't. It's a lose-lose in my opinion, either atheists pay up and then essentially admit to being responsible for some young douchebags, or do nothing and then get accused of not caring about (or even condoning) the vandalism.
TheWestAnemoi 8 months ago
Was probably a few kids who retaliated against a church that fed them lies their whole lives, or maybe it wasn't, but you sure as hell don't know either Matt so don't be such a condescending twat about it.
machogun 8 months ago
@machogun How is that being condescending? No, really, I don't get it...
maarakailet1 8 months ago
@maarakailet1 I felt he came off as condescending, as if judging the culprits (presumably teenagers) from his high horse when he really has no right to.
I think he could have handled it better is all.
machogun 8 months ago
@machogun I thought he came out as being right. Just because you're a teenager doesn't mean you have to be a fucking idiot.
PicklesReallySuck 8 months ago
@machogun I can see that. It is a bit premature since nothing is known about the vandals' motives. However, pointing out bad behavior and criticizing it, on both sides, helps to keep the debate open and honest. Nothing is achieved when a discussion is reduced to name calling or in this case ridicule through vandalism.
maarakailet1 8 months ago 2
@maarakailet1 Completely agree, well said.
machogun 8 months ago
As much as I hate religion, that was just wrong. We're better than that.
migraine516 8 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
There's no evidence that it was done by atheists...
sebassucc 8 months ago 13
Somewhere, the vandals are feeling Dillahunty's bitchslap.
ShinigamiSirius 8 months ago
I could be wrong, but I think in the Pastafarian faith church vandalism nets one a thousand years exile from the beer volcano.
NemoUtopian 8 months ago
Those god damn radical Pastafarians...
Zeldarulah 8 months ago
Vandalizing a church is wrong.. but how about picketing a church?
Xerock 8 months ago
@Xerock It's kind of a dick thing to do, but that'd be perfectly within anyone's rights.
JanPanda 8 months ago
@JanPanda I'd qualify that by saying that, at least where I'm from, picketing MOST churches MOST of the time would be "kind of a dick thing to do"
TennysonXII 8 months ago
@JanPanda
How about putting leaflets on playgrounds explaining to kids that there is no God.
Xerock 8 months ago
News link next time, please.
MisterEvil1 8 months ago
The tide is definitely turning toward the atheist or secular side of society. Debate tactics (accommodating vs. aggressive) aside, vandalism is never right - you will only earn scorn from your opponents and from the larger society.
CntrBrdr 8 months ago
Well said
Timmurrayjr84 8 months ago
To be fair, some stupid bullshit (as long as it is mostly harmless) is necessary to jar these sheep into their human form... yet, damaging property is not only illegal but humanistically wrong.
At the same time, a part of me wishes they really feared for their lives like the church burnings of the civil rights era. I think it would bring out their inherent humanity and force them out of their comfortable slumber.
spikesmth 8 months ago
@spikesmth
-"...they really feared for their lives..."-
What a sick mentality.
JonathanTheAlchemist 3 weeks ago
@JonathanTheAlchemist I just want there to be consequences for being wrong. Maybe it takes some violence for them to gain perspective on what persecution really is.
spikesmth 3 weeks ago
that sounded way funnier in my head. Sorry.
unclexbob 8 months ago
FSM is a false atheist religion and anyone who believes in such blasphemy should be burned at the stake.
So in conclusion.....don't do that.
unclexbob 8 months ago
Nice vid Matt. Even though I know you don't read the comments...oh well lol.
mathmexican4234 8 months ago
I honestly wouldn't be surprised if it was done BY the church, to get attention, money etc and go against Atheists...
KidPunkStar101 8 months ago 2
That's really unfortunate. C'mon people don't make it worse.
RSMachOne 8 months ago 24