American Atheists Mass-Resignation Event

[awyatt]

I attended the American Atheists mass-resignation event today. Shorty story: They had about 70 people in attendance, they marched around Temple Square while the morning session was letting out, and 34 people resigned from the Church near the end of the march.

 

The American Atheists press release about the event is here. My full report, with photos, is here.

 

Of particular note was that one of the two signs carried by the marchers was mocking temple garments and tied to MormonThink.

 

-Allen

 

[CMZ]

It must be comforting to be welcomed by the loving embrace of a group of atheists and all they have to offer.

[Traela]

Of particular note was that one of the two signs carried by the marchers was mocking temple garments and tied to MormonThink.

 

-Allen

Any time someone tries to be deliberately offensive, I write them off as childish whiners.

[Kenngo1969]

I attended the American Atheists mass-resignation event today. Shorty story ...

Were they all midgets vertically challenged short-statured people?

 

(Sorry;  Couldn't resist!)

[bluebell]

That's not much if a mass.

I think it's really interesting whenever atheists organize themselves around a religious activity. It's like they are sending the message that they have no existence in and of themselves. It is only thru their interactions with religion that they become relevant.

[CMZ]

Do people really leave the Conference Center and see atheists picketing and think, "I guess it's time for me to leave the Church. I simply can't argue with the logic of these atheists."?

[Storm Rider]

Yawn, does anyone have any Tabasco sauce for my scrambled eggs. Gosh, the sun is up again. What's next.  

[MorningStar]

 By the title I thought this meant resigning from Atheism. 

[CMZ]

 By the title I thought this meant resigning from Atheism. 

 

Me too.

[The Nehor]

It must be comforting to be welcomed by the loving embrace of a group of atheists and all they have to offer.

Do they have candy?

[CMZ]

Do they have candy?

 

That might have been the attraction.

[why me]

I attended the American Atheists mass-resignation event today. Shorty story: They had about 70 people in attendance, they marched around Temple Square while the morning session was letting out, and 34 people resigned from the Church near the end of the march.

 

The American Atheists press release about the event is here. My full report, with photos, is here.

 

Of particular note was that one of the two signs carried by the marchers was mocking temple garments and tied to MormonThink.

 

-Allen

From the photos I can see that they are atheists.

[juliann]

 

 

Of particular note was that one of the two signs carried by the marchers was mocking temple garments and tied to MormonThink.

 

-Allen

How classy.

[CMZ]

Does singing at protesters ever help anything? Sure seems better to me to just ignore the protesters.

[CMZ]

Profound and convincing:

 

 

[awyatt]

Does singing at protesters ever help anything? Sure seems better to me to just ignore the protesters.

 

The singing was started the better part of a decade ago. It started a couple of years after the Street Preachers started attending general conference and yelling (actually, screaming in some cases) at conference-goers. You have to understand that in those days the standby line used to be on the OUTSIDE of Temple Square, along the sidewalk on North Temple.

 

Rather than have standby folks be yelled at in the name of "preaching" the standby line was moved INSIDE Temple Square and, eventually, free-speech zone permits were granted to different groups who would stand in those zones and sing hymns.

 

The singing did two things. First, it gave something for people to listen to rather than the "preaching." Second, it occupied portions of the free-speech zones that might have otherwise been occupied by those opposed to the Church.

 

Just a bit of historical perspective...

 

-Allen

[The Nehor]

Profound and convincing:

 

 

And if I am trying to be sexy with a spouse I am going to seduce I will change. Believe it or not It is difficult for my underwear to convey sexiness in general because you just cannot see them. So, I am as sexy as any other man with my impressive physical physique who wears boxers.

I do not think this person has thought their sign all the way through. Add in the fact that my wearing garments suggests I am on the way to achieving physical perfection and owning the cosmos and that boxer-wearing guy really starts to look like a schmuck.

[Calm]

Does singing at protesters ever help anything? Sure seems better to me to just ignore the protesters.

From what I have heard, it may help in ignoring them.

Several years ago one man got angry enough to attack a protestor who was dragging garments on the ground and making less than civil remarks, iirc. I think having someone there singing hymns creates a different context of dealing with the contention and may lead to less of the less desirable responses of anger, etc.

[awyatt]

From what I have heard, it may help in ignoring them.

Several years ago one man got angry enough to attack a protestor who was dragging garments on the ground and making less than civil remarks, iirc. I think having someone there singing hymns creates a different context of dealing with the contention and may lead to less of the less desirable responses of anger, etc.

 

Yep. The scene was rather comical. The protester was a weasley (for lack of a better word) small guy who was yelling and used the garments to "wipe his butt." A Tongan or Samoan brother (couldn't tell the difference; sorry) grabbed the guy and convinced him to stop his antics.

 

The bigger guy was arrested and the smaller guy had bragging rights from that day onward.

 

I haven't seen the small guy around conference in years.

 

-Allen

[CMZ]

And if I am trying to be sexy with a spouse I am going to seduce I will change. Believe it or not It is difficult for my underwear to convey sexiness in general because you just cannot see them. So, I am as sexy as any other man with my impressive physical physique who wears boxers.

I do not think this person has thought their sign all the way through. Add in the fact that my wearing garments suggests I am on the way to achieving physical perfection and owning the cosmos and that boxer-wearing guy really starts to look like a schmuck.

 

Yes. I'm not married but I have a pretty good idea that married Mormons do not restrict themselves to wearing temple garments during sexual activity.

 

And, you're right: I looked at this poster and thought, "There's so many poor assumptions packed into so few words here." The advertisement of mormonthink.com at the bottom suggests that the sign holder thinks Mormons have never "thought" about wearing other things during sexual activity, but, that once they read this poster, they will somehow be liberated to think of other options. How embarrassing for someone to think along those lines. "You, you Mormons. You're not thinking things through. The fact that you're not a regular reader of mormonthink.com confirms this. Come to mormonthink.com and learn about things you have never considered, such as boxers, that great tool of sexual liberation."

[CMZ]

From what I have heard, it may help in ignoring them.

Several years ago one man got angry enough to attack a protestor who was dragging garments on the ground and making less than civil remarks, iirc. I think having someone there singing hymns creates a different context of dealing with the contention and may lead to less of the less desirable responses of anger, etc.

 

That could be. I guess it's fine if the members are already there anyways, rather than gathering for the purpose of singing down protesters. Still, I could think of worse things.

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

I attended the American Atheists mass-resignation event today. Shorty story: They had about 70 people in attendance, they marched around Temple Square while the morning session was letting out, and 34 people resigned from the Church near the end of the march.

 

The American Atheists press release about the event is here. My full report, with photos, is here.

 

Of particular note was that one of the two signs carried by the marchers was mocking temple garments and tied to MormonThink.

 

-Allen

There are many sins that we may feel will bring upon us the wrath of God, but few can compare with the sin of picketing outside any place of worship. When I saw this I was reminded that "pastor Roper" of Westboro Baptist died about three or four weeks ago. Westboro is the Church he founded that would picket military funerals, other faiths, etc. I fear for what awaits him when he stands before God.

[CMZ]

There are many sins that we may feel will bring upon us the wrath of God, but few can compare with the sin of picketing outside any place of worship. When I saw this I was reminded that "pastor Roper" of Westboro Baptist died about three or four weeks ago. Westboro is the Church he founded that would picket military funerals, other faiths, etc. I fear for what awaits him when he stands before God.

 

I heard he started to soften up on his stance before he died.

[The Nehor]

"You, you Mormons. You're not thinking things through. The fact that you're not a regular reader of mormonthink.com confirms this. Come to mormonthink.com and learn about things you have never considered, such as boxers, that great tool of sexual liberation."

They also forget that we wore boxers and boxer briefs in middle school and high school. I know exactly how well they function as chick magnets independent of everything else. Hint: They don't.

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

I heard he started to soften up on his stance before he died.

I hope...his family asked for time to grieve. He sent his daughters to law school so that they could defend his methods. I know that a number of Gay groups wanted to protest as well as veterans groups. I hope no one got down on their level.