Having grown up in rural southwestern Ontario, I am familiar with religious ‘advertising’. Quotes from the bible can be found in front of churches and along the roads that lead to my hometown. Though not exactly like the one pictured below, there is a sign that reads: Prepare to meet thy God that I pass every time I go home. In snow conditions it can scare the bejeesus out of me.

As spooky as this message can be while driving, I don’t mind it. I have my own interpretation of its meaning and consider it a fine example of free speech in Canada.

For the past couple of weeks, there has been a lot of talk about the Freethought Association of Canada’s new subway ads. I think they are a good starting point for discussion (their stated intention) and don’t understand how they could be construed as hate speech or attack ads.

Charles McVety, president of the Canada Family Action Coalition and the Canada Christian College in Toronto, does not feel the same:

“These ads are not saying what the atheists believe, they are attacking what other people believe,” he said. “And if you look at the dictionary definition for … bigot, that’s exactly what it is, to be intolerant of someone else’s belief system.”

- Globe and Mail, January 29, 2009

You might remember Charles McVety … he was a proponent of Bill C-10 and did this interview with George Stromboulopoulos:

McVety’s opinion is that the ad implies that people of faith worry too much and do not enjoy their life. He thinks that this indicates intolerance and a way for atheists to ‘attack’ people of faith. For some reason, he does not look at the implications of some Christian messages from a non-believer’s point of view. Atheists are told that if they do not believe in the Christian version of God that they will spend eternity in hell. I don’t know, I think I’d rather be indirectly ‘accused’ of worrying too much.

For some reason, I’ve been reading the atheist message with a streak of sarcasm that implies something much different. My reading of the billboard is this: There may or may not be a God. Whether you believe in God or do not believe in God, you should try to stop worrying and enjoy your life (the message also targets atheists, no?). Believers and non-believers are still left with the business of living their lives … and no matter what you believe, it’s just as difficult, exciting and challenging as it’s always been.