The First 'Back at Ya' Contest

by Ed Buckner

The following article is from the Secular Humanist Bulletin, Volume 18, Number 3.

This is a contest for all secular humanists who need clever rejoinders for the many times someone presumes they are a believer.

Please submit actual tried and true, and preferably funny, tactics you have used to get the nonreligious message out to our supposedly pluralistic society. These can be group actions or individual. They shouldn't be mean or nasty tactics, although we forgive you if you've actually done something really spiteful.

A sample, and a possible contender for first place, comes from the Atlanta Freethought Society who, tired of seeing banners with biblical verses at baseball games being broadcast on television, bought themselves some damn fine seats and took their own banner that said "Atheists Love Baseball Too. Numbers 15:32-36." They got great media exposure, had some fun, and magically forced a change in policy by the Atlanta Braves on religious message banners.

Surely there are other groups and individuals out there who can top that!

Prizes are being solicited as we go to press. For first place, we hope to be able to award one week's vacation at a time-share in Mexico. Failing that, however, first prize may be a free 2003 Council for Secular Humanism calendar. Second prize may be two free 2003 Council for Secular Humanism calendars. Third prize. . . .

We're serious about this contest and we urge you to submit your tactics to The "Back at Ya! Contest" by e-mail to kbourdonnay@centerforinquiry.net or in hard copy to Communications Director, Council for Secular Humanism, P.O. Box 664, Amherst, NY 14226. 

-Katherine Bourdonnay