Backpack Radio Interviews Dan Barker of the FFRF

Backpack Radio recently interviewed Dan Barker of the FREEDOM FROM RELIGION FOUNDATION. He is very well known and an ex-Charismatic preacher.

FFRF is based in WI but are responsible for the recent Atheist Billboard campaign in Arizona. To help you all out, here are the main articles on this:
http://ffrf.org/news/releases/phoenix-and-tucson-nontheists-come-out-of-the-closet
http://www.azcentral.com/community/phoenix/articles/2011/12/01/20111201billboard-atheist-stereotypes.html
http://www.meetup.com/phoenix-atheists/boards/thread/17766062/0/

My main view on this is partially ambiguous. I do not really care - I am not offended and am glad they have the right to do this. Honestly, I like this better than the sexual billboards out there -sensual images for advertising- those are more offensive to me than these. I also am probably more bothered by the Christian ones which put words in God's mouth (Don't Make Me Come Down There!) - these are borderline blasphemy! Here is a link to that site if you care.

I am more interested in the 'psychology' behind it ... why do they feel the need? It does feel very similar to the I AM A MORMON campaign - and that seems like religious advertising, even borderline proselytizing, no? It is interesting but one local atheist I talked to is not sure if he really likes them, either, and for the reasons I just listed about the 'witnessing' vibe.

Jeff Durbin chimed in on this show as well. We wanted to really give these folks their purpose in all this and to be able to speak their piece. I told them we did not want to debate them at this point but rather find out their rationale and goals for all this. Pastor Bob crafted a few fact finding questions we asked Dan and here they are:

1. In one article we read the motivation for be a part of the billboard’s was to dispel some of the myths of being an atheist. What do you think are some of the myth’s you are faced with? Why do you think these myths are held?

2. “I don’t necessarily want to change minds” was another quote from one person. While this is obviously their goal (not to change minds), is this descriptive of the organization as a whole? In one of your debates, you mentioned that you used to sell Jesus, are you now selling atheism?

3. What are the differences between an atheist, agnostic, or a freethinker? Calling yourself freethinkers seems to imply that no one from a religious point of view could be a freethinker. Would you agree with that?

4. One of the billboards says: Love + critical thinking = open minds. Could you comment more on the meaning of that message?

5. Do you see similarities between this campaign and the “I’m a Mormon” campaign that is also on billboards?

The reason I am posting this background info is because the show has only been online for a few days and is fast becoming our number one downloaded show of all time. HERE IS THE LINK TO CHECK OUT THE INTERVIEW WITH DAN BARKER ABOUT THE AZ ATHEIST BILLBOARD CAMPAIGN