I think that this is really interesting. At the moment, I don't know if I have formed an opinion one way or another. I was researching this a little and came across a few things.
It could be argued that this is a less invasive way of evangelizing in comparison to approaching people and posing a point of view. I don't think that a license plate has the same feel as evangelizing in person; however, the silence of it may be powerful.
I read that there was an issue with these license plates because of separation between church and state. Apparently, in 2009 a federal court judge declared that these plates were a violation of the First Amendment (NPQ). In response to this, non-profit organizations were formed to sell the evangelical license plates. Counter argument: freedom of speech and expression?
It is interesting-- I've never seen this before. Some people do all sorts of things with the design of their license plates, whereas some just use what they are given.
Again, I don't know what I believe but thought that the information I found could provide some perspective.
I think that this is an interesting and creative way to evangelize. I've seen this a lot in my hometown in New York, and sparingly here in North Carolina as well. These evangelical plates go hand in hand with Christian car stickers of what I like to call the "Jesus fish" that I have recently found out is actually called an Ichthys, that I often see on cars as well.
I think that this is an appropriate way to evangelize in today's world. Historically, Christianity was spread by oral tradition and written texts. Today, there are more opportunities that people utilize to do what they are called to do as Christians which is to "spread the good news of Christ."
While it has been stated by a federal court that this is a violation of the First Amendment, I do not see this as such. Instead, I view this as actually exercising the First Amendment's right to freedom of speech and freedom of religion. Furthermore, I think that the violation of separation of church and state would be the government disallowing these plates and car stickers simply because of the message that they carry.
In all, I don't think that there is anything wrong with these evangelical plates. If they are not illegal nor harmful in anyway, then they're okay by me!
I have to agree that this is a very creative way to evangelize. It may be easier for that person to express their beliefs using material goods rather than talking to someone about their religious beliefs. Who knows, this person may have had a previous experience verbally discussing their beliefs and it didn't work out the way they expected it to.
This is not the first time I have seen others express their religious views via license plates! I actually find that license plates are most often used to express opinions or beliefs - including politics, religion, favorite sports teams, etc. Annie, being from NYC, I'm surprised you haven't seen these types of plates! Every NY license plate is made at Auburn Prison in my hometown. 'Cuse is also filled with cars that have all sorts of interesting license plates, bumper stickers, you name it!
I have to also agree that I think this license plate exercises the freedom of religion. People always forget about our first amendment rights because we take them for granted...have you ever seen this type of license plate in Europe? I never have.
I love images like this because it shows just how integrated religion is in all aspects of life, despite some ideals about keeping it separate (or that religion ought to be kept separate).
It's interesting that we see license plates like this, a sort of soft evangelizing, and react differently than when we see other custom license plates. This morning I saw one that said "JELY BEANS" and all I thought was "wow someone paid money to misspell a subpar seasonal candy."
It's easy to see religious rhetoric in the mundane and make assumptions. Do you think the person with the jelly bean license plate was telling me to go buy jelly beans and make them my favorite candy (never happening, by the way), or were they simply sharing that they are passionate about jelly beans? Or maybe its a nick name? The thing is, we do not know.
In conclusion, I think artifacts like this need to be contextualized before we make assumptions about the motives behind them, despite our impulse to organize new things into categories which are already established in our minds.
I love images like this because it shows just how integrated religion is in all aspects of life, despite some ideals about keeping it separate (or that religion ought to be kept separate).
It's interesting that we see license plates like this, a sort of soft evangelizing, and react differently than when we see other custom license plates. This morning I saw one that said "JELY BEANS" and all I thought was "wow someone paid money to misspell a subpar seasonal candy."
It's easy to see religious rhetoric in the mundane and make assumptions. Do you think the person with the jelly bean license plate was telling me to go buy jelly beans and make them my favorite candy (never happening, by the way), or were they simply sharing that they are passionate about jelly beans? Or maybe its a nick name? The thing is, we do not know.
In conclusion, I think artifacts like this need to be contextualized before we make assumptions about the motives behind them, despite our impulse to organize new things into categories which are already established in our minds.
I don't really see this as harmful or intrusive either. I agree with Ali that we should be careful to jump to conclusions about people's intentions. I also agree that this is a much more subtle way of evangelizing, as opposed to shouting on a street corner or knocking on someones door. In conclusion, it doesn't bother me, and I fail to understand why it would bother someone enough to take it to court.
Looks like I'm a bit late to this thread but hey what the heck. I am pretty surprised to find out that someone customizing a piece of metal to a condensed maximum 8-character evangelical phrase to hang from the back of their transportation vehicle could be 1) a violation of the First Amendment and 2) somehow considered a joint of church and state. I feel that this is a freedom of expression and a freedom of religion issue more so than it has to do with church and state so I guess I don't quite see why the judge ruled the way he did. Sometimes it seems people want to rid the country of its ties with Christianity, though many forget freedom of religion was exactly the reason our country's founders fled here in the first place. Just something to think about I suppose.
I think that this is really interesting. At the moment, I don't know if I have formed an opinion one way or another. I was researching this a little and came across a few things.
ReplyDeleteIt could be argued that this is a less invasive way of evangelizing in comparison to approaching people and posing a point of view. I don't think that a license plate has the same feel as evangelizing in person; however, the silence of it may be powerful.
I read that there was an issue with these license plates because of separation between church and state. Apparently, in 2009 a federal court judge declared that these plates were a violation of the First Amendment (NPQ). In response to this, non-profit organizations were formed to sell the evangelical license plates. Counter argument: freedom of speech and expression?
It is interesting-- I've never seen this before. Some people do all sorts of things with the design of their license plates, whereas some just use what they are given.
Again, I don't know what I believe but thought that the information I found could provide some perspective.
I think that this is an interesting and creative way to evangelize. I've seen this a lot in my hometown in New York, and sparingly here in North Carolina as well. These evangelical plates go hand in hand with Christian car stickers of what I like to call the "Jesus fish" that I have recently found out is actually called an Ichthys, that I often see on cars as well.
ReplyDeleteI think that this is an appropriate way to evangelize in today's world. Historically, Christianity was spread by oral tradition and written texts. Today, there are more opportunities that people utilize to do what they are called to do as Christians which is to "spread the good news of Christ."
While it has been stated by a federal court that this is a violation of the First Amendment, I do not see this as such. Instead, I view this as actually exercising the First Amendment's right to freedom of speech and freedom of religion.
Furthermore, I think that the violation of separation of church and state would be the government disallowing these plates and car stickers simply because of the message that they carry.
In all, I don't think that there is anything wrong with these evangelical plates. If they are not illegal nor harmful in anyway, then they're okay by me!
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree that this is a very creative way to evangelize. It may be easier for that person to express their beliefs using material goods rather than talking to someone about their religious beliefs. Who knows, this person may have had a previous experience verbally discussing their beliefs and it didn't work out the way they expected it to.
ReplyDeleteThis is not the first time I have seen others express their religious views via license plates! I actually find that license plates are most often used to express opinions or beliefs - including politics, religion, favorite sports teams, etc. Annie, being from NYC, I'm surprised you haven't seen these types of plates! Every NY license plate is made at Auburn Prison in my hometown. 'Cuse is also filled with cars that have all sorts of interesting license plates, bumper stickers, you name it!
I have to also agree that I think this license plate exercises the freedom of religion. People always forget about our first amendment rights because we take them for granted...have you ever seen this type of license plate in Europe? I never have.
I love images like this because it shows just how integrated religion is in all aspects of life, despite some ideals about keeping it separate (or that religion ought to be kept separate).
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting that we see license plates like this, a sort of soft evangelizing, and react differently than when we see other custom license plates. This morning I saw one that said "JELY BEANS" and all I thought was "wow someone paid money to misspell a subpar seasonal candy."
It's easy to see religious rhetoric in the mundane and make assumptions. Do you think the person with the jelly bean license plate was telling me to go buy jelly beans and make them my favorite candy (never happening, by the way), or were they simply sharing that they are passionate about jelly beans? Or maybe its a nick name? The thing is, we do not know.
In conclusion, I think artifacts like this need to be contextualized before we make assumptions about the motives behind them, despite our impulse to organize new things into categories which are already established in our minds.
I love images like this because it shows just how integrated religion is in all aspects of life, despite some ideals about keeping it separate (or that religion ought to be kept separate).
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting that we see license plates like this, a sort of soft evangelizing, and react differently than when we see other custom license plates. This morning I saw one that said "JELY BEANS" and all I thought was "wow someone paid money to misspell a subpar seasonal candy."
It's easy to see religious rhetoric in the mundane and make assumptions. Do you think the person with the jelly bean license plate was telling me to go buy jelly beans and make them my favorite candy (never happening, by the way), or were they simply sharing that they are passionate about jelly beans? Or maybe its a nick name? The thing is, we do not know.
In conclusion, I think artifacts like this need to be contextualized before we make assumptions about the motives behind them, despite our impulse to organize new things into categories which are already established in our minds.
I don't really see this as harmful or intrusive either. I agree with Ali that we should be careful to jump to conclusions about people's intentions. I also agree that this is a much more subtle way of evangelizing, as opposed to shouting on a street corner or knocking on someones door. In conclusion, it doesn't bother me, and I fail to understand why it would bother someone enough to take it to court.
ReplyDeleteLooks like I'm a bit late to this thread but hey what the heck. I am pretty surprised to find out that someone customizing a piece of metal to a condensed maximum 8-character evangelical phrase to hang from the back of their transportation vehicle could be 1) a violation of the First Amendment and 2) somehow considered a joint of church and state. I feel that this is a freedom of expression and a freedom of religion issue more so than it has to do with church and state so I guess I don't quite see why the judge ruled the way he did.
ReplyDeleteSometimes it seems people want to rid the country of its ties with Christianity, though many forget freedom of religion was exactly the reason our country's founders fled here in the first place. Just something to think about I suppose.