Offensive anti Christian bumper sticker

I was just driving behind a car that had a bumper sticker that said "please curb your God" with a cross in the corner.  I found it so offensive that I considered getting out and telling the person who was driving while we were at a stop light.   It's one thing to be a proud atheist, but to compare anyone's God to a dog peeing on the curb is awful.  

From the thread title, I was expecting something worse.

The thing is his/her hatefulness is not personal. This is how this person goes through the world. It is about them, not you. 

Hatefulness?

I read it as a retort to the many preachy bumper stickers (and many other ways of putting G_d) in front of them every day, as a request to think before doing so. 

From dictionary.com

Curb: Anything that restrains or controls; a restraint; check.

What would you have said to the driver? What question would you have asked? Would you have respectfully honored their decision to live without God? Why do you find it offensive that they choose to do so  and have a bumper sticker that asks us not to bother them? Do we need a bumper sticker? 

Anyone that is bothered by my choice in how I live is free to go and live their life the way they choose to live.

The bumper sticker to me says that person is not on the same path I am. Bless their heart.

I think we can't assume whom the bumper sticker is really meant for.  Someone else must have pissed them off. 

It's not asking anyone to live without G_d. It seems to be asking those who do, to not to bring it into their space.

I'm assuming that the driver equates all Christians to those who try to impose their beliefs on others.  The phrase "Curb your God" is disrespectful because it is like the phrase "Curb your dog".  It isn't just comparing God to a Dog ( I happen to love dogs), it's comparing God to a dog peeing or defecating on the sidewalk.  That is offensive.

I would have told the person exactly that.  

I wouldn't roll my window down for anyone offering me their opinion of one of my bumper stickers. I also wouldn't get out of my car to offer my opinion of anyone's bumper sticker. Its not worth getting killed over.

Note - I didn't get out of my car  I just thought about it.

Also, I do think the person who decided to put that on her car was trying to offend.

It's definitely offensive, but within their first amendment rights, so we have to let it go.

This sounds reasonable. I have a son who is amazed at the world and yet does not consign to the belief of G_d. I cannot imagine him having a bumper sticker that says so or be bothered by others that do. This is why I chose the word hatefulness.  It is mean to insult someone else's happiness.

sprout said:

Hatefulness?

I read it as a retort to the many preachy bumper stickers (and many other ways of putting G_d) in front of them every day, as a request to think before doing so. 

I could picture it ending like this

"i am offended by your bumper sticker!"

"Thats great I'm offended by your face" 

Or something similar'

Considering that some of the religious bumper stickers I have seen have shown somewhat graphic looking depictions of abortions/fetuses, I wouldn't call that 'someone else's happiness'.

First, you can't assume that they're an atheist.  They refer to 'your' god. My take on that would be the 'god' of all the haters who who use their version to put down women, gays and anyone else they don't like.  

And @sprout explained what 'curb' means beyond dogs.  Seriously I think you're reading WAY too much into it.  

Most people are good and well meaning.  Try going with that...

Maybe I am being sensitive today.  I just thought I would share.  I do think most people are good and well meaning but I also know when to keep my feelings to myself and this God hating bumper sticker wearing lady doesn't.

Although, I guess I am guilty of venting my feelings here.

I wouldn't call it hateful at all. Much like a curb your dog sign is simply requesting that one keep their animal off the other's lawn, this was asking those who believe in a particular religion to keep it out of the car owner's space/face.  (Sorry, not very eloquent tonight)

I don't think it was about urination or defecation at all.  The thing is that there are Christians who feel it is their duty to proselytize, when they do so they run the risk of annoying, if not alienating, others, resulting in feelings that the car owner in question decided to broadcast via bumper sticker. 

Nothing wrong with that @mcgoey

sprout said:

From dictionary.com

Curb: Anything that restrains or controls; a restraint; check.

 Not a chance in hell that the bumper sticker in question meant any of those things literally, rather than a direct comparison to the term only when used to clean up a dog's crap outside of the street.  

ctrzaska said:

sprout said:

From dictionary.com

Curb: Anything that restrains or controls; a restraint; check.

 Not a chance in hell that the bumper sticker in question meant any of those things literally, rather than a direct comparison to the term only when used to clean up a dog's crap in the street.  

 Yeah, that's the reference, or there wouldn't be a point in making it.

As a religious person, I often find it better simply not to take offense at things that some might call "offensive." My faith has a long history of far worse attacks on it than bumper stickers. (For example, my avatar had his head cut off. The 1680s were rough.)

I'll confess that I have a problem trying to find offense at this (caveat: I am a non-believer).  At worst, it's not as clever as the designer thought.  The description from a site selling t-shirts with this slogan on it even goes on to call it respectful.  I think it's mostly just someone getting excited replacing 'God' with 'Dog'.  They're the same word backwards, so it feels clever, right?   Curb in the dog sign is really the verb version meaning to control.  The fact that by controlling your dog you're also keeping it most likely near a curb is a bit of a subtle pun.  It's just saying to keep your religion out of their lives.

The connection is just in the language of God/dog - I can't see it as being intended to connect someone's deity to the act of animal waste elimination.  If they did mean to do that, believe me, it would be a lot more explicit!

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http://www.paradoxyproducts.com/accessories/curb-your-god-t-shirt

"This witty design uses the vernacular of public signage to convey an important message in a humorous yet respectful way. On its way to becoming an iconic design, the original work on paper was shown in the Exit Gallery, NYC, in 2001 and is now in the collection of the U.S. National Archive. The first t-shirt printing was done in 2001, the second in 2004. The "Curb Your God" t-shirt is included in "The Design of Dissent" by Milton Glaser and Mirko Ilic and "The Design Entrepreneur" by Steven Heller and Lita Talarico"

Well, I am in my own little bubble down here in Florida. I have no associations with Christians and fetuses and abortions.

I like scully's take.

If this is a person that chooses not to be bombarded with God bumper stickers, I for one do not have to read into it.

sprout said:

It's not asking anyone to live without G_d. It seems to be asking those who do, to not to bring it into their space.

Then I guess a bumper sticker that read curb your gayness with a rainbow flag in the corner shouldn't offend anyone in particular? Come on the sticker was definitely trying to make a point. 

It's all in how you interpret it.

Well, it's good to know you did exactly what Jesus would have done. Think about shouting at them through the car window, think twice about that, then go online to tell everyone esle how offended you were.

I think some folks don't know what it's like to be a non-believer in this country.  There are people of some religions who feel the need to put God and Jesus in other people's faces all the time.  Not to mention the people who use their idea of God to meddle in the lives of other people - put curbs on abortion or contraception, or keep same sex couples from marrying.

when there are religious people out there citing God as their rationale for denying other people the freedom to live as they choose a little bumper sticker asking people to keep their God out of other people's lives is pretty tame if you ask me.