Religion has a very different place in people’s lives than barely half a century ago. It used to be commonplace to go to church every Sunday and barely a soul grumbled about it. But nowadays, more and more individuals are acting like Homer Simpson and wondering if it wouldn’t be better to sleep in and stay toasty in bed.
Well, one place that certainly knows how to get the attention of both the faithful and non-believers and make them laugh and think, is Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church in New York. It uses hilarious (and sometimes deep) signs to make comments about religion and the world.
We’ve collected some of the best signs from Wantagh Church, so upvote the ones you enjoyed reading and share ‘em with your pals if you think they’re in need of a chuckle or two. Have you seen any amusing church signs, dear Pandas? What do you think the positive aspects of faith are? Share your opinions with us down below.
In an interview with Bored Panda, Pastor Ron Garner of the Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church explained the inspiration for the witty signs and talked about the role of religion in the 21st century.
“Our church is located on a very busy street in Wantagh. I want to convey to the public that Christianity doesn't have to be staid. I also want to convey to passersby that I believe people who follow Jesus are not called to be apolitical but are called to take social justice issues seriously. We are a small congregation but we have new members who came because of our signs.”
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Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church Signs
Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church Signs
Cannot upvote this more! If you believe in a religion, you can't just ignore it when you want to. i hope ppl that just "participate" in being a christian but dont actually belive it with all their heart can see this post
Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church Signs
“I often wonder if religion does have a place in modern society,” mused Pastor Ron. “ I certainly believe that the church of our era has become irrelevant too many. I believe that the church has quit challenging people to live full lives and has become more interested in butts in pews.”
The Pastor continued: “Jesus was a radical Jewish rabbi who challenged followers to live in radically different ways. Although it may not increase Sunday morning attendance, as a Pastor I feel compelled to offer my congregation the challenge of radical discipleship. This requires a focus on issues of social justice that are often absent from the worship or mission of the church.”
Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church Signs
Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church Signs
Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church Signs
So true, too true. how much of a change it would be if everyone understood that
According to the Pastor, the Church has made itself ‘irrelevant’ in the West. “The US Church and all churches in the West have sacrificed a compelling message and mission for some vague promise of 'heaven' in some equally nebulous 'afterlife.' People aren't attracted to that message. They want meaning in the 'here and now.' As far of changing this situation I don't have an answer. I can only do what I think provides relevance and a dedication to mission.”
Have you ever heard of a church having an Instagram page? I haven’t before. Well, Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church has one and it’s got 60 followers. I’m willing to bet the church would be even more well-known if it uploaded pictures of its signs to its IG account. A good way to spread some smiles, don’t you think?
The church, founded in 1889, describes itself as a place of worship for believers coming from different Christian denominations. “The Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church is an open and affirming congregation of the United Church of Christ which renews and strengthens its commitment to advocate justice and equality for all people in all areas of society.”
Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church Signs
Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church Signs
Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church Signs
While many of us think of the United States of America as a very religious country, the fact of the matter is, faith is declining in the US. According to The Guardian, Pew Research Center has shown that within the last decade there has been a 12 percent drop in people who identify themselves as Christians.
Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church Signs
Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church Signs
Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church Signs
It’s mostly younger Americans who are moving away from the faith of their forefathers. Furthermore, in the last decade, there has been a 17 percent increase in people who say they’re atheist, agnostic, or even “nothing in particular.” Now, around a quarter of all Americans fall into this category.
Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church Signs
Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church Signs
Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church Signs
Fewer people are going to church as well. Those who attend church at least once or twice each month has fallen by 7 percent in the same time period. Attendance has fallen so much that nowadays more Americans say they attend church a few times each year than each month. Obviously, the reasons for this are very complex, but Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church seems to have the right approach to at least draw attention to religious matters.
Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church Signs
Why the downvotes of Hendra Lim's comment? The reflexion of the photographer is quite clear if you look at the sign, and it does look like a child.
Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church Signs
God doesn’t love anyone because god(s) are fictional.The only thing that the god of the bible loved was himself. He was the epitome of the sin pride and vanity. He demanded constant worship. He demanded human and animal sacrifices. He demanded that you kill the entire neighboring village and their innocent livestock if even one person in that village worships another god. He was boastful, arrogant, wrathful, petty, misogynistic, jealous, genocidal, torturous, twisted, and evil. Why would you think god loves you? He has never hugged you. He has never shown up at your graduation or birthday party. Why does god love you, but he lets some children suffer and die in agonizing, tormenting, excruciating pain? Go to a children’s hospital and talk to the children with bone cancer. Why does god love you and not them? That’s just your ego. The god of the bible supposedly created hell, a place of eternal torture. That’s sickening. God supposedly flooded a world, killing every innocent baby, etc.
But, he'll burn you in hell if you disobey him. He doesn't sound loving at all. He was a tribalistic warmonger. He was pleased by human and animal sacrifices. He was pleased when David brought him hundreds of bloody foreskins. He killed 1st born Egyptian sons, many of which must have been babies and toddlers. Why does he love you and not them? He endorsed slavery. I would never love a being that created a place of eternal torture and you shouldn't either. If he truly loves you, why hasn't he ever hugged you? Shown up at your graduation? etc.
Because, as you said, "He" is fictional. Many religious folks are cheaters, liars, apathetic to suffering of others, especially animals, they torture, kill for pleasure, plunder and destroy, so they created God who will fix everything and gives them everlasting afterlife so they could do what they were doing on earth forever. A "nice" fairytale".
Load More Replies... Reality: God loves me and everybody and everything else can go to hell.
Well, there's familial love, friendly love, sexual love, and romantic love. Also probably more that I didn't think of.
Load More Replies... No. God doesn’t love anyone because gods are fictional, all gods. In the bible god only loves himself (the sin of pride and vanity). He demands constant worship. He is pleased by human and animal sacrifices. He was pleased by hundreds of bloody foreskins David took from his “enemies “. The god of the bible condones slavery and rape. The god of the bible created hell (a place of eternal torture). If you love this god you are sick. This god supposedly flooded a world, killing every baby, toddler, elderly person, puppy, kitten, etc. by torturous drowning. This god has never hugged you. He has never shown up to your graduation or birthday party. The god of the bible supposedly created everything, including the sun. The sun is our main source of heat and light, but it gives many people skin cancer. Is that really a loving god?
Thankfully, Terd, in all you said you haven't denied His existence. So what if you died and found yourself at the mercy of the same God you condemned?
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God doesn't love anyone because god is fictional. All gods are. The only thing god loved in the bible was himself (the sin of pride and vanity). He needed constant praise and worship. He was pleased by human and animal sacrifices. He was pleased when David brought him hundreds of bloody foreskins of the "enemy". God endorsed slavery and rape in the bible. He created hell, a place of eternal torture. That is sickening. If you love this god, that is sickening. This god has never hugged you, never shown up at your graduation or birthday party. He is less than useless. If you believe he created everything, then he created the sun, our light and heat source that gives many human beings skin cancer.
I wonder why you are so very hurt and angry. I'm sorry. Many of those things changed after his son was born. The NewTestiment is more comforting.
Load More Replies...Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church Signs
Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church Signs
I wish all churches were like this! I'm not Christian but sometimes I feel like I know more about the bible than the people who use it to spew hate and bigotry
Kaisu, that is probably the case. Many young adults my age are starting to leave the church in droves and leaning into their own spirituality instead. I am sure that a lot of people who spew this hatred and bigotry have never truly read the Bible or any other religious text for that matter, but instead memorize key verses from it that they can twist and use in various situations. Religious zealots from any religion scare me. However, I am glad that this church is reaching out to marginalized communities.
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Emancipate yourself from the idea of a celestial dictatorship and you've taken the first step to becoming free.
To some people, sure. Others, who have built huge parts of their lives around a religion (often including their entire social circle) would lose a lot before gaining any "freedom". Live your life as you choose, let others live theirs.
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Holy s**t this is right near where I live. Im going to check it out on the way home from work!
so what? you still believe that a Jewish zombie who is his own father, and who committed global genocide, is all loving.
@Amberly Middlemiss: So you don't believe in the words written in the Bible? I didn't just make that s**t up
Load More Replies... God doesn’t love anyone because god(s) are fictional.The only thing that the god of the bible loved was himself. He was the epitome of the sin pride and vanity. He demanded constant worship. He demanded human and animal sacrifices. He demanded that you kill the entire neighboring village and their innocent livestock if even one person in that village worships another god. He was boastful, arrogant, wrathful, petty, misogynistic, jealous, genocidal, torturous, twisted, and evil. Why would you think god loves you? He has never hugged you. He has never shown up at your graduation or birthday party. Why does god love you, but he lets some children suffer and die in agonizing, tormenting, excruciating pain? Go to a children’s hospital and talk to the children with bone cancer. Why does god love you and not them? That’s just your ego. The god of the bible supposedly created hell, a place of eternal torture. That’s sickening. God supposedly flooded a world, killing every innocent baby, etc.
I'm an atheist, my parents raised me with science. I have a hard time understanding religion, I don't get how people can even believe in what sounds like wild fantasy to me. But I think it's not worth it to go after this specific church. We should be angry at religious bigots, not religious people who have good intents. Religion might breed ignorance, but these people are not at the root of the problem.
I literally said the same thing as everyone else. Can someone explain what I said that upset everyone?
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@jknbt Since I can't reply directly to your long and rambling statement about the rapture...I distinctly recall that the Rapture was supposedly happening sometime in the early 2000s, so tough luck dude. You're stuck here with the rest of us.
BRAVO to whoever comes up with the sayings, they are top notch.... But how true they are.
These signs are interesting and some are funny! I don't fully agree with all of them and some aren't exactly what you would call ''christianly''. But let me also state that there also does not need to be such spiteful and hateful comments written over such a lighthearted post that was posted for the purpose of entertainment. So frustrating to see people get easily offended over little things. Anyways, Have a great day bored panda posters and people! : )
I don't understand all the comments here that are hostile toward religion. Religion isn't a problem, it's people - and how they corrupt religion's teachings - that are a problem. For example, here in the USA, fundamentalist "Christians" ban books, ban the teaching of evolution, promote the teaching of "intelligent design" (i.e., creationism), promote discrimination against gays, etc. All this in the public sphere, not just in their schools and churches. Truly tragic, considering that Jesus said the two most important laws were to love God and to love your neighbor as yourself. And, as evidenced in the parable of The Good Samaritan, your neighbor is every single other person. Further, in The Lord's Prayer, forgiveness of others is one of the tenets that is emphasized.
Religion is a problem when people use it for their own power. The point is, of course, that if religion (the physical entity, not the beliefs) was banned, people would have to find something else to use as a club to get their way. We don't have a state religion (Thank whatever you like) and that bothers some people who want more power and authority than they have.
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Awesome and unique! A creative pastor who found a very ingenious and pleasant way to "speak" to people's conscience!
I feel like this is using your influence as a pastor to further a political agenda. No one should listen to someone in a pulpit and wonder what they are up to. Political stances divide people and the church is supposed to be a place where burdens and tensions can be let go. I don’t find any of these amusing or helpful.
I was thinking the same thing. This seems more a political action committee than a church. I'm ok with helping the poor and marginalized, but medicaid? People freak out about the religious right using the pulpit to promote a political message. How is this different?
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Wonder what pages of the bible the pastor had to tear out of his bible in order to display his beliefs? Wouldn't want to be a hypocrite!
So many comments based on a flawed reading of Isaiah 45. Let me help: God creates evil by allowing the forces at hand and already at work to take their natural course... He allows evil. He is not the origin of it. He allows evil in order to see what people will do. The same heat that hardens the clay softens the wax, to use a proverb. Some people will turn from evil, repent, get cleaned up, and do good in its place. Some people revel in it. God allowed evil to test people to see what they would do. What have you chosen? The reign of evil will end at the 2nd Coming.
Define 'evil'. Not belonging to the exact church you do? Because some people do; I've met 'em.
Load More Replies... Thanks Cassie for letting me post my rather conservative opinions on this very liberal blog...some of your readers are getting a perspective they never hear from their friends & family...a little shocking, sometimes, and definitely rattling some cages...That is good, all cages need a good shake every now & then...P.S...hooray for freedom of speech & a diversity of opinions...
Message for non-christians: Calm down guys. Everyone has their own religion. You can judge us but there's no need to share it in the comment section. Keep it for yourself. You won't do anything good by insulting us and our faith.
A little pompous, aren't you? You feel free to pass judgment on any not your own.
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Love this so much, makes me wanna go to this church. I'm an atheist, but I'm sure I can actually learn some things with this guys.
If Christian's are liberal, then all of their claims about supernatural miracles and the Garden of Eden and Jesus walking on water are true! It's when conservatism is mixed with Christianity that renders it absurd!
COol yeah Lets just add politics into the conversation :/
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one has to believe in sin first, if not you better duck
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No hateful religion, only hateful people. You get such hypocrites in every religion, and then there are such good people as well who spread love and positivity. Every religious book, in different languages, tell us the same thing. Only, hypocrites twist them to their benefit. I am a Hindu, and we have many fanatics in Hinduism as well.
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If they aren't biblically sound then there's something very wrong with the Bible.
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lol, many religious people get abortions. I'd say religion still has the edge in unnecessary deaths historically
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Well, aren’t you a little bowl of sunshine, rainbows, and cookies. Go take your angry negativity somewhere else.
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I wish all churches were like this! I'm not Christian but sometimes I feel like I know more about the bible than the people who use it to spew hate and bigotry
Kaisu, that is probably the case. Many young adults my age are starting to leave the church in droves and leaning into their own spirituality instead. I am sure that a lot of people who spew this hatred and bigotry have never truly read the Bible or any other religious text for that matter, but instead memorize key verses from it that they can twist and use in various situations. Religious zealots from any religion scare me. However, I am glad that this church is reaching out to marginalized communities.
Load More Replies... Emancipate yourself from the idea of a celestial dictatorship and you've taken the first step to becoming free.
To some people, sure. Others, who have built huge parts of their lives around a religion (often including their entire social circle) would lose a lot before gaining any "freedom". Live your life as you choose, let others live theirs.
Load More Replies... Holy s**t this is right near where I live. Im going to check it out on the way home from work!
so what? you still believe that a Jewish zombie who is his own father, and who committed global genocide, is all loving.
@Amberly Middlemiss: So you don't believe in the words written in the Bible? I didn't just make that s**t up
Load More Replies... God doesn’t love anyone because god(s) are fictional.The only thing that the god of the bible loved was himself. He was the epitome of the sin pride and vanity. He demanded constant worship. He demanded human and animal sacrifices. He demanded that you kill the entire neighboring village and their innocent livestock if even one person in that village worships another god. He was boastful, arrogant, wrathful, petty, misogynistic, jealous, genocidal, torturous, twisted, and evil. Why would you think god loves you? He has never hugged you. He has never shown up at your graduation or birthday party. Why does god love you, but he lets some children suffer and die in agonizing, tormenting, excruciating pain? Go to a children’s hospital and talk to the children with bone cancer. Why does god love you and not them? That’s just your ego. The god of the bible supposedly created hell, a place of eternal torture. That’s sickening. God supposedly flooded a world, killing every innocent baby, etc.
I'm an atheist, my parents raised me with science. I have a hard time understanding religion, I don't get how people can even believe in what sounds like wild fantasy to me. But I think it's not worth it to go after this specific church. We should be angry at religious bigots, not religious people who have good intents. Religion might breed ignorance, but these people are not at the root of the problem.
I literally said the same thing as everyone else. Can someone explain what I said that upset everyone?
Load More Replies... @jknbt Since I can't reply directly to your long and rambling statement about the rapture...I distinctly recall that the Rapture was supposedly happening sometime in the early 2000s, so tough luck dude. You're stuck here with the rest of us.
BRAVO to whoever comes up with the sayings, they are top notch.... But how true they are.
These signs are interesting and some are funny! I don't fully agree with all of them and some aren't exactly what you would call ''christianly''. But let me also state that there also does not need to be such spiteful and hateful comments written over such a lighthearted post that was posted for the purpose of entertainment. So frustrating to see people get easily offended over little things. Anyways, Have a great day bored panda posters and people! : )
I don't understand all the comments here that are hostile toward religion. Religion isn't a problem, it's people - and how they corrupt religion's teachings - that are a problem. For example, here in the USA, fundamentalist "Christians" ban books, ban the teaching of evolution, promote the teaching of "intelligent design" (i.e., creationism), promote discrimination against gays, etc. All this in the public sphere, not just in their schools and churches. Truly tragic, considering that Jesus said the two most important laws were to love God and to love your neighbor as yourself. And, as evidenced in the parable of The Good Samaritan, your neighbor is every single other person. Further, in The Lord's Prayer, forgiveness of others is one of the tenets that is emphasized.
Religion is a problem when people use it for their own power. The point is, of course, that if religion (the physical entity, not the beliefs) was banned, people would have to find something else to use as a club to get their way. We don't have a state religion (Thank whatever you like) and that bothers some people who want more power and authority than they have.
Load More Replies... Awesome and unique! A creative pastor who found a very ingenious and pleasant way to "speak" to people's conscience!
I feel like this is using your influence as a pastor to further a political agenda. No one should listen to someone in a pulpit and wonder what they are up to. Political stances divide people and the church is supposed to be a place where burdens and tensions can be let go. I don’t find any of these amusing or helpful.
I was thinking the same thing. This seems more a political action committee than a church. I'm ok with helping the poor and marginalized, but medicaid? People freak out about the religious right using the pulpit to promote a political message. How is this different?
Load More Replies... Wonder what pages of the bible the pastor had to tear out of his bible in order to display his beliefs? Wouldn't want to be a hypocrite!
So many comments based on a flawed reading of Isaiah 45. Let me help: God creates evil by allowing the forces at hand and already at work to take their natural course... He allows evil. He is not the origin of it. He allows evil in order to see what people will do. The same heat that hardens the clay softens the wax, to use a proverb. Some people will turn from evil, repent, get cleaned up, and do good in its place. Some people revel in it. God allowed evil to test people to see what they would do. What have you chosen? The reign of evil will end at the 2nd Coming.
Define 'evil'. Not belonging to the exact church you do? Because some people do; I've met 'em.
Load More Replies... Thanks Cassie for letting me post my rather conservative opinions on this very liberal blog...some of your readers are getting a perspective they never hear from their friends & family...a little shocking, sometimes, and definitely rattling some cages...That is good, all cages need a good shake every now & then...P.S...hooray for freedom of speech & a diversity of opinions...
Message for non-christians: Calm down guys. Everyone has their own religion. You can judge us but there's no need to share it in the comment section. Keep it for yourself. You won't do anything good by insulting us and our faith.
A little pompous, aren't you? You feel free to pass judgment on any not your own.
Load More Replies... Love this so much, makes me wanna go to this church. I'm an atheist, but I'm sure I can actually learn some things with this guys.
If Christian's are liberal, then all of their claims about supernatural miracles and the Garden of Eden and Jesus walking on water are true! It's when conservatism is mixed with Christianity that renders it absurd!
COol yeah Lets just add politics into the conversation :/
Load More Replies... one has to believe in sin first, if not you better duck
Load More Replies... No hateful religion, only hateful people. You get such hypocrites in every religion, and then there are such good people as well who spread love and positivity. Every religious book, in different languages, tell us the same thing. Only, hypocrites twist them to their benefit. I am a Hindu, and we have many fanatics in Hinduism as well.
Load More Replies... If they aren't biblically sound then there's something very wrong with the Bible.
Load More Replies... lol, many religious people get abortions. I'd say religion still has the edge in unnecessary deaths historically
Load More Replies... Well, aren’t you a little bowl of sunshine, rainbows, and cookies. Go take your angry negativity somewhere else.
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