Actually, surveys from FFRF has shown a lot of people (now 33,000 +) joined because of this ad. I have been to many conventions and am an 'after-life' member and I seriously doubt any religious person would join or even stay long. Besides I don't think members attending programs would feel comfortable with religious members in their midst. Dan Barker, the co-president was once a long time pentacostal minister. Most of the members (as I) were once affiliated with religion. Having religious people in the group would make me uncomfortable. Besides we are not here to convert others (that's their ploy). We are here for information and protect the freedom of (and from) religion).

Also, it's not about popularity or trying to work from the inside. FFRF is the largest and most effective group in the country that works to keep the separation of church and state. Besides, their conventions are a lot of fun.

@JackPedigo look you don't have to invite religious folk to your parties. Im not talking about getting FFRF members here. I think youre being a bit shortsighted here.

Im talking about getting political agreement on an important topic: seperation of church and state.

We need to earn more minds, more religious minds, in a unified fight against a really insidious problem of church leadership not caring about how destruction religion can be when it has fully infiltrated government.

The religious are a majority right now and we are asking them to fight some of their own to prevent a bigger disaster from happening.

The membership of a few tens of thousand pales in comparison to the amount of goodwill we lost among religious people. How many 100s of thousands or millions will now champion bringing church into the state because of this stupid exclusionary video?

Again the idea is a unified fight for separation of church and state. We need really religious people to agree with limiting the powers of the church. Because if they wanted to they could legally make America into a theocracy within 6 year. Simply by voting. Thats the reality we have to deal with.

And the only thing stopping them is the idea that separation of church and state is a good thing. We need to keep that idea going and this video is not helping.

@MakeItGood Unity in this country at this time. We brag about our 'diversity' but ignore the fact this diversity has also brought enormous polarization. When I joined this site FFRF, the humanist and overpopulation were all promoted. The comment did say "...including believers in FFRF..." so I went from there. What are the religious? There are liberal religious (like Unitarians and even Catholics and certain protestant sects) and they don't all think alike. It was shown that more Catholics voted for Biden than tRump. Many religious sects understand the value in separation of church and state. Also, the 'nones' which includes agnostics and atheist now account for some 22% so do the math and that is over 65 million so not a small number. Right now the biggest problem is with the Evangelical's and their extremism. The only solution to them is simply by cutting their power and numbers which is happening. As far as church 'leadership' goes several groups are pushing for Biden to rescind the order tRump gave the IRS to ignore those that broke the Johnson amendment rule. Those church leaders that break the rules need to and will be taxed. Nothing works better than making people pay for their illegal actions. BTW, FFRF sued the IRS twice about their breaking the rules and won both times. Now we will have someone that will honor those wins.

@JackPedigo was there anything in that paragraph you wrote that addresses the topic of my comment: that the video is bad? I tried...but I couldnt figure out how anything you wrote related to the video itself. What were you trying to say? In a sentence or two if you can.

@MakeItGood I have seen the video countless times so perhaps, I am not understanding why the video is bad. It is very popular it works and has run for over 11 years and and is being shown by more and more groups. It is based on reality and not some conspiracy theory. Maybe it's just me but I need a clear, point by point clarification, otherwise, it's a waste of both our time.

First off I’m Pagan. Second, I love the President s son! And about the “Burn in Hell” statement- I say that to people and I certainly don’t believe there’s a hell (other than the one we live in here on earth that we’ve made for ourselves). You don’t have to believe something exists to Not Fear It?! Wtf. I do not fear Sasquatch (because I do not believe he exist s).

@JackPedigo point by point clarification? Did you not read my OP? I itemized three points and explained my reasoning on why it's bad. Im not sure how more clear i xan be without resorting to defining basic English words....
All you offered never addressed those specific points. Instead you started discussing not wanting to invite religious people to your parties! And that you like the video and how long its been on...all that doesnt matter to the fact that the video is harmful to the cause!!!
Can you actually discuss my points instead of avoiding. Why are you avoiding simply refuting my points if you disgaree with them.

@SocialDarwin existence is implied in the mind of the believer. And in this case we want the believers on our side. This is a zero sum game, our loss is their gain, and we need EVERYONE to support separation of church and state, especially the believers.

He presented a different view of his father. At one time he refused to go to church and his father didn't press him. However, the minister came and tried to talk Ron Jr. into coming but no luck. Nothing was ever said or done to force him. He said his father was a decent, low pressure father.

When I first joined I offered to give a years membership to the group. Even worked out a plan with admin and FFRF. No one ever took me up on my offer. I have given memberships to friends and, at one time, there were 3 couples on this island that were members. LOL at the Portland convention I suggested to my late partner wouldn't it be funny if she met someone she knew at the convention (out of 900 attendees) and I got the usual eye roll and sound. A short time later I heard two women scream and saw my partner hugging another woman from Lopez. They had worked the farmers market side-by-side and neither knew the other was an atheist and belonged to this group.

@JackPedigo I never knew that you did that.
What a generous offer that was.
Kudos for your continued efforts to reach out to others.

@KKGator It is a very important group especially during that time. I went from member to life member and now 'after-life member. That was not cheap but this is the most influential group in this area in probably the whole world (they have lots of global reach). Besides they are a ton of fun. My offer still stands.

I'd voted for him. Name recognition alone might help him.

@barjoe Maybe he could negate some of his father's damage.

@JackPedigo A his own way, He has his own views...that are 180 degrees from his Dad's.

So, I wonder why it is being shown now? Because of the horror of the Trump years and religion perhaps?

@David1955 This ad continues to be aired. More and more media company's have accepted it because of his name. Perhaps the one posting the ad had not seen it before.

Actually, it came out in 2009. It had just been introduced at the FFRF convention in Seattle, my first convention with this group. He was a speaker at the convention as he works in Seattle. After this convention I was hooked and went to many more. The next one will be in Boston in Nov. (brr) 2021.

He sounds like one of us. He may be among us. We wouldn't know.

@barjoe I might adopt his end line: ' I'm Ron Reagan, life long atheist. Not afraid of burning in hell."

I like that. That's what we need public figures to say.

@David1955 hopefully you will use your own name and not hide behind Ron Reagan?

@FrayedBear it's only a little paper work, then you can call me Ronny.

@barjoe He appeared in the 2009 FFRF convention in Seattle and won an award. This was the first airing of this ad.