Margo, that is such a good point! When I first heard about the ads, it was through the article I linked to, which referenced the campaign as "atheist" right in the headline. I didn't mean to leave it more ambiguous in my blog, but I'm glad I did! It just demonstrates how many different ways there are to understand and think about something, and how we're all influenced by a variety of internal and external forces. There is no black and white, indeed! Thanks for your comment.

Jason, your broader research and links about this campaign are really helpful. Thanks for doing some of the legwork! And I completely agree that the tone of Christian statements (bumper stickers, etc.) tends to be more along the lines of "we have the corner on Truth," rather than "here are some different ways to think about the world and spirituality." It's something that bothers me, because it seems like Christians are more interested in claiming their rightness than they are than in opening dialogue and thought. Jesus was all about opening dialogue and pushing people to think in new ways, and come to their own conclusions.

Ed, now I've heard about the book "Good without God" twice today! I'm going to have to check it out. Regarding you comment, I think I understand what you are saying, and I agree with it, particularly your second paragraph. I think people can live a "good life" (in both senses of the word good) without God, but I believe that to be at our best and to see the world at its best, we need to be living and seeing, thinking and acting within God's grace. In any given day, I see the whole range of examples in my own life, from the "lost me" to the "good me," and sometimes I even get glimpses of the "best me."

Jason, I can't answer for Ed, of course, but my thoughts about your questions are somewhat embedded in my response to Ed. I don't think that it's a matter of believing in this Christian God and being ultimately good, versus not believing and being bad. I believe it's a spectrum, and we're all moving back and forth along it, sometimes getting close to reaching our potential, and many times falling short. There's plenty of room for lots of good in individuals and the world, but I personally don't believe I can be my very best without God. (Not a specific Christian God, but God—my God.)

Ron, I think your third point, in particular, is really important in making sense of this complicated issue. How would you explain what happens when we move from being a person "stamped" by the image of God to someone completely immersed in the image of God? And what about the many many staged in between? Thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts—I know you do because you're a fan of ideas, thought and conversation, not just because you're my pastor and you want to support me. :) Anyway, feel free to use some ideas!

Meredith, yes, you're exactly right. As I mentioned in my response to Margo, my original take on the ad was really colored by the news headline I read first. And the whole "good" versus "good" issue is really important, too. I read the ad as meaning "I'm OK without God—I'm getting through life just fine, and don't see how believing in a God would make my life better." The ambiguity can definitely be a good jumping off point for dialogue, as long as the ambiguity is recognized and pointed out by thoughtful people like you. :)