Volu m e II - Purdue University Calumet

Both of these character themes present themselves behind the dominant setting theme that suggests
religion is a hindrance to society. Pulling on the character themes present in the campaign, this setting
theme becomes apparent. If reason advances society, and religion is viewed as the enemy, then reason must
overcome religion if we are to advance as a society. With UnitedCoR’s campaign seeking to unite the
secular communities and the Freedom From Religion Foundation’s intent on shunning religion, this theme
becomes transparent. This is most evident in the Freedom From Religion Foundation’s call for U.S. society
to “Evolve Beyond Belief,” strategically presenting the message in regions where courts had rulings
regarding the teaching of evolution and intelligent design (“Secularist group”). This is an evident attempt by
the foundation to advocate reason as the alternative, seeking to remove the hindrance religion has in our
society’s education. In other words, stop believing in God so we as a society can move on in this world.
Religion, and specifically belief in God, is the hindrance to what we can be. Stop praising God and praise
evolution. Praise reason. “In Reason We Trust” (“Atheism shines”).
These fantasy themes chain together to create a rhetorical vision that says “unity is found in the
personal choice to abandon religion.” The secularists consider the religious to be ostracizing the community
of reason (McPherson), highlighting that the Founding Fathers “feared” religion (Zucchino). One group
even suggests that the secular are discriminated against by the religious (“Residents”). The rhetorical vision
spurs the American people to abandon the villainous religion through heroic reason in order to attain unity
and freedom from the fear of religion just as we overcame slavery and discrimination. Just as Americans
united against common enemies in the past, these billboards attempt to persuade Americans to find unity in
the personal abandonment of religion.
Despite the attempts by the secular organizations, the U.S. society disagrees with such an
interpretation of reality. As one resident in Florida notes, “Muslim, Jew, Hindu, Christian, whoever you
are, we all believe in a spiritual higher being” (qtd. in “Residents”). To criticize the religious community is
to criticize the American people. Deputy National Security Adviser Denis McDonough said at an interfaith
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