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Dr Pepper
About 80 percent of the more than 20,000 readers who took our poll on the topic said they weren't bothered by this ad.
Dr Pepper found itself front and center in a religious controversy this week when it launched an ad referencing evolution - the evolution of flavor, that is.
The play on words and concepts prompted outcry from creationists, some of whom threatened a boycott. Predictably, those who believe in evolutionary theory then also had to weigh in.
The reaction from the majority of our readers: Get over it.
About 80 percent of the more than 20,000 readers who took our poll on the topic said they weren’t bothered by the ad.
“Extreme liberals complain about things such as a reference to ‘God’ on our coins and extreme conservatives complain about things such as a Dr Pepper ad depicting evolution. Six of one, half a dozen of the other. Most sensible people aren't too concerned about either,” one reader wrote.
Still, the story did prompt a heated and wide-ranging debate in our comments section about creationism versus evolution, freedom of speech and whether the controversy was helping or hurting Dr Pepper.
Some readers argued that the ad would have sparked a very different reaction if it had poked fun at another group or belief system.
“I agree that it is just an ad and not something to get all upset about. But at the same time, I do agree with other posters who stated that if this ad in any way offended gays or other races, then those would be justified for getting upset. But since Christians are the ones feeling upset, they are put down and made fun of. Luckily, when all is said done, Jesus will get the final word no matter what those say who put down Christians.”
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Leave a Comment:
Creationists need to tracked down, round up and thrown to the bottom of the ocean. They are too stupid to be among us.
You're an idiot.
I think many Creationists are ridiculous but mass extinction seems a bit overblown as a response!
I suppose frostbit believes mass extinction speeds up evolution.
It might be a bit extreme, but I get the humor in his comment. I know quite a few Creationists who would have NO problem rounding up all of us "Evolutionists" also known as Atheist Dogs to many, and drop in the ocean, or something like that.
I find it interesting that this person's idea of Christians includes people of only one race and does not take into account the fact that some Christians are also gay.
Exactly, you can't claim only true Christians are creationists. There's nothing in the bible that kicks you out once you believe scientific theories.
"Luckily, when all is said done, Jesus will get the final word no matter what those say who put down Christians.”
Unluckily, Jesus won't get the final word. He died 2000 years ago. Sadly, some of His followers haven't evolved mentally in that time.
well it is a white guy in the graphic
I guess those who object aren't Peppers, now are they?
Ignorant people with too much time on their hands. There are more important things to fuss over.
I don't think you can claim it offends all Christains. It is possible to believe in God and in evolution. They're not mutually exclusive. In my opinion its really only going to offend one portion of Christians. I know it didn't offend me so there, now you can't claim it offended all of us.
Wow, People are taking themselves waaayyy too seriously. Be a Pepper. I don't care what anyone else's religion is, I don't care what color their skin, I don't care if their mother was sea slug. Be happy. If you don't like the ad, don't look at it. (I personally think it's a little lame. It could've been much more.)
BTW, why must I believe in Christianity? Why can't those who are so misled believe in what I do? I can't help that so many have the wrong religion. (See how it works!)
I am a Christian and I am not a creationist, I believe Christianity and Science go hand and hand. God was the first scientist and we are all his experiments, or in some peoples cases lab rats.
@Jeff, I do appreciate your take on the whole idea of god and science, even if I don't agree with it. I used to live just outside of Charleston, SC.. a lifetime ago it seems now. Now I live in the LIBERAL NORTH.. in Maine
One Abrahamic Religion is as bad as the next... Those right wing members of any one of those religions have the absolute hardest time with real freedom of expression that does not adhere to their own view on the world...that include something as silly as an ad for a soft drink.
I say "Get a Life" there are more important things today to worry about than an soda ad. Take it for what it is "ADVERTISING" and stop putting deeper meanings into everything you see and read. What has happened to common sense!
Dr. Pepper's MADMEN just need to do another commercial where God creates Dr. Pepper and has the snake present it to Adam and Eve instead of the apple. That should do the trick.
I drink Dr. Pepper, we did evolve. It's those Sprite drinkers that were mis-created!
To the guy who says far left extremists have a problem with "god" on our coins - no, extreme is believing in the Easter Bunny (or an anthropomorphic invisible super-being who needs constant reassurance that he is great, is prone to discrimination against large groups of people, and is prone to throwing tantrums). There is nothing extreme about not believing in ridiculous ideas just because a large number of other people do or because some ancient texts advocate it. And expecting other people in your society to support your beliefs in ridiculous ideas is also extreme. No, insisting on public policy being based on things that can be proven is not extreme. It's conservative.
Very well said, SoCal.. Thank you.
I'm with you SoCal...
Jesse Ventura is credited for saying something to the effect, "Religion is a crutch for weak minded individuals." So true when you see the response for this Dr. Pepper ad. Get a life people.
Such anger over a pop ad.. All I can do is LMFAO.
Hadn't had a pepper in a long time but after reading this the other day it sounded good. There's another case of pepper sold because of you closed minded idiots.
Doesn't anyone have a sense of humor anymore?
Dr. Pepper and/or Mexican Coke = better than American Coke and/or Pepsi.
Try them.
I have two thoughts: One, this ad has absoultely nothing to do with Christians. It depicts a scientific theory that is believed by millions of people. Kind of like gravity. I support anyone's right to not believe the theory, and to say so. But to say that the ad pokes fun at Christians, or that they should be offended by it (as opposed to just thinking it portrays something that's not real) is completely illogical.
Two, I wonder why we didn't see this kind of backlash during years of Geico caveman commercials? It would still be ridiculous, but at least consistent.
Was it me, or did the article just end with a stupid Christian quote? I was confused by the obvious slant toward Christianity, even though eight in ten said, "get over it."
The religious right ridiculed people for wanting to boycott CFA, The religious right wants to boycott Dr. Pepper.
These aren;t christians, they're run of the mill religious hypocrites calling themselves christians for effect.
leftright center, you hit the nail on the head with that one! Most organized religion is a bunch of crap anyway...
Let's get one thing straight. There is NO SUCH THING as the right to not be OFFENDED. Politcal correctness is not a legal matter. If I call a black man a Negro or I call a gay man a homosexual, it may offend them but that is their problem not mine.
So,,, If the Dr. Pepper ad offends someone, THAT'S JUST TOO BAD for them. I have looked at the ad with a great deal of objectivity and I see nothing to offend anyone except the ape. The ape is insulted that the add depicts his kind evolving into a man. Although the ape loves Dr. Pepper, He is definitely going to boycott the drink.