Atheist billboards spread their messages this holiday season

Ah yes, the start of the Christmas season.

As today is black Friday, where folks rush out to buy cheap crap and be annoyed at each other, I am always a bit stunned that this is what starts the season that is supposed to be based on the principles of the Christian deity.

But as a rebuttal, at least one atheist organization is going to some lengths to point out that many folks function and are decent people without embracing the promise of eternal life.

Billboards noting the morality of secular humanism are popping up, and still others are noting that religion itself drives folks to be atheists.

It seems to me that these campaigns are expanding every year, and the campaigns cited in the article are the most widespread that I have seen.

http://www.latimes.com/nation/share...boards-20131127,0,3334437.story#axzz2m3atfWcf

Atheist billboards are dueling this week for eyeballs and media attention -- and a place at the Thanksgiving table.

Just what we need. Something else to argue about with family and friends.

The Center for Inquiry, which describes itself as an international secular advocacy organization, said it has unveiled an electronic billboard message overlooking New York City's Times Square.


It declares: "Millions show love and gratitude without God," and adds, "Happy Thanksgiving to all who make the world a better place!"

Meanwhile, the Freedom From Religion Foundation and its new Sacramento chapter says on its website it will unveil more than 50 billboards in California next month "featuring the smiling faces and unapologetically forthright views of area nonbelievers" with text such as "Studying the bible made me an atheist" and "No gods, no devils, no worries."

This all comes just days after a New Jersey-based secular organization, American Atheists, announced it was posting electronic billboards in New Jersey bashing Pope Francis and others who use prayer, bibles and rosaries to tend to victims of natural disasters.

It would be much more beneficial, American Atheists contends, to focus the public on ways they can send concrete aid to disaster victims.

This flurry of activity should come as no surprise.
The Center for Inquiry says in a statement that it intentionally chose this time of year -- a time held sacred by many -- to remind the public that "love and gratitude can be fully experienced and expressed without belief in God." It is part of a "Living Without Religion" campaign aimed in part at knocking down the stereotypes of nonbelievers as "angry or lost."

What do you think? Are nonbelievers angry and lost?

 

Generally distainful and dismissive, but not angry and lost.

My own personal view is that I respect the right of others to believe as they would, but that does not mean that I must also respect the belief itself.

And I just can't accept talking snakes and big arsed barges full of animals and towers toppling and seas parting, let alone a half breed zombie.

I have never encountered prejudice against my atheist beliefs but judging from some of the horror stories at r/atheism it seems religious folk could use a bit of education about what lack of belief in god is really all about.

 

as long as they are not using the government to promote their views, who care, Christians do the same... who care

 

Some of the "christians" in MY neck of the woods would be trying to find ways to ban the billboard.

 

Agnostic and indifferent. I don't care what a person believes as long as they're not pushy.

 

Atheists continue to show they are just as obnoxious and evangelical as the evangelicals they despise. The irony is lost on many.

 

I don't care how you believe as long as that belief doesn't hurt others. I just don't understand atheist, as to why they would like to try and turn people away from the belief of God. The Christian religion is all about love, forgiveness and helping others. Is there something wrong in those beliefs? Sure, you don't have to be religious to have those qualities in you. But if your trying to turn people away from God, do you have those qualities in you? Would a good, decent person try and knock someone else's belief just because it's different than theirs? Especially if that belief is for good?

 

Legitimate, and confidant, atheists and Christians, do not buy billboard space.

Jackasses do though. I believe most of us already knew that there was a jackass base within the atheist movement. Like we needed more proof. But we got it.

The atheists that buy these signs are self-loathing. All the billboards in the world will not help them.

 

Seems needlessly petty & pushy, while seemingly trying to buck against overly pushy religious types...

Quite ironic...

 

WHAT a waste of money. Just think about how many poor people they could have fed and shown REAL love for their fellow man.

 

It pretty much screams attention whore. Look at us, we're angry bitter little people, we're going to put a billboard to show everyone just that.

 

How exactly does love and forgiveness match up with eternal torture for thoughtcrimes?

 

I wouldn't say they are "lost." But I do see some "anger" in many of them. And that's rather odd....considering nobody is saying they MUST be Christian because the government requires it. Our gov't doesn't require it. In fact, our forefathers who were persecuted for religious views before coming to America made sure that it was written in to the Constitution that government could not force a certain religion .....or any religion on anyone. But at the same time......Christianity was what many of our "traditions" were based on.....and that's because most were Christians. If one has an "absence of belief" than don't look at the nativity scenes or Christmas trees....and don't exchange gifts. I'm not of the Jewish faith, but it certainly does NOT harm me to look at a Menorah in someone's storefront or wherever I come across one. In fact, I enjoy learning about other traditions such as Chanukah. I have a good friend who grew up in a practicing Jewish family but who married a Christian. She has combined the traditions for her children and taught them about both. One or two of her children are not particularly religious at all; that's okay. IOW's no one forces religion on anyone in this country; not even families typically. I grew up in a church....and I saw hypocrisy. But there is hypocrisy everywhere.

Typically, the self-proclaimed atheist I come across seem to be rather sour and not especially happy. And going around resenting the traditions of our country....that have existed since it was founded....and seeking to change it all.....makes them rather unpopular. I know....and love.....some who don't particularly believe in God. So what? Doesn't make them bad people. Doesn't mean they are wrong and I am right. We are all just searching for answers during our time on earth....as I see it. But when I see a little 4 or 5 year old child singing "Jesus Loves Me" or "Away In a Manger," it's one of THE sweetest things EVER! It's about LOVE. And what in the world could be wrong with that??

 

Comical! Atheists lecturing on charity? My gut hurts from laughing so hard!

 

What are the leading atheist charity organizations?

 

Don't believe as I do then you are unworthy and will go to hell is respecting someone else's beliefs?

 

They are free to choose Hell if they want to.

 

Like how many more organized religions could have fed and shown real love if they didn't waste so much money on their billboards, elaborate churches, massive property holdings and huge salaries and benefits for the leader's?

 

Not a personal opinion, it is fact. But hey, God gave you free will use it as you wish, even if you doom yourself in the process.

 

Where is this anger you are claiming?

 

Why? You are of the belief athiest cannot be charitable and only Christians are charitable?

 

does this belief affect you? is it somehow making your life harder or taking anything from you? if you don't believe in their hell, what difference would their mythology make to you?

it seems that a lot of the whining that goes on about religion in this country is more to make the whiners feel better about themselves or reinforce their false sense of superiority than any real wrongs committed by the believers.

 

Maybe I shouldn't assume more atheists would associate with secular progressivism than religious conservatism.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/21/opinion/21kristof.html?_r=0

 

So you don't think they're not trying to be confrontational?

 

I saw a billboard yesterday from the Knights of Columbus- it said "Put Christ back in Christmas"

Are they bitter little people too?

I don't care if Christians or Atheists put up billboards- in the market place of ideas, people like to promote their ideas- heck look at what happens here on the boards.

As long as the boards don't advocate hurting anyone, I don't care at all.