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 A billboard criticizing Christianity is going up in Charlotte, North Carolina, host city of the upcoming Democratic National Convention.
August 13th, 2012
10:03 AM ET
First on CNN: Atheist group targets presidential candidates' faith with billboardsBy Dan Merica, CNN Washington (CNN) - A prominent atheist group is using next month's Democratic National Convention to take aim at the presidential candidates' religion, putting up billboards targeting Mormonism and Christianity in Charlotte, North Carolina. “Our political system is rife with religion and it depends too much on religion and not enough on substance," said David Silverman, president of American Atheists, sponsor of the ads. "Religion is silly and religion has components that are inherently divisive. … There is no place for any of that in the political system,” he said. The billboards go up Monday in Charlotte and will stay up for a month at a cost of roughly $15,000. The Democratic convention runs September 3-6. CNN’s Belief Blog: The faith angles behind the biggest stories The billboard targeting Christianity features an image of Jesus Christ on toast and this description of the faith: "Sadistic God; Useless Savior, 30,000+ Versions of ‘Truth,’ Promotes Hates, Calls it ‘Love.’ ”
The billboard targeting Mormonism lambastes - and, Mormons would say, distorts - specific Mormon doctrines: "God is a Space Alien, Baptizes Dead People, Big Money, Big Bigotry.” The Mormon billboard features a man in white underwear, a reference to special Mormon garments. Follow the CNN Belief Blog on Twitter Both billboards feature the line "Atheism: Simply Reasonable." American Atheists had wanted to put the anti-Mormon billboard in Tampa, Florida, to coincide with the Republican National Convention there later this month. Presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney is a Mormon. When no billboard company in the city would lease the group space for such a sign, Silverman said the organization decided to focus solely on the Democrats in Charlotte. “Presidential conventions are for ideas, not ideology - platforms, not platitudes," Silverman said. "If a person believes stupid things, we have every right to question his or her judgment, and that directly impacts how the nonreligious voter votes.” CNN Belief Blog: Atheist leader hopes to mobilize closeted nonbelievers Some religious leaders said the billboards showed a misunderstanding of how faith works. "That billboard makes the most common high-school error when it comes to atheism," wrote the Rev. James Martin, a Jesuit priest and author, in an e-mail to CNN. "It's not arguing against the existence of God, but against religion. The American Atheists need to go back to school on this one." Martin also questioned the language used on the billboard: "And as for 'promoting hate' they're doing a bang-up job themselves with that billboard." Terryl Givens, a Mormon professor at the University of Richmond, called American Atheists "petty and vindictive." “If this example of adolescent silliness is what atheists mean by being reasonable, then neither Mormons nor other Christians have much to worry about," he said of the billboards. "When atheists organize to serve the poor and needy of the world, they will be taken more seriously." CNN Belief Blog: Unbelieving preachers 'come out' as atheists It's not the first time the American Atheists group has released in-your-face billboards. Earlier this year, the group put up two billboards in heavily Muslim and Jewish enclaves in New Jersey and New York bearing messages in Arabic and Hebrew. “You know it’s a myth … and you have a choice,” the billboards said. At the time, Silverman said the signs were intended to reach atheists in Muslim and Jewish areas who may feel isolated because they are surrounded by believers. In addition to the billboards, Silverman said his group plans to stage protests at both conventions. |
  About this blog
The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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Atheists spend entirely too much time telling us God don't exist. It brings to mind those people that like 1/128th Cherokee with blond hair and try to convince you that they are native american.
Like your Jeebus?
Blond haired blue eyed Palestinian Super Hero?
If he ever was real, he looked far more like Arafat than some metro soap opera actor
Actually atheist spend most of their time trying to get people to think in a critical and logical fashion. Unfortunately the debate always ends up to the existence of God, because that is the religious persons "fail safe" response to things that don't understand or comprehend.
Why ruin a perfectly good thing and try advertise atheism? After all religion is not an illness, it is a symptom and a very useful mark of stupidity. It is so convenient here in the US – if a person is religious, he is so stupid that any reasonable discussion is beyond hopeless, no complex work can be delegated to such a person etc. But if a person is an atheist, you have a pretty good chance for a smart opponent or coworker. Try this in the countries which underwent massive atheist propaganda, where a lot of dummies have to be diagnosed by some other, custom method.
You cannot cure stupidity by fixing the symptom. But you will ruin this convenient diagnostic property.
William Demuth- "Blond haired blue eyed Palestinian Super Hero?"
I don't think anyone here thinks Jesus was blonde or blue eyed. He def wasn't a Palestinian since there were not any then.
People can believe what they want in America. The problem is that religious people carry that belief into the political and legal arena and seek to get others to be made to conform to their beliefs. I don't preach atheism; however, I see why other atheists publicly counter religion since those religions are trying to dictate our lives. If the believers kept their religion within their families and their churches, the atheists would not care one bit if they believed.
I used to point out the foolishness of religion but don't anymore.You'll never convince them,you'll only make them mad.Is this the intent of these billboards?
@flip Yes, just like ACT UP did 30 years ago. And it worked.
Time to send more money to richarddawkins.net. I encourage all clear thinkers to support richarddawkins.net and organizations such as American Atheists. I encourage all believers to get the help of a mental health professional.
Instead we should support Neil DeGrasse Tyson's way of thinking!!
That's right, folks. Put some money on the plate and pass it around!
I love both Neil deGrasse Tyson AND Richard Dawkins. Does that make me a Mormon?
I am a Roman Catholic and the billboards are correct but completely miss the point of having faith and community.
These atheists have faith that there is no god. They have to rely on that faith, because there is no proof. Having a club full of atheists gets you that community.
Belief in the supernatural is not necessary for compassion, humility, generosity, tolerance or community.
I choose to try to be a Christian and agree with you totally.
t3ch: atheists do not have faith there is no god as much as they do not have faith there is. there is a difference, but i suspect that it would be wasted on you.
t3ch: also, you cannot prove a negative. one could no more prove there is no god than to prove there are no leprechauns
Atheists are fully capable of living a helpful, loving, meaningful life, even without any fear of divine retribution and eternal damnation. Would you act the same without your silly belief in a telepathic "sky fairy" that rewards and punishes your every thought and deed?
Grow up and take responsibility for your own thoughts and actions.
Think Defy Unite.
t3chsupport
These atheists have faith that there is no god. They have to rely on that faith, because there is no proof. Having a club full of atheists gets you that community.
–
Yes and they also have faith that there are no fairies or unicorns. Because some do not share your wishful thinking in Gods, Dragons, Unicorns, Fairies..etc does not mean it is faith based.
I don't believe in any god except myself I MAKE THINGS HAPPEN. I'm 27 and something the older generation and those brainwashed with Easter bunny,Santa Claus etc. needs to know is most of my generation are non-believers. Religion is dieing!
This can also be called self divination.
dying...not dieing
You speak and write like a 27 year old. When your faith can produce a sculpture as sensitive and compassionate as Michaelangelo's Pieta or a painting as disarming as Rubens' "Jesus in the house of Simon the Pharisee" or music as compelling as Handel's Messiah, I will listen.
Will – Beautiful art is evidence only for beautiful art. Don't forget who were the wealthiest patrons of the arts in those days.
This type of thinking quickly goes out the window during the moment of certain death or harm. I learned in the military that there are no atheists in the foxhole.
Yeah I used to believe the same thing at 27 but it seems that religion is alive an stronger than ever (or at least louder than ever). There is more irrational discussion now than 30 years ago. btw I'm still a non-believer but with less hope of progress for the human race.
Actually, there's a website for the community of military atheists who were/are in "foxholes"
you are 27 but my 7 yr old boy is better than you in spelling. lol
These are the kinds of atheists who make their atheism into a religion. They are asking you to join something that espouses a belief, that there is no deities. That's no different than asking you to join something else that espouses a belief, that there are deities. Both groups are just as annoying, though I think atheists have killed fewer people, so I guess there's that. Still though, if you don't believe in god, why do you have to join something? That's something for insecure atheists, or those who were raised so much in church mindset that they can't think of any other way of going about things.
A real atheist, one who is secure in their belief that there can be no god, don't care what you believe in. Has nothing to do with them.
And yes, saying there is NO god is just as silly as saying there absolutely is one, because you can't prove either in any case until the moment after you die.
Someone should pay for a billboard that says this. So we can point out the hypocrisy on BOTH SIDES
Oh crap, the Grammar Gestapo are at my door...
You are correct. That's the great irony of it all.
Wrong in so many ways.
First of all passive Athiests are dead Athiests. History teaches us that.
Secondly if death is just simply death, no one will be aware of anything.
You STILL want to cling to the belief that there is more. You are afraid.
Um... pretty sure that passive atheists are just passive atheists. Dead ones, now those are some dead atheists.
That's a very religious thing for you to say, though. "a passive atheist is a dead atheist". lol
You make some good points but I'd direct your attention to the handiwork of Hitler, Stalin and Mao who butchered millions in the name of their godless religion. All three of them are on record for Christianity as a faith for weaklings.
t3ch: real atheists still have to be concerned about those of faith using that faith to influence the laws of the country, which effect all (including atheists)
will: with stalin. mao, et al., they were not godless.....they were their own gods
Will – Ahhh…the classics. Study up a bit. Their butchery was in the name of control and power…not atheism. Hitler avowed his faith publically on far more occasions than his lone dissention in Table Talk. Even if it could be proven that Adolph was truly atheist, the same cannot be said for the thousands of good Lutheran troops who did the boots on the ground dirty work. But the implication in this particular deceased equine is that religion would somehow have prevented or stopped these atrocities. With that, I’ll volley back, the Inquisitions, the Crusades, Salem…ad infinitum.
Will
You make some good points but I'd direct your attention to the handiwork of Hitler, Stalin and Mao who butchered millions in the name of their godless religion
..
Interesting please show us where the people were slaughtered in the name of Atheism? Turn down the Nascar channel and really think about what you post.
Actually, atheism is a lack of belief in gods. positive disbelief in gods is not even necessary. As such, pushing the idea the no gods exist is moot, and probably not what these billboards are trying to get across.
I disagree with your last bit of statement. It is usually the person that says there is that is required to provide the proof...!
They should be embracing ryan... his hero is atheist ayn rand. ryan says he got all of his values and beliefs from rand.
And he calls himself a Catholic! Should I want to belong to any group that would have him as a member?
If God isn't real, how did He create man in His own image? Checkmate, atheists!
Jimmy Boy
We created him in the image of a redneck. Thats why he is a white man with blue eyes who likes to wear dresses, lives with his mom, hangs around with closeted disciples, and never once got laid.
If horses had gods, their gods would be horses...
What proof besides words that Man wrote do you have that God created Man in his own image? Have you seen God with your own eyes?
No, no checkmate dear......your convictions are not solid proof.
Muzak, I have seen God. Maybe someday you will, too.
Checkmate? Gosh, Jim....that is a dumb statement, even for a Chrisitan.
Poe? or dumbest post......ever?
Wow, what was god wearing when you met him, her, or it? I don't really care what kind of god you believe in as long as you don't let it be an excuse for you or anyone else to intrude on my life. I don't want to stop you from believing. Don't try to force me to believe or follow your beliefs though.
Circular thinking, if one thing is true, the other must be also. Christian thinking.
I love it. So sick of the left or right pushing their religious agenda. Not everyone cares about god as much as you do.
Which religious agenda does the Left "push"?
The article states Christianity is Obama's religion. If that is what Athiests believe then it's no wonder they don't believe in God. I'm a Christian and I don't believe in Obama's application of the scriptures.
No. You believe in your application, and the application of your denomination which has its own version of The BIble. So, you're basically saying all of the other denominations who have their own applications and Bible version are not really Christians. Nice.
"30,000 + versions of truth.."
Your point is the reason they included this on the sign.
No, Muzak, I am not saying that. I will give you one point. Obamacare. I don't believe Christ would force us to buy anything we don't want.
Ah, the "No True Scotsman" fallacy. Typical.
Then pencil in "Jesus" on the ballad...
These "atheists" are not representative of all atheists...just like Pat Robertson and Franklin Graham are not representative of all christians. This billboard is an exercise in agitprop, nothing more, nothing less.....it has already achieved its goal of fomenting discussion. Nothing wrong with that however this billboard would have achieved much more (and most likely been displayed in Tampa) if there had been some cleverness applied rather than 'in your face' tactics.....sometimes, subtle is far stronger.....
I'm not an Athiest, but whether you are a Christian or a Mormon, you cant disagree with those billboards.
Sure you can. For example Christianity, the billboard accuses Jesus of being worthless (sounds like a spoiled kid not getting their way to make that accusation). It also accuses God of being sadistic (I'm not seeing that, God definitely shows people a lot of love, even to those that reject Him). Lastly, the accusation that God promotes hate, I don't see Him doing that. Especially not in the New Testament, sounds like that group of atheists hasn't done their homework. I feel kind of bad for them that they're not comprehending what they're reading.
Sure you can. They're deliberately inflammatory caricatures, followed by a statement that they're being made by people that consider themselves "reasonable". If they were "reason"able, they wouldn't twist things in their favor to make a point. But, we don't really have "reason" capable people, so I guess this just makes them normal.
I think you can, sincerely. If Jesus is your Savior, then he isn't useless to you. And I don't know that Morminism is suggesting God is only in Space, for example.
@ Thinksense1 Seriously, have you ever read Leviticus?
...or ANY of the old testament for that matter? I don't want to hear anything new-age "I follow the happy-go-lucky hug parts of the bible with Jesus in"; you can't divorce the Old Testament from the new, it's the most shameless back-pedal imaginable and people seem to have a blind spot to the O.T. simply because it's the image that people who think for themselves have come to realize is the face of organized religion. Malicious, discriminatory, and oppressive.
says who... oh you...the authority.. thanks
Oh no. Not another group of lame whack jobs with more money than brains.
For telling the truth?
No, Agnostic, the billboard definition of Christianity is not the true definition of Christianity. It is the false Christianity that many people believe but is not the truth. I invite you to humble yourself, truly seek God and find out for yourself who Christ is; only when you are "born again" (the term first used by Christ himself) will you understand what the truth is, who Christ is, and how a true Christian should live. Just keep in mind there are many wolves in sheep's clothing; that is why you need the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth.
Fact – (chuckle...good one)
the 30,000 reference escape you? There literally are that many denominations of Xtianity. That's how many people are saying exactly the same thing as your post. Oh....but yours is the really really real truth for real for true... Right?
@ Fact you're more inept than you look, it would seem.
@TooDark I hate you for beating me to that response. May you burn in the fires of (insert 12th century negative scenescape with religious over-tones here)
I am an Atheist and I approve this message as well!
I had to lol at the grinning guy in the glowing magic underwear. Don't you see how happy he looks? Of course you want to be Mormon!
Earlier in the year, I had that Rapture prediction billboard by my house. It was obnoxious and offensive and nobody seemed to care too much. They had them all across the nation. Put one Anti-Christianity billboard up and everyone grabs the torches and pitchforks.
I can understand the outrage. But how mad are we going to let ourselves get when it is actually true?
Exactly!!
Finally America is getting non-myth/guilt religious bill boards. About time politicians started recognizing the increasing percentage of skeptics who look to reason and not fiction novels.
I don't believe in Atheists. They are like the Easter Bunny or Santa Claus: You hear a lot about them, but behind the scenes, the "real" people are doing the giving.
Pull your head out of the sand (typical of "believers"). Athiests are everywhere. Get used to it.
Real people giving? Ok. I'll bite. How about you and your religious kind giving it a rest? How much longer are we as the unbelievers going to have to put up with your religious lies? How much longer are we as the unbelievers going to have to put up with your kind making laws we have to obey and are directly in line with your religious beliefs?
Are you going to make Santa Claus obey your rules too? How about it?
Why not do as you've already been taught? 1) Keep your religion in your hearts. 2) Keep your religion in your minds. 3). Keep your religion in your churches and worship buildings. 4) Most importantly.....Keep your religion to yourselves.
Now, where's Zeus. Oh! There he is! Zeus! Leave that Wood Nymph alone and come do some real work like a god is supposed to do.
Now replace "atheists", "easter bunny" and "santa" with "God" and you will have the tools to see the fault in your logic. However, I doubt you have the intelligence.
Why are atheists being so aggressive about attacking the beliefs of others? Why not let people believe what they want, as long as it doesn't harm others. Putting all religious people into the same box as "Christian" right wing Tea Partiers and Islamist fundamentalist terrorists is just wrong! Indict the behavior, not the belief!
I agree whole heartedly. Stop legislating religion into schools, health, etc. and we will start to agree with your statement about not harming others. To the point about "religious" not being the same as more "fundamentalists": valid but to the other side, they also give a foundation for extreamists (christians are great at extream behavior) to stand upon.
Good point, but they are doing the same that religious people do as well. Christians try to force others to believe what they believe and condemn you if you don't. If it wasn't an issue, no one would have made an issue about Obama's religion 4 years ago, or about Romney's Mormon beliefs at the beginning of the Republican primaries.
HAHAHAH Please. Do you know have many times I've been approached by Christians trying to convert me to their religion?
Oh, did you know you will go to Hell if you don't bring in more followers for Christianity? Such a nice and understanding god right? "Bring me more followers or I'll send you to HELL!"
Jim I'm an atheist and I am totally with you on this, live and let live. I can't imagine joining a group of idiots promoting their lack of belief to hate on others that think differently. If religion makes them a better person than just leave 'em alone.
Y2J, Ben and DW: So because SOME religious people get in your face about their beliefs, this justifies the athieists' attacks on the beliefs of ALL religious people? Isn't that how racists justify their hate? (Because SOME blacks are criminals, thugs, lowlifes, NO blacks should be allowed to live in my community...) Come on people, think! Sheesh!
Because religion has demonstrably caused harm for centuries. As for today...check out "personhood ammendments" and picture a female loved one who has suffered a s @ xual assault being forced to carry the child to term. All religiously motivated legislation.
Funny, it would seem everytime Obama does something he's pushing anti-religious legislation, and people throw the world's biggest tantrum regarding the issue. Now that religion actually IS getting called out for some of the immoral actions Christianity's fans (because they are NOT followers, mind you) are taking, suddenly everyone is shocked and we should all just "stop picking on religion". Sorry, it's the right culprit, and it's time they bit the bullet in public.
@TooDark I still hate you for beating me to it again.
@ Jim Brody
So because ONE Atheist group decides to put up billboards, this justifies your attack on ALL Atheists?
Going to copy and paste what you said because it works here as well:
"Isn't that how racists justify their hate? (Because SOME blacks are criminals, thugs, lowlifes, NO blacks should be allowed to live in my community...) Come on people, think! Sheesh!"
Obvious hypocrisy is obvious 😉
Sorry, DW. Your analogy doesn't hold up. And "I know you are but what am I?" is a dumb arguement, as is calling someone you disagree with a "hypocit ."
You're funny, lol
People who disagree with me are not hypocrites. You generalizing all Atheists by saying "Why are atheists being so aggressive about attacking the beliefs of others?" because of what ONE group is doing, then turning around and argue "So because SOME religious people get in your face about their beliefs, this justifies the athieists' attacks on the beliefs of ALL religious people?" is the definition of hypocrisy. Also I really don't know where you got the "I know you are but what am I?" from my comment.
DW: Still doesn't hold up. Did I put up a billboard attacking the beliefs of all atheists? Did the atheists put up a billboard attackingthe beliefs of allMormons and Chritians?
So let me get this straight. In your mind, EVERY Atheist in the WORLD belongs to the group "American Atheists"? So the billboard they put up is the voice of every Atheists out there?
I accepted the fact that each Christian is different from one another so why can't you accept that each Atheist is also different from one another?
Your argument makes no sense. What does you not putting up a billboard have anything to do with you generalizing all Atheists in your comments? So according to you since I didn't put up a billboard myself either then I'm not attacking Christians. Then there's no reason for you to be replying to my comments in the first place.
If you're so ignorant in thinking that way, there's really no point talking to you anymore. Good day sir.
The idiots responsible for this panel will accomplish precisely dick with this panel. It would have been much better just to take the money and donate it to a worthy cause. Instead, you get this.
How is this bad? They simply pointed out the truth
Right. Just like money given to churches to move molesting priests around so they aren't caught touching little boys, building huge structures to worship ghosts, money toward Noah's ark searches, can you say "Creationist Museum",.....
Should I go on??? As for charity or helping to deal with problems/issues in reality: Hands at work do infinitely more good than hands at prayer.
I am an Atheist and I approve this message.
.
All you Atheists seem very angry. Are you establishing a new Hate Group in the US – Anti all religions? You should try love and compassion sometime. I bet it will make you much less angry and bit happier.
Atheists are not more angy than the religious right.
For any religious saying athiests are angrier than they are: Try actually reading your book sometime. Then you'll understand what angry really is. After you've finished, then lets talk.
How does "I approve this message" come across as angry to you?
But why wouldn't we be angry? A system of absurdities has had a hand in almost every major decision made by mankind over the past many thousands of years.
We just put a robot on Mars. Imagine how much further along we would be without religion holding back progress at every step of the way.
If you want to see "angry" then just tell people you are an Athiest and see all the so-called Christians jump down your throat and tell you you are going to hell. Athiesm is going mainstream and for some reason it really scares Christians. Please don't pray for me–my life is perfect.
@ Us_1776: Agreed.
@USA: yeeepp.
@Ben: My thoughts exactly.
@Strongbad: Damn straight.
@KMar: OH FFS you couldn't be more accurate 🙁