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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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So I guess my choice is I can be forced to listen to the Religion of Christianity, the Religion of Mormonism, or the religion of Atheism... All 3 groups can't get over the fact that I have my own brain and I can make my own decisions with that brain.
Hey Jeebus, one more time for the hard of understanding... atheisim is NOT religion.... atheisim is a LACK OF BELIEF IN GOD.
Atheism isn't specifically lack of belief in God (although that is requisite.) It is specifically conscious non-subscription to theology: God-concept. In anycase, I don't think anything about being an Atheist requires fighting against established religion. Thats what these billboards do though. They are a reflection of those hypocrites who see their crusade against religion as an essecially religious cause of it's own. Just as crazy.
hey fintastic, so you have a lack of belief, which is the same thing as "believing" that no deities exist.
for example:
1- (-1)=2
1+ (+1)=2
Ned, let me fix that for you,
Theism is "belief [god]"
Atheism is "not [belief (god)]"
You're trying to say atheism is "belief [not god]"
They're different.
I'm just happy to see athiests stand up for themselves. For all those in this comment section saying they are tired of athiests ramming our beliefs at them... take a look around you. The entire country is god this and god that. We even had to make sure Rep. Paul Ryans religious view was on the table before we talked about his political beliefs. I support these billboards. These are no different than the ones I drove past in Nebraska a few years ago telling me that God would punish me for not standing up against abortion.
You can rule out the first two if you have a brain. Saying that atheism is a religion is like saying that not collecting stamps is a hobby.
Thank you, God, for my GOLD MEDAL. I'm sorry you gave it to me instead of the legs that Oscar Pistorius has prayed for over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again.
I guess my Faith and my power of prayer got you to listen to my wanting a piece of metal and your SO gracious granting of my prayer to get that lump of mineral.
People will see my gold medal and take that as a TESTAMENT OF YOUR POWER. True, giving Oscar his legs back would have *REALLY* been a testament, but we know you don't go in for all those splashy "burning bush" type of thing. Oh, wait. You did, didn't you. Well, I'm sure you must have your reason for wanting me to have a shiny sparkly to wear around my neck instead of poor Oscar being able to walk without the use of springs. I mean, it *is* kinda funny, watching him bounce around like that. I'm sure YOU get a big laugh every time you see him bouncing. AH – THAT'S IT! OSCAR IS ENTERTAINMENT FOR GOD!!!
I'm sorry I ever questioned, you, God. My medal is WAAAAAAAAAAY more important than some silly ole legs. And we've proven that PRAYER WORKS!
At least for non-amputees.
LOL!
Tee Hee....that's so clever...your point?
Interesting perspective –
So, since Oscar didn't get the legs he prayed for – G-d has not delivered? Oscar has gained considerable fame. He has shown the world what can be done with perseverance and hope. He has brought awareness to the masses and hope to those afflicted with similar conditions. He will go down in Olympic history due to his incredible feat. We won't remember who won the Gold, Silver and Bronze medals – but we will absolutely remember him.
And you think that a prayer can only be answered for Oscar in the form of legs? Most of us with 2 legs could never come close to what this man has accomplished....
I wonder if he thinks that's a fair trade? Who knows what he could have accomplished had he kept his legs?
However, that's not the point. The point is that people credit god for all sorts of things that humans have achieved. Things such as the regrowth of amputated limbs, things that right now truly only a god can do, remain undone. Why do you suppose that it?
We are all given gifts – what makes anyone think that Oscar's prayers weren't answered because his legs didn't grow back? His gift to us is his inspiration. Not his legs....
G-d puts obstacles in our way to test our faith and our resolve. Most of us in today's world have a very short-term view of our lives that we must have everything we want and be like everyone else. If we don't get what we ask for – there can't be any G-d.
Our bodies are just capsules. Christianity is a belief based on faith and love – not the physical body.
Jesus you people are dumb...CNN followers for ya I guess.
Those wacky atheists! gotta admire their candor.
just as much as the candor of religious nuts. religion keeps you stupid
Wacky? Saying "hey people, use your common sense and think for yourselves before you believe some invisible man in the sky story" is wacky? As opposed to how God sends his only son (who is himself btw) to be beaten to death by humans so that he can absolve the world of sins, but that didn't really work since we all continue to sin anyway and that's okay by God as well. Dude, lookup the meaning of wacky in the dictionary and you'll find religion in it's definition.
I'm still mad about God burning those people at Sodom and Gamorah. That was much worse for those people than the waterboarding George Bush did. Why did you torture those poor people, God? Oh, they didn't do as you said. Why did you waterboard those people, George? Oh, they didn't tell you what you wanted to hear. Hmm. For some reason your Christianity does not turn people into nice people. Your Christians have used torture for thousands of years and are intent on doing it for another thousand.
I couldn’t agree more. We need leaders of sound mind who are capable of sound, practical judgment not influenced by the idiosyncrasies of their fairy tale of choice. Religion has no place in government or politics; in fact, it should be banned from any and all legislative and judicial affairs. We need solutions based on current reality, not ancient myths
well put!
Amen!!! Pun intended 🙂
ditto
Self_Thinker
"Amen!!! Pun intended"
If you pronounce it "Ah, Men" or "Aw, Men", there's your true pun.
Thus saith Stalin and Mao. Massive atheists who killed millions upon millions.
How many times are you going to need to be told that these were megalomaniacs who destroyed religion not because they were atheists but because it helped them gain power?
How dumb can you be?
Stalin and mao killed for political reasons. their putative atheism was just an innocent bystander.
This is really a reply to Kafir – . If your argument excuses Stalin and Mao then it also excuses and puts an end to those arguments about how religious differences resulted in lots of killings -"religions cause all the wars", etc. Well, one might say those kings and groups in power used religion to advance their greed or hegemony and religion was just an innocent bystander. One cannot have it both ways...
Are you denying that the Crusades were fought for religious reasons?
Actually Miriam,
Religion is EXPECTED to have some sort of influence on the outcome of political conflicts, because religions themselves have edicts and codes of conduct that people use to justify both war and opposition to war. And it stands as historical common knowledge that many wars WERE fought in the name of a specific religion, even if other factors played a role.
Atheism has nothing to say about war or peace, and therefore can't be an agent for either notion.
I am an Atheist and I approve this message.
After 911 I am tired of being respectful of other peoples beliefs. Religion has a lot to do with people getting killed. When your dead your dead. You were dead for billions of years before you were born and you'll be dead after you die. Get over it.
After 911 I am tired of being respectful of other peoples beliefs. Religion has a lot to do with people getting killed. When your dead your dead. You were dead for billions of years before you were born and you'll be dead after you die. Get over it.
Wow...talk about lies.....Athiest should actually do some research into Christianity before they spew this hate filled venom......
What statement on these billboards is a lie?
Christians should practice some humility and stop preaching to those who do not accept their beliefs
Greg, I would bet my childrens lives that the average Atheist is better educated and more informed about Christianity that your ENTIRE combined family.
Disagreeing with a belief is not hate.....
that's just like an inbred born from the bibles thinking
So george – denying the Inquisition and the Dark Ages ever existed, eh? Too far back for your ignorant mind to grasp? There are WAY more examples of Christian depravity right here and now in the present. Head stuck too far up your nether region to pay attention to it?
religions are experts at lying, they've been lying since the dark ages.
Greg – what lies are you talking about ? There's no hatred in the message – it's simply stating what everyone knows.
Look at the number of times God has killed or hurt his children in the Bible. Look at the way he commanded the Israelites to kill other tribes.
It may hurt your feelings to read the billboard, but it does not make it untrue. If you want to interpret the Bible in one way, that's fine. BUT you can't stop others from interpreting in their way. That's whay you have 30,000+ denominations. What makes you think your interpreation is the only way?
Religious nuts should stop quoting old books as if they were fact. It makes them look silly.
Greg, you should actually figure out how to make nouns plural. Why are all you bible-thumpers completely incompetent and ignorant?
.
I bet they won't put one up referring to Mohammed in this manner. Cowards.....
I'm with you Jim, I dare them!
Which of the candidates is a Muslim, Jim?
Duh...last time I checked, no muslims were running for the White House.
Challenge accepted
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/03/01/atheist-group-targets-muslims-jews-with-myth-billboards-in-arabic-and-hebrew/
Read the whole article. They have addressed Islam and Judaism as well. Read the whole Bible while you're add it.
They already did Jim....read.
Did you read the article? Jews and muslims were given good advice on previous billboards, and as above, none of the presidential candidates is jewish or muslim.
Duh – all of you need to READ – I said "Mohammed" the billboards didnt use his name. Its about attacking religion anyway and not just candidates. And yoiu guys (n girls) are supposed to be enlightened. Wow???
What muslim is running for president?
Remember the Soviet Union ? They are athiest or were,they controlled the media, FOX NEWS, RUSH LIMBO,one group controlled the union, BIG MONEY!!
My My the atheist are getting more and more militant these days. I'd say the devil made them do it. Our Government is not acting the way God would like anyway, so why are they up in arms about it. If our goverment was acting acording to the way God would want them to run the country, we wouldn't be in the shape we're in now. I bet they never stopped to think about that. If only everyone would just stop and think that life is just the starting point for your eternity......
Your god...if everyone stopped to consider YOUR god....
Keep your god to yourself.
bet you believe in Lephrachauns too and the Easter Bunny. you read a ficticious book
Bobby: Our government is not beholding to your god.
Bobby,
A question for you: name me one period in American (or any country's, for that matter) history in which the government collectively (all 3 federal branches) acted in accordance with what you call "the way God would like it to run", and I could point out any number of a host of injustices and social ills. Even if you are referring to economic prosperity, we can look at a general rise in American wealth from the inception of our independence up until the 1860's and say "wow, standards of living really improved". Well, yes, they did. Unless, of course, you were a slave, or a Native American. Did God favor us then? You fall victim to what man has fallen victim to for millennia, the "the olden days were so much better than today, look at how our society is decaying". The truth is that things DO change; that life was not frozen in any kind of Eden and set for all eternity. Societies transform, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worst, but if you're implying, say, that the government under President Bush was acting generally in a "godly" way, God must be awfully steamed up about Bush's TARP, the huge deficit he was running up with wars we can't afford, letting our debt to China increase, etc.
Keep your faith off of me.
Our goverment in general has not been acting in accordance with God's will for a long long time. And this has been true of many governments for as long as there have been governments. it has nothing to do with prosparity. all great nations will eventually fall. Evil things have been done in the name of God for thousands of years, but that does not excuse an unbelief in Him. He even said that evil would be done in His name, and that they would be condemmed for it. I am a piece loving God fearing Christian, that can see the evil in the world about us. I try to treat everyone the way I want to be treated, and live my life for God, I do not Judge anyone or condem anyone for their beliefs, That is God's job. If you don't like my God, that is your choice.
Certainly, the Atheists methods of spreading the word of false idols are far preferable to Christianities methods of burning heretics at the stake, boiling them in oil, splitting their bodies in two, or some other primitive form of killing the "other". Can't wait to see how the Vatican will torture the butler, after all, he allowed the truth to emerge and the Pope just won't have it, just won't allow the truth to be told.
Actually, the american government has been secular from day 1.
Also, seeing as how you haven't provided evidence for your god, your points are moot.
It's amazing how many Atheists practice hedonism. >.>
Yeah the first tenant of hedonism is "thow shalt put up silly billboards."
Far less than the Catholic Church
Got any numbers to support that statement?
it's fun, try it
religion is a farce created to control the masses.
So right.
It's about time. The kooks have been out of their cages for far too long.
Yeah, I don't know. It doesn't seem like Obama or Romney are bothering us with their religion. I'm not a Christian or a Mormon (and for the outsider, the difference seems academic.) Honestly, I don't mind if my next president is either. He could even be an Atheist, Hindu, Sikh; whatever, as long as that didn't cause him to make unwise or dangerous decisions as a leader.
So you're fine with having someone who is INSANE as President?
Not to David, but to the insane I hear voices: look be realistic and realize that insanity is an equal opportunity mental disease, you can be religious or irreligious. America has had A LOT of presidents who are practicing Christians. I know that you don't like their views and everything, but America is pretty much one of the most prosperous nations in the world. The presidents' so-called insanity is not overly harmful when PUT IN PERSPECTIVE. You want insanity? Go ahead and live in North Korea (whose leader is not even religious) or Saudi Arabia (no offense to the Arab Muslims, but for atheists your theocratic rules are too oppressive). Then come back to America and re-think how lucky you are.
Unless of course you're gay and want to marry.
If you pick obama gay marriage has a chance. he;s ok w/ it. so what if he's a christian?
That would make him a good civil servant, but a bad christian.
It takes much more faith to be an Atheist than it does to be a Christian. Take the time to truly investigate.
How? Atheism is a lack of faith. How can a lack of faith take more faith than a religion based on faith? Is this 1984?
Faith is what a fool believes he sees
Real Athiests don't place much creedence in the term.
Atheism is no more a type of "faith" than baldness is a hair color.
ECassiouis: Take time to consider your silly statment
Atheism....yet another beleif system
ECassious2
"It takes much more faith to be an Atheist than it does to be a Christian"
Not true... but even if it were - isn't MORE faith better?!
Oh my, this is so hateful. Such hateful speech. I can't believe they would condone hate. This atheists are going around making fun of Mormons and Christians, basically saying what they believe is stupid and therefore they're stupid.
But people won't really say this. For some reason a CEO of Chick-fil-A saying he supports the traditional family, without even providing any sort of negative attack (merely supportive of what he believes), is described as being "hateful". But an overtly negative attack ridiculing Mormons and Christians won't result in a firestorm of accusations about it being hateful.
My question – why? This is a messed up system we have. My view, I don't really care what atheists groups say. I don't mind either what the Cik-fil-A CEO says either. I mind more-so the discrepancy, the accusations of hate when what is actually negative doesn't receive the same criticism.
BTW, I made use of a little hyperbole playing off the responses many made to the comments made by the Chick-fil-A guy, that was my point
What?
Because we hate how ignorant you are.
GDF, if there's ever a double standard in this country, it's actually pro-religion, anti-atheism. Take a very simple example for instance: I'm an atheist, but I don't usually talk about my views openly at work for fear of offending someone and eventually losing my job because of it. But I hear people talk about religion all day in all sorts of ways. There are people who have the bible on their desks, leave flyers in the break room about religion and openly talk about the merits of "their God". Can you imagine if I had a copy of "The God Delusion" or some atheistic literature on my desk or tell a co-worker "I don't believe in God for the same reason I don't believe in Zues or the Easter bunny"?? I'd be fired right then. There is a double-standard and it's against atheists.
http://commonsenseinlife.blogspot.com/
- Self_Thinker -
A sensible response. And I agree, I don't like that double standards either, or any sort of discrepancy like this. I appreciate freedoms and respect given from both sides, or all sides, respecting others first, regardless of views (we can't all agree about everything). My work is a little different though. The most person to openly talk religion was "let go", too radical. Others are criticized for talking it at all. Really the only acceptable conversation is sports. But people should be able to discuss what they want. There's a difference though, between discussing what you believing, and basically belittling and calling someone stupid or ignorant for believing something else. That's the part I don't like.
well, religion is stupid if you have half a brain and think for yourself
No one was critisising the founder of chick-fil-a's rights to hold an opinion, that is a strawman.
They are critisising his donations (out of chick=fil-a's profits) to hate groups which seek to bar gay marriage in the states, and have pushed for, among other things, the "death to gays" legislation in uganda and other third world countries.
Even then, no one is saying that he does not have the RIGHT to donate money to such causes, but they are (rightfully) concerned that when they go buy a chicken sandwich from chick-fil-a, some of the money they just gave the company may be used by hate groups.
And thus the people refuse to give their money to a buisness who uses it in ways they disagree with, and encourage others to do the same, which is a perfectly American way to excercise their god given rights to free speech and free association, and yet people will continue to try and portray it as some sort of infringement on the free speech rights of the leader of chick-fil-a. It is not and never was, but if those people stopped strawmanning the oppositions position they would realize their argument does not have a leg to stand on.
gdf,
But worse than belittling someone's belief (which isn't all that bad if the case is that their belief is downright silly), is to give money to causes that push discrimination against a group, and that's what the CEO of chick-fil-a did, he donated millions to groups that are fighting to keep gay marriage illegal. Such policies do not exist coming from any atheist organizations that I can think of.
if prayer worked – you'd never have to pray again
That might look good on a t-shirt or a bumper sticker, but your statement is inherently flawed. If you want to be an atheist, more power to you, but please be informed about the teachings you are so sure are bogus. Perhaps you are informed, but that statement would suggest otehrwise.
ECassious2
I am well informed, with thousands of books having been read (including 18 reads of various bibles). I have written, and publicly debated theist for over half a century.
My conclusion is Christianity is a scam.
That's a misunderstanding of the concept of prayer.
I mean, the bottom line is that Christians aren't idiots. THere are a lot of VERY smart people who are christians. Christianity makes sense within the context of it's own narrative. I've been at this gig for many, many years and I have yet to find anything about it that doesn't make sense or contradicts itself wthin the context of it's own narrative.
Every prayer is answered in 3 ways; Yes, No, Maybe Later. What/Who you pray to makes no difference.
Sounds like some of you need to read up on the STEP Project and see what effects prayer really has, when conducted scientifically. If you're honest. And have an open mind.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Studies_on_intercessory_prayer