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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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Ive been reading these comments and I must say the ignorance has so infuriated me that I felt compelled to post. First lets start with the fallacy that there are no atheists in foxholes. I'd point you to the newsletter published and supported by numerous soldiers and former soldiers like myself called ATHEISTS IN FOXHOLES. There are plenty of military personnel that don't believe in god now, in combat, or afterwards.
Secondly about Hitler waging a war for atheism. The man was a freaking choir boy for years and seriously considered becoming a priest. In fact he got the idea for the swastika from his church! On top of that german soldiers had "Gott mit uns" on the backs of their belt buckets it means "God is with us"
Thirdly some wackjob actually said Obamacare was against god because "Jesus would never make us buy anything we didnt want" I am absolutely flabbergasted at that. If anyone on this planet was a socialist it was Jesus (the man, born of a non virgin mother). Washing each others feet, giving to the poor, so on so forth. Also who in their right mind can say god was NOT SADISTIC. If you believe the bible he wiped out the world with a massive flood for starters then he murdered every first born in Egypt, and if you read Psalms where they discuss the Israelis retaking Canaan you get ""Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones." (Psalms 137:9, KJV) If you believe the bible is the word of god then there is no other conclusion but that god is a blood thirsty murderer who if alive today (Remember God is Dead kids, Nietzsche) he d be put on trial for CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY!.
People of Earth V. God
Count 1: Attempted Genocide
Count 2: Use of Biological Weapons
Count 3: Murder
Count 4: Incitement to Murder
Count 5: Environmental Terrorism.
While Mr. Silverman, the president of American Atheists, is quoted in this article as saying that "religion has components that are inherently divisive." That may or may not be true. It may even be true that atheism has a proud intellectual heritage and objectives and is not inherently divisive.
However, with an ad campaign like this, Mr. Silverman seems insistent and determined to make atheism divisive, and therefore part of the problem rather than part of a solution. What a shame that a belief system that seeks to be so rational as atheism can become just as divisive, intolerant, emotional and polemical as the religion it opposes.
Religion wants to unite the cults.
We want to destroy them.
Stamp out ignorance!
Just like the world's religions, atheists pretend to know if there is a god and/or afterlife.
Nobody knows for sure and anyone proclaiming to possess a monopoly on the Truth certainly does not.
regards,
agnostic
I agree that it's annoying when atheists claim to know with certainty that there is no deity nor an "afterlife". But atheism is literally just a lack of belief in a deity, so atheists don't necessarily hold those beliefs.
And by the way, you're an atheist.
are you agnostic about tooth-fairies too?
It should be pointed out that when a person is asked about their beliefs and replies that they are agnostic, they are avoiding the question and answering a different one. Someone who can't positively say he/she believes in a god is an atheist....
Incorrect. Very few atheists make the assertion to know there is no god.
What we tend to believe is the various claims of a god (the world's religions) are untrue.
A fine, but very importnant distinction.
A god may exist, no man has demonstrated it though.
Feel better, now?
A large number of agnostics fall behind atheists because atheism is more defined. I believe there could be GOD but I deny any truth in any of the religion.
When anyone mocks the sacred beliefs of any other individual that should tell you they are full of hatred and want nothing good for you. To put on a billboard those things that are sacred to members of a church, that's not atheism, that's evil. Oh wait-maybe they are one and the same. It would be nice if people actually understood things that are sacred and didn't try to show their stupidity or ignorance. Atheists, beware of the choices you make with your God-given agency.
::facepalm::
Fallacies committed:
1) Non-sequitur
2) Begging the question
(I apologize if I missed any.)
Sacred cows make the best hamburger.
Ducks are chickens.
LDS? Your gibberish sounds more like LSD.
You are in a cult dude, with magical underwear, a convicted con man as a savior and an alien as God (and possibly one as a presidential candidate!)
Some stupidity goes so far beyond the pale that it needs to be summarily rejected, and your lunatic belief system takes the cake.
Get yourself some deproramming you space cadet!
threatening non-believers again I see
So, LDS doesn't teach that Jesus/God/whatever is from Kolob, or near Kolob anyway ("which Kolob is set nigh unto the throne of God")?
So, LDS doesn't baptize the dead by proxy?
So, LDS didn't run a campaign against gay marriage in CA that cost a lot of money?
I'm not sure I understand the point to the billboard? Do they want you to not vote? because both candidates take a stand on their religious views? I mean in this political climate I find that highly counterproductive. We need to get thru this election with some semblance of credibility. Either help make this country a better place to live in or shut the f up!
Oh No3z....their billboards have caused me to completely change my theological outlook. Thank you Atheists!!!!
I completely agree that if you're painfully irrational, then no amount of evidence will make you rational–especially not from a billboard.
God talks to me daily.
Tell him his momma ain't no virgin!
Science has proven that it's all about the brain and you are actually talking to yourself.
These guys make real Atheists look bad. Their "arguments" against religion have nothing to do with the religions themselves. Rather, they're using the actions of human beings who have polluted and misrepresented the religions to lash out and spread misinformation and bigotry.
How did you manage to simultaneously commit the No True Scotsman fallacy against both atheists and Christians?
Athiests? What DO you believe in? I'm curious to find out the answer. (It'll probably just be a bunch of childish comments, though.)
Do we have to believe in something? And if so, why?
we believe what can be proven, not what we read in a bronze age story book and then twist facts to try and justify.
I would think things like:
I exist and I can learn about this universe through rational means.
This seems like a variation of the bizarre and fallacious "atheists believe in nothing" argument. Also, the implication is that we need something supernatural to believe in, which is of course not true. I can't speak for all atheists, since atheism is a lack of belief in a deity–nothing more, nothing less. But as a rationalist and atheist, I "believe" in that which I have objective, verifiable evidence for.
My point is: Why are you vocal? For what reason? If there is no reason, then why be vocal? Pointless thought.
Drew,
I believe in a lot of things.
However, I only believe things that are proven to be true or have a substantial amount of evidence. God has no evidence, no proof, or anything. There is no justification why I should choose to believe in a god.
Drew, you don't actually care or want to know – you're just trying to start arguments.
Drew, have you ever heard of Humanism? If you fashion your life the way they believe; it would be a better life for all. If you live your life by it then it could also be a good life in the eyes of a just God if that is what you choose to believe. But there is no way the power hungry instatutions you call religions today would ever let you think that not going to church and paying your way would allow you to have the wonderful afterlife they promise if you keep giving them money!!!
@Drew
also, to the "why are we vocal" question.
Religion, whether someone is aware of it or not, has a profound affect on how one thinks, acts, and makes decisions.
I have no problem with people holding beliefs. But once their religious beliefs affects how they make a decision for a group of people, then I have lost all respect for them. Then they are deluded. That is why I am vocal. Here in the south, the christian agenda is constantly pushed unto the rest of us.
Religion also teaches you to be contempt with not knowing the answers. It teaches you to not question your beliefs. It teaches you to be stupid- to be a pawn- to lack critical thinking.
Drew, the question "Why are atheists so vocal" is incredibly common, and I wish it wouldn't need to be asked so often because there are clear answers. I am so tired of answering it at this point that I just point them to this video to save time:
(The short answer is that atheists are treated like second-class citizens and face much discrimination in many parts of the country–and the world.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4fQA9mt-Mg
@Drew
"My point is: Why are you vocal? For what reason? If there is no reason, then why be vocal? Pointless thought."
If you don't understand why we are vocal I don't see how you can even comment about us. Religion and a belief in the supernatural has been around way before Christianity. Christianity creates moral laws that they believe their so called God has made and they force their moral codes. Bigotry, abortion, same se*x is wrong, I mean the list goes on and on. Frankly, I'm not going to sit quietly and allow such inhumanity to be propagated in a country that I work in and pay taxes to while these idiots try and force such ludicrous bullsh*it upon the masses.
I believe
Humans do not require a god to be moral.
Religion divides more than it unites.
It is untrue that atheists “believe in nothing”.
It does not take more faith to be an atheist.
Atheists do not deny god because they wish to be god.
Religion and science are incompatible.
Complexity does not equal design.
The scientific method trumps primitive anonymous texts.
The scriptures are ridiculous, offensive and demonstrably false.
One does not require an afterlife to have a meaningful life.
Threats of eternal punishment betray a weak argument.
Schools should be filled with facts, not fanatics.
Your personal experience does not prove god.
An inability to disprove god does not prove god.
Not knowing what caused the big bang does not prove god.
Even if you prove evolution is completely wrong, it will not prove god.
And if you believe in any gods the burden of proof is on you.
@Drew
"My point is: Why are you vocal? For what reason?"
If you don't know, then I guess atheists aren't being vocal enough.
Atheists must try harder!!
We believe that all the universe is explained by natural cause, no supernatural capability is required.
At its most fundamental level, Christianity requires a belief that an all-knowing, all-powerful, immortal being created the entire Universe and its billions of galaxies 13,720,000,000 years ago (the age of the Universe) sat back and waited 10,000,000,000 years for the Earth to form, then waited another 3,720,000,000 years for human beings to gradually evolve, then, at some point gave them eternal life and sent its son to Earth to talk about sheep and goats in the Middle East.
While here, this divine visitor exhibits no knowledge of ANYTHING outside of the Iron Age Middle East, including the other continents, 99% of the human race, and the aforementioned galaxies.
Either that, or it all started 6,000 years ago with one man, one woman and a talking snake. Either way “oh come on” just doesn’t quite capture it.
What is the fundamental nature of matter, DOG?
Is the universe infinite or finite, DOG?
Are you a determinist, DOG?
What is consciousness, DOG?
Are you lonely, BOB?
Nope, waiting for my wife and kids to come home. I work 11-3 and am just killing a little time before dinner.
who created God, BOB?
Fair enough.
You are in error. What you speak of is basic theology. Christianaty at its most fundamental point is this: "Christ died for our sins and that he was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures." 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. I say this not to convince you; since as an Atheist you are incapable of belief. but only to clarify what is fundamental to Christianity. As Gary Habermas has stated, "The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the kingpin of Christianity."
"You'll all burn in hell!" Love, God
"love" heh heh!
It's why earth is heating up, it's really hell.
I wonder what all of these atheists teach their kids?
"Johnny, there is no God, so there is no hope, their is no point to life. You live and die." Really?
What does atheism have to offer? The same as what they believe: nothing.
Disingenious; specious; snotty. Go away.
And this is better?
"You are an unworthy sinner and deserve to burn in hell for all eternity."
"...but, by accepting Jesus Christ you can have eternal life." You missed the second part of that, champ.
Sad, isn't it? But to knock other people's religion and beliefs just goes to show you how pathetic and desperate these people are.
I teach my kids critical thinks skills and allow them to base their beliefs on the supported evidence.
You teach them about the boogie man and how a magic man in the sky watches them all the time and may burn them forever if they don't do what he wants, and what he wants is completely arbitrary, it is a form of child abuse.
I didn't knock anyone's religion. But, athiests certainly are. Sad, isn't it?
Regardless, champ, you are still teaching children that they are evil and cannot be good, unless God deigns to "forgive" them for what they cannot help being. How is that better?
You're baiting people and then complaining when you get something impolite back. Common sense, Drew...
I teach mine the fine art of foreclosing on Christian mortgages.
He is doing quite well
I don't see how being watched by a super guy in the sky gives your life meaning.
"Johnny, there is no God, so there is no hope, their is no point to life. You live and die." Really?
"What does atheism have to offer? The same as what they believe: nothing."
Drew, you made these 2 statements and yet claim you don't knock others beliefs. You are a hypocrit.
BTW I don't care if you knock others beliefs.
Atheists believe in the process, Theists, the goal.
Explain how the religious objection to gay marriage fits your theory. That's just hatemongering period. The bible says if you eat pigs or fish it's an abomination too but where is the outrage about that from the Christians? We want to include christians in this place we call reality, that doesn't make us bad people. The things done FOR religion are far worse then our attempts to rid the world of this nonsense!
... but aren't theists the ones with all the rituals?
Hypocrite much?
Religious is the king of lazy thinking, re: an invisible man in the sky explains it all....
The silly 'God' myth answers nothing at all, for where did god come from? It just passes the existential buck one level up, giving weak minded sheep easy answers toi tough questions, while allowing for guilt, division, arrogance + hate...
You're not going to have much luck convincing people on the other side of the fence to look at your side by throwing insults like "the silly God myth". Mutual respect is something real Atheists AND religious people can both benefit from.
lookbothweis: If someone ignores an argument because they think the other person is being "mean", then they're just admitting their irrationality to begin with so there's no point in trying to convince them of anything.
But the secular Messiah, Obama, can preach falsehoods and get a free pass? Get off welfare, maggot.
Top Ten Signs You're a Christian
10 – You vigorously deny the existence of thousands of gods claimed by other religions, but feel outraged when someone denies the existence of yours.
9 – You feel insulted and "dehumanized" when scientists say that people evolved from other life forms, but you have no problem with the Biblical claim that we were created from dirt.
8 – You laugh at polytheists, but you have no problem believing in a Triune God.
7 – Your face turns purple when you hear of the "atrocities" attributed to Allah, but you don't even flinch when hearing about how God/Jehovah slaughtered all the babies of Egypt in "Exodus" and ordered the elimination of entire ethnic groups in "Joshua" including women, children, and trees!
6 – You laugh at Hindu beliefs that deify humans, and Greek claims about gods sleeping with women, but you have no problem believing that the Holy Spirit impregnated Mary, who then gave birth to a man-god who got killed, came back to life and then ascended into the sky.
5 – You are willing to spend your life looking for little loopholes in the scientifically established age of Earth (few billion years), but you find nothing wrong with believing dates recorded by Bronze Age tribesmen sitting in their tents and guessing that Earth is a few generations old.
4 – You believe that the entire population of this planet with the exception of those who share your beliefs – though excluding those in all rival sects – will spend Eternity in an infinite Hell of Suffering. And yet consider your religion the most "tolerant" and "loving."
3 – While modern science, history, geology, biology, and physics have failed to convince you otherwise, some idiot rolling around on the floor speaking in "tongues" may be all the evidence you need to "prove" Christianity.
2 – You define 0.01% as a "high success rate" when it comes to answered prayers. You consider that to be evidence that prayer works. And you think that the remaining 99.99% FAILURE was simply the will of God.
1 – You actually know a lot less than many atheists and agnostics do about the Bible, Christianity, and church history – but still call yourself a Christian
Perfect.
Your last propostion is bunk, DOG. I have been reading Atheists posts for several days now on several topics and, in general, their ignorance of the Bible and of Religious teachings in general is PROFOUND.
Nice!
@W. Wallace
Sorry to tell you there Wally Boy. The stats are in, Atheists know more about the bible than Christians, fact.
American atheists and agnostics tend to be people who grew up in a religious tradition and consciously gave it up, often after a great deal of reflection and study, said Alan Cooperman, associate director for research at the Pew Forum.
"These are people who thought a lot about religion," he said. "They're not indifferent. They care about it."
Wally Wallace: Athiests have studied religions in depth looking for answers before realizing that there are no real answers in religion. Religiouos people usually just follow along like sheep believing everything they have been told since childhood without question.
Properly read, the Bible is the most potent force for atheism ever conceived. Isaac Asimov
deGràsse Tyson 1:1 God is an ever receeding pocket of scientific ignorance
I grew up believing in christianity and did so until I learned better. It is a myth and nothing more than a very profitable business.
Only one side is right and the facts are on the athiests' side. Man made god. If not, why would a factual bible not have had real science instead of the day's beliefs (god made day/night before the sun which makes them, earth central body that the sun goes around instead of actual sun centered solar system, etc). It's obvious that man didn't know and created stories to explain stuff. God stopped the tower of babble but we've been past any towers reach and still no heaven.. Did he move it? MAGIC isn't real!
It may be true that facts are on the side of atheists, but no matter who is "right" it sucks for humanity in general. If atheists are right, when all is said and done what anyone thought or did doesn't matter at all, and worst case scenario you strip millions or billions of people of hope and will. If theists are right, the question is which ones? You make the best guess you can and hope for happiness instead of suffering. But from a logical standpoint, despite atheists having the empirical facts on their side, in the long-term theism is the best option. If you waste one life and there is nothing beyond it, you aren't going to be able to care anyhow (and you won't ever know). But if there is anything beyond this life and you spent your life flashing the bird at some almighty, vengeful being, you'll spend every moment from then to forever cursing yourself and your fate.
enjoy it while it lasts Christians. Another 10 or 20 generations and the human race will look on your God and Jesus the same way as we look on Zeus and Thor and Ra (and santa claus and the tooth fairy) today. What a giggle!
if they have nothing to hide what's the big deal?,but knowing the catholic church they have plenty to hide like they have for almost 2,000 years!!!! the popes butler should get a medal for exposing it for what it has been and still is!!!!!