By 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.
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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.
The most arrogant act of mankind was to make God in his image.
Well, they had to, as they speak for god....
Prayer has been shown to have no discernible effect whatsoever towards what was prayed for.
Christianity makes you frothy like Rick Santorum. Just go to http://santorum.com to find out more.
Christianity prevents you from getting badly needed exercise.
Christianity makes you fat.
Christianity wears out your clothes prematurely.
Christianity contributes to global warming through excess CO2 emissions.
Christianity fucks up your knees and your neck and your back.
Christianity can cause heart attacks, especially among the elderly.
Christianity reveals how stupid you are to the world.
Christianity exposes your backside to pervert priests.
Christianity makes you think doilies are exciting.
Christianity makes you secretively flatulent and embarrassed about it.
Christianity makes your kids avoid spending time with you.
Christianity gives you knobbly knees.
Christianity makes you frothy like Rick Santorum. Just google him to find out.
Christianity dulls your senses.
Christianity makes you post really stupid shit.
Christianity makes you hoard cats.
Christianity makes you smell like shitty kitty litter and leads you on to harder drugs.
Christianity wastes time.
They would not dare to take a shot at ISLAM.
Show true love , then without any question you will not be able to deny Christ.
If you deny love and have no love then you are worth nothing and nothing you say or do is worth anything.
Here's the shot you're looking for:
http://religiousfreaks.com/muhammed-caricatures/
Go reread the article
First, these billboards are target at the religions of our 2 presidential candidates, neither of whom are Muslim. Second, they already target the Muslim and Jewish communities with the "It's a myth" campaign, which is also mentioned in the article.
Besides....targeting Muslims would be redundant. You Christians are doing that job nicely.
Prayer has been shown to have no discernible effect towards what was prayed for.
Christianity makes you frothy like Rick Santorum. Just go to http://santorum.com to find out more.
Christianity prevents you from getting badly needed exercise.
Christianity makes you fat.
Christianity wears out your clothes prematurely.
Christianity contributes to global warming through excess CO2 emissions.
Christianity fucks up your knees and your neck and your back.
Christianity can cause heart attacks, especially among the elderly.
Christianity reveals how stupid you are to the world.
Christianity exposes your backside to pervert priests.
Christianity makes you think doilies are exciting.
Christianity makes you secretively flatulent and embarrassed about it.
Christianity makes your kids avoid spending time with you.
Christianity gives you knobbly knees.
Christianity makes you frothy like Rick Santorum. Just google him to find out.
Christianity dulls your senses.
Christianity makes you post really stupid shit.
Christianity makes you hoard cats.
Christianity makes you smell like shitty kitty litter and leads you on to harder drugs.
Christianity wastes time.
"When atheists organize to serve the poor and needy of the world, they will be taken more seriously."
pretty much sums it up. [bangs drum] hey look at me over here, i can be loud too...
S0MA: You really are insecure about your beliefs, aren't you?
I can see why, mind you. There is a nagging sensation in the back of your skull that you might be wrong. All of us raised in the church had that at some point.
acknowledging the rules and following the rules are not the same paths. but i guess we often cant see the forest for all the trees. its understood that hypocrisy comes with the territory. nothing new. [yawn]. from the atheist pov, if i were to study the life of Mother Teresa; would i saw something was wrong with her, or something was right with her?...
oh but she was a hypocrite, so i guess its pointless. right?
no one likes to be judged, but we all judge. we shouldnt judge. thats in there too. i digress.
Mother Teresa believed that suffering was good for the soul.
I never said this before and have never been more angry..
FÚCK David Silverman and All Militant atheists. May God punish you so severe and die a painful cancer death & suffer in hell fire your idiot Anti-Christian bigots!!!!!!!!
*********************************************************************
I never said this before and have never been more angry..
FÚCK David Silverman and All Militant atheists, including those who let them post this retarded billboard. May God punish you so severe and die a painful cancer death & suffer in hell fire your idiot Anti-Christian bigots!!!!!!!!I never said this before and have never been more angry..
FÚCK David Silverman and All Militant atheists. May God punish you so severe and die a painful cancer death & suffer in hell fire your idiot Anti-Christian bigots!!!!!!!!
*********************************************************************
I never said this before and have never been more angry..
FÚCK David Silverman and All Militant atheists, including those who let them post this retarded billboard. May God punish you so severe and die a painful cancer death & suffer in hell fire your idiot Anti-Christian bigots!!!!!!!!I never said this before and have never been more angry..
FÚCK David Silverman and All Militant atheists. May God punish you so severe and die a painful cancer death & suffer in hell fire your idiot Anti-Christian bigots!!!!!!!!
*********************************************************************
I never said this before and have never been more angry..
FÚCK David Silverman and All Militant atheists, including those who let them post this retarded billboard. May God punish you so severe and die a painful cancer death & suffer in hell fire your idiot Anti-Christian bigots!!!!!!!!I never said this before and have never been more angry..
FÚCK David Silverman and All Militant atheists. May God punish you so severe and die a painful cancer death & suffer in hell fire your idiot Anti-Christian bigots!!!!!!!!
*********************************************************************
I never said this before and have never been more angry..
FÚCK David Silverman and All Militant atheists, including those who let them post this retarded billboard. May God punish you so severe and die a painful cancer death & suffer in hell fire your idiot Anti-Christian bigots!!!!!!!!I never said this before and have never been more angry..
FÚCK David Silverman and All Militant atheists. May God punish you so severe and die a painful cancer death & suffer in hell fire your idiot Anti-Christian bigots!!!!!!!!
*********************************************************************
I never said this before and have never been more angry..
FÚCK David Silverman and All Militant atheists, including those who let them post this retarded billboard. May God punish you so severe and die a painful cancer death & suffer in hell fire your idiot Anti-Christian bigots!!!!!!!!
Obviously a prime example of Christian love.
"And you will know we are Christians by our love."
Seriously where do you get off saying atheist are hate filled?
I never said this before and have never been more angry..
FÚCK David Silverman and All Militant atheists. May God punish you so severe and die a painful cancer death & suffer in hell fire your idiot Anti-Christian bigots!!!!!!!!
*********************************************************************
I never said this before and have never been more angry..
FÚCK David Silverman and All Militant atheists, including those who let them post this retarded billboard. May God punish you so severe and die a painful cancer death & suffer in hell fire your idiot Anti-Christian bigots!!!!!!!!
Get off your knees, boy, and grow a set.
You know people only react this badly when they hear a truth they have been denying.
Grow up. Get an education.
I never said this before and have never been more angry..
FÚCK David Silverman and All Militant atheists. May God punish you so severe and die a painful cancer death & suffer in hell fire your idiot Anti-Christian bigots!!!!!!!!
*********************************************************************
I never said this before and have never been more angry..
FÚCK David Silverman and All Militant atheists. May God punish you so severe and die a painful cancer death & suffer in hell fire your idiot Anti-Christian bigots!!!!!!!!
I never said this before and have never been more angry..
FÚCK David Silverman and All Militant atheists. May God punish you so severe and die a painful cancer death & suffer in hell fire your idiot Anti-Christian bigots!!!!!!!!
*********************************************************************
I never said this before and have never been more angry..
FÚCK David Silverman and All Militant atheists. May God punish you so severe and die a painful cancer death & suffer in hell fire your idiot Anti-Christian bigots!!!!!!!!
All at once it is. I hope you can handle this many.
I never said this before and have never been more angry..
FÚCK David Silverman and All Militant atheists. May God punish you so severe and die a painful cancer death & suffer in hell fire your idiot Anti-Christian bigots!!!!!!!!
So are you going to take us all at once or should we form a queue?
Few 100% true Reasons why Atheism is TERRIBLE and unhealthy for our children and living things:
† Atheism is a religion that makes you angry, stupid, brainwashed, ignorant & blind.
† Atheism is a disease that needs to be treated.
† Atheism makes you post stupid things (90% of silly comments here on CNN blogs are posted by closet atheists)
† Atheist are satanic and have gothic lifestyle.
† Atheists are misguided and causes problem in our religious & public society.
† Atheists are mentally ill, that's why they have no faith.
† Atheism won't take you to kingdom of heaven and paradise.
† Atheism making you agree with Mussolini, Stalin, Hitler (denied his faith later), Mao, Pol Pot & other terrible mass murder leaders who killed religious people because of their religious cult!
† No traditional family lifestyle, no holidays, no culture, boring and feeling 'outsider'
† Atheists are angry, drug additcted and committ the most crime.
† Atheist try to convert people over internet because they feel "safer" behind closet.
† Atheists do not really exist, they just pretend that they don't believe in God and argue with religious people.
† Atheists have had terrible life experience, bad childhood and not being loved.
† Most atheists are uneducated... No atheists could run for presidency.
† Atheism brought upon the French Revolution, one of the most evil events of all of history.
† Atheism cannot explain the origins of the universe, therefore God exists.
† All atheists believe in evolution, which means they don't believe in morality and think we should all act like animals.
† The Bible says atheism is wrong, and the Bible is always right (see: Genesis 1:1, Psalms 14:1, Psalms 19:1, Romans 1:19-20)
† Countries where Atheism is prevalent has the highest Suicide rate & Communist countries = Atheism!
**Only 2-3% of the U.S. are atheists/agnostics VS. over 90% who believe in God (80% Christians) in the U.S.**
† † Our Prayers goes to atheists to be mentally healthy and seek their creator † †
PS! the USA is a † nation and will always be. You know it's true and stop being ignorant and arrogant!
(Take a look at our federal/state holidays, 99% of our presidents, blue laws in parts of the nation, the majority of people, some laws, calendar, culture, etc.)
http://rightremedy.org/tracts/7
.
Love you too 🙂
Do you always throw f-bombs at those you pray for?
Back off Huebert! He's fvcking me first. I don't want no sloppy seconds. 🙂
@K-switch
I'm ok with sharing if you are 😉
Atheism is a religion that makes you stupid, ignorant & blind. -LIE
Atheism is a disease that needs to be treated. -LIE
Atheism makes you post stupid things (90% of silly comments here on CNN blogs are posted by closet Atheists) -LIE
Atheist are satanic and have gothic lifestyle. -LIE
Atheists causes problem in our religious society. -LIE
Atheists are mentally ill, that's why they have no faith. -LIE
Atheism won't take you to kingdom of heaven and paradise. -LIE
Atheism making you agree with Stalin, Hitler (Denied his faith later), Mao, Pol Pot & other terrible mass murder leaders. -LIE
No traditional family lifestyle, no holidays, no culture, boring and feeling 'outsider' -LIE
Atheists are angry, drug additcted and committ the most crime. -LIE
Atheist try to convert people over internet because they feel "safer" behind closet. -LIE
Atheists do not really exist, they just pretend that they don't believe in God and argue with religious people. -LIE
Atheists have had terrible life experience, bad childhood and not being loved. -LIE
Most Atheists are uneducated... No Atheists could run for presidency. -LIE
Atheism brought upon the French Revolution, one of the most evil events of all of history. -LIE
Atheism cannot explain the origins of the universe, therefore God exists. -LIE
All atheists believe in evolution, which means they don't believe in morality and think we should all act like animals. -LIE
The Bible says atheism is wrong, and the Bible is always right (see: Genesis 1:1, Psalms 14:1, Psalms 19:1, Romans 1:19-20) -LIE
Countries where Atheism is prevalent has the highest Suicide rate & Communist countries = Atheism! -LIE
It just goes to show that Christians can’t even follow one of the basic Ten Commandments by posting all these lies. What a hypocrite
we are angry cus they are angry about being angry. so we are all angry. rawr.
Mindless IGNORANCE.
Few 100% true Reasons why Atheism is TERRIBLE and unhealthy for our children and living things:
† Atheism is a religion that makes you angry, stupid, brainwashed, ignorant & blind.
† Atheism is a disease that needs to be treated.
† Atheism makes you post stupid things (90% of silly comments here on CNN blogs are posted by closet atheists)
† Atheist are satanic and have gothic lifestyle.
† Atheists are misguided and causes problem in our religious & public society.
† Atheists are mentally ill, that's why they have no faith.
† Atheism won't take you to kingdom of heaven and paradise.
† Atheism making you agree with Mussolini, Stalin, Hitler (denied his faith later), Mao, Pol Pot & other terrible mass murder leaders who killed religious people because of their religious cult!
† No traditional family lifestyle, no holidays, no culture, boring and feeling 'outsider'
† Atheists are angry, drug additcted and committ the most crime.
† Atheist try to convert people over internet because they feel "safer" behind closet.
† Atheists do not really exist, they just pretend that they don't believe in God and argue with religious people.
† Atheists have had terrible life experience, bad childhood and not being loved.
† Most atheists are uneducated... No atheists could run for presidency.
† Atheism brought upon the French Revolution, one of the most evil events of all of history.
† Atheism cannot explain the origins of the universe, therefore God exists.
† All atheists believe in evolution, which means they don't believe in morality and think we should all act like animals.
† The Bible says atheism is wrong, and the Bible is always right (see: Genesis 1:1, Psalms 14:1, Psalms 19:1, Romans 1:19-20)
† Countries where Atheism is prevalent has the highest Suicide rate & Communist countries = Atheism!
**Only 2-3% of the U.S. are atheists/agnostics VS. over 90% who believe in God (80% Christians) in the U.S.**
† † Our Prayers goes to atheists to be mentally healthy and seek their creator † †
PS! the USA is a † nation and will always be. You know it's true and stop being ignorant and arrogant!
(Take a look at our federal/state holidays, 99% of our presidents, blue laws in parts of the nation, the majority of people, some laws, calendar, culture, etc.)
http://rightremedy.org/tracts/7
Atheism is a religion that makes you stupid, ignorant & blind. -LIE
Atheism is a disease that needs to be treated. -LIE
Atheism makes you post stupid things (90% of silly comments here on CNN blogs are posted by closet Atheists) -LIE
Atheist are satanic and have gothic lifestyle. -LIE
Atheists causes problem in our religious society. -LIE
Atheists are mentally ill, that's why they have no faith. -LIE
Atheism won't take you to kingdom of heaven and paradise. -LIE
Atheism making you agree with Stalin, Hitler (Denied his faith later), Mao, Pol Pot & other terrible mass murder leaders. -LIE
No traditional family lifestyle, no holidays, no culture, boring and feeling 'outsider' -LIE
Atheists are angry, drug additcted and committ the most crime. -LIE
Atheist try to convert people over internet because they feel "safer" behind closet. -LIE
Atheists do not really exist, they just pretend that they don't believe in God and argue with religious people. -LIE
Atheists have had terrible life experience, bad childhood and not being loved. -LIE
Most Atheists are uneducated... No Atheists could run for presidency. -LIE
Atheism brought upon the French Revolution, one of the most evil events of all of history. -LIE
Atheism cannot explain the origins of the universe, therefore God exists. -LIE
All atheists believe in evolution, which means they don't believe in morality and think we should all act like animals. -LIE
The Bible says atheism is wrong, and the Bible is always right (see: Genesis 1:1, Psalms 14:1, Psalms 19:1, Romans 1:19-20) -LIE
Countries where Atheism is prevalent has the highest Suicide rate & Communist countries = Atheism! – LIE
It just goes to show that Christians can’t even follow one of the basic Ten Commandments by posting all these lies. What a hypocrite
perhaps you should pull your bible out of your a$$
"Then there are the fanatical atheists whose intolerance is the same as that of the religious fanatics, and it springs from the same source . . . They are creatures who can't hear the music of the spheres". (The Expanded Quotable Einstein, Princeton University Press, 2000 p. 214)
@Randy the typical atheist reply will be "yeh but who cares?"
double quotes for ironic emphasis.
i like how ive upset enough commentors for them to repeat my 'anyone, anyone' style, but in full caps, for extra loudness. lulz. how original.
simple question: If Newton believed in God, is he wrong?
YES.
About that, yes.
He also believed in alchemy
proof of God? lulz. you assume i am not an atheist. i just like poking fun at obvious idiots. even Hawking could not come to terms with the idea that Newton believed in God. if the argument is that smarter people know better...
i guess i could go on to cite that i could give you access to every element on earth [and some not] and you could not make life exist in any form. man creates everything by converting one thing into another. so everything already existed in all forms since the beginning of existence? ergo, you exist and have always existed since infinity? atheist want reality and yet not live in it. heh. you are of the type need to actualize God. harken back to man who needed to see the scars on a man's wrists and still doubted. its a never-ending-loop.
i cite a woman the world referred to as Mother Teresa. she spent her entire life in the service of those less fortunate.
i cite atheists who complain about a world and do nothing to its benefit.
if God were right in front of, in every scale, big and small, you would still deny it to the core of your bones.
you tell me where fairness comes from [CS Lewis] and i will tell you where to find God...
nobody here [atheists] want to diss on Newton? really? thats weird... you would think he would be the first of the Christian champions to systematically dismantle... i often forget he is considered the greatest scientist to have ever lived. lulz. talking donkey-s, indeed.
Relevance of Newton?
Please provide verifiable evidence that your god exists.
And I can cite Plato, Archimedes, Aristotle and Euclid to prove that the Greek gods are real. I can also call Archimedes the greatest scientist that ever lived but that doesn't prove a point at all.
Atheists: "We Hate Everyone, Equally."
Theists: "We speak for god"
Athiests: "We see no reason to believe in a god"
@sam stone so Newton... thoughts?
@eric G. the point was to correlate that the most brilliant 'scientist' to have ever lived, was a monotheist and NOT atheist. did he at anyone point in his life, completely and irrevocably deny God ? if you are to attack a position, start at the top. how about Einstein? a jewish monotheist. i can do this all day...
Rather than make irrelevant posts about what you as-sume others believe, why don't you present verifiable evidence that your god exists?
Without this evidence, it doesn't matter who you claim to be a believer.
Your claims of authority are a logical fallacy. You need to try harder.
what about newton?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=s7zwO88nRH8
we need some guidance & wisdom. let us consult the book that has the story with the talking donkey.
ive read the Bible, some of the Torah scrolls and bits of the Koran. please cite the reference you speak... or are you just spouting 4chan babble again?
Numbers 22:28 Then the LORD gave the donkey the ability to speak. "What have I done to you that desrves you beating me three times?" it asked Balaam.
at some point, the current community of atheists consider themselves on a higher level than the likes of Newton, Leibniz, Spinoza, Einstein, Descartes, ad infinitum. the irony to attack religion and ignore the very founders of modern science. lulz. ironic blind revisionist atheists are blind and curiously unironic.
Nikola Tesla; unorthodox Christian and respected Buddhism... anyone, anyone???
Argument from authority..........anyone, anyone?
Of course, you did forget to mention that if Newton said he was anything but a believer, he would have been put in prison by the Catholics, just like Galileo. But, that annoying little fact didnt support your position so you just thought it more intellectually honest to pretend it doesnt exist..........right..........anyone.........anyone?
"I do not believe in a personal God and I have never denied this but have expressed it clearly"
Einstein
Who's ignoring them???..... Scientist or not, where's their evidence for the exsistence of god??
Where is ANYONE'S evidence for the exsistence of god?...... ANYONE??
@S0MA
Here's a nice answer. Who the fuck cares what they believed?