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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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Actually, Fred, that's false, along with many of your other statements. The likelihood is that any one of us will know nothing after death, because our minds will cease to function when our brains die.
I suspect you are correct Bob. One of you will know nothing.
@Fred
Hi -Fred...
" We will all know the truth of what awaits us after this life, of that we can all agree."
Just to put a finer point on your comment. (If)... there should be 'nothing' after this life, (then)... arguably you wouldn't be aware to know that you are 'wrong.'
Regards,
Peace...
*ooops... wrong place... see thread below.
Peace...
Hello! I have understand some of one's posting here and uncovered it fascinating and it makes a good deal of sense. Plus i love your theme the following. Thumbs up! Maintain on sharing!
Please tell me that English is not your first language.
@hawaiiguest You know, I own a company and have to get up early. I do not have time for this anymore. You have a good time debating people. Believe what you want and I will believe what I want. We will surely find out sooner or later, of that we can both agree. Good night.
What company would that be? People can say whatever they want online. I'm a multimillionaire. Do you believe me?
I am a part time underwear model and billionaire race car driver
I heard the next Batman movie will have a new villain. It's an evil priest who runs a daycare in the church. He calls himself 'the Diddler'.
I have heard of Dodney he has a foundation that supplies mouthwash to Americans that need to get the taste of the foreign ass they have been kissing out of their filthy mouths
Could only be one azz, and that is an Isreali one.
John 8:47-"He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God."
John 3:18-"He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
John 8:44-"You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies."
Matthew 13:38-"The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one,
John 3:16-"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
2 Corinthians 4:3-4-"And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."
It is very simple unbelievers do not belong to GOD. I know it sucks really really bad but this is the reality of truth. Now atheist you understand why it is impossible for you to believe, it is because you are already condemned. You are blinded by your father. You are not of GOD but of the devil, and the devil along with his seed shall perish forever according to the word of GOD Almighty.
P.S. “I would rather live my life as if there is a god and die to find out there isn't, than live my life as if there isn't and die to find out there is.” Albert Camus
@Child of GOD
" It is very simple unbelievers do not belong to GOD. I know it sucks really really bad but this is the reality of truth. Now atheist you understand why it is impossible for you to believe, it is because you are already condemned. You are blinded by your father. You are not of GOD but of the devil, and the devil along with his seed shall perish forever according to the word of GOD Almighty. " 😯
Real nice... I always love reading the words of people who spout 'Calvinistic pre-determinism.'
" P.S. “I would rather live my life as if there is a god and die to find out there isn't, than live my life as if there isn't and die to find out there is.” Albert Camus"
Even Mr. Camus was apparently a sucker for Pascal's Wager.
Peace...
Well said, Child of God!
Post by 'Child of GOD' contains a form of the flawed argument known as Pascal's Wager plus ad hominem elements.
http://www.fallacyfiles.org/glossary.html
Atheists aren't being led by the devil. Just wishful thinking for you. Many are created from having read the Bible.
“It ain't those parts of the Bible that I can't understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand.”
– Mark Twain
Doesn't it strike you as even a little bit odd that four of the ten commandments focus on not questioning or in any other way minimizing god? Seems pretty self-centered doesn't it?
child of god: you are a pompous a$$. take your medications
well said? they are nothing but delusional rantings. of course you would find them a good argument, prissy.....you are equally delusional.
Ah you nau'ghty Sammy boy, are you just another parroting "delusional, squawk! ....delusional, squawk!" bird? Polly- wanna- cra'cker ..... LOL! You parrots just make my day!
Gotta luv those birdies! 🙂
I'll bet you do, Prissy. IYKWIMAITYD.
Finally, a group promoting logic and reason instead of bronze-age myths.
Hell Yeah!!!!
Only for the new members of this blog:
A one-fits-all billboard:
• There was probably no Abraham i.e. the foundations of Judaism, Christianity and Islam are non-existent.
• There was probably no Moses i.e the pillars of Judaism, Christianity and Islam have no strength of purpose.
prob•a•bly
Adverb: Almost certainly; as far as one knows or can tell.
• There was no Gabriel i.e. Islam fails as a religion. Christianity partially fails.
• There was no Easter i.e. Christianity completely fails as a religion.
• There was no Moroni i.e. Mormonism is nothing more than a business cult.
• Sacred/revered cows, monkey gods, castes, reincarnations and therefore Hinduism fails as a religion.
• Fat Buddhas here, skinny Buddhas there, reincarnated Buddhas everywhere makes for a no on Buddhism.
Added details available upon written request.
(see also p. 40)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hi, Unreality! How's the weather in la la land today?
Atheists evolved from monkeys and Christians evolved from much cooler primates.
Wait...Christians evolved? You're going to need to explain that one to me. Last I checked, they were somewhat rabidly clinging to what they thought they knew 2,000 years ago.
Every Christian was?
@J.W.
" Atheists evolved from monkeys and Christians evolved from much cooler primates. "
LOL ! 😀
Peace...
Awesome!!!!
Finally a group that can reason.
Explain what your first paragraph has to do with your second. And then let's have a conversation about it.
[misposted. my apologies.]
KUDOS ETHICAL CULTURE, REASON AND HUMANE CIVILITY
IT'S FREEDOM OF SPEECH/ EXPRESSION AND RELIGIOUS LIBERTY OK
When the guilty are executed for their crimes it is justice. You may not like it but learn to live with it for you also will face judgement bob
The God Myth killed my Uncle Ted.
In 2001, some men accepted the God Myth as true. These men believed in God and completely and unconditionally put their faith and trust in God. They read scripture, they prayed, they worshiped, they trusted, they did not question, and they unconditionally accepted God’s guidance. Then they flew airplanes into buildings and killed Uncle Ted.
If you don’t question your faith, you are no different than these men.
I'm assuming your story is true and I'm sorry. I suppose a Christian would say they are following the wrong God or would quote a peaceful verse from the scripture contradicting this kind of fanatical action. I however see your point and agree. Even the most moderate Chrisitan lends credence to this kind of extremism because he preaches from the same Pentateuch, he just chooses to ignore the horrific parts.
@CTB:
I am sorry to hear. You do not, however, go far enough. Ask most religulous people and they will tell you that they constantly question; that god WANTS them to constantly question because that is how he reveals himself and makes their faith grow stronger.
The call must be to abandon this silly notion of god once and for all. Question is but a small first step. There has to be reason and then the courage to take the final step to leave behind this garbage of the infancy of our humanity.
Muslims do not know God allah is a false god an idol.
@truth be told
The Muslim faith and the Christian faith are branches of the same faith. "God" and "Allah" two names for the same god.
@CTB
You are wrong!
The men who killed your uncle and couple thousands of others were men who opened their hearts and minds to demonic forces. If you can say what you said in your post about them, then, friend, you have no understanding between right and wrong, nor discernment between what's truth and what is lie.....
In some twisted way you're then much like them. You may not run a plane into a building, but you are wide open to satan's deceptions, and after he's done with you you'll do things you'd never believed you would!
That's how it goes, make no mistake thinking otherwise.
Man apart from truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ our Lord is left to his own devices, and totally vulnerable to satanic attacks. And just because they don't commit mass murders, they are no less corrupt and twisted, with their hearts filled with all sorts of evil. Proof: LOOK At today's entertainment! ! ! It reveals more then any words ever will!
Prism, it's actually great news that people don't follow the teachings of your religion from your book of nasty AKA the bible more exactly, since it contains nasty demands from your evil sky fairy like these, from NT and OT:
Numbers 31:17-18
17 Now kiII all the boys. And kiII every woman who has slept with a man,
18 but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man.
Deuteronomy 13:6 – “If your brother, your mother’s son or your son or daughter, or the wife you cherish, or your friend who is as your own soul entice you secretly, saying, let us go and serve other gods … you shall surely kill him; your hand shall be first against him to put him to death”
Revelations 2:23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
Note that the bible is also very clear that you should sacrifice and burn an animal today because the smell makes sicko Christian sky fairy happy. No, you don't get to use the parts for food. You burn them, a complete waste of the poor animal.
Yes, the bible really says that, everyone. Yes, it's in Leviticus, look it up. Yes, Jesus purportedly said that the OT commands still apply. No exceptions. But even if you think the OT was god's mistaken first go around, you have to ask why a perfect, loving enti-ty would ever put such horrid instructions in there. If you think rationally at all, that is.
And then, if you disagree with my interpretation, ask yourself how it is that your "god" couldn't come up with a better way to communicate than a book that is so readily subject to so many interpretations and to being taken "out of context", and has so many mistakes in it. Pretty pathetic god that you've made for yourself.
So get out your sacrificial knife or your nasty sky creature will torture you eternally. Or just take a closer look at your foolish supersti-tions, understand that they are just silly, and toss them into the dustbin with all the rest of the gods that man has created.
Ask the questions. Break the chains. Join the movement. Be free of Christianity and other superstitions.
http://whywontgodhealamputees.com/
PRISM 1234
"In some twisted way you're then much like them."
Let's get this straight. Are you really delusional enough to claim the nephew of a 9/11 victim is much like the religious fanatics that killed his uncle?
Well, Bob, you'll have your day when you can bring your case before your Maker and accuse Him of injustices! But since you ignore and reject His Son Jesus Christ, the only hope you have for your miserable existence, you'll have to be your own advocate! How will that suit you?!
@PRISM 1234
Hi -Prism...
Your 'argumentum ad baculum' a-s-s-ertion, or... more of the 'believe or burn' argument.
Yay !!!!
Peace...
Dear, dear "Observer" !
Your comprehension seems to be so fo/gged up by your infat/uation with word "delusional' that to attempt any further communication/explanation with you regarding my reply to CTB would be an absurdity. I like to spare you from wasting your vocal cords on parroting "delusional, delusional, delusional.... sq/uawk! ...sq/uawk!.., and me having to calm you by saying to you, as to an obvious bird-brain, the silly phrase like a "Polly wanna cra/cker".
Hi, there buddy! You know I don't have intentions to defend my Maker for His decrees and principles If you were one of His, you would understand what I mean! 🙂
Prissy, you mean Observer would "understand" if he/she checked his/her brains at the door, like you?
Never mind. I was mistaken. You don't have any brains.
Tom-Tom, why don't you cease being a loser and allow Christ Jesus to 'find' you and heal your aimless, turmoiled soul?!
Why don't you figure out that you're a mental midget?
But I know much more about you then you do about yourself! And that hurts your swollen ego. If it ever deflates, you'll be smaller than the smallest midget, tom-tom!
It'll do you a lots of good, and it'd be less painful then it is now, being inflated... It is hard to kick against the pri'cks (Acts 9:5-6)
That's what I just love about you sanctimonious jackas ses. You never fail to live up to my predictions.
It'll do you a lots of good, and it'd be less painful then it is now, being inflated..
-
OK, who has the IDIOT TRANSLATOR RING?
@PRISM 1234
Hi -Prism...
" You know I don't have intentions to defend my Maker for His decrees and principles If you were one of His, you would understand what I mean! "
So... I have to believe the non-sense, 'first', then... somehow it will be clear to me ?
You know, my friend... I was a Christian for many, many years and 'did' believe that, and I was "one of His" however, I could no longer just simply believe and take it on 'faith' that All Loving God = allowing people to burn in eternal torment, etc... The worst punishment ever imaginable.
It makes -0- sense whatsoever.
And 'that' is one of the many reasons why I left Christianity. It's a 'house of cards' of a 'self-sealing' belief system.
Anyway... I hope that you are well, -Prism.
Regards,
Peace...
therealpeace2all,
Hello again!
I understand hat you mean by saying you was a Christian, many say the same thing.... We have a phenomenon today in our churches, especially in the Western world: churches are full of f people who don't know the Lord, but they are religious.
I recently worked with a woman who was a choir-director of a church for 30 years. It didn't take me long time to realize that she didn't KNOW the Lord. She refused to listen when I presented to her some things about things God specifically says that are wrong, although she demanded "proof" of what I was saying from the Scriptures. When I brought it to her, she handled it as a hot potato... I honestly believe satan made her think the paper would burn her...
Anyhow, that's just an example what we have today in Christendom, an APOSTATE church. But you know all the Scriptures, I shouldn't be naming them to ya! If you ever KNEW the Lord, and was one that belonged to His flock, He will bring you back, HE will go down to the cliff, and bring you, His stray sheep. But if you wasn't you'll just go into eternity without Him....Time will tell....
I hope that all is fine with you also, and wish ya all the best!
PRISM,
" When I brought it to her, she handled it as a hot potato... I honestly believe satan made her think the paper would burn her"
Nah... if it had been in your possession, she probably thought that it was full of cooties.
p.s. keep up the good work, though, PRISM - it looks like you are doing great, even within the church-going crowd, at driving people away from belief.
Prissy may not answer for a while. She's busy kissing Chad's ass.
Tom, Tom,
Could be. (just a heads-up, though, PRISM is male)
You just keep on throwing mud at me O, but it just affirms what the Lord said they would do to us because of His name's sake. If they hated Him they will hate us who speak the truth without compromising it...yes even those of our own household will hate us, for His name's sake, He said. That's what EH meant when He said that He didn't come to bring peace but sword...But I'm sure even this statement of His will be twisted in your mind....But here are the words of Christ Himself, so if you have a problem with things I say, then it is Him you have problem with!
It is in those words that the key lies WHY HE is hated and why those who are His and speak the uncompromising truth are hated also!
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” (John 3:16-21)
Nothing else needed to say!
agnosticism [(ag- nos -tuh-siz-uhm)] –
A denial of knowledge about whether there is or is not a God. An agnostic insists that it is impossible to prove that there is no God and impossible to prove that there is one.
Amen.
I would call this person a de-facto atheist, insofar as they do not hold as a positive belief the existence of a supernatural agent, and they go about their lives in such a way. It is time we cease to draw a divide between atheism and agnosticism. This chasm is a false one, and is bridged easily with humility and intellectual honesty.
Adam,
Agnostics believe that there could be a God, but not necessarily the often vain, arrogant, mass-killing God depicted in the Bible.
Indeed. I too believe there could be, but I also believe it is extraordinarily unlikely, and I proceed to live my life under the provisional assumption that one is not there. I call this position atheism.
My point is that I find that agnosticism is the philosophical equivalent of throwing your hands up in the air and saying "Oh boy I ain't touchin' that with a ten foot pole," whenever the topic of God comes up. It seems to me that the only thing it conveys is an unease with the question. It is a weak position, and because of that theists will often appropriate agnostics into their ranks in unity against theists, and atheists will often count them in with the non-believers.
Basically, I'd like for a more precise definition of the term as it is used in census/polls/etc that actually engaged people more in the question–instead of them saying to themselves, "well sure I don't really believe one, but I'll check this box just in case." In today's ever polarizing world it seems to me more and more untenable to sit in no-mans-land and pretend there isn't a war going on.
I am strictly agnostic regarding teapot orbiting around mars, but that does not mean that I don't have a pretty good idea that such is not the case. And refusing to acknowledge this fact, I think, is intellectually dishonest.
I agree with Adam. I see only the slightest of differences in practical application between Atheism and Agnosticism. As an Atheist, I too believe there's an outside chance there is a god, but that the chance is so small as to be meaningless. Atheism answers all but .01% of what we observe and know about our surroundings and the universe today.
And are you also agnostic about the Easter Bunny? Because you can’t prove he does or doesn’t exist either.
And are you also agnostic about the Easter Bunny? Because you can’t prove he does or doesn’t exist either..
Did exlonghorn pull a number out of his ass? Did you see that? Hawking and Krauss would be so excited. A Universe from Shit.
I agree with Adam also. I respect his declarative positive atheism more than I do a fence sitter. My guess is that were agnostics described by Average Joe to commit to one path or the other and truly practice those tenets, they would soon discover the truth
Really Toad? THAT is what you choose to focus on?
(chuckling and shaking my head)
Atheist................ Would you be Atheist enough to put a billboard like this against Moslem in a Moslem neighborhood?
It's Muslim, and yes, In fact if you read the article they talk about the "you know it's a myth" billboards that were put up in Muslim and Jewish neighborhoods, in Arabic and Hebrew as well.
Yes, they did, and it is stated in the article you are now commenting on. "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." In the sentence is a link to that particular story. You are welcome.
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/03/01/atheist-group-targets-muslims-jews-with-myth-billboards-in-arabic-and-hebrew/
Does that answer your question? The link is in the article. If you had read the article, you wouldn't look like a simpleton.
"If you had read the article, you wouldn't look like a simpleton."
Well... you're less likely anyway.
Your statement..... it's like you're being attacked by bees because you're the one with the honey. You're tired of being stung, so you throw the honey on someone else, so they can be stung. We criticize Christianity because we've had intimate contact with it. If I was an ex-Scientologist, that would be the object of my criticism. I don't know Islam like I know Christianity. But either way, no one has the ultimate truth. That make ya feel better buddy? They crazy just like you, I say.
Why is it that everyone assumes that we would handle a muslim belief any differently than we would a christian belief? We tend to treat all belief in a deity with the same brush...we don't believe in them. So muslim, catholic, jehovah...whatever...it's all absurd and damaging and when it cause harm to society, it deserves to be called out on.
Did you hear the one about the Canadian that minded its own F'n business?
You won't it keeps showing up here pretending to be an American. "We" my ass, who do you think you are fooling !
Did you hear the one about the useless troll called Dodney with absolutely no point to life?
Be a Compassionate First! Be an Atheist Second
When you are faced with someone who needs the compassion of another person, be that person. Be a compassionate human being first before anything else. It's not as easy as it sounds, but it is that simple if compassion is an attribute worth value. Often it is far too easy to fall into a rule of labels wherein you assume the role of the person you feel you are, and fail to be receptive to who your fellow human needs you to be, even if for only a fleeting moment.
What a freaking Joke!! Where is the Compassion in Atheism? Only Hate!!
You are sorely misinformed.
Compassion? Do you mean like wanting equal rights for all people? Do you mean like not trashing people for being born gay?
Get real.
Only hate in atheism? Must not know any atheists personally
Please explain why you have to believe in fairy tales to have compassion.
When was the last time a proclaimed atheist flew a plane into a building? Or blew up a government building? Or killed a bunch of kids on a Nordic island? When was the last time an atheist riot broke out? Geogre Bush's compassionate reaction to 911 was to start 2 wars, killing more Americans than the provoking act, not to mention thousands more who didn't share his compassionate "Christian" beliefs. Poor post.
Atheists have tortured and murdered more people in the last 100 years than were killed in all previous centuries
@TBT
you keep posting this tripe: Atheists have tortured and murdered more people in the last 100 years than were killed in all previous centuries It is factually incorrect on multiple levels.
Let's look at your favorite atheists: Stalin Mao and Pol Pot
Ignoring deaths by warfare and listing significant death tolls in Communist countries generally using a number of on-line estimates:
Ukraine Famine 1932 – 1933 ........................ 12M
Stalin's Purges 1936 – 1937 ......................... 13M
The Long March 1934 .................................0.17M (arguably military)
Great Leap Forward 1958 – 1961 (total) ....... 38M (anywhere from 20M – 45M) mostly famine deaths
Great Leap Forward 1958 – 1961 (murder) .. 2.5M
Cultural Revolution 1966 – 1976 (total) .......... 11M mostly famine deaths
Cultural Revolution 1966 – 1976 (murder) ..... 0.5M
Khmer Rouge 1975 – 1979 .............................1.7M
Totalling deaths by murder and torture (not the famines) Stalin, Mao and Pol Pot are responsible for perhaps 20M people, an ugly and brutal record certainly and this total could even be higher.
Other sources I have seen combine Stalin's and Mao's murders (not death by famines) to 20M + 10M = 30M. This source estimates Hitler's killings (not war-related dead) at 15M but I don't suscribe to Hitler's regime being atheist.
Given that somewhere between 62M – 78M people died in WW2 and 17M people died in the "Great War" (WW1) your assertion that atheists tortured and murdered more people than were killed in previous centuries is clearly wrong.
@TBT
if by this: .... tortured and murdered more people in the last 100 years than were killed in all previous centuries
"all previous centuries" means before the 20th century then I can show you data in the order of 60M from the 18th and 19th centuries alone, not counting anything before 1700.
The combined Atlantic and Islamic slave trade is in the order of 16M deaths for the 18th and 19th centuries.
The Twenty (or so) Worst Things People Have Done to Each Other:
M. White, http://necrometrics.com/warstatz.htm#u (required reading)
The Muslim Conquest of India
"The likely death toll is somewhere between 2 million and 80 million. The geometric mean of those two limits is 12.7 million. "
Rank …..Death Toll ..Cause …..Centuries……..(Religions/Groups involved)*
1. 63 million Second World War 20C (Christians et al and Communists/atheists vs. Christians et al, Nazi-Pagan and "Shintoists")
2. 40 million Mao Zedong (mostly famine) 20C (Communism)
3. 40 million Genghis Khan 13C (Shamanism or Tengriism)
4. 27 million British India (mostly famine) 19C (Anglican)
5. 25 million Fall of the Ming Dynasty 17C (Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Chinese folk religion)
6. 20 million Taiping Rebellion 19C ( Confucianism, Buddhism and Chinese folk religion vs. a form of Christianity)
7. 20 million Joseph Stalin 20C (Communism)
8. 19 million Mideast Slave Trade 7C-19C (Islam)
9. 17 million Timur Lenk 14C-15C
10. 16 million Atlantic Slave Trade 15C-19C (Christianity)
11. 15 million First World War 20C (Christians vs. Christians)
12. 15 million Conquest of the Americas 15C-19C (Christians vs. Pagans)
13. 13 million Muslim Conquest of India 11C-18C
14. 10 million An Lushan Revolt 8C
15. 10 million Xin Dynasty 1C
16. 9 million Russian Civil War 20C (Christians vs Communists)
17. 8 million Fall of Rome 5C (Pagans vs. Christians)
18. 8 million Congo Free State 19C-20C (Christians)
19. 7½ million Thirty Years War 17C (Christians vs Christians)
20. 7½ million Fall of the Yuan Dynasty 14C
*:" Is religion responsible for more violent deaths than any other cause?
A: No, of course not – unless you define religion so broadly as to be meaningless. Just take the four deadliest events of the 20th Century – Two World Wars, Red China and the Soviet Union – no religious motivation there, unless you consider every belief system to be a religion."
Q: So, what you're saying is that religion has never killed anyone.
A: Arrgh... You all-or-nothing people drive me crazy. There are many doc-umented examples where members of one religion try to exterminate the members of another religion. Causation is always complex, but if the only difference between two warring groups is religion, then that certainly sounds like a religious conflict to me. Is it the number one cause of mass homicide in human history? No. Of the 22 worst episodes of mass killing, maybe four were primarily religious. Is that a lot? Well, it's more than the number of wars fought over soccer, or s-ex (The Trojan and Sabine Wars don't even make the list.), but less than the number fought over land, money, glory or prestige.
In my Index, I list 41 religious conflicts compared with 27 oppressions under "Communism", 24 under Colonialism, 2 under "Railroads" and 2 under "Scapegoats". Make of that what you will."