.jpg)
A new atheist billboard went up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida this week. The American Atheists (AA) affiliate, FLorida Atheists and Secular Humanists (FLASH), who put it up, wanted to let fellow area atheists know that they are not alone. The billboard, as seen above, seems innocent enough. But, local residents don't see it that way.
Apparently the billboard went up in the middle of a religious area. The area is also predominantly African American. Ken Loukinen, President of FLASH, told reporters that he would have thought they, as a group, would have been more understanding of what it is like to be discriminated against. After all, it was not long ago that they suffered under just such a thing.
Ken said, in a phone interview, that FLASH chose the billboard location not because of the neighborhood it is located in but because of the traffic that goes by. He figured they would get maximum exposure. Now, in light of the hoopla that is being generated over the billboard, Ken said that it turns out that it could have been the best neighborhood for it to be in.
If nothing else, this outcry exemplifies the intolerance and hatred that atheists face on a daily basis in this country in their own communities. And, on another note, it shows how easily and willingly adults breed intolerant children.
On the No God Blog on AA's national Web site, David Silverman, Communications Director for AA, wrote:
The billboards are there because there are atheists there — in your neighborhood. Believe me, you know plenty of atheists, and they need signs like these.
In response to Mark in the comments section below - Yes, you can donate if you'd like to help. You can do so by visiting their Web site.
Comments
is their faith in their god so weak that the only way they can cope with the billboard is by removing it?
I just wanna say LOL.
It brings me great joy to see religious people (of any ethnic background) furious over an atheism sign.
Religion, by far and large, cannot allow for dissent to form. You see, thought forms dissent, and dissent forms heresy. Therefore to them, thought is heresy--so they will demand the billboard come down because it impacts them negatively. My opinion: leave it up and make more.
It's about control for religious people. They are brainwashed to believe that a higher authority always exists. This is why they see government in the same way and expect it to control what we can see, eat and do. Social conservative is an oxymoron.
Get your god and your government off our backs and let us live free.
ps. Glenn Beck is shouting "fire" in a crowded theatre, asking for an attack on America by Bin Laden so we will "wake up". Yes, we need to wake up and throw people like him off the air.
If an atheist business owner decided to make a fuss over church billboard right outside his establishment, religious groups around the world would rant about how intolerant he is.
Why didn't the news mention how intolerant it is for the religious to protest this very innocuous message? Oh that's right...christian privilege.
FLASH couldn't have hoped for a better response to demonstrate the level of superstitious bigotry and intolerance that's out there.
Can I donate to keep this sign in the exact same location for longer?
Congrats to the Ft. Lauderdale Atheists Group - spot on. This is what I call outreach.
Where can I send a donation to help keep that sign up indefinitely...or add another one?
I LOVE IT!!!! It's just like a bunch of Christians to attack like a pack of wolves! To kill anything that disagrees with them. We need a billboard like this in every community!!!!
Ever see Christian signs off highway and such? Maybe they need to be taken down too.
I love it, no true 'god' would have allowed the sign to begin with, yet there it is. I am writing to their local paper to say just that!
Every word Big Mama says, all those children repeat. That's robotic and insane.
The only line that was not repeated was "Let's go y'all" haha
You bunch of leftist hypocrites, which atheists are a part of. You're the first people to condemn and agitate anyone who disagrees with your agendas or beliefs. I personally have no problem with your billboard other than it looks like a fourth grader designed it. But you have every right to your beliefs, just as a religious person has his or her rights. By the same token the people who live in that neighborhood have every right to protest the billboard if it goes against their chosen beliefs.
If anyone should accuse others of hypocrisy, Christians should think twice about it.
This may point out that there is still a lack of education in America. It's the same reason there is conflict due to religion, bigotry, bias and lack of freedom in the middle-East.
Barocky, you're building a strawman. Who said it was not their right to protest the billboard? Their right to protest makes them no less bigoted and stupid. It's just that, you know, it seems to be always the Christians who choose to protest all sorts of stuff in ways which, you know, make them look below averagely intelligent. Your post wasn't clever either.
I am curious why the reporter twice refers to the billboard as a "recruitment" poster. Atheists don't "recruit", unlike churches who must.
As for "Big Mama" and those unfortunate children, that's just a sad reflection on the lack of critical thinking out there in our society, but soon enough those who either cannot or choose not to think, they'll fall by the way side.
@ Barocky Road, is your real name worse than your alias on here, or are you just that unsure of your argument?
Why don't they just pray to their all powerful god to smite the board with his wrathful hand? I mean, prayer works, right?
I'm Christian and I believe in God, but I don't care whether that sign is there. The sign could be above my church for all I care. My faith is strong.
The looks terribly designed and I wouldn't want that ugly thing in my neighborhood, but I believe in free speech and tolerance of all beliefs. So if these atheist want to be represented with that garbage design, so be it.
The only thing that offends me is that how the comments above attack Christians with broad generalizations of how intolerant we are. It's not a matter of Christians being intolerant, its a matter of people in general are intolerant. It seems that in this thread the atheists are intolerant of Christians.
If atheists are so secure about being theists, why is a sign need? This seems like a complete oxymoron as there is no communal aspect to atheism at all, but I digress.
@Andrew:
Right..... cos Religious groups never advertsie at all do they?
I grew up in an area (not US) where the imperative to be religious is much less strict, but despite that, and though I was well educated, I was an adult the day I realized that not only I didn't believe in God (my parents are Christians, so I was raised with that belief), but that there were plenty of non-believers around me. Such a sign would have greatly sped up my change of heart. It doesn't even have to be in a very religious community to bring some good. But I'm complaining about it being in a very religious community, I've heard enough horror stories of people raised in a faith coming out of the atheist closet...
Atheists are INTOLERANT H-Y-P-O-C-R-I-T-E-S.:)
"If atheists are so secure about being theists, why is a sign need?"
We are secure about being atheists. Unfortunately, we are not secure from religious intolerance and hatred. Until fairly recently, Christians would discriminate, torture, and even execute us.
"This seems like a complete oxymoron as there is no communal aspect to atheism at all, but I digress."
There is "no communal aspect" right now because we have been oppressed, discriminated against, and persecuted.
Hopefully, billboards like this are the starting point for people to realize that they are not alone and start building a community.
Don't kid yourself: many people in your church don't believe in God either, they just come for the social life. Hopefully, we can give them an alternative.
"You bunch of leftist hypocrites, which atheists are a part of. You're the first people to condemn and agitate anyone who disagrees with your agendas or beliefs."
Well, I agree with the Pope on one thing: there is absolute right and wrong. And Christianity is an absolute wrong. It is immoral and we should convince people to see that it is wrong.
However, I do believe in freedom of religion. If you want to worship evil or live immorally, that is your choice. But tolerance of your religion does not translate into quiet acceptance: I still have a right to tell you that your religion is wrong and immoral, and I have a right to proclaim that publicly.
Cliff, You said 'no true "god" would have allowed that sign to begin with'. Well, that would only be the case if the "god" you are referring to only programmed us to not have a choice-much like a robot. But what you don't seem to realize is that the one true God, who loves us enough to allow us a choice, will allow the sign to stand and let us choose Him, should we do so. We were created for a real relationship with Him. What would be more genuine and loving to you?- to not give someone the choice to love you, or to give them the option and find that they still chose you anyway? Which would be a more real love? Just something to think about. Also, everyone needs to keep in mind that every social and cultural group has bad examples and representatives that give false impressions and poor representation. In most cases, I find that if someone is looking for an excuse they will lean on those poor examples instead of seeking the truth of the matter for themselves.
To "spoken with love" - So, your god has given you a choice - and if you don't choose god, the alternative is to "burn in hell" (as some would put it)? That sounds more like punishment, not a choice. As for judging christians based on one bad example...A very large percentage of christians in the US are very intolerant of other beliefs and no belief. Christianity is trying to make their beliefs into LAW (thereby pushing their beliefs onto everyone) - thus violating separation of church and state. Is this not the largest and most pervasive example of christians' intolerance? And if you think atheists, buddhists, muslims, wiccans, etc., are not discriminated against by christians in countless communities, in countless ways on a daily basis, you are deluding yourself.
Just sayin'...
The point of the billboard is to encourage atheism. We need atheism because Christianity is ruining our world with war, pollution, and intolerance.
The thing that gets me is that there are plenty of Christians who would say that it is true that you can be good without god but you'll still burn for all eternity if you don't believe no matter how good you are.
Sick Sick Sick
Regardless of whose side you choose to be on, that is one ugly billboard. I could be an Atheist living in that neighborhood, and I would want that eyesore removed as quick as possible.
Hello Melissa-To address a couple of your points...There are certainly more than "one bad example"out there, not only in Christian groups, but all groups. There are also many who call themselves Christians who are not. As for the "large percentage of Christians in the US who are intolerant...and trying to make their beliefs into LAW", please provide an example of this. The sep. of church and state was originally intended to protect the church from state interference, which has been turned on its head and used against the church for many years in political proceedings. Also, I mentioned no lack of discrimination by Christians, rather I stated there are many poor examples-within all groups. Perhaps "discrimination" is being misunderstood-Would a true Christian be a true Christian if they truly believed what they do and expressed no concern for those around them? Sharing with them another option and allowing them, peacefully, choice to follow or not? No dilusion here-thanks for thoughts!
time will tell guys, time will tell and yes theres gonna be judgement and mercy so its entirely up to you, sign or no sign
@Barocky Religion isn't leftist or rightist. Southern Christians all used to be leftist Democrats until they switched parties. I'm a libertarian and a fiscal conservative (and by Conservative I mean not-Republican because there hasn't been a fiscally conservative Republican in history, they just spend our money differently). I am also an atheist. Just like you don't believe in Zeus, Thor, or Poseiden. I don't believe in your God of Abraham. There are thousands of Gods that you don't believe in. The only thing different between on views on all the Gods, is that I believe that one more God that should be thought of as myth. That has nothing to do with being a leftist or rightist. That has to do with intelligence and rationality.
"Being good person doesn't require God."
That's pretty much a true statement. There are many good people out there that don't believe.
Funny theists would be against a sign like that. They have to learn to stop being upset over everything.
Thought this may interest some of you
www.godsboard.com
You can make your own:)
Non-believers make up 10% of the poulation and we're growing, so get used to it. Stop discriminating against us and we would not have to put up these signs.
Ah... I'm bewildered that the young man in that video could say "whoever you are we all believe in a spiritual higher being" while standing in front of a sign that says "don't believe in God? You're not alone." I just can't stop re-watching that particular portion.
Perhaps just a generation ago he was in that group of schoolchildren chanting "nothing else matters, that sign has to come down, in Jesus name." Only that level of indoctrination explains this refusal to recognize there are people who don't believe in God even when they put up blazing signs.
@spoken in love
You start from the assumption that there *is* a god. Therefore, whatever that does happen happens by his will, or because he allows it to.
The problem isn't with the reasonning, it's with the assumption that comes before. First, offer proof of a god. We'll build on that.
Wait a minute Ed is bragging about being 10% of the population? Bwah-hahaha, even that is probably inflated. Beware the atheists are taking over, hahaha.
Hello Etienne, First I have a question...Would you agree that your request for me to offer "proof of a god" would be the same as saying, or offering, "reasons" that would prove his existence? In addition to this question, could you please also offer proof God does not exist? Thank you for your thoughts.
That's great that they are getting attention to the sign, even if they're crazy bible thumpers.
@spoken in love
"Would you agree that your request for me to offer "proof of a god" would be the same as saying, or offering, "reasons" that would prove his existence?"
You'd have to elaborate on that a bit before I could answer, especially about what you mean by "reasons".
"In addition to this question, could you please also offer proof God does not exist?"
Offer proof that no fuschia crow exists. How would you do that? It's impossible. Offer proof that fuschia crows exist. How would you do that? Show me a fuschia crow. In other words: proving a negative is, in the vast, vast, vast majority of cases, impossible (in theory or practice).
All you need is to offer a phenomenon that clearly and demonstrablly violates everything we know about the way the world works. The Bible is choke full of stories of stars moving on their own, of the sun doing weird things, of dead people coming back to life... (more in next post)
(please read my previous post first)
Weirdly enough, the more we actually have tools to investigate such phenomenon, the less we actually hear about them... Someone commented somewhere (sorry, I can't remember who I should credit) that for some strange reasons, downright miraculous cure (I think the example provided was a cut-out or otherwise severely mangled eye growing back) happen only very far away from any means of the event being recorded or even properly investigated. That doesn't seem the least bit strange to you?
A little read in closing: Russell's teapot
(remember to add the h t t p : / /) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russell%27s_teapot
I,myself,teeter between belief in God and being agnostic. Like it or not,atheists(like ALL other religions)have a right to their view,the same way you're allowed your Jesus bumper sticker. They are not a physical threat to anybody. You'd be surprised to learn that many in the sciences fields (doctors,neurosurgeons,etc)are atheists.They find it hard to believe in anything that science cannot prove. And these are people that SAVE lives. Also,religion just seems to cause war & destruction. My greatgrandma always said "Church is for sinners." I believe that...I've noticed that people who go to church seem to sin far worse than the ones that don't go. It's as if these people think that they're given a Speedpass to heaven by going to church every Sunday. Since they're always told that they're "forgiven" or go to confession, it's almost as if they take it as license to commit more sin.
Also,look at all the altar boys/priests situations in the news. All the greed/sex that happen$...(Swaggart,Bakker,& now Cutie'). Even NUN$ have been caught stealing. How many people could've been helped instead of building the CRYSTAL CATHEDRAL? There's alot of HYPOCRISY out there. People against abortion somehow think it's okay to kill the doctor. They don't want to use stem cells for research that might help people who are ALREADY living. Yet it's okay for THEM to play
God while getting in vitro treatments...going against God's plan for them. How many celebs/pageant queens get boob jobs, pose nude & proclaim that hey are still Christians? The list goes on & on....
spoken in love wrote: "... could you please also offer proof God does not exist?"
That is completely irrelevant. Atheists make no assertions with respect to the existence or nonexistence of god(s). They simply do not 'believe' YOUR assertions. Put another way... you tell 'god-stories'. Atheists are those people who are not so stupid or gullible that they can be made to 'believe' your 'god-stories'. They have nothing to prove.
While they have nothing to 'prove', they DO have a few things to worry about, such as religious fairy-tales being taught as 'facts' in public school science classes.
Yeah that's right atheists believe that Ida was the missing link. Anybody remember Ms. Ida, she hung on some guy's basement wall for over 20-years, and all the monkey believers got all giddy with excitement. Bwah-hahaha-heehee.
"time will tell guys, time will tell and yes theres gonna be judgement and mercy so its entirely up to you, sign or no sign "
...crickets(yet again)...
"and all the monkey believers got all giddy with excitement. "
The very nature of science means that we will be wrong a great many times about a great many things. There is nothing amazing about that. Actually what we find amazing is that some people can't seem to understand they could actually be wrong and then rationally analyze the information available to them.
Open letter to believers
To all who are teaching, promoting and propagandizing the dogma that one MUST believe in a god in order to be a good and moral person and that without a god one is immoral, your teachings and declarations are false!
Read Full Letter - http :// www . freethoughtflorida . com/openletter . html
Etienne, I suppose I am asking if you believe in reason. Do you believe there is such a thing as reason? I liked your "fuschia crow" example, though, the missing aspect to the argument is that God transcends the physical world that we are limited and bound to by our physical bodies. Not being able to see or present Him physically as evidence does not discount His presence. I understand what you are saying in regard to miracles, but if you look- you will find them. Unfortunately, actually seeing would not always result in believing for many who claim it would. Explaining away is a valiant attept by some. The beautiful detail in biological design and order points to a master designer. Science offers stronger evidence to His existence and is supportive of this. I have yet to read "Russell's Teapot" that you posted, though I will atempt to do so tonight, thank you.
Pages
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!