HOUSTON, December 8, 2009 - Many may have heard of the various Godless signs appearing on billboard and buses around the country. Starting today, they've come to Houston...
The Houston Freethought Alliance (www.HoustonFreethoughtAlliance.org) is an alliance of local secular organizations. These organizations include the Humanists of Houston, the Houston Church of Freethought, the Humanist Association of Montgomery County, the Atheists Meetup, and the Secular Center. Together, with funding from the national organization United Coalition of Reason, the billboard appears prominently at I-45 and 1960, near Ella Blvd.
The sign features a blue sky with clouds, and the words "Don't Believe in God? You are not alone" and includes the contact information for the Alliance.
This project is part of an active campaign to spread awareness of these organizations. Rather than criticizing others, the message here merely lets those who don't believe in a God know that there are others like them, and gives them a way to make contact with like-minded people if they choose. In a world where the majority are theists, there are many people who feel rather alone in their atheism or agnosticism.
I personally don't find the God/no-God question all that important. I prefer Humanism not because of what I don't believe, but rather because it is about what I do believe. Humanist values are what's important to me, and that has to do with how we treat one another, being compassionate, and how we live our lives. I think we have a lot in common with our theist friends on those grounds. Having said that, it at least seems like the phrase "Don't Believe in God? You are not alone" is not a bad one.
The groups mentioned exist here in Houston for several purposes. Among them:
- Providing a fellowship of like-minded people
- Providing social get-togethers and fun events
- Hosting intellectually stimulating speaking events and presentations on a number of issues from a naturalistic or nontheistic point of view
- Helping to give a community support system to those who may not find churches something to which they can relate
- Helping to connect people with secular celebrants who can conduct weddings, funerals, and other secular ceremonies
- Doing charitable work in the community
- Working to further education about naturalism, science, and reason
- Working to support church/state separation and the rights of non-believers
Of course, there are many theists who find even the billboards as worded offensive or confrontational. In some other cities, similar billboards have already been vandalized more than once. It seems nontheists, merely by making themselves known, are seen as evil or beligerent by some, which is unfortunate. Some of the billboards around the country say things like, "Good without God" or "Good for Goodness' Sake". The general message of all of them has simply been (a) to nontheists: that you are not alone and please contact us, and (b) to everyone else: people who don't believe in God can still be good people.
Fred Edwords, national director of the United Coalition of Reason said, "The point of our national billboard campaign is to reach out to the millions of humanists, atheists and agnostics living in the United States... Nontheists sometimes don't realize there's a community out there for them because they're inundated with religious messages at every turn. So we hope this will serve as a beacon and let them know they aren't alone."
But reaching out to nontheists isn't the only goal of the campaign. "Our message is also to let people know that we are part of the larger community,” added Noelle George, coordinator of the Houston Freethought Alliance. "We're your friends, neighbors, coworkers and family members. We're just like you except that we don't believe in a supreme being. Now we'd like the same opportunity as everyone else to be open about our views."
The United Coalition of Reason has launched a dozen advertising campaigns previously this year. Each involved billboards or public transit ads. They appeared in Boston, Massachusetts; Charleston, South Carolina; Chicago, Illinois; Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas; Des Moines, Iowa; Morgantown, West Virginia; Newark, New Jersey; New Orleans, Louisiana; New York, New York; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Phoenix, Arizona; and Portland, Oregon.
Note: The date above corrects an earlier announcement that the billboards went up on December 7th. That planned date had been delayed due to weather and the billboard actually went up on the 8th.
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Comments
I have heard about these billboards. It's good that there is more awareness of these groups now.
Misery loves company. Poor people:(
Mindy of course misery loves company that why you are your friends attent church every week!!
Millions of people don't believe in a Sky Fairy.
Actually Mindy I see more friendly life loving people at an Athiest meeting than any church!
do believe dont what happens is your opinions dont matter if you read the bible talk about it if you didnt your opinion dont matter but it has been said youll take your mark it said your money will come to an end and it has been said the world will be one world order these things are all happening your all foolish to understand what you read your descendents of apes so this is easilly seen but next time see the movie then give a stupid comment you are the true followers try to lead and get your head out of the ass in front of u
Mark... What? As an atheist I think I am supposed to be offended by what you wrote, but to be honest, I am not really sure what you are even talking about.
Hi Daniel - thanks for your comment on my last article. I appreciate your perspective and you are correct in your statement that giving love to others is extremely rewarding. I do not disagree - in fact, that is a basic action of Christian faith. If Christ loves you, you can love Him and in turn, love others, deserving of it or not - like He does. I think that is where we part ways though - I don't believe we can truly love others unconditionally unless we have experienced it. You can be a good person in lots of people's eyes - perhaps even your own - but it's a question of whose standards you are living by. I believe that all acts of goodness warm the heart of God but I think He would rather us know Him first and from which, love will spring. Your articles are thought provoking and I love a good debate. I don't think you can have faith without reason so I would welcome an in person discussion anytime!! Merry Christmas!
Hi Daniel - thank you for reading and commenting on my last article! I definitely don't disagree with you - giving love is one our highest callings and one of the most rewarding things, as humans, we can do. As my 6 YO would say - it fills people's buckets! But that is where we part ways because I do not believe we can truly love unless we have known what real love is. I believe God wants us to know Him first, then we will be equipped to really express the kind of love He made us for. This article was written from a particular perspective on letting Him love us, as unfortunately, a lot of Christians don't do. Lots of folks in church are not fully living in the freedom Christ intended, so I want to encourage them to take a new step in their faith - indeed that is my prayer for each of my articles. I also believe you shouldn't have faith without reason - so I appreciate your point of view! Any time you want to get together to discuss, let me know! Merry Christmas!
And thanks to my laptop - I have posted 2 similar responses. Nice.
Where are these billboards?
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