Atheists plan billboard campaign this Christmas season

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
11/18/2011
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

'You Know It's A Myth. This Season, Celebrate Reason,' one billboard will read

"You Know It's A Myth. This Season, Celebrate Reason," was one tagline offered up on a billboard by the American Atheists organization one holiday season. The atheists intend to put up more billboards this year, some featuring images of Santa, Jesus, Poseidon and the devil next to the message: "37 Million Americans know MYTHS when they see them."

Yet another sign will feature the phrase '2 Million Floridians don't believe in gods,' according to the New Times.

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LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Called the "Myth" campaign, Dave Silverman, president of American Atheists, told Opposing Views that he hopes the group's new signs are "equally thought-provoking and spark plenty of conversations nationally."

One pastor declared that the new sign shows "ignorance."

"Only the most dense and simple-minded person would put [Jesus] in the same category as the other three. Clearly, even those who lack a personal commitment to Jesus recognize that there was in fact some historical figure by this name -- religious leader and teacher -- around 2,000 years ago."

The billboards are scheduled to go up in Ohio, New Jersey and Florida.

While the billboards may anger some, American Atheists Communications Director Blair Scott said the signs aren't meant to be offensive, but that he understands why it happens.

"When you question someone's long-held beliefs and doctrine they are going to be immediately offended and be on the defensive: it's a known psychological phenomenon," he says.

Additional signs advertising the American Atheists Regional Convention will be put up in parts of Florida, set to take place in Fort Lauderdale on Dec. 17 and 18, the Broward Palm Beach New Times reports.

Yet another sign will feature the phrase "2 Million Floridians don't believe in gods," according to the New Times.

Atheists aren't the only group looking make their mark on the holidays. Several groups including humanists and Christians have launched their own movements to reclaim the season.

The American Humanist Association placed signs featuring scripture passages depicting a "violent" God against passages that depict a kind one. The Liberty Counsel, a Christian legal advocacy group, moved forward with its "Return Christ to Christmas" campaign.

� 2011, Catholic Online. Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.

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Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: Atheists, thesim, billboards, Christmas

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1 - 10 of 22 Comments

Judy
1 year ago
Friends of Love: This is The Season Of LOVE. The time of all times to show what Christmas Really means to ourselves and others. It Is the Joyful Mysteries Come to Fruition. It is WE, Living those very mysteries... Everyday of this Blessed Joyful Season. Teaching ourselves as we pray. Living our Faith by Example. It of course disturbs me that atheists are gaining strength in numbers and are doing what they are. But WE can gain strength also! We are not alone! Let us show our Faith...all of us, by each doing what we know deep down inside, we are capable of doing. It may be >you know. And know this. You Are Not Alone. This is a JOYFUL SEASON. Let us Honor, Praise, and Glory in Our Lord Jesus Christ! Jesus Is the Reason For the Season. Merry Christmas! Prayers and Blessings...
Rob
1 year ago
I just think sometimes we try to make God little by worrying too much about these things. God really doesn't need us to defend him. And in fact, I suspect that He would much rather have us helping our fellow man as vance suggest below, than wasting our time fighting these things. Tit for tat anger is not what Christ taught. Sin is always defeated by love. If we allow ourselves to hate as the enemy hates, no matter the good we think we are pursuing, their can be no fruit. Vance has the right response to this.
flo.
1 year ago
Merry Christmas to everyone! Let this be echoed through the world. Jesus gave us a heart to Love and He rejoices over everything we give from the heart.. What He really wants us to do is love asHe has loved .He created each for love.Merry Christmas to all America and Canada!. Remember God loves You.
henry
1 year ago
Dave Silverman: the name says it all,the same people who screamed: give us Barrabas crucify Jesus!
Micha Elyi
1 year ago
Will I be able to see any of these billboards near one of the hospitals, homeless shelters, crisis pregnancy centers, schools, or universities that were founded because atheism is such an inspiration to love one's fellow men?

If not, why not?
Teresa
1 year ago
Bulbajer thank you for your courteous reply to my post, it is a pleasure to debate with someone like you who can disagree but maintain decency and decorum. The point I was making is that here in Europe the debate if it can be called that has no such standards, in general atheists in Europe mock, scorn and abuse Christians and Christianity but they tend to treat islam with kid gloves mainly because they fear a violent response.
Ferdinand Cassar Torreggiani
1 year ago
No Matter what is done by whoever to destroy the Church of Jesus Christ will not succeed because the battle has already been won by the Death and Resurrection of Jesus and his Church will triumph in the end.
Judy
1 year ago
Chris: Agreed. Well said. And Right On! Regarding ways to combat them, I forget the verse, LOVE. " Love is like throwing heaping coals upon their head", or something to that effect. Herein, enter Rob, Vance and Helen. The rest of those posting, have written posts for us to indeed reflect upon! We are all part of the same body. Knowing some atheists, I know how they enjoyed talking about the Egyptian Coptic Christians. To the atheists, their conversation was Only on their Lack of their Love. So, as for me and mine, we will celebrate Christmas the way we always do: Decorate, Lights, Mass, Prayers, a large Nativity, Cookies, etc. We may have a harder time, as Blessed Pope John Paul II foresaw and foretold, but we will persevere! VANCE: This is yet another way Progressives.Liberals. extreme left, are putting their heads in yet another side door! "God Bless Us Everyone"! Blessings always...
Lilian
1 year ago
Bulbajer,
If you are a Christian, you should find the atheists' listing of Our Jesus Christ among mythical figures very offensive and pathetic. But you might defend yourself as a free thinker, and if that is the case, your comments are an unnecessary distraction on this website that is for Catholics, who have found a definite religious path. You need to decide what path you want to follow and follow it reasonably strictly. You should not be neither "hot nor cold" because you should already know what the Bible says about those who are neither hot nor cold.
Bulbajer
1 year ago
Teresa, thanks for saying that. I know that sitting on the fence will not solve all our problems, or even that many of them. But this generalization of atheists and Muslims trying to destroy Christianity is both untrue and reflective of America's xenophobic tradition of hatred. Sure, some Muslims want to bomb me. Some atheists want to take away my freedom of religion. But most don't.

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