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Faith

Calif. Atheists Take a Swipe at Religion With This New Anti-God Billboard

Jan. 31, 2013 5:34pm

An atheist billboard set to display alongside a freeway in Lemon Grove, Calif., is already creating a stir. The message, which local non-believers hope will “shine a positive light on atheism,” will be posted today by the San Diego Coalition for Reason (SDCR). But the text on the billboard, clearly a swipe at people of faith, may do the opposite of what non-theists intend. It reads, “Atheism, a personal relationship with reality.”

While SDCR director Debbie Allen and other secularists may be hoping to help their image among the faithful, some locals are already less-than-content with the group’s choice of words. After all, the sign, which also features a picture of a pile of books, seems to indicate that those who embrace God’s existence aren’t living in reality.

San Diego Coalition for Reason to Post New Billboard Poking at Religion | Reality

Photo Credit: KSWB-TV

Elmer Lewis, a longtime Lemon Grove resident, said that he isn’t in favor of the message.

“I’d rather that they didn’t do it, but I love this country and freedom of speech is something that’s protected to all of us,” said Lewis.

And Pastor Will Warren, a local faith leader, echoed this sentiment, saying that he’s not sure how the group’s billboard will be received. Another local woman said that she plans to pray for the non-believers.

But Allen seems determined to change the way that non-believers are viewed. But even if she can’t, she’s hopeful that the billboard will attract other non-believers to join groups like the SDCR that cater to their secular needs.

“When people hear the word ‘atheism’ or ‘atheist,’ they usually think of a corrupt, bad person, and that’s far from the truth,” Allen said in an interview with KSWB-TV.

The billboard is slated to go up on Thursday afternoon.

KSWB-TV has more about this story:

(H/T: KSWB-TV)

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Comments (321)

1 2 3 4
  • FunFunFun
    Posted on January 31, 2013 at 9:23pm

    Religions exist for a reason. Without moral teachings and guidance from religions, man are going to behave like animals. Simply because we are just advance animals.

    Report this comment

    FunFunFun  
  • FunFunFun
    Posted on January 31, 2013 at 9:21pm

    I am not a Christian either, but I truely think Christianity has it right – Follow the teachings of Christ and people in society may live in peace and prosper.

    If we walk away from religions, then all hell breaks loose right here, right now.

    Report this comment

    FunFunFun  
    • RationalMan
      Posted on January 31, 2013 at 11:14pm

      Just like gangland in the inner city, there bodies are loaded with religious symbols!

      Report this comment

      RationalMan  
    • nomemymine
      Posted on February 1, 2013 at 5:16am

      Rational, my definition of religion is an organized way to guide a group of people, so that we may live peacefully in a group setting larger than a family, clan.

      You might think you don’t need religion to be law abiding and peaceful, but you are the exception. Remember, most people need all which are being offered by religions.

      Report this comment

      nomemymine  
  • The Big Mick
    Posted on January 31, 2013 at 9:08pm

    ROFL.
    Ahhh me.
    The only thing funnier than someone trying to make the case that ingesting his own elimination off another male’s member de le creme is the height of romantic love, is a Prhomo with a Theological Opinion.

    Report this comment

    The Big Mick  
  • dumpsterdog
    Posted on January 31, 2013 at 8:56pm

    If you didn’t tell me what state this billboard appeared in, I would automatically know it was California.

    Report this comment

    dumpsterdog  
  • The Big Mick
    Posted on January 31, 2013 at 8:45pm

    Ahh, JD is back pounding the beat—wait, was that catty?
    Anyway, OK JD, unpack, no pun intended, “Stop trying to shove your religion on me and forcing it into public places, like schools and government. Stop forcing your views on others through attempts to legislate your version of morality.”
    WHAT are you talking about, be specific please.
    Since Congress shall also “make no law prohibiting the free exercise thereof” why do you think calling for a banning of Christianity from the Public Square ISN’T a prior restraint kind of “prohibiting”. HOW is doing something in a PUBLIC—you understand PUBLIC, right? Place, forcing it on you?
    What do you consider legislation that has NO “moral” component, and what, specifically, do you consider “attempts to legislate your version of morality?”
    Would banning bestiality be “legislating your version of morality”. Would granting Women equal rights in defiance of Shitrear Law being “legislating a Christian version of morality?” Is banning polygamy legislating a Christian morality?
    Are two homs kissing in the High School hallway “forcing their beliefs on me”?
    Is a Iranian 12 year old girl wearing a burka at School “forcing her beliefs on me”?
    Is granting amnesty to La Raza Reconquistas, forcing THEIR beliefs on me”?

    Report this comment

    The Big Mick  
  • searching for the Truth
    Posted on January 31, 2013 at 8:41pm

    Children want to be grown -ups – this kind of persuasion appeals to their rebellion !

    Report this comment

    searching for the Truth  
  • searching for the Truth
    Posted on January 31, 2013 at 8:37pm

    Ha! You guy’s are trying to be fair while they are whispering sweet nothing into your children’s ears.

    Report this comment

    searching for the Truth  
  • barber2
    Posted on January 31, 2013 at 8:25pm

    Well, this topic has been OCCUPIED by the atheists . Amazing how angry and active the atheists , the gays, and the anti-Isreal Trolls are. Reminds me of the ACORN bull-horns and the MIC checks. Angry dudes .

    Report this comment

    barber2  
  • COFemale
    Posted on January 31, 2013 at 8:24pm

    Yeah, they will get a personal dose of reality when they are standing before God and he says, “Sorry, you don’t believe in me or my son, so you are SOL buddy.” Satan is waiting for you 10 floors down.

    Report this comment

    COFemale  
    • PoliticalHeathen
      Posted on January 31, 2013 at 8:38pm

      So, God instills in humanity free will and then punishes it when they actually use it. And you wonder why atheists have a problem with your religion.

      Report this comment

      PoliticalHeathen  
    • PoliticalHeathen
      Posted on January 31, 2013 at 8:44pm

      ““Sorry, you don’t believe in me or my son,”
      So, by your logic since Jews don’t accept Jesus at all, they’re going to Hell too?

      Report this comment

      PoliticalHeathen  
    • The Big Mick
      Posted on January 31, 2013 at 9:10pm

      Politcal Heathen.
      Better stick to politics, son, ya don’t know a damnthing about Theology.

      Report this comment

      The Big Mick  
    • charliesouth
      Posted on January 31, 2013 at 9:19pm

      Then tell us, mick, what about his statements on theology were inaccurate?

      Report this comment

      charliesouth  
    • The_Doors_Of_Perception
      Posted on February 1, 2013 at 9:18am

      Cofemale,

      I want to try a thought experiment with you. Use logic and reason to wrap your head around this. Let’s assume that you have been completely deceived and geographically unlucky. By no fault of your own, you were born in America to a Christian family and unfortunately were given incorrect information about the true creator and only God. The true god is Allah, your skin will be burned off only to have it regrown by Allah so he can burn off again….for eternity. All the while, true believers watch from heaven with glee and laughter on comfy purple pillows at your unfortunate predicament of eternal agony.

      Now, how much sleep are going to lose tonight contemplating this thought? I would assume, none. Because, as an atheist, that is how much sleep I lose when a Christian brings up their torture chamber for not believing in “their” God. Maybe this sends chemicals to your brain that gives you pleasure and reaffirms your belief, I mean, something neurological is obviously going on. But maybe if you can understand this point, that the same credibility you give to the hell of Allah, and your chance of burning there, is the same credibility I give to your God’s hell. Do you understand how foolish you sound now?

      Report this comment

      The_Doors_Of_Perception  
  • Jadedfate
    Posted on January 31, 2013 at 8:15pm

    So religious billboards are ok, ones for rational thought and reality are bad? Kinda idiotic.

    Report this comment

    Jadedfate  
  • PoliticalHeathen
    Posted on January 31, 2013 at 8:14pm

    I think religious and non-religious billboards are a waste of time and money that could be put to good use, but it’s their money and their freedom.

    Report this comment

    PoliticalHeathen  
  • Tigress1
    Posted on January 31, 2013 at 8:04pm

    I’m still trying to figure out how the clouds are seen peeking under the curtain, but also on top of the curtain as well. Not very realistic. Or is their reality a little clouded?

    Report this comment

    Tigress1  
  • christhefanatic
    Posted on January 31, 2013 at 7:19pm

    Doubt if anyone could prove that Hitler, Stalin, and even….gulp!…Nancy Palosi won’t be saved. God is a sovereign god… He does as He pleases. It is why we call him God. One ought not to try and usurp God’s authority.
    I heard of a study that was done to determine not what the differences are between the left-wing and the right-wing, everyone already knows, but to find out why those differences are so far apart. Without going into any detail, basically, they found that right-wing and left-wing people were fundamentally different kind of people, even before their politics..who saw life in this world in a completely different way. These differences result in opinions that are profoundly different.
    Objectively, talking with someone who is your political opposite is, for all intents and purposes, like talking to an insane person. Really, serves no purpose to do it. And I kind of think that the argument between atheists and Christians is, objectively, the same.
    If an eagle could read English, it could read a newspaper at one quarter of a mile away….what would only look like the head of a pin to us. A eagle lives in a different world and, if it could only see the way we do, it would die immediately…because it would not be able to find food.
    Again, objectively, there is the world that I see, the world that you see, the world an eagle sees…and world the way it really is…and who knows if anyone sees that.

    Report this comment

    christhefanatic  
  • 1digger
    Posted on January 31, 2013 at 7:13pm

    Reality? If the atheists want to wake up to reality, then they would have to acknowledge that in order to believe what they believe, they would have to have MORE faith than a Christian who believes in God. Good luck with that strategy of denying God’s existence as you expend far too much energy denying someone you don’t believe exists. If God doesn’t exist in your mind, then you should ignore any reference to his existence, not amplify it by posting your claims for all to see.

    Report this comment

    1digger  
    • RationalMan
      Posted on January 31, 2013 at 7:25pm

      If I have faith, that of course, is a willful rejection of reason.

      Report this comment

      RationalMan  
    • Jadedfate
      Posted on January 31, 2013 at 8:18pm

      I deny God’s existence in any form that any human claims to understand what that being may think and want. If there is a creator of the Universe, it most certainly isn’t as described in any religious book, especially one we can prove beyond the shadow of a doubt, by anyone looking at rational facts, to be filled with nonsense.

      Report this comment

      Jadedfate  
    • 1digger
      Posted on February 1, 2013 at 12:04am

      Psalm 14:1 “The fool says in his heart, “There is no God”. If you can look around and see the magnificence of life on earth, the skies above and beyond into the intricacies of the minutest detail such as DNA and Mitochondria for example and still deny it as God’s creation, then you have more faith as a fool. Take a look at the extreme details that come with blood clotting if you have the courage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hd4ZgdaCIpg&feature=search To believe in the absurdity of evolution to have caused such incredible restorative properties rather than intelligent design by God, the creator, would be beyond reason. I pity you.

      Report this comment

      1digger  
  • oh_yeah
    Posted on January 31, 2013 at 7:11pm

    God said this would happen.

    Report this comment

    oh_yeah  
  • searching for the Truth
    Posted on January 31, 2013 at 7:10pm

    Well, the Ice Man vacillated a little bit when it came to believing God existed. Madalyn, well she got cut up and eaten by one of her comrades , stalin went insane repeating back to himself wolves were tearing at his flesh, couple of guy’s I know stole , overcharged customers, destroyed their property when they were cheated. Don’t try to recall others but, one committed suicide with Hemlock, and another screamed to the top of his lungs that his feet were on fire at his deathbed – both famous philosophers. Trying to think ? Well, yes one brought to Christ – but, he complained , “What did you do to me ?” – But, wasn’t me! Another, turned agnostic- still confused! ” They are out there,” as Mulder would say !

    Report this comment

    searching for the Truth  
    • RationalMan
      Posted on January 31, 2013 at 7:40pm

      Well, the Ice Man vacillated a little bit when it came to believing God existed..
      _________________________________________________________________-

      Really, how so?

      Ice Man = Existence exists, and only existence exists.

      Report this comment

      RationalMan  
    • searching for the Truth
      Posted on January 31, 2013 at 7:52pm

      Personal interview.

      Report this comment

      searching for the Truth  
    • searching for the Truth
      Posted on January 31, 2013 at 9:15pm

      Wait a minute ! I remember ! Dr. Ravi Zacharias was going to debate a well known atheist – Ravi planned his debate to a T – but, the guy finally turned Christian. No! Can’t think of any profound, kick you in the stomach type of guy’s yet.

      Report this comment

      searching for the Truth  
    • RationalMan
      Posted on January 31, 2013 at 9:44pm

      No, Ice Man still an “Object”, Existence exists, and only existence exists.
      Just maybe, “Ice Man” could be “Jesus”?

      As you’ve stated: …it came to believing God existed.

      Where is this God?

      Report this comment

      RationalMan  
  • TheGrtDcptn
    Posted on January 31, 2013 at 7:08pm

    It reads, “atheism, a personal relationship with depravity.”

    Report this comment

    TheGrtDcptn  
  • am123
    Posted on January 31, 2013 at 7:08pm

    Atheism is pox on society. It is as Sir Isaac Newton called it, “senseless and odious”. Atheism drags morality down to animalistic levels with its moral relativity. And there are no uplifting and noble qualities to it, like Jesus taught us about caring for the least among us. Instead, inhumanity is elevated over love and goodness in a survival of the fittest mentality (atheism goes hand in hand with eugenics). Atheism can only debase society. For example, when it comes to the arts, the truly great artists in history, like Michelangelo, received inspiration from God above. And since art reflects the inspiration of the artist, his artwork was inspiring and uplifting. Any inspiration from an atheist on the other hand, can only reflect base, coarse, earthly things. And so instead of being uplifting, any so-called art from atheists can only debase and degrade. But such is the folly of atheism.

    Report this comment

    am123  
  • whatsallthisthen
    Posted on January 31, 2013 at 7:06pm

    Gee, charlie and keaton sound like they have side by side computers in the same beautiful universe of narrow minds. I’m sure they have all the world’s mysteries figured out in their legendary minds. Wonder if they paid for their own computer, though I do hear panhandling pays good in some areas.

    Report this comment

    whatsallthisthen  
    • charliesouth
      Posted on January 31, 2013 at 8:46pm

      What is this…an argument? What are you even accusing me of? 1) Pick out what I said that was narrow-minded. Go on, I’ll wait.
      2) If you actually read my posts, you’d see that I’m not in favor of Keaton making all those jokes, so don’t lump me in with him.
      3) I don’t know what you’re getting at with the computer/panhandling crack…maybe that those who don’t abide to Christian dogma are lazy? Care explaining how that makes a lick of sense, what so ever?

      Report this comment

      charliesouth  
  • am123
    Posted on January 31, 2013 at 7:06pm

    “When people hear the word ‘atheism’ or ‘atheist,’ they usually think of a corrupt, bad person, and that’s far from the truth,” Allen said.

    I usually think of a fool. Many atheists may be intelligent, but in the end, they are the biggest fools of all. For they have examined the evidence of this awesome universe we live in and come to the most foolish judgment one can make of it all, the most absurd conclusion one can come to, and that is this: there is no Creator behind it all. Atheists—fools one and all!

    Report this comment

    am123  
    • The Third Archon
      Posted on January 31, 2013 at 7:23pm

      Even if you can justifiably get to the conclusion “a Creator MUST have done it” from observing the universe (HIGHLY debatable), all that tells you is SOMETHING intelligent created the universe–you don’t know if its was transcendental pixies, Allah, the Christian God, or a literally INFINITE number of other alternative possibilities just from that, highly suspect, conclusion. You couldn’t even claim to be a deist, because you couldn’t rule out the possibility that (a) MULTIPLE entities were involved in the creation, or (b) that the entity responsible is intelligent, but not a deity, in the sense of not having supernatural powers (all you would know is WHATEVER did it necessarily had the power to do it, and no more power or abilities would NECESSARILY be the case).

      Report this comment

      The Third Archon  
    • jesustheway
      Posted on February 2, 2013 at 12:39pm

      “Who is this that obscures divine plans with words of ignorance?

      Gird up your loins now, like a man;
      I will question you, and you tell me the answers!

      Where were you when I founded the earth?”(Job 38/2)

      Report this comment

      jesustheway  
  • quiltgal
    Posted on January 31, 2013 at 7:06pm

    The reality of religious people is that there is a God. The reality of atheists is that there isn’t one. Two different views of what is reality.

    So how does this billboard shine a positive light on negativity, absence and void?

    Report this comment

    quiltgal  
  • leprechaun224
    Posted on January 31, 2013 at 7:03pm

    Atheism is a belief system just as is any religion. An athesist “believes” there is no God. Others “believe” there is a God. Neither can “prove” their position. “Any intersection between belief and fact is purely coincidental.” Look up the words belief and fact in any dictionary.

    Report this comment

    leprechaun224  
    • RationalMan
      Posted on January 31, 2013 at 7:15pm

      Atheism is a belief system just as is any religion…..
      _________________________________________________

      You’re far from it! You guys don’t reason, you deny reason and you depend everything on faith..
      Faith = Zero!

      Atheists accept reality, and that’s all.

      Report this comment

      RationalMan  
    • The Third Archon
      Posted on January 31, 2013 at 7:15pm

      “Atheism is a belief system just as is any religion.
      Atheism is the lack of a belief in deities, not a belief.

      “An athesist [sic] “believes” there is no God.”
      That’s antitheism or “strong atheism.” Atheism is the rejection of the claim “god/gods exist(s).”

      “Neither can “prove” their position.”
      Atheism isn’t a position, it’s the rejection of one–”I believe there AREN’T deities” is a position and is different than “I don’t believe there ARE deities.” One need not accept the former merely because one rejects the latter–there IS such a thing as “I don’t know,” it’s the default position, and it’s the only RATIONALLY JUSTIFIED position if as you assert (correctly for theists at the very least) that “neither can ‘prove’ their ‘position’.” A rejection of a position does not need to be proved–the burden of proof is upon the claim being advanced as true that needs to justify why it should be accepted as true based upon the evidence to be accepted as true. Think about out for any time at all and you will realize, you don’t go around believing EVERYTHING until you’ve DISPROVEN it (you COULDN’T since many beliefs are contradictory)–NO, you believe what has been PROVEN (in the sense of what is best justified by the available credible evidence).

      Report this comment

      The Third Archon  
    • Jadedfate
      Posted on January 31, 2013 at 8:23pm

      You really have no clue what you’re talking about. Atheism isn’t a faith based issue at all..While I myself am more of a deist, I do find that all religion is based of fallacy, as proven by history and science. You can’t fight facts..you can take something on faith, but that requires the suspension of thought and the subservience to the ideas of others. You may wish to be a slave to a totalitarian being, but I chose not to be one.

      Report this comment

      Jadedfate  
  • _Molon_Labe_
    Posted on January 31, 2013 at 6:59pm

    Without religion, good people would do good things and evil people would do evil things; but getting good people to do evil things… that takes religion.

    I am hopeful for the future because people are starting to use their brains and realize that religion is a joke handed down to us by a bunch of people who made crap up.

    Final note: Of prison inmates, less than 1% are atheists. About 75% are Christian… Jesus would be so proud.

    Report this comment

    _Molon_Labe_  
    • hatchetjob
      Posted on January 31, 2013 at 7:43pm

      Hi MOLON, Christians should never claim to be perfect, as only Jesus was perfect. Everyone is born with a sin nature because of the fall in the Garden of Eden. No one is good, only Jesus was sinless. Anyway, just thought I’d throw that in for what it’s worth.

      Report this comment

      hatchetjob  
  • Margyt
    Posted on January 31, 2013 at 6:39pm

    At least this isn’t tasteless and derogatory like many of these attempts to send a bizarre message. I don’t think I will ever be able to understand why it is so important that a person would go to the effort and expense of any kind of public announcement of non-belief. By its very nature it is a lie…logically they are announcing belief in non-belief….an intellectual fallacy. But, thank God for the free speech that allows them to be dumb on their own dime.

    Report this comment

    Margyt  
    • charliesouth
      Posted on January 31, 2013 at 6:43pm

      I really think you guys are straining to find a fallacy with this logic. It’s not “claiming a belief in non-belief”, it’s flat out claiming “non-belief”. Not too hard to understand.

      Report this comment

      charliesouth  
    • RationalMan
      Posted on January 31, 2013 at 7:06pm

      Mar,
      why it is so important that a person would go to the effort and expense of any kind of public announcement of non-belief.
      ___________________________________________________________________________

      I felt the same way, watching TV every Sunday morning!
      One Billboard vs. 20-30 different religious programs?

      Report this comment

      RationalMan  
  • WARRIORSCROWN
    Posted on January 31, 2013 at 6:35pm

    All I can say is if the billboard’s intent is really to “change the way that non-believers are viewed”, then why make a billboard that insults the person of faith by basically calling them an idiot?I think the militant hateful type should go see a psychiatrist…Christian, Atheist, or whatever. Hate comes in all flavors and intolerance is on both sides, get over it and love your damn neighbor already :D Everybody has their own virtual reality and death is the great equalizer.

    Report this comment

    WARRIORSCROWN  
    • charliesouth
      Posted on January 31, 2013 at 6:41pm

      Fair enough, sir. Fair enough.

      Report this comment

      charliesouth  
    • AvengerK
      Posted on February 1, 2013 at 10:49am

      Because it’s always been about contempt for christians by the militant atheists. They don’t want “fairness” or constitutionality. They want to malign and mock christianity so that the public discards it. Notice they won’t take overt swipes at Jews or Muslims? It’s always a christian complexion on the targets of their bile and venom?

      Report this comment

      AvengerK  
    • The_Cabrito_Goat
      Posted on February 1, 2013 at 12:09pm

      I took away, “lead by example” from your post, Crown. I think it implies that YOU must be a pillar of your community. Use what lessons you have learned from your spiritual education to win the favor of society, and attract them towards such a philosophy.

      Report this comment

      The_Cabrito_Goat  
    • Silvertruth
      Posted on February 1, 2013 at 1:30pm

      Well said WC…

      Life is very much a case of perception. How we want to percieve things influences how we actually percieve things which influences our own reality.

      Sorry if that’s too Zen, but it’s pretty much the truth. As for death being the great reveal, yeah, you’ll find out one way or the other then… +1 on the post WC.

      Report this comment

      Silvertruth  
    • davecorkery
      Posted on February 2, 2013 at 11:01am

      No one is calling you an idiot. You are inferring that unto yourself. It is your own insecurities about your beliefs that are making you think that way. We are merely stating what is obvious to us: that there is no evidence for a god, that all religions are man made, and that there is an alternative. We do not want to believe in the same story that you were told. The billboard is meant to reach out to the millions who are starting to realize these things, but are afraid of the hateful reactions from those who feel their way of life is threatened. You carry on believing what you wish, we will help others who want to see the world in a secular fashion. Nothing to be afraid of.

      Report this comment

      davecorkery  
    • Racketman
      Posted on February 2, 2013 at 12:55pm

      davecorkery: You have faith that there is no God. Wouldn’t it be shocking if your belief was the one dis-proven in the end? We all live in reality… and we all perceive that reality differently. At one time scientists thought the world was flat and at the center of the universe… and people believed them. Science has changed its perception of the universe over the years and will continue to do so. And, in this great country you certainly have protection under the constitution (at least for now) for your freedom to communicate your faith. But, as even you pointed out, faith is belief in something you can neither prove nor disprove. I wonder if this billboard will help the Atheists evangelize…

      Report this comment

      Racketman  
    • NogodNojesus
      Posted on February 10, 2013 at 7:00pm

      If you’re so strong in your faith, why do you care enough to criticize it on an internet board?

      Report this comment

      NogodNojesus  
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