I Worship Nothing': Atheists Set to Unveil 55 Secular Billboards in One Calif. City This Christmas Season

One California city will soon be inundated with 55 billboards touting atheism this Christmas season.

The Greater Sacramento Chapter of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, a church-state separatist group, will post billboards in Sacramento on Monday, carrying messages like, "I worship nothing and question everything," "Studying the Bible made me an atheist" and "Reason. Equality. Doing Good -- all without gods."

KTXL-TV has more:

The effort, which KXTV-TV called "a billboard blitz," will feature local individuals who wish to share their secularism with the general public. In addition to their picture, a name and profession will accompany a secular message from each of the 55 people depicted.

The billboards, which do not directly invoke holiday themes and focus on secularism more generally, will be posted for one month.

One of the campaign's 55 billboards (Credit: Sacramento Chapter of the Freedom From Religion Foundation)

The campaign, part of the Freedom From Religion Foundation's "Out of the Closet" national effort, is strategically being placed during the holiday season -- a time in which religious sentiment is at its most prevalent.

"It's because atheists are starting to speak up and they're beginning to identify each other and find out they're not alone," Judy Saint, president of the organization's Sacramento chapter, told KXTV-TV.

Saint said that the campaign isn't meant to disparage people who believe in God or enjoy their faith, but that it is targeted at those who "don't know that atheism is okay."

"There are a lot of non-believers and this time of year, they feel like they're all alone," she added.

Some are less than content over the billboard campaign. Bishop Jaime Soto of Cathedral of a Blessed Sacrament told KTXL-TV that he believes the messages constitute propaganda. In the end, he doesn't believe they'll have much of an impact.

"While I’m not happy about these billboards, I am certain people still, when they look deep down in their soul and in their heart, find a spark. They believe in a higher power," Soto told the outlet.

Atheist activists regularly post secular and Christmas-themed billboards during the holiday season.

American Atheists ignited controversy last year with a controversial campaign in Times Square that referred to Jesus Christ as a "myth."

What do you think about these new billboards? Let us know in the comments section.

(H/T: KXTV-TV)

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Featured image via Sacramento Chapter of the Freedom From Religion Foundation

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