January 4, 2011 10:06 PM
Atheists stepping up war on religion
Atheists are stepping up their war on religion, and interestingly, adopting a more equal-opportunity approach to choosing targets - as witness the billboard above which includes religions other than Christianity. From the Christian Post:
Atheists Declare Religions as 'Scams' in New Ad By Nathan Black Mon, Jan. 03 2011American Atheists launched a new ad in Huntsville, Ala., declaring religions to be 'scams.'
The ad reads, "You know they're all scams" and pictures some religious symbols including the cross, the Jewish star, and Islam's crescent moon and star.
The billboard further claims that the group American Atheists has been "telling the truth since 1963."
Blair Scott, communications director for American Atheists, acknowledged to The Huntsville Times that the sign will likely "make a lot of people mad."
But he explained, "[O]ur target is not the Christians, but all the atheists and agnostics still in the closet who are still pretending, still playing the game, still putting up a facade."
American Atheists defines "scam" as a ploy to raise money, a fraudulent business scheme or an attempt to intentionally mislead a person usually with the goal of financial or other gain.
It claims that the "truth" is that "all religions make money and power from their flock" and that "all religions make lots of promises about an afterlife that doesn't exist."
"Let's face it: religion tells a good story," the group states. "All you need to do is follow the preacher and good things will happen. You will never really die, and due to your involvement in (insert religion here) you will benefit for eternity. Yes, it pleases the invisible man-in-the-sky that you follow your preacher - just ask your preacher and he will tell you."
American Atheists goes on to contend, "Billions of adherents, many of whom are preachers themselves, all victims of this Great Scam. Some know it's a scam, yet defend religion because they like the lies. They like the fraud. They like the false sense of security. Unfortunately, no matter how much you like a lie, it doesn't make it truth. It DOES make religion a great scam if victims are willing to defend it, even in the face of truth."
The ad campaign is designed to appeal to "closeted atheists" and to advertise the group's upcoming regional conference in Huntsville.
It follows an earlier ad campaign that attacked Christmas, declaring it to be a myth.
Religious groups have responded to the offensive ads with their own. The Catholic League countered the "You know it's a myth" atheist billboard near the Lincoln Tunnel in New York with a billboard declaring, "You know it's real. This season, celebrate Jesus."
Times Square Church also responded with a billboard about who God is. Its ad replaced the atheist group's myth one and currently tells drivers heading into the busy tunnel that God is good, alive, and ready to forgive, among other things.
It follows an earlier ad campaign that attacked Christmas, declaring it to be a myth.
Religious groups have responded to the offensive ads with their own. The Catholic League countered the "You know it's a myth" atheist billboard near the Lincoln Tunnel in New York with a billboard declaring, "You know it's real. This season, celebrate Jesus."
Times Square Church also responded with a billboard about who God is. Its ad replaced the atheist group's myth one and currently tells drivers heading into the busy tunnel that God is good, alive, and ready to forgive, among other things.
HT: Don
Posted in Atheism, Religion | Permalink
Comments
Interesting that they believe they possess the "Truth", capital T, no less.
If more Christians were walking a real, rubber meets the road faith maybe it would be more apparent that following Christ is often anything BUT comfortable, that it's about giving and serving and loving when it hurts.
Posted by: Marian | January 4, 2011 11:03 PM
You know what I find interesting? That atheists makes these claims, e.g. that there's no afterlife, as if they have proof. They have no proof that there's no after life, no proof that there's no God so they're simply trusting in their own flawed ideas. The truth is that the atheists are religious. Their religion is the worship of self. May God have mercy on those souls before it's too late...
Posted by: Kim Schofield | January 5, 2011 9:31 AM
It's so ironic, isn't it, that all the definitions about "scam" and the descriptions of scam believers fit atheism and atheists, and yet the speakers in the article seem utterly oblivious. No atheist knows for certain that their own beliefs are inherently true: no atheist theory can empirically prove its explanation of the Big Bang, the order of the universe, the beginnings of life, etc.
I'm with Marian above. No atheist dogma encourages love and service to others like other religious beliefs (because atheism is, at its essence, another religious belief), and I'm convincedby dogma and practice that none at all do it to the level Christianity does.
Still, on the bright side, I'm glad to see they've become equal-opportunity offenders. ;D
Posted by: Denise | January 5, 2011 10:47 AM
I guess the thing that strikes me each time I've read about these billboards is that they have crossed the line from atheist to antitheist. It's amazing that they are out recruiting now to fill their ranks.
I agree with the previously posted comments that it seems as though they are creating their own religion by trying to build followers to further their self-worship.
What a sad group of people who obviously are in need of prayers for an opening of their hearts to God.
Posted by: Dianna | January 6, 2011 10:50 AM
My husband and I lived in Huntsville for a year in 2007. When we were making the move what struck me quite forcefully was the sheer amount and variety of churches that we passed as we entered and traveled through the city. Also remarkable is the fact that there are five Catholic churches there, which is a lot for the region. We came from New Mexico, so it was a definite culture shock -- it's not like we don't have churches here (we returned to NM), but not at all like Huntsville.
With all that in mind it's perversely appropriate for the atheists to convene there, not that I wish atheists on anyone. The poor things need lots of prayer.
Posted by: Angela C. | January 7, 2011 3:05 PM
