Atheists Put Up Anti-Religious Billboards Just In Time For Democratic National Convention

Atheists are working over-time to deliver their message to folks headed to the Democratic National Convention this year. If you find yourself in the area, you’ll be treated to billboards that aren’t exactly complimentary of religion.

The group, American Atheists, are putting up billboards for a month in Charlotte, North Carolina that specifically target the religions of President Barack Obama (Christian) and GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney (Mormon).

“Sadistic God; Useless Savior, 30,000+ Versions of ‘Truth,’ Promotes Hate, Calls it ‘Love,'” says the Christianity version, accompanied by a picture of Jesus’ image on toast. “God is a Space Alien, Baptizes Dead People, Big Money, Big Bigotry,” says the Mormonism billboard, along with a picture of a guy in, presumably, special Mormon underwear, notes Newser.

Both billboards feature the line “Atheism: Simply Reasonable,” reports CNN.

“Presidential conventions are for ideas, not ideology – platforms, not platitudes,” said David Silverman, president of American Atheists. “If a person believes stupid things, we have every right to question his or her judgment, and that directly impacts how the nonreligious voter votes.”

“Religion is silly and religion has components that are inherently divisive. … There is no place for any of that in the political system,” he continued.

The reaction? About what you might expect. While religious figures don’t exactly hate the billboards, many have scoffed at what they perceive to be a poor understanding of faith on the part of American Atheists. Rev. James Martin, a Jesuit priest and author, told CNN that “The American Atheists need to go back to school on this one,” pointing out that “as for ‘promoting hate’ they’re doing a bang-up job themselves with that billboard.”

“If this example of adolescent silliness is what atheists mean by being reasonable, then neither Mormons nor other Christians have much to worry about,” said Terryl Givens, a Mormon professor. “When atheists organize to serve the poor and needy of the world, they will be taken more seriously,” calling the group headed by Silverman “petty and vindictive.”

For everyone making comments on our billboards about how we can’t convert religious people by “attacking them:”… fb.me/10vgP0Jow

— American Atheists (@AmericanAtheist) August 13, 2012

The American Atheists group has also put up billboards targeting Jews and Muslims in the past. Silverman has also said that he and his group plan on staging protests at both conventions in addition to the billboards.

I could ask you many questions about this one, but I think I’ll just ask you to share your general thoughts on the group American Atheists and their anti-religious billboards below.