New Atheist Billboard in Austin, Texas

I’m pretty sure it’s going to rub a lot of people the wrong way regardless of how it’s phrased.

You know the one big response they’ll get, and the one big thing I’ll never hear the end of, from my religious family? “Why didn’t they spend the money helping people instead of advertising for themselves?”

My answer? “Why do churches do the same damn thing? Why do they spend hundreds of thousands on something as gaudy and useless as Touchdown Jesus, and hundreds of thousands on a big, elaborate, fancy, mansion-esque church building? Why are churches the only businesses allowed to waste the money they receive on useless shit, but if atheists spend a comparatively small amount on a simple billboard that lets others of our kind know that they’re not alone, then we’re horrendously wasteful and somehow cheating those who need it out of charitable donations?”

Hypocrisy, that’s all it is.

(P.S.: Not to mention the various atheist charities and NPOs that already exist.)

IMHO, “Join the club” is a lot more friendly than assuming that there’s an official or correct religion for America, and that Those Which We Do Not Approve Of Shall Be Suppressed.

But I wonder if that phrasing could rub people the wrong way…

Wouldn’t matter how it was phrased. Haters gotta hate….

“But I wonder if that phrasing could rub people the wrong way…”

Concern troll is concerned?

I think it’s funny, and timid, and a bit welcoming.

I think it’s a much better atheism billboard than the recent ones with flags and patriotism. No bs here. I like the use of rays of sun to denote the light of reason breaking through.

Hemant – try as I might, I can’t see why you think this might rub anyone the wrong way. I’m curious … what do you see that could offend? (Other than the obvious way it always offends theists when atheists declare themselves.) What is it that made you ask in the first place?

From their website: “These words are part of a prominent billboard in Austin, Texas, slated to appear today on the east side of I-35, north of Grand Avenue Parkway, facing north.”

@daniel: According to the Press Release it’s located “on the east side of I-35, north of Grand Avenue Parkway, facing north.” You can download a high resolution image on their website here: http://austin.unitedcor.org/node/38

Personally, I think this image is a significant improvement to the cloud design.

Austin is a pretty liberal area. It’s the “New York City” of Texas. In fact it has quite a vibrant music scene, one of my favorite bands Ghostland Observatory is from Austin. This isn’t really that big of a deal.

I’d like to see these billboard in SOUTH Florida. There is a terrible terrible lack of Atheist groups and signs in SWFL.

i suppose i’m a bit of a Laissez-faire sort of non believer but i can’t help but feel all this billboard stuff is a bit silly. seems likely there’s something more worthwhile to do with all that money and effort.

Apparently the need to form some sort of “club” and to publicly evangelize means atheism IS a religion after all.

Thought so.

I feel it is necessary to reinforce the fact that Texas is not uniformly conservative OR uniformly religious, that we have a strong liberal Democratic party here, and that atheist and free-thought groups seem to be flourishing. Especially in Austin.

I’ve got twenty bucks that says this sign gets vandalized within two weeks. Any takers?

A big improvement over the cloud design. Love it.
@Marc,

“I’ve got twenty bucks that says this sign gets vandalized within two weeks. Any takers?”

Nope…even as I type this, there’s an idiot with a full can of spray-paint just chomping at the bit…

Doesn’t bother me (it is just a colloquialism)…

But I can see how it could be misconstrued as insinuating a cult mentality… something that the religious will use as a weapon, and that some atheists will be irked by.

I like it. I live in Omaha, and our slogan is very similar. “Don’t believe in God? You are not alone.” We don’t have billboards, but we do have bumper stickers and t-shirts.

As a Christian, I am not personally rubbed the wrong way by this sign. It reflects the views and hearts of genuine people. Some people have a puzzling hatred of those who don’t share their belief in God. My Bible says “It is difficult for natural man to believe in something that he cannot see, touch or feel (I Cor. 2:14). I can rightly acknowledge that I believe in God and some will reject that belief. In parallel, I have the right to believe 2+2=4 and others have the right to reject that answer too. My point being – God’s existence is not defined by what we believe. Thousands of people have lived and died who believed our world was flat – but who would make that argument today?

I don’t have a problem with an atheist billboard, but it seems kinda weird to have a “club” at all. I think it demeans things by making it like a social thing or something flip — it’s a “club.” Like a cult or something. Just makes it sound really bad.

“I’m THRILLED about this! Texas is so one sided and conservative, we need this!”

Do you live in Texas? I don’t think you’d say that if you live here. I’ve lived here for 10 years now (I’m from NY) and there are lots of Democrats and Liberals here. Austin is more a progressive college town, anyway. You can’t judge a place and everyone in it unless you’ve lived there.

I wonder how long it’ll be before this billboard gets vandalized.

Well, obviously, Kevin, there is. It’s advertised right there on the billboard. How does that make it a religion? You didn’t answer my question. At all.

So is the local garden club a religion if they dare advertise/evangelize (failing to see how advertising equals evangelizing but oh well)?

Is FFRF a cult? Americans United? That’d especially be tricky on the latter’s part since they have virtually every religious viewpoint represented.

FYI – some of the atheist orgs in Austin ARE social clubs. There’s nothing wrong with that. The ACA hosts many regular social activities. These are important for fostering a sense of community, and they fill an important need for individual members of a big-brained social species.

Re: the possibility of vandalism – no worries. If the sign is vandalized, that will get news coverage. More news coverage of atheist orgs is a good thing!

Yah I can just imagine the form of the vandalism; probably an arrow pointing down, adjacent to the word ‘club.’

As they say, Heaven for the climate…

Do you live in Texas? I don’t think you’d say that if you live here. I’ve lived here for 10 years now (I’m from NY) and there are lots of Democrats and Liberals here. Austin is more a progressive college town, anyway. You can’t judge a place and everyone in it unless you’ve lived there.

I’ve lived in Texas for 27 years, and in my experience, Austin is the only city where there is actually a significant non-religious/non-Republican population. There are isolated pockets of Democrats/liberals/atheists in the other major cities & college towns (primarily DFW, San Antonio, Houston), but they are by far in the minority, and you’ll be challenged to find even pockets in the hundreds of smaller towns that dot the countryside.

Have you lived in a town with under, say, 10,000 people? Prayer in public schools is a matter of course and nobody dares challenge it. “Which church do you go to?” is a common icebreaker in conversations.

Texas is just about as one-sided as you can get.

the first words out of the mouth of the atheist when he/she encounters God will be “Oh my God!”

The first words out of the mouth of the Xtian when he/she encounters nothing will be “”

Ok, I will keep you all updated on the vandalism concern, if it happens. The other beauty is this billboard faces a outdoor fun park with putt-putt golf, race cars, water bumper cars and outdoor rock climbing wall so if anyone looks up they will see this billboard. This is the place right next to the billboard. http://austinspark.com/

I love it, I’m always glad when the group involved takes the time to make it look good rather than just sound good!

I’m enjoying the blog, Hemant, LOVE the ambigram title bar!

My husband and I were driving with our 3 children when we saw the bill board. All of us literally screamed out loud with excitement!! We are so relieved to finally see something in public that sheds some light on us. My kids feel like they HAVE to live in the shadows of religious people. My sons advise to his little sister is not to tell anyone we are religionless, because it will make school impossible. I am so ready for everyone to step out, religious people need to see us as a group. And for me, a mother, we all need to do it for the next generation. These kids of ours need a group to be part of. If they are not alone, than why should have grow up feeling that way? The bill board has already helped our family feel less alone, it’s wonderful!!

There is a big difference between being friendly and being offensive. I was doing a journal response to the picture and stumbled on this website. Okay you don’t believe in My God that is totally fine that is your choice. You have no right whatsoever though to mock my religion and laugh at it! I accept that you dont believe in my Father you could at least respect my point of view!

My Mama taught me to never put anything in writing that just everyone can see. I do not believe in teaching my children, what is my own belief with the assumption that it is absolute. They should be given the opportunity to learn both sides and choose for themselves. I would certainly rather be prepared, than to meet my maker and realize my mistake at that unfortunate hour of no return. I would never want to be held responsible for teaching my children in error. They have their own minds. They are not yours to misguide! Some of you have no idea the hearts you break. I wonder how many of you would cry out to your God for mercy should you happen to be hanging by your toes in prison under torture. Careful. The hour is coming for some of you.