Yesterday, I mentioned that Oklahoma City got a brand new atheist billboard thanks to their local Coalition of Reason:

Reaching out to the like-minded isn’t the only goal of the effort. “We also want Oklahomans to know that there are many humanists, agnostics and atheists living here, contributing to the community,” added Nick Singer, coordinator of the Oklahoma City Coalition of Reason. “We’re your coworkers, neighbors, friends and family members. And like many people, we are leading good, happy and functional lives -– giving back to the community and staying true to our values.”
Well said!
Who is this Singer fellow? Abbie explains:
Nick Singer is the current president of OKC Atheists. Hes ushered us through an absolutely massive growth spurt. Like, a so large it is actually kind of obnoxious growth spurt. We do at least a dozen activities a month, from parents and kids hanging out at the zoo or a museum to the grown ups partying at a bar to movie nights to volunteer days to podcasts… and like, the activities are packed. The last pizza party I went to, we basically took over the entire resturant (there used to be a Church group that came the same night. we ran them off with our massiveness). Men, women, kids, homosexuals, young, old, even some non-white peoples! Insanity!
That. Is. Awesome.
Singer has already been interviewed by a couple different news programs. He comes across well-dressed and well-spoken.
The random people on the streets? Not so much…
Check out this clip from NewsChannel 4 (at the 2:40 mark) and wait until you get the soundbytes from the randoms…
Do you hear what they’re saying?
“I think it’s terrible.”
“They need to take it down… accidentally burn it or something.”
“I’m not surprised because of the way America is now… that people are able to say what they think and what they want… but god is good… If you don’t believe, you will one day.”
What?! Say what we think?! NEVER!
And check out the local FOX affiliate’s report.
One guy stands out in that piece:
“I can’t believe the world is coming to that.”
“If you have your own beliefs, keep ’em to yourself.”
“It’s a bad sign of what the world’s coming to.”
The billboard isn’t offensive and it speaks to people who are already atheists… but it’s enough to get religious people freaking out.
Which means it’s working. It’s showing how paranoid some theists can get when they simply hear about our existence!
The vandals will come shortly, I’m sure…
(via ERV)