In Omaha, People Are Offended by Billboard for Atheists

I find it funny when they go “Im for Free Speech and American Apple Pie*, except if the people dont believe exactly as i do, the. Its oppessing me.

*Apples originally came from Asia, which i find hilarious.

How in the world is that even remotely offensive? I just don’t get it…

Yes… because we all experience so much emotional distress when we find out not everybody agrees with our bad ideas.

The sarcasm aside, a whole lot of people really do have trouble with this. You know the old rule about no politics or religion at the dinner table? That’s why. People can become really tightly attached to their opinions, and become deeply emotionally invested in their rightness. Religious opinions are only one of an entire class of such opinions that can cause derangement as people attempt to defend them.

Maybe it’s offensive to those people cashing the cheque from the Moron’s that advertise on your  site.  

I can see how American Atheist offended people with their “You know it’s a myth” billboard campaign a few months ago.
This one is as inoffensive as  it is possible to be, though. I think that sometimes people just need something to bitch about. Apparently their lives are just too damn good, so they need to find something to get in a tizzy over-even though if they’re not atheists this billboard isn’t targeted towards them.

 And apple pie in England dates back at least to Chaucer. Neither apple pie recipes nor the filling are especially American.

Derp te derp. I think we already have it down to Pavlovian level: ring the bell, the fundies are offended.

Please. It’s the same story every time one of these goes up.

It isn’t:
“People Are Offended by Billboard for Atheists”

It is:
“People Are Offended by Existence of Atheists”

We’ve gone as non-offensive as can be (see Richard’s “Atheists.” ad) and people still get their pants in a bunch. It isn’t about what we say; it’s the fact that whether we say anything or not, our very existence means there are people who think they are wrong, and they hate that.

I live in this community and am SO HAPPY & EXCITED that this billboard is up! On Fox42 News, I was impressed by one christian woman’s comment- she said something along the line of, ‘this is why we live in America…so different views can be expressed’. She didn’t seem the least bit upset about it. I just wish all *christians* felt the same way…Keep it up OmahaCoR! 

This coverage is the mildest, least ridiculous example I’ve seen yet. In the recent past, ads with this same message calling out to other nonbelievers have been met with organized protests, demands to have the billoard taken down, vandalism, and the “man on the street” interviews have included spittle-spraying hatred.

The handful of people interviewed in this news clip gave only milquetoast disapproval, and much more of the footage was Newman giving very clear and positive explanations about the UCR and the billboard’s purpose.

I’m hoping that this is a sign that the public is becoming inured to this “controversy,” and eventually it will no longer be a newsworthy story.

I’m in Omaha also, all I’ve seen is an anti-evolution billboard. I’ll have to drive by and take a picture!

Wonder what that lady would say if you told her that attitudes like hers are one of the big reasons people are fleeing Christianity. Would that “bother” her too?

It behooves us, then, to keep on ringin’ that bell to keep the fundies in a lather.

”
Emlyn Forsuh added, “I was raised to believe in god and now someone says they don’t believe in god so I don’t like it.””

That one says it all. Even if atheists stayed in the back of the bus, so to speak, believers still wouldn’t like our existence.  That might make other believers doubt, or disbelieve. Then where would organized religion be?

 It’s Omaha man.  To find someone NOT a Christian is like finding someone who doesn’t worship the Huskers.  They are out there, you just have to look and you scare a lot of people when you find them. 

 Richard, it did provide great entertainment this morning at least.  A local right leaning radio station got ahold of it and the DJ about blew a gasket.  When people started coming out of the woodwork, it pissed him off even more.  Hmm…acceptance and no longer newsworthy might not be as fun now that I think of it.  😉

In the past, I’ve criticized the FFRF’s atheism billboards for being too inflammatory and controversial.

Nothing about this billboard is even slightly offensive.

 Good to know that there are some atheists around. When I was an exchange student in Omaha in 94/95, I quickly learned to try and avoid talk about religion. Not that this was really possible. Now I wouldn’t mind discussing it, but back then, being a 17-year old, somewhat awkward temporary guest just getting the hang of the language and never before having to explain my atheism, it was quite an “experience”.  The impression I got was that people would be able to accept it if you belonged to some strange cult that worshipped whatever. But not believing in anything divine was just too much to wrap their head around.

Being from the former East Germany, even nowadays I never hear people ask others they just met if they are religious, or what church they go to. If it comes up and someone happens to mention that they believe in a God, he/she usually just receives an “okay…” and then the conversation moves on, because people just don’t care and most don’t get how people can hold such a belief. To go from that to the complete opposite was an eye-opener, to say the least.

Would have been nice to meet some fellow atheists back then, but luckily as a teenager, there are other things to focus on… If I lived there now, I would definitely be part of a secular group.

Now you have me conflicted.  Since I do worship the Huskers can I still call myself an atheist?  In the fall I have two things going against me when I work at Creighton; wearing Husker red and being an atheist.  

Correction, announce that you do not believe in God. I’m sure I will receive some critism for that so I had to clarify.

She’d probably just stare at you with eyes glazed over and a blank expression on her face, then promptly tell you she off to get her families dinner a McKFC before the Wednesday service begins.

I want to hug 
Emlyn Forsuh.  The quote from him/her is absolutely priceless.  It is the most hilariously honest complaint about atheist billboards that I have yet to hear.  I love it!!!

First off, as others have pointed out, this particular billboard’s message was simply an advertisement to non-believers that they are not alone and that there is a group out there where they can connect with other non-believers.  The vast majority of humans enjoy and desire social interaction, and often times revelation of a person’s non-belief can cause people to shun, ostracize, and “defriend” him/her. In short, people like being part of a community.  Atheists/Agnostics/Nonbelievers often lack a community, as their nonbelief prevents them from being an accepted part of a church community.  So, we form our own communities.
As for why some of us announce our nonbelief to others; well, there’s several reasons for that.  One of the reasons some atheists/agnostics speak out is because they sincerely believe that religions like Christianity have a harmful effect on people.  These effects can range from willful, stubborn, uncorrectable ignorance of what accepted scientific theories like evolution actually say, to the previously mentioned shunning/hatred/fear/killing/etc. of people who don’t think the same way they do.  Not to mention the various negative, irrational attitudes espoused towards gay people and women, among others, and the resulting religiously-fueled drive to legalize treating these people as second-class citizens.  Remember “Separate But Equal?”  Religious people were on both sides of the aisle, with both sides appealing to their particular interpretation of their “sacred scriptures.”  The fact of the matter is that many Christians are motivated by their belief to treat other human beings without respect, love, or compassion, and to continue to try and maintain a system that treats these “sinners” in less-than-equal ways.  Inevitably, when dealing with these kinds of religiousites, some of us often end up critizing the very religion that is the source of many of these negative attitudes and beliefs, in the hopes that by shedding their religion, they might become more reasonably compassionate for all their fellow humans.
Another reason why some of us speak out is because we don’t think Christianity/Islam/Hinduism/etc. is true, and we think people ought to seek truth, regardless of how it makes them feel.  In other words, we think you’re wrong and you ought to change your mind about Christianity/Islam/Jainism/etc.  While this reason does not consider practical motivations for belief, such as comfort from the inevitable march of death, a sense of belonging to something larger/having a greater purpose, it is nonetheless a valid reason for speaking out. I know I’ve written a hell of a lot, but I’d like to ask you to seriously consider one last thing;  What if you are wrong about Christianity?  How many hours will you have lost worshipping the non-existant?  How much money will you have given to organizations that, while claiming to be charitable, often end up spending most of the money they get on their employees?  How many people have you cut yourself off from , or not allowed yourself to get to know because they thought differently than you?  How much of what may be the only life you ever get….. will you have wasted on a lie?

It’s very telling that they were more pissed off and offended by the the idea that there’s a “club” or rather, a group of atheists out there, than the message of the billboard itself.

I also like that they had to make it clear that the conference isn’t using taxpayer money. Doubt they’d bother making that distinction for a Christian conference of some sort.

It causes pain in Christians minds because it makes them think. They want everything to just stay the way it is, where whatever they believe is right. They don’t want to have to re-think their lives, because they are afraid of the outcome of thought. Suddenly they are no longer right. And if you’re not right….then what are you? Afraid.

Nathan wrote:  ”
It baffles me why you care so much about something you care nothing about.”

We care about it when it affects us, and as you can see by the attempts to get creationism into public schools, or children who die because the parents don’t believe in taking them to the doctor, or religious people who fly planes into buildings…

We care.

Please!  Don’t feed the trolls.

 Jesus, you invoke Pascal’s Wager? Do people still do that?

It’s very telling that you have no problem with people like yourself who constantly announce that there is a God (a malicious one at that) and anyone who doesn’t believe their unsupported assertion is immoral and will suffer for eternity unless they agree to be shamed all their lives. Now THAT is immoral.

If you want a sign that says positively what atheists believe in, how about “Do You Understand That Religion is Irrational Hooey that Harms Humanity? Join the Club.” Oh look, that’s effectively the same thing as the negative statement “Don’t Believe in God? Join the Club.”

It’s a him, and in text it reads a little differently than how he actually says it in the video (the transcription could use a comma or two, at least). But yeah, that was my favorite part, too.

I love the “Really really really inoffensive” ads. Especially contrasted with the “burn-in-hell” messages some churches put up. Go puppies!

I will tell you this about myself. I grew up in a family of non-believers and Christianity wasn’t even an option for me. My parents never took me to church although I was always interested. It wasn’t until I had went down a path of drugs and sexual addiction almost completely destroying my will to live did I find Jesus Christ. I’m going to tell you right now, I would rather spend my short life worshiping something that might not exist then spend an eternity wishing I had. I can’t make you understand the power. The life changing undiscribable feeling you get when you KNOW there is a God. You just have to experience it for yourself. Unfortunately if you don’t give God a chance it will most likely never happen for you. As for the large majority of Christians that think they are saved, I’m sorry to say that even most are not even going to receive eternal life. As a Christian, when you accept Jesus Christ as Lord, you must do exactly what God has commanded. Yes Jesus died for our sin, but accepting him with all you heart and soul is the only true way into heaven. One can say yes I’m a Christian but live another way when behind closed doors. I am guilty of this myself from time to time. Christianity is a day to day struggle, fighting temptations of this messed up world. This is something that I am very passionate about and when people bash Christianity simply because the large majority of so called believers are gay bashing or spreading hate because someone doesn’t believe in their beliefs it makes me wish those people would not call themselves Christians. I hope you weren’t turned off by one of these people and I pray that someday all of you will see the light before its too late. I try to spread love around as much as I can. I fall off track as well but we all do. That’s why God sent his only son to die for you, for me and for everyone after us. EVERYONE has the option, the free will to chose. For those of you who think “free thinking” isn’t accepted in the church are so so wrong. I chose to follow Christ, I chose this life and for me, it’s the best decision I have ever made. I truly hope you at least can consider checking it out and not just blowing it off because you think it’s ignorant. God bless and goodnight.

You don’t want creationism in schools yet it is okay to teach a theory as the truth? Yeah that’s much better. All religions should be taught to a degree as well as evolution so the children can choose for themselves. You don’t want Christianity taught in school because you know kids would much rather believe they can live forever in peace then just die. Let them choose, instead of forcing science theories on them! We all have free will and if you choose to not believe in religion then at least you had an option!

Since they are going to be offended anyway, I’d like see billboards more direct at theist.
something like:Yes we don’t believe in your god So get down off your cross,built a bridge with the wood,AND GET OVER IT!!!!!

It’s funny how you can sit there and claim evolution as fact when you know very well it is just a theoretical as anything. How can you claim something is fact you know nothing about? How can these scientist prove that we evolved from a single celled organism over millions of years? How do they truly know how old this world is? Carbon dating right? I watch a lot of science shows an I’m actually very entertained by science. I really like how every so many years a new theory comes out and they alter the “truth”. You see one thing about my beliefs is, they are constant. They never change. They have been the same and will be the same my entire life. The bible is complete and until the savior returns the history will not change. Whether you chose to believe it or not but the bible was written by people who actually were there and lived it. Your theory of evolution was written by a dead guy who on his death bed questioned his very own theory. It is what it is. No matter how much evidence you claim you have neither “theory” will ever be considered a “fact”. I chose to believe in Christ because I do not have any reason not to. I study the bible and even though some of it seems far fetched at times when you break it down and examine it thoroughly it makes complete perfect sense. Especially when you discredit all the bolony they tried to feed you in 7th grade science class

I rarely try to argue the subject of evolution with creationists anymore; it is completely futile.

Even still, I will take apart some of your other statements. Darwin did not “question his own theory on his deathbed”; that allegation was made up by Lady Hope, and Darwin’s own daughter said that it was false.

New “theories” are not easy to create; since you claim that every so many years a new one comes out, I’d like to see you give a complete list of all the theories you remember seeing in your lifetime.

You claim that science is not worth believing in because it changes all of the time. The difference between science and religion, Nathan, is that no scientist claims to have found “absolute truth.” We can be 99.9% sure of things, but never 100%. The scientific method itself tends to create a sort of healthy skepticism about new findings. Science is always fixing and amending itself, and that is a good thing, not a bad thing.

Finally, I think I can add a little portion in this unnecessarily long post explaining why creationism is not a scientific theory. Creationism starts off by declaring the Bible to be a source of absolute truth, meaning that it is not open to disproof. Next, creationism asks science, which deals only with the natural realm, to prove the existence of the supernatural. Asking science to prove God is like asking your refrigerator to cook a pizza; it simply will not work. In the end, creationism results in a strange hybrid of religious philosophy coupled with “science” and tailor-made for apologetics. That’s a sham, and a mockery of what science is truly about.

 The very fact that your beliefs CANNOT change despite mountains of evidence to the contrary shows that your beliefs are in no way based on reality.  And you obviously did not read my first post thoroughly, because a scientific theory is the graduating point of a ton of facts and observations.  It is greater than a fact.  Science adjusts itself based on new data and evidence.  When YOU are presented with new evidence, you stick your fingers in your ears and say “LA LA LA  CANT HEAR YOU!”

And I have read the Bible.  I have examined the Bible.  And that is why I am an atheist.  It is inconsistent, contradictory, and full of an immoral and hateful god.

How about the part that says that a good person who lives a life that does no harm to others is sent to eternal damnation because they do not believe in a god? Is that your loving god?

I agree it is futile.

You never deviate from the bible?  Ever???  Even on the really silly stuff, like not eating shellfish?

I think you are more of the exception than the norm in not being baptized until you were 28. 

If a god exists, he is incredibly brutal.  He lets me, a nonbeliever, live a normal, healthy, and even privileged life, while he lets some of those who adore him die slow, painful deaths.  He allows children around the world, who have never even heard of him, dig through garbage to try to avoid starvation, he allows the babies of devout followers get terrible diseases and die, etc.  I could go on, but you get my point.  And please don’t mistake this as me being angry with god, as I am not.  I simply do not see any reason to believe a supreme being of any sort exists. 

Wilful misunderstanding of ‘theory’ as hypothesis and scientific ‘theory’. Do you feel the ‘theory’ of gravity should be taught in schools Nathan?

As for God letting believers suffer and non-believers live healthy fullfilling lives. I am a believer and I live a very good life now that I have kicked my habits. I suffered in the biggining of my life and I’m sure I will face suffering again at some point in time. God allows certain things to happen to people for different reasons. A test of faith, to see how they will react. It is not to be cruel but to simply see if they are truly committed to their faith. As for letting non-believers not suffer and live wonderful lives, there are reasons for that as well. God has a plan for everyone. You are in a plan whether you choose to follow the plan is up to you. Without God you would have nothing, not even a breath to breathe. My point is God doesn’t do these things to be mean, he has reason behind everything he does. I don’t understand him sometimes but I try and not question why just thank him for what he has given me. You see it as immoral and hateful, I see it as he is teaching us. It’s all perspective. You can’t let things of this world blind you from the truth. The truth shall set you free.

While I do not claim to know the bible front and back as I am very young in my faith. I do know that God had almost given up on mankind before he sent Jesus Christ to save us. Jesus gave him hope again. You have to look at it as a whole. As a parent do you not punish your children for disobeying you? I know I do. Essentially that is what our relationship represents with God. He is our father and we are his children. When we disobey he sometimes punishes us in a way we question why he would do such a thing if he loves us. As a child I remember thinking that very same thing when I would get a spanking or get punished by my parents. Did they hate me? No. Did God hate us before Jesus no. He simply wanted us to understand the seriousness of it all. Whether you understand the things he did or not it was for the good of humanity overall not individually.

Although this does not really relate to the subject at hand directly I think you all should read this article. I do not agree with everything in this but it does have an interesting perspective from a self proclaimed atheist. http://www.bigissueground.com/atheistground/cauthen-homosexuality.shtml. Read and let me know what you think.

Religion has all the answers but they sure don’t like people asking questions do they?