# Your beliefs and thoughts on the "atheist billboard" **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 28, 2010, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beliefs-and-thoughts-on-the-atheist-billboard/562195 "2010-11-28T19:26:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2010, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beliefs-and-thoughts-on-the-atheist-billboard/562195/81 "2010-11-29T06:25:18Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > They aren’t the same. One is pointing out that religion is a myth, the other is telling you to fear a rival religion. Yes. > [@A Monkey With a Gun](#): > > **Der Tris** , do you hate Islam with the same fervor you hate Christianity? You’re not asking me, but yes. > [@sh1bu1](#): > > In a perfect world, people who put up Christian billboards would look at that sign and say “huh, now that the shoe is on the other foot I guess proselytizing is kinda annoying”. In our world, they’ll just double down. Sadly, yes. > [@Mijin](#): > > How could it not be awesome? They’ve used [Shinobi](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCdeNYz57hA&feature=related) for their campaign! I love you people. This made me laugh so hard, a little bit of snot came out. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Critical1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Critical1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical1)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2010, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beliefs-and-thoughts-on-the-atheist-billboard/562195/82 "2010-11-29T06:35:08Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > The people who put this particular billboard up are being obnoxious dicks, they undoubtedly KNOW they’re being obnoxious dicks, and are probably PROUD of being obnoxious dicks. this made me lol. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2010, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beliefs-and-thoughts-on-the-atheist-billboard/562195/83 "2010-11-29T06:42:38Z")
I consider myself a Deist with a Christian background. I believe in the historical existence of Jesus Christ. As Uncle Cecil pointed out long ago, even pagan historians of antiquity believed Jesus was a real man. Who’s to say the manger and travelling soothsayers dropping by didn’t happen when he was born? The only thing I take issue with is the big fat six pointed star hanging overhead. THAT didn’t happen, and it can be interpreted at a gratuitous slam at Jews as well. No, I don’t KNOW that the story of Jesus’ birth is a myth. Nobody does. I vote obnoxious billboard. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2010, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beliefs-and-thoughts-on-the-atheist-billboard/562195/84 "2010-11-29T07:13:45Z")
Well, I think they are trying to throw the absurdity of the virgin birth into Apoplectic Apologenetics. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2010, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beliefs-and-thoughts-on-the-atheist-billboard/562195/85 "2010-11-29T07:21:23Z")
The irony is that the only virgin birth possible, is today, a reality. Science can and does regularly impregnate virgins in Animal Husbandry, and it is eminently possible for any human, through test tube In-Vitro. A virgin nun could be impregnated and still be a mother and a virgin through the miracle of science. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2010, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beliefs-and-thoughts-on-the-atheist-billboard/562195/86 "2010-11-29T07:24:06Z")
Agnostic Jew, leaning towards deism/belief. I think the money spent on Christian billboards is wasted. Has anyone ever been saved because of them? They seem to be the most common in very religious Southern states, where people tend to be quite religious to start with. Better to spend the money doing good works, as Jesus intended, or telling Christians to get their act together and really asking themselves WWJD. I think the message of the atheism billboards is more truthful, but they’re still preachy. People seem to move towards atheism through years of exploration, introspection and doubt. Potential atheists don’t seem like the kind of people would would drop their belief in a higher being at the sight of a billboard; look at all the various “How did you become an atheist?” threads on the SDMB. (Really, I think everybody has a little doubt. There may not be atheists in foxholes, but only fanatics welcome death, seeing a glorious afterlife on the other end of a heartbeat. Looking down the barrel end of a gun, I think even the most faithful will think there’s a chance their life will go “poof!”, and that’s that. All billboards are visual pollution in my opinion. It’s litter on a stick, and those that pay for their use only perpetuate the blight they cause. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2010, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beliefs-and-thoughts-on-the-atheist-billboard/562195/87 "2010-11-29T07:47:31Z")
I voted I’m a christian and that I like it. But I’m pretty sure I don’t like it the way others like it. I like it in a “good, show your true colors, thanks for the warning” kinda way. 😃 But I probably don’t count since I don’t belong to a church and I don’t follow much of the doctrine espoused by my former church. Don’t let me confuse you, I attend a church, but I’m not a member of that church, and I don’t buy into all of the doctrines of that church. ---
**Author:** ![SecondJudith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5ac83/32.png) [@SecondJudith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecondJudith)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2010, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beliefs-and-thoughts-on-the-atheist-billboard/562195/88 "2010-11-29T10:19:09Z")
As a humanist Jew I think “it’s a myth” is a much better reason to have a festival than “it’s a fact”, so to me that board is pushing a pro-Christmas message. ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2010, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beliefs-and-thoughts-on-the-atheist-billboard/562195/89 "2010-11-29T14:15:40Z")
Like most things that atheists say, this one is not true. I do not know that “it” (the birth of Jesus, presumably) is a myth. In fact, this is just one of many instances I’ve encountered in which an atheist claims to know what I’m thinking and gets it completely wrong. Whenever I see something like this I want to ask the person who wrote it: “How exactly do you know what I’m thinking? Are you willing to subject your mind-reading abilities to scientific testing? Isn’t ESP one of those things that you folks generally don’t believe in?” ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2010, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beliefs-and-thoughts-on-the-atheist-billboard/562195/90 "2010-11-29T16:10:19Z")
I don’t see it as any sort of anti-Christian message. I see it as a call to others who know it’s a myth. As in, “You know it’s a myth, so come check out our organization”. ---
**Author:** ![Blaster\_Master](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cab0a1/32.png) [@Blaster\_Master](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blaster_Master)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2010, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beliefs-and-thoughts-on-the-atheist-billboard/562195/91 "2010-11-29T16:42:55Z")
I’m a Christian, and I don’t like it, but not because I find it offensive. In fact, I don’t celebrate Christmas either. Rather, I generally dislike any type of attack ad and I equally disapprove of similar types of adds from Christian sources such as some of the anti-abortion and anti-gay marriage billboards I’ve seen. And FTR, I equally hate political attack ads and refuse to vote for any politician that uses them. It’s one thing for an organization to put up a general awareness type of ad and a clever blurb about their general mission possibly with meeting times and a link for additional information, but this is definitely an attack ad. Further, the sign comes across to me as arrogant, abrasive, and counter-productive. To someone who is religious, it is a very off-putting message and perpetuates a lot of the negative stereotypes that many religious people have about atheists. It’s not going to convert anyone from Christianity to atheism. To someone who isn’t religious, of course they think it’s a myth, what do you want them to do about it? Chances are they either continue to celebrate it because they enjoy it or like the secular message with it either of which is reason enough for them, or they already don’t at which point the message is pointless. So I only see it causing more polarity and divisiveness rather than raising the level of discourse. Even if I did agree with their perspective, I simply wouldn’t want to associate with an organization that would promote itself this way. ---
**Author:** ![SecondJudith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5ac83/32.png) [@SecondJudith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecondJudith)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2010, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beliefs-and-thoughts-on-the-atheist-billboard/562195/92 "2010-11-29T16:53:39Z")
After some thought, I’ve decided to vote “not Christian and don’t like it” because I disagree with the implied argument that myths aren’t worth celebrating. Practically every good festival is built around a myth. Pesach, the Fourth of July, Bastille Day, etc. are built around the myth of national independence. St Patrick’s Day is built around the myth of Irishness. Remembrance Day is built around the myth of national bravery and patriotic martyrdom. Birthdays are built around the myth of personal importance. Myths are an important part of personhood and humanity, and the festivals they inspire are usually a lot better than things like Flag Day or Oh Look Some Royals Are Getting Married. Even though I don’t celebrate Christmas, I don’t agree with the attempt to discredit or downplay myth as something that is inherently or clearly unimportant or false. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2010, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beliefs-and-thoughts-on-the-atheist-billboard/562195/93 "2010-11-29T17:00:18Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > I consider myself a Deist with a Christian background. > > I believe in the historical existence of Jesus Christ. As Uncle Cecil pointed out long ago, even pagan historians of antiquity believed Jesus was a real man. Who’s to say the manger and travelling soothsayers dropping by didn’t happen when he was born? The only thing I take issue with is the big fat six pointed star hanging overhead. THAT didn’t happen, and it can be interpreted at a gratuitous slam at Jews as well. > > No, I don’t KNOW that the story of Jesus’ birth is a myth. Nobody does. > > I vote obnoxious billboard. What? Nobody knows that an obvious myth that shares several similarities with previous myths is a myth? Yes, we do. You may not like that term. You may even have a misunderstanding of what the word means and why people use it in this context, but for the vast majority of the world, the story of the nativity is no more real or fact or true than the story of Zeus turning into a swan to knock some chick up. Who cares if people thought Jesus was an actual man? Ancient peoples thought lots of crazy shit, we don’t need to take their word on things. And the ad isn’t meant for faithful Christians in the first place. “You know it’s a myth” is targeted for people who are already unbelievers or are starting to have questions but can’t quite admit it because of the “SHUN THE NONBELIEVER” mentality. This is a billboard for people who are bombarded nearly 24/7 from Nov 24-Dec 25 with religious imagery, songs, stories, movies, etc but who already, down in their hearts, know that their celebrating an ancient myth and, quite frankly, it’s silly. So maybe one person will see this and have an epiphany and look up the organization that sponsored the billboard. And maybe that person will be much happier for no longer lying to themselves or anybody else. And maybe that one person’s moment of honesty and awareness is worth far more than a Christian’s delicate feelings that are apparently so fragile even a relatively innocuous and factually true statement is enough to give said Christian the vapors. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2010, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beliefs-and-thoughts-on-the-atheist-billboard/562195/94 "2010-11-29T17:05:04Z")
_while eating your Christmas meal_ _you really ought to feel_ _Jesus isn’t real_ _Burma Shave_ > [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > Actually since Jesus says “My Kingdom is not of this world” a lot of believers are against imposing laws that force Christianity on people. About as far as most believers here get is maybe banning abortion and gay marriage and then there are some who remain aloof like the Amish. My experience with people like that is that they’re the nicest in the world. Unfortunately, they’re pretty irrelevant for political purposes, since they don’t vote. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2010, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beliefs-and-thoughts-on-the-atheist-billboard/562195/95 "2010-11-29T17:06:58Z")
I’m Christian, and voted that I don’t have a problem with it. If a billboard is going to change your mind about something, you beliefs probably weren’t very strong in the first place. I do agree with those who say who cares if it’s a myth or not. Celebrating is fun. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2010, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beliefs-and-thoughts-on-the-atheist-billboard/562195/96 "2010-11-29T17:13:29Z")
Was this site with examples of various Christian and Atheist billboards already linked? [http://www.dangeroustalk.net/billboard-wars.html](http://www.dangeroustalk.net/billboard-wars.html) I guess it’s the atheist in me but every one of those Christian billboards was incredibly insulting and obnoxious. **“Coming soon”**? Oh really? Well hurry the hell up and take your people with you, I say. I see the threat in several of the Christian billboards. I don’t see any threat in the atheist billboards. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2010, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beliefs-and-thoughts-on-the-atheist-billboard/562195/97 "2010-11-29T17:13:37Z")
> [@Blaster\_Master](#): > > Even if I did agree with their perspective, I simply wouldn’t want to associate with an organization that would promote itself this way. [Compare the Christian billboards to the atheist billboards](http://www.dangeroustalk.net/billboard-wars.html#christian) then, and tell us which group you’d rather associate with. edited to add-unauthorized mind-reading suspected here. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2010, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beliefs-and-thoughts-on-the-atheist-billboard/562195/98 "2010-11-29T17:17:42Z")
**Czarcasm** , I am dropped jawed over that site. The name-calling by the so-called "Christians is despicable. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2010, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beliefs-and-thoughts-on-the-atheist-billboard/562195/99 "2010-11-29T17:21:19Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > [Compare the Christian billboards to the atheist billboards](http://www.dangeroustalk.net/billboard-wars.html#christian) then, and tell us which group you’d rather associate with. > edited to add-unauthorized mind-reading suspected here. Wow. After reading all the way to the bottom I can’t stop smiling. 🙂 Thanks for the link. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2010, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beliefs-and-thoughts-on-the-atheist-billboard/562195/100 "2010-11-29T17:25:06Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > Wow. After reading all the way to the bottom I can’t stop smiling. 🙂 > > Thanks for the link. Credit where credit is due- **Rushgeekgirl** posted the same link 3.75 seconds before I did. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beliefs-and-thoughts-on-the-atheist-billboard/562195.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beliefs-and-thoughts-on-the-atheist-billboard/562195.md?page=6)