Atheist Billboards Popping Up in California; Signs Proclaim You Can Be 'Good Without God'

Atheist billboards are going to be erected in California to spur a public debate between atheists, or humanists, and religious conservatives. The atheist billboards express the preference of people who want to keep religion out of public life. The billboards are planned to go up the day after Thanksgiving.

A group of atheists  want to put up billboards in the California capital to explain why they are non-believers. The atheists hope the billboard will bring a greater visibility to their lack of religious faith.

The atheist group will put up 55 billboards in the Sacramento are that will showcase local residents alongside slogans such as "Good without God." The atheist billboard campaigns is then planned to move to other major US cities.

The ads were sponsored by Freedom from Religion Foundation, a group based in Wisconsin. Freedom From Religion Foundation co-president Annie Laurie Gaylor explained "Those of us who are free from religion, who work to keep dogma out of government, science, medicine and education, have a lot to offer society."

The atheist billboards are slated to be unveiled in Sacramento on the day after Thanksgiving. The signs are part of a growing movement that want to keep Christian faith from being turned into policy by US conservative politicians. Secular voters, who are growing among younger voters want to keep religion out of public life.

Freedom from Religion Foundation also has plans to place a erect a large letter "A," for atheism, in Chicago's Daley Plaza. That is the city displays its annual Christmas decorations.

Gaylor explained that the atheist billboards want to show non-religious people that they don't have to hide their lack of belief in a country where atheists and agnostics often feel isolated.

The atheist billboards in Sacramento will feature area residents along with their names and the which neighborhood they live in. One sign, which features a humanist named Mashariki Lawson said "Doing good is my religion." Another billboard shows Sacramento resident Julia Verdugo under the words "Believe in yourself,"

Monsigneur James Murphy of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento agrees that people can do good without being religious, but thinks it is ironic that the billboards are planned to go up the day after Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving was concocted as a secular, but religious holiday. Murphy may not agree with the message, but believes in the right of atheists to express their opinion. He said "I wish they weren't up there ... but I'm not going to fight their rights."

Tags
world news
atheist
billboards
good without god
Join the Discussion

Latest Photo Gallery

Real Time Analytics