Dueling billboards at the entrance to NYC's Lincoln Tunnel. Credit: Seth Wenig, AP
The first shot was fired shortly before Thanksgiving, when the American Atheists group put up a billboard on the New Jersey side of the Lincoln Tunnel. Their message: "You KNOW it's a myth. This season, celebrate REASON!"
On their website, the group claims the message was intended to raise awareness of the organization and shake up atheists who "go along to get along." But they also own up to another, more aggressive, motive: To "attack the myth that Christianity owns the solstice season."
Needless to say, that did not go over well with the Catholic League, who responded with their own billboard on the New York side of the tunnel. Their retort: "You know it's real. This season, celebrate Jesus."
In a notice posted on their website, the Catholic League says they decided to "counterpunch" the American Atheists and their "anti-Christmas" message after a donor came forward and offered up the funds to do so.
But back to the American Atheists. They were, like, totally surprised and felt mocked by the Catholic group's response. "It's almost as if they're about to say, 'I know you are but what am I?'" said David Silverman, president of the atheist organization, to the Wall Street Journal.
So what has all this attacking and counterpunching accomplished? Well, the billboard companies made a total of about $38,000 on this controversy. So, there's that.
What do you think about the billboards? Let us know in the comments or on Facebook.
Kate,12-03-2010, 6:50AM
The atheists should read Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis, a former atheist. Also, if Christians, Jews, Muslims and other religions want to believe in God let them. What's it to you? When we die and our souls don't go to Heaven or hell then the atheist will have the last laugh AND if our souls do enter Eternity, well then, the Christians will pity you atheist like they do already.
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huyougegea,12-03-2010, 7:36AM
This is America it is good to see seasonal comments, but I do protest the against the Atheist on this one, first off its the Holiday season why would you want to bring people "down", it is actually one of the few time in the year that almost everyone is nice to each other in NYC..!It's hard to find a good men in my town ,most of them like my money more than like me.Ijust want to find my true love.so i got a username jay55on agegapsingle s .c 'om .It's the best club for seek'ing young or old girls.if you men see this comment,i hope you will check my photos out there.maybe you are the one who
i'm looking for!!!
Peter,12-03-2010, 9:21AM
Oh, I dunno. C.S. Lewis is certainly one of the very best and most gentle apologists who ever lived. But I would not suggest Mere Christianity as first introduction to someone of the Atheist persuasion. I would rather suggest The Screwtape Letters. Hook them with humor before trying direct persuasion.
But in terms of the billboard issues - why bother? As with most discussions around "revealed religion" (And Atheism is as much a religion as any other) neither side is persuaded and both sides come out feeling that the other side consist of a bunch of rather dense idiots - and that is a charitable descriptive.
Writing entirely for myself, I am of the persuasion that Organized Religion (as entirely apart frome faith and belief) is if not directly, certainly amongst the first-causes of pretty much every war and conflict of substance over the last several thousand years. Pretty much all the 'majors' and even many of the minors preach peace, love, respect, tolerance and understanding. And that is the present state of the world, correct? Religions and sects within religions allow a 'true believer' to denegrate all others as lessers for not being "true believers". And thereby permits all sorts of atrocities. Jonathan Swift got it right over the war between the "Big Enders" and the "Little Enders". T'was ever thus.
Jesus,12-03-2010, 8:26AM
ASIA IS AN ATHEIST GOVERNMENT, THEY KILL AND LOCK UP ANYBODY THAT PRACTICE THE BIBLE OR TEACH ABOUT JESUS,YOU CAN TEACH ABOUT BUDDA AND ALA AND ANYTHING ELSE BUT ONCE YOU TALK ABOUT JESUS YOUR DEAD..ASK YOURSELF WHY,,WHAT DOES THE BIBLE TEACH THAT CAN HARM MANDKIND? DONT KILL,,,DONT TAKE ANOTHER MANS WIFE,,,DONT LIE,,,,,DONT STEAL,,,,O MAN WHAT A BAD AND EVIL GOD ....I KNO RELIGON CONFUSED ALOT OF YOU AND EVEN MOST CATHOLICS WORK WITH SATANIC CULTS LIKE THE BROTHERHOOD.SO ITS NOT ABOUT A RELIGON ITS ABOUT A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD ITS NOT ABOUT RULES ITS ABOUT LOVE....FORGET ANOTHER MANS BOOK THE KJ VERSION OF THE BIBLE IS THE ONLY ONE YET TO BE TWISTED FROM TEH ORIGINAL BIBLE,,,STUDY UP,,GOD ONLY WANTS TO LOVE YOU NOT JUDGE YOU WHEN YOU DIE THATS JUDGMENT DAY...GODBLESS YOU ALL
Karen,12-03-2010, 8:27AM
What is strange is if they are atheists, why put up a religious bill board? And it is religious. Your first view is of the 3 Wise Men...most people won't even have the time to read the message. Also, I thought it was strange that they put it up "to raise awareness of the organization and shake up atheists who "go along to get along"". What do they care what a so called atheist does? I was under the impression that atheists' just don't believe, I didn't realize they are 'instructed' not to believe. Isn't that what an organization does? Instructs?
mi,12-11-2010, 12:56AM
I agree.
It is unfortunate that a mere minority of atheists( whom I would say actually do have a religion : secular humanism) would want to grieve the judeo- christian faith to such a degree. How much more evidence is needed to understand that this life, and cosmos is not all that there is. It is a dot in eternity. It is so prideful as intelligent beings, to think that there could not be an intelligent designer far more intelligent and awesome than ourselves , whose ways and thoughts can never be fully comprehended, and who created the concept of time itsself.
Jesus the Christ, ( who was born, did live , suffer, die, and was resurrected( for our sins), predicted all the unbelief and scofferrs from that day to present), is accounted not only in the Bible, but also in so many extrabiblical documents. His earthly life and death was predicted by the prophet Isaiah and many of the old testament Hebrew prophets hundreds of years before he was even born on this earth.
Jesus himself also referrs to the old testament prophets, and the account of Noah and the great deluge/flood ( of which there are also many transcultural , extrabiblical accounts and evidences) among other accounts..
My friends, God is true, as is the Bible , from Genesis to revelation. Whether you do not believe, or selectively believe, is irrelevant.
As one of the other commentaries pointed out, the pleasantness and joy of the Christmas season it self, should clue you into the fact that ther is something good here., which is God's grace. why deny and or suppress it.?
Jesus is celebrated everday in the hearts of all believers; Christmas is simply a special time of the year , throughout the globe, where his birth is commemorated and appreciated through joy, worship, giving, and thanks giving( as God gave us his most precious gift, in his Son.).Christmas pleases God, and benefits mankind. Why would anyone have a problem with that?
It is unfortunate that the prince of peace , the Lord Jesus Christ, God the Son,, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, healer, saviour, deliverer, good shephard, alpha and omega, author of true faith, and all that is good in this world , continues to be derided, and even a curse word to some). Christianity is often singled by religious mockers. Why? because it is a spiritual battle for the eternity of souls and the truth. There is a very real adversary of our souls, believe it or not. But we know who wins in the end. God is not mocked. Choose God/Jesus.
I pray that the " atheists" that were behind the whole billboard slurr will eventually come to see ( as many do) the truth of life.
refer to
" What if Jesus had never been born " Dr. D. James Kennedy
" The case for Christ" Lee Stroeble
" I dont have enough faith to be an atheist". Norman Geisler
The Grace,and Peace Lord to you. Merry Christmas. God is Love.
TonyC,12-03-2010, 9:47AM
Hey "Jesus," first unlock your CapLocks button, then take a trip to Asia. You'll learn many things. First of which is that Asia is not one country with one government. It is a section of the world, and it contains many countries. And Chriustianity can be found being practiced in nearly all of them. Somehow I doubt that this reality will in any way change your mind, but we can always hope.
Cotton,12-03-2010, 10:13AM
Truth be known I agree. Those that have Jesus in their hearts can't deny what they know and those who do not, cannot believe what they don't know. Don't confuse "religion" with our Father. Got Jesus?
Sharon,12-03-2010, 9:55AM
I think that either way it does not really matter when your sinking that much dough into billboards. Just wasting money! Save your money and use save creatively.com for great freebies.
Charlie,12-03-2010, 10:43AM
I agree. Atheists should read the works of C.S. Lewis, including the book you mentioned. Many of them already have.
I also think that Christians should read "Why I Became an Atheist: A Former Preacher Rejects Christianity" by John Loftis.
While we're all at it, Christians and Atheists alike should read books on Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Unitarian Universalism, Christian Universalism, Deism, Islam, Mormonism and the Jehovah's Witnesses.
And we should take every book we read, with a grain of salt and some healthy skepticism, and at the same time, with enough openness to identify the good and true principles that all of these books have, that we might incorporate the truth into our lives, and separate the "wheat from the chaff" so to speak, and identify what we personally find to be true.
Brenda,12-03-2010, 11:10AM
Wouldn't you want to do it right here on Earth and know, that if there is Eternity and Heavens you will be there? You will NOT have a chance to go back and do over.. Once you get to those doors, is either welcome or I didn't know you.
Brenda,12-03-2010, 11:12AM
Wouldn't you want to do it right here on Earth and know, that if there is Eternity and Heavens you will be there? You will NOT have a chance to go back and do over.. Once you get to those doors, is either welcome or I didn't know you.
Tara,12-03-2010, 11:41AM
Why are atheists celebrating ANYTHING on a religious holiday? I am a firm believer in the separation of church and state, and I believe a greeting of "happy holidays" is better and more universal than a "merry Christmas" but regardless of which holiday is being celebrated, they are ALL attached to some religion. So again, why are atheists even involved in this particular debate? I mean, I'm not Jewish so I don't involve myself in Hanukkah debates. The same goes for discussion of Ramadan, since I am not a Muslim. So why, if these people are not Christians and don't believe in any religion, do they even feel they have a valid voice in a debate of how the season is celebrated? They need to mind their own business and let everyone else do the same.
Terry,12-03-2010, 1:38PM
It is all about giving isn't it? Give with free stuff Http://bit.ly/dailysample
majestic,12-03-2010, 1:47PM
Hello atheists:
Here's one for you: DON'T USE OUR MONEY: HENCE THE WORDS: IN GOD WE TRUST: IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE IN GOD DON'T TRUST IN GOD DON'T USE OUR MONEY!!!!
I AM SICK OF ALL OF YOU!!!! ENOUGH SAID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Eileen,12-03-2010, 6:49AM
If you want to view this billboard conflict from the "who started it", then it's the Atheists' throwing the first punch. Did they also include a Menorah on any of their billboards? Where was the billboard during Ramadan? Why single out just the beliefs of all CHRISTIANS? It's not just the Catholics' holiday! This is supposed to be a nation of diversity. Did any religious group target the Atheists by putting up a billboard that said, "You KNOW the Atheists are WRONG!"? I respect the Atheists' right to have their own beliefs, why do they have to deliberately disrespect anyone else's?
If you don't believe in God, fine. But don't put up a billboard to tell ME what I supposedly "know". How much respect do you think that will garner?
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big ruff,12-03-2010, 7:20AM
This is America it is good to see seasonal comments, but I do protest the against the Atheist on this one, first off its the Holiday season why would you want to bring people "down", it is actually one of the few time in the year that almost everyone is nice to each other in NYC.
Second off, are you an "Atheist" or just a scrooge. if you are an Atheist than speak out against all religions, don't pick on one. Where is your brotherly love of mankind, even if you don't believe, it brings joy and hope to those that do
Catherine,12-03-2010, 9:15AM
Very well said! The points you make are right on the mark. I hope a lot of people, including the atheists, will take the time to read your post.
tim,12-03-2010, 1:47PM
actually if you read the billboard above .... it doesn't single out any particular religion.
debbieinmass,12-03-2010, 8:06AM
Yes!!! Score one for God you atheists went over the line here challenging our beliefs and calling us liars pretty much so if it turns out there is a heaven you shouldnt be allowed in since you do not believe. Why should you trash our faith and then get to reap the benefits??? But alas God is a forgiving God and most likely you will be allowed in anyways... Happy Holidays to ALL!!!
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