Well, I never thought I'd see this in Nebraska.

[progressoid]

Omaha Coalition of Reason put up a "godless" billboard in the middle of Omaha Nebraska.

And except for the AM radio douches and a few other loudmouths, there has been relatively little uproar about it. (but I've been kind of busy so maybe I missed the bruhaha).

'Godless' billboard reaches out to nonbelievers

The billboard, near 72nd and Pacific Streets, reads: “Don't believe in God? Join the club.” A new group called the Omaha Coalition of Reason placed the ad with funding from a national organization, the United Coalition of Reason, that has backed similar billboards around the United States.

“We're reaching out to nontheists to let them know that there's a local community of reason for them to join,” said William Newman, director of the Omaha Coalition of Reason. “We're using the billboard as a beacon to hold out to them.”

The coalition comprises seven local organizations: the Omaha Atheists; Rationalists, Empiricists and Skeptics of Nebraska; UNO Secular Student Alliance; UNO Council for Humanist Thought; Omaha Atheist and Agnostic Parenting Group; Nebraska Secular Home Educators; and Recovering from Religion-Omaha Chapter.

...http://www.omaha.com/article/20120711/NEWS/707119873/1707

"Godless" Billboard Sparks Debate

A new controversial billboard in town has a lot of people talking. It’s located near 72nd and Pacific Streets and for drivers headed southbound it may just grab their attention.

It reads: “Don’t Believe in God? Join the Club”

It was put up by the Omaha Coalition of Reason, a group that promotes atheist, humanist, and secularist thinking. Director William Newman says the billboard is part of a campaign to attract nonbelievers in the area. “Our billboard was designed not to denigrate anybody's religion or come out and try to convince people there is no God,” says Newman.

Pastor Jeremy Fuerst of St. Timothy’s Lutheran Church doesn't have a problem with the sign, but says he understands why some may disagree. “It’s a natural reaction to have fear to a group that may oppose your core values, but as people of love we are to respond with love and that means fear is a non factor, “ says Fuerst.

Stephanie Hardesty was once an atheist, but now believes in God. She says the billboard is a good way to get people talking. “I that's good because it gives nonbelievers in Omaha a chance to engage with each other and the culture at large.”

http://www.wowt.com/news/headlines/Godless_Billboard_Sparks_Debate_162530746.html

[frogmarch]

1. My sons and their families

live in the Omaha suburbs, and they're atheists and their friends are all atheists/agnostics/freethinkers, so it doesn't surprise me. It would shock me to see any atheist billboards here in western Nebraska though -shocked to have caught sight of one before it was shot full of bullet holes.

[progressoid]

2. True.

I've worked with quite a few nonbelievers in Omaha. It's just not something I expected to see so out in the open.

Apparently the American Atheist's billboards in DesMoines last year caused a minor stir (probably because they were a little more 'in your face' and were put up at Easter ). But like western NE, there are places in IA where the locals would be gathering torches and pitchforks if they were to show up. When I drive through some areas, it's chock full of "The End Is Near!" billboards or the Knights of Columbus billboards shouting "Abortion is Murder!". This is Rep Steve King territory.

[frogmarch]

3. I've seen

a few anti-abortion signs around here, but the "Jesus Saves!" types of billboards are common. I think if there were a lot of atheists here, the Christians would be up in arms - literally - and there would be religious billboards every few feet. For all I know, my husband and I are the only atheists in town. We're not closeted atheists, but we don't make a big production of it either, because we don't want our vehicles damaged or our house set on fire. Religious zealots can be dangerous, especially when they're all riled up over something, like finding atheists in their midst.

[Curmudgeoness]

4. THIS is why we are tired of being treated

like second-class citizens. What you have said about concerns if some people knew you were atheists is the reason that we are fighting for a seat at the table. We just want accepted as we are and don't want to fear persecution. Is that too much to ask?

[frogmarch]

6. Some believers equate us with

satanists. They don't get that we don't believe in gods, demons, angels - or any other supernatural stuff either. I've found this to be true of many of my husband's relatives. Even the ones who do get it think that whether atheists know it or not, satan is guiding them, so even if atheists don't believe in satan, atheists are satanists.

I may be wrong, but I think that ultra-religiosity in America (I'm thinking Christian fundies here) will gradually fade away as the old Jesus Saves guard dies off. Atheism is catching on more and more, and I think the web has helped make it happen, because there, atheists have a voice that can be heard by people who'd never heard it before. Religious extremists are on the web too, which is also good, because they're exposing themselves as the wackos they are.

I think there'll come a day when atheists are no longer persecuted. Maybe there'll even come a day when everyone is an atheist.

[EvolveOrConvolve]

5. An atheist billboard went up in a neighboring town recently

http://www.idahopress.com/news/local/atheist-billboard-in-nampa-attracts-interest/article_2885f974-cca7-11e1-a41c-001a4bcf887a.html

I've heard a TON of complaints in person, but no vandalism yet, and the comments are surprisingly pro-atheist.

Keep in mind that this is a county that brags about being the most conservative in the country (haven't had a Dem in any office, countywide or statewide, in decades).

[progressoid]

7. Wow! Idaho too!

That's cool. Glad it has survived.

Haven't been to Idaho in over 20 years. Would love to get back out there sometime.