Atheist billboard
Encyclopedia
An atheist billboard is an outdoor billboard
which promotes divestment or outreach to atheists
, nontheists or non-religious individuals. Similar to the Atheist Bus Campaign
first undertaken in the United Kingdom by Ariane Sherine
in October 2008, atheist billboards often include messages or graphics which either assert the lack of evidence for the existence of deities or positively encourage those who are privately questioning the existence of a deity (or the supernatural), and such advertisements have garnered controversy and negative reactions from local theists.
in January 2008 along Route 95 South in Ridgefield; the billboard stated "Don't believe in God? You are not alone" against a cloudy sky background. It was followed in June 2008 by another billboard (containing the same words and background) along Interstate 95
near the Allegheny Avenue exit which was funded by Steve Rade, a Huntingdon Valley businessman, and spearheaded (and underlined) by the Greater Philadelphia Coalition of Reason (PhillyCOR); a large batch of billboards with the same contents was posted in November 2008 by COCORE, an umbrella organization of atheists and secular humanists in Colorado, at 10 sites in Denver and one in Colorado Springs, with the payment for the campaign going to upwards of $5,000 for four weeks starting on November 17. By this time, local atheist groups were encouraged to spearhead the billboards by the Atheist Bus Campaign, which had been started in the United Kingdom and soon spread to other countries in which public transit constitutes a main means of both transportation and advertisement (for both businesses and religious movements).
Billboard
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
which promotes divestment or outreach to atheists
Atheism
Atheism is, in a broad sense, the rejection of belief in the existence of deities. In a narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there are no deities...
, nontheists or non-religious individuals. Similar to the Atheist Bus Campaign
Atheist Bus Campaign
The Atheist Bus Campaign aims to place "peaceful and upbeat" messages about atheism on transport media in Britain, in response to evangelical Christian advertising....
first undertaken in the United Kingdom by Ariane Sherine
Ariane Sherine
Ariane Sherine is a British comedy writer and journalist. She created the UK version of the Atheist Bus Campaign, which ran in January 2009. She lives in London.- Career :...
in October 2008, atheist billboards often include messages or graphics which either assert the lack of evidence for the existence of deities or positively encourage those who are privately questioning the existence of a deity (or the supernatural), and such advertisements have garnered controversy and negative reactions from local theists.
United States
The earliest-documented atheist billboard was first posted by FreeThoughtAction and the American Humanist AssociationAmerican Humanist Association
The American Humanist Association is an educational organization in the United States that advances Humanism. "Humanism is a progressive philosophy of life that, without theism and other supernatural beliefs, affirms our ability and responsibility to lead ethical lives of personal fulfillment that...
in January 2008 along Route 95 South in Ridgefield; the billboard stated "Don't believe in God? You are not alone" against a cloudy sky background. It was followed in June 2008 by another billboard (containing the same words and background) along Interstate 95
Interstate 95
Interstate 95 is the main highway on the East Coast of the United States, running parallel to the Atlantic Ocean from Maine to Florida and serving some of the most populated urban areas in the country, including Boston, Providence, New Haven, New York City, Newark, Philadelphia, Baltimore,...
near the Allegheny Avenue exit which was funded by Steve Rade, a Huntingdon Valley businessman, and spearheaded (and underlined) by the Greater Philadelphia Coalition of Reason (PhillyCOR); a large batch of billboards with the same contents was posted in November 2008 by COCORE, an umbrella organization of atheists and secular humanists in Colorado, at 10 sites in Denver and one in Colorado Springs, with the payment for the campaign going to upwards of $5,000 for four weeks starting on November 17. By this time, local atheist groups were encouraged to spearhead the billboards by the Atheist Bus Campaign, which had been started in the United Kingdom and soon spread to other countries in which public transit constitutes a main means of both transportation and advertisement (for both businesses and religious movements).
List
| Road and Location | Content | Sponsor(s) | Payment | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Route 95 South in Ridgefield, New Jersey Ridgefield, New Jersey There were 4,020 households out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.7% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.2% were non-families. 23.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone... |
"Don't believe in God? You are not alone" against a cloudy sky background | FreeThoughtAction and the American Humanist Association American Humanist Association The American Humanist Association is an educational organization in the United States that advances Humanism. "Humanism is a progressive philosophy of life that, without theism and other supernatural beliefs, affirms our ability and responsibility to lead ethical lives of personal fulfillment that... |
? | January 2008 |
| Along Interstate 95 Interstate 95 Interstate 95 is the main highway on the East Coast of the United States, running parallel to the Atlantic Ocean from Maine to Florida and serving some of the most populated urban areas in the country, including Boston, Providence, New Haven, New York City, Newark, Philadelphia, Baltimore,... near the Allegheny Avenue exit in Philadelphia |
"Don't believe in God? You are not alone" against a cloudy sky background | Steve Rade, PhillyCOR | ? | June 2008 |
| 10 sites in Denver and one in Colorado Springs, Colorado Colorado Springs, Colorado Colorado Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and most populous city of El Paso County, Colorado, United States. Colorado Springs is located in South-Central Colorado, in the southern portion of the state. It is situated on Fountain Creek and is located south of the Colorado... |
"Don't believe in God? You are not alone" against a cloudy sky background | COCORE | $5,000 | November 17, 2008 |
| LaSalle St. in the Chicago Loop Chicago Loop The Loop or Chicago Loop is one of 77 officially designated Chicago community areas located in the City of Chicago, Illinois. It is the historic commercial center of downtown Chicago... |
"Are you without God? Millions are." against a cloudy sky background | ChicagoCOR | ? | October 2009 |
| Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009... |
One Nation Indivisible (NCSecular.org) | Charlotte Atheists and Agnostics | ? | June 2010 |
| 20 billboards posted throughout Tampa Tâmpa Tâmpa may refer to several villages in Romania:* Tâmpa, a village in Băcia Commune, Hunedoara County* Tâmpa, a village in Miercurea Nirajului, Mureş County* Tâmpa, a mountain in Braşov city... and St. Petersburg, Florida St. Petersburg, Florida St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St... |
Freedom from Religion Foundation | ? | August 2010 | |
| 5 billboards in New Orleans, including a 14x48 foot billboard at Canal and Rampart Streets | August 2010 | |||
| 19 billboards in Trenton, New Jersey Trenton, New Jersey Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913... |
August 2010 | |||
| 20 billboards in Louisville, Kentucky Louisville, Kentucky Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096... |
September 2010 | |||
| 15th Street and Broken Arrow Expressway in Tulsa, Oklahoma Tulsa, Oklahoma Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's... |
“Atheism is OK in Oklahoma — and everywhere!” | Bill Dusenberry, Tulsa chapter of Freedom From Religion Foundation | ? | September 2010 |
| I-44 and NW 10th, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Oklahoma City is the capital and the largest city in the state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, the city ranks 31st among United States cities in population. The city's population, from the 2010 census, was 579,999, with a metro-area population of 1,252,987 . In 2010, the Oklahoma... |
Don't believe in God? Join the club. OKCCOR.org | Oklahoma City Coalition of Reason | ? | September 2010 |
| 50 locations throughout Atlanta |
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Freedom From Religion Foundation | ? | September 2010 |