When Atheists Attack: Billboard calling church 'fake news' causes stir

When Atheists Attack: Billboard calling church 'fake news' causes stir 

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- A new billboard on I-25 is causing some controversy.

The billboard on northbound I-25 near Montgomery tells people to "just skip church" and '"it's all fake news!" The phrases are written next to a nativity scene. Underneath, it says "Happy Holidays from American Atheists."
The billboard went up Wednesday, and it's not the only one. There are two in Dallas and five more going up in Oklahoma.

 

Richard Mansfield, a senior pastor at New Beginnings Church nearby, said the billboard has already offended some of his parishioners who've driven by it.
"I think they're trying to give a slap in the face to not only the Christian community but people that have faith and people that have hope," he said.
KOB reached out to American Atheists and asked if they meant the billboard to be offensive.
"We want people to realize we're starting a conversation by being a little funny and trying to be a little cheeky about it," said Nick Fish, the national program director for American Atheists. "We do want to get a rise out of them, but the idea is not to be offensive."
Fish said the billboard's goal is to start a conversation by reminding people that there are millions of atheists in the country.
"We want people to critically think about everything they're being told," he said. "We want people to think about what messages they're getting in church and think about the fact that in this country, we give a really big pass to preachers or churches or to religious beliefs that hold really abhorrent views."

 

 

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