American Atheist Billboard Calls Jesus 'Useless Savior'
A prominent atheist group has come under fire after they released a new billboard advertisement attacking Christianity with claims that Jesus is a "useless savior."
American Atheists, the group responsible for the new ad campaign, claimed that the current political system is saturated with religion and that that relationship is diluting political discourse.
"Our political system is rife with religion and it depends too much on religion and not enough on substance," David Silverman, president of American Atheists, said in a statement.
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"Religion is silly and religion has components that are inherently divisive. … There is no place for any of that in the political system," he added.
And so the atheist group is attacking Christianity for what they feel is the promotion of hate.
The first billboard comes with the header "Christianity" and then proceeds to label Jesus Christ a" useless savior." The full text reads, "Sadistic God; Useless Savior, 30,000+ Version of 'Truth.' Promotes Hate, Calls it 'Love.'"
But those who have seen the good that Christians provide and the message of tolerance that Jesus spread feel that this new ad campaign does not understand the foundation of Christianity.
"Christianity, accurately understood from the Bible, does not seek to make slaves. The goal is always freedom which is first spiritual, then physical but still very important. Christianity is opposed to all oppression," Ken Mellinger, senior pastor of Living Hope Church, previously told The Christian Post.
The billboards are set to run in Charlotte, N.C., where the Democratic National Convention will be held Sept. 3-6, in an attempt to draw some of the conversation away from the Presidential election.
"The election of our leaders in the United States is one of the most important decisions that we as citizens make. Allowing our judgment to be clouded by sheer silliness is unacceptable. We want to show the people of our country the foolishness of mixing religion with politics," Silverman read in a statement.
But it is not just Christianity that is the target of the new billboard ads; Mormonism is also attacked as being a religion based on bigotry.
It is interesting that American Atheists decided to use one of the largest-followed religion in America and also the religion that presidential candidate Mitt Romney follows.
The text on the billboard states reads: "Mormonism: God Is a Space Alien, Baptizes Dead People, Big Money, Big Bigotry."
But even when messages of hate are produced and associated with the Bible, followers of Christ should not worry or waver in the word of God, says Mellinger.
"I won't protest if an atheist (or atheism) is so honored. The Bible doesn't need anyone to defend it because it is the Word of God. It will always stand," Mellinger said.
Plans for the billboards to be advertised during the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., fell through after no company agreed to rent space to the group.
