American Atheists Plan To Put Up Holiday Billboards

UCN:  American Atheists: Holiday 'Myth' Billboards To Go Up In NJ, Ohio, Fla.
The group American Atheists announced this week that a new version of their Holiday season "myth" billboard is going up in several locations nationwide, including the New Jersey side of the Lincoln Tunnel -- the same location as last year's "You KNOW it's a MYTH" billboard.

According to a news release, the group said the new billboard features pictures of Neptune, Jesus, Santa Claus, and the Devil and says, "37 Million Americans know MYTHS when they see them. What do you see?" The ads will also be going up in Ohio and Florida.

Dave Silverman, president of American Atheists, said, "Last year's MYTH billboard was incredibly successful and garnered a lot more attention than we conceived. This year's billboard should be equally thought-provoking and spark plenty of conversations nationally, but especially in New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Florida."

Silverman said the Florida billboards will also be advertising the group's our upcoming Fort Lauderdale convention in December.

Blair Scott, communications director for American Atheists, said, "Every year groups like The Catholic League and American Family Association told Americans about a war on Christmas that simply did not exist. Last year we thought we would give them what they seemed to want and fired the first shot in the war on Christmas. To both groups we say, 'Happy Holidays!'"

Scott said the billboards are not intended to offend people, but that the group knows people are going to be offended.

"When you question someone's long-held beliefs and doctrine they are going to be immediately offended and be on the defensive: it's a known psychological phenomenon," said Scott.