[NYTr] "Imagine No Religion" - FFRF's PA Billboard in the News

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

Freedom From Religion Foundation - Dec 13, 2007
http://www.ffrf.org

"Imagine No Religion" Pennsylvania Billboard in the News

The third freethought billboard placed by the Freedom From Religion
Foundation is getting ink in Pennsylvania. "Atheists' group sponsors
Franklin County billboard," by Roscoe Barnes (Public Opinion News,
Penn.) reports on the posting of an "Imagine No Religion" billboard in
Franklin County, Penn. (The billboard account exec, who is quoted, is
terribly confused but the rest of the information is accurate.) -FFRF


Public Opinion News - Dec. 13, 2007
http://www.publicopiniononline.com/ci_7706113


Atheists' group sponsors Franklin County billboard

By Roscoe Barnes III 
Staff Writer

HAMILTON TOWNSHIP -- A billboard connected to a group of atheists and
agnostics has appeared for the first time in Franklin County.

The billboard reads "Imagine No Religion." It includes the Freedom From
Religion Foundation's name and its Web site. It is located on U.S. 30
near Sunnyway Foods and Warm Spring Road.

The sign will be moved to a billboard on Pa. 997, between Interstate 81
and U.S. 11, and a spot on U.S. 30 West, over the next six months.

The foundation is a national nonprofit organization based in Madison,
Wis. With 12,000 members and supporters, it is touted as the "largest
group of atheists and agnostics in North America," according to its Web
site.

The group works to protect the constitutional principle of separation
of church and state.

A FFRF statement says the sign on Radio Hill was sponsored by a local
FFRF member who wants to remain anonymous. A representative of
Kegerreis Outdoor Advertising, which leases the sign, said it was
sponsored by a local church.

Dusky Chilcote, senior account executive for Kegerreis, said Wednesday
she initially had mixed feelings about the account because of her
Christian background.

"The company approached me," she said. "A local church put it up. I am
not allowed to give any names. They said their desire was that people
would have the freedom to walk into any church they choose. They said
that people would be challenged to see things differently and to think
for themselves."

The foundation unveiled a new billboard campaign earlier this fall,
launching it with a "Beware of Dogma" billboard in Madison, Wis. "Our
goal is to place a free-thinking billboard somewhere in every state,"
said Annie Laurie Gaylor, foundation co-president.

"We have a local member who felt there had been so many messages about
God and wanted to offer another point of view," she said Wednesday.
"This member asked to remain anonymous because he felt it would be
injurious if he were to be outed as an unbeliever."

This time of year was selected because "we are swamped with religious
imagery... and it is overwhelming," said Gaylor.

However, she said, it's refreshing to have the billboard with a
different message and to have a presence as part of the public
landscape.

"There seems to be a herd mentality that takes over in the month of
December," she said. "The idea for the sign is to enhance our local
profile."

Sunnway Manager Mike Martin said he was not aware of the sign, but was
surprised it had been posted.

"They are allowed to their opinion," he said. "However, I am as far as
you can get from that view, as far as agreeing. I think it's very
distasteful to do it this time of year."

Responding to questions about the billboard, a local pastor said
America is a country that has freedom of religion and that includes the
freedom to have no religion.

"If we speak our minds we have the freedom to say that as well," said
Phil Byers, associate pastor of Chambersburg Brethren in Christ Church.
"I'm not opposed to that mindset, but it certainly is not what I would
espouse. I would like to see a billboard promoting the true meaning of
Christmas, which is the entrance of God into the world through Jesus
Christ."

Byers said he understands people's frustration with a "barrage of
religion" in general. Religions have had their problems, he said.

Yet, when people say "imagine no religion," they miss the beauty of
Christmas and a "true relationship with God," he said.

"In the end they are certainly free to make that thought," Byers said.
"I hope people see what really happens through Christmas. Because of
Jesus coming into our world, true freedom is possible. That would be
the freedom I'd like to see people reach for."


Freedom From Religion Foundation
PO Box 750 * Madison, WI 53701 * (608) 256-8900 

© Freedom From Religion Foundation.