Atheist Superbowl Advert Mocks Those Who Turn To Prayer
Atheist Superbowl Advert Mocks Those Who Turn To Prayer
Paul Vale— The Huffington Post UK
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No country combines sport, politics and religion quite like the US. Just watch this weekend’s Superbowl for a barrage of chest-beating nationalism and religious iconography pumped out before, during and after the game.
Yet atheists, one of the quickest growing demographics in the US, according to recent polls, are striking back this year with a billboard at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium mocking those who turn to prayer during the game.
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Organised by American Atheists, a campaign group working to ensure the government gives no special treatment or preference to religious belief, the billboard pronounces, "A 'Hail Mary' only works in football," aimed at those whop might look skywards demanding the Virgin Mary intercedes in the fourth quarter.
According to David Silverman, President of American Atheists, “Prayer is superstition, plain and simple. It’s 2014; it’s time to stop believing that prayer works. Give credit where credit is due and celebrate what this is really about—coming together to cheer on hard-working athletes doing what they do best.”
As well as spreading the message of disbelief, the billboard also promotes the organisation’s up coming convention, to be held in Salt Lake City in April.
In this Sept. 9, 2010 photo, a billboard erected by atheists in Oklahoma City reads " Don't believe in God? Join the club". Nick Singer, the coordinator of a local atheists' group called "Coalition of Reason," recently received $5,250 from its national counterpart to erect the billboard along Interstate 44 near the Oklahoma State Fair. Oklahoma ranks eighth in the nation for percentage of residents who self-identify as Christians (85 percent), according to an analysis of the 2008 U.S. Religious Landscape Survey conducted by the Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion and Public Life. (Sue Ogrocki, AP) (credit:Sue Ogrocki, AP)
(02 of08)
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Atheist billboard on Capital Blvd. in Raleigh, North Carolina, can be seen March 29, 2011. (Chris Seward, Raleigh News & Observer / MCT) (credit:Chris Seward, Raleigh News & Observer / MCT)
(03 of08)
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A billboard sponsored by an atheist group is displayed near the entrance to the Lincoln Tunnel in North Bergen, N.J., Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2010. Now, the Catholic League has countered by putting up its own billboard near one of the tunnel's New York City entrances. (Seth Wenig, AP) (credit:Seth Wenig, AP)
(04 of08)
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An atheistic billboard in Chicago. (Eric Ingrum, Flickr) (credit:Eric Ingrum, Flickr)
(05 of08)
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(credit:Flickr:eioua)
(06 of08)
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A billboard sponsored by a Catholic group is displayed near an exit of the Lincoln Tunnel in New York, Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2010. Similarly, a billboard sponsored by an atheist group is displayed near the tunnel's New Jersey entrance. (Seth Wenig, AP) (credit:Seth Wenig, AP)
(07 of08)
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From RNS' Diana Fishlock: A billboard erected in one of the Harrisburg, Pa.'s most racially diverse neighborhoods featured an African slave with the biblical quote, "Slaves, obey your masters." It lasted less than a day before someone tore it down. (credit:Religion News Service)
(08 of08)
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An atheist group was blocked from erecting a billboard in a heavily Jewish neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York. (credit:American Atheists)