Atheism

The Evangelical Alliance in the United Kingdom says it agrees with the message of a new humanist advertising campaign proclaiming that children should make up their own mind about their beliefs.

The British Humanist Association has put up posters in London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast depicting children alongside different faith labels and the slogan "Please don’t label me. Let me grow up and choose for myself."

The campaign has been timed to coincide with Universal Children's Day on Nov. 20 and follows on from the high profile atheist bus campaign launched by the BHA in January with the slogan "There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life." more >>

South Carolina's "I Believe" license plate that features an image of a cross in front of a stained-glass window has been ruled unconstitutional.

U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie said the specialty license plate was motivated by a purpose to advance a specific religion and has the effect of state endorsement of Christianity.

The Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, praised the decision, commenting, "Government must never be allowed to express favored treatment for one faith over others. That’s unconstitutional and un-American." more >>

"A million New Yorkers are good without God," according to one atheist group.

Those words will be plastered in a dozen subway stations in the most populous city in the country beginning next week.

The United Coalition of Reason says the New York ad campaign is intended to reach out to nontheists and let them know that they are not alone. At the same time, the organization wants to break stereotypes and let the public know that atheists are good people too. more >>

Atheist author Richard Dawkins has made it loud and clear that he believes faith has no place in science and that a public debate between him and a creationist – of any type – is out of the question.

“The objection to having debates with people like that (creationists) is that it gives them a kind of respectability,” Dawkins said during a recent appearance on the Michael Medved show.

“If a real scientist goes onto a debating platform with a creationist, it gives them a respectability, which I do not think your people have earned,” he told Discovery Institute President Bruce Chapman, whose organization is best known for its advocacy of Intelligent Design. more >>

The first few billboards promoting atheism are up in the Metro-Detroit area with more signs on the way next month, announced the group sponsoring the signs.

In total, seven large billboards reading “Imagine No Religion” or “Praise Darwin: Evolve Beyond Belief” will be erected at locations around the city. The billboard designs feature the phrases written in calligraphy against a stained-glass window background, like those found in churches.

The signs are part of a campaign by Freedom from Religion Foundation, which has placed similar billboards in over 10 states and more than 30 cities. Currently, “Imagine No Religion” billboards are up in Indianapolis and suburban St. Louis. Next month, the group plans a “billboard blitz” in Las Vegas. more >>