Atheists Poking the Okies

For people who believe in nothing, atheists sure seem to want everyone to know what they don't believe:

Atheists in Oklahoma City have erected a billboard seeking fellow non-believers and Satanists have scheduled a conference in a city-owned building, drawing criticism from ministers in a state where more than 8 out of 10 people say they are Christians.


"It's not a question of `Can you?' It's a question of `Should you?'" said Dan Fisher, pastor of the Trinity Baptist Church in Yukon. "It's kind of like they're poking a finger in your eye."

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, which opens Wednesday. Its message reads simply, "Don't believe in God? Join the club."


Similar billboards were recently put up in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, Texas and Washington.


"The billboard was designed to get a little bit of a response, but it's not meant to be directly insulting," said Singer said. "It's just a sign to like-minded people that we are here."

I'm pretty familiar with Oklahoma. I have a lot of family back there and have spent quite a bit of time in the Sooner State. Just like burning Korans or building a mosque at Ground Zero, these billboards are designed to be provocative and every time a local pastor complains in the press an atheist gets a thrill up his leg. Best response - none. Let them spend their money on the billboards and just ignore them. If you're secure in your faith those billboards won't matter.