JOHNSON: Just eight words on a billboard
By Bill Johnson, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published November 26, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.
The message is but eight words divided into two short sentences set against puffy white clouds on a blue and black background.
One of the men behind the billboard message says his life has been threatened because of it, which seems an odd thing since those doing the threatening all profess to be Christians.
Just eight words:
"Don't believe in God?" the upper left of the billboard reads. "You are not alone," the lower right says.
I have no idea how many times I have passed the sign in the days since it went up at Colfax Avenue and Quebec Street on Nov. 17, but I never noticed it until someone pointed it out the other day.
I don't get the fuss. And yes, I appear to be alone in this.
The billboard is one of 11 in Denver and Colorado Springs paid for by a group that calls itself the Colorado Coalition of Reason, a self-described coalition of "freethinker, atheist and humanist" groups.
The sole purpose of the ads, the group maintains, is what it says: to let other freethinkers, atheists and humanists know there is a group out there for them.
Two of the 11 signs were supposed to go up in Fort Collins and Greeley, the group said. This was so until the moment the media company that owns the two billboards read the message.
The hate mail and nasty, threatening phone messages began almost immediately.
Much of it has been directed at Joel Guttormson, who mostly has been serving as a spokesman for COCORE, as they call it.
Twenty-two and a Metro State junior majoring in theoretical mathematics, Guttormson also is president of the Metro State Atheists, one of the 11 groups that make up COCORE.
"It's been kind of wild, kind of outrageous," he says of days since the billboards went up.
"It has been mostly Christians who've been calling and e-mailing," Joel Guttormson said, "which is strange since the message is not directed at Christians or anyone from any religion.
"You know, if you see an ad for migraine medicine and you don't have a migraine, why would you care?"
Almost all of the feedback, he said, has been from people who say the billboards denigrate Christians. He says he still has no idea how that is possible.
"We are not out to anger people," Joel Guttormson said. "I don't know why people think that. So much of it says we are evil and that we hate everybody.
"Have you seen the billboard? Tell me where any of them mentions evil or hate. Why is everyone so mad?"
John Matson, of Denver, was so mad after seeing the Santa Fe Drive sign that he dashed off an angry letter to the billboard's owner.
"It is a despicable act to allow that sign," the 60-year-old man said in an interview, "and for just a few pieces of silver."
He went on COCORE's Web site, and it made him even angrier, John Matson said. It is trying to gather, he said, "a constituency of what I call mob rule."
"I know they're atheists, and my opinion is they want others to believe the same thing. The billboard misrepresents their purpose," he said. "Their agenda is wolf-in-sheep's clothing political. Why don't they just say it."
Yes, he is a Christian, John Matson said.
"I also understand free speech. And I can also stand up and tell them that they are wrong."
He has yet, he said, to hear back from the billboard company.
That is about the tone of much of what he has heard, Joel Guttormson said. He saves each call, files the e-mails in a folder.
"I read them, put them away and forget about it," he says. "My sister keeps telling me I need to watch out for myself."
He began investigating religion and faith early on, he said, and by high school he was a confirmed atheist.
People ostracized him. It is rare now that he even mentions it outside of his group, he said.
"I don't tell people at work. I keep my mouth shut."
Atheism, he said, scares people, the mere possibility that God doesn't exist.
He remembers one woman running away from an event his group sponsored, "saying that if she listened to us, she would go to hell. I just sat there thinking, 'Wow! We're really that awful?' "
He is braced for the next few weeks. It is what he calls the radical Christians that are making the most noise, Joel Guttormson said.
"I'll spend more time defending this than anything else," he said. "I've already learned that anything we do is not going to satisfy them. Anything we do or say is only going to make them more angry."
I had only one more question:
Have the billboards, which will remain up through Dec. 14, worked?
"We've gotten fairly good response from a lot of like-minded people, including some people from out of state who heard about what we are doing," Joel Guttormson said.
"The cool thing is we've even had some Christians step up and defend us. They know our message is no more offensive than one that reads:
"Believe in God? You're not alone."
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November 26, 2008
5:37 a.m.
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ruffryde997 writes:
Hey Christians! F@%* Off! We dont have to believe in God so deal with it! Be open-minded enough to realize that not everyone is Christian! Im starting a new religion that has only one belief - the belief that it is ok for everyone else to believe whatever they want and not push their own on others! This is why im not associated with any religous sect, they all think that their beliefs are the right ones and everyone else is going to hell because they dont believe the same thing that they do! HEY PEOPLE OUT THERE BELIEVE WHAT YOU WANT BUT RESPECT OTHERS BELIEFS !!! Is that so hard? So if u want to be Christian, be Christian but dont sit there and complain about a billboard that is promoting beliefs that differ from yours!
November 26, 2008
6:13 a.m.
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LetsThink writes:
Mr. Johnson spent more than a half page of editorial, making his best effort to defend the atheist billboard.
Based on his previous pattern of editorials, his support of atheism was not a surprise.
Is it possible that Mr. Johnson also does not believe in God????
November 26, 2008
8:27 a.m.
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sheepherder writes:
ruffry...you are such a hypocrite! Why don't you F off and let people think what they want! Too funny!
November 26, 2008
8:31 a.m.
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Marshdale writes:
Mr. Johnson grew up Catholic and went to Catholic schools. I think Mr. Johnson has a firm understanding of faith. I don't know if he is still Catholic or not, but that is besides the point.
Way to go Mr. Guttormson. I do actually believe in God. I am no zealot however. You have exercized your right to free speech, and I will defend your right to do so at every turn as I will the zealots right to express theirs. I do not however support those with violent intentions. They are ignorant idiots. Who probably more closely adhere to the message of violence in the Old Testament than they do the love and peace that Jesus preached. As far as I'm concerned you could put that sign in my front yard. My neighbors would freak on that, since they know that I do believe in God, but I'm a rebel at heart and love to do anything that pisses the Christian zealots off. To make myself perfectly clear, when I say I beleive in God, it does not mean that I am a Christian. I cannot stand organized religion of any form. It takes away from independent thinking. It is a form of brainwashing, imposed on meager minds. So I have spent time studying various forms of religion and have come to my own conclusions.
Keep doing what you are doing.
November 26, 2008
8:31 a.m.
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DougH writes:
Dear Let'sThink. Bill is just writing a column about a bill board that has caused some controversy in Denver. It has nothing to do whatsoever as to his belief in God. He quoted both the author of the billboard and some of the critics. That would appear to be a fair and balanced piece of writing.
Just because he did not write some scathing attack on the billboard and it's message does not make him an atheist, or say anything about his faith in God or Mother Nature.
Why is it that people like yourself, cannot simply rebut the article, but must make a personal attack on the writer ? I for one am really tired of it.
November 26, 2008
8:53 a.m.
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peterpi writes:
DougH, a person secure in their beliefs would not be threatened by the billboard. So the answer to your question may be,
Because, deep down, they're afraid they're wrong?
If I'm atheist or a freethinker -- which to LetsThink are terms applying to all people who don't follow his god -- and I do right by my neighbor, I help the poor, I try my best to live an ethical life, I try to make amends when I make mistakes, if there is no God, I've lived a good life and made the world a better place. If there is a God -- not the god of LetsThink, but the God of the finest minds of the monotheistic religions -- I think that God will say "Well done, good and faithful servant!"
November 26, 2008
10:42 a.m.
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unstoppable writes:
I am a recently baptized christian and I have a question for atheists, why don't you believe in God? I just want to understand your view point a little better. What do you say when you see miracles happen? Or when you recieve a blessing? I'm not trying to "push" my religion on anyone after all it is your choice. God did give man the choice to believe or not to believe that Jesus Christ dead for our sins. I like to hear other sides of the story whether it be from Atheists, Muslims, Jews,or from different denominated Christians. Whether I agree or not I respect whatever anyone believes because people should not judge we should only try to help. Which is what I think most Christians you talk to are trying to do, even though it may come off as trying to push their religion onto you.
November 26, 2008
11:27 a.m.
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primafacie writes:
Interesting that Ruff demands "open-mindedness" from Christians for other's views, yet doesn't muster the same "open-mindedness" for Christians' views.
And, Peterpi, a "freethinker" can't be religious?
November 26, 2008
1:04 p.m.
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peterpi writes:
primafacie, in answer to your question and to quote Sarah Palin "Youbetcha!" Yes, a religious person can be a freethinker. I consider myself to be an agnostic Jew and a freethinker.
November 26, 2008
3:58 p.m.
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5thgennative writes:
Oh my god.
Christians are the biggest hypocrytes.
What I also found pretty funny is that this lady in Utah is in trouble for texting naughty pics to and having sex with underage teenagers, yet Utah is the state that protects its polygamists under the guise of religion, and who are these polygamists having sex with and married to? Why, underage girls of course! Lol.
Just one of many stories about those quirky over-religious nutso's.
November 26, 2008
4:06 p.m.
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TedVB writes:
unstoppable,
Enjoy your beliefs, and thanks for your interest.
I don't believe there is a god because there is no evidence that such a being exists. I've never seen a miracle, and neither have you. If there is a god, they make it hard to believe in them by never showing themselves. How about some talking burning bushes, or seas parting, like apparently used to occur fairly regularly?
on the "died" for our sins thing, you have two options. Jesus was an all-power god is option one. In that case, he didn't die he merely stopped appearing as a human and could at any moment could re-appear as a human. He sacrificed nothing and with no effort could restore himself. Should an ant owe you gratitude because it is able to eat the crumb you unknowingly drop and do not miss?
The second option is that Jesus was not god. In that case he was a fraud and why should we care if he died? In either circumstance, the "death" isn't an action that deserves our thanks, gratitude, or worship.
November 26, 2008
4:30 p.m.
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DougH writes:
unstoppable : To summarize what Peterpi has written,do right by my neighbor, I help the poor, I try my best to live an ethical life, I try to make amends when I make mistakes, if there is no God, I've lived a good life and made the world a better place. If there is a God, I think that God will say "Well done, good and faithful servant!"
I am sure if there is a God, then people who live with respect and dignity of their fellow humans on this earth will be in God's favor. No one needs Jesus to have died for our sins, that is just too much made up nonsense that has nothing to do with how we lead our lives. Try to do the best you can wih your fellow human beings and God should be pleased, if he isn't then that is really more his problem than yours.
November 26, 2008
5:52 p.m.
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HankReardon writes:
My name in Charlie Bartlett and you are not alone!
What's wrong with humans having compassion for each other without the aide of a god? What wrong with humans consoling each other's loneliness without the mention of a god?
What wrong with humans telling each that they are worth something even if they don't believe in a god?
What's wrong with humans being good and kind without the help of a god?
Earth to the christians:
The universe does not revolve around you.
November 26, 2008
7:33 p.m.
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godsfavoritecolor writes:
unstoppable,
If you would like to see more arguments against Christianity, check out the posts on exchristian.net,
November 26, 2008
7:39 p.m.
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WHATRIGHTS writes:
TedVB,
I see miracles every day! In the Rocky Mountains, in the sunset, the sunrise, the love from one human to another, a child being born, I could go on....With one in particular miracle, I have a cousin without a brain (only has a brain stem) he is 7 years old, he laughs when he hears a bird or you hold him close and blow in his ear and cries when he is hungry or in pain from a siezure. He lives on love and love alone with God's grace, he has taught many to be grateful and enjoy every second of the breath of life. They (science) tried to take him at birth and put him into hospice to drug him up because he was suppose to die within months, his Mom said no.....he is 7 years old! Brady is a miracle....I have seen him and loved him.....
November 26, 2008
8:17 p.m.
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LetsThink writes:
For those of you who have rejected God, I am praying that you will change your mind.
Do you have any idea how long eternity separated from God will be????
Please don't make that horrible mistake.
November 26, 2008
9:50 p.m.
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peterpi writes:
LetsThink, you left out the altar rail and the church organ (Vox Humana stop) playing "Just as I am"
November 27, 2008
12:19 a.m.
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Patron_Drinker writes:
TedVB,
Christians believe that Christ was both fully human and fully divine. As a human, he had the ability to die. He had to eat, he had to walk or ride everywhere. After his death, he was bodily resurrected. Other people touched him, walked and talked with him, and ate with him. Just because you can't see this as possible, doesn't make it not true.
Mind you, I'm not asking you to believe it. Jews describe God as omnipotent, able to do anything, and they don't think he did it either.
November 28, 2008
4:05 p.m.
Suggest removal
HankReardon writes:
Your salvation is a selfish notion. You try to convert others so it looks good on your record. You don't really care about others, only yourself. You believe in eternity. I do not. You have lost your way. I have not. You can't save souls by insulting them and denying them their own freedoms. Good luck with that 'heaven' thing.
BTW, you can't prepare for your judgement day, it something that catches you off guard when you think no one is watching.
November 28, 2008
6:58 p.m.
Suggest removal
Cusco writes:
do not believe in a God because out side the bible there is no proof .. I have not seen any miracles that could not be explained just by natural causes or events.
Example a tornado goes through a town and destroys all the houses and buildings, in the town and kills everyone except a baby found alive in all the debris is this your idea of a miracle? a real miracle would be that the tornado never went through the town.
You pray for world peace every day....yet your prayers are not answered because the wars still go on ....there are deformed babies, conjoined twins, babies with autism just to name a few, being born every day... I do not know about you but this is not my idea of an caring and loving God?
WHATRIGHTS writes "I have a cousin without a brain" and WHATRIGHTS calls this a miracle? because the child laughs and cries.. the real miracle would have been the child have been born normally with out any birth defects, try praying for a brain for the child and if your God heals the child I will be a believer.
You can say the same for amputees why won't God heal and restore an amputees limb?.... I know you Christians are going to respond "don't test the lord thy god" ..LOL right ?? .. then respond to this in Matthew 26:51 John 18:10 Luke 22:50 Mark 14:47 when when the soldiers come to arrest Jesus and Peter cuts Malchus ear off and Jesus picks it up.. and puts it back on and heals him.
Jesus also healed the leopards too.. do you think it possible that they might have been missing fingers or toes when they were healed?
Ask and it shall be given unto you so says your bible.. be it casting... Mountains into the sea or cured from sickness.. Matthew 7:7, 7:8, 21:19, 21:20, 21:21, 21:22, Luke 11:9, 11:10, James 1:5
If God really is Omniscience, Omnipotent, Omnipresent then he knew trillions and trillions of years before he made the earth that people were going to mess up and he was going to have to destroy/flood the world... from Adam and Eve to Noah... .this has nothing to do with free will... it has to do with what he knew before he would destroy/flood the world... he would then also know that he would say... I'm oops I'm sorry I made a mistake (if he made Adam with a blink of an eye why wouldn't he correct what he did and put every one back... reverse what he did?) instead he says I will never destroy/flood the world again with water but, yet the floods still come and claim thousands of Innocent lives every year why is this?
November 28, 2008
7:04 p.m.
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Cusco writes:
Your Jesus is an other made up story too sorry to disappoint you out side the bible there is NO historical proof the man ever walked on the earth you have Mithra, Krishina, Dionysus, Attis, Horus, Zoroaster, just to name a very few.... who all either share ALL are some of the very same attributes that your Jesus did and there is Historical proof of all of them and written a thousand or so before this Jesus was every born.
your God kills millions of millions of people compared to Satan killing 10 people but even then that was with God help.
http://dwindlinginunbelief.blogspot.c...
http://dwindlinginunbelief.blogspot.c...
Keep in mind your bible was written by the same people that said the world was flat and they were wrong too :)
November 28, 2008
8:43 p.m.
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Jeanette writes:
Thank you to Bill Johnson for covering this story. All we're trying to do is bring our people together into some semblance of a community, instead of living in hiding. If religious people have a right to assemble in churches, then we have a right to come together to socialize, and to organize to defend our rights. And this hysteria and the threats that have resulted from the billboard campaign show that those rights do need to be defended.
Joel is an intelligent, passionate, nice, and admirable young man who doesn't deserve any type of abuse in any way. Those who make death threats against people are evil, and any deity who would support that would have to be evil, too. Not only is such behavior evil, but it's also criminal, as it constitutes terrorism.
December 1, 2008
12:26 p.m.
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TedVB writes:
Patron_Drinker,
My point is that if Jesus is "fully divine" then dying in the human sense has no meaning and no cost. He could die and resurrect a thousand times a second. Giving up human form is no sacrifice when you are all-powerful.
Also, for those who believe the bible is literally true, don't forget that the men who the new testament believed that the second coming would occur in their lifetimes. So they were only wrong by at least 2000 years.