The Deacon's Bench
The American Atheists organization posted billboards in Memphis, Nashville, Milwaukee, St. Louis and Arkansas aimed toward “in-the-closet atheists who are pressured to observe religious traditions during the holidays.”
That’s what organizers say about the billboards, which show a kid wearing a Santa hat with a pen in hand. The kid is writing a letter that reads, “Dear Santa, all I want for Christmas is to skip church. I’m too old for fairy tales.”
The Memphis billboard is located on I-240 near Getwell Road and will be up until December 24.
“We want all of the atheists in Memphis to know that you’re not alone,” American Atheist Public Relations Director Danielle Muscato said. “The girl on the billboard is a real person, she’s actually the daughter of one of our members.”
While previous billboards have been located in urban settings like New York City’s Times Square, this year billboards are located in more residential areas near schools and churches.
“It’s just drawing the conclusion by looking at the parallels. We can all stop pretending, we can stop dragging ourselves to church every year,” said Muscato. “And the location is designed to start a conversation.”
“We live in a pluralistic society and I’m grateful that we have freedom of expression,” said Suzanne Aviles, a spokesperson for the Catholic Diocese of Memphis.
Aviles says that same freedom given to American Atheist’s is awarded to Christians who freely worship. But she says she doesn’t mind the billboard or the discussion it begins.
“I think the discussion is wonderful. My one objection to this billboard is the use of a child. That if we’re going to have an adult conversation, it’s almost inappropriate to bring children in as the visual message,” said Aviles.
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