OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - A national Christmas ad campaign against religion offends some in the metro. It even irritates members of the Atheist community.
The ad "Why believe in God? Just be Good for Goodness Sake," created by the American Humanist Association, is on bus billboards in Washington D.C just in time for Christmas. It received support from some metro Humanists and Atheists, like Cole Morgan.
"For goodness sake, I mean that's in a Christmas carol so it is a bit of marketing," Morgan said.
His group of so-called free thinkers even bought a similar billboard along Interstate 35 in Overland Park last month. It's their version of evangelism.
"It's giving an opportunity to people who are not religious, people who are Humanists, Atheists, and gives them an opportunity to go elsewhere," Morgan said.
As you can imagine the ad angers people of faith.
"Yeah, it is very offensive for people who do believe in God," said Kelly Drummond, who believes in God.
It also upset James Webb, a UMKC economic professor who is a free thinker.
"I thought it was a bad idea," Webb said. "I opposed it personally."
Webb's group, the Community of Reason, is affiliated with the American Humanist Association. However, the Community of Reason refused to spend money or support the ad campaign in any way.
"That's not going to change anybody's mind," Webb said. "It's going to be offensive. It already has been. It's more offensive than I though it might have been."
But Morgan believes the campaign helped double their congregation of skeptics. So, he stands by the ad.
"Everybody is entitled to free speech," said Cindy Johnson, who believes in God. "So, it's up to us as Christians to leave God in Christmas, even if we have to spread the word by mouth."
The local billboard cost $3,000 a month, so it came down earlier in November. However, AHA's national ad campaign continues.
