This year, American Atheists are doing their best Grinch impression.
The controversial organization is sponsoring a holiday themed billboard campaign in the United States. The billboards feature a picture of Santa with the message, "Go ahead and skip church! Just be good for goodness sake. Happy Holidays!"
David Silverman, president of American Atheists said in a statement:
"We want people to know that going to church has absolutely nothing to do with being a good person. The things that are most important during the holiday season—spending time with loved ones, charity and being merry—have nothing to do with religion."
The billboards are running in Colorado Springs, CO and Winston-Salem, NC. Those areas were targeted for their propensity for religious people.
Nick Fish, national program director of American Atheists went on to say:
“It is important for these folks who are on the fence about their beliefs to know that they can take that first big step and leave church. There are tens of millions of atheists in this country. We’re everywhere. And we don’t need church or gods to tell us how to be good people.”
The ads will run through December.