Billboards are big business. According to the Outdoor Advertising Association of America, they produced $4.4 billion dollars of advertising revenue in 2008. While religious billboards account for an insignificant portion of the market, they often generate publicity that extends to an audience far greater than those who drive by and personally view the sign. Take for example two recent billboards paid for by the American Atheists:
This billboard ad (pictured above) appeared in late November 2010 and was located just before the New Jersey entrance to the Lincoln Tunnel. According to David Silverman, President of American Atheists, this advertisement was designed to encourage people to “think hard about whether or not they actually believe in what is, in reality, an invisible magic man in the sky.”
This billboard ad (pictured above) appeared in January 2010 in Huntsville, Alabama. It was produced by the same national organization to advertise a regional gathering of atheists later this month in Huntsville, Alabama. According to their website this meeting is for atheists in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi, Kentucky, Florida, Louisiana, Arkansas, and South Carolina.
So What?
What do you believe to be the proper Christian response to these billboards? Why?
Consider two billboard ads funded by Christian groups created in response to the first ad shown above:
This billboard ad (pictured above) appeared weeks after the initial ad and was placed at the Manhattan entrance to the Lincoln Tunnel and was produced by the Catholic League. Bill Donahue, President of the Catholic League, indicated the billboard was created as a “counterpunch after a donor came forward seeking to challenge the anti-Christmas statement.”
This billboard ad (pictured above) literally replaced the ad previously posted by the American Atheists (first image) when their lease expired. It was created by Times Square Church and they offer additional information about it as well as the larger marketing campaign crafted using the same image here.
Note: Christian billboards can also be controversial. Read my thoughts about one in Beaumont, Texas.