Charleston, SC - It's hard to miss an unholy sign looming over the holy city.
"It makes me mad. I think it's wrong and I believe in God,” said Mike Anderson, a firm believer in God.
"I think everybody has the right to believe in what they believe in whether you don't believe in God or not," said Cheryl Cabiad.
The billboard along I-26 asks “Do You Believe in God? If Not You’re Not Alone.” The organization behind it is the Secular Humanists of the Lowcountry.
"The purpose is not to try to convert it's to say we exist and we know there are a lot of others in Charleston who are also non-believers," said Vice President of the organization Herb Silverman.
Silverman has considered himself an atheist since his early teens. He said non-believers deserve just as much respect as those who follow organized religion.
"We believe we can be good for goodness sake we don't feel we need to go to an authority of a book written a couple thousand years ago," said Silverman.
Here in the buckle of the Bible belt, church leaders are keeping their faith squarely in God.
"It says don't believe in God then you're not alone...that's ironic for us because if you don’t' believe in God then you truly are alone," said Father Gregory Wilson.
Father Wilson doesn't believe the sign will seriously hurt the church. He also said he'd be happy to help non-believers find the Almighty.
"I think when people say God isn't real, obviously they have something deep within them that they're still searching for," he told ABC News 4’s Josh Cascio. "I think God is reaching out even to those who put up things like they don't believe in God because God believes in them," he added.
Whether you like this sign or not you can expect to see it on I-26 through February.
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Is this good news for free speech? Or have the atheists gone too far in making their point?
"It makes me mad. I think it's wrong and I believe in God,” said Mike Anderson, a firm believer in God.
"I think everybody has the right to believe in what they believe in whether you don't believe in God or not," said Cheryl Cabiad.
The billboard along I-26 asks “Do You Believe in God? If Not You’re Not Alone.” The organization behind it is the Secular Humanists of the Lowcountry.
"The purpose is not to try to convert it's to say we exist and we know there are a lot of others in Charleston who are also non-believers," said Vice President of the organization Herb Silverman.
Silverman has considered himself an atheist since his early teens. He said non-believers deserve just as much respect as those who follow organized religion.
"We believe we can be good for goodness sake we don't feel we need to go to an authority of a book written a couple thousand years ago," said Silverman.
Here in the buckle of the Bible belt, church leaders are keeping their faith squarely in God.
"It says don't believe in God then you're not alone...that's ironic for us because if you don’t' believe in God then you truly are alone," said Father Gregory Wilson.
Father Wilson doesn't believe the sign will seriously hurt the church. He also said he'd be happy to help non-believers find the Almighty.
"I think when people say God isn't real, obviously they have something deep within them that they're still searching for," he told ABC News 4’s Josh Cascio. "I think God is reaching out even to those who put up things like they don't believe in God because God believes in them," he added.
Whether you like this sign or not you can expect to see it on I-26 through February.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Is this good news for free speech? Or have the atheists gone too far in making their point?