Atheists pay for anti-religion billboards

TAMPA - Twenty new billboards are hanging above Tampa Bay roadways. The billboards are printed with just one phrase - 'God & Government A Dangerous Mix.' The signs are creating a stir.

EllenBeth Wachs of Lakeland has been an atheist since she was 12-years old, and is now part of a non-profit organization called the "Freedom from Religion Foundation" (find out more about them at www.ffrf.org ).

That Wisconsin-based group said it paid three-thousand five hundred dollars to buy the billboard space across the Tampa Bay area, and erected them in random neighborhoods like one placed near the roadway at 22nd and Cayuga Street in Tampa.

"We're reaching out to the entire country and the entire state of Florida," said Wachs, looking for new members. "That's part of the reason for this campaign, is to reach out to people of like mind."

Rabbi Richard Birnholz of Congregation Schaarai Zedek in Tampa said he agrees with the separation of Church and State part, and respects the group's freedom of speech. However, he is at odds with the anti-religion message. "In a way, they are doing to other people - those who embrace religion - what they complain that other people, those who embrace religion are doing to them."

At Idlewild Baptist Church, Senior Pastor Ken Whitten said the billboards send a dangerous message. "They want more than God out of government. They want God out of our lives. They want God out of our community," said Whitten.

The atheist billboards will only be up for about a month in Tampa Bay. FFRF says it will soon put others up in New Orleans and Atlanta.

But the billboards won't be gone from Tampa for eternity. A spokesperson says next time instead of atheist phrases, we'll see the faces of local atheists on them.

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