The public Christmas tree lighting in Seattle is the day after Thanksgiving. I attended years ago and was surprised to see a number of people carrying big signs with Christian messages. One said: “Thanksgiving means thanking God he hasn’t killed you yet.”

Ah, what a loving deity. That’s the religion I want to join!

I got into the street sign morass myself a few years ago. I’d seen Christian sign carriers on street corners in Seattle, and I thought it’d be interesting to make an atheist rebuttal. I didn’t want to get into a shouting match, and I didn’t want to be there solo without them as a counterbalance. But it would be nice to have a polite atheist out there occasionally to give another viewpoint.

I found some great quotes and made a simple banner. With some artistic help from the very talented Kyle Hepworth, the artist who did the covers of my last two books, it looked pretty good:

I made this into a large vinyl sign with a frame. As I sketched out my plans to some atheist friends, I was surprised that some weren’t on board with the project. They thought it was too hostile, too in-your-face. With that thought in mind, I was concerned as I set up for my first day of being in public, but that worry vanished when I saw the sign that the Christians brought that day.

It had flames at the bottom with the text, “Repent or Else.”

In the battle for being offensive, it’s no contest. I throw in the towel.

Continue with Part 2.

The invisible and the nonexistent 
look a lot alike.
— Julia Sweeney

(This is an update of a post that originally appeared 11/25/12.)