St. Augustine Godless Billboard Damaged

[ET Awful]

Source: News 4 Jacksonville

A billboard on U.S. 1 in St. Augustine bearing the message, "Don't Believe in God? You Are Not Alone," has suffered major damage.

The billboard, located about 6 miles north of State Road 16 and visible to southbound traffic, raised controversy when it first appeared March 29. Now those behind that message believe vandalism may have been involved.

"We can't say for sure, but it looks like somebody with a truck could have pulled at the billboard structure from behind in an effort to bring it down," said Stephen Peek, coordinator of the Northeast Florida Coalition of Reason, the sponsor of the billboard, in a news release Tuesday. "Then again, perhaps some heavy object flying off a passing train could have struck it in front, although we don't see any such object nearby and the billboard vinyl isn't torn."

The owner of the billboard structure, CBS Outdoor, was notified of the damage Tuesday morning by the United Coalition of Reason, which is the national organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., that contracted for the billboard on the local coalition's behalf. (more at link)

Read more: http://www.news4jax.com/news/23136324/detail.html?hpt=T2

---

More tolerance of differing ideas it would appear . . . Now, if this was one of those "you're gonna burn in hell if you don't agree with us" billboards that had been defaced you can bet your bippy you'd hear every right-wing pundit in the country raging about it being a war on Christianity.

[YOY]

1. Well someone was insecure in their beliefs enough to attack those who do not.

No doubt in the name of "fighting the debil".

[ChairmanAgnostic]

3. The Devil's in Ms. Jones.

But so is the pope, lots of his cardinals and bishoprics, priests, ministers, Ted haggard, Sen. Vitter, and lots of others.

[YOY]

6. Great Flick...classic stuff.

n.t.

[happygoluckytoyou]

57. IN A RELATED STORY- billboard owner found burning in hell, cannot get out of hand basket!!!

[BrklynLiberal]

2. Where are we going...? and why are we in this handbasket????????????

[Name removed]

4. Deleted sub-thread

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[iris27]

5. Sadly, this is becoming the rule rather than the exception (that billboards of this nature are

targeted for vandalism). Pathetic.

[defendandprotect]

53. Possibly because they so effectively make people think -- ???

[Dappleganger]

7. Local asshats.

I've seen the billboard a few times, it's too bad that the god-less jerks who think they are gods bully their way around this place. Hopefully it will get put back up in no time.

Why aren't they yanking down the stripper billboards instead? Whoops--that's their businesses!

[CLANG]

8. Republican Free Speech Values?

[superconnected]

9. It has an unclear message anyway, you're not alone could mean there's a God.

I know it doesn't only because of who paid for the sign.

It would have been clearer if they said, Don't believe in God, neither does %x of America.

[iris27]

13. Its message was clear enough to those who felt so threatened

by it they needed to tear it down.

[superconnected]

20. I'm thinking tea bagger but who knows. Clearly an intolerant person of other's beliefs.

[Zhade]

64. Others' lack of beliefs, not beliefs.

NT!

[Cha]

10. They are enough ugly billboards around

promoting ignorant hate that, asaik, have been left standing.. and this is the one that's attacked?

[liberal N proud]

11. Violence in the name of God

I just drove US 1 south from St. Augustine 2 weeks ago. Must have not been paying attention to the billboards.

[Rebubula]

12. I cannot throw stones

During the 1992 election in MD, there was Question Number 6 - it basically codified Abortion rights in the state regardless of Roe v Wade.

Some group was placing signs and billboards around the area against Question 6. I spent many night wandering around damaging or stealing these signs.

The exuberance of youth and all that....

[blue sky at night]

14. you know, if we put up signs supporting...

intolerance, someone would tear them down. This country is starting to look like it did in the 1800's, if you don't like something or someone, just destroy it. All we can do is not practice what we find offensive in others, otherwise we are no better. Freedom of Speech rocks, and it has to work both ways!

[defendandprotect]

54. During the civil rights era, it looked like everyone was a racist . . .

but when the dust settled, it was obvious that racism was kept in place by

intimidation and violence -- and when Segregation was overturned, people were

free to think for themselves and they've thought differently when given a chance.

Similar to male-supremacist religion having to be forced on people --

All right wing concepts are forced --

So when the dust settles we may find the same thing -- that the polarizations are

temporary when people are given a chance at Enlightenment. Keep in mind, however,

that the right wing works to keep that from happening. In order for them to stay

in power, that can't happen.

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

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[Toasterlad]

16. What Would Jesus Destroy?

[felinetta]

17. Well, it takes a long time for the Neanderthals to get with the program. Love the Billboard.

[liberation]

18. Hey, no reason to insult Neanderthals like that...

... they already suffered enough. :-)

[raccoon]

61. You beat me to the post! nt

[pundaint]

19. And God smote the billboard, and yet it stood...

[ChairmanAgnostic]

21. LOL, love it.

[CubicleGuy]

29. Of course it still stands

If it were to have completely disappeared, there would be no object left to serve as a warning and a lesson on not ticking God off.

[Bravo Zulu]

22. God, protect me from your followers!

[alp227]

23. That's really Christian and classy right there. [/sarcasm] n/t

[RagAss]

24. And it's still standing...It's a Fucking Miracle, I tell ya !!! ...... An Atheistic Miracle !!!!

[GreenTea]

25. dupe

[Divine Discontent]

26. everyone on this board knows damned well that the people who would do this do not represent

Christ's teachings, so regardless if you believe in Christ, Buddha, the God of Abraham, etc, you know that the people that destroy things are far from "Christian", regardless if they go to church on Sunday or not - they're "religious", not holy in action.


some rednecks thought they'd atone for getting drunk and screwing their aunt friday night by showing God they're defending Him - like He needs their wicked support... ha

[skepticscott]

28. Figured it wouldn't be long

before the "No True Scotsman Fallacy" reared its idiotic head.

[Divine Discontent]

33. hey've attached themselves to something to give them some sort of minimal power in their lives

over others, and do not behave in any manner that Christ dictates, by doing that action. So, the point is very valid - they don't follow Christ's teachings - and that's what idiotic. A loving Christian would not destroy an atheists sign, it's weak, fear based and implies GOD cannot handle the situation. Christ doesn't ask man to destroy, but build. Atheists deserve to have their views heard, and you won't see me call them idiotic, by the way.

God bless

[skepticscott]

36. It's a fallacy

and one that's been explained and debunked too many times to count. That's why it's idiotic to use it.

You have no special insight into what God really wants or what it means to be a "true" Christian, simply your own interpretation of scripture, which is no more valid than anyone else's.

[Divine Discontent]

59. 'which is no more valid than anyone else's'

That's your opinion, and based on your comments, if I believed as you do, nothing would have any merit. Everything would be convoluted and not to be trusted, hidden behind theory and 6 billion interpretations where no one agreed on anything. There is right and wrong - people live around that fact every day. JESUS makes it clear what is expected of HIS followers. Most don't follow it. I know it is wrong to damage property that is not mine and it is wrong to hold anger at someone who doesn't believe in GOD. We are to love one another as we love ourselves.

[skepticscott]

60. When Jesus

went into the Temple and overturned the tables of the moneychangers, was he not damaging property that was not his? And holding anger for people who were disrespecting a place of worship? By that example, you are 180 degrees wrong.

Like so many other "believers", you've simply cherry-picked the parts of the Bible that you choose to accept as guiding principles, and ignored those that are just as clearly stated, but that make you uncomfortable. For every warm and fuzzy quote from the Bible that you can cite, someone else can find a quote to justify almost any kind of ugliness and bad behavior. And you have no rational and objective way to determine who is more correct.

[immoderate]

63. Next thing you'll tell me is that Christians commit SINS!

No good Christian would sin. B-)

--imm

[npk]

27. Maybe it was GOD himself that struck down the billboard

Perhaps the big man upstairs finally got tired of all of your dissidence.

[liberation]

30. If that is the case, then his aim is pretty bad, or his omnipotence is not that omni or powerful...

... not a good showing either case.

That is why if I have to rely on invisible friends in the skies, I always go with Nordic mythology. Thor would have kicked that billboard's ass big time with that mighty hammer. None of that spray painting pussyfooting...

[npk]

32. That was hilarious

Omg that cracked me up.

[D23MIURG23]

31. Ha ha ha... Fail.

If the stupid godhead had ever read the The Monkey Wrench Gang he probably would have known how to do it right.

[TK421]

34. Clearly, whoever did that suffers from major damage....of the brain, that is n/t

[sulphurdunn]

35. You'd think that if

these vandals deity was omnipotent and intolerant then he'd have knocked the billboard down himself. And if it turns out her tried...well, he failed and is merely impotent and intolerant. Just like his worshipers.

[RobinA]

51. It Has Always

struck me that god is somewhat thin-skinned and intolerant, what with his many temper tantrums and rules and regulations for getting into heaven. Plus, making mortals fight his battles.

The only scripture I in any way adhere to (paraphrasing): My father's house has many mansions Smart ancient Christian who wrote that one.

[SoapBox]

37. It follows along with this kind of garbage...

This on Huff Post:

"American Family Association To Muslim-Americans: Convert To Christianity Or Leave"

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/13/american-family-associati_n_535810.html

Now the wacky types want to run Americans out of America...yup, they are Americans
BUT they are not the correct type or kind of American.

Lady Liberty is crying for America.

[tjwash]

38. The problem with christianity...

...is the christians.

[skepticscott]

40. Yeah, but those aren't

"true" Christians, either.

[Name removed]

39. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[lxlxlxl]

41. im sorry but there are really serious problems going on and billboard vandalism sounds like a...

distraction

[GoddessOfGuinness]

42. They just found this previously unknown addition to the Gospel of John...

John 22.1 And the Lord further spake unto them, saying, "And when ye perchance upon signage implying that there is no God, verily I say unto thee, ye must forget all that I have taught thee and allow anger to pour through thy veins to strengthen thee with hateful resolve, and smash the signage, and burn the remaining wee bits."

[iris27]

47. "And the Lord did grin,

and people did feast upon the lambs, and sloths, and carp, and anchovies, and orangutans, and breakfast cereals, and fruit bats..."

:evilgrin:

[Piwi2009]

43. ""If you can't see my Darwin fish -- A Christian stole it!"

I saw that bumper sticker once and just loved it. Unfortunately, I darenot put it on my own bumper here in fundyland. I happen to like my unscratched, undented, untorched car.

[SocialistLez]

45. Hilarious!

I'm with you on the "unscratched, undented, untorched car." Someone stole one of my anti-war bumper stickers. I don't even to put a pro-choice bumper sticker on my car considering all the "Choose Life" license plates around here.

[SocialistLez]

44. Seriously?

Going through all that trouble over an f-ing billboard?

[Piwi2009]

46. """You are not alone ""

THAT'S supposed to be offensive? How benign, how harmless...how sweet.

If they want OFFENSIVE, I'll give you offensive --- Somebody putting a sign next to someone's Christ on a crucifix:

"More nails, I'm slipping!"

This is probably where I get kicked off DU :::Waves goodbye:::

[Piwi2009]

48. ""He smiteth the billboard...yet on the 3rd day it

reappearedeth, and offendeth yet again, and the people were sore afraid..""

[defendandprotect]

49. They know the "god" crap can't stand challenge . . .. that's the problem ...

and the cause for the violence --



This billboard on U.S. 1 in St. Augustine sponsored by the Northeast Florida Coalition of Reason has suffered major damage.

"Reason" met with unreasonable violence --

[axollot]

50. I'm not far from that area and believe it was vandalism. This can be the stupidest...

rw'ers you'll find nation wide.

Cheers
Sandy

[DeSwiss]

52. The essence of orthodoxy.

"Extreme orthodoxy betrays by its very frenzy that the poison of skepticism has entered the soul of the church; for men insist most vehemently upon their certainties when their hold upon them has been shaken. Frantic orthodoxy is a method for obscuring doubt." ~ Reinhold Niebuhr

- K&R

[New Dawn]

55. Conservative terrorism.

[undeterred]

56. Well, St Augustine was not godless.

In fact, he wrote the City of God and many other great religious works. So was it the Gnostics mocking him?

:shrug:

[TexasObserver]

58. Those who damaged the sign succeeded in sending its message nationwide.

God does work in mysterious ways.

[countryken]

62. North Florida experience

When we first moved to Jacksonville from Pittsburgh, I enrolled my son into a baseball league. Sitting in the bleachers with all the parents, we fielded this question frequently:

'Have you found a church yet?'

Bumper stickers on F-150's read, 'Real Men Love Jesus'

A billboard read,

"Don't make me come down there.
- God "

This transplanted yankee found this to be peculiar, but at this point I'm not surprised to read this story. Nor am I suprised that the police who seem to be a constant presence on Route 1 between Jax and St. Augustine might have looked the other way as someone tried to pull the sign down.

Yes, there is a double standard.

[Name removed]

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