An atheist group is putting up signs that say God is "a myth" -- and they're making sure that Jews and Muslims will see them.
American Atheists announced on their website that two signs, one in Hebrew and one in Arabic, will go up in Brooklyn and Paterson, New Jersey, this Monday.
The Hebrew sign will go up near the Williamsburg Bridge, where there is a large orthodox Jewish community, CNN reported. The other, written in Arabic and English, will go up just a few blocks from a Paterson mosque, the Islamic Center of Passaic County.
The signs feature each faith's word for God in large lettering next to the message "You know it's a myth... and you have a choice."
American Atheists says on their website that the signs aren't intended to offend, but are meant as outreach to atheists in those communities who may "feel particularly alone." They're also supposed to get the word out about the "Reason Rally" the group is holding on Mar. 24 in Washington, D.C.
Mohamed Elfilali, executive director of the Islamic Center of Passaic County, was not particularly troubled by news of the billboards. "It is not the first and won’t be the last time people have said things about God or religion,” he told CNN. “I respect people’s opinion about God; obviously they are entitled to it. I don’t think God is a myth, but that doesn’t exclude people to have a different opinion.”
The billboards will be up for a month and cost less than $15,000 each, American Atheists president Dave Silverman told CNN.
The group plans to put up similar signs in California and New York's Chinatown, NorthJersey.com reported.
This isn’t the first time American Atheists have put up anti-religion billboards in the New York area. In Nov. 2010, the group sponsored a Christmas-themed billboard near the Lincoln Tunnel, with the words "You KNOW it's a myth. This season, celebrate REASON!"
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