Atheist Billboard Turning Heads In South Carolina Lowcountry

It's turning a lot of heads on Interstate 26 in the Palmetto State. It's a billboard that some say is promoting atheism, but the group who put it there says, that's not necessarily the case. Count on Josh Cascio with that story.

By ABC News
Published: February 02, 2009

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Charleston, SC -- It's hard to miss an unholy sign looming over the Holy City.

Mike Anderson, believes in God: "It makes me mad. I think it's wrong, and I believe in God. I think everybody has the right to believe in what they believe in whether you don't believe in God or not."

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.

Herb Silverman, VP, 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.'"

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.

Silverman: "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."

Here in the buckle of the Bible Belt, church leaders are keeping their faith squarely in God.

Father Gregory Wilson, priest: "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."

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.

Father Wilson: "I think when people say God isn't real, obviously they have something deep within them that they're still searching for. 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."

Whether you like this sign, or not, you can expect to see it on I-26 through February.