A nonprofit group in Missoula, Montana is running a holiday advertising campaign to support people who do not believe in God. Missoula Area Secular Society (MASS) recently sponsored a series of ads that will be carried on Mountain Line buses just before Christmas.
The ad reads, “Don’t believe in God? You’re not alone.”
“Our intent with these billboards is to reach out to other non-theists during the holidays to let them know our group is here,” explained MASS president Traci Brown. “The holiday season can often be a lonely time for individuals without a lot of family nearby, as well as for those who do not share similar beliefs to their loved ones and the majority of the nation. … We’d like to reach out to those people and let them know they are not alone, and we’re here if they’d like to join us.”
According to a study carried out by Pew Research Center, 71 percent of residents of Wyoming and Montana believe in a universal spirit or God with absolute certainty, a figure that reflects the United States’ predominant leaning. An additional 19 percent are more or less certain that God exists while only 4 percent do not believe in God.
Brown is of the opinion that those who do not believe in God often feel isolated by the friends and family during the holiday season.
“Reaching out to like-minded folk isn’t the only goal for this ad,” she said. “We want people to know that non-religious individuals are a part of this community. Non-theistic Missoulians are your friends, neighbors, co-workers and family members. There is often a lot of fear and misinformation surrounding non-theism, and part of the goal of MASS is to dispel some of these misconceptions by showing the community that we are happy, friendly, contributing members of society.”
MASS is a local nonprofit group that was established in 2008 with the aim of fostering a community for atheistic individuals by providing them with opportunities to network and socialize. The group also aims to create and promote programs that revolve around science, secular ethics, critical thinking and history for not only members but also society at large.
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