KTRV Fox 12 Atheist Billboard Causes Debate

Atheist Billboard Causes Debate

Boise, Idaho -- A local billboard has spurred some heated debate over it's controversial atheist message, "Beware of dogma."

The billboard posted on Fairview near Maple Grove was funded mainly by the Freedom from Religion Foundation.

"We were inspired by others groups around the country and around the world who have been putting up similar humanistic messages,"said President of the Humanists of Idaho Paul Rolig.

For those of you who don't know, the humanist belief falls in line with atheism -- the belief there is no God. And with the help of the national organization, the Freedom from Religion Foundation, the Humanists of Idaho have funded the billboard.

Dogma is defined as a settled or established opinion, belief, or principle, most often associated with Biblical beliefs.

"Religion in and of itself is benign and often helpful to people where dogma tends to downgrade and harm minority groups," said Humanists of Idaho Vice President Doug Vancuren.

The humanists say dogma is to blame for the oppression of homosexuals and for laws against gay marriage. They hope their sign will help to overturn legislature based on Christian beliefs and to keep religion out of politics, an argument some local groups say is way out of line.

"This country was founded on a fundamentally religious concept that there is a Creator and that Creator is the source of our fundamental civil liberties," said Bryan Fischer with the Idaho Values Alliance.

And while they may not agree with the message, many locals say it's the groups constitutional rite to advertise whatever beliefs they want.

"In the United States of America we have freedom of speech. That's actually a good sign for people to think about why they believe the things they believe,"said JoAnne Fisher from Idaho City.

"I think you have to be very careful about squashing the freedom of speech freedom of religion. As long as they're not slandering anybody, I see not a problem as long as it's not obscene," said Swim and Run Shop owner Nina Sheton

The group says not all dogma is wrong. For example laws against killing, an ideal derived straight of the Bible's Ten Commandments, is alright. The group says that law is mutually acceptable to all minority groups.