CAIRO — An atheist billboard campaign launched on Thursday, November 19, in four British cities urging parents not to label their children with their own religious background is offending many people in the European country. "I would totally reject the advertisement," Reverend David McIlveen from the Free Presbyterian Church told Belfast Telegraph.
"I think it is totally arrogant, presumptuous and sparks of total hypocrisy."
Giant atheist posters, sponsored by the British Humanist Association (BHA), have been installed on different routes in London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast.
Answering atheists Concerning God
Faith and Trust in Allah
They feature two children surrounded by shadowy Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, Hindu or Sikh religious labels with the slogan "Please Don't Label Me. Let Me Grow Up And Choose For Myself." The BHA said the billboards were unveiled to coincide with the Universal Children's Day on Friday.
"It is none of their business how people bring up their children," insists Reverend McIlveen.
"It is the height of arrogance that the BHA would even assume to tell people not to instruct their children in the religion."
In January 2009, a bus campaign was launched several European countries, asking people to go atheist.
In Britain alone, nearly 800 buses nationwide carried the ads claiming that God does not exist.
The campaign has stunned many people and attracted widespread media coverage.
Insignificant
Archbishop of Wales Dr Barry Morgan criticizes the new billboards campaign.
"This is a ludicrous campaign," he told Wales Online website.
"Children do not grow up in a vacuum or as a blank canvas but have an identity formed from a range of influences, the most powerful of which will be their parents and their culture," contends the Archbishop.
"There is a difference between someone being labeled and someone having an identity."
The atheist campaign is also angering Muslims.
"Religion is not given by the family, but it is a natural religion given by our God at birth," said Sheikh Anwar Mady from the Belfast Islamic Centre.
"The role of the family is to teach the traditions of the faith. But that faith is implanted at birth."
Reverend McIlveen believes the campaign would have the least effect on people.
"I believe this doesn’t deserve a counter campaign," he said.
"It is a wasted campaign that will have no impact on family life in Northern Ireland," he contends.
"They have a defeatist attitude and are just trying to draw attention to themselves."
Source: IslamOnline
"I think it is totally arrogant, presumptuous and sparks of total hypocrisy."
Giant atheist posters, sponsored by the British Humanist Association (BHA), have been installed on different routes in London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast.
Answering atheists Concerning God
Faith and Trust in Allah
They feature two children surrounded by shadowy Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, Hindu or Sikh religious labels with the slogan "Please Don't Label Me. Let Me Grow Up And Choose For Myself." The BHA said the billboards were unveiled to coincide with the Universal Children's Day on Friday.
"It is none of their business how people bring up their children," insists Reverend McIlveen.
"It is the height of arrogance that the BHA would even assume to tell people not to instruct their children in the religion."
In January 2009, a bus campaign was launched several European countries, asking people to go atheist.
In Britain alone, nearly 800 buses nationwide carried the ads claiming that God does not exist.
The campaign has stunned many people and attracted widespread media coverage.
Insignificant
Archbishop of Wales Dr Barry Morgan criticizes the new billboards campaign.
"This is a ludicrous campaign," he told Wales Online website.
"Children do not grow up in a vacuum or as a blank canvas but have an identity formed from a range of influences, the most powerful of which will be their parents and their culture," contends the Archbishop.
"There is a difference between someone being labeled and someone having an identity."
The atheist campaign is also angering Muslims.
"Religion is not given by the family, but it is a natural religion given by our God at birth," said Sheikh Anwar Mady from the Belfast Islamic Centre.
"The role of the family is to teach the traditions of the faith. But that faith is implanted at birth."
Reverend McIlveen believes the campaign would have the least effect on people.
"I believe this doesn’t deserve a counter campaign," he said.
"It is a wasted campaign that will have no impact on family life in Northern Ireland," he contends.
"They have a defeatist attitude and are just trying to draw attention to themselves."
Source: IslamOnline
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