O, Ye of Little Faith: Des Moines Regional Transit Removes Atheists’ Ad

Apparently Iowa Governor Chet Culver is offended by atheists who have the unmitigated gall to tell people that they exist.

Not offensive. ("groom, texas" by Colin Gregory Palmer/CC-by via Flickr)

A depressingly predictable controversy arose when the organization Iowa Atheists & Freethinkers ran an ad on Des Moines area buses that was so appallingly offensive, so damaging to believers in G-d, such a slap in the face to traditional Christian values that Des Moines Regional Transit (DART) was prompted to remove the offending posters after it received complaints from riders.

The offensive, disturbing ad (WARNING to sensitive souls and those of less than rock-solid faith):

Offensive. (Img. courtesy Detroit CoR )

Holy shit! Atheists exist!

Damn. My faith has been rocked to its core by the very idea that… there are people who don’t believe as I do! More than one of them, by the looks of things!

Seriously, though. First Amendment issues aside, I really do wonder what it is that is so offensive about this ad that some Iowans feel they and their fellow public-transit users must be protected from it. In what way does the statement that atheists exist offend? Does it challenge the beliefs of those who do believe in G-d?

Not offensive. ("in god we trust" by shoothead/CC-by-nc-nd via Flickr)

It would seem that some believers are so delicate in their sensibilities that the mere suggestion causes them harm… of some kind. Are they afraid that their own faith—or that of other believers—is so fragile that the existence of non-believers is likely to turn them into g-dless heathens, thus causing them to risk eternal damnation?

How is this ad different from the many I’ve seen for churches inviting folks to come visit them of a Sunday? Remember those “Ask your Mormon neighbor…” ads touting the Book of Mormon on T.V.?) On the corner near the turnoff to my street, there are no fewer than three signs for nearby churches—right on city property, next to the Yield sign.

None of them happen to be for my particular denomination—should I be offended?

I would be interested to hear from anyone who is offended by the ad; what is it about this ad that offends?