Atheist Humanist advertising campaign has unknowingly used photographs of the children of two evangelical Christians. The poster which can be seen on billboards across the UK shows two youngsters with the slogan ‘Don’t Label Me’.
Oh this is just classic, no wonder the kids look so happy 
Churchgoing children used in humanist ad
Premier’s learnt a new atheist advertising campaign has unknowingly used photographs of the children of two evangelical Christians.
The poster which can be seen on billboards across the UK shows two youngsters with the slogan ‘Don’t Label Me’.
The British Humanist Association wants to send out the message that children should be free to make their own decision about religion.
Gerald Coates is the leader of the Pioneer Network of Churches and knows the parents of the children.
Listen to Andrew Copson from the BHA gives his reaction to Premier’s revelation here
This has been picked up by Ruth Gledhill over at the Times
If you have stumbled onto this blog and are not a Christian, get yourself a hot drink, pull up a comfy chair and then tuck into the following article written by one of the best in the business:- All Of Grace by Charles SpurgeonThe two children chosen to front Richard Dawkins’ latest assault on God could not look more free of the misery with which he associates religious baggage.
With the slogan “Please don’t label me. Let me grow up and choose for myself”, the two children, their hair flying and with broad grins, seem to be the perfect advertisement for the new atheism being promoted by Professor Dawkins and the British Humanist Association.
Except that they are about as far from atheism as it is possible to be. The Times can reveal that Charlotte, 8, and Ollie, 7, are from one of Britain’s most devout Christian families.
Their father, Brad Mason, is something of a celebrity within evangelical circles as the drummer for the popular Christian musician Noel Richards.
Mr Mason has been supplementing his income for years by giving photographs to agencies who sell them on to newspapers and advertising campaigns.
“It is quite funny because obviously they were searching for images of children that looked happy and free. They happened to choose children who are Christian. It is ironic. The humanists obviously did not know the background of these children.”
He said that the children’s Christianity had shone through on their expressions.
Tags: Christianity, News
November 21st, 2009 at 10:27 pm
I like to think that Charlotte, 8, and Ollie, 7, are looking so happy because they know Father Christmas will bring them presents in just a few weeks. Their belief in this myth is a more likely cause for their happy smiles than any religious myth. A little later in life, they will learn there is no Father Christmas. As for the other christmas story, it may take a little longer for them to grow up and choose for themselves.
November 25th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
They are not Christian children but the children of christian parents. That is the whole point of the ad. Idiots.
November 25th, 2009 at 8:42 pm
“Mr Mason has been supplementing his income for years by giving photographs to agencies who sell them on to newspapers and advertising campaigns”
I’m not Christian, I’m atheist. However, I was subjected to much of standard Christian indoctrination at school. I grew up believing that for all the nonsense of their belief in mumbo jumbo, Christians were basically decent people. Should a Christian obtain funds for nothing, which is what Mason did (according to above)? Is it really any better than theft? Both involve getting something for nothing at the expense of others. Theft is illegal..we mad a law. Is it morally worse than what Mason does? Is it really Christian to be a money grabber? Maybe it is; it is morally questionable (like most advertising..the Atheist Bus Campaign and the recent Humanist campaign were clear exceptions. They were not designed to rip people off, but to inform).
As J Sutton said above, “They are not Christian children but the children of christian parents”. They have a right to make free choices when they are intellectually mature enough to do so. They should not be indoctrinated, as perhaps they have been.
Whoever said it was “their Christianity shining etc.” is probably ill..or a joker. Ongoing research in genetics/psychology seems to be showing there is a religious/gullibility gene. The sooner the research reaches a firm conclusion (and I feel it will clearly show the gene creates an abnormality) the sooner religious people can be treated for their illness. (Just a little tongue in cheek..but only a little!)
November 27th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
You are so petty and malicious. They’re models. Child models. Of course they look happy!
It’s insulting and offensive to think that they only look happy because they’re Christian (which they’re not anyway – they’re the children of Christian parents, get it right!) This implies you think that no one else is going to be happy in quite the same “shining” way. How arrogant and pathetic.