By THE RATIONAL RESPONSE SQUAD
Added: Fri, 15 Dec 2006 00:00:00 UTC

BlasphemyChallenge.com : "The Blasphemy Challenge" Rewards Participants for Demonstrating Non- Belief on YouTube



Philadelphia -- December 14, 2006. The Rational Response Squad has launched a $25,000 campaign to entice young people to publicly renounce any belief in the sky God of Christianity.

Called "The Blasphemy Challenge," this campaign encourages participants to commit what Christian doctrine calls the only unforgivable sin -- blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. (The "Holy Spirit" is an invisible ghost who Christians believe dwells on Earth as God's representative.)

Participants who videotape their blasphemy and upload it to YouTube will receive a free DVD of the hit documentary THE GOD WHO WASN'T THERE, which normally sells for $24.98. Beyond Belief Media, the distributor of THE GOD WHO WASN'T THERE, has donated 1001 DVDs to the Rational Response Squad for The Blasphemy Challenge.

More than 160 participants have already blasphemed the Holy Spirit and earned free DVDs during the pre-launch phase of the Blasphemy Challenge. Their videos can be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=7D6338FA4A19B4C3

While anyone can participate in The Blasphemy Challenge, the Rational Response Squad is focused on reaching a young demographic. To publicize The Blasphemy Challenge to young people, today the Rational Response Squad begins an online advertising campaign focused on 25 sites popular with teens such as Xanga, Friendster, Boy Scout Trail, Tiger Beat, Teen Magazine, YM, CosmoGirl! and Seventeen.

Find out more at: http://www.blasphemychallenge.com

To interview participants in The Blasphemy Challenge or, please contact Zoe Lee via email at publicity@beyondbeliefmedia.com. Brian Sapient co-founder of the Rational Response Squad can be reached at sapient@rationalresponders.com

ABOUT THE RATIONAL RESPONSE SQUAD

The Rational Response Squad addresses irrational emergencies of all kinds, especially the ongoing emergency created by religious faith. What started in February 2005 as a popular internet radio show has since blossomed into an activist group with 21,000 members, seven regional chapters and a fast-growing youth division organized at FreeThinkingTeens.com. The Squad focuses on debunking false claims, publicizing the work of atheists and skeptics, and directly engaging the faithful with the goal of converting them to reason. The Squad's War on Christmas also includes initiatives to give free THE GOD WHO WASN'T THERE DVDs to Christians who request them as well as covertly planting DVDs in Christian churches. Richard Dawkins recorded a show with the Rational Response Squad in November which can be downloaded here: http://www.briansapient.com/media/dawkins/rrsShow38_64_flam.mp3

See: http://www.rationalresponders.com

ABOUT "THE GOD WHO WASN'T THERE"

BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE did it to the gun culture. SUPER SIZE ME did it to fast food. THE GOD WHO WASN'T THERE does it to religion. A #1 bestselling independent documentary at Amazon.com, THE GOD WHO WASN'T THERE holds Christianity up to a bright spotlight and asks the questions few dare to ask. Starting off by exploring the case that Jesus never actually existed, the movie goes on to examine other aspects of the Christian religion through interviews with Richard Dawkins, author Sam Harris, historian Richard Carrier and many others. Los Angeles Times: "Provocative -- to put it mildly."

See: http://www.thegodmovie.com

Some early press for the campaign:

Nightline covers The Blasphemy Challenge.



Brian Flemming on FOX


Newsweek article on The Blasphemy Challenge





Take The Blasphemy Challenge on your next skydiving jump!

TAGGED: RELIGION