'No God' slogans for London city's buses

[KAding]

'No God' slogans for city's buses

Bendy-buses with the slogan "There's probably no God" could soon be running on the streets of London.

The atheist posters are the idea of the British Humanist Association (BHA) and have been supported by prominent atheist Professor Richard Dawkins.

The BHA planned only to raise £5,500, which was to be matched by Professor Dawkins, but it has now raised more than £36,000 of its own accord.

It aims to have two sets of 30 buses carrying the signs for four weeks.

The complete slogan reads: "There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life."

As the campaign has raised more than anticipated, it will also have posters on the inside of buses as well.

The BHA is also considering extending the campaign to cities including Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh.

Professor Dawkins said: "Religion is accustomed to getting a free ride - automatic tax breaks, unearned respect and the right not to be offended, the right to brainwash children.

This campaign to put alternative slogans on London buses will make people think - and thinking is anathema to religion
Professor Richard Dawkins

"Even on the buses, nobody thinks twice when they see a religious slogan plastered across the side.

"This campaign to put alternative slogans on London buses will make people think - and thinking is anathema to religion."

Hanne Stinson, chief executive of the BHA, said: "We see so many posters advertising salvation through Jesus or threatening us with eternal ****ation, that I feel sure that a bus advert like this will be welcomed as a breath of fresh air.

"If it raises a smile as well as making people think, so much the better."

But Stephen Green of pressure group Christian Voice said: "Bendy-buses, like atheism, are a danger to the public at large.

Bendy-buses, like atheism, are a danger to the public at large
Stephen Green of pressure group Christian Voice

"I should be surprised if a quasi-religious advertising campaign like this did not attract graffiti.

"People don't like being preached at. Sometimes it does them good, but they still don't like it."

However the Methodist Church said it thanked Professor Dawkins for encouraging a "continued interest in God".

Spirituality and discipleship officer Rev Jenny Ellis said: "This campaign will be a good thing if it gets people to engage with the deepest questions of life."

She added: "Christianity is for people who aren't afraid to think about life and meaning."

The buses with the slogans will run in Westminster from January.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/h...on/7681914.stm

Published: 2008/10/21 14:34:33 GMT

© BBC MMVIII

I wouldn't waste my money on it, but if others want to, all the more power to them!

[Muezzin]

If I had my way, all bus posters would be advertising the Dark Knight.

My goodness, they were fantastic.

These just seem a waste of money and rather petty in my opinion. 'Bleh, take this, religious people!' I wouldn't find them offensive, mind. Just demonstrative of what I find to be a schoolboy mentality in these particular type of Affronted Athiests (TM) - the nerd's revenge.

I'd also say a religious slogan on a bus is a waste of money because it would be ignored. Better to spend that money on something constructive, like charity or a homeless shelter etc.

[barney]

What a great idea!

[KAding]

I have at one point considered becoming a member of the Dutch Humanist Society. They run ads on radio as well, their slogans are something like "Humanism: believing in people" and "thinking for yourself, living together".

Maybe I should stop giving to useless charities like 'Doctors without Borders' and 'World Wildlife Fund' and invest in humanism instead ;p.

[جوري]

^^ sounds like a good idea, maybe they can upgrade with the money? bus ads just seem a little low budget & declasse....

[barney]

GoGo! Rationalitybus!

[جوري]

lol that bus doesn't seem very populated?

[Hamayun]

"All truth passes through three stages: First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident." - Arthur Schopenhauer

If anything the bus will get more people thinking about the existence of God and their search will Insha'Allah lead them to the truth of life.

This is exactly how most people find Islam and revert

That slogan is a blessing in disguise lol. Ever heard of reverse psychology? The word "probably" is enough to do the job lol

Go go bendy bus :clever:

[جوري]

not sure why it says 'stop worrying' I think atheists have more to worry about than theists? unless basically he is giving them a carte blanche to commit all sorts of abominations.. in which case, I think he should change the 'probably' to 'most definitely' -- you know for unequivocal assurance

[Amadeus85]

Emmanuel Todd, french liberal philosopher wrote that many of the problems of modern society are caused by the post- religious attitude. The lack of political visions,lies in political life, the unwilling to perform needed reforms, the distrust towards political scene. People who question everything dont believe in their own words too. Not to mention(according to another Frenchman,Michel Houellebecq) that the secularization of our lives and counter culture have made Love(especially children' love to parents who change their partners many times) as something that we dont get unconditionally but we must court for it against parents' partners.

[alcurad]

^hark atheists.

also, 'humanist' values were derived from religion-christianity- to begin with, and so why not try to deconstruct them...oh wait, already done that, nvermind.

[Snowflake]

so far there's no evidence to suggest the adverts are achieving any purpose - unlike the islamic ones in Chigaco : ))




CTA buses carry ads from Islamic group
—Noreen S. Ahmed-Ullah
October 15, 2008
So you've heard about finding love on the 151 bus. How about finding religion?

That's exactly what a few Chicagoans have discovered after seeing Chicago Transit Authority buses rolling past them with giant advertisements for Islam.

A Chicago-area Muslim group called Gain Peace has spent $29,900 to place signs on 25 CTA buses serving the North Side in a monthlong campaign organizers hope will help dispel misconceptions about Islam.

The sign caught Moses Robinson's eye. A 38-year-old Gary resident who works for a software company, he saw one of the buses on Canal Street when he left his office on a break. "Everything clicked into place," he said. After calling the number on the side of the bus and meeting with Gain Peace, he converted to Islam the next day.

Of course, most people interviewed at CTA bus stops downtown Tuesday hadn't even noticed the ads. And one rider thought they were inappropriate, although CTA officials say they see no problem as other ad campaigns on CTA vehicles have featured religious themes or messages.

Gain Peace says the campaign has been a success

"We've had eight conversions, close to 400 calls and we've had close to 75,000 hits on our Web site in one week," said Sabeel Ahmed, the director for Gain Peace.

In fact, it's going so well, the group just bought six more weeks of ads.

[The_Prince]

im sick of these secular humanists.

and ppl right now arent worried about God, but are worried about the econamy crisis and whether they can feed their kids tommorow and be able to pay for their homes! perhaps these secular humanists could point that out, instead of attacking straw mans.

[The_Prince]

so far there's no evidence to suggest the adverts are achieving any purpose - unlike the islamic ones in Chigaco : ))




CTA buses carry ads from Islamic group
—Noreen S. Ahmed-Ullah
October 15, 2008
So you've heard about finding love on the 151 bus. How about finding religion?

That's exactly what a few Chicagoans have discovered after seeing Chicago Transit Authority buses rolling past them with giant advertisements for Islam.

A Chicago-area Muslim group called Gain Peace has spent $29,900 to place signs on 25 CTA buses serving the North Side in a monthlong campaign organizers hope will help dispel misconceptions about Islam.

The sign caught Moses Robinson's eye. A 38-year-old Gary resident who works for a software company, he saw one of the buses on Canal Street when he left his office on a break. "Everything clicked into place," he said. After calling the number on the side of the bus and meeting with Gain Peace, he converted to Islam the next day.

Of course, most people interviewed at CTA bus stops downtown Tuesday hadn't even noticed the ads. And one rider thought they were inappropriate, although CTA officials say they see no problem as other ad campaigns on CTA vehicles have featured religious themes or messages.

Gain Peace says the campaign has been a success

"We've had eight conversions, close to 400 calls and we've had close to 75,000 hits on our Web site in one week," said Sabeel Ahmed, the director for Gain Peace.

In fact, it's going so well, the group just bought six more weeks of ads.

i know brother Sabeel Ahmed maybe one day we will set some debates up in Chicago.

[czgibson]

Greetings,

Weird. I'm not sure how I feel about this.

One side of me says: "Well, if religions are allowed to advertise, then why not atheism?"

But that's immediately countered by two things:

1. Atheism isn't a religion

2. Advertising looks like a sign of weakness. The truth should become evident to people through thinking, and should stand or fall on its own merits. The more I see a product advertised, the less inclined I am to buy it.

However, it will provoke discussion (and hopefully thought), which can only be a good thing. It also reminds people, in Britain at least, that the atheists are a sizable group.



Peace

[coddles76]

lol that bus doesn't seem very populated?

lololololol Thanks for the Laugh Skye I needed that

[Al-Zaara]

1. Atheism isn't a religion

That's very interesting, for just recently, I got learned (not by Islamic, but secular atheist teachers and book) that there are quite a lot who see it as a religion, or define it so to say. Depending on how you define the word religion.

[Hamayun]

Atheism is a religion. It is based on one's own beliefs.

[SixTen]

Atheism is a religion. It is based on one's own beliefs.

Not quite, you and I are atheist towards Santa clause, Zeus, The Saturn God, the Hindu Gods, and many others, would you call that religious (the disbelief in those deities)?

Religious, would be someone who

Having or showing belief in and reverence for God or a deity.
Of, concerned with, or teaching religion: a religious text.
Extremely scrupulous or conscientious: religious devotion to duty.

Since, an atheist has none of those qualities, he can not be deemed religious.

[Malaikah]

What a waste of money. It achieves nothing at all, it is just pathetic. Hopefully what was mentioned earlier proves true and it makes people remember and draw closer to God.