There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.

[Cheese]

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," Professor Dawkins said.

"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."


Apparently, the message that there is probably no God is just so horrible, so hateful, and so intolerant that it's just more than some Christians can stand — or at least it's more than Christian Ron Heather can stand. A driver for First Bus, Ron Heather doesn't want to drive any busses that display the atheist advertisement suggesting that his god might not exist and that this isn't anything to worry about. Just as amazing is the fact that First Bus is willing to accommodate his position.

Oh, yes, saying that may be no gods is just so stark. Atheists in Britain should have tried not to beat people over the head with such a stark and insensitive message. They should have, you know, tried to be more cautious and humble in what they said. You never know when children or people with delicate sensibilities will be reading and it just wouldn't be right to unnecessarily insult them with egregiously strong messages.
What if a vegetarian didn't want to drive a bus with advertisements for meat? What if a person who abstains from alcohol didn't want to drive a bus with advertisements for whisky? What if a person waiting for marriage before having sex didn't want to drive a bus with advertisements for condoms? Somehow, I doubt that their "concerns" would be accommodated.

[Madman]

I can't wait for MY new transit advertising campaign to start!

There's probably no gang member seated next to you.
Now stop worrying and enjoy your ginger beef.

[GGG]

Well I put this group of athiests (note not all athiests) into the same group as the pro-abortion, pro-life, JW, evangelical, enviromental, anti-tobacco, anti-nuke, PETA and every one else who gets all vocal and preachy just because they want to feel like they are "doing good"

I don't understand Henry's outrage though. It's just freedom of speech. As much as the Bishop can be a little extreme in his views. I really appreciated his consistancy in not allowing the Catholic schools to make money from gambling.

As to the billboard I am not sure if it makes sense. if there is no god now I have to worry because when I die I am dead. That is not a comforting thought.

[Displaced Flames fan]

How does accepting a godless existence allow one to become carefree?

I don't get it.

It certainly hasn't put my life worries to bed.

Strange message.

[Thor]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

How does accepting a godless existence allow one to become carefree?

I don't get it.

It certainly hasn't put my life worries to bed.

Strange message.

This term and idea started in the UK, a girl there was getting tired of the religious ads on the tube, buses, etc.. One of which included a link to their site which suggested you'd burn in hell if you didn't accept Jesus.

So she started this campaign as a response to that ad and the plethora of others UK commuters have to see all year round.

The 'probably' was pretty much forced into the slogan due to the AD standards, and the 'so stop worrying and enjoy life' was response to you'll burn in hellfire if you don't believe.

The slogan just keeps going in other countries because its been a source of great entertainment and fun for a lot of heathens.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by Thor

This term and idea started in the UK, a girl there was getting tired of the religious ads on the tube, buses, etc.. One of which included a link to their site which suggested you'd burn in hell if you didn't accept Jesus.

So she started this campaign as a response to that ad and the plethora of others UK commuters have to see all year round.

The 'probably' was pretty much forced into the slogan due to the AD standards, and the 'so stop worrying and enjoy life' was response to you'll burn in hellfire if you don't believe.

The slogan just keeps going in other countries because its been a source of great entertainment and fun for a lot of heathens.

So the message is just entertainment for atheists then?

[RougeUnderoos]

I don't know if it is "just entertainment" but I find it kind of entertaining.

There are hundreds of churches and religious messages all over this city and no shortage of door knockers and public transit ads for all varieties of Christianity and godly stuff.

Now that someone would dare to benignly suggest "there probably is no God" in a public place, the religious types will get all up in a stink about this being shoved down their throat.

It is funny.

"How dare they!"

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

I don't know if it is "just entertainment" but I find it kind of entertaining.

There are hundreds of churches and religious messages all over this city and no shortage of door knockers and public transit ads for all varieties of Christianity and godly stuff.

Now that someone would dare to benignly suggest "there probably is no God" in a public place, the religious types will get all up in a stink about this being shoved down their throat.

It is funny.

"How dare they!"

I get that part of it, I really do.

I don't think people will understand that though. I think most people (non-atheists and not necessarily theists) will assume it is a message suggesting acceptance of a godless existence leads to less worry.

In other words, I think it's an inside joke with a twist of vengence.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by SebC

Wish I could embed this clip:

http://www.jwharrison.com/blog/2007/...vangelicalism/

Personally I think this is great. People believe in God mainly because they are indoctrinated when their minds are vulnerable. Atheism needs to educate people to gain enough strength that the religious people won't be able to legislate unnecessary restrictions on freedoms.

I know this is not PC, but to I'm looking forward to seeing these buses. To me, they'll be a symbol of progress.

What a bunch of bull crap!

[Thor]

Originally Posted by Dion

What a bunch of bull crap!

You think children have any chance to decide for themselves? I mean what child knows the difference between god, jesus, Barney, Santa, the Toothfairy, etc...

In some families these children are told of hell, and vividly.

Like when you see on the news a 6yr old and they say a "Muslim child" like that 6yr old has any clue what that means or has had a chance to decide what to believe.

That's what we mean by such a statement.

But most people know that if you don't get them young, you'll probably lose them to the darkside when they grow up.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Thor

You think children have any chance to decide for themselves? I mean what child knows the difference between god, jesus, Barney, Santa, the Toothfairy, etc...

In some families these children are told of hell, and vividly.

Like when you see on the news a 6yr old and they see a "Muslim child" like that 6yr old has any clue what that means or has had a chance to decide what to believe.

That's what we mean by such a statement.

But most people know that if you don't get them young, you'll probably lose them to the darkside when they grow up.

I grew up in a home where my mother took us 3 kids to Sunday school. My mothers mother was very religious and we kids all got Bibles at an early age. Us kids rebeled because we didn't want to go and she stopped taking us. Yet you make these blanket statements that children have no choice. Sorry to burst your bubble but i did have a choice and my parents respected that.

I went back in my late teens and not because my mind was vulnerable and nor was i indoctrinated like some would want others here to believe. I chose to go back of my own free will and stayed until my mid 30's where i chose again to leave. When i left no one tried to coherce me stay or make threats that i'd burn in Hell. I still believe in a religious God but don't feel one has to attend a church to practice thier faith.

Then there's the statment you make where you say if they don't get them young they'll lose them to the darkside. Again i hate to burst your bubble but i saw people become members in a church as an adult. Many like me because they had an open mind and wanted to learn something new. Some stayed and yes some left.

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by Dion

I grew up in a home where my mother took us 3 kids to Sunday school. My mothers mother was very religious and we kids all got Bibles at an early age. Us kids rebeled because we didn't want to go and she stopped taking us. Yet you make these blanket statements that children have no choice. Sorry to burst your bubble but i did have a choice and my parents respected that.

Can't say it was the same for me. I feel I was indoctrinated a bit. I rebelled in my mid teens (15) and even then it was a HUGE fight. And it wasn't just because I 'didn't want to go' it's because I had legitimate arguments.

I was looked down upon for quite some time for sticking up like that. Before that, I was a very avid church goer. I was an alter boy and gospel reader and everything.

Yeah, I feel I was indoctrinated.

[flylock shox]

I think it would be way cooler if they just put up ads that are completely blank.

[photon]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

How does accepting a godless existence allow one to become carefree?

I don't get it.

It certainly hasn't put my life worries to bed.

Strange message.

Where does it say that a godless existence means one will be carefree.

The worrying obviously refers to the topic of God, meaning rather than worrying about pleasing God and worrying about suffering the consequences if you misstep, don't worry about that and enjoy your life.

I know people that are so heavenly minded they are no earthly good. They spend so much of their life's effort on God, it sometimes seems they miss life.

Not that an ad is going to change their minds.. to me the actual message of the ad doesn't matter, it's simply raising awareness that atheists exist and that's ok.

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by photon

Where does it say that a godless existence means one will be carefree.

The original quote/headline kinda implies it.

'There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.'

Not carefree true, but implies things are easier that way.

Which for some people they are and some they aren't I guess. But I can see what DFF means.

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by photon

Not that an ad is going to change their minds.. to me the actual message of the ad doesn't matter, it's simply raising awareness that atheists exist and that's ok.

Which is the point I think.

Like many when I first heard of this (was before this thread, quite some time ago) I felt the same way. Isn't the what atheists hate? Why stoop to the same level?

But then I did see it as more of an awareness campaign. Because there are many places in the world where non-belief DOES make you an outsider.

[bcb]

'There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.

Sounds like it written by a lawyer who didn't want to get sued.

[flylock shox]

Originally Posted by bcb

'There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.

Sounds like it written by a lawyer who didn't want to get sued.

I don't think many atheists would state as a fact that there isn't a God.

[photon]

Originally Posted by Daradon

Which is the point I think.

Like many when I first heard of this (was before this thread, quite some time ago) I felt the same way. Isn't the what atheists hate? Why stoop to the same level?

But then I did see it as more of an awareness campaign. Because there are many places in the world where non-belief DOES make you an outsider.

I don't think all atheists hate that religions advertise their ideas.. most would probably hate being woken up by a knock on the door, or those really negative ads that call atheists unamerican or whatever.

We're social animals, everyone likes to share their thoughts with others. We all post here like it means something, because it DOES mean something, we're socializing.

A bus ad or billboard is no different, just another venue to let people know how you think, trying to find people to agree, disagree, whatever.

[photon]

Originally Posted by flylock shox

I don't think many atheists would state as a fact that there isn't a God.

Even Dawkins' title of the 4th chapter in The God Delusion is "Why There Almost Certainly Is No God", and it doesn't get a whole lot more atheist than Dawkins.