Campaign: Atheist Bus
21.10.08 | Ariane |
Atheism, Atheist Bus Campaign, Donation, Donations, Fundraising, Humour, London Buses, Richard Dawkins, Slogan, Thank You
** We reached the total at 1006 BST (GMT+1) on 21st October, just over 10 hours after launch – thank you so much to everyone who contributed! If you haven’t donated yet and would like to then please do – we are now aiming to launch a full advertising campaign across the UK! **
The Atheist Bus Campaign launches today, Tuesday October 21. With your support, we hope to raise £5,500 to run 30 buses across the capital for four weeks with the slogan: “There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.” Donate online now!
Professor Richard Dawkins, bestselling author of The God Delusion, is officially supporting the Atheist Bus Campaign, and has generously agreed to match all donations up to a maximum of £5,500, giving us a total of £11,000 if we reach the full amount – enough for a much bigger campaign. Our campaign partner, the British Humanist Association, will be administering all donations.
With your help, we can brighten people’s days on the way to work, help raise awareness of atheism in the UK, and hopefully encourage more people to come out as atheists. We can also counter the religious adverts which are currently running on London buses, and help people think for themselves.
As Richard Dawkins says: “This campaign to put alternative slogans on London buses will make people think – and thinking is anathema to religion.”
856 Responses to “Campaign: Atheist Bus”
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Pages: « 1 2 [3] 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 … 18 » Show All
October 22nd, 2008 at 11:51
A religion is sometime a source of happiness, and I would not deprive anyone of happiness.
But it is a comfort appropriate for the weak, not for the strong. The great trouble with religion – any religion – is that a religionist, having accepted certain propositions by faith, cannot thereafter judge those propositions by evidence.
One may bask at the warm fire of faith or choose to live in the bleak certainty of reason- but one cannot have both.
- Robert A Heinlein (7 July 1907 – 8 May 1988)
October 22nd, 2008 at 11:57
With all this extra money, you must consider rolling this initiative out country-wide as much as you can.
And I’ll have a bumper sticker too please!
October 22nd, 2008 at 12:28
This is fantastic news…. maybe in the future the BHA and others could consider a challenge to the Alpha course ?
I’m just waiting to see the religious “majority” on the evening news going on about how offended they are……. I’ll be contributing.
October 22nd, 2008 at 12:38
So any takers on a sweepstake for when the first bus gets torched by Muslims?
It’s clearly heresy to suggest such a thing!
October 22nd, 2008 at 12:51
[...] the first magazine today coincides nicely with David at “Island Life” bringing the Atheist Bus Campaign to my attention via Facebook this [...]
October 22nd, 2008 at 12:53
@ Paul R 93
As far as intolerance is concerned I can tell you one thing. I’ve noticed that when it comes to homosexual behaviour, everyone who says something wrong about it, is called to be intolerant. But if someone says something bad about faith and religion then people say – “It is a freedom of opinion”.
I can bet that if there was a banner saying for example: “Homosexual behaviour is not natural” everyone in mass media would be irritated and the person who put it on the bus would be accused of being intolerant.
@Roy 97
You’re right. Some people try to force everyone else to believe in God. It is not respecting somebody’s free will and is completely wrong.
I do belive in God but sometimes when I listen to some priests who brutally criticise other people because they have different opinion I am ashamed of them.
@ A.G 99
Such campaign would not pass in Poland (fortunately if you asked me).
October 22nd, 2008 at 12:57
Can we have a campaign after this one to make the churches pay taxes please? I’m sick of thinking those freeloaders are getting an easy ride becasuse they believe in a beardy man in the sky. In a fair society, its only right that these money making organisations (read cults) pay up the same as us atheists.
Q; How would the United Kingdom be, if it were a religion free zone?
A: United
Don’t care if I do burn in hell for that one!
October 22nd, 2008 at 13:16
Love it! it’s just what today’s society needs!! it’s 2008 crying out loud.
One thing i’d like to add, don’t even consider removing “Probably” here’s why!
“After that, I Googled Carlsberg and found this marketing site, which suggests that using the word “probably” at the start of the ad saved Carlsberg from litigation.”
Read the Frakking Article!
October 22nd, 2008 at 13:21
Fantastic idea.
Arab countries follow suit!!!
October 22nd, 2008 at 13:36
@Kael
I’m sorry, but exactly how is this campaign intolerant? As far as I can see a group of people – Atheists – want to express their opinion, which happens to be opposite to yours. The definition of intolerant is an “unwillingness to grant equal freedom of expression”, does this campaign impinge on your freedoms in any way? Is it offensive in anyway? Of course not. In fact your comment to A.G 99 shows that you are the one being intolerant!
Also, comments like “Homosexuality is not natural” are very hurtful because they are totally unfounded! Saying things like this just dehumanizes homosexual people.
October 22nd, 2008 at 13:50
Epicurus
Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able?
Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able, but not willing?
Then he is malevolent.
Is he both able and willing?
Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing?
Then why call him God?”
October 22nd, 2008 at 13:57
Fabulous initiative, congrats. I just posted a comment in the blog of UAAR, the Italian atheist organisation, suggesting that maybe they should start rethinking from scratch their communication strategy.
October 22nd, 2008 at 14:03
mo?e przypomniec wam równanie pascala albo có? takiego w którym mowa o tym ?e lepiej wierzy? ni? nie wierzy? w Boga.
October 22nd, 2008 at 14:04
Hi,
Just a quick reminder as to why ‘probably’ is being included in the message. I agree it is a bit of a cop-out but here’s the reason behind it …
http://www.atheistcampaign.org/probably/
Re #87. samantha | 22.10.08 at 5:30
Wow, there’s christian tolerance for you … just prick the surface and all the air comes out of the bag.
Seems to me that Samantha is only really in this religion schtick for herself. Doing a good deed for the sake of it isn’t on the cards – it’ll only be worth it if her good deed gets seen by the bearded one.
And you missed off at least two other possibilities:
3. What happens if you do good and bad deeds? Do you have to do part-time burning or is it one bad deed and you’re toast? If that’s the case, we’ll all fry, including you!
4. What if it’s one of the other zillion gods, now that would be downer, wouldn’t it.
Re #53. GMAC | 21.10.08 at 19:03
Ideally, we should look for proof on both sides of the argument. Isn’t that fair?
Sorry GMAC, but there’s an old saying ‘If you’re in a hole, stop digging’. If you need proof that your deity exists, then by implication, faith must be lacking.
Paul.
October 22nd, 2008 at 14:15
@Oli
“Also, comments like “Homosexuality is not natural” are very hurtful because they are totally unfounded! Saying things like this just dehumanizes homosexual people.”
Well, the banner on the bus is also very harmful because it expresses the opinion that people who have faith are just stupid, their way of life is medieval and they are worse than those who do not believe.
That is why I think it is intolerant. The very same reason you find the sentence I’ve written about homosexuals intolerand and harmful.
You asked if it offensive, so I can give you an answer: Yes, in my opinion, it is offensive.
Look at what you’ve written:
“As far as I can see a group of people – Atheists – want to express their opinion …”
And after that you say it is their right to do so.
And in the end you write:
“Also, comments like “Homosexuality is not natural” are very hurtful … ”
But is it not another opinion of another group of people???
Well, the answer is up to you.
P.S.
And could you please explain me whe my answer to A.G is intolerant??? That is the thing I cannot understand.
I’ve just noticed the fact that in Poland people would not approve of such campaign.
That is all, a simple fact.
I’ve written ‘fortunately’ beacause as you might have noticed, I don’t quite approve it.
But it is still my opinion and of course there can be people happy when they see such banner.
October 22nd, 2008 at 14:21
Well done!
Now come on you lot, the BHA office is in london and everyone I speak to there has a southern accent. Thats fine (but still something you should address) so lets take this message up north into the cities and towns.
October 22nd, 2008 at 14:25
@Robert #100
So religion is a comfort for the weak not for the strong?
The trouble with religion – any religion – is that a religionist , having accepted certain propersitions by faith, cannot therefore judge these propersitions by evidence?
An interesting if misinformed position. I prefer to look at it like this. Religion is man’s search for God whereas Christianity is God’s search for man.
I am not weak although my faith in Jesus is a comfort to me. What I am though is incredibly powerful through the power that is available to me when I pray – the Power that CREATED the World, the Universe!
I accept Creation by faith as a starting point and I then look at the evidence for Creation that not only strengthens my faith but that is overwhelming.
I do therefore bask in the warmth of the fire (the Holy Spirit) and I do enjoy the bleak certainty of reason (a personal faith in a personal God).
As Jesus is knowable why are so many people afraid to know him?
October 22nd, 2008 at 14:28
Religion should be ridiculed in a court of law, let’s forget what you find offensive it’s been too long going now.
Consider this a motivational AD for level headed humans.
October 22nd, 2008 at 14:35
Its unfortunate but predictable I suppose that this forum seems to be attracting the well rehearsed yet as usual banal, ill conceived, contradictory flowery nonesense which atheists have been listening to for decades.
October 22nd, 2008 at 14:41
@ Richard (104), writing things poetically doesn’t prove anything.
Christianity is God’s search for man? Really? I’m right here. He hasn’t found me yet. And for someone who’s suposed to be omniscient, he’s pretty crap at finding things.
When I was younger (13ish), I was pretty agnostic, but when my grandma got cancer, I thought I’d give prayer a go. That was a pretty good opportunity for God to show himself yeah? She died painfully.
As for your comment that you accept creation, and then look for the evidence to back it up; don’t you realise how backward that is? You’re supposed to start with a blank slate, look for some evidence, and then find a hypothesis that fits. Not the other way round. You can make evidence fit whatever you want, if you choose to ignore enough of it (as religious people do).
And you say that you “become powerful” when you pray. How do you mean? Can you perform miracles? If you mean you gain the “power” to face life, deal with hardship etc, well I’m pretty good at dealing with stuff like that too, and I’m as big an atheist as you can get.
October 22nd, 2008 at 14:58
@Kael
Your answer to me is not intolerant, Its your opinion i accept that. Ok but i will be try to do somthing like that i promise .
your another point of view is:
“Well, the banner on the bus is also very harmful because it expresses the opinion that people who have faith are just stupid, their way of life is medieval and they are worse than those who do not believe.”
So i am asking you where do you see in background foolishness? (in banner indeed)
you know i see great sentence which shows another possibility of life, (not only .. “omg God will punish you if you dont do it somthing” – you know a lot of child-teenager heard that and so on & so on ).
the contents of this banner is : “just think!”
October 22nd, 2008 at 15:09
“Well, the banner on the bus is also very harmful because it expresses the opinion that people who have faith are just stupid, their way of life is medieval and they are worse than those who do not believe.”
It does? I don’t think it does. If you have leapt to that conclusion that might be your own subconcious telling you that.
To compare this with the demonisation of homosexuality (indeed, the persecution of homosexuals under the banner of religion) strikes me as a mite odd.
Almost as odd as drawing meaning out that really isn’t there.
I’m afraid that religion is not given a free pass anymore by everyone, you do not gain respect for your views by fiat. I don’t respect your views, and I don’t respect you for holding them but I do respect your right to hold them.
The right to hold views is not a right to shut down criticism. You have no right to not be offended as you go through life.
October 22nd, 2008 at 15:11
@ Rich Savage #105
Do you want to be found? Are you prepared to have your life changed? Can I suggest you do the Alpha Course at your local church?
There is a time to die for all of us. However, the girl I sponsor in India was healed of leukaemia and if you punch the name David Hathaway into a search engine you will find a man who was healed of throat cancer miraculously.
I didn’t have to look for the evidence to back up my belief in creation it was there all the time whereas evolution is bad science as having hit upon a cock and bull theory the scientists are desperately trying to find the evidence!
Science only confirms the authority of the Bible.
I have got no qualms about praying for someone for healing (and I don’t care how bad the prognosis is) and expecting them to be restored the same as I have no qualms in praying for a dead person and expecting Jesus to raise them from the dead – Yes, I’m talking about miracles.
Just a thought…..
It’s quite unbelieveable hom many unbelieveable things you have to believe in to be called an unbeliever.
Revelation 3:20:- Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.
I challenge you Rich to pray and ask Jesus to reveal Himself to you.
October 22nd, 2008 at 15:12
Clear off posting religous crap on this board, no one gives a rats ass.
October 22nd, 2008 at 15:23
Richard, of course I want to be found.
The idea that I might go to heaven is awesome (not quite as awesome as the Islamic 72 virgins thing. You missed a trick there). But I have to look at it rationally, and the evidence is overwhelmingly strong to suggest that none of it is true. For 24 years of my life I was VERY open minded to christianity. In the 25th year, I decided that enough was enough. In that entire time I hadn’t seen a shred of evidence.
You think it was a miracle that somone was cured of Lukemia? It does happen, y’know. It doesnt mean that God did it. It annoys me when religious people attribute positive things, which could happen by themselves as miracles. My dad survived cancer for 5 years, which was VERY unlikely, and he beat all the odds to do that. He was an atheist. No-one prayed for him. He just had really good medical insurance, which kept him alive way longer than most people with the same type of cancer.
And what on earth are you talking about “no evidence for evolution”. Do you actually understand how evolution works? Every single fossil is evidence for evolution. If you do think you understand how evolution works, please reply to this message and give your idea of the explanation. I bet you’ve misunderstood it completely.
I am planning to go on an Alpha course. I only found out about them today. Are they free? I LOVE asking religious people to explain how it all works. It’s fun seeing them getting all confused and dodge questions.
October 22nd, 2008 at 15:43
@Dr Doctor 107
Well the interpretation of the meaning is up to everyone in person. I’ve just expressed my point of view.
Some people before were saying that I said something harmful about homosexuals. But I really wrote about their “behaviour” and not them in person. It is just another example of different interpretation of a sentence.
Don’t get me wrong. I don’t blame homosexual people and I don’t want them to be offended. It is just my point of view that their kind of sexual activity does not follow human nature.
And as you have mentioned before I have the right to keep it.
@ A.G
” the contents of this banner is : “just think!” ”
Well, we could fit this to every banner that says anything about different ways of life. Even to the sentence I’ve written about homosexuals.
And we could tell people that this is the only one and true meaning of the banner.
But I’m afraid that this does not work.
If you come accross the sentece that touches you closely you’ll rarely interprete it in this way.
Best regards to everyone, that is my last post for today
see you tomorrow
October 22nd, 2008 at 15:50
This is wonderful!
All of my support are belong to you!!
October 22nd, 2008 at 15:52
May I remind some of you that many of the countries on this planet that enjoy free speech and freedom to bear arms were founded by christians with christian ideals. The rights and freedoms we all enjoy today are do to people that were tired of being overrun by the government and having their basic rights stripped away. ALL that is happening once again. Right now the US gov, owns the right to do what it wants with YOUR money your well being and your house and your land. Mass amounts of army personel are returning to the states from murdering 3 million Iraqi’s to patrol city streets in case you decide to feed your family with stolen bread because it’ll cost $5000. When the US decided to take God out of the classroom, they sealed their own fate. America is the next Babylon, and we will all suffer for partaking in here adulteries!
October 22nd, 2008 at 15:56
About homosexuals: Just how in the heck do you propose to carry on the human race with a “partner” that has the same parts as you?
October 22nd, 2008 at 16:10
troch? to dziwne
October 22nd, 2008 at 16:11
Because the mormons have about 12 kids each. Thats how. We’ll all be starving in 2 generations thanks to religious people, who think having a million kids is great fun.
October 22nd, 2008 at 16:24
Great idea! Wish I see the same in Moscow
October 22nd, 2008 at 16:26
So are you’re suggesting America was ‘founded by christians and on christian ideals’. Really??
Which freakshow religious semi-literate institution taught you this? Is it the same place that teaches children that dinosaurs are 5000 years old?
October 22nd, 2008 at 16:30
Thinking is anathema to religion, yes and metaphysics is an anathema to the Atheist Campaign! Really people ask yourself how do you know anything? Study the mind-body problem with metaphysical analysis. AND really employ your reason if you can.
The atheist is closer to god than the blind faith believer. Karl Popper. …
October 22nd, 2008 at 16:31
The day when religion is consigned to the dustbin of bad ideas is long overdue. More conciousness-raising like this is what’s needed!
October 22nd, 2008 at 16:36
[...] that they started the campaign this morning and got enough funds by 10.06am they should now really go for the Old [...]
October 22nd, 2008 at 17:13
Sorry, but this argument is roughly two hundred years too old.
“An Imam could reason in much the same way” – Daniel Diderot
Is this an admission that evangelicals are intolerant of any other that holds a contradictory opinion?
Veering very close to Fred Phelps territory, dude.
I’m assuming that, in the name of consistency, you oppose singletons and the sterile as well?
October 22nd, 2008 at 17:19
@Kael,
re: Homosexuality and Religion. There is a difference between the two, one is a choice, the other isn’t. Get back to me when you’ve figured out which is which, and understood why each can and should be treated differently.
@GMAC,
re: USA and Christian foundings.
Get a clue, and do some reading. The USA is on NO WAY AT ALL founded on christian beliefs or by christians. Most of the founders are either atheists or deists. They were very specific about religion should be kept out of the public domain and remain a private individual thing. It’s a pity that very few religious types manage to keep it private, and that ultimately annoys those of us that want nothing to do with it.
October 22nd, 2008 at 17:31
I think this is absolutely marvelous. I can only hope that those who see the advert engage in thought about its message rather than anger at those who express it.
October 22nd, 2008 at 17:45
Hey, I’ve just seen a photo of Ariane.
Hmm, maybe there is a god after all – cancel my donation (joke!)
P.
October 22nd, 2008 at 18:03
Did you see last drastic fall in God’s popularity? RateTheGod.com
October 22nd, 2008 at 18:08
Why this post is dated 14.10.08? I am trying to write an article about this campaign (we REALLY need one like this in the US) but the dating back kind of confuses me. I guess the campaign to raise money was launched yesterday and today at 10 am the goal was reached… is that right?
October 22nd, 2008 at 18:09
Hello everyone. This is a great campaign – congratulations to everyone involved and all those who have made donations for a sterling effort.
I’d encourage you all (well, will the exception of the christian halfwits, obviously) to have a pog at the National Secular Society (www.secularism.org.uk), and if you can spare a few quid on this campaign, hopefully you’ll consider spending just a few more on a year’s membership – it’s a worthy cause.
Ta for now!
October 22nd, 2008 at 18:47
@GMAC
Are you serious? USA was founded on Christian principles? Thats totally ridiculous! Read the constitution, its right there in the First Amendment. The USA was founded on SECULAR principles, the idea that church and state should have a wall of separation. America is almost unique in this respect, it is this that has dominated the western world NOT the values of any one religion.
If you are American then I really suggest you read the first amendment of the constitution that protects your rights.
October 22nd, 2008 at 18:56
interesting concept…may God bless you.
October 22nd, 2008 at 19:28
Well done. Best wishes!
October 22nd, 2008 at 19:33
As the campaign now is nearing 75k that means we’ve probably raised more in less than 30 hours than the Church of England screws out of it’s parishioners (those that are still sad enough to go to church) on one sunday’s collection plate !!!
October 22nd, 2008 at 19:36
In reply to post 141 by Sandra
The campaign started yesterday morning (21/10/08) and reached it’s target 10.06 GMT… the original requested amount was 5.5k pounds and as of a few seconds ago it was nearly 74k pounds..!
October 22nd, 2008 at 19:37
everyone join digg and digg the story !
http://digg.com/arts_culture/London_to_have_Atheist_adverts_on_Buses
October 22nd, 2008 at 20:00
I can’t believe the amount of people out there that believe the big bang theory. One day they will see when Jesus Christ returns through the clouds for His church.