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 20:06
Hey Folks, good to see that there is a place for some debating goings on over the pond. As a practicing lutheran and doctor, i find that yes, religion has its place and so does the ability to seperate the two when needed. I feel that if you need an output of your beliefs (yes, even being atheist is a belief) then you should be able to. Just remember that as humans, we have always been able to question everything as this is how we obtain answers and knowledge.And, I welcome the ability to do so. But to leave comments that can be veiwed as hurtful to either party does nothing but push us further apart. We all need to understand each other and be a single unit as far as this world is concerned. I have many other doctor friends who would be on either side of this coin and still give care to whom ever needed it. In the rush to pick a side, we tend to forget what it is really about. Helping others when in need. this should not be viewed as a christian belief, but a belief in the human race. Doesnt it really all boil down to being good to one another and having “faith” in human nature? Yes, i am christain and yes i believe in God, and do i not care for you if you are not? We are all sinner and saint…I have a problem with the “fire and brimstone” televangelist that take someones money on the tv for they are wrong and i along with other caring christains should not be grouped as such. I believe in free thinking and free will. i believe that not one God or belief is better than another, if yours is jah ,jesus or muhummad, so be it…cant we be just a single world? help the needing and each other? you dont have to be a christain to help someone anymore than you have to be a non-believer to think for yourself. peace be with you!and understand my views and opinions are both! thanks
October 22nd, 2008 at 20:06
I happened upon this commentaries today and have thoroughly enjoyed both sides of the controversial issue, especially the civility with which you respond to each other. People respond in quite vile tones down here in Texas at times. Although I don’t respect religious belief, I tend to keep such matters to myself and expect those who have such belief systems to keep them to themselves as well. Live and let live, I say.
October 22nd, 2008 at 20:07
OOPS! That should read, “these commentaries.” So sorry. ~ CV
October 22nd, 2008 at 20:08
I am curious as to why you would even want to say anything. If you believe there is no god why worry about what anyone says? I know there is a God and I am a very intelligent, thinking, educated person. I feel sorry for folks missing out on the wonderfully challenging and intellectual pursuit of God. I also think that you can get more from folks you want to change if you quit the put downs. Religion is not the antithesis of thinking. Sad to think of you facing the God of the Universe at death with no relationship with Him. thankfully He is a redeeming and forgiving God. He will establish a relationship with you any time you come to Him.
Have a good day and think hard! : )
October 22nd, 2008 at 20:32
SJ Sands post 154
Please stop the preaching… it’s the sort of thing you’re saying that started the campaign in the first place.
And to 151 Dr Mcelroy – I suggest you look up atheism in a dictionary.
Atheism is not a belief…. it’s an absence of belief.. note the last sentence of the explanation below.
This may help from wikipedia
“Atheism, as an explicit position, can be either the affirmation of the nonexistence of gods, or the rejection of theism. It is also defined more broadly as an absence of belief in deities, or nontheism”
October 22nd, 2008 at 20:37
CONGRATULATIONS ON THE CAMPAIGN. This is a dream coming true for me. Here in Brazil, if you say you’re an atheist, you suffer immense social prejudice. It is time for us to have the same rights as the religious. Keep up the courage and we will follow in this backward country.
October 22nd, 2008 at 20:53
How sad.
October 22nd, 2008 at 20:57
I’m posting a lot tonight… but this tickled my fancy
I think it’s Atheists 1 Alpha Course 0
http://www.justgiving.com/alphaposters/
Just think we’ve done 75% of their target in less than 48 hours !!!
October 22nd, 2008 at 21:00
You are just angry because you can’t control God. He is in charge but you want to be.
October 22nd, 2008 at 21:01
This is perhaps the most user-unfriendly board I’ve ever been on! Is it possible to quote a previous post?
As it is, I’ve made some notes… I wanted to quote someone who made a scathing remark about “the common mind”. This reminded me of the elitism common to organised atheism (I’ve yet to meet a working-class organised atheist.) Yer know, full member of the ‘congregation’, tithing to Dawkins advert campaigns, screaming abuse on message boards… By and large, working class people don’t have the time, and they’re less intolerant anyway.
@kde 134, what makes you think thinking is anathema to religion? That’s simply your assertion!
@Redcitrus 143. Why the ‘halfwit’ remark? It’s very immature…
DK
October 22nd, 2008 at 21:09
excuse me mrs 157 debbie… I’m working class, have time and an antheist as are many people on here ??
Now who’s the halfwit ?
You cannot class this board as “unfriendly” just because there are intelligent working class atheists out there who have a different idea from you !
October 22nd, 2008 at 21:19
Why do you atheists have to get together to be non believers. Can’t you do that all by yourselves?
If you don’t mind wasting your money go ahead and give. But you could do better by buying the homeless couple on the street a hot meal.
October 22nd, 2008 at 21:26
Debbie @ 82:
That looks like what I described: anecdotal evidence from partisan sources. Even if it were true that the religious give more to charity, it says nothing about whether religious claims are true – and it doesn’t say anything about the the massive harm religion does to society.
~~~
SJ Sands:
Hurrah! At last! Evidence! Do tell.
Of course, I’m going to have to temper my excitement because I’ve read that claim many, many times and each one has been complete and utter bollocks.
Actually, reading the rest of your little missive, you’re no different to the others, offering thinly veiled threats from your imaginary friend if we don’t bend our knee to him and join you in your backward Bronze Age beliefs. With all due respect: fuck you and the donkey you rode in on.
P.S. Gotta love the Jeebus clappers proselytising here. They’ll meet with as much success as White Supremacists setting up a stall at the Notting Hill Carnival.
October 22nd, 2008 at 21:30
I think this is extraordinary that you’re launching this campaign. I am glad to see you are raising more funds than expected and I have to encourage you to go international with this campaign and open up people’s eyes here in the US. Once people realize that this is the only life they’re ever going to live, maybe we can all find a little more happiness each day. Keep up the good work and I’m glad to see a group finally speaking out about this issue!
October 22nd, 2008 at 21:32
yeah the “jeebus clappers” (excellent term by the way David L) are upset that their poster campaign is only at 62 quid !!!
October 22nd, 2008 at 21:34
“…thinking is anathema to religion”
Robert Hooke. Sir Isaac Newton. Robert Boyle. Galileo. James Joule. I can’t buy the fact that thinking is anathema to religion.
Regardless, it will be interesting to see how this impacts society. I look forward to see how people will use their minds as a result of this campaign.
However, I must conclude this comment with my opinion on the subject– a quote from Blaise Pascal: “Belief is a wise wager. Granted that faith cannot be proved, what harm will come to you if you gamble on its truth and it proves false? If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing. Wager, then, without hesitation, that He exists.”
I sincerely appreciate everyone’s desire to think hard and well.
October 22nd, 2008 at 21:36
To organizers of the atheist bus project, from a rare atheist in the religion-soaked land to your west, I salute you. Bully!
October 22nd, 2008 at 21:42
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life”
John 3:16
Matthew 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
For all of you that are blinded by the non belivers then I will pray for you. For I will tell you god doe’s exist and you will all be judge in the end. I have a film for you 23mininhell.com check it out and tell me you would like to end up in this. Your fleash burning and dripping and your screams will be the music to your new masters ears. Because if you don’t belive than maybe you should just pick up the bible and start reading.
October 22nd, 2008 at 22:19
no i chuj wam w dupe
October 22nd, 2008 at 22:20
You guys only hope there is no God. I think I would rather hope that there was one and be wrong than think there wasn’t one and be wrong.
And someone said something about God’s popularity, why in the world would you think God cares about popularity…He created the universe let alone you. The biggest thing He cares about is you…and you have the nerve to say that His popularity is going down?
I’m sorry but I love God and it hurts me and Him to see this happening. In all seriousness, I hope every one of you finds Him, in the deepest way. Not a shallow “yes I believe in God” but a relationship with the creator of the universe.
October 22nd, 2008 at 22:22
To raz
1) Your link didn’t work
2) I will end up in flames when i die.. i know that for a fact.. because I am going to be cremated
3) but as I’ll be dead I won’t bother about it
4) enjoy your delusions
5) please don’t preach to me… it causes me burning in my belly..oh shit you’re right it’s the devil in me.. oh no..maybe not it was just indigestion caused by the clap trap were spouting
6) I think we can class you as a “jeebus clapper”
Look out for our lovely buses that will be running down the street soon .. and hopefully causing people to think rather than follow blindly
October 22nd, 2008 at 22:26
To all those theists who wonder why us atheists care…
We care for many reasons.
We care because we don’t like seeing people waste their time praising a God that doesn’t exist and looking forward to an afterlife that they will never find when they would be better off spending their time enjoying the all too short time that we are giving on this world.
We care because we don’t like to see the harm that blindly following doctrine does to people and society, especially when it flies in the face of evidence and reason.
We care because we don’t understand why our taxpayer money should go to subsidise religious organisations (the fact that churches etc don’t pay tax means there is less money in the government coffers, so us tax payers have to pay more to make up for it).
We care because we understand the freedom that non belief gives us. The freedom to marvel at the beauty of a natural universe. The freedom to make our own life choices without having to worry that someone is keeping score (this does NOT mean being able to act without morals).
We care because we don’t believe that one group of people should hold a privileged status over another group purely on the basis of a choice they have made.
We care because despite what the theistic may say and believe, religion is forced upon us in so many little ways day in and day out.
We care because forcing beliefs on very young children who do not have the mental faculties to question or evaluate what they are told borders on abuse.
That is why we care.
October 22nd, 2008 at 22:29
Paul R
I couldn’t have said it any better myself !!
October 22nd, 2008 at 22:32
@166. Asagaciousvoice
Please, for your own sanity, please look up any one of the total dissections of Pascals Wager.
This one is a good start:
http://rationalwiki.com/wiki/Pascal%27s_Wager
October 22nd, 2008 at 22:34
Peter
I was about to make the point about atheism not being a belief before I noticed your reply.
If you look at the definition/explanation of atheism on this website i think you would be a little concerned. Atheism is simply and solely the assertion that a god/supernatural deity does not exist. It ends there. There is nothing else. It isnt a philosophy and it doesnt encompass a broader set of views. Everything outside this simple assertion is up for grabs and open to debate, but is distinct and outside of the atheist conviction we have about religions. There may be some general common ground in atheists views in some areas of society/ policy etc but this is not not the intellectual accompaniment of atheism. We should draw the distinction between broader views of say, humanists which encompasses other perspectives and that of atheism which doesnt.
It is a mistake and actually misleading to present atheism as some kind of counter philosophy or world view. It plays into religionistas hands because it will be impossible to represent the views of atheists who by their very nature are diverse and independent types. Like ‘herding cats’ even. Atheism is simple and logical, we should just leave it at that.
October 22nd, 2008 at 22:40
Like I said yesterday, this is what your slogan makes me think:
“There’s probably no God.
Okay.
But what if there is? …”
What’s the matter? Why didn’t you approve this post yesterday? Don’t have the courage to think about it and respond?
October 22nd, 2008 at 22:43
Hi Paul
I agree with your sentiments and there is something in my own observations that suggets that non believers do care in a particular way. However fundamentally I would suggest that you have these qualities because you are a decent bloke and have spent time thinking about this stuff andnot BECAUSE you are an atheist.
It would be entirely consistent for an atheist (ie someone who rejects the idea of a god/supernatural power) to be a miserable or uncaring sod. The point is I would contend that those qualities you describe are positive human attributes but are not a necessary part of being an atheist.
October 22nd, 2008 at 22:44
Your post was approved yesterday.
Look under the probably comments and you’ll find it !!
Comment 10 on this pagehttp://www.atheistcampaign.org/probably/#comments
We don’t censor here
…unlike certain organisations/institutions/brain-washers who cannot take criticism…
October 22nd, 2008 at 22:45
Any chance of bringing this to the states?
dennis crinion: I think you’re thinking of anarchists and/or schizophrenics.
October 22nd, 2008 at 22:45
that last comment was in reply to post 176 phototrope !!!
October 22nd, 2008 at 22:51
i fell so sorry with everyone who thinks this is great what happen in your lives to come to this point and to make a point in a bus! why not help the poor and homeless think that is what Jesus would do.
October 22nd, 2008 at 23:01
@177 John,
Thanks for that, I hope that I am indeed a decent bloke.
Lets just extend your points a little further… You’re right, the only thing I do specifically as an atheist is not believe in a god or gods. That is what atheism means. But it does mean that I do what I do, and think what I think as a result of my own thoughts and actions, not as a result of the indoctrination of a ‘holy book’. I’m not doing stuff because I’m worried that some celestial being is keeping tabs on me and that if I upset him/her/it I’ll be damned for all time.
I know that I have one shot at life, this is it.
The act of being an atheist defines one thing, but it influences so many other things as a result.
October 22nd, 2008 at 23:11
No God = no meaning (besides the temporal; eat drink and be merry).
Kill the sick and the weak and all who sap the resources and prevent us from having as much fun as possible.
Belief has consequences!
Atheism is simply the voice of those who feel abandoned. Jesus Christ met that and took it all upon Himself when He said “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me”, while hanging from the cross which barring sucking a living human from the safety of the haven of its mother’s womb is the most cruel form of execution we’ve invented.
You’re not abandoned and yes there is a God – “The infinite and perfect Spirit in whom all things have their source, support and end”
October 22nd, 2008 at 23:14
Yippee! Yahooooooooo! La La La La La…….
I love it! This has just brightened up my day! At last, a statement that actually means something!
Enjoy your ***life***. What a beautiful and wonderful world this would be if people relied on their own conscience prior to engaging their lives. As well as respecting the natural world in which they live. Think about how much healthier this planet would be if it weren’t perceived as a temporary holding ground.
October 22nd, 2008 at 23:37
Bring this to the States! Obviously, there’s a demand. No offence to London intended, but LA, San Fran and New York could use a bit of godlessness too!
October 22nd, 2008 at 23:42
i’m in the usa-how do i donate? this is a fantastic idea!
October 22nd, 2008 at 23:44
Peter the working-class-atheist, read more carefully. I said user-unfriendly, referring to the things it lacks – a quote/multi-quote facility, for one. Oh, and don’t call me a half-wit, aside from anything else, when you haven’t bothered to read what I posted or you haven’t understood it, you look like the halfwit.
David L, 163
“That looks like what I described: anecdotal evidence from partisan sources. Even if it were true that the religious give more to charity, it says nothing about whether religious claims are true – and it doesn’t say anything about the the massive harm religion does to society.”
Wikipedia is anecdotal evidence? Hilarious! It is true that believers give more, that man’s linmk notwithstanding.. and now you sound a little desperate.
DL
October 23rd, 2008 at 0:08
Hopefully, this will get Christians off their butts to do more to help promote God. Stunts atheist extremists pull such as this one always backfires on them, which always makes those with faith in God even stronger. Atheist extremists have become the biggest proselytizers in the world.
Of course most of the money Christians gather goes to charities. This money certainly could have helped a whole lot of people who desperately need help.
I think it is much more cruel to tell people they have no choice at all after death than to tell them they may go to hel*.
Thank you for helping to promote God!
October 23rd, 2008 at 0:21
I find it interesting that the so called atheists now have a campaign to raise money and support their “cause.” Are you trying to get people to think the way you think and believe what you believe? Hello! You sound just like another religion. It’s not refreshing, you’re just sending another slab of propaganda down the tube for people to feast on or vomit.
Are you really atheist????
Do you really know what it means to be an atheist????
I am sure the esteemed Richard Dawkins who has so generously given to this campaign of presumption knows what an atheist is. After all, he has written a book about it. Maybe he can give a personal response on this blog or someone else who really knows what an atheist actually is. I have a question.
How is it possible for someone to even imagine, dream, create, theorize, theologize, hypothesize, or believe in a god outside of the existence that we see and experience? Essentially how can something come from nothing? Why would a caveman look outside one day and think there must be a god? Why would some early civilization begin worshipping an invisible being? Why would anyone today be inclined to put their faith in someone who they have never touched, seen, or heard? Where could this thought or feigned being come from? If all you know is what you start with, food, sun, water, other people, Big Bang, whatever, etc. how is it even possible to think of God?
Provide a half-way decent answer with some thinking, that anathema to religion, because frankly, saying “there probably isn’t a god” just makes you look ridiculous, hypocritical, and like you just wasted £ 77,000.
October 23rd, 2008 at 0:35
Bring this also to Poland, which really needs it.
October 23rd, 2008 at 1:58
Debbie 186, anyone can contribute to wikipedia. That’s why, at the top of the page you cite, it says: ‘This article or section may be inaccurate or unbalanced in favour of certain viewpoints.’ That’s what ‘partisan’ means.
Just wondered: how would anyone really know who gives to charity, and what their beliefs are? I could tell you I’m a Catholic who gave £20 to the Alpha project fundraiser. Actually, neither of those things are true, but I did feel a bit of humanistic sympathy on seeing that they still have only £62, which falls some way short of a million. Might throw in a couple of quid later today. But probably not …
October 23rd, 2008 at 2:38
You know the old saying: There are no athiests in a fox hole. So, all of you donating to this nonsense, remember that the next time your great country is threatened by a bombing or terrorist attack and you or someone you love is a victim. My guess is that you’ll be the first praying for God to help save you or your loved one.
I’m sorry, but this ad campaign is a total crock. If you want to challenge the special privileges given to clergy, do it, but don’t try to deny the existance of God. That just makes you look stupid.
October 23rd, 2008 at 3:48
Since the sign says there is probably no God, I think you should probally do some more research into the matter. There are probally no real atheist in the world, just those who are to afraid to deal with the truth that Jesus is the only true path to God. So enjoy you short lived joy in this world atheist because it is probally the only joy you will ever know…
October 23rd, 2008 at 3:49
Link added from DMOZ/ODP
October 23rd, 2008 at 9:03
@Debbie 160
When I was a child, my parents told me that Father Christmas brought presents to the end of my bed. After a few years, I reached the conclusion that this could not, in fact, be true.
Nobody has since proved to me either way, but until I have concrete proof that Santa does indeed exist, there’s no point believing in him.
About the same time, despite being made to sing hymns at school assembly, I reached the conclusion that god doesn’t exist. Again, nobody has managed to provide evidence that he does, and until that happens, I won’t be believing in him. The same is true for fairies, ghosts and aliens.
I was about nine or ten years old when I reached this conclusion…and you’re the one who think that I’m immature?
October 23rd, 2008 at 9:13
…and by the way, just read some of the posts here from the christian types. Most of them are unintelligible nonsense! Examples:
…and there are more. Are these the ramblings of rational, intelligent human beings? Or the delusional rantings of half-wits?
October 23rd, 2008 at 9:39
Anyway, ignore the preacher types, bloody well done.
October 23rd, 2008 at 10:17
Think I’ll donate again. The world certainly needs a calm voice of reason.
E
October 23rd, 2008 at 10:25
Er, thanks, 192. Karen Grube. Really insightful. Well done.
Who’s the one looking stupid, exactly? The ones who realise that this is the only life we have and get on with things accordingly, or those who turn up at church week after week, praying for salvation to some imaginary being?
Just look at the posts from the christians on this site (see my post 196 for a summary)…do you really want to spend eternity with idiots like that when you die? Hell sounds like much more fun.
Oh, except that doesn’t exist either.
October 23rd, 2008 at 10:44
@Karen Grube
The next time my country is threatened by a bombing or terrorist attack you can bet it will be by some deluded religious maniac! You can keep your prayers!