Thank You Everyone!
12.04.09 | Ariane |
Thank you to everyone who donated to the campaign in its six-month donation phase. We raised a phenomenal amount – during a credit crunch, no less – and special thanks should go to Simon Bishop, Richard Williams, Malcolm Dodd, Andrea Busby, Oliver Rowland, Deedyi, Dave Worrall, Gordon Livesey, and everyone else who kept the page alive and helped make the campaign such a success.
The JustGiving page is now closed. We’ll keep you updated on everything that’s happening here, but until then, I’ll leave those of you who haven’t yet seen it with this beautiful story:
Thank you again for your generosity, and see you soon.
299 Responses to “Thank You Everyone!”
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Pages: [1] 2 3 4 5 6 » Show All
April 12th, 2009 at 20:16
Well, thank you!
April 12th, 2009 at 20:56
Thanks for your great idea and your kind and upbeat attitide.
The Daily Mail has just stereotyped all non-believers as smug, self-satisfied haters, for a change (in an article by AN Wilson – he seems to be losing his marbles somewhat, unless it was heavily edited). Suprise surprise they are also not publishing any comments sent by people who disagree with their view [apart from insulting atheists the article essentially says doing things like praising the risen Lord in an Easter parade makes him feel nice and only a smug, "tieless", liberal "clever-clogs" - such as Jonathan Ross (wearing a tie in their illustration) or Jo Brand, or that mean Mr Dawkins - would question whether the Bible stories actually happened and are true or not].
I think this campaign has shown their stereotype is not true and I think less people will believe it now.
Once religious ideas and bodies are no longer given disproportionate respect and influence just because they have been around a long time, and they are looked on as just theories that are open to being examined and criticised freely, and people without religious beliefs are no longer looked down on as likely to be less moral or less warm and humane, then we won’t need campaigns like this.
Till then it has had its place in making modern Britain (and other places that have been inspired to do their own versions) a little bit nicer and more sane, healthy and free-thinking, I think.
April 12th, 2009 at 21:03
. . and thank you Ariane for having the idea in the first place and carrying it through so good-humouredly.
I really believe it has changed the world a little and an enormous number of people will forever be just that little bit happier because of it. xxx
April 12th, 2009 at 21:04
I watched His Holiness Darth Benedict on TV this morning. I have now converted to Catholicism. Do I get a refund?
April 12th, 2009 at 23:42
Thank you and well done Ariane, this movement has really turned heads.
Loved the video, kudos to the person who came up with it, there really are so many different cupboards out there!
April 13th, 2009 at 1:05
Yes, it is a cute video. We certainly should all try to get along and be kind to each other – using those shared human values and empathy Humanism reminds us about. We’re never all going to have exactly the same outlook on the world and we should judge people on how they act not what they believe
April 13th, 2009 at 19:56
Well, it was a blast!!
Thank you Ariane for the idea, your time, your hard work, and being so kind and attentive to the ABC supporters! Good luck with whatever it is you’re up to – and if you ever need help inflating balloons again, just whistle!
And also thanks to the backroom boys including Graham Nunn and Jon Worth, and those at the BHA including Andrew Copson and Hanne Stinson.
PS. Am I the only one to spot the anagram in the cartoon above? The boy makes his own cupboard, and the letters on the drawers spell out:
ALL BULLSHiT
Okay, maybe everyone got it! I’ll get my coat…
April 14th, 2009 at 2:22
Thanks Ariane – you started something special here. When the campaign first took off on the Jut Giving page, it felt like something new – finally a way to express how I felt about all this. We also did something unique here guys, that page ended up being a discussion where people paid to post a comment. I even remember one poster mentioning that they were rounding up to a certain donation, and a calculation error produced many posts trying to correct it!
I hope everyone involved in this keeps talking about their beliefs to others. I don’t think we have the right to force others to change what they believe, but nor should we sit down and accept rules of society that infringe our human rights.
April 14th, 2009 at 6:39
haha no I hadn’t noticed that. I take it that version of the cupboard is meant to show if you tried to follow every verse in the Bible it would be pretty much impossible and that most Christians pick and choose to some extent?
April 14th, 2009 at 9:33
Oliver R:
Yeah, or it’s a verdict on the sum total of all the various instruction manuals!
I spotted the answer immediately. I’m one of those sad people who solves most word-puzzles and conundrums straight away!
April 14th, 2009 at 17:31
I’d like to echo the sentiments of all those that praised you before me. You have brought enlightenment to many who struggled with what they wanted and what was expected of them.
Well done.
April 14th, 2009 at 19:15
Thank *you* Ariane. You had an inspired idea, and it was a real delight to catch my first glimpse of the logo in Oxford. There may have been a lot of donations, but without your original article, there would have been no campaign.
Also, having finally had a chance to watch that video, I think I have something in my eye. That was beautiful. Reminiscent of PZ Myers’ “Courtier reply”.
April 14th, 2009 at 20:31
Thanks for the mention!
I meant to get on to post a goodbye donation but I was a little hungover on saturday and forgot 
Never mind though. The campaign continues and I think momentum is gathering in the wider issues around non-belief and people are starting to see religion differently.
The ABC caught the mood at just the right moment and has no doubt helped to nudge it along a bit.
I first found out about the ABC on the Fox news website where I was laughing at the religious right’s reaction to Obama’s likley looking victory. The story entitled No God on London Busses caught my eye and a google search found the just giving page. Unsurprisingly there was no link from the news story!
It just goes to show though that information is key. Even in a dark and fetid place like the Fox Network you can find a little light if you look closely enough!
April 14th, 2009 at 22:26
haha Richard; but just watched it again and I do think it is him trying to do/believe everything his holy book says though – and I noticed this time how he says “I had to prop it up with books” – I guess that is the apologetics/theology that is churned out. It’s a lovely video anyway
April 14th, 2009 at 22:55
Congratulations and well done to everyone involved.
I wear my T-shirt with pride!
The work continues…
April 15th, 2009 at 10:55
Thanks for all your lovely comments. Really glad you enjoyed the campaign and the video. Forgot to say: everyone here is on our email list, and we’ll send you an email later in the year when the second phase of the campaign begins.
(If you’ve donated and let us have your email address, you’re on the list – but if not, just email me at ariane {at} arianesherine(.)com and I’ll add you.)
April 15th, 2009 at 13:27
@Oliver R (post No.2)
I too have commented on the Wilson article in the Daily Mail, and I too have been censored, it would seem only messages of total agreement are welcome.
We’re expected to put up with threats of damnation and vilification, yet they can’t handle a little criticism.
April 17th, 2009 at 12:20
Thanks to all who created and ran the campaign.
Not only has it been a hoot, but the worldwide publicity has brought many cats out of the closet.
Now that we are rolling, we must maintain the momentum – please let me know how I can contribute.
April 17th, 2009 at 22:25
Sorry, but if you are trying to persuade people not to believe in God, are you not at the same time telling them how they should live? This would make this campaign no better than the church. I think that anyone who does not want to believe in God will eventually become a atheist so why bother and advertise this?
April 18th, 2009 at 9:39
@Jens
So that people like me know that we are not alone, and to give those sitting on the fence the encouragement to follow their doubts instead of the threats of eternal damnation, that’s why!
The adverts are different in that solace is offered, but atheism isn’t rammed down peoples throats, well not by this campaign anyway.
I’m happy that common ground has been found, for those of us who are freethinkers, to share our lines of thought.
April 18th, 2009 at 11:54
Jens,
You can’t seem to leave these atheist blogs alone? Almost as if you are scratching at a sore place. Why does atheism worry you so much?
April 18th, 2009 at 12:43
@ quedula
Sorry, but i wasn’t trying to scratch at some sore place. I just came to this because i am supposed to write a report about the AC for my school newspaper. It’s not like I am surfing through the internet looking for anti- religios sites just to critisize them. However as I looked at the site and I was just speaking my thoughts, I did not want to offend the campaign but merely ask if it wasn’t a mistake using so much money for this. Btw this is the only atheist blog i ever wrote on.
@ Pete
Wow, I would have never thought that you would feel like you are alone as an atheist, due to the fact that where I live there is a great group of people that do not believe in god and it is not something kept secret. Sure adverts are not rammed down peoples throughts and i think that this site as a forum is great but is it really necessary to spend all this money for advertisements telling us not to believe in god?
April 18th, 2009 at 13:06
Jens
Where is this utopian place “there is a great group of people that do not believe in god and it is not something kept secret”?
Sweden?
April 18th, 2009 at 13:16
@Jens
I think you misunderstand, either that or you didn’t read my last post properly, the aim of this site isn’t to convert ardent theists, it is to show those who have been terrorised by threats of hellfire and damnation into following a religion that there is no need to worry. To follow your own mind, and let the world know you are not alone.
I’ve been a quiet atheist all my life, I’ve never evangelised or tried to convert, but I have suffered insults and lectures from theists, and until now I’ve been alone. There are no atheist churches, mosques or synagogues, there are no meeting places, so the message that this campaign has brought is that as atheists we are not alone.
You are quite welcome to believe in your god, and I’m happy that it gives you comfort, so be happy that we as atheists are uniting as one voice in support of all those doubters out there.
Or do you feel threatened in any way? Perhaps those previously uncounted doubters that are now coming out of the closet to be counted, and beginning to outnumber Christians feel like a threat to your faith?
May your god go with you, but please accept that I’m happy with my freedom to think for myself.
April 18th, 2009 at 13:28
Jens,
Although I wholeheartedly support this campaign I personally am much less tolerant of believers, particularly those also enjoying all the benefits of western civilisation, than its sponsors. I agree with Sam Harris & A C Grayling that everywhere and at everytime you look in the world the effects of religion are overwhelmingly negative and the first step to destroying its influence is to sow in peoples’ minds doubts of the existence of a responsive supernatural agent.
(Incidentally i meant it was your own sore your were scratching not ours)
April 18th, 2009 at 19:02
@ Malcolm Dodd
This “utopian” place is just in Europe called Vienna (in Austria, I dont know if Sweden is the same) though in my opinion its not as perfekt as you might think.
@ Pete
I understand you fully and I am completely fine if you want to make your group meetings, forum or anything else there is. I also don’t feel threatend by any means of this campaign. All i am saying is that there are much more useful ways to spend the money that goes for actually advetising this. I mean I never saw a ad for christians, moslems, hindus or any other religion telling others they should be religious. Btw I don’t want to offend you but somehow it feels like you are treating atheism itself as a “religion”, meaning that the difference between atheist and a religios person is the same as the difference between a christian and a hindu.
April 18th, 2009 at 19:19
@Jen
Goodness me, you can mind read too! No I don’t treat atheism as a religion, for a start I don’t have an imaginary man in the sky to worship, although the Flying Spaghetti Monster could quite easily fill that role.
As for wasted money on adverts, what do you think started all this off in the first place, I don’t know where you are, but if you come to the UK and see all the adverts here, or better still, go to America.
So it’s not wasted money, not from our point of view, but if you’re concerned about donations being wasted, you could go to my ‘Justgiving’ web page and donate to a charity. Click on my name above.
April 18th, 2009 at 20:18
Jens
Advertising by the religionists is everywhere in the UK. That is what provoked the Atheist Bus campaign in the UK.
In June 2008, Ariane saw a red London bus featuring a Bible quote and the URL of a website. When she visited the website, it told her non-Christians would burn in hell for all eternity.
Have you noticed the worldwide discussion and emulation of the campaign, it is encouraging people to come out of the closet and not be ashamed to have consigned religious belief into the same realm as the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny.
As Richard Lederer said “There once was a time when all people believed in god and the church ruled. This time was called the Dark Ages”.
You are fortunate to live in Vienna that bucks the 2005 national average of 17% who have no religion. The heathen nature of Austria that you conjure up has little basis in fact. In 2001 over 900,000 people were churchgoers, that is approximately the same number as in the UK whose population is 8 times that of your country.
You obviously, desperately need an Atheist Bus campaign to persuade the atheists (who are included in the 2005 statistic that 68% of the total Austrian population is Roman Catholic) to be more truthful.
Best wishes
Malcolm
April 18th, 2009 at 21:01
@ Pete
Well I live in Austria (its a small country under Germany) and here there are no ads well don’t know about the UK but the US seems to be obvious. Well don’t worry about my donations I give those to various organisations as AI and many more. Well I still think that the money could be used better but since its not my money I don’t want to tell you what you should do with it.
April 18th, 2009 at 21:15
@Jen
How very magnanimous of you, so it’s OK with for the money to be used to get the word out to others who may have doubts, but need encouragement instead of threats to use their own mind.
Unfortunately I haven’t been to Austria, so I wouldn’t know, but take it from me that we do indeed have adverts. If you read through this web site you’ll find and account of why Ariane Sherine was prompted to undertake the atheist bus campaign.
I don’t appreciate being threatened with everlasting damnation by anyone, this is why I fully support this campaign to fight these outrageous threats.
April 18th, 2009 at 21:38
Jens,
Although I wholeheartedly support this campaign I personally am much less tolerant of believers, particularly those also enjoying all the benefits of western civilisation, than the campaign sponsors. I agree with Sam Harris & A C Grayling that everywhere and at everytime you look in the world the effects of religion are overwhelmingly negative and the first step to destroying its influence is to sow in peoples’ minds doubts of the existence of a responsive supernatural agent.
(Incidentally i meant it was your own sore you were scratching not ours)
April 18th, 2009 at 22:26
First of all why do you use the word “although”? This campaign is not condradicting anyone who is less tolerant to believers. Second of all saying that “the effects of religion are overwhelmingly negative” is VERY exaggeratory. I am sorry but you somehow seem like a fanatic and its the first time I am confronted with a fanatic of atheism so I do not really know how to react. However your example shows quite good that there are fanatics in every religion and seemingly also between the non believers. So if there are religious people saying that those who don’t believe will burn in hell you can say that person must be a fanatic. An ordinary religious person will never or should never say something like this. Sure maybe they will think that way but they should keep it to them selves and not attack others with it.
April 18th, 2009 at 22:28
Sorry i forgot to mention that the former message was ment for quedula.
April 18th, 2009 at 22:40
“So if there are religious people saying that those who don’t believe will burn in hell you can say that person must be a fanatic.”
You can say that again, you’ll never hear atheists sounding off with vitriolic remarks quite like this;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maeNk2itmMk
This is the kind of religious clap trap I loath and will stand up to, but I will not respond with like for like.
May your god go with you.
April 18th, 2009 at 22:54
@ Pete
Truly I can say this representing every sane religios person that the man in that video and every person who is like him is just a disgrace to their religion. He is a complete idiot and a fanatic who does not get what the bible actualy is about, quoting from it not know wat its actualy about. But well please do not generalize as so quickly. I fully agree with you loathing this kind of idiocy.
April 18th, 2009 at 23:16
The bible is the biggest problem in Christianity, it’s so vague that anyone and everyone reads it differently, and reads it to represent their views, no matter how warped and twisted. But I have no written text to follow, I use my own mind to decide what is right and what is wrong. Societal rules, laws, etc. are what help me be the decent guy I am, not even the Flying Spaghetti Monster can influence my life…….. I do!
April 18th, 2009 at 23:58
Well I’ve said this before ….. the thing is, we don’t need religion we just need to be nice to each other.
That really is all there is to it.
April 19th, 2009 at 2:03
Ok, so I’ve arrived late at this thread: just to thank Ariane and her co-conspirators for this campaign. I do think it is needed and do think that in some small way will liberate many of those who are frightened that, come judgement day (?), they will burn in ever lasting hell.
@Pete, Jens, Queduala et all, I’d like to point you in the direction of Dave Allen. The first I’ve posted here before, the second is not half bad either!
So, as DA would say, ‘…may your god go with you…’
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxo81Ok9Urk&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCOZQSRzKmU
April 19th, 2009 at 12:08
@ Pete
Well its good if u decide whats good and whats not and so the bible isn’t a book that tells you how to decide but it for christians its a history book. It is through the experiece depicted in that book that it should help them decide whats write or wrong. In the end everyone decides for himself.
@ Ian Andrews
You are right, noone needs religion, but theists do not believe in their religion to have a better life or there is some sence in there life. They believe in god because for them it is true. Simply, even if god was someone who was about to destroy the whole world and torture them it would not mean that they would stop believing in him, due to the fact that they believe god is real and true and not because they need all this.
@ Roy
Well interesting movie but I kind of don’t know how to react to it since its just some comedian.
April 19th, 2009 at 12:39
@Jens (Sorry, omitted the ‘S’ previously.)
You are obviously a level headed Christian, and it isn’t you who I target, it is those people who use the bible to reinforce their bigotry, and quote the bible as factual. Tell me, are you a creationist or evolutionist?
As I’ve previously stated, I was quite happy being a quiet atheist, and is Christians were happy to practice their religion in the same way I wouldn’t have taken the stance I have, but we are constantly harassed by theists trying to convert us, either in person or through adverts.
Leave us alone and we’ll leave you alone, although I do think it’s great that the campaign has given many the strength to come out as atheists, despite the religious bullies.
April 19th, 2009 at 13:47
Thank you for your compliment and to answer your question I do not think that creation and evolution must necessary contradict themselves. Surely there are relations between species though I believe there must have been a start. Life can’t come out of nothing and thats the point where god must have created. Frankly I believe that the things that have been created at first probably just evolved. Then some might say that in the bible it says that the world was created in seven days but the bible is so full of metaphores that this could also just be a metaphore for much longer time or representing steps. Who know maybe a day represents 10 billion years or something. Noone can tell for sure. It is ok if you want fight those who attack you with there believes but this campaign kind of also offends those who keep there believe as something private.
April 19th, 2009 at 13:48
Sorry again forgot to mention that the former message was for Pete
April 19th, 2009 at 14:15
@Jens (Who else?)
You’re employing circular argument, the usual ploy of the religious to explain the fallacies of the bible.
Mix and match of bible fairy tales and scientific discovery isn’t going to convince anyone.
So the seven days thing is just a metaphor, or so say you, but there are nut jobs in America who would argue otherwise. Who am I supposed to believe, you, them, or should I trust my own judgment?
You write “This campaign kind of also offends those who keep there believe as something private” but neglect to mention how I’m offended at being called a heathen, and the threats I receive on a daily basis, yes the threat of everlasting damnation, it gets tiresome after the thousandth time.
I have as much freedom to espouse my beliefs as you theists do, so why should you be offended while I’m expected to live with it?
I’ve never been on a Christian web site to try to dissuade believers from turning, so why do you feel the need to come here and convince me that I’m wrong?
April 19th, 2009 at 14:29
I misunderstand me I am not telling you not to do this but merely make it clear that the ones you are fighting are not the ones believing in god but those who disturb others with it being fanatics and so on and as I said I just came to this website because I was writing a report about it for my newspaper, its not like I felt the need to go to some atheist website to convince others of my belief.
April 19th, 2009 at 15:09
@Jens
Aah, now I see, but you still misunderstand, there is no intention to attack those who really want to believe in a god, this is to offer those frightened into belief, by threats of eternal damnation, a word of encouragement to come out and follow their own beliefs, or lack of them as the case may be.
Allow each and every person their own choice, if Christians feel threatened by this…. tough!
The idea that Christianity is a dying concept worries those who stand to loose out, the church leaders who live off the backs of worshipers, whose weekly donations keep them.
April 19th, 2009 at 15:34
Recommended viewing for those with doubts about their faith, look and learn.
Edward Current – http://tinyurl.com/cseeru
Bible readings – http://tinyurl.com/crrru2
Make sure you watch them from the first video in each set.
Enjoy
April 19th, 2009 at 15:36
@ Pete
Well I would not say that the church is actualy feeling threatend by this because I have heard they even support it (speeking of the catholic church). Saying that it will strenthen those who believe in god and those who become atheists did not really believe in god in the first place anyway. Well as long as you are fighting for the right reasons I guess this campaign is fine.
April 19th, 2009 at 17:19
Jens
Advertising by the religionists is everywhere in the UK. That is what provoked the Atheist Bus campaign in the UK.
In June 2008, Ariane Sherine saw a red London bus featuring a Bible quote and the URL of a website. When she visited the website, it told her non-Christians would burn in hell for all eternity.
Have you noticed the worldwide discussion and emulation of the campaign, it is encouraging people to come out of the closet and not be ashamed to have consigned religious belief into the same realm as the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny.
As Richard Lederer said “There once was a time when all people believed in god and the church ruled. This time was called the Dark Ages”.
You are fortunate to live in Vienna that you say bucks the 2005 national average of 17% who have no religion. The heathen nature of Austria that you conjure up has little basis in fact. In 2001 over 900,000 people were churchgoers, that is approximately the same number as in the UK whose population is 8 times that of your country.
You obviously, desperately need an Atheist Bus campaign to persuade the atheists (who are likely included in the 2005 statistic that 68% of the total Austrian population is Roman Catholic) to be more truthful.
Best wishes
Malcolm
April 19th, 2009 at 17:41
Jens,
I am puzzled. I presume you are the same Jens who has been a very prolific poster on the ABC facebook page. It seems that this campaign has a strange hold on you. I think you have explored the subject from every angle and received the same basic answers over and over again. Yet you keep coming back for more.
Dare we think that the simple slogan “There probably is no god” has made an indelible impression on your mind?
April 20th, 2009 at 0:33
@ Jens in #39
‘Well interesting movie but I kind of don’t know how to react to it since its just some comedian.’
How easily you dismiss the content of the Dave Allen video clips!
Does this mean you only take seriously things said by philosophers?
You seem to have a pretty good understanding of the English language so you must have understood what was said in the clips.
Do you not understand the irony and satire in the clips based on DA’s own personal experience of the teachings of the Catholic Church?
On the other hand if you do understand but don’t find it funny because it takes a rise from the teachings of the church, then you are one step away from being in the same drawer as those who would threaten death on those who drew cartoons of Muhammad.
If the latter, then as Quedula hints in #49, is there a bee in your bonnet?