http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7681914.stm

Quote:

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. "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 damnation, 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. "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.

That's really interesting endless.
Everyone has the right to their opinion and if they have enough money to adverstie it anywhere they darn well please.
And is making people think about the other viewpoints in the world really something to get all bent out of shape about?

I think it's a bit ridiculous. I mean, I don't convert to Prostentantism just because some pastor on TV tells me or to a Mormon just because of some ad.

I agree there should be an equlibrium between both sides; I mean, I don't agree with religious advertisment either. But is amazing how some people can be extremist on their belief (or lack of it)

This is on a billboard near Whitehall, MT. I cringe every time I see it.

I saw that I have to applaud them for standing up. Believe it or not, atheist and agnostics are the minority and many religious nuts have a prejudice against any who have no religion. I just want to tear down that above sign because that is not how I feel. I do not care about "God" (in fact, I don't believe in him) but that does not make me a homicidal maniac. And don't give that "Some of the greatest atrocities were committed by atheist." True, Stalin, Pol Pot, Chairman Mau, and the likes (but not Hitler because he was still "Christian") did commit some terrible acts that slaughtered millions, but many more people died under the guise of Christianity. The very texts that Christianity is founded upon is full of decrees of slaughter and misogyny.

Why couldn't they have just gone the whole way and said "There's no god."?

But still, baby steps.

And also to this tidbit:

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

No, it's not. I think about this stuff ALL OF THE FREAKING TIME. I've pretty much come to the conclusion that there is no meaning but I'm still not afraid to think about it.

Your friendly neighborhood atheist,

Albina Samara

endless dark wrote:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7681914.stm Quote: 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. "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 damnation, 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. "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.

Ginger <3

Atrocities are committed by vile and wicked people throughout history and it DOES NOT MATTER what those people believed or didn't! Vile and wicked is vile and wicked.

Ginger_Snaps wrote:

I saw that I have to applaud them for standing up. Believe it or not, atheist and agnostics are the minority and many religious nuts have a prejudice against any who have no religion. I just want to tear down that above sign because that is not how I feel. I do not care about "God" (in fact, I don't believe in him) but that does not make me a homicidal maniac. And don't give that "Some of the greatest atrocities were committed by atheist." True, Stalin, Pol Pot, Chairman Mau, and the likes (but not Hitler because he was still "Christian") did commit some terrible acts that slaughtered millions, but many more people died under the guise of Christianity. The very texts that Christianity is founded upon is full of decrees of slaughter and misogyny.

Well I like them!

It just much too harsh to say there is no god as opposed to suggesting that there may not be one. Life really has no meaning but you can make it meaningful by being kind and generous to people.

They are doing the same thing in D.C.

I wonder how well thats actually going over, I'm sure theres a group some where complaining about it.

Oh no doubt considering how whiny some Christians can be.

Everything is after all down to the interpretation of the individual.

Hey I'm a pagan who enjoys the festive season and all of the bright lights and presents but I do tend to remain true to what I personally believe in. We are all different and diversity makes for a good family and a good World - we all contribute towards the whole

Atheist bus adverts could lead to watchdog ruling on God's existence

The advertising watchdog is being called upon to rule on the likelihood of God's existence after complaints were made about the atheist bus advert campaign.
Officials at the Advertising Standards Authority are now considering whether to tackle the question that has taxed the minds of the world's greatest thinkers for centuries.

It has recorded 48 complaints since Tuesday when buses first hit the streets emblazoned with the message: "There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life." At least 40 more people were understood to have made objections by last night.

Most of those who have contacted the ASA consider the adverts offensive and say they break guidelines on taste and decency.

However Stephen Green, the Christian campaigner who led the protests against the BBC's broadcast of Jerry Springer – The Opera, is claiming they should be taken down because the statement in the adverts cannot be substantiated.

He said: "If you're going to put out what appears to be a factual statement then you have to be able to back it up. They've got to substantiate this proposition that in all probability, God doesn't exist."

The ASA is now considering whether to investigate his complaint, which could lead to it reaching a deep ontological conclusion about a supreme being.

If it ruled that the wording in the posters was unsubstantiated, it would be interpreted as effectively saying that in all probability God does exist.

Ruling that the words were justified could be taken as an agreement that God probably does not exist.

Members of the public donated £140,000 to the Atheist Bus Campaign after its founder, the writer Ariane Sherine, suggested there should be an antidote to religious posters on public transport that "threaten eternal damnation" to non-believers.

Some supporters of the movement, which has now paid for 800 bendy-buses across Britain to carry the posters for a month as well as placing 1,000 adverts on Tube trains, had wanted a stronger slogan that denied God's existence categorically. But the word "probably" was included in order to meet ASA rules.

The British Humanist Association, which is co-ordinating the campaign, said it was confident the chosen wording will not be banned by the watchdog.

Hanne Stinson, the group's chief executive, said: "I've sought advice from some of our key people here, but I'm afraid all I've got out of them so far is peals of laughter. I am sure that Stephen Green really does think there is a great deal of evidence for a God – though presumably only the one that he believes in – but I pity the ASA if they are going to be expected to rule on the probability of God's existence. However, if they do investigate we will be very happy to respond."

The ASA said: "We are assessing these complaints to see whether there are grounds for an investigation."

You just did too by quoting me.