BHS gets atheist adverts on buses

[Tom S. Fox]

Holy Flying Spaghetti Monster, Atheos5150! You were right!

[imorio]

I think London isnt the place for atheistic messages, you just give the extreem christinas more of a stage. America, and specificly the south should be a place for this kind of messages.

[Sinlingual]

I think London isnt the place for atheistic messages, you just give the extreem christinas more of a stage. America, and specificly the south should be a place for this kind of messages.

Do you know how many muslims live in London? Apparently not.

[imorio]

Do you know how many muslims live in London? Apparently not.

Do you know how few of them are radical? If you get the discussion atheism or islam, you might leave them with the choice between radical islam and atheism, and then we are going to have a real problem. In english islam, the discussion should go between radical and non-radical islam, becaus non-radical islam isnt a problem (just as non-radical christianity).

[Textra1]

Do you know how few of them are radical? If you get the discussion atheism or islam, you might leave them with the choice between radical islam and atheism, and then we are going to have a real problem.

That's a red herring. Radical or non-radical muslims have nothing to do with this particular issue. The message on the bus isn't aimed at the religious. It's aimed at those who DON'T believe in god(s). If religious people don't like the message, they can just choose not to look at it. Just like we atheists do every time we're faced with scriptural billboards. We shouldn't pander to people because of how they might react to a message that was never intended for them. The religious have had it their way for far too long. We have a right to express ourselves in the same media that they do.

In english islam, the discussion should go between radical and non-radical islam, becaus non-radical islam isnt a problem (just as non-radical christianity).

And those groups are free to have that conversation, but in this situation it's not about them. It's about people who don't believe in any gods getting to feel a bit of solidarity with like minded people. If we're told we must respect the rights of free speech for religion, then they must respect our right to the same thing. Why is it every time we atheists try to get our message out there, we're called antagonists? Yet the religious groups can promote their messages and don't care if they antagonise us. Every time I hear, 'You can't be moral without god' I'm deeply offended, but nobody suggests that religious people should not express themselves just because we might take offence. It's time they extended us the same courtesy.

[Real Captain Olimar]

There is also a strawman atheism version of this:

At leaast some Muslims believe it.

[Sinlingual]

That's a red herring. Radical or non-radical muslims have nothing to do with this particular issue. The message on the bus isn't aimed at the religious. It's aimed at those who DON'T believe in god(s). If religious people don't like the message, they can just choose not to look at it. Just like we atheists do every time we're faced with scriptural billboards. We shouldn't pander to people because of how they might react to a message that was never intended for them. The religious have had it their way for far too long. We have a right to express ourselves in the same media that they do.

And those groups are free to have that conversation, but in this situation it's not about them. It's about people who don't believe in any gods getting to feel a bit of solidarity with like minded people. If we're told we must respect the rights of free speech for religion, then they must respect our right to the same thing. Why is it every time we atheists try to get our message out there, we're called antagonists? Yet the religious groups can promote their messages and don't care if they antagonise us. Every time I hear, 'You can't be moral without god' I'm deeply offended, but nobody suggests that religious people should not express themselves just because we might take offence. It's time they extended us the same courtesy.

Exactly. I'm currently reading Sam Harris' The End of Faith, and the book is basically about how moderate muslims are bad too because of moderates talking bad about faith is still taboo. If we change the course of conversation then many more people won't fall into this delusion we call faith. Also, The punishment for a muslim to 'deconvert' is death, even if he goes back to islam. Girls who are raped are get their throats slit, burnt, or shot. That's why I hate islam. And I mean HATE.

[Textra1]

Here's a couple of comics to illustrate some of the points made here. 

[imorio]

That's a red herring. Radical or non-radical muslims have nothing to do with this particular issue. The message on the bus isn't aimed at the religious. It's aimed at those who DON'T believe in god(s). If religious people don't like the message, they can just choose not to look at it. Just like we atheists do every time we're faced with scriptural billboards. We shouldn't pander to people because of how they might react to a message that was never intended for them. The religious have had it their way for far too long. We have a right to express ourselves in the same media that they do.

And those groups are free to have that conversation, but in this situation it's not about them. It's about people who don't believe in any gods getting to feel a bit of solidarity with like minded people. If we're told we must respect the rights of free speech for religion, then they must respect our right to the same thing. Why is it every time we atheists try to get our message out there, we're called antagonists? Yet the religious groups can promote their messages and don't care if they antagonise us. Every time I hear, 'You can't be moral without god' I'm deeply offended, but nobody suggests that religious people should not express themselves just because we might take offence. It's time they extended us the same courtesy.

Dam, almost forgot I was on a forum with smart people here . I believe that such a message would have a better effect in places with radical religon and free speech (US as number 1 on the list), becaus thats the place with the most misconceptions about atheism and a place where smart people who are (radical) religous just becaus they dont know another way. A atheism debate there would open up atheism as real possibility (or at least take some steps in that direction). In England is (as far as a Dutchman can judge) atheism already a real possibility, Im just saying that a debate there might do more harm than good for the ''atheism cause''. So yes, we have a right to express ourselves, but we're dealing with a system that has survived for thousends of years, a bit of caution when deciding a way of approach is wise, becaus this is the time atheism can really stand up, we cant afford to waste the chance.

[Sinlingual]

Here in england i pay tax to the queen because she is the religious head. She is the 'pope' it's fucking bollocks. The monarchy should be overthrown, they don't do anything but take our money anyways.

[Textra1]

Here in england i pay tax to the queen because she is the religious head. She is the 'pope' it's fucking bollocks. The monarchy should be overthrown, they don't do anything but take our money anyways.

They should do what some of the royal families in Europe did. They should give all their wealth back to the people and exist in title only. She can still be called Queen if she wants, but don't give her any power over the state and make sure she puts all their wealth back into the economy. Can you imagine Prince William working a day job? His boss comes over and says, 'Get those crates up to the warehouse right now before I sack you...your highness.'

[Sinlingual]

They should do what some of the royal families in Europe did. They should give all their wealth back to the people and exist in title only. She can still be called Queen if she wants, but don't give her any power over the state and make sure she puts all their wealth back into the economy. Can you imagine Prince William working a day job? His boss comes over and says, 'Get those crates up to the warehouse right now before I sack you...your highness.'

You obviously don't know anything about the royal family, prince william and harry are in the army, harry went to afghanistan. But I get your point, there's this book that i can't remember off the top of my head, that has this exact scenario, since every penny she has is the peoples and not hers, she gets thrown on the street and was quite a good book.

Another thing, in the US they are putting up ads as well. In the DC area on buses it will say, 'Why believe in a god, just be good for goodness' sake' [yt]FzAFozYjiz0[/yt]

[Textra1]

You obviously don't know anything about the royal family, prince william and harry are in the army, harry went to afghanistan.

I'm well aware that both Princes are in the army. It's was a joke dude. Lighten up.

Another thing, in the US they are putting up ads as well. In the DC area on buses it will say, 'Why believe in a god, just be good for goodness' sake'

Yeah, I saw a Fox News report on that. It was friggin' hilarious. Faux News were balanced and unbiased as ever.

[Tom S. Fox]

[Real Captain Olimar]

funny