Hey first of all i'd like to say i'm a big fan of yours shane. You're one of my favourite youtubers.
In yesterday's 'The Sun' there was an article saying:
BUSES could soon carry the slogan "There's probably no God" in an atheist advertising campaign.
The British Humanist Association, which objects to Christian ads, has raised £18,000 to pay for the ads in London.
It will read: "There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life."
Militant atheist Prof Richard Dawkins, who pledged £5,500, said: "Religion is accustomed to getting a free ride. This will make people think."
But the Methodist Church thanked Prof Dawkins for "getting God onto London buses".
Rev Jenny Ellis said: "We are grateful to Richard for his continued interest in God and for encouraging people to think about these issues."
LINK:http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article1839299.ece (http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article1839299.ece)
How dare they to call Richard Dawkins militant!
This is the thing that gets me: they have all sorts of billboards like, "The fool says: No God" (and the reference to Psalms) or something like that, and that's fine and dandy, free speech and all.
Then, atheists put up a billboard that simply said, "Don't believe in God? You're not alone" and the website and phone number of their local atheist group. Everyone got all up in arms! They were horrible people not respecting the religion of others and persecuting Christians for their beliefs! BO-GUS!!!
...Just had to get that off my chest.
I completely agree with you, Shane!
Fitting to this:
(http://img360.imageshack.us/img360/5183/100md5.gif)
I bet they wanted to put this, but I guess it was too long for a bus advertisement.
(http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/images/Parchment%20and%20Pen/MichaelPatton/Christianity-Atheism.jpg)
There is also a strawman atheism version of this:
(http://derekstwistedmind.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/atheism.png)
Quote from: MrBogosity on October 23, 2008, 07:58:03 PM
This is the thing that gets me: they have all sorts of billboards like, "The fool says: No God" (and the reference to Psalms) or something like that, and that's fine and dandy, free speech and all.
Then, atheists put up a billboard that simply said, "Don't believe in God? You're not alone" and the website and phone number of their local atheist group. Everyone got all up in arms! They were horrible people not respecting the religion of others and persecuting Christians for their beliefs! BO-GUS!!!
...Just had to get that off my chest.
I lived in america for over 18 years and I moved away to england on my own. I can go up to people here and say do you believe in god? and they'll say no about 50% of the time. It's amazing the vast difference here. BUT muslims are all over the place here and are very religious. In america it's the christians all up in arms and in england it's the muslims. I mean for christ's sake(no pun intended) one muslim preacher here placed a fatwa on the x-factor(kind of like american idol) for sponsoring a charity for injured british troops! Now that's bogus
Yeah, I've seen Pat Condell's videos about the Islamic threat in the UK.
@Sinlingual: But your signature is German ;)
Quote from: Sinlingual on October 23, 2008, 07:33:42 PM
But the Methodist Church thanked Prof Dawkins for "getting God onto London buses".
Rev Jenny Ellis said: "We are grateful to Richard for his continued interest in God and for encouraging people to think about these issues."
See, these are the kind of religious people I like. Actually, I never had any problems with religious groups in Europe (mostly Germany). This of course might be related to about 120 years of oppression.
In fact, most people I know are atheists. And the religious one are extremely moderate. (I had some discussions with them and they agreed with me about 90% of the time. C'mon, thats no fun. Where are the German creationists?) Before I visited the USA I actually believed that no one on earth could be as deluded as all these atheist groups claim.
...
Ok, might be that an public high school in the middle of a "economically disadvantaged" area in a major city in the bible belt isn't the proper place for an 16 year old rural German kid, but still ...
America, you really need to pull yourself together
"There's probably no god. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life."
I think the slogan they put on buses should of been a little more in your face. I think a lot of people will mis-read the ad. I understand using the word probably, because we can't without a doubt prove that god doesn't exist. But then again how can you prove that something doesn't exist if there is 'no' proof that it does. Non-existence is a difficult thing to prove. As my husband likes to say. "How do you know there's not a Baker under your bed?"
EDIT
After reading her thank you note at the guardian (http://"http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/oct/23/atheist-bus-campaign-ariane-sherine"), I've come to a better understanding of using the world probably. I still feel that people will not be intelligent enough to understand the 'probably' with in it and see it as a 'doubt' among atheist.
Quote from: Atheos5150 on October 25, 2008, 01:52:05 AM
"There's probably no god. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life."
I think the slogan they put on buses should of been a little more in your face.
Should
have!Quote from: Atheos5150 on October 25, 2008, 01:52:05 AM
I still feel that people will not be intelligent enough to understand the 'probably' with in it and see it as a 'doubt' among atheist.
Wow, you think pretty little of your fellow men, do you?
Quote from: Tom S. Fox on October 25, 2008, 09:20:45 AM
Wow, you think pretty little of your fellow men, do you?
LoL, you have no idea. Just living here in Texas and talking to every day people, it's amazing how wide spread ignorance is.
Quote"How do you know there's not a Baker under your bed?"
Damned supernautral, invisible bakers, and their tendency to live under people's beds.
Quote from: Atheos5150 on October 26, 2008, 12:11:12 AM
LoL, you have no idea. Just living here in Texas and talking to every day people, it's amazing how wide spread ignorance is.
Oh, I had no idea Texas was that bad.
Quote from: Sinlingual on October 23, 2008, 08:35:01 PM
I lived in america for over 18 years and I moved away to england on my own. I can go up to people here and say do you believe in god? and they'll say no about 50% of the time. It's amazing the vast difference here. BUT muslims are all over the place here and are very religious. In america it's the christians all up in arms and in england it's the muslims. I mean for christ's sake(no pun intended) one muslim preacher here placed a fatwa on the x-factor(kind of like american idol) for sponsoring a charity for injured british troops! Now that's bogus
THEY NEED A BUNNY!
Holy Flying Spaghetti Monster, Atheos5150! You were right! (http://www.fstdt.com/fundies/comments.aspx?q=50967)
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.
Quote from: imorio on November 06, 2008, 09:48:01 AM
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.
Quote from: Sinlingual on November 07, 2008, 04:49:29 AM
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).
Quote from: imorio on November 07, 2008, 07:23:33 AM
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.
Quote from: imorio on November 07, 2008, 07:23:33 AM
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.
Quote from: Tom S. Fox on October 23, 2008, 08:13:34 PM
There is also a strawman atheism version of this:
(http://derekstwistedmind.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/atheism.png)
At leaast some Muslims believe it.
Quote from: Textra1 on November 07, 2008, 03:18:43 PM
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.
Here's a couple of comics to illustrate some of the points made here. ;D
(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m301/aaronlittle/addiscartoon_th.jpg) (http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m301/aaronlittle/addiscartoon.jpg)
(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m301/aaronlittle/mobster_preist_th.jpg) (http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m301/aaronlittle/mobster_priest.jpg)
Quote from: Textra1 on November 07, 2008, 03:18:43 PM
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 :P. 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.
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.
Quote from: Sinlingual on November 11, 2008, 08:42:54 PM
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.'
(http://smiley.onegreatguy.net/jester.gif)
Quote from: Textra1 on November 12, 2008, 10:49:47 AM
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.'
(http://smiley.onegreatguy.net/jester.gif)
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]
Quote from: Sinlingual on November 16, 2008, 10:20:50 PM
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.
Quote
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. :P
(http://cectic.com/comics/159.png)
Quote from: Tom S. Fox on November 17, 2008, 05:19:38 AM
(http://cectic.com/comics/159.png)
I answered the door for a group of those carrying my evolutionary biology textbook the other day. They looked at me like I was a murderer.
Quote from: Tom S. Fox on October 29, 2008, 01:46:42 PM
Holy Flying Spaghetti Monster, Atheos5150! You were right! (http://www.fstdt.com/fundies/comments.aspx?q=50967)
XD Told you so.
I found another one:
(http://www.jesusandmo.net/strips/2008-11-07.jpg)