Atheists Do It On A Bus

[GeminiBrian]

Quote by: Maryjane In the States? Tell you what, to any atheist here with a prominent home location, put a sign up stating the same, I'll put up $25 to the first one just to see the reaction you get and if the sign lasts a week. $50 if you are in the bible belt.

I like your style, MJ - and in the face of a 90% opposition too - we on this side of the pond salute your courage!!

Thank God (!) for people like you... there is hope for America after all....

[Cruella]

I really don't understand the "dating as an atheist" thing, MaryJane could you enlighten me?

[mirutsa]

Quote by: Jack Still, when someone makes a claim with nothing to substantiate it, asking for evidence is reasonable.

Oh, come on, Jack. Come on! Have you ever seen a monkey? That evolution is a myth is obvious, as obvious as the sun moving across our flat earth.

Heathen.

(off-topic joke, sorry. couldn't resist.)

[mirutsa]

I have a few ideas for more banners:

"Art is probably meaningless. Stop wasting money and enjoy your life."

"Your opinion is probably wrong. Stop having it and enjoy your life."

"People probably suck. Stop loving them and enjoy your life."

There; that should round it out.

[Maryjane]

Quote by: CruellaDeChaCha I really don't understand the "dating as an atheist" thing, MaryJane could you enlighten me?

What don't you get?

[brisbane buddy]

"There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life", in locations all over England, Scotland and Wales, including Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, York, Cardiff, Devon, Leeds, Bristol and Aberdeen.

I can't help but wonder if the above highlighted message wasn't a subtle hint for Dawkins and Co.

Ah the hard line Theist will never be dead as long as the Atheist extremist exists. Looks like Dawkins and Co can't practice what they preach/teach also.

LOL wouldn't I have some fun with this if I were a Theist. Ah Dawkins and his Dawks, what idiots.

Cheers.

[Cruella]

Well, why would being an atheist be relevant to dating?

[CamelotPW]

Quote by: CruellaDeChaCha Well, why would being an atheist be relevant to dating?

Atheists are hawt, silly.

[Jack]

Quote by: brisbane buddy I can't help but wonder if the above highlighted message wasn't a subtle hint for Dawkins and Co. Ah the hard line Theist will never be dead as long as the Atheist extremist exists. Looks like Dawkins and Co can't practice what they preach/teach also. LOL wouldn't I have some fun with this if I were a Theist. Ah Dawkins and his Dawks, what idiots. Cheers.

Dr Dawkins, speaking at the launch in Central London, said he would have rather not had the word "probably" in the advertisement. He said the existence of God was about as likely as that of the tooth fairy. Organisers of the four-week campaign said they had included the word "probably" because they did not want to be dogmatic in the way that so many religious leaders are. Her campaign sparked a massive and instant response and was taken up by the British Humanist Association and the scientist and Professor Dawkins, who pledged £5,500 of his own cash.

Richard Dawkins launches 'There is no God' adverts on buses across Britain -Times Online

The real heart of “The God Delusion” is Dawkins’ contention that, as a matter of scientific fact, there almost certainly is no God. Dawkins’ “statistical demonstration” of God’s likely nonexistence follows from his recasting of the argument from improbability. This is the argument many theists see as an overwhelming reason to believe in God, and also as the basis of the so-called theory of intelligent design. Simply put, the theists' argument is that “…the probability of life originating on Earth is no greater than the chance that a hurricane, sweeping through a scrapyard, would have the luck to assemble a Boeing 747.” Here is where, according to Dawkins, Darwinian natural selection is so revolutionary. Natural selection offers a mechanism that explains what otherwise seems inexplicable: that complexity can occur without design.

Review: The God Delusion

[brisbane buddy]

Yeah Jack, I know, Dawkins is a real intelligent idiot hey.

Let's hope Dawkins can take his own advice.... LOL I know he can't his prejudice just won't let him.

Cheers.

[RavenFlame]

Quote by: brisbane buddy Yeah Jack, I know, Dawkins is a real intelligent idiot hey. Let's hope Dawkins can take his own advice.... LOL I know he can't his prejudice just won't let him. Cheers.

Error: Substantiation absent.
Does not compute.

[isaone]

maryjane you are right. I live in the Bible Belt, and I make it a point never to tell anyone at work for at least six months. It can be dangerous, even though they know now at work, I have problems, and in one case, I know of a vice President who complained about me because I dared to talk to people about the fact I was an atheist. So it is dangerous. You have to be careful in this part of a world. Admitting it publicly can get you fired and can get you ostracized.

[Jack]

Even in "liberal" California it can be a conversation stopper if the issue is raised. I think it was around 6 months as well before I "came out" to my last boss. She is a Hindu. My current boss is the kind of guy I told within 2 days of knowing him. He's Catholic. In some tech communities I belong to I make a point not to make an issue of it.

I have to say, personally, I think this bus campaign is less than spectacular. Ever since I first heard of it I've failed to get very enthusiastic about it. I think the money could have been better spent. This is like advertising with the knowledge that your ROI is going to be next to nothing. Was the good achieved by this worth the money spent?

[Yarn]

Granted, what atheists do in the privacy of their own homes is their business and no one elses.

But they shouldn't do It on the bus. Thats just publically indecent.

JESUS CLAUSE: I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart... And if your right hand causes you to sin, CUT IT OFF!!!!!!!! and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. Matt 28-30 NIV

The Message version:
27-28"You know the next commandment pretty well, too: 'Don't go to bed with another's spouse.' But don't think you've preserved your virtue simply by staying out of bed. Your heart can be corrupted by lust even quicker than your body. Those leering looks you think nobody notices—they also corrupt.

29-30"Let's not pretend this is easier than it really is. If you want to live a morally pure life, here's what you have to do: You have to blind your right eye the moment you catch it in a lustful leer. You have to choose to live one-eyed or else be dumped on a moral trash pile. And you have to chop off your right hand the moment you notice it raised threateningly. Better a bloody stump than your entire being discarded for good in the dump.

[Compugasm]

Quote by: isaone You have to be careful in this part of a world. Admitting it publicly can get you fired and can get you ostracized.

You should get a job as Govenor. I hear there is a spot open in Illinois. The benefit of this position, is that you can do all kinds of dispicable acts, and can't be fired without a hearing.

Quote by: Jack I have to say, personally, I think this bus campaign is less than spectacular.

I agree. I just don't get what all the hype is about.

[EscVelocity]

LOL, my son got me some awful reactions this past Xmas, he was being questioned by another kid at a family get together about Santa and god. He professed to not believe in God, or Santa clause. The kid kept pressing the issue and trying to get his parents and others involved. I was like, How about we just drop this issue. I didn't think we were gonna come out of that situation alive lol. There were 2 preachers there! My husbands Grandfather, and my husbands step father....It was pretty intense. My husbands mother has been calling and asking me to send Kaleb to Sunday school with her. lol.

[Cruella]

Blimey, I hadn't realised it was that bad over there. I'm not an atheist, I guess I'm more irreligious. People should be allowed to believe, or not, as they wish.

[Maryjane]

Quote by: CruellaDeChaCha Well, why would being an atheist be relevant to dating?

It's fun when you get to "meet the parents" and they ask you what church you belong to. All kidding aside...

Mostly because of the negative misconceptions about atheism. Morality for one, is often in question. ( I could quote you actual dating site profiles that specifically state they will only date a fellow christian or are looking for a nice christian lady) I've live in the bible belt 48 years. The natives are skeptical about anyone that isn't "god fearing."

With 80+ percent of the US population claiming to be christian and a church on just about every corner, atheist aren't looked upon as a desirable person to date. The pool of atheist that will come out to claim it is a shallow one. A lot of people keep it hidden or outright lie until they get to know the person better. Often they find the person they are dating isn't really religious either, or they are really agnostic. They often claim to be religious to keep the peace in the family.

I think the bus signs are a good way to let people know it's ok to be different and you don't have to believe in anything. I'm not sure they would be tolerated here in the BB though.

Will no one accept my challenge?

[brisbane buddy]

Quote by: Jack I have to say, personally, I think this bus campaign is less than spectacular. Ever since I first heard of it I've failed to get very enthusiastic about it. I think the money could have been better spent. This is like advertising with the knowledge that your ROI is going to be next to nothing. Was the good achieved by this worth the money spent?

I would say it is a waste of money and would only preach to the converted. Anybody religious would put it up as ridicule as Atheists have put up billboards of a religious nature in this forum. However in advertising terms any advertising is good advertising, it wouldn't surprise me if some Theist doesn't complain loud enough for it to get aired on TV and radio. Maybe that is Dawkin's intent, though much better ways of getting this message through with advertising.

Cheers.

[Cruella]

Quote by: Maryjane With 80+ percent of the US population claiming to be christian and a church on just about every corner, atheist aren't looked upon as a desirable person to date. The pool of atheist that will come out to claim it is a shallow one. A lot of people keep it hidden or outright lie until they get to know the person better. Often they find the person they are dating isn't really religious either, or they are really agnostic. They often claim to be religious to keep the peace in the family.

Thanks for taking the time to explain that Maryjane. Coming from the UK - where Christianity is considered more of a hobby than anything else - I do find that kind of hypocrisy appalling. I guess it's because I consider that my religion is like my politics: no one else's business. I'd be offended more than anything else if getting anywhere in life, either personally or professionally, was dependent on which church that I attended. Overt Christianity in the UK is considered a little potty, but harmless, overall.