Wednesday 22 October 2008

God Not Taking The Bus

Whatever our religious leanings, i think we can all agree that whoever writes the slogans for the Church has been working with the incense in an unventilated area although i did think the 'CH CH...WHATS MISSING?...U R" was clever before slogans such as 'Thinking of suicide? Let the church help' returned to amuse us.
In reply to the countless religious posters and bus advertising that surround us, the British Humanist Association has launched an atheist advertising campaign bearing the slogan 'There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life."
Launching around Christmas time, the campaign will see buses replace the current Alpha Courses advertisements with their anti religious message and featuring the addresses of atheist websites where readers can find out more about atheism.
One of the financial backers of the scheme, Professor Richard 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. This campaign to put out alternative slogans will make people think - and thinking is anathema to religion."
However the religio's seem to be quite happy about the no-god message being handed down from the BHA and number 603 from Muswell Hill with the Methodist church welcoming the "continued interest" in God, encouraging people to think about the issue. The Church of England said it would defend the right of any group representing a philosophical position to promote that view so we have to turn to the fundamentally crackers Christian Voice for a wacky quote.
"Bendy-buses, like atheism, are a danger to the public at large" they said in a disappointingly bland statement.
So there you go, there’s probably no God so stop worrying and enjoy your life. Don't spend time worrying about things that you have no power over, like getting hit by a bus.

16 comments:

Cheezy said...

It seems to be going quite well. I donated a fiver yesterday lunchtime, to take the total up to around £12,000. I checked today at lunchtime and it had just gone over £51,000... And now (about 9.30pm) I see it's topped £75,000.

With this kind of response, soon ALL of our buses shall be godless! :-p

Cheezy said...

PS: Here's the site, if you want to get involved.

http://www.justgiving.com/atheistbus

Anonymous said...

Bendy-buses, like atheism, are a danger to the public at large

If anything, atheism is a danger to the public because it's a 'theism', just like any other.

Now...bendy-buses? What's wrong with them?

Anonymous said...

With the global financial crisis and global warming, it's a bit hard to stop worrying.

Surely, worrying about the existence or non-existence of some mythical God is the least of our problems.

Cheers.

Anonymous said...

I have seen quite a bit of criticism about this fromthe atheist community- cuz he said there is 'probably' no god.

Some people are never satisfied. At least it is a start.

Cheezy said...

"If anything, atheism is a danger to the public because it's a 'theism', just like any other."

Hmmm, I think there's a pretty important difference, myself.

If there were suddenly powerful evidence of a God, and an atheist held onto his 'belief' anyway, then I'd agree with you that the atheist in question was behaving "just like any other" theist. But there's not. So he's not.

I refer you to the church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, and how 'believers' reconcile the difference between agnosticism and atheism.

Cheezy said...

Hmmm, I see that the Atheist Bus seems to be running out of petrol today. It's only up to £83,000 now (almost lunchtime).

Come on people, let's get this bus back on the road.

666- The Number of the Bus!

Anne said...

:)cheezy=funny

Unknown said...

great idea! the british have already begun to move away in great numbers from organized religion. its the countries like the USA that are in dire need of this type of campaigning. couldnt hurt in some developing countries in africa and asia.

david g, when we have a global environment that consists mainly of agnostics and atheists, government leaders are going to be short of a major trump card: 'its gods will to go to war' etc. this is the card that has been used in america because its so easy to do so. they have the perfect religious environment: blind faith, ignorance and bit of racism. perfect conditions to brew a financial crisis.

so after the wars and the bailout there isnt that much cash left over to solve global warming.

the world challenges we face today are definitely linked to religion, directly or indirectly and as relevant as the existence or non-existence of a god.

Anonymous said...

When we finally get rid of all the false gods of religion, Letters, perhaps then we could get started on bringing down the gods of capitalism, nationalism and racism.

That might take a few months!

Nog said...

Hilarious! Does the BHA also have a formal witnessing program to evangelize Atheos? Forgive me for my mockery but this definitely falls under the category of "evangelical atheism".

I think Ruth is hinting at a very important distinction that isn't often made. Atheism covers a spectrum of folks. There are the "Antitheists" who are anti-religious on faith alone, and then there are true "atheists" who are about the same thing as "egnostic", meaning they don't know or care. The former are probably the only faith less reason-based than Scientology.

And don't y'all know that God drives a Hummer? It's on the road every Sunday on the way to the local pentecostal (or Southern Baptist if you prefer) witch-banishing church!


-Nog

Anonymous said...

"Forgive me for my mockery..." asks Nog.

P.S. Mockery seems to be your stock in trade, my friend. Why don't you surprise us occasionally by offering something constructive?

Cheezy said...

"Forgive me for my mockery but this definitely falls under the category of "evangelical atheism"."

Y'all think? Nah! Silly Nog! :)

It's just a bit of fun and hopefully something likely to annoy those who have annoyed the rest of us, in the past.

Tell ya what - I'll start to call it "evangelical atheism" (and therefore cease to support it) if and when we start to get atheists...

- knocking on my door, wanting to come into my house and talk about religion...
- stopping me in the street and saying things like "Do you know that Jesus doesn't exist... (and even if he did, he would hate you)"...
- shouting at me with a loud-hailer that I'm doomed for all eternity for not agreeing with their way of thinking...
- starting wars because of their lack of an imaginary friend in the sky (because if they had one, the all-knowing deity would probably have said "Don't invade, ferchrissake, there's no WMDs there!")...

etc, etc, etc.

That would be evangelical atheism! And boy, it would be annoying.

But a sign on a bus advising people to chill out and enjoy life? C'mon, surely that's something even God-heads can agree with :)

Cheezy said...

They've raised over £94,000 now... A pretty good effort since Tuesday. I reckon they'll get £100,000 by the end of the day.

Falling on a bruise said...

£95,188 and it's raised enough to go national now. Thank Heavens for generous Atheists.

Anonymous said...

"That might take a few months!"

ya david g, sooner rather than later!

cheezy: natural progression! with a little nudge in the right direction although nudges can lead to fistfights and then WW3.

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