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.
I think overall this is a poor way to spend $36,000 dollars. I would imagine one would spend this money on charity or something to help benefit mankind in someway.
While I agree that the slogan is factually correct -- there probably is no God -- it seems trivial and silly to me to post it as an advertisement on city Buses.
9 comments:
Hmm, well I disagree with your view on the topic. I think the advertisements are a good idea, they can help make someoen think outside of the box. Possibly challenging their minds on a usually mundane bus ride. If it helps people see the greater picture in life rather than living by a religions' views, then I think it's a great idea. You could argue that the moeny could be used for better things, but like the article says, the money was raised, which means alot of other people chose to put their money to the cause. Also proves that this idea has a good following.
Jenn,
It's entirely possible the signs could cause someone to think "outside of their box". However, when is the last time a Pentecostal bumper sticker has caused you to consider Jesus Christ as being Lord and Savior? In most cases, a non-Christian is simply irritated at such things.
The bumper sticker mentality in and of itself is silly and childish. The debate of whether God exist or not is a serious debate, and consequently -- should be taken seriously in the public forum.
Last but not least, defending the bumper sticker mentality because a few private individuals donated the money -- thus proving it is a "good cause" is quite illogical. For instance, the Nation of Islam raised millions upon millions of dollars for the million man march -- these are the same people who believe that White people have no souls and are the cause of all evil in the world today. Does the fact that they managed to raise said amount of money justify their position as a "good and positive" one?
-S
Well they aren't pushing their religion on anyone, they are completely dismissing "God",it just is to make people think. If I went out and made a bumpersticker that said "Fuck God, Pray to ...." Anything could be fille din the blank, but it would still make people think about what .... is and why I feel so strongly for it. The people who donated to the million man march believe in the million man march, not what the founders believe in, if it was the "Screw souless crackers and run" campaign and got the same result, maybe that'd be a good rebuttle.
Jenn,
The argument for the Million Man March simply isn't true. Though I could cite statistical facts that show people give to the most radical orginizations on a regular basis. P.E.T.A for isntance raises millions upon millions of dollars every year. Does that justify the fact that they kill animals on a regular basis and/or do cruel things such as throw paint on peoples clothes? No, it doesn't.
Also, as I've said -- the signs content is factually correct, there PROBABLY is no God. However, that's no more correct than a sign saying, "There possibly is a God". Would a sign such as that have any effect on you or any other non-theist/agnostic?
-S
The million man march was taken at face value, most people didn't look at it in more dimensions than what it came off to be. Same goes for peta. They are a whole different issue. Personally I don't care if the sign says There is probably no god, or there probably is a god. The word probably in any sense of the word will make people think.
Jenn,
Now you are simply justifying any position as long as money is donated. It's basically saying if I accept donations from people it can justify my fundamental desire to committ genocide. At some point you need to accept things at face value. As Aquinas would say, "Against fact there is no argumentation." The FACT is, the million man march was formed by a racist group -- and PETA carries out radical, unethical acts against both humans and animals.
Secondly, there is always a probability. Would you be defending a sign that said, "Jesus Christ Probably Is Lord and Savior" just as adamentaly?
-Sin
If you stood out on a soapbox preaching a charity called "Sins Genocide Fund" and people willingly donated to it, then it would be them supporting your idea. All for that if its upfront, all though you might run into some legal issues :x The million man march was taken at face value, can't help that people have cruel underlying plans. Like I said before, peta is a completly other arguement. The whole Jesus Christ probably is lord and savior deal is a bit specific for my liking.
Greetings.
We were intrigued by the tone of this discussion, and humbly crave leave to participlate.
First, to Sin: Welcome back to reality! We rejoice that your finally wearied of the samsara of World of Warcraft. Your presence on the internet is indispensible to rational, illuminating debate.
To Jen: Dear, minds are never challenged by bumper stickers: they only lead to bumper sticker mentality, which is to exchange one dogmatic , unexamined view for another.
What religious views do you seek to liberate people of? Honor thy father and mother? Love thy neighbor as thyself? Thou shalt not steal? Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife? Hmm! All really dangerous ideas, corruptive of the social fabric!
Finally, let us try to be honest and self-transparent. The purpose of those adverts is propaganda for a particular ideology, a "secular religion." Part of the social contract we agree to involves freedom of speech, and free debate in the public forum. (An agreement I accede to under duress, since I believe error has no rights!) Therefore I do not oppose these ads. But a strategem of molding and altering one viewpoint in order to substitute another---not to generate objective discussion--is the true motivation.
Nicolas Eymeric
Too bad the statement on the advert makes no logical sense. It is meaningless, guys! How can an infinite "Being" be the matter of a probability study? You can compute probabilities concerning empirical objects in space and time, but not God. Unless "god" refers to a particular measurable thing, like the pagan gods.
The advert should say: "We have no logical protocol or evidential means to verify the proposition, "there is a God." We remain in a state of suspended judgement on this hypothesis.
Chizuoke
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