The Atheist Bus Campaign has been started by the British Humanist Association, and will feature ads reading: "There's probably no god. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life".
It has been inspired by journalist Ariane Sherine, who blogged on the Guardian in June after seeing two buses carrying the bible verse "When the son of man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" and a URL linking to the website jesussaid.org.
Sherine questioned the validity of running such an ad on the basis that it could not be substantiated, but was told by the Advertising Standards Authority at the time that there was nothing in the advertising code to stop ads carrying a religious message.
The British Humanist Society quickly raised the £5,500 that Dawkins, author of the book 'The God Delusion, said he would match. Funds continue to roll in as word of the campaign spreads, and these will be channelled towards further ads, with over £50,000 donated to the cause by Wednesday morning.
Dawkins said: "This campaign to put alternative slogans on London buses will make people think -- and thinking is anathema to religion."
The BHA added that it hoped the campaign would brighten people's journeys to work and encourage more people to come out as atheists.
CBS Outdoor is set to run the campaign next year and welcomed the debate sparked by the campaign.
Tim Bleakley, managing director of sales and marketing, at CBS Outdoor, said: "Ultimately, CBS Outdoor is a commercial media business that generates revenue from advertisers, and we are completely neutral in every respect.
"As such, our decision to take an ad that promotes God, or one that promotes No God, is based on commercial terms, as long as the advertising copy itself does not breach UK advertising standards."
Stephen Green, National Director of Christian Voice, has responded in a statement saying: "How funny that Richard Dawkins is so scared of the threat which evangelical Christianity poses to atheism and his beloved Darwinism that he has to fund a campaign to attack God."
Inevitably a Facebook group has been set up for supporters of the campaign.
Atheism is current undergoing a wave of support among the public. As well as the success of this campaign and Dawkins' bestselling book, December will see three events billed as "Nine Lessons and Carols for Godless People" held in London, as a way for non-believers to celebrate Christmas.
Dawkins is set to appear, alongside the likes of Stewart Lee, who has been picketed by Christian Voice in the past over his part in the musical 'Jerry Springer: The Opera'; Mark Thomas, the left-wing comedian and activist; and Ricky Gervais, who will appear at the final event at the Hammersmith Apollo. The events have been organised by comedian Robin Ince.
Comments
Is it just me or is this whole initiative dripping with irony?
Atheism is the new religion
I'm going to stick up a massive poster that says "god exists" and see if i get any media coverage...
As a long time Atheist this story bewildered me at first. I can appreciate Dawkins kicking up a fuss in the US, where his own hyperbole only matches that of the religious fanatics \(thus providing a much needed counterbalance), but here in tolerant old Blighty..? Now that I've seen the ads however I think they've been pulled off pretty well. That's the sort of cheerful maxim people need on the way to work, not some guff about the Rapture.
Are the atheists sure of their position? "probably no God.." sounds more agnostic to me...
It's interesting to see though that seemingly the least tolerant group of the Jesus Said advert \(i.e. the one that feels most compelled to respond with a contra campaign) are the card carrying atheists at the BHA. If Atheism promotes tolerance why not let all us sad Christians get on with it? Most of the country is secular these days, including the Govt, isn't that enough or is there no space for diversity?
I notice that other faiths do not appear keen to jump up and take bus backs to promote a counter argument to Jesus Said. Possibly they have better things to do and are more confident in themselves.
I certainly agree with Lee that atheism might as well be the new religion, and I think if he were alive today Karl Marx might not see religion as the opiate of the masses but rather 'shopping'.
Finally \(thank heavens I hear you cry!) The stop worrying and enjoy yourself bit is just more guff and rhetoric from people who clearly haven't thought through their position terribly well. It seems to me that with instant gratification through fast food, binge drinking, online gambling, drug misuse and abuse , high teenage pregnancies, 24 hr shopping to consume as much as possible, unheard of national and personal debt crippling our finances we were all enjoying ourselves rather too much already?
No if I were you I'd get a life now.......and for the hereafter!
I have to agree that the line is a bit limp and non-comittal. Rather than worrying about the existence of God they seem to be worrying about potential complaints to the ASA...
"Probably..." because even Richard Dawkins is not convinced either...
http://deandonaldson.wordpress.com/2008/10/23/newsflash-there-is-no-god-probably/
"Probably" because it's still not a hard fact despite being very likely– if only all religious souls \(regardless of which one they've bet on) could be so rational. The vast majority of people who consider themselves "religious" have simply adopted their parents' religion... hardly convincing.
It's great that people are debating the existence of God but I can't help but feel that there are better ways than buying media and slapping simplistic slogans on London buses, waging a lame tit-for-tat back and forth like kids. I mean for fucks sake. Any organisation that stoops to this is surely killing any remnants of credibility it once had. Reasonable discussion would no doubt open up all sorts of questions - Are there multiple interpretations of God? Can you believe in God without subscribing to religious doctrine? Is belief in God rooted in our biology and if so, then what is the realtionship between Evolution and Faith? Of course all these fucktards believe they have the answers and don't ask questions. Dogma is dogma both in science and religion. I'm used to the desperate attempts of the Church in this area already and I'm not really suprised that the Dawkins flock are following suit. I'm particularly amused by the idea implicit in this recent ad that until this bus came trumpeting along with it's metaphysical revelation, I was unable to enjoy my life..
Fucktards..love it Samuel...new words are always appreciated in my church. First thing I do tonight when I get home is call someone a fucktard and watch their face in awe at my new word...which i will claim as my own...mwhhhahaaa.
The real joke is - we live in a predominantly atheist culture.
Where are these anti-evangelist busses going to ride ?
Down Romford high street ?
"It's great that people are debating the existence of God but I can't help but feel that there are better ways than buying media."
And yet you saw and responded to this argument because it was going to be on a bus. You really do-in your own credibility if you say that bus slogans can't initiate interesting debate.
Come on! Debate is healthy, who cares who are how it gets started?
I am a christian and have been for as long as I can remember. I was angry about this ad at first and now I have been thinking, why on earth do people have to advertise any kind of religion in this way, no one will ever be able to agree if there is a God or not as neither side of the argument can find substantial proof which the other side will take. I understand that religion has been and surely will continue to be the cause of many problems in the world but this includes the new "religion" atheism. I also think that non believers should understand that being a christian doesn't mean you don't enjoy your life and that you can't stretch your imagination and use reason. As I said I am a christian but I am also studying philosophy and have always been interested in science, mainly paleontology and evolution. But just because I like to be philosophical and believe in evolution this doesn't mean that I can not believe in God with the same power as any other Christian as many theologians/philosophers believe we can consiliate science and religion with reason. This is my belief and I only hope others can stretch their minds with me and believe we can have a good life being christians and scientists. We can all work in harmony with different beliefs as no one can be wrong nor right in my oppinion.
Why try this hard to prove what we can not. What people believe is their choice we should not have things forced upon us. I think this campaign is a waste of valuable money and is only going to cause more problems, neither atheist, christian, hindu etc. should pay for these types of ads and try to convinced people of something when they have no physical proof to back what they say up. Things like this are just an opinion not a fact!
Comments
Lee Barber - 22/10/2008
Is it just me or is this whole initiative dripping with irony? Atheism is the new religion
Michael Laws - 22/10/2008
I'm going to stick up a massive poster that says "god exists" and see if i get any media coverage...
Dave Stoker - 22/10/2008
As a long time Atheist this story bewildered me at first. I can appreciate Dawkins kicking up a fuss in the US, where his own hyperbole only matches that of the religious fanatics \(thus providing a much needed counterbalance), but here in tolerant old Blighty..? Now that I've seen the ads however I think they've been pulled off pretty well. That's the sort of cheerful maxim people need on the way to work, not some guff about the Rapture.
Jonathan Godson - 22/10/2008
Are the atheists sure of their position? "probably no God.." sounds more agnostic to me... It's interesting to see though that seemingly the least tolerant group of the Jesus Said advert \(i.e. the one that feels most compelled to respond with a contra campaign) are the card carrying atheists at the BHA. If Atheism promotes tolerance why not let all us sad Christians get on with it? Most of the country is secular these days, including the Govt, isn't that enough or is there no space for diversity? I notice that other faiths do not appear keen to jump up and take bus backs to promote a counter argument to Jesus Said. Possibly they have better things to do and are more confident in themselves. I certainly agree with Lee that atheism might as well be the new religion, and I think if he were alive today Karl Marx might not see religion as the opiate of the masses but rather 'shopping'. Finally \(thank heavens I hear you cry!) The stop worrying and enjoy yourself bit is just more guff and rhetoric from people who clearly haven't thought through their position terribly well. It seems to me that with instant gratification through fast food, binge drinking, online gambling, drug misuse and abuse , high teenage pregnancies, 24 hr shopping to consume as much as possible, unheard of national and personal debt crippling our finances we were all enjoying ourselves rather too much already? No if I were you I'd get a life now.......and for the hereafter!
Gavin Gordon-Rogers - 22/10/2008
I have to agree that the line is a bit limp and non-comittal. Rather than worrying about the existence of God they seem to be worrying about potential complaints to the ASA...
Dean Donaldson - 23/10/2008
"Probably..." because even Richard Dawkins is not convinced either... http://deandonaldson.wordpress.com/2008/10/23/newsflash-there-is-no-god-probably/
Arif Durrani - 23/10/2008
"Probably" because it's still not a hard fact despite being very likely– if only all religious souls \(regardless of which one they've bet on) could be so rational. The vast majority of people who consider themselves "religious" have simply adopted their parents' religion... hardly convincing.
Samuel Hornsby - 24/10/2008
It's great that people are debating the existence of God but I can't help but feel that there are better ways than buying media and slapping simplistic slogans on London buses, waging a lame tit-for-tat back and forth like kids. I mean for fucks sake. Any organisation that stoops to this is surely killing any remnants of credibility it once had. Reasonable discussion would no doubt open up all sorts of questions - Are there multiple interpretations of God? Can you believe in God without subscribing to religious doctrine? Is belief in God rooted in our biology and if so, then what is the realtionship between Evolution and Faith? Of course all these fucktards believe they have the answers and don't ask questions. Dogma is dogma both in science and religion. I'm used to the desperate attempts of the Church in this area already and I'm not really suprised that the Dawkins flock are following suit. I'm particularly amused by the idea implicit in this recent ad that until this bus came trumpeting along with it's metaphysical revelation, I was unable to enjoy my life..
Eddie Bongo - 27/10/2008
Fucktards..love it Samuel...new words are always appreciated in my church. First thing I do tonight when I get home is call someone a fucktard and watch their face in awe at my new word...which i will claim as my own...mwhhhahaaa.
Audio Android - 27/10/2008
The real joke is - we live in a predominantly atheist culture.
Where are these anti-evangelist busses going to ride ?
Down Romford high street ?
Susan van Druten - 09/11/2008
"It's great that people are debating the existence of God but I can't help but feel that there are better ways than buying media." And yet you saw and responded to this argument because it was going to be on a bus. You really do-in your own credibility if you say that bus slogans can't initiate interesting debate. Come on! Debate is healthy, who cares who are how it gets started?
Charlotte Davies - 04/12/2008
I am a christian and have been for as long as I can remember. I was angry about this ad at first and now I have been thinking, why on earth do people have to advertise any kind of religion in this way, no one will ever be able to agree if there is a God or not as neither side of the argument can find substantial proof which the other side will take. I understand that religion has been and surely will continue to be the cause of many problems in the world but this includes the new "religion" atheism. I also think that non believers should understand that being a christian doesn't mean you don't enjoy your life and that you can't stretch your imagination and use reason. As I said I am a christian but I am also studying philosophy and have always been interested in science, mainly paleontology and evolution. But just because I like to be philosophical and believe in evolution this doesn't mean that I can not believe in God with the same power as any other Christian as many theologians/philosophers believe we can consiliate science and religion with reason. This is my belief and I only hope others can stretch their minds with me and believe we can have a good life being christians and scientists. We can all work in harmony with different beliefs as no one can be wrong nor right in my oppinion. Why try this hard to prove what we can not. What people believe is their choice we should not have things forced upon us. I think this campaign is a waste of valuable money and is only going to cause more problems, neither atheist, christian, hindu etc. should pay for these types of ads and try to convinced people of something when they have no physical proof to back what they say up. Things like this are just an opinion not a fact!