Atheists speaking out

[naomi24]

A bus poster stating 'There definitely is a God' designed to contradict the atheist bus poster (http://www.atheistbus.co.uk/) attracted more complaints in 2009 than any other advert.

http://www.telegraph....complained-about.html

Is this an indication that atheists are finally saying 'no' to the respect the religious constantly demand?

[KARL]

Hi Naomi, yes I found that bit of news truly intriguing because, although I fundamentally disagree with the assertion (because there is no clear proof, only conjecture that one or more gods is/are behind all the unknown/unexplained things in life and the universe) I would not take the trouble to object. Obviously there are large numbers of people who, unlike me, are sufficiently bothered to object - fancy that. Maybe your suggestion is the explanation.

[Rev Sermon]

I find it intriguing that there seem more people, in R&S for example, passionately denying the existence of a god than there are defending it (Keyplus being the exception that proves the rule). I can understand someone who is an ardent follower of a religion arguing the case as there lifestyle and beliefs are founded on it but I'm slightly bemused how vocal those disputing it are.

[beso]

Atheists don't really care what people choose to think. We are simply disputing the power and influence of the church which demands to dictate public policy on the basis a doctine written by neolithic goat herders which they claim should not be subjected to critical analysis.

[Rev Sermon]

Beso,

I think your first line sums up my thoughts. I'm agnostic bordering atheistic and I have more of a problem with organised religion than religion itself. I agree with most of the "no god" arguments I'm just suprised at the strength of feeling among some of the non-believers. Personally I enjoy discussing the issue and giving my views but at the end of the day I don't really care what others believe.

[woofgang]

oh so not against a belief in god then, just against organised religion...well I do believe in god and i too am against organised religion...can i join you?

[flobadob]

I wonder would there have been as many complaints if it had said "There definitely is a Jack and a beanstalk". And what would be the difference?

[Rev Sermon]

Woof,
I'd love you to join me, we could form a club, recruit some like minded people and have a set of rules for everyone to obey. Trouble is then we'd be organised and opposed to ourselves, :-)

Flob,

There's definitely a beanstalk so less of the subversive nonsense, however in this pc age we live in, Jack has a stalk sharing arangement with Jaqueline.

[flobadob]

Subversive or subjective?

[Rev Sermon]

Dissing the beanstalk is subversive you unbelieving nihilist! :-)

[flobadob]

You seem to be very fixated with the beanstalk. Paging Dr. Freud.

[Ankou]

with only a few hundred more complaints than an oven cleaner, its hardly a riot.

atheists have evrery right to say no (and of course to complain) but getting all worked up over a daft advert seems daft to me. i'd rather just ignore the lot of em, or smile and accept they think differently.

[jake-the-peg]

I think many will have complained out of a sense of unfairness.

The Athiest bus slogan specifically used the word "probably" in order to be sure of complying with Advertising standards.

For the religious to then use the word "definately" was deliberately provocative and frankly rather arrogant (what a surprise)

Consequently I'm rather glad that they weren't allowed to get away with it unchallenged and feel a bit ashamed I didn't complain myself

[Ankou]

fair do's but then maybe the religious advert got more publicity and was thus more effective ?

you know, "there is no such thing as bad publicity except your own obituary"

[naomi24]

I think the atheist bus got far more publicity than this.

[beso]

The Christians obviously didn't study advertising. Alluding to a competitors "product" and emulating the style of their advertisements generally promotes the competition's message better than the emulator's.

[beso]

Jack and the Beanstalk has a lot in common with the Bible. The heroic lead overcomes a large opponent, kills them and takes their posessions.

There was the giant quietly minding his own business. Jack turns up and steals some of his stuff despite the hospitality of the giant's wife. After spending the proceeds of the first heist he goes back for more. This time the giant has had enough and persues Jack. Jack kills the giant and lives happily ever.

The moral of the story. If you steal someones stuff make sure you kill them.

This ancient self-satisfied amoral bahaviour continues to this day backed by stories like Jack and the Beanstalk and the Biblical genocides.

[chakka35]

Sorry to be pedantic, Rev, but an exception cannot prove a rule in the sense that you mean it. The word 'prove' here means 'test' as in a proving flight, or the proof of the pudding. If there's an exception then, obviously, the rule is invalid.

I can't get worked up about the bus advert. But I am very surprised that the ASA have not stepped in; they are supposed to clamp down on unfounded claims in adverts.

[razza]

Two things cause most of the wars on this planet,religion and politics,both ought to banned.

[jno]

jake, they weren't just complaining about the wording; they were *offended*. Just like Christians were offended by the Jerry Springer opera. People are easily offended these days, and very ready to demand that others stop saying things they disagree with. When it's religious people doing this, atheists protest about the threat to freeedom of speech; but it seems some are happy to do it themselves.

[beso]

The Christians probably made the complints themselves after the bus went unnoticed by anyone who cared.