atheist ad campaign

[Pawn Power]

American Humanist Association puts forth a atheist ad campaign (http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2008/dec/11/religion-advertising-atheism-bus)


We in the American Humanist Association found this out first hand when we launched our Washington DC advertising campaign on November 11 with the slogan "Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness' sake." The venue was the sides, rears and insides of 230 of the city's buses. News coverage of the campaign generated an outpouring of phone calls and e-mails, mostly negative. The largest number came directly to us but hundreds of complaints also came to Metro, the government entity that handles the city's buses and subways. One of the complainers expressed a wish (or perhaps a prayer): "May all your atheist buses break down!"

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2008/12/10/1228946117284/dc_atheist_bus_460x276.jpg

[progressive_lefty]

:) I like it.

[apathy maybe]

A government owned bus company in Aus refused to run a similar campaign after running "Christian" ads. They now say that they won't run any religious ads.

[Sean]

Not running any ads works fine for me too.

[Pawn Power]

Not running any ads works fine for me too.

Yeah, defiantly.

In lots of parts of the US the are billboard ads with various bible verses on them. The ones I have seen usually relate to Gob, the family, and country. They don't indicate any particular church or inform anyone of any particualar group- there product is God.

Then there are others like this:

http://impoliteconversation.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/atheism_leads_to_civil_war.jpg

Another group did an ad campaign a while back with phrases "from" God, as if he communicates through billboards:

http://blogs.southflorida.com/citylink_dansweeney/God_Billboard.jpg

[BIG BROTHER]

I like the atheist add, but I'm not surprised ppl had a negative reaction.

[Pawn Power]

The Brits are always copying us.

Atheist bus campaign goes nationwide

Richard Dawkins to launch national advertising campaign today (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/06/religion-atheist-bus-campaign-national)

[Killfacer]

Was your's definatly first?

[Pawn Power]

Was your's definatly first?

Well the Dawkins' one started on the 6th so yes.

[Sean]

Well the Dawkins' one started on the 6th so yes.
Yes, but the fund raising campaign to pay for them had been going on a long time. And it was based on the London idea.


If all this buzz sounds a little familiar, it's because it is. Back in October a story in the Guardian went global about the Atheist Bus Campaign (http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/oct/21/religion-advertising) in London. The planned adverts, written by comedy writer and Guardian contributor Ariane Sherine, were designed to read: "There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life." This was in reaction to a widely run Christian campaign threatening unbelievers with hellfire. The British Humanist Association (http://www.humanism.org.uk/site/cms/) agreed to handle the financial contributions for this effort and was able to raise a whopping £120,402 in the first month. Yet none of the adverts have actually appeared on buses, being slated to hit the streets in January.
Source (http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2008/dec/11/religion-advertising-atheism-bus).(or just read the link in the first post).



IT’S one of the more unusual adverts to appear on the side of a bus.
From yesterday, buses in several parts of Wales will bear the message: “There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.”
The slogan, which will be carried in Newport, Swansea and Rhondda, is part of an advertising campaign backed by the British Humanist Association and funded by public donations.
It will appear on around 800 buses across the UK.
The idea was first proposed by Guardian blogger Ariane Sherine in June 2008, in response to a Christian advertisement promising damnation for non-believers. Sherine hoped to raise enough money for a set of counter-adverts on London buses if enough people pledged £5.
Ms Sherine said she had objected to a set of Christian advertisements carrying a website address which, when accessed, warned that people who reject God are condemned to spend all eternity to “torment in Hell”. She said the total money raised reflected the strength of feeling from atheists and humanists in Britain.
“I think there have been a lot of people out there who have been looking at evangelical advertisements and not saying anything and thinking that these advertisements have been approved and just shrugging it off. Now finally they have an opportunity to express this feeling of exasperation.”
Jon Worth from the Atheist Bus Campaign said: “It started out as an idea for London, but we only had an original fundraising target of £5,500. We’ve raised over £135,000 so far, and there were requests from people on our website for buses in their towns.”
He added: “We wanted to get a reasonable geographical coverage, and also we had to make sure that there was availability on the buses in those locations. It was also important to get coverage in major towns.”
Though the adverts have been denounced by some, they have garnered high-profile support from atheist author Richard Dawkins, as well as Christian think-tank Theos, who feel the idea is a good way of encouraging people to think about God.

Source (http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/01/07/humanist-message-spread-through-bus-advertising-91466-22623197/).

Europe is going to hell first, so NER!

[Killfacer]

well the dawkins' one started on the 6th so yes.

victory is ours.

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

Spain has followed suit, and the god-botherers ain't liking it! (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/07/atheist-bus-advertising-spain)


The posting of atheist advertising (http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/advertising) on Barcelona's buses has been branded "an attack on all religions".Damn straight!


"It is an attack on all religions," said Javier Maria Perez-Roldan of the church's Tomas Moro centre, blaming the socialist government for the privately funded campaign. "The government has created an atmosphere of belligerence."What a crock of shit. You can't blame the government for the actions of private individuals.

Atmosphere of belligerence? Saying "there's probably no god" and "stop worrying and enjoy life" is belligerent now?

I find it utterly laughable that god-botherers scream persecution at the slightest criticism, especially considering that their forebears carried out real persecution.


The atheist campaign comes as Spain's Catholic church becomes increasingly involved in political campaigning.It has fought against laws passed by prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero's socialist government allowing gay marriage, simplifying divorce and reducing the importance of religious instruction in the school timetable. It is campaigning against changes to Spain's abortion laws.
Although church and state are nominally separate in Spain, the Catholic church receives funding from the government.
It looks like the Catholic Church in Spain is trying to have it's cake and eat it too. Typical grasping priestly behaviour from that institution of self-righteous fraudsters.

[SocialRealist]

You know? I don't think there should be either religious ads or non religious ads.

[Killfacer]

You know? I don't think there should be either religious ads or non religious ads.

Nor do i, but if they have religious ones then i want atheist ones. It's like nuclear weapons, nobody wants them but somebody else has got them so they also have to have them.

[SocialRealist]

Nor do i, but if they have religious ones then i want atheist ones. It's like nuclear weapons, nobody wants them but somebody else has got them so they also have to have them.

I see what you mean. As long as they don't support hate or anything of that matter, honestly it is probably fine as a direct counter-balance against religious groups.

[Decolonize The Left]

I see what you mean. As long as they don't support hate or anything of that matter, honestly it is probably fine as a direct counter-balance against religious groups.

"Support hate?" Can you think of any idea/theory which has spawned more hate than religion?

- August

[Killfacer]

Atheism rarely supports hate.

[Decolonize The Left]

Atheism rarely supports hate.

Atheism isn't a religion...

- August

[scarletghoul]

Its fine to put messages/'adverts' of busses for atheism or religion or whatever. It is far more respectable if its for a genuine belief, rather than just to make money. However I do think its good that this was put to the Advertising Standards Agency because whether corporate or religious, a public statement like this should not make false claims. it is interesting

[Killfacer]

Atheism isn't a religion...

- August

When did i say atheism was a religion :confused:

[AtteroDominatus]

Well, i think people have a right to put billboards wherever the hell they want, for or against God.
As said, as long as it's nor promoting things like killing or something. I have atheist and agnostic friends, as well as more religious ones. Knowing another's views doesn't mean it's attacking yours. If people were more tolerant than maybe things like this wouldn't blow out of control. The simple thing is just people view different opinions as an attack on their own, like it lessens their own beliefs. When, in fact, we all know someone is just putting up their own beliefs or opinions and people shouldn't be offended by that.

[casper]

if people can't handle questions or critiques in their belief(s), then their belief is important to them but insecure(house of cards). i imagine thats how it is with most people who become so upset at a "challenge".

[Killfacer]

Well, i think people have a right to put billboards wherever the hell they want, for or against God.
As said, as long as it's nor promoting things like killing or something. I have atheist and agnostic friends, as well as more religious ones. Knowing another's views doesn't mean it's attacking yours. If people were more tolerant than maybe things like this wouldn't blow out of control. The simple thing is just people view different opinions as an attack on their own, like it lessens their own beliefs. When, in fact, we all know someone is just putting up their own beliefs or opinions and people shouldn't be offended by that.

Athiesm isn't a belief.

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

Athiesm isn't a belief.

Indeed, it's a lack of belief.

[Phalanx]

I'm happy to see ads like that in on the East Coast. Here in Madison we've got several "Reasons Greetings" billboards.

I say anything to counter the religious virus is a good thing.

[Wanted Man]

Seems useless.

[PoWR]

Materialists understand that certain material conditions give rise to religion and sustain religious beliefs. As long as those conditions prevail, religious ideas will continue to permeate society.

[TheCultofAbeLincoln]

I want to buy an ad on a bus that says: "AIDS started when a dude screwed a monkey"

[Phalanx]

Seems useless.

I don't think so. Keep in mind that in America, only around 15 percent of people identify as non-religious. The atheist voice in America is practically nonexistent. Politicians are required to proclaim their religiousness, and I doubt the vast majority strictly keep to whatever church's doctrine they align themselves with. Hell, Obama started hitting the gym on Sundays instead of church after he won the election.

[Revolutionary Youth]

I like it! Damn funny! :laugh:

[Wanted Man]

I don't think so. Keep in mind that in America, only around 15 percent of people identify as non-religious. The atheist voice in America is practically nonexistent. Politicians are required to proclaim their religiousness, and I doubt the vast majority strictly keep to whatever church's doctrine they align themselves with. Hell, Obama started hitting the gym on Sundays instead of church after he won the election.
Yeah, I understand that. But I agree with what PoWR said. Considering this, an atheist ad campaign seems like self-righteous middle class wank to me.