Proposal of adverts..
Campaign Updates January 12th, 2009We are still deciding on the best type of adverts to put up along buses and subways, if you have any suggestions please feel free to comment. As of right now I think it would be best to use quotes that encourage free thinking from famous atheists and humanists. These quotes would be a great rebuttal to all of those adverts around the country that display bible verses. Nonetheless we should still have some sort of original slogan for the campaign as well.
Here are a few example quotes:
“The way to see by Faith is to shut the eye of Reason.” – Benjamin Franklin
“Since it is obviously inconceivable that all religions can’t be right, the most reasonable conclusion is that they are all wrong.” – Christopher Hitchens
“Question: How do you know you’re God?
Answer: Simple. WHen I pray to him, I find I’m talking to myself.” – Peter O’Toole
“Science has done more for the development of Western civilization in one hundred years than Christinaity did in eighteen hundred.” – John Burroughs
“The difference between religions and cults is determined by how much real estate is owned.” – Frank Zappa
“Faith is the great co-out, the great excuse to evade the need to think and evaluate evidence. Faith is belief in spite of, even perhaps because of, the lack of evidence.” – Richard Dawkins
There will be a compiled list of quotes posted later on once we get some more ideas rolling. Again, feel free to comment with your ideas and thoguhts.
Thanks!
*UPDATE* I have asked Ariane Sherine about the possibility of using “There’s probably no god. Now stop worrying and enjoy life”, her response:
“Hi Chris,
That’s certainly possible – they have done the same thing in Spain. Happy to let you use it if you go ahead.
Very best wishes,
Ariane”
It is not certain if we will use this yet but we’ll keep it open as an option.
*UPDATE* We’ll be using “There’s Probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.” on our adverts. Stay tuned on whether we choose to put up other quotes along side, similar to the TubeCards in the UK.
January 13th, 2009 at 2:39 am
Although I heartily agree with the campaign we need to be careful with the selection of quotes to ensure the message people see emphasizes the positive aspects of atheism and cannot be perceived as simply an attack on faith despite what personal feelings we may have towards organized religion. Using quotes from entertainment stars also risks dismissal from the “Who cares what an actor/singer/comedian thinks?” crowd.
I don’t have any quotes off the top of my head but the feelings I would like to convey are along the lines of:
“Even if there is no God, the Universe is still awesome”
“Atheists are nice because they like to be, not because they are commanded to be”
“The faithful strive for the benefit of one invisible God, atheists strive for the benefit of 6,000,000,000 fellow humans”
“There’s probably no Heaven so let’s make this world better”
“You will burn in Hell for all eternity!!! (Unless, of course, you don’t believe in Hell)”
January 13th, 2009 at 2:44 am
@Greg Smith
Better version of the last one:
“Worried if you’re going to Heaven or Hell? Well stop believing in them then.”
January 13th, 2009 at 9:25 am
I agree wholeheartedly with Greg. As an atheist, I want to be free to believe as I choose, and others deserve the same respect in return. Believe want you want, just don’t ask me to conform to it. I would prefer to refrain from inflammatory slogans.
I love “Even if there is no God, the universe is still awesome”.
What about something like…There is no one “up there” watching over your shoulder, so how about we watch over each others?”
January 13th, 2009 at 9:04 pm
my suggestion:
“YOU CAN’T PROVE THAT THERE IS A GOD ANYMORE THAN I CAN PROVE THAT THERE ISN’T ONE. LET’S JUST CALL IT EVEN.” -me
to the point and no bias discrimination to any specific religion. pls pick so that people will recognize my name without knowing my face =P
January 14th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
It’s very difficult to get everything you want to get across in one quote or slogan. If you want a positive message, stay away from the existence of god; push the positive side of atheism (humanism, rationality). Religions push the positive messages of hope, morality and everlasting life; they tend to shy away from negatives like hell, repressive sexual morality and the lack of rationality. They’ve a lot of experience, learn from them.
I like quotes on the Tube Cards we have over in the UK (http://www.atheistbus.org.uk/tube-cards/).
I think these (found on the web so they need verfication) offer a range of positive perspective on atheism.
A man’s ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death.
Albert Einstein, 1879–1955, physicist
Toleration is the best religion.
Victor Hugo, 1802–1885 poet, playwright, novelist, essayist.
There is no humanist creed, no set of beliefs to which every humanist has to subscribe. Humanism is not a dogma or a sect…as human beings we can find from our own resources the shared moral values which we need in order to live together, and the means to create meaningful and fulfilling lives for ourselves.
Richard Norman
The “Probably is no god” slogan is OK. I liked the American Humanists “Be good for goodness sake” slogan too. I’d prefer something along the lines of;
“Atheists believe in people”
“Believe in values that support people, not people that support beliefs”
January 14th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
“Believe in values that support people, don’t support people that value beliefs”
January 14th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
Personally, I think you should stick with precisely the same banner as is being used on buses in the UK. The suggested quotes would work well on the newer subway cards as shown on the atheistcampaign site (http://www.jonworth.eu/downloads/atheistbus/tubecard.jpg); but these should appear alongside the ‘Probably no God’ slogan. I feel that the important thing is to do whatever possible to help create the feeling that this is a world-wide phenomenon; any deviation from that which is being done in England only serves to splinter the effort and make the movement appear to be coming from small groups rather than a global organization. People have been seeing news regarding the UK campaign and it seems to me that the smart thing to do is to try and cash in on that publicity while at the same time adding to the overall momentum of this movement. Besides, it’s a very good slogan that informs without being too confrontational.
January 14th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
There should be no shortage of good quotes to pick from. I prefer funny ones. like:
A man without religion is like a fish without a bicycle.
Give a man a fish and you’ll feed him for a day.
Give a man a fishing rod and he’ll feed the entire village.
Give a man religion and he’ll die praying for a fish.
Yes, I know, many will find those offensive. However, religion cannot be reasoned with, so I prefer to mock it. The experience tells me that even a severely neutered and politically correct atheist statement will still get religious extremists all riled up, so why bother?
It’s your hell, you burn in it!
January 14th, 2009 at 7:03 pm
I think you should go with Ariane Sherine’s “There’s probably no god. Now stop worrying and enjoy life”
Her campaign in England is a wild success so why not imitate success? The more of a direct link to the campain in England would probably better chances of publicity and success.
I would also see about having Ariane Sherine involved in some capacity, even if just as a figure head – as part of the fundraising we see about paying her to come here to launch a Canadian TTC campaign.
January 14th, 2009 at 8:14 pm
Dan is right, we need to go less for the God’s existence and more for a positive message for atheism. Ariane’s message is really great, should it be accepted.
A strong case can be made for using her message. It’s a message that now is well known in the world, thanks to her own campaign — thus, everybody will know what this is all about. But we can also go for another one.
I’ll come later with some proposals.
January 14th, 2009 at 11:23 pm
I’m a fan of Ariane Sherine’s slogan, since unlike the others, it’s simply an appeal to unbelievers rather than an attack on faith. Makes us look more reasonable, especially since we only say that there’s “probably” no god.
January 15th, 2009 at 8:11 am
I live in the UK and have followed (and donated to) the campaign here. I have to say I have got used to Ariane’s slogan over the months. When I finally saw the advert on a bus in London last Thursday it was a great feeling and it did make me smile. The “probably” has evoked much debate on all sides, all good publicity, and without it, all you have is one dogma against another. I have only seen mock-ups of the tube adverts that Dan mentioned, but there is room on those to have quotes from Albert Einstein, Douglas Adams and Katharine Hepburn . There has been a lot of publicity here in the UK and Ariane has appeared on TV and radio. Good luck with your campaign.
January 15th, 2009 at 11:11 am
My suggestion.
Many Gods, One God, No God. Natural selection in Action.
This slogan says it all.
January 15th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
I agree with following one message around the world, however many countries have already introduced their own, all good in my opinion. Either way is fine. The focus has to be on a positive message, most definitely. So far, I have read great recommendations.
My own: Feel a need for God? Just do something good.
January 16th, 2009 at 4:05 am
I agree with going with Ariane’s slogan…but that shouldn’t prevent us from developing new ideas to keep momentum going…everything evolves…
Speaking of evolution. Might it be possible to get one bus rolling on Darwin’s 200th?
January 16th, 2009 at 10:21 am
I agree with using the British slogan on at least some of the ads, to show that this is a worldwide movement. One of the things organized religion has to support it is that is crosses political borders, and I think its important to show that atheism does the same.
January 16th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
How about:
Religion: An absence of logic or reason embraced by those unable or unwilling to think for themselves.
January 16th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
If you do go with the British slogan, feel free to use/promote the banner as described here (although you may want to change the URL to point to your own site instead of the UK one).
January 16th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
There was a good comment in the G&M today, saying “I wish atheists would talk more about what they believe in than what they don’t believe in.”
So I like slogans that fit that bill.
“God isn’t watching out for us; let’s watch out for each other.”
“Beleive in people, not God.”
January 16th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
Go with Ariane’s slogan because it has become an international brand. Later you can branch out into other messages under the “There probably is no god” label.
JN
January 16th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Check out the FFRF slogan in the USA “Imagine No Religion”
On bill boards all over the USA
January 16th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
FFRF website: http://www.ffrf.org/news/2009/sanfranbillboard.php
January 16th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
It is all silly and immature. Now the atheists are acting like evangelicals. Both ends of the spectrum… both acting the same.
January 16th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
While I agree that the Ariane Sherine message is catchy, I disagree with “Tiger Hunter”‘s point. I would much prefer to see “There is no god. Now stop worrying and enjoy life”. The fence-sitting / agnostic “probably” language makes it look like you are conceeding that there might actually be someone up there pulling the strings and answering prayers. I don’t think such a concession is necessary. I am sure we agree that there is no god. So why not come right out and say it. Plus, the definitive language is stronger and more likely to produce the desired response. Best of luck.
January 16th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
I think it’s important for people to think about atheism and how atheists are just regular people who don’t believe in the supernatural. While I agree that we shouldn’t tip-toe around theists perhaps it is best to have a slogan that is not too antagonising…for now. If you sound like a radical, you will be less effective.
I would support (financially and ahem…spiritually) a second (or third) campaign that would be a bit more forceful but for now the British slogan would be very effective. Also, the word “probably” is required because it ties-in with the fact that nothing can be absolutely proven or disproven and that statement will stand up to scrutiny.
So… When do i get to donate?
January 16th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
oops! Just found the Donate tab…now where’s my credit card?
Cheers!
January 16th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
god is for reformists,the rest of us have to enjoy the world the way it is
January 16th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
This website has many excellent quotes that I think would work. I agree with many others here though. This should provoke thought not attack others.
http://www.chrisbeach.co.uk/viewQuotes.php
My favorite isn’t any good for an ad campaign but is just plain funny.
Religion has actually convinced people that there’s an invisible man — living in the sky — who watches everything you do, every minute of every day. And the invisible man has a special list of ten things he does not want you to do.. And if you do any of these ten things, he has a special place, full of fire and smoke and burning and torture and anguish, where he will send you to live and suffer and burn and choke and scream and cry forever and ever ’til the end of time! ..But He loves you.
George Carlin
January 16th, 2009 at 6:30 pm
Why the attack against us Christian’s? We don’t want your slogan on the TTC buses. Do you see us pushing religion in your face on the buses?
“Believe in values that support people, not people that support beliefs” What the heck is that about. You can still be religious believer and still support people and have values such as kindness, considerate, respective, etc. How do you know there is no God?
January 16th, 2009 at 6:31 pm
June Callwood who recently died (An amazing Torontonian and person) once said “Kindness is my religion”. I love this quote and it embodies most Athiest’s outlook on life that I have met or read about. It is unspinnable.
January 16th, 2009 at 6:40 pm
Jesus is coming….look busy!
January 16th, 2009 at 6:51 pm
let me ask this,if you are kind to all living things all your life ,volunteer to help people and live a good life but don’t believe in a god ,would you be chosen after mass murders and rapists who have turned to religion at the last moment to enter the heaven
January 16th, 2009 at 7:40 pm
OK, someone needs to respond. Darkpawn, we are not attacking Christians. The attack is on the belief of supernatural beings that religions call “God, Allah, and Yahweh etc….” Most of us don’t understand why, if you value kindness, consideration, respect and other positive human values why you additionally need to believe in the supernatural. Why the middle man? Just go out and BE those things.
January 16th, 2009 at 7:46 pm
here’s one for the buses; all people who believe in the lord will have to wait for the next bus as it is free
January 16th, 2009 at 8:01 pm
Here’s a bit of advice from a Christian:
I’m embarrassed when my fellow Christians define themselves in terms of who they are not as it always implies judgment on the rest of the world.
Stay positive. As long as you define yourself as who you are not, you will embarrass yourself. Keep attacking Christianity, and we will continue to be the martyr. Define yourself as who you are and we can actually get along… and identify common goals… and be productive together… Now there’s a novel idea… Something that God (in whatever form s/he may/may not exist), the Universe, and even others can smile about.
January 16th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
How about this slogan…
Pity the poor dead athiest, All dressed up and no place to go.
But no worries, you likely are so opened minded that this comment will never make your site. (sigh)
It was just my “free thought”
January 16th, 2009 at 8:21 pm
I like the comments in 6, 13, 20, and 24. Well all of them actually, but those in particular (even Darkpawn’s as he/she reminds us that religious persons are not necessarily logical).
As for the “Probably” debate, I refer to Richard Dawkins and his book The God Delusion where he mentions an interstellar tea cup. While no one can actually prove or disprove the idea that there is a tea cup orbiting our sun somewhere between Jupiter and Saturn, it is so unlikely that we can safely say that it is not there.
Don’t be shy with your brains or your wallets.
January 16th, 2009 at 8:36 pm
Don’t pity us when we die – we’ll be in exactly the same place we were before we were born. The only down side is that we’re not going to be around to tell you how wrong you were.
January 16th, 2009 at 8:39 pm
please do not let this get into a name calling session. With everything going on in the world today to promote hatred against one another this is an opportunity to approach differences in a fair and ethical manner. The campaign is not an attack on christianity, otherwise the word would be “against christians” instead of “atheist”.
Please try to imagine the frustration of going through life being prompted with signs and testimonials and commercials and whatnot to believe in something that you simply can’t while being chastised, looked down upon, abused and hated if you dare to venture your opinion.
This is simply a way for people to express what they are thinking in a world that does not want to allow them to do so. What people take out of it is up to them. If you want to have a civil discussion, great. If you disagree, that’s your prerogative. If you want to learn more, have a seat. If you want to call me names and throw rocks at me then there’s probably nothing more to say.
January 16th, 2009 at 8:48 pm
“Can the 21st Century Afford Religion?”
This could be accompanied by end-times related quotations and photos of recognizable religious crackpots who said them.
January 16th, 2009 at 8:53 pm
Not a lot of brain power being exercised here….floating teacups, and afterlife musings.
Like Don Rickles would say…
“What a hockey puck!” Even Atheists could find better things to do with their finite time here. We Christians have got all the time in eternity…why would we worry?
A lot of intolerance going on from the A side of this discussion, though…..
Have a blessed weekend, and know that God doesn’t believe in atheists.
January 16th, 2009 at 8:57 pm
At last, more participants to the great cause of the real truth. If anyone is looking for more thoughts on this subject, please visit these sites. I have…and so should you.
http://www.samharris.org/
and
http://richarddawkins.net/
January 16th, 2009 at 9:28 pm
I love the quotes in #5 and #19. Especially the short and clear ones.
I also love the idea of “tube cards” to pass around or advertise on.
Let donate and get this idea out!!
January 16th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
So what’s the point of advertising that in your opinion there is no God ?
Will it improve our society?
Will it feed the poor?
Will it heal the sick?
Will it improve anyones life if they know what your opinion is?
Actually, does anyone care what your opinion is?
January 16th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
hey jimmie,your probably correct in saying god doesnt believe in atheists,but then again i didnt think he believed in wars and trecherous approaches in trying to coerce people into believing what they dont already
January 16th, 2009 at 10:45 pm
“Even if there is no God, the Universe is still awesome”
Says who? You the comfortable in Canada? Whatabout someone living in Gaza today?
“Atheists are nice because they like to be, not because they are commanded to be”
So all atheists are nice all believers are not nice? So one can’t carry out a command joyfully or one which they would do freely anyways?
“The faithful strive for the benefit of one invisible God, atheists strive for the benefit of 6,000,000,000 fellow humans”
So believers strive to benefit God? (Obviously you haven’t read ANY religious texts ever…) Atheists all strive to make the world better for the now 7 billion people on the planet?
Greg Smith your statements are gross generalizations which cannot be supported by fact whch YOU have not supported with anything but your own personal bias as an atheist.
And yeah “who cares what some actor/singer thinks” ou can’t take issues of faith and factualise them when there’s no evidence to be had one way or another.
Atheists like you are no more rational than believers because your arguments are all based on conjecture, speculation, and opinion.
January 16th, 2009 at 10:57 pm
some intresting comments coming down the pipe so far,some rebuttals are getting close to being more irrational then rational i think,this reminds me of the saying “went to a boxing match and a hockey game broke out”can the same be said about disbelieving in a great creator and having his supporters reply in their heavenly ways
January 17th, 2009 at 12:02 am
Be compassionate, you don’t need heaven or hell to be one.
January 17th, 2009 at 12:57 am
I know that it must be tough to be an atheist, in a religious world. We Christians have both Easter and Christmas and all you have is April 1st…
January 17th, 2009 at 2:01 am
Hey Steve;according to your beliefs christians are not supposed to be judgmental,what are you trying to say here?You also have hundreds of preists and and ministers who are guilty of sexual acts against innocent altar boys and young girls who have never been punished by god.
January 17th, 2009 at 2:44 am
First … @ Darkpawn … sorry, but your nic says it all …
In general I’m with George Carlin …
I truly believe that future gnerations will look back at the ridiculous BS associated with religiosity in the same light as we look at past societies who adamently believed the world to be flat … a ‘dah!’ kind of reaction along with an off the cuff brush off
January 17th, 2009 at 3:42 am
Hey Patricia;Good for you,George Carlin was quite insightful as well as comedic.We all look back at tribes in Africa and South America,Mexico and Asia as if they were all stoned on alcohol or drugs(or could this be true religion)when they talk of gods and miracles.It would be a miracle if the world could be as one without having to believe in another one greater then us and just help one another.
January 17th, 2009 at 3:42 am
I see a few problems with Ariane’s slogan. First, it will be confusing. Most people, other than atheists, do not associate belief in God with worrying and not enjoying life. They are more likely to see it as a source of solace and relief from worry. They won’t get the point, they’ll just be puzzled. Second, it makes the assumption that people who believe in God are worrying and not enjoying life, which probably isn’t particularly true. Telling someone who isn’t worrying and is enjoying life to stop worrying and start enjoying life is not going to be effective. Third, it is condescending, which is never successful, as it takes the position that it knows better than the reader and is somehow in a position to give unsolicited advice, and it is pushy, using the imperative, which may play well in some places but in Canada being pushy is one of the greatest sins there is.
January 17th, 2009 at 3:46 am
Toronto is a place where the public attitude on religion is already “To each his/her own, mind your own business, live and let live”. There do exist religious proselytizers, but they’re ignored by everyone and regarded as a bit nutty. These ads are going to commit precisely the transgression that atheists complain about religious people committing: accosting other people and making their religious beliefs your business. This might be a reasonable approach in places where religious believers already do this, but Toronto is not such a place. The proposed phrasing seems likely to get atheists lumped in with proselytizers who are simply dismissed and ignored and written off as the kind of eccentrics you meet in a big city.
January 17th, 2009 at 3:53 am
Maybe just some simple questions, advocating no side, would be a more effective way to get people thinking along atheist lines. Such as “What are the reasons to believe there is a God?” or “Is a belief in God rooted in faith rather than evidence a virtue?” or “Can truth be found through faith?” or ” Does faith need evidence?”
These are off the top of my head suggestions. I would suggest something that doesn’t give the reader orders, and doesn’t condescend to the reader or put down religious believers, or assume that religious believers are somehow maladjusted or neurotic or unhappy (because a)they’re generally not; b) it’s insulting), which the proposed phrasing (Ariane’s) does.
January 17th, 2009 at 4:00 am
We must not forget that this is a marketing campaign…On a moving bus.. You have to be able to get the message across and allow the reader absorb it quickly and think upon it later. I propose something like this:
“God? What God? Live your life.”
or.. “Live your life…Goddammit!”
or.. “If God gave you eyes…then open them!”
or.. “If God gave you a brain then use it!”,
or.. “God wants you to think for yourself, he’s tired of doing it for you.”
Ugh! Somebody turn on a light!
Cheers from freakin’ cold Ottawa.
January 17th, 2009 at 4:57 am
I don’t like “There’s Probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life”. It sounds like atheists have no moral, or don’t care about anything else than having fun. I don’t think you’re going to “convert” anyone with it.
January 17th, 2009 at 8:27 am
I love this campaign. From someone who has never been impressed with the cult-like attitude of religion and their pushy ways in which they inflict guilt on non-believers (reminiscent of a used car salesman), it is nice to hear others speak up. I think that it is important for people to realize that it is ok to not belong to a religion. When people ask me “Are you religious?” I’ve always felt uncomfortable answering. Not only is this a very personal question, but whenever I respond with “I’m not a follower of any religion.” to a religious fanatic (they are everywhere), they LOVE to judge and throw in some sort of religious quote or belief. Not only are these ads a fantastic way of promoting free speech and free thought, but they will remind the fervent religious lunatics that many people do not require a ficticious book as a guide to living a good and pure life.
January 17th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
I think we should stick with the ‘probably’ slogan used in the UK. This is a marketing campaign, we are ‘reaching’ out to believers, and ‘probably’ adds a non-confrontational element of dry British humour that is very helpful. Besides, Dawkins called one of the chapters of his book: “why there almost certainly is no God”. The equivocation is (depending on your definition of God) the most intellectually honest approach.
I don’t AT ALL like supplementary quotes by famous people that attack religion, such as “The way to see by Faith is to shut the eye of Reason.” and I will be very dissapointed if my $50 goes to pay for such ads. Callwood’s “Kindness is my religion” is brilliant. The Einstein quote used in the UK is also excellent.
January 17th, 2009 at 4:18 pm
Further to my previous point… someone pointed out previously that Toronto is not a very ‘in your face’ city when it comes to religion, which makes it doubly important that the supplementary quotes by famous people used are not nasty or insulting of the “religious people are stupid, now smarten up!” variety. We don’t want atheists to appear to be grouchy cranks in the way that so many religious people are. Honey will work a lot better than vinegar.
January 17th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
“Do you see us pushing religion in your face on the buses?”
Why yes, as a matter of fact, we do. (just saw a bible quoting ad on the subway the other day).
January 17th, 2009 at 6:18 pm
Stick with the slogan already established – it has media traction and will continue to gain recognition and familiarity in the public domain. The most productive goal is to try to get people thinking about the subject rather than just blindly accepting the religious status-quo.
Trying to convince the public to think atheistically using reason, quotes and logic will close more minds than it will open….
“Coke – it’s the real thing”
“There probably is no god, now stop worrying and enjoy your life”
January 17th, 2009 at 6:30 pm
Any quotes along the lines that religion is not necessary for morality, and not necessary to live a good and decent life, are particularly appropriate I think. We’re not attacking religion, we’re showing that there’s an organized constituency that has thought about the matter and thinks: “hey… you don’t NEED religion!”
January 17th, 2009 at 9:43 pm
Good evening Canada (it’s 9.30pm here)
I’ve been reading these posts from over the pond, and I’m very impressed with many of the ideas being put forward. I started donating to the UK Atheist Bus Campaign on day one (Oct 21, 2008) and the progress made in the following weeks was amazing. I still donate because the charity page is like some sort of huge chat-room, and great fun. More adverts in the UK are planned in April/May.
I was lucky enough to be invited to the official launch in London, Jan 6th – only 3 donors out of over 7,000 were. It was an amazing event and I met Ariane and other people on the team, as well as some very prominent UK atheists.
I wish you the very best of luck with this; it’s very hard work for the organisers but it’ll be worth it when you see those adverts roll out!
January 18th, 2009 at 1:33 am
Do only priests and ministers commit sexual acts against children?
Will having no belief in God improve your morals?
January 18th, 2009 at 1:52 am
Does that make it right for them because other people do it?They are in a position of trus and honor,like a policeman or a doctor or a teacher.It isn’t right for anyone to assault anybody else.If you need something higher up to believe in to improve your morals then so be it,but does not believing strip you of morals?
January 18th, 2009 at 3:19 am
Hope it’s not too late, but I agree with those who suggest that the message be positive and refer to what we are for rather than what we are against. I like Kevin’s (#19)suggestions; or “Believe in People, not god” should be enough by itself. Two lines is too much.
Or try this variant: “We believe in People, our Planet and the Universe, rather than god.”
We don’t need to attack religion, but we need to encourage free thought and debate. Either of these statements will do it. Whatever is decided the statement should be simple. The British statement is vague, suggests no alternatives and does not provide the positive spin that we need.
January 18th, 2009 at 4:41 am
The British statement is perfect. Short and sweet. And everyone will see the same message. News reports are already showing the British message.
Start wearing the Scarlett A.
January 18th, 2009 at 6:02 am
“There is almost certainly no Heaven. This life is heaven. Be good to others and make the most of the time you have in the Sun.”
January 18th, 2009 at 6:45 am
I would like to see:
Without God, Life is Everything
January 18th, 2009 at 10:42 am
A couple of points….I wish this site would show some sort of running total so we can all see how well the fund-raising campaign is doing. Second, I wonder if it would be possible to get one of those bus signs ? Either as an extra copy run off by the printer (for a small fee) or one taken off a bus at the end of the campaign.
A couple of posts have claimed that religious types don’t force their views on others. Hah. Open your eyes and minds. They are all OVER the place. Road-side signs, road-side crosses in the U.S., bumper stickers, church notice boards on the lawns, and newspaper articles like “Thought for the week” by some fundamentalist preacher type. Then of course there are the Jehovahs Witnesses, who actually trespass on my property, and who hand out offensive literature to try to convert me. When was the last time you had an atheist knock on your front door carrying brochures ? And howcum you get a tax exemption for your church, yet churches are still allowed to actively take positions in politics ? If it were up to me, the very second a church leader makes a public statement about a political issue, cancel the tax exemption. That would include statements from the pulpit. Like who to vote for. Religion would not be so bad, but for the insistence of religious types that everyone else should obey the commands of their particular religion. Not just in actions, but in thought. Islam is the biggest danger in the entire world, at the moment. Worse than global warming. They want to kill everyone who does not follow their bronze age beliefs.
Actually, we are all atheists. You too. You don’t believe in Zeus, Jupiter, Ra, Apollo, Thor, Wodin, Ahura-Mazda, etc. anymore, either. We just go one god further.
January 18th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
I was an early supporter of the U.K. campaign.
If only for continuity and community, I think we should use the U.K. slogan. Yes, it’s imperfect, but I suspect it will be impossible to find a slogan that keeps everyone happy.
I do like the idea of the quotations used inside tube carriages and on the back of, say, Toronto transfer tickets, if it’s possible to do that, too.
BTW, as Richard Dawkins points out, one cannot prove that anything does NOT exist, so it’s important to keep ‘probably’ in the slogan, and the word also helps keep the advertising standards people happy. ‘Stop worrying’ is to note that we don’t believe there’s a reason to fear any form of ‘eternal damnation,’ and the slogan ends on the positive that we should enjoy the life we have.
Since it’s not mentioned above, the teacup is actually about Bertrand Russell’s teapot thought experiment (also known as the ‘Celestial Teapot’). A simple Google search will find the Wikipedia entry and other references.
For what it’s worth, I would not use PayPal as a payment gateway for this project. PayPal discriminates by limiting the free thoughts and actions of its users, and banning its users for life for those freethinking actions. I am one of those people who it banned. Hence, I will have to send you my donation by cheque. Please consider other payment gateways for this project. Thanks. (Also: I will not use eBay, as a consequence of eBay buying PayPal.)
Oh, and nobody has yet mentioned antitheists, or Jefferson, or….
January 18th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
How about this slogan:
What day exactly did God create the fossils?
January 18th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
Ah, Its seems I’m too late..
I recommend this as a slogan:
“Don’t believe in God? You are not alone.”
January 19th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
“Miracles” on the atheist bus.
Disappearing posts.
January 19th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
Try to avoid combative slogans. I like the one about nice atheists having chosen to be nice, not forced.
Having as combative as message as the one they put up in the UK would make us no better than the religious ads we’re rebutting.
January 19th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
How about: “It’s okay not to believe. You’re in good company” and then a list of prominent atheists.
All in all though, I’d go with the existing slogan from the U.K. I helps keep the meme going.
January 19th, 2009 at 7:11 pm
Yes, keeping the existing slogan seems like a good thing to do, then brach out later with the original message as a slogan like they are doing in the U.K. http://www.jonworth.eu/downloads/atheistbus/tubecard.jpg
I think it would be nice, if funds allow, for this to spread to the Durham Region, that way I could see one!
January 19th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
I love this quote: “Atheists are nice because they like to be, not because they are commanded to be”.
I have been asked how I can be a good person if I do not believe in God. I am good person because of my upbringing, because I choose to be for the betterment of society, and possibly I am genetically predisposed to be like I am.
January 20th, 2009 at 2:08 am
everyday atheists can disbelieve as well as prominent ones I would think,just put some names up there and be done with it.I don’t think it is about trying to win someones approval by displaying important people who share in this notion.Kristan ask’s can I be a good person if I don’t believe in god,of course you can,you can be certain there are not any good, non – believers barbqueing down below
January 20th, 2009 at 6:48 am
I notice from all the responses here that i have read no one has mentioned one of the greatest german philosopher of all time from the 19th century, Friedrich Nietzsche.
Either you haven’t heard of him & read up on his work or you just forgot about the name Friedrich Nietzsche.
I will leave you all with one of the greatest quotes that i have ever read written by Friedrich Nietzsche.
“There is not enough love and goodness in the world for us to be premitted to give any of it away to imaginary things.”
- Friedrich Nietzsche -
January 20th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
Basil says it correctly,let’s keep the non combative sayings or postings out of this and come up with something with some humor in it “when they ask you of god,try not to nod”
January 20th, 2009 at 9:41 pm
Your proposed ad campaign, mimicking the one in England, needs for you to take a minute to rethink your plan. I take it from your slogan that, and I quote, ” There’s PROBABLY no God…”, well if you are not sure, maybe you should make sure before this blasphemous statement renders you to an eternity somewhere that is not so pleasant. You see, I did research this, and guess what?; there is a God. And from what I can glean from my research, He aint gonna be too happy with you. But He is also a gentleman, loving, kind and above all full of grace and may do nothing, to let you stumble and fall on your own words. I wish you no ill will, in fact quite the contrary, but be sure in your own mind God does not exist, as the opposite will not bode you well.
Just another free thinker(I am glad we can still do that in Canada, right)
Walter
January 20th, 2009 at 9:51 pm
I like “There is almost certainly no Heaven. This life is heaven. Be good to others and make the most of the time you have in the Sun.” as mentioned above, but I would prefer it as follows:
There is almost certainly no afterlife. This life is the only one you get, so make the best of it by being good to yourself and others.
But now it’s long… and the original is good from a solidarity point of view so my idea is by far a secondary one.
January 20th, 2009 at 10:56 pm
Walter, as has been said before, the probably is really only a scientific formality for most of us atheists.
Your “research” must truly be groundbreaking lol!
Your post is a good example of the kind of unfounded conviction that faith brings out in people.
I am kind of confused by this
“but be sure in your own mind God does not exist, as the opposite will not bode you well.”
did you mean to say “be sure he exists?”
January 21st, 2009 at 4:23 am
god and heaven are for people afraid of dying
January 21st, 2009 at 5:29 am
If there really is a heaven and a hell i only hope that when i die it’s after i have consumed a keg of beer so i can try and put the fires out
January 21st, 2009 at 6:09 am
Finley…doN,t go to heaven…you’ll be all alone.
January 21st, 2009 at 6:28 am
hey Richard;Just the priests and mass murders who have repented will be there along with suddam husien who was killed in a jihad and will meet his 100 virgins there
January 21st, 2009 at 7:14 pm
Walter: “I take it from your slogan that, and I quote, ” There’s PROBABLY no God…”, well if you are not sure, maybe you should make sure before this blasphemous statement renders you to an eternity somewhere that is not so pleasant.”
“Pascal’s Wager” for the five billionth time….
Perhaps there is a God, but She doesn’t care if we believe in Her or not?
January 21st, 2009 at 11:12 pm
why does there have to be human form in charge here,the natives thought the thunderbird was their god
January 22nd, 2009 at 3:43 am
Walter…the concept of blasphemy is a thought control device to prevent you from speaking out against authority. It is a tool for thought control…to make sure that the clergy remain the only conduit between man and the imaginary God, because if people were capable of thinking for themselves, they wouldn’t need the clergy…and then so much power among so few hands would be lost.
I personally would like to see the research that demonstrates that God exists. Reading the Bible and accepting it unquestioningly doesn’t amount to research…it amounts to indoctrination. Until you provide results, examples and hypotheses that have not already been debunked by science thousands of times, your are wasting your time here. You will convert nobody with your fearmongering.
…and if your (non-existant) God is sooooo powerful, why would he need you to defend himself. Can he not stand up in front of me? What rationale will you provide to explain why I am not being struck down right now as I challenge my ‘maker’. …the lord works in mysterious ways? (Cop out). He is good and forgiving and will act when he so chooses? (doesn’t sound like the vengeful God of the bible that orders the death of women and children by the thousands and sacrifices his own son, who is not his son and who dies but does not die but then we must eat and drink his blood and probably suck his big toe while were at it to be saved from our wickedness, because some guy’s rib ate an apple that was received from a talking snake). Woah…out of breath….gasp!
Here is a question…if everyone decided to stop believing in your god…would he still exist? What happened to Zeus, and Odin…nobody believes in them anymore, so they vanished into thin air? (or did they simply never exist?)…such is the nature of faith that one would believe in a God that isn’t there.
January 22nd, 2009 at 4:03 am
I am a graphic designer and I am working on a design which includes the text: As above, so below – savour our sun.
Any comments?
(please Google: as above so below)
January 22nd, 2009 at 6:52 am
I think we should put something like “God didn’t ask Mary if she wanted a kid. That’s RAPE.”
January 22nd, 2009 at 3:15 pm
Aeon…that’s a good quote
January 22nd, 2009 at 3:21 pm
I don’t like the “There probably is no god, now stop worrying and enjoy your life” slogan. It is negative and shallow.
Chris Mason’s quote from June Callwood is most appropriate “Kindness is my religion”
Others might be:
“Goodness beats Godliness”
or
“Good not God”
January 22nd, 2009 at 4:39 pm
Finius,
That’s really insulting.
If you start this campaign slinging mud you’re likely to create attacks on atheist. Which seems opposite of what the atheist movement wants to achieve.
January 23rd, 2009 at 2:20 am
“Faith is believing what you know ain’t so.” — Mark Twain.
January 23rd, 2009 at 4:18 am
Andrew…thanks. I guess that as things develop, opportunities may arise to place an ad with a new or different slogan. This is occuring in the UK.
Mike…you’re probably right about the slogan proposed by Finius…maybe a little harsh. Somewhat similar to some messages seen on Vision TV everyday about me going to hell if I don’t send my donations to Benny Hinn.
Actually, I have been personally told to my face by an otherwise sane looking person (with a college education, no less) that if I didn’t believe, I would be sodomized in hell by satan himself…ouch…bring on the prep H. And when I threatened to turn that cross sideways and stuff it up his…you get it…I was told that I had no respect for religion. uh…yeah!
Now I understand that this may not be the majority view…but it’s out there. I also understand that you don’t make friends by launching bombs (i.e. Finius’ suggested slogan)…but in terms of backlash, this campaign is backlash for the years of crap that we’ve had to put up with silently. Atheists, agnostic, humanists, skeptics, brights, etc…are a true constituency in this country and one of the fastest growing, as can this campaign can surely attest to. We vote, we pay taxes and we WILL be heard!
January 23rd, 2009 at 5:34 pm
isnt sodomy named after that friend of gomorah’s?I don’t now just trying to inject a little humor here.I think you have fanatics in religion as well as all other sectors of life.I have come across people like this on both sides,but it is usually fanatical people who embrace religion as a means to get close to normal as they have been told to.
January 23rd, 2009 at 6:37 pm
Probably??? And if your wrong??? Is that a chance you want to take???
Dan
January 23rd, 2009 at 7:10 pm
Hey Pastor Dan;When a person believes something to be true it is known as a belief,correct?Now you have your beliefs as well ,but your beliefs could be stemmimg from fear of the future, aka. after death.Why live life in fear?Is that the way your god wants us to live.You know growing up I always thought that religious people ,people who went to church on sundays were good kind people that would help people at the drop of a hat,and for the most part this is true,but people can do this without a belief in the allmighty.I have also come across people who dont care about helping one another,on both sides of the argument.
January 23rd, 2009 at 8:14 pm
Unfortunately people like Benny Hinn are out. They are not representatives of God.
Mat 7:15,16 Beware….Ye shall know them by their fruits.
January 25th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
Ciekawy blog, dodalem go do ulubionych, bede tu napewno wpadal czesciej
January 26th, 2009 at 10:51 pm
Very interesting article, i have bookmarked your blog for future referrence
Best regards
January 30th, 2009 at 12:12 am
The idea of “attacking” God here still seems like just a construct. Doesn’t it seem better to point the way to reality, and not get caught up in just abstracts. Induction, not just deduction. The positive. The real. Is this universe.
Also all religeons have no epistemology, so maybe this needs to be brought out more, – a clear, reasoned showing that brings out objectivity and certainty.
There never has been evidence for another spiritual dimension, – never will be. Not in the metaphysical sense that believers believe. It isn’t there.
Our consciousness (awareness) is unique to be sure, but not mystical. Now where have you guys been hiding? I’ve never heard of you before.
I like your direction towards “attacking” the irrational. Keep it up!
Ted Harlson.
January 30th, 2009 at 3:22 am
Pastor Dan, you are asking what if atheists are wrong? Do we want to take that chance? First of all, it is typical of religion to try to fighten people into line. But what you are really saying is: What if you are wrong and therefore we Christians are right. But wait, it is not a choice between atheism and Christianity, now is it? What if YOU are wrong, Pastor Dan, and the Muslims are right?Have you ever read in the Koran about the doom that awaits the unbelievers? It isn’t pretty. What if the Hindus are right. Or the Mormons?
Or to quote Homer Simpson, when he didn’t want to go to church: “What if we’re in the wrong religion? We’re just making Him madder and madder every time we go to Church.
But seriously, Pastor Dan, if you would like to see the best answer of all to “What if you’re wrong?” see this short Youtube of Richard Dawkins answering that very question. He is brilliant: http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=6mmskXXetcg
January 30th, 2009 at 3:35 am
What if atheists are wrong? The late, great atheist Bertrand Russell had an answer to what he would say: “Not enough information, Lord.”
Also, it strikes me as odd that your God sets so much store by “believing” in him, as opposed to, say, being kind, helping others, caring for the weak and sick, etc. etc., all of which atheists do. Bill Gates, who is an atheist, has given BILLIONS to benefit his fellow humans. But your funny, archaic God would be angry at Bill Gates because he did not believe in him? Sorry, but I would find it hard to worship such an insecure egomaniac, even if he did exist!
January 31st, 2009 at 8:47 pm
Quote : Finius Says:
January 22nd, 2009 at 6:52 am
I think we should put something like “God didn’t ask Mary if she wanted a kid. That’s RAPE.”
WRONG
Mary did know and she had a free choice to accept or not accept the Lords will.
The Lord gave everyone a free will, it’s up to us to make the choice.
January 31st, 2009 at 10:23 pm
Quote:Anonymous Says:
January 31st, 2009 at 8:47 pm
“Mary did know and she had a free choice to accept or not accept the Lords will.
The Lord gave everyone a free will, it’s up to us to make the choice.”
WRONG:
A 2000-year-old text of uncertain authorship, one of four gospels that contradict one another, claims that a creature called an Angel asked Mary for her consent, allegedly resulting in the birth of a baby who was allegedly the Son of your unproven and unverifiable God.
The same book from which you are quoting, the Bible, also claims the whole of the animal world was once contained on a large boat with Noah, and that it is all right to keep slaves and to sell your own daughter into slavery.
Stories of mortal women being impregnated by gods have been circulating around the Mediterranean for thousands of years, BTW.
Just because something is written in a book doesn’t make it true. Or is Lord of the Rings a true story, do you suppose?
February 8th, 2009 at 1:48 am
I can think of no one with more appeal and insight than John Lennon:
“Imagine there’s no heaven
It’s easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky”