Comments on: Angry Calls and Newspaper Queries: The Atheist Bus Campaign Rolls Along

By: Donnie

Donnie — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 14:26:21 +0000

The Church has been successful because it provided a place to satisfy a need to socialize. In my view this is proof that of evolution, because as a primate we collaborate a bit better than other primates. We find trust in others to compliment what we can do. So 1+1+1+1+1= a number far greater than 5. This is not co-operation of equals this is collaboration of unequals. Collaboration does not scale. I figure 8% (1/12) of any population are too selfish for our own good. They are not evil, they are good for the species in times of famine, but they think every day is a famine. They are often heard to say “what is in for me”or “I took it because I was owed”. When they manipulate, punish and bully their way into a leadership position evil type things happen. I avoid them, because they are not enjoyable to have around. They don’t bring joy, like people I call my friends who have an evolutionary collaborative nature. If we can create places where the mystery of our evolutionary make up that creates new trusting friendships seems like a puzzle their will be wealth and quality of life creation.

By: Hal

Hal — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 20:32:16 +0000

I don’t see the point either. The ad is perfect.

Hope lots of money comes in now so the campaign can spread to other cities and other posters!

By: Blondin

Blondin — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 20:12:47 +0000

Jeff K,

Is there a point to all this?

By: Hal

Hal — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 20:08:18 +0000

Absolutely nothing wrong with the ad. It has been accepted for use by the TTC.

By: Jeff K

Jeff K — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 17:21:53 +0000

The fact that the campaign raised $20,000 before an examination of the Ontario Human Rights code, just means they haven’t read it;

http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/resources/Policies/PolicyCreedAccomodEN?page=PolicyCreedAccomodEN-CREED1_.html

A creed can be defined even in the absence of a belief in deities, and it further distinguishes agnostic from atheist, specifically. Thus legally, it appears that it is possible for atheists to discriminate against agnostics, who are specifically protected by the code (sounds silly, but hang on)

The key element is the “imposition of their creed”, thus Justin’s “If your faith is so easily challenged” and such demonstrate imposition against protected creeds (agnosticism being one of them), by the organization, not the sign.

What troll provides citations to law & philosophy and to the major speakers of their creed?

By: Devon

Devon — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 17:04:03 +0000

sorry I meant to say “rely” on the star popularity contest

By: Devon

Devon — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 17:01:42 +0000

p.s. I don’t like the post rating system, people should read the post for themselves, don’t really on the star popularity contest….

By: Devon

Devon — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 17:00:07 +0000

Offgrid, I have found that a big challenge in the enviromental movement is that a lot of people expect “god will save us”. They don’t care about the earth, after all, the sooner we die the sooner we get to heaven, and some also view enviromental devastation as a sign of the coming apocalypse.

Basically I think this campaign would do good for the enviroment, people who doubt the existence of a god are more likely to realise we have to fix these problems ourselves. If you think this is the only life you have, you will make the most of it.

By: Blondin

Blondin — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 16:56:19 +0000

Offgrid,

On a more reasonable note… I shouldn’t get so snarky. I just take it kind of personally when someone implies I should or shouldn’t support some cause when they have no idea what my experience has been or what other causes I may also support.

By: Devon

Devon — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 16:48:03 +0000

Sussex, Forums such as this often turn into religious debates…this debating is pretty much what the campaign aims to cause. Agnostics are tough to pin a definiton on, I would posit that if your not sure god exists that you don’t believe he exists? Like you can’t be sure a teapot isn’t floating around in orbit of the earth? Like I said, the variation on what people call agnotisism is immense.

I really think the goal of this campaign is to inspire debate, and raise awareness of an Atheistic worldview, not to just put people at ease about the question of god’s existence. I take the slogan to mean that just because there is no god you don’t have to worry, just enjoy life for what it is. Or alternatively, There is no god, so don’t worry about that religious rubbish and just enjoy your life.