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Posted On
10/22/2008

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13 Comments »

London's "Atheist Bus" Launches


It's one of the boldest advertising campaigns by Atheists in the UK.  You have to check this out.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 22nd, 2008 at 5:16 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

  • http://www.mattbodman.info Matt Bodman

    If Richard Dawkins isn't subliminally on the run, why doesn't he just shutup about it and enjoy his life too?

    Dawikins: “This campaign to put alternative slogans on London buses will make people think – and thinking is anathema to religion.”

    I get so pissed off when people conclude that to be a Christian means switching off your brain.  If you seriously believe that Jesus' life and teaching isn't thought provoking, you are seriously in denial, or seriously ignorant.

    AAAaaarrgggghhhh!!

  • http://carandavis.com cara

    I don't understand why they work so hard to get people to doubt. What motivates them?

  • http://singlegirlsearching.wordpress.com Becky

    What an opportunity!  I LOVE that they used the word "Probably".  I think Christians need to rise up and say, "Well, since even THEY say they don't know the answer, stop asking them for wisdom and ask me.  I can point you to the Truth about God."

     

    And pray, pray for the wisdom and opportunity to share. 

     

    If you live in the UK – please check out "Christianity Explored" and "Discipleship Explored".  Two WONDERFUL programs focused on UK Christians and their growth. Rico Tice and Barry Cooper are amazing men of God doing an incredible work for Him.

  • Jason

    Churches and missionaries work far harder to get people to believe.  What motivates them?

    Some might argue its the donations, but I disagree.  Most people who push their beliefs just want others to by into their worldview.  Unfortunately, we’ve all seen what happens when people unquestioningly buy into a worldview, without thinking critically about it.  That’s not to say that plenty of religious people haven’t arrived at their beliefs through a meaningful process of introspection — many have — but when they haven’t, the results can be disasterous.

    Most religious skeptics recognize that danger.  Doubt encourages reflection on belief, and leads to a better understanding of oneself and others.  Think back to Socrates great lesson: "the only thing I can know, is that I know nothing."

    So to answer the question of what motivates people to create doubt in others, the most obvious answer is altruism — a desire for a world where people are more questioning and reflective.  That is certainly better than a world where people are more dogmatic and unwilling to consider other points of view.

  • Jason

    I also love that they used the word "probably."

    Admitting that there must be some doubt in any assertion of belief really shows the difference in the level of thought put into this campaign, as opposed to some of its religious counterparts (and some of the messages here).

    The one thing this world certainly doesn’t need is more fanatics asserting that they have the "answer."  Wouldn’t it be better if compassionate, religious people spent more time demonstrating how to make the world a better place than prosletyzing about God?  Anyone who relies on a God concept to convince others to follow in their path is taking a shortcut past rationality.

    Being good to others shouldn’t require fear of divine punishment or promise of a afterlife reward.  People don’t need to believe in God to accept concepts like the golden rule.

    Never trust anyone who says they can "point you to the Truth about God."  That’s how folks end up self-castrated, lying on the floor in their white sheets, dead from drinking the Kool-aid.

  • http://www.bestfinance-blog.com Hampton21Lydia

    People deserve good life and business loans or car loan can make it better. Because freedom is grounded on money state.

  • The Zoo Keeper
  • Jeff Miller

    It is encouraging to know that Alpha pioneer Nicky Gumbel has written a Richard Dawkins' retort called "Is God a Delusion?" From what I've read, Nicky opens can after can of intellectual whoop-ass on poor Richard.

    And here's one for the atheist slogan: If I worry less and derive my enjoyment in life through my belief in God, isn't that my business? If we all return to meaningless dust, what the hell does it matter to any atheist what belief I take to the grave? Aren't atheists supposed to encourage free thinking? Sure they do, as long as it is free of God. What contradictory, convoluted crap.  

  • breaklight

    WOW!!! A late reaction to the already immensely popular Alpha advertsing slogans: explore the meaning of life. Amazing the athiests are actually reacting to Christianity – we must doing something right after all:-) Keep it up Nicky Gumbel and the Alpha Organisation. They are huge here in the UK.

  • http://anunlikelyperspective2.squarespace.com Dominique

    I found the bus advertising exciting while at the same time …really sad.

    First, I found it exciting because I really believe we have entered a new time in the world – one in which there is an uptick to the spiritual battle we have been engaged in for many years.  That can only mean my groom is coming soon.

    Second, I find it very sad, because everywhere I look from the atheist in the UK to the socialist and their ilk in America, millions upon millions of people are truly lost.  They are desperately searching but they know not for what.

    Thirdly, I believe that Sarah Palin is our "Ester" and that, we along with her, are here for "just a time as this."  

    What motivates groups like this atheist group, I personally believe, is a sense that time is truly short.  The battle for souls is heating up.  Our battle for souls should also heat up.  

    The signs we are all witnessing have caused me to repent because I realize that I have been remiss.  Absorbed in my life, my writing, my blogs without too much outward focus on where others will spend eternity.

    I realize now that has to change.  Too many people are seeking, are questioning, are desparate and I (we) have the answer.

  • Aweaver3

    I agree with Breaklight. Ultimately, they are reacting to Christianity’s truth about God. As sad as it is on the surface, perhaps it will cause people to take the time to really THINK about God instead of going about their day so consumed with other thoughts.

    Can you imagine somoeone, who hasn’t really given any consideration to the reality of God nor the claim on their life, seeing that advertisement and asking… “Is there a God? Why are they saying that there probably isn’t? Does that mean that there’s something to this God thing? What if there is a God? Why should I worry? What does God want from me?” The questions could go on and on.

    Really, it could go in either direction depending on where people are at. Think about this scripture from Genesis 50:20, “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to same many people alive.”

    We can’t stop them from doing the advertising; they have freedom of speech. But we can pray that God will bring good out of this. This can be an opening for honest dialog from both sides.

    Allen Paul Weaver III

    Author, Transition: Breaking Through the Barriers

    http://www.APW3.com

  • Barry

    If you don’t mind my interjecting… this is GREAT for fundraising! Athiests raise 7 times more than their goal to place bus boards questioning the existance of God… This is a gift!

  • bygracenotmerit

    Barry

    I would have never thought of that. You are right. What a great tool to open a conversation with someone while you are sitting on the bus! (I loved those buses when I lived in the UK!)

    aweaver3 -

    You said, “We can’t stop them from doing the advertising; they have freedom of speech. But we can pray that God will bring good out of this. This can be an opening for honest dialog from both sides.” I also agree with you. One thing I learned at ORU is that we need to not only understand our own worldview but the that of others. Only then will we be able to discuss and debate honestly.

    I am reading this great book, unChristian, that talks about how we need to interact with those who do not know Jesus. One of the main things it stresses is that we need to learn 1) to build relationships first, 2) not tell them what to do but discuss and debate with them so they can come to their own conclusions and 3) love them through our actions.

    This bus ad is just a springboard for us to do just that!

    Great topic Phil. Thanks so much for your blog. It is still one of my tops favorites!

    Remaining Steadfast,
    Dominique
    http://anunlikelyperspective2.squarespace.com
    http://aphotoperspective2.squarespace.com


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