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Posted On
11/13/2008

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Why Believe in God? – The Ad Campaign has come to the U.S.

Ads proclaiming, "Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness' sake," will appear on Washington, D.C., buses starting next week and running through December. The American Humanist Association unveiled the provocative $40,000 holiday ad campaign Tuesday.  I reported on a similar campaign in London recently.  I always get a kick out of campaigns that tell us not to believe in God, but then tell us to be good.  I'm wondering where exactly, do they base their idea of "good?"

This entry was posted on Thursday, November 13th, 2008 at 8:33 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.brandonacox.com Brandon Cox

    I wrote an article about this earlier today and expressed that I can't help but believe the sponsoring group has done themselves a thoughtless disservice. I think they will be seen as Scrooges during a holiday that still has at least a lot of sentimental/religious value to people. Also, since everybody has an inborn longing to know the Creator, I think most people will look at the ads and say, "I don't think I'm ready for that," no matter where they are on the belief spectrum. Ads such as these could possibly spur on the search for God.

  • Jeff Reid

    I totally agree, Brandon. This could be just the thing to get the conversation going. Oh, well…too bad for them (and their puppeteer). HA!

    … anyone who reads this in DC should post youtube videos of people laughing at the buses as they pass by. With the voice-over of Scrooge being read in the background. 

    Soup kitchens should be set-up in front. and the AD posters could be used to locate gift drop-off centers for the poor.

    But, please don't let anyone react too seriously (as is usual in such situations). That would be embarassing. Everyone should just laugh it away.

  • Russ

    I noticed it says …in a god".  That just means all the other false gods.

    We believe in THE God, so I think it will be a good converation starter as was mentioned earlier.

    It is brilliant, really.

    I know my unsaved friends will clamour to ask me what I think.

  • http://haiasi.wordpress.com Jonathan Biron

    I have been reading here, sporadically, for some time.  I quite like the dialogue that is ongoing and hope I will be able to participate.  I guess you could say, "Long time listener, first time caller"!

    That said, I couldn't agree more with the above comments.

    I was recently reading A. W. Tozer's "Knowledge of the Holy" and have been struck lately by the concept of the importance of thinking rightly about God.  If we are worshiping something that we have created (if only in our minds) than we are worshiping an idol.

    Not pointing fingers at any particular group, but if atheists like Dawkins have spent a lifetime observing genuinely passionate people worshiping 'a god' that they vehemently insist is 'The God' yet the disparity of their versions of that "God" are obvious to anyone with an objective mindset, it is no wonder he would protest.  I think we all should.

    Tozer points out, 

    *****

    "If some watcher or holy one who has spent his glad centuries by the sea of fire were to come to earth, how meaningless to him would be the ceaseless chatter of the busy tribes of men. How strange to him and how empty would sound the, flat, stale and profitless words heard in the average pulpit from week to week.

    And were such a one to speak on earth would he not speak of God? Would he not charm and fascinate his hearers with rapturous descriptions of the Godhead? And after hearing him could we ever again consent to listen to anything less than theology, the doctrine of God? Would we not thereafter demand of those who would presume to teach us that they speak to us from the mount of divine vision or remain silent altogether?"

    ******

    I think, in light of that, for the time being, I will take my cue from Job and put my hand over my mouth.

    Most certainly, this "ad" campaign should cause many to turn, if only for a moment, their thoughts towards the One who created them. 

    Thanks for letting me share, and (by the way) how do I get my name to appear as "verified"?

  • Phil

    Jonathan – welcome to the conversation!

  • http://haiasi.wordpress.com/welcome/ Jonathan Biron

    Phil – Thank you.  If it is not too much of a burden, can you explain how I would go about being a "verified" member?

  • matt johnson

    Being a conservative from the midwest with no plans of traveling to DC in the near future, I was disappointed that I wont have a chance to actively protest these signs.  I will, however, participate in an active boycott of all Washington D.C. busses until these ads are gone.


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