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- bananasluggy, on 10/22/2008, -15/+158Frankly, I get a bit sick of hearing complaints by the religious majority that atheists are "forcing" their "lack of belief" down their throats simply because non-believers aren't being ignored completely 100% of the time.
Non-believers are such a tiny minority that the claim is ridiculous. How many times do you hear people praising god for this or that? I hear, "GOD BLESS! and "Well you don't believe in god, but He believes in You!" and such things... I see church signs all over the place, pamphlets proclaiming the need for people to let god into their lives... yet this isn't "shoving belief" down my throat?
People tell me I'm going to hell because I don't believe just like they do, but that's not shoving their faith down my throat, but rather, trying to "save" me? They tell their kids that family and friends who aren't "true believers" are going to hell... how is that not child abuse? "Hey little Timmy, you love gramma, but she doesn't believe like we do, so love her while you can--she'll spend forever and forever in hell and you'll spend eternity sitting on a cloud watching her roast screaming in the fires of hell... and if you really love her, you'll tell her so as often as you can, so she'll switch over and be Saved!" Yeah, way to freak out little Timmy.
That's not "shoving belief" down anyone's throat, however.... nope.
When you have 50 signs saying "praise god!" and one sign saying "there is no god," the one dissenting sign is hardly "shoving a lack of belief" down people's throats. The message is being more than drowned out by the other 50 signs. - latin69, on 10/21/2008, -14/+151"There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life"
- manzplan, on 10/22/2008, -11/+111What's fair is fair... if they can have ads on buses that say "God is the Answer" they should be allowed to have other ads too.. either accept all or accept none..
if a person has a belief.. they have NOTHING to fear from either ad. - Ghostalker, on 10/22/2008, -9/+78If Mr Dawkins tried this in America, the bus company would be mysteriously burned down one night and he'd be shot in his home by unknown assailants. Of course the bible-thumpers would be celebrating saying it was "God's Will".... sort of like another religion that claims it's based on peace.
- granolajoe, on 10/22/2008, -21/+87Wouldn't "there's probably no God" imply agnosticism more than atheism?
- inactive, on 10/22/2008, -14/+71Pretty weak message. I prefer "He's dead, it's been 2000 years, he ain't coming back. GET OVER IT."
- latova, on 10/22/2008, -3/+59Technically there's no way of disproving an invisible man who does weird things like tell leaders of certain nations to go to war, apparently has strong opinions on abortion and homosexuality, and wants everybody to gather at one building once a week on sunday to stroke his ego.
It just sounds silly, but not impossible. - Maragon, on 10/22/2008, -4/+53If you'd like to argue that atheists lack morality, perhaps you're capable of addressing the facts that atheists have the lowest divorce, violent crimes and jail time demographics of all 'faiths'?
Christians are far more likely to cheat on their spouses, go to jail, get a divorce or commit violent crimes in North America. I guess it's all the 'morals' you guys have, huh? - chase001, on 10/22/2008, -6/+55As an Atheist I don't find Christian's god as scary and dangerous as the Christians themselves. They kill far more people than their invisible friend.
- floridiot2, on 10/21/2008, -14/+56Why are people so afraid of something they themselves believe in? And why are they so hell bent on the rest of us joining them in their belief? They must really believe there isn't a God and just don't want to be held up to the scrutiny that comes with having a disbelief. And I realize this is Socialist Britain where everyone must walk lockstep side by side with just one, government sanctioned belief. But to alot of us, if you do believe, we really don't care. It doesn't weigh on us to the extent it weighs on them. We will stick to our value system and continue to live the full, happy lives we do. (Ahhhhhhhh, so that's the problem) The rest of you can continue to live in fear and let it consume you. I have always enjoyed a good show.
- inactive, on 10/22/2008, -3/+43There's an unspoken rule about deities calling you back. 3000 years. Any sooner and then God would appear desperate.
- inactive, on 10/22/2008, -6/+46Because nothing can be 100% disproven, all we are saying is that its very, very, very, Very unlikely there are any 'gods'. This makes us different from religious people who are 100% sure there are 'gods'.
- chase001, on 10/22/2008, -16/+51I like "It's been two thousand years. Face it Christians, he's just not that into you. He ain't gonna call."
- ScottMcIntyre, on 10/21/2008, -9/+41Article headline continues: "£31,000 in a day" or approximately $64,000
- bananasluggy, on 10/22/2008, -1/+31It's not that people fear the belief--it's what crazies who are full of the "spirit of god" go out and do that scares the crap out of rational people. Bombings, murder, suppression of opposing ideas, oppression of anyone who is different from you, restriction of rights and privileges, crippling of health care, skewing of the judicial system in favor of one religion's dictates...
If fear of a horrible punishment heaped down by some sky fairy is all that keeps you from raping, robbing, murdering, or stealing anything not nailed down... it's a very good thing that you believe. - mickstephenson, on 10/22/2008, -0/+29Have you ever been to "Socialist Britain"? I doubt it, your xenophobic fantasies are pure nonsense you picked up from Fox News. You'd be better off worrying about Fascist America.
- latova, on 10/22/2008, -1/+28Afraid of something I don't believe in? Man, the tooth fairy scares the piss out of me.
I'm an Atheist because I don't need threats of eternal damnation to be a good person. The way I see it, anything religion related immediately sounds like it was written by a human being trying to control other people. If there ever was a god, whatever he stood for has been perverted a long time ago.
If god does exist, I don't see why he wouldn't have a problem with me because I never ask him anything, I never put words in his mouth, I never waste his time, and anything I do that is good is not motivated by fear. No rational person or god would be pissed just because I deny their existence, because it'll just be one big surprise when I die. However, a person who made up rules and want to tell other people what to do would probably be pissed that I don't believe because they have no control over what I do or think through fear. - linagee, on 10/22/2008, -0/+26FSM will strike you down with his noodley appendage.
- somegeologist, on 10/22/2008, -3/+28Unless you consider rational thought "something".
- elmundio87, on 10/22/2008, -1/+26atheism =/= immorality
Not all people require the threat of eternal damnation to live a good life you know. - Feep, on 10/22/2008, -1/+24Most of us tolerate Christians and their beliefs. Everyone has the freedom to think as they will, and that's fine. Go for it.
Respect is another matter, particularly regarding Biblical Inerrancy and Young Earth Creationism. We do not respect these views any more than you should respect one's belief that 2 + 2 = 3. And, in the end, those tenets are equally and ridiculously false. - inactive, on 10/22/2008, -2/+25Well if it says £31,000 pounds you can assume the doubling of the value (and a bit) means the $64,000 is in US.
- ElRayQuieres, on 10/22/2008, -1/+23And yet somehow you already knew, without asking, exactly which currency he was talking about.
- oblique63, on 10/22/2008, -2/+24'Gnosticism' and 'Theism' are two completely different things... gnosticism basically describes a person's level of theism:
'agnostic' - unsure about a certain stance
'gnostic' - certain about a stance
'theism' - belief that a god exists
'atheism' - lack of belief in a god
hence, agnosticism and atheism are not mutually exclusive.
what people usually think of when they hear 'Atheist' is usually 'Gnostic Atheism,' which I doubt really exists very much, most self-proclaimed Atheists are actually Agnostic Atheists, as are most self-proclaimed 'Agnostics'... and a lot of religious people are also Agnostic Theists, but then I'm sure we're all also familiar with the hardcore 'Gnostic Theists' as well... - djgreedo, on 10/22/2008, -2/+24No, that's not correct.
Athiesm is the lack of a belief in god(s), not the active belief there is no god. It's a difficult distinction for some people to understand, but it is a very important one. - aralls, on 10/22/2008, -4/+25only the superstitious idiots are sure, you idiot.
- Maragon, on 10/22/2008, -1/+21Digitronix:
Millions of people abandon chirstianity and do not turn into immoral baby-eating, murder commiting adulturers.
Although if your argument is that people who are only stopped from killing and raping other by threat of punishment should remain Christian, then I agree. But how sad for them that they can't treat others with kindness and respect simply because they want to and it's the correct thing to do.
As Einstein quipped:
"A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties and needs; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hopes of reward after death."
http://atheism.about.com/od/atheistfamiliesmarriag ...
http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_dira.htm
"From the Federal Bureau of Prisons:
Catholic 29267 39.164%
Protestant 26162 35.008%
Muslim 5435 7.273%
American Indian 2408 3.222%
Nation 1734 2.320%
Rasta 1485 1.987%
Jewish 1325 1.773%
Church of Christ 1303 1.744%
Pentecostal 1093 1.463%
Moorish 1066 1.426%
Buddhist 882 1.180%
Jehovah Witness 665 0.890%
Adventist 621 0.831%
Orthodox 375 0.502%
Mormon 298 0.399%
Scientology 190 0.254%
Atheist 156 0.209%
Hindu 119 0.159%
Santeria 117 0.157%
Sikh 14 0.019%
Bahai 9 0.012%
Krishna 7 0.009%"
http://moses.creighton.edu/JRS/2005/2005-11.html
Read the stats for yourself. - latova, on 10/22/2008, -0/+20Atheists just don't believe in god. Period.
When we talk about the existence of god however, the burden of proof is on the Theists. It's the same thing as me telling you if you don't give me 20 bucks that a leprechaun will come to your house and steal your car keys. You'll think I'm nuts until I actually prove such a thing is true.
The fact is, nobody assumes something is true until proven false. It's the other way around. However certain people make an exception when it comes to god. - darthjure, on 10/22/2008, -1/+20I would change it to plural: There are probably no gods...
Why focus on one god? There are thousands of gods and *probably* none are real. - stickyman, on 10/22/2008, -1/+20I feel for you bananasluggy, the land of the free 'aint so free.
In the UK, religious people are in the minority, thank FSM, perhaps you should move over here :) - binky79, on 10/22/2008, -2/+21I would go but i don't believe in buses.
- latova, on 10/22/2008, -2/+20I don't spend my time or money on anything of the sort.
And I devote my life to living it. - nick111, on 10/22/2008, -1/+19What? You think putting a sign on the side of a bus is the same as telling your kids a load of lies... then saying that people who don't believe these lies goes to hell?
This advert is a reply to another set of ads being put on the side of buses in London for an organisation called Alpha... who run "courses" that sound to me very much like EST/Landmark - and that actually IS brainwashing.
Sorry, you're wrong. - inactive, on 10/22/2008, -4/+20There is no dog.
- joeyjoejoe99, on 10/22/2008, -0/+16And keep in mind, the bible says things specifically against homosexuals and non-believers... so yea, we tolerate them because they are the majority, but dont think for a second that most practicing christians are going to vote NO on prop 8 in california, for example. (a no vote for prop 8 = gay marriage is a-okay!)
So you will have these normal, average practicing christians not allowing a set group of people rights they deserve as humans... yea, i see a big problem with it. - aralls, on 10/22/2008, -6/+21For those wondering why this ad went up, READ THE ARTICLE. It was done as a response to the pro-religion posters on public transportation.
- Flamekebab, on 10/22/2008, -3/+18Atheism seems far more rational and logical than belief in some invisible friend. As such, stating "there is no God" would imply that there is conclusive evidence to disprove the existence of a god rather than the more sensible "There's probably no God".
- Fartbandit, on 10/22/2008, -1/+16LOL @ the person who donated £666 on page 14 of the donation page...
http://www.justgiving.com/atheistbus?page=14#donat ... - CamperBob, on 10/22/2008, -0/+15"Why are you subscribing to this extremist view of religion? Not everyone dictates their life in the manner you described..."
When our major political parties feel compelled to nominate people like Sarah Palin to high public office on the sole basis of their appeal to drooling fundamentalists, religion *does* dictate to the rest of us. - StuartGibson, on 06/14/2009, -3/+17Get back to me in seven thousand years, then it will be over 9000.
- stickyman, on 10/22/2008, -0/+13The adds are in response to a series of christian bus adds promoting their faith.
I think its great that in Britain we can publicly express diversity and difference of belief (or the lack of it) without fear and prejudice.
Can you imagine what would happen if these adds were on American buses????
Pretty much the same thing that would happen if they were on Saudi, Iranian or Israeli buses I would imagine.
I guess that's your first amendment for you. - alphgeek, on 10/22/2008, -1/+15kinseyincanada said:
"Yes, there are plenty of religious nut-jobs that promote hate, but they are a far minority[...]"
Like the current US President, Mr nut-job? Or his dad the former president (Mr nut-job senior) who said that atheists weren't fit to be citizens?
Or maybe the possible next Vice President, Ms nut-job. Or the many Senator nut-jobs, as well as Congressmen nut-job, nut-job, nut-job and nut-job.
Or maybe it is Mr nut-job from the local school board who wants to teach my children creationism as science?
Or is it Rev. nut-job who says gays can't marry because it is against God's will? Or Dr. nut-job who says that working and drinking on Sunday should not be allowed as it is the day of worship?
Or Fred nut-job who preaches hellfire to passing children at the local mall?
Or dear old Mrs nut-job from up the street who tells me that I'm condemning my kids to Hell if I don't get them baptised quick smart?
Or Senator nut-job who overruled the right-to-die legislation, forcing people to die in agony against their will?
Or is it pastor nut-job from the local evangelical church who brags to me about his tax-deductable sports car? About how his 'flock' go campaigning for him when he runs for mayor?
Not to mention all of the other nut-jobs who feel they have the right to dictate how I will live my life.
No, not many nut-jobs around here... - nursebettyrawks, on 10/22/2008, -2/+16In the BBC story there's a quote from the opposing team (Christians) which says:
'Bendy buses, like atheism, are a danger to the public at large.'
HAHA!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7681914. ... - alphgeek, on 10/22/2008, -0/+13orchid64: Same *****, different smell.
- edebolt, on 10/22/2008, -1/+14depends on where. In the deep south in the USA yes but not a problem in most major cities outside the southeast.
- StuartGibson, on 06/14/2009, -1/+14How is promoting a belief there is no god "bashing religion"? By the same logic any sign that does promote religion is "bashing atheists". If you're not going to let the other side of the argument have a shot then don't start preaching in the first place.
- Frost9999, on 10/22/2008, -1/+13What do you think of the religious groups that advertise on buses and billboards then? Is that the same kind of annoying or are you fine with it?
Or how about GAP telling you how great you'll feel when you have that new t-shirt? Same thing again? - drewpost, on 10/22/2008, -1/+13This is most likely in direct response to the spate of "believe in God" "God will save" you adverts that popped up on the Tubes and busses a few months back. I have no problem with it. I agree, why should we have to walk on eggshells around other peeople's beliefs when they bash ours?
- alphgeek, on 10/22/2008, -0/+12and the difference between "nothing" and an invisible man in the sky is...?
- eggy, on 10/22/2008, -0/+12Because ignorance and misinformation is the root of all evil. See, for instance, George W. Bush, or Ahmadinejad, or any other fundie. Nobody should be allowed to publish anything that has not been fact checked. The bible should have a big sticker on it, like tobacco, warning people that it is an extremely outdated and inaccurate world view not meant to be taken literally, and quite possibly large parts of it have always been meant to be fictional.
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