Comments on: Are Canadians Indifferent to the Atheist Ads? http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/04/04/are-canadians-indifferent-to-the-atheist-ads/ by Hemant Mehta Mon, 28 May 2012 06:36:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Indigo http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/04/04/are-canadians-indifferent-to-the-atheist-ads/#comment-293864 Indigo Sun, 05 Apr 2009 22:18:56 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=10047#comment-293864 Update: I googled for some information about atheist buses in Victoria, and found nothing about drivers refusing to drive them. However, I did find this: "For [an ad] specifically about theology or religion, the policy states that no advertisement will be accepted which promotes or opposes a specific policy or religious ethic, point of view, policy or action." So they're probably not coming to the capital region, but neither are ads saying "Jesus Is Lord" or "Islam is the Light". Update: I googled for some information about atheist buses in Victoria, and found nothing about drivers refusing to drive them. However, I did find this: “For [an ad] specifically about theology or religion, the policy states that no advertisement will be accepted which promotes or opposes a specific policy or religious ethic, point of view, policy or action.”
So they’re probably not coming to the capital region, but neither are ads saying “Jesus Is Lord” or “Islam is the Light”.

]]> By: Indigo http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/04/04/are-canadians-indifferent-to-the-atheist-ads/#comment-293854 Indigo Sun, 05 Apr 2009 21:10:46 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=10047#comment-293854 "I think it depends on your location in Canada. I’m living in Victoria, BC, and it’s been rumored that the local bus drivers have “refused” to drive a bus with an atheist ad." Really? I'm from Vic too and I haven't heard anything about atheist buses out here. It seems like it would be a bad place for a campaign anyway - Vancouver would probably be a better bet. Anyway, I agree with many of the posters above that Canadians tend to view religion like underwear. We're aware of its existence, we're fine with people having whatever kind of it makes them happy, and we're even beginning to accept that some people don't have much use for it, but we aren't comfortable with people who run around showing theirs off or being too deeply interested in other people's. “I think it depends on your location in Canada. I’m living in Victoria, BC, and it’s been rumored that the local bus drivers have “refused” to drive a bus with an atheist ad.”
Really? I’m from Vic too and I haven’t heard anything about atheist buses out here. It seems like it would be a bad place for a campaign anyway – Vancouver would probably be a better bet.
Anyway, I agree with many of the posters above that Canadians tend to view religion like underwear. We’re aware of its existence, we’re fine with people having whatever kind of it makes them happy, and we’re even beginning to accept that some people don’t have much use for it, but we aren’t comfortable with people who run around showing theirs off or being too deeply interested in other people’s.

]]> By: cheerfulatheist http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/04/04/are-canadians-indifferent-to-the-atheist-ads/#comment-293845 cheerfulatheist Sun, 05 Apr 2009 20:27:41 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=10047#comment-293845 Emily: Actually, they have been running in Calgary for a few weeks now. http://www.vancouversun.com/News/Calgary+joins+Toronto+running+atheist/1366272/story.html It was targeted early because we figured it would end up being the most controversial. Not much has happened, aside from the now typical "we will run our own ad" response. For example: http://wcr.ab.ca/news/2009/0330/ads033009.shtml It's Halifax that really surprised me. Emily:

Actually, they have been running in Calgary for a few weeks now.

http://www.vancouversun.com/News/Calgary+joins+Toronto+running+atheist/1366272/story.html

It was targeted early because we figured it would end up being the most controversial. Not much has happened, aside from the now typical “we will run our own ad” response.

For example: http://wcr.ab.ca/news/2009/0330/ads033009.shtml

It’s Halifax that really surprised me.

]]> By: AxeGrrl http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/04/04/are-canadians-indifferent-to-the-atheist-ads/#comment-293833 AxeGrrl Sun, 05 Apr 2009 19:54:16 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=10047#comment-293833 Emily said: <blockquote>You’ll notice that no one (as far as i know) has campaigned to get these ads in Calgary, for example. You’d see a LOT of shit hitting the fan then.</blockquote> Uhm, Emily, actually......... <a href="http://www.vancouversun.com/News/Calgary+joins+Toronto+running+atheist/1366272/story.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.vancouversun.com/News/Calgary+joins+Toronto+running+atheist/1366272/story.html</a> <a href="http://thechronicleherald.ca/Religion/1114995.html" rel="nofollow">http://thechronicleherald.ca/Religion/1114995.html</a> <a href="http://wcr.ab.ca/news/2009/0330/ads033009.shtml" rel="nofollow">http://wcr.ab.ca/news/2009/0330/ads033009.shtml</a> trust me, I was as surprised as you'll probably be :) Emily said:

You’ll notice that no one (as far as i know) has campaigned to get these ads in Calgary, for example. You’d see a LOT of shit hitting the fan then.

Uhm, Emily, actually………

http://www.vancouversun.com/News/Calgary+joins+Toronto+running+atheist/1366272/story.html

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Religion/1114995.html

http://wcr.ab.ca/news/2009/0330/ads033009.shtml

trust me, I was as surprised as you’ll probably be :)

]]> By: Emily http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/04/04/are-canadians-indifferent-to-the-atheist-ads/#comment-293823 Emily Sun, 05 Apr 2009 19:01:37 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=10047#comment-293823 I have to agree with everyone that has been saying it's dependent on the location. Canada is a big, diverse country. In Toronto, i have to say that indifference would be expected. You'll notice that no one (as far as i know) has campaigned to get these ads in Calgary, for example. You'd see a LOT of shit hitting the fan then. I have to agree with everyone that has been saying it’s dependent on the location. Canada is a big, diverse country. In Toronto, i have to say that indifference would be expected. You’ll notice that no one (as far as i know) has campaigned to get these ads in Calgary, for example. You’d see a LOT of shit hitting the fan then.

]]> By: The Atheist Jew http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/04/04/are-canadians-indifferent-to-the-atheist-ads/#comment-293763 The Atheist Jew Sun, 05 Apr 2009 15:47:35 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=10047#comment-293763 Being a Canadian atheist, I have to say that I would answer I don't care to the question. Being a Canadian atheist, I have to say that I would answer I don’t care to the question.

]]> By: Tao Jones http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/04/04/are-canadians-indifferent-to-the-atheist-ads/#comment-293744 Tao Jones Sun, 05 Apr 2009 14:37:00 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=10047#comment-293744 It's not that Canadians are typically apathetic or indifferent toward religion, it's that we don't think it's our place to shove religion in anyone else's face. That's been my experience anyway. There are plenty of Canadians with very strong religious convictions but you wouldn't really know it to see them. It’s not that Canadians are typically apathetic or indifferent toward religion, it’s that we don’t think it’s our place to shove religion in anyone else’s face.

That’s been my experience anyway.

There are plenty of Canadians with very strong religious convictions but you wouldn’t really know it to see them.

]]> By: cheerfulatheist http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/04/04/are-canadians-indifferent-to-the-atheist-ads/#comment-293734 cheerfulatheist Sun, 05 Apr 2009 13:51:00 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=10047#comment-293734 It's nice to hear about this indifference, although when we first announced the campaign, indifference was hardly how I would characterize the response. Getting rejected and then accepted by Ottawa. Halifax declaring the ad to be "too inflammatory". Several times, we had to fight for our right to free speech and I've been appalled at how many people seem to believe in free speech, only when you agree with them. Here in Ontario, discussions about the ad appeared in every single major newspaper, some neutral, some positive, most slightly negative. The leader of the campaign has received threatening phone calls. So it's not all fun and rosy! But still, the opposition is still in the minority and the ad has skyrocketed the discussion of atheism within the media, which is fantastic! It’s nice to hear about this indifference, although when we first announced the campaign, indifference was hardly how I would characterize the response. Getting rejected and then accepted by Ottawa. Halifax declaring the ad to be “too inflammatory”. Several times, we had to fight for our right to free speech and I’ve been appalled at how many people seem to believe in free speech, only when you agree with them.
Here in Ontario, discussions about the ad appeared in every single major newspaper, some neutral, some positive, most slightly negative. The leader of the campaign has received threatening phone calls. So it’s not all fun and rosy!

But still, the opposition is still in the minority and the ad has skyrocketed the discussion of atheism within the media, which is fantastic!

]]> By: AxeGrrl http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/04/04/are-canadians-indifferent-to-the-atheist-ads/#comment-293655 AxeGrrl Sun, 05 Apr 2009 06:09:38 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=10047#comment-293655 silver said: <blockquote>But I was a little shocked when I met my room-mate in the college dorm in Ottawa and the first thing my room-mate asked was what church I went to.</blockquote> Out of curiousity, was she <em>from</em> Ottawa? I'd be a little shocked too ~ I've lived here all my life and no one have EVER asked me that! (needless to say, the wonderful, general air of <em>indifference</em> to religion/religious belief here in Ottawa is one of the reasons I've never felt compelled to leave :) silver said:

But I was a little shocked when I met my room-mate in the college dorm in Ottawa and the first thing my room-mate asked was what church I went to.

Out of curiousity, was she from Ottawa? I’d be a little shocked too ~ I’ve lived here all my life and no one have EVER asked me that!

(needless to say, the wonderful, general air of indifference to religion/religious belief here in Ottawa is one of the reasons I’ve never felt compelled to leave :)

]]> By: silver http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/04/04/are-canadians-indifferent-to-the-atheist-ads/#comment-293646 silver Sun, 05 Apr 2009 05:14:26 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=10047#comment-293646 Well, I don't know about other Canadian towns, but where I come from, you could go up to just about any stanger and say 'I'm a Bi-sexual Atheist' and they would say 'Congrats' and move on with their day. But I was a little shocked when I met my room-mate in the college dorm in Ottawa and the first thing my room-mate asked was what church I went to. I found this a little odd, but then answered that I didn't believe in God. I believe I might have broken something in her psyche, because she left a few weeks later. So basically, some places are really apathetic towards religion and some places are almost bad as the American Bible belt. I believe, however, that Atheism might become a dominant belief system within the next few years in Canada, because from what I've seen, the younger generation are either apathetic towards religion, or are so called 'non-practicing (Enter Religion Here)'. Well, I don’t know about other Canadian towns, but where I come from, you could go up to just about any stanger and say ‘I’m a Bi-sexual Atheist’ and they would say ‘Congrats’ and move on with their day.

But I was a little shocked when I met my room-mate in the college dorm in Ottawa and the first thing my room-mate asked was what church I went to. I found this a little odd, but then answered that I didn’t believe in God. I believe I might have broken something in her psyche, because she left a few weeks later.

So basically, some places are really apathetic towards religion and some places are almost bad as the American Bible belt.

I believe, however, that Atheism might become a dominant belief system within the next few years in Canada, because from what I’ve seen, the younger generation are either apathetic towards religion, or are so called ‘non-practicing (Enter Religion Here)’.

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