Comments on: Atheist Bus Campaign in… Chicago! http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/05/22/atheist-bus-campaign-in%e2%80%a6-chicago/ by Hemant Mehta Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:44:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Viper Eyes http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/05/22/atheist-bus-campaign-in%e2%80%a6-chicago/#comment-329034 Viper Eyes Wed, 15 Jul 2009 02:37:53 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=11848#comment-329034 The fact that this campaign makes atheists more visible is what is positive about it. It's not an attempt to "convert" theists, IMO. As long as we don't let people know that we're out there and we're not going to take the usual crap [people trying to turn their religious beliefs into the law of the land, replace science with religion, etc.] anymore, they will continue getting away with it. (Just take a look at the current US Supreme Court if you don't believe me.) Coming out has worked for the GLBTetc. movement: while stories like medussa's are horrible and tragic and still far too common, gays (& co.) have come a long way in their fight for the equal treatment they deserve, and in a surprisingly short time. (I mean, gay marriage in *Iowa*? Who'd've predicted that!) As for the common experience where some "Christian' (personally I think if Jesus were alive today he'd be pretty ticked off at the things that are being done in his name) tells you that you're going to hell, personally I find that the best thing to do is laugh in their face. (Okay, maybe it's not the best thing, but I can't help myself.) I mean, threatening you with something you don't even believe is real -- that's not liable to a very effective threat, is it? (Besides, even if anyone ever did agree to become a theist "just in case," it would no more be a genuine change in belief than a promise extracted under the threat of torture would be legit.) To anyone who believes that "Christians" aren't fanatical or violent or whatever enough to blow up buses: I suggest you try doing some volunteer work at your local Planned Parenthood clinic. Christian extremists may not be as organised as Al Qaeda, but be assured, they're every bit as twisted. The fact that this campaign makes atheists more visible is what is positive about it. It’s not an attempt to “convert” theists, IMO. As long as we don’t let people know that we’re out there and we’re not going to take the usual crap [people trying to turn their religious beliefs into the law of the land, replace science with religion, etc.] anymore, they will continue getting away with it. (Just take a look at the current US Supreme Court if you don’t believe me.) Coming out has worked for the GLBTetc. movement: while stories like medussa’s are horrible and tragic and still far too common, gays (& co.) have come a long way in their fight for the equal treatment they deserve, and in a surprisingly short time. (I mean, gay marriage in *Iowa*? Who’d've predicted that!)

As for the common experience where some “Christian’ (personally I think if Jesus were alive today he’d be pretty ticked off at the things that are being done in his name) tells you that you’re going to hell, personally I find that the best thing to do is laugh in their face. (Okay, maybe it’s not the best thing, but I can’t help myself.) I mean, threatening you with something you don’t even believe is real — that’s not liable to a very effective threat, is it? (Besides, even if anyone ever did agree to become a theist “just in case,” it would no more be a genuine change in belief than a promise extracted under the threat of torture would be legit.)

To anyone who believes that “Christians” aren’t fanatical or violent or whatever enough to blow up buses: I suggest you try doing some volunteer work at your local Planned Parenthood clinic. Christian extremists may not be as organised as Al Qaeda, but be assured, they’re every bit as twisted.

]]> By: woot http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/05/22/atheist-bus-campaign-in%e2%80%a6-chicago/#comment-322900 woot Fri, 26 Jun 2009 21:44:46 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=11848#comment-322900 This is quite the campaign. I'm actually surprised that they would do this on a <a href="http://www.busjunction.com" rel="nofollow">Chicago bus</a>. This is quite the campaign. I’m actually surprised that they would do this on a Chicago bus.

]]> By: steve white http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/05/22/atheist-bus-campaign-in%e2%80%a6-chicago/#comment-314369 steve white Fri, 29 May 2009 18:00:26 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=11848#comment-314369 great copy, backgrounds a little busy. well done great copy, backgrounds a little busy.

well done

]]> By: Eric http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/05/22/atheist-bus-campaign-in%e2%80%a6-chicago/#comment-312683 Eric Sat, 23 May 2009 22:28:05 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=11848#comment-312683 I love it. Two quick comments: I do agree with many other commenters that atheists are apparently held to a different standard when it comes to how vocal & fervent we could/should be. I love it when a religious commentator bleats on about how Dawkin's book is so mean and has sold so many copies (just shy of 2 million). Yet a book by any notable mega church paster is likely to do far better and be far more condemning in it's language. Hell, hasn't a Purpose Drive Life sold upwards of 50 million? Next, we need all tactics to get the message out and get other non-believers to speak up for themselves. It's not about communing with other non-believers, it's just about galvanizing them to have a voice in numbers. We need to do this through humor, confrontation, parody, terseness and any other way. Not everyone reacts to the same tact. Always being tactful & polite will not get us anywhere. I love it.

Two quick comments:
I do agree with many other commenters that atheists are apparently held to a different standard when it comes to how vocal & fervent we could/should be. I love it when a religious commentator bleats on about how Dawkin’s book is so mean and has sold so many copies (just shy of 2 million). Yet a book by any notable mega church paster is likely to do far better and be far more condemning in it’s language. Hell, hasn’t a Purpose Drive Life sold upwards of 50 million?

Next, we need all tactics to get the message out and get other non-believers to speak up for themselves. It’s not about communing with other non-believers, it’s just about galvanizing them to have a voice in numbers. We need to do this through humor, confrontation, parody, terseness and any other way. Not everyone reacts to the same tact. Always being tactful & polite will not get us anywhere.

]]> By: medussa http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/05/22/atheist-bus-campaign-in%e2%80%a6-chicago/#comment-312547 medussa Sat, 23 May 2009 13:43:20 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=11848#comment-312547 John, I'm not sure if you got the point at all. There is nothing "fair" about how things are right now. Pointing this out in every way possible does not constitute proselytizing. There are facts, and there are superstitions: Fact is that there is no god, and that humans created them in their image (using the term "man" is simply a reference to the holy book of their superstitions). When believers ring my doorbell, and insist on telling me I'm going to hell, they are proselytizing, not defending their right to be believers. When they insist on prayers in school, they are proselytizing, not defending their right to raise their children as christians. When they "protect" marriage, they are proselytizing, not defending their right to get married any way they deem fit. To equate the bus ad with any of the above is bull. I realize christians don't think THEIR god was created by humans, but they are willing enough to believe that about zeus, apollo and any other cultures' gods. Just because it's an uncomfortable truth doesn't make it proselytizing. John,
I’m not sure if you got the point at all.
There is nothing “fair” about how things are right now. Pointing this out in every way possible does not constitute proselytizing.
There are facts, and there are superstitions: Fact is that there is no god, and that humans created them in their image (using the term “man” is simply a reference to the holy book of their superstitions).
When believers ring my doorbell, and insist on telling me I’m going to hell, they are proselytizing, not defending their right to be believers. When they insist on prayers in school, they are proselytizing, not defending their right to raise their children as christians. When they “protect” marriage, they are proselytizing, not defending their right to get married any way they deem fit.

To equate the bus ad with any of the above is bull. I realize christians don’t think THEIR god was created by humans, but they are willing enough to believe that about zeus, apollo and any other cultures’ gods. Just because it’s an uncomfortable truth doesn’t make it proselytizing.

]]> By: natheist http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/05/22/atheist-bus-campaign-in%e2%80%a6-chicago/#comment-312460 natheist Sat, 23 May 2009 05:47:41 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=11848#comment-312460 man created god in his image. intolerant, sexist, homophobic and violent. man created god in his image. intolerant, sexist, homophobic and violent.

]]> By: Zar http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/05/22/atheist-bus-campaign-in%e2%80%a6-chicago/#comment-312443 Zar Sat, 23 May 2009 04:45:40 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=11848#comment-312443 I like it. Very cheeky. I wouldn't worry about being too offensive. There is absolutely no athiest message neutered enough to keep religious fundamentalists from getting their panties in a twist. I like it. Very cheeky.

I wouldn’t worry about being too offensive. There is absolutely no athiest message neutered enough to keep religious fundamentalists from getting their panties in a twist.

]]> By: Brooks http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/05/22/atheist-bus-campaign-in%e2%80%a6-chicago/#comment-312412 Brooks Sat, 23 May 2009 03:02:20 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=11848#comment-312412 I fail to see how this ad is any more proselytizing than it is proselytizing to say that black cats do not bring bad luck. It's not like the sign is saying "join atheism or else" and it's not like anyone is forcing them to read it anymore than people are forced to read any other billboard. And I don't see how this billboard is anymore dickish than it is to say, oh, that chiropractors are bogus, for example. Does anyone else feel like atheists' criticism of religion is sometimes held to a different standard than what we hold religious people's criticism to? Like for a religious person to be considered dickish, they have to threaten us with eternal torture and be homophobic and sexist, but for atheists to be considered "dickish", all we have to do is speak the truth. I fail to see how this ad is any more proselytizing than it is proselytizing to say that black cats do not bring bad luck. It’s not like the sign is saying “join atheism or else” and it’s not like anyone is forcing them to read it anymore than people are forced to read any other billboard. And I don’t see how this billboard is anymore dickish than it is to say, oh, that chiropractors are bogus, for example. Does anyone else feel like atheists’ criticism of religion is sometimes held to a different standard than what we hold religious people’s criticism to? Like for a religious person to be considered dickish, they have to threaten us with eternal torture and be homophobic and sexist, but for atheists to be considered “dickish”, all we have to do is speak the truth.

]]> By: Anna http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/05/22/atheist-bus-campaign-in%e2%80%a6-chicago/#comment-312379 Anna Sat, 23 May 2009 01:07:33 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=11848#comment-312379 I don't like this message, which just seems like a snide comment with no real purpose behind it. What would we atheists say if we saw a sign on a bus that said: <strong>In the Beginning, God Created Man - InChristianBus.Org</strong>? Wouldn't we roll our eyes at the proselytization? How is this message any different? It's not inviting atheists to join the movement. It's not designed to make Christians think. Frankly, to me, it looks like it's just designed to get their goat. No Christian will look at this ad and come away with a favorable impression of atheists or atheism. Don't get me wrong, I <em>do</em> like some of the atheist bus ads. I'm definitely in favor of the <strong>Don't Believe in God? You Are Not Alone</strong> and the <strong>You Can Be Good Without God</strong> messages, but this one just strikes me as counterproductive. I don’t like this message, which just seems like a snide comment with no real purpose behind it. What would we atheists say if we saw a sign on a bus that said:

In the Beginning, God Created Man – InChristianBus.Org?

Wouldn’t we roll our eyes at the proselytization? How is this message any different? It’s not inviting atheists to join the movement. It’s not designed to make Christians think. Frankly, to me, it looks like it’s just designed to get their goat. No Christian will look at this ad and come away with a favorable impression of atheists or atheism.

Don’t get me wrong, I do like some of the atheist bus ads. I’m definitely in favor of the Don’t Believe in God? You Are Not Alone and the You Can Be Good Without God messages, but this one just strikes me as counterproductive.

]]> By: Red http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/05/22/atheist-bus-campaign-in%e2%80%a6-chicago/#comment-312261 Red Fri, 22 May 2009 21:31:54 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=11848#comment-312261 Man oh man, wouldn't I turn a bunch of heads if I rolled up with that on my bumper sticker to one of my mostly Christian (even though I am not) home school events. Boo Yah! Man oh man, wouldn’t I turn a bunch of heads if I rolled up with that on my bumper sticker to one of my mostly Christian (even though I am not) home school events. Boo Yah!

]]>