"Probably?" Wow! That seems like a punt, don't you think? The atheists raised more than enough for the ad this time:
The archsceptic professor Richard Dawkins today launched Britain's first atheist campaign posting the message: "There's probably no God. So stop worrying and enjoy your life" on the side of 800 British buses.Didn't want to be dogmatic??? But isn't that the current state of the modern atheist movement? Just note the words of Dawkins at the launch of the bus ad, that sounds pretty dogmatic to me. It would have been truth in advertising! Be as obnoxious on the bus ad as you are on the Internet and books, guys, let the public really know what you believe and why you believe it and how arrogant you are about it.The posters - launched in conditions cold enough to freeze a presumably non-existent hell over - co-incided with the Christian feast of the Epiphany, when according to tradition three magi from the East presented the baby Jesus with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Dr Dawkins, speaking at the launch in Central London, said he would have rather not had the word "probably" in the advertisement. He said the existence of God was about as likely as that of the tooth fairy.
Organisers of the four-week campaign said they had included the word "probably" because they did not want to be dogmatic in the way that so many religious leaders are.
The Christians view the ads as a way to get people thinking about God:
Paul Woolley, director of the religious think tank Director of Theos, said: "We think that the campaign is a great way to get people thinking about God. The posters will encourage people to consider the most important question we will ever face in our lives.I'm with them, I think it's great that the atheists spend so much of their time, money and effort trying to refute God, it really demonstrates the importance of God is our lives. And it gets us talking and thinking about him. Thanks, atheists :-)[...]
"A new Theos research study, to be published next month, shows that there are as many people finding God in Britain today as losing their faith, so this campaign is speaking into a very live debate."
[...]
The Methodist Church also welcomed the campaign. The Rev Jenny Ellis, spirituality and discipleship officer, said: "We are grateful to Richard for his continued interest in God and for encouraging people to think about these issues. This campaign will be a good thing if it gets people to engage with the deepest questions of life."
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Dawkins rocks! I am so sick of stupid christians and their mumbo jumbo. why should we tiptoe around their fairy tales! I wish the bus where in SA, i would donate tomorrow!
I would have not said probably - THERE IS NO GOD - SO GET OVER IT!
That would have been my preferred wording.
So sick of them taking advantage of our educated tolerance!
"Ms Sherine said she had been amazed and delighted by the response which had been totally unexpected. She said: "You wait for ages for an atheist bus, then 800 come along at once. I hope they'll brighten people's days and make them smile on their way to work."
Amen to that, Sister :)
Amongst all the anger and hurtful comments, I just want to add that I have been an atheist for 32 years and I understand a lot of what you say about how Christians treat you and how you feel like second-class citizens. I understand how it's hard and even ridiculous to believe in something that you can't see or feel. But 8 years ago, God did become real to me and in an instant I went from unbelief to belief because, simply put, I met Him. Two years after that I was called into ministry. When you experience Him, and I really hope you do, you'll know that He is complete love. Just think that maybe there is something behind the diversity of life and the beauty of creation. There is something bigger than ourselves and you are loved and valued even if you don't believe in Him right now. It's too bad we get so angry about faith because I guess it's because we just want to know more about ourselves and our beliefs are important to us. We all have every right to our beliefs - whether we are an atheist, Christian, Muslim, Jew, Buddhist, Hindu and so on. I believe in God not because someone else convinced me or society forced Him on me. I believe because He has proven Himself to me, over and over. He's real. That's all I tell you.
I just want to add that I have been an atheist for 32 years and I understand a lot of what you say about how Christians treat you and how you feel like second-class citizens. I understand how it's hard and even ridiculous to believe in something that you can't see or feel. But 8 years ago, God did become real to me and in an instant I went from unbelief to belief because, simply put, I met Him. Two years after that I was called into ministry. When you experience Him, and I really hope you do, you'll know that He is complete love. Just think that maybe there is something behind the diversity of life and the beauty of creation. There is something bigger than ourselves and you are loved and valued even if you don't believe in Him right now. It's too bad we get so angry about faith because I guess it's because we just want to know more about ourselves and our beliefs are important to us. We all have every right to our beliefs - whether we are an atheist, Christian, Muslim, Jew, Buddhist, Hindu and so on. I believe in God not because someone else convinced me or society forced Him on me. I believe because He has proven Himself to me, over and over. He's real. That's all I tell you.
Keep in mind you cannot assume religion is down to stupidity. Martin Luther King, Gandhi - they changed the world more than any of us have, more than Richard Dawkins has physically improved the world. Do not get me wrong, I am a Christian and admire Dawkins. Religion has done a lot of good, harm too but still a lot of good.
Gorbachev himself said that the fall of communism would not have happened if it weren't for the inspiration and leadership from Pope John Paul II of the Roman Catholic church.
Religion has done harm and good, but that can be said for any kind of organisation - governments included. USA in Vietnam, Japan in WW2, the Nazi's full stop, Britain in the colonial era... To list a few.
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