en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/292526 Comments by Michael_White http://atheistblogger.com/2009/02/07/how-should-atheists-respond-to-a-christian-bus-advert/#IDComment14852836 I would not be happy with the current wording of their advert. I say report to ASA. Sun, 8 Feb 2009 15:23:14 +0000 http://atheistblogger.com/2009/02/07/how-should-atheists-respond-to-a-christian-bus-advert/#IDComment14852836 http://seantheblogonaut.com/2009/01/storm-tim-minchin/#IDComment14470708 He is fantastic. Watched him live in London and couldn't stop laughing! Fri, 30 Jan 2009 00:42:31 +0000 http://seantheblogonaut.com/2009/01/storm-tim-minchin/#IDComment14470708 http://www.asuperfluousramble.com/2009/01/atheist-bus-campaign/#IDComment14267336 I think if atheists didn't see a purpose to this campaign then they wouldn't put money into it. Originally when set up to target the bigoted ads then that could be a sound purpose. With the growth of the campaign it has over shadowed that particular purpose. Although this was my complaint against viewpoint advertising, it is essentially pointless. Even with the Christian ads you can't advertise somebody to see a world view. You can only help them consider it, perhaps that is the purpose for all this genre of advertising? Of course, £800,000 could help a lot of people. Cry in the Dark only need £800 for their next project. It is a tricky one, after all there are many better ways in which money could be spent in the world. I know there are a few people who read this blog who would think very differently, shame we haven't had their views yet! Fri, 23 Jan 2009 18:50:04 +0000 http://www.asuperfluousramble.com/2009/01/atheist-bus-campaign/#IDComment14267336 http://www.asuperfluousramble.com/2009/01/church-keeps-youth-inside-fish-bowl/#IDComment14236754 Yet again, my post was a rant :P No room for understanding which is why comments have healed the error of my rantish ways! Smooth talking dictator? Well, it does put a smile on my face :) Thu, 22 Jan 2009 13:39:30 +0000 http://www.asuperfluousramble.com/2009/01/church-keeps-youth-inside-fish-bowl/#IDComment14236754 http://www.asuperfluousramble.com/2009/01/atheist-bus-campaign/#IDComment14236682 There is no benefit but the same could be said for the alpha adverts and all other Christian work which is so focused on making people believe. This is the main difference really, Christians believe adverts save people from Hell and the Atheists laugh and manage to make a much larger campaign. As I said though, the money comes from public donations. Just because an individual wanted atheist adverts does not remove the option to donate towards other causes. I do agree that some of the money could be better spent but that is not my place to comment on. People can do what they wish. As for being bigoted, well, I don't believe they are. The Christian adverts were with their evil claims of hell fire but this ad is nothing like that. Besides, the ASA approved the adverts yesterday for the 2nd time due to complaints. Thu, 22 Jan 2009 13:34:30 +0000 http://www.asuperfluousramble.com/2009/01/atheist-bus-campaign/#IDComment14236682 http://www.asuperfluousramble.com/2009/01/church-keeps-youth-inside-fish-bowl/#IDComment14236246 From the way I wrote this article I was not considering the church's point of view but that is because I only see a wider issue. This wider issue is a bit of a cliché but essentially churches are constantly blamed for brain washing people, in this case teenagers. Fair enough, how people view the church might be judged upon the information written in the forum but I don't really care. A forum is for discussion and there was certainly no surprise for me when challenging questions start to arise. I used to view the forum as a freethinking environment, obviously this wasn't the church's intention. Quite shocked to hear that my posts in particular created such a problem. Even more shocked to learn that people actually considered trying to stop, what I can only call, intellectual development. Glad to hear that you didn't agree with it! I'm sure the people with those fascist ideas weren't actually that very learnt themselves. Thanks, your posts are always welcome, I miss their long length! That pint is definitely an excitingly moist plan! Thu, 22 Jan 2009 13:14:18 +0000 http://www.asuperfluousramble.com/2009/01/church-keeps-youth-inside-fish-bowl/#IDComment14236246 http://www.asuperfluousramble.com/2009/01/atheist-bus-campaign/#IDComment14236069 I believe the campaign was started up in response to a Christian advertising campaign in London. I actually saw several of their advertisements last year. The website address provided on the side of the bus then directed you to a website which talked about people being saved and all non-believers burning in a lake of fire. The atheist bus campaign was never intended to grow so big. It was designed to tackle the Christian advert in a slightly more laid back manner. With the smaller sum of £15,000 (I think) being raised it would have been a lesser, almost humorous campaign. I listened to radio 4 a little while ago and apparently the campaign has now raised over £800,000 in public donations. An insane amount but it is difficult to complain over money being better spent. Thousands of people made the decision to donate towards it, including A C Grayling. I did once have your point of view that atheism could be seen as growing into a religion but I can't see that any more. All people group up to some degree over same beliefs, same skills or interests. Atheists do not usually gather in one place and the beliefs are actually not dogmatic. The only things atheists have in common is not believing in God. From that point people usually vary over their philosophical and scientific views of the world. I think the evil bible forum is an ode to that. That was a very aggressive and weirdly ideological place. As for the alpha ads, they can be likened to the atheist ones. Both advertisements are getting people to think for themselves. Ultimately that is what I believe, people should think for themselves. My time at church has just made me realise how some people who grow up within the Christian environment don't usually consider the wider views. Although if I am to be for picky I would question the atheist ads as being atheist. From the wording they would be much better compared to being hedonist! Thu, 22 Jan 2009 12:59:32 +0000 http://www.asuperfluousramble.com/2009/01/atheist-bus-campaign/#IDComment14236069 http://seantheblogonaut.com/2009/01/i-aint-drivin-no-stikin-atheist-bus/#IDComment14075211 As a bus driver he must get on with his job. However I do understand his objections. If I drove buses for a living I wouldn't want to advertise the love of Jesus on the side. Yet again, it is my job. I agree with both this post and the Guardian. Sat, 17 Jan 2009 14:57:48 +0000 http://seantheblogonaut.com/2009/01/i-aint-drivin-no-stikin-atheist-bus/#IDComment14075211 http://www.atheistrev.com/2009/01/christian-bible-is-magic-introducing.html#IDComment13998357 I love talking about the bible with Christians. It is just one of those discussions which I know will end dead, on their side. Unless they are fundamental with their beliefs then the bible acts as a useless sword. Since I have read the whole bible it is funny seeing less educated christians picking and choosing quotes. Perhaps if they believed their religion so much they should actually spend time reading and finishing their holy book? I'm already onto the Quran! Thu, 15 Jan 2009 11:06:20 +0000 http://www.atheistrev.com/2009/01/christian-bible-is-magic-introducing.html#IDComment13998357 http://exsistosane.blogspot.com/2009/01/expelled-no-honesty-allowed.html#IDComment13920784 It's sad really. Characters such as C.S.Lewis or Francis Collins would be much better for them to research rather than this pathetic film. Besides, there is actually honest information about the battle Darwinism still has in the present day. If I remember correctly Mississippi have released a bill against the teaching of evolution, or at least casting it in a negative untruthful light. Glad I'm safe in England! Mon, 12 Jan 2009 19:24:10 +0000 http://exsistosane.blogspot.com/2009/01/expelled-no-honesty-allowed.html#IDComment13920784 http://exsistosane.blogspot.com/2009/01/expelled-no-honesty-allowed.html#IDComment13919081 After having watched the film keeping fairly open minded I find it difficult to believe how people could take it seriously. The whole production was terrible (people at my uni make better films) and had no actual 'meat' to it. Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:52:02 +0000 http://exsistosane.blogspot.com/2009/01/expelled-no-honesty-allowed.html#IDComment13919081 http://seantheblogonaut.com/2009/01/atheist-bus-adverts-has-australia-lost-its-sense-of-humor/#IDComment13761726 I'm your man from England I guess! I've been following the campaign very closely. When I return to London next week I'll see if I can get my own personal photo of this great ad. Spoke to a friend from Sussex today and she saw one of the ads on the train. Fri, 9 Jan 2009 22:13:39 +0000 http://seantheblogonaut.com/2009/01/atheist-bus-adverts-has-australia-lost-its-sense-of-humor/#IDComment13761726 http://www.benhamilton.co.uk/archives/107#IDComment13733540 With poetry like that I'm surprised you don't listen to metal! Thu, 8 Jan 2009 20:28:24 +0000 http://www.benhamilton.co.uk/archives/107#IDComment13733540 http://www.atheistrev.com/2009/01/when-you-are-victim-of-discrimination.html#IDComment13733071 As I live in Britain I have never had problems with others about being an Atheist. I suppose I'm from the country who has Charles Darwin on the £10 note! When asked certain questions people sometimes feel bewildered that I believe in certain things. Such as the non-existence of the soul. Is America really that bad being an Atheist sometimes? Thu, 8 Jan 2009 19:54:49 +0000 http://www.atheistrev.com/2009/01/when-you-are-victim-of-discrimination.html#IDComment13733071 http://seantheblogonaut.com/2009/01/atheist-foundation-of-australia-launches-new-forum/#IDComment13725405 Hope all goes well with the site. I may even take a sneeky look now and again. Thu, 8 Jan 2009 13:20:43 +0000 http://seantheblogonaut.com/2009/01/atheist-foundation-of-australia-launches-new-forum/#IDComment13725405 http://www.atheistrev.com/2009/01/common-absurdities-atheists-hear-from.html#IDComment13714848 Unfortunately all of us are made differently. Sometimes I would love to stop questioning things and be blind. I can imagine it making life easier at time. As it happens I love philosophy, read an awful lot and have an innate questioning mind. All this and I have arrived at atheism, by chance really, that is where the evidence for me seemed to lead me. It took me out of Christianity, into Atheism but essentially I am the same person but just personally more intellectually satisfied. You do speak a lot of sense and I respect your belief. Nice to meet a sensible voice (or text) now and again. Although I cannot share your beliefs. Wed, 7 Jan 2009 22:08:36 +0000 http://www.atheistrev.com/2009/01/common-absurdities-atheists-hear-from.html#IDComment13714848 http://www.asuperfluousramble.com/2009/01/church-keeps-youth-inside-fish-bowl/#IDComment13673062 I put my hands up to you. Thanks for providing the additional information. Now that the cloud of rant and rage has disappeared I think my disagreement goes slightly further than simply fish bowliness of Christian teaching. For me Church was a lot about learning from the talks, it's just the way I am built (oh so badly). For that reason it seems sad to me that characters like Thomas Paine or Thomas Jefferson won't be discussed. I know they have no reason to be discussed in a church but their ideas on religion (and many other subjects) is intelligent, new(ish) and beautiful. Your call of an arbitrary is a good idea. Then perhaps send some dirty knickers in the post to the youth leaders. Tue, 6 Jan 2009 17:19:54 +0000 http://www.asuperfluousramble.com/2009/01/church-keeps-youth-inside-fish-bowl/#IDComment13673062 http://www.atheistrev.com/2009/01/common-absurdities-atheists-hear-from.html#IDComment13667139 Nice job. Have had a few debates over the years with people of religious belief and you have hit the nail on the head with this post. A couple of people have said I'm not an atheist because God exists, which makes no sense. On the question of proof I have found even intelligent Christians trying to prove their God by questioning science. One guy in particular was even studying science, it seems beyond theology some find it difficult to explain the world. Tue, 6 Jan 2009 13:27:02 +0000 http://www.atheistrev.com/2009/01/common-absurdities-atheists-hear-from.html#IDComment13667139 http://godlesswoman.blogspot.com/2009/01/wasted-time.html#IDComment13651481 I think I know exactly how you feel. So many of my friends are involved with church stuff back at home and have consequently made friendship groups. When I was a Christian I was very involved with it all and now looking back it just seems, quite wasted. I have learnt a lot through those experiences which makes it easier for me to relate to Christians. Although I now refuse to take any part which makes problems with finding friends to hang out with at home. A little social problem of mine but I am so much more intellectual satisfied with my decision. Besides, they work mostly with young teenagers, how could I lie to them? It seems clear to me there isn't a God. The world screams it out but yet theology takes rule and their world is changed, distorted. Bah, you have got me reminiscing! Anyway, time for sleep, past 11pm in Britain. Thanks for the read! I should try to blog a little more. Mon, 5 Jan 2009 23:19:07 +0000 http://godlesswoman.blogspot.com/2009/01/wasted-time.html#IDComment13651481 http://www.benhamilton.co.uk/archives/84#IDComment13630157 Loving how this blog is looking! Hollywood? I'll give you more false illusions with PR. Sun, 4 Jan 2009 22:47:13 +0000 http://www.benhamilton.co.uk/archives/84#IDComment13630157