Richard Dawkins launches bus ad: "There's probably no God"
Wednesday January 7, 2009
Categories: Atheism, Religion
"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.
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.
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 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.
[...]
"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."
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 :-)
Wednesday January 7, 2009
Categories: Atheism, Religion
"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.
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.
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 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.
[...]
"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."
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 :-)
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