Atheist Bus Ads

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote]Athiest group claims discrimination

Plans to protest ad rejection at transit meeting today

By DEREK PUDDICOMBE, Sun Media





OTTAWA -- An atheist group which has had its advertisements rejected from being displayed on OC Transpo buses says it is the victim of discrimination.

"It's a breach of the Canasian Charter of Rights and Freedom," said David Burton, a member of the Humanist Association of Ottawa.

The group is gathering at City Hall this morning to protest the move at the city's Transit Committee meeting. It proposed a paid campaign on OC Transpo buses.

Committee chair Coun. Alex Cullen is expected to request staff reverse the decision. Cullen told the Sun this week that he would like to see the decision overturned because it sends the wrong message about tolerance.

The ads, sponsored by the Freethought Association of Canada, say “There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.”

They have been accepted for display on buses in Toronto and Calgary, but rejected in several other Canadian cities including Vancouver, Victoria, Kelowna, Halifax, London and Ottawa.

Cullen handed out a document from Advertising Standards Canada which outlines policies about unacceptable depictions and portrayals. The document says ads shall not "condone any form of personal discrimination including that based upon race, national origin, religion, sex or age."

The ASC also says ads should not exploit or incite violence, demean, denigrate or disparage any identifiable person or group of persons.

Julie Breeze, a member of the Humanist association, says its ads aren't offensive and are meant to reach out to other atheists.

"Our ad doesn't contravene that policy nor would we want to," said Breeze.[/quote]

Let's talk about the bus ad campaign.
It's set to start in my city soon.

[Hassan]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' post='1784724' date='Feb 18 2009, 05:51 PM']Let's talk about the bus ad campaign.
It's set to start in my city soon.[/quote]


I don't see why it's an issue. Christian often use advertising to both warn of impending damnation and invite individuals to salvation.

[StColette]

[b]There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.”[/b]

I find this kind of comical. lol "There's probably no God" sounds like for an atheist ad this seems pretty stupid. I mean it shows doubt. All the Atheist I have ever met say that there is absolutely no God, but this ad seems to be kinda doubtful toward that position using "probably" instead of just saying "There's no God"

[Hassan]

To claim that there is not any sort of God is to move beyond what can be said for sure. It would be safe to say that there is very little evidence for any sort of God, much less the whole the the Christian proposition, so rather than worry over something that is very likely not the case, just enjoy your life. I that that's what they were getting at

[Arpy]

Isn't this regurgitated old news? I seem to recall something similar happening in Britain.

[Hassan]

[quote name='Arpy' post='1784743' date='Feb 18 2009, 06:10 PM']Isn't this regurgitated old news? I seem to recall something similar happening in Britain.[/quote]


Secret Muslim plots often spread quickly

[Vincent Vega]

Hey, if you have that kind of money to throw around, put whatever you want on the side of a bus - I have bigger problems.

Edited February 18, 2009 by USAirwaysIHS

[CatherineM]

I heard they were trying to get that in Calgary. Up here, the buses are too covered in muck to read the outside anyway.

[Noel's angel]

Yeah, it's already happened in Britain. They weren't allowed to say 'There is no God' for legal reasons. I agree it's laughable when they have to say 'probably'.
You can buy t-shirts now that say 'There is a God and I enjoy my life'

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='CatherineM' post='1784775' date='Feb 18 2009, 04:47 PM']I heard they were trying to get that in Calgary. Up here, the buses are too covered in muck to read the outside anyway.[/quote]
Yep, that's where I live.

Our Bishop has been very malignantly harassed in the media for his comments about it lately. What's new, right? Difference this time is that nobody has noticed that the crux of the accusations are actually false.
I've heard what he's had to say, and he's absolutely against the enormous double standard in Alberta and in Canada right now to do with freedom of speech. Case in point is the fact that he currently has a case before the HRCs which is attacking him for condemning the homosexual lifestyle. He is speaking right now about how he wants both sides to be treated equally, which is not what's been happening.
Only trouble is that the media is portraying him as being staunchly against the atheist ads being allowed. Yes, he's said that they're offensive. Yes, he said that they blatantly attack religion and are not geared towards inspiring dialogue. He never said they shouldn't be allowed. The media has portrayed him as a hypocrite, because earlier in the year he came to the defence of UofC's Campus Pro-Life as they were being prosecuted for the display of graphic anti-abortion ads.
It's so frustrating because NOBODY has caught on to this blatant misrepresentation.

[CatherineM]

In a fight, I'd bet on Bishop Henry. Street fight, word fight, you name it.

[Johnny]

[quote name='StColette' post='1784737' date='Feb 18 2009, 06:05 PM'][b]There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.”[/b]

I find this kind of comical. lol "There's probably no God" sounds like for an atheist ad this seems pretty stupid. I mean it shows doubt. All the Atheist I have ever met say that there is absolutely no God, but this ad seems to be kinda doubtful toward that position using "probably" instead of just saying "There's no God"[/quote]
I agree. Too me, if I were an atheist, I wouldn't be comforted with there "probably" not being a God..I would want a little more assurance than that.

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='CatherineM' post='1784963' date='Feb 18 2009, 07:55 PM']In a fight, I'd bet on Bishop Henry. Street fight, word fight, you name it.[/quote]
He could probably win a street fight by yelling at the guy.

I'm basically in awe of him. He's my hero.

[Hassan]

[quote name='Johnny' post='1784972' date='Feb 18 2009, 10:04 PM']I agree. Too me, if I were an atheist, I wouldn't be comforted with there "probably" not being a God..I would want a little more assurance than that.[/quote]


You don't know that Islam is wrong. You cannot prove it absolutly, you just have to settle that probably Muhammad did not deleiver an actual revelation and you will not have to suffer Allah's chastisment, who will cast you into the fire whose fuel is men and stones.

How much time do you really worry about this being the case?

[bonkers]

[quote name='Johnny' post='1784972' date='Feb 18 2009, 10:04 PM']I agree. Too me, if I were an atheist, I wouldn't be comforted with there "probably" not being a God..I would want a little more assurance than that.[/quote]

Of course you would. I'm content with the word 'probably'. When people say things like 'there is a god' or 'there is no god' it can sound a little bit presumptious especially when there is a lack of credible evidence to support that view. It also assumes I am incapabale of thinking for myself and need to be told in no uncertain terms what to believe, which I reject.