Atheists roll out ad campaign

[Caligula's Ghost]

"In the Beginning, Man Created God."

This provocative twist on the Bible’s opening line was plastered on the side of 25 Chicago buses this week as part of an advertising crusade by the Indiana Atheist Bus Campaign.

The ads have been cruising between downtown and the city’s North and South sides, including the No. 56 Milwaukee route, since the beginning of the week and will run through June.

"The intent of the campaign is to stimulate discussion of religion and its place in our society," said Charlie Sitzes, a spokesman for the Indiana group who with help from the American Humanist Association has collected more than $10,000 in private donations to buy the ad space in Indiana and Illinois.

The group brought its message to Chicago after a similar campaign in Indiana â€" to post the slogan "You can be good without God" â€" was rejected by transit authorities in Bloomington and stalled by officials in South Bend, who didn’t want the ads posted in time for President Barack Obama’s speech at Notre Dame.

Indiana's chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union has sued the Bloomington Public Transportation Corporation on the atheist group's behalf. Bloomington Mayor Mark Kruzan has denounced his own transit system, saying he does not condone government censorship.

"It would appear that where there is more opposition to the message that maybe that would be the place where we needed dialogue more," Sitzes said, maintaining that the slogan is a simple fact.

"All non-believers believe God is a creation of man," he said. "We used to have thousands of gods. Now we’re down to one. We’re getting closer to the true number."

Among the guidelines for determining if an advertisement can run on the CTA is a requirement that the ad be truthful and is "not directed at inciting imminent lawless action."

Last year, eight religious organizations advertised on the city’s mass transit including Muslims, Roman Catholics, Christian Scientists and Seventh Day Adventists. Trinity Christian College is the only religious organization currently advertising on CTA.

Sitzes regrets that the ad campaignâ€" inspired by similar signs in Europeâ€" has encountered so much opposition in his home state. British ads sarcastically consoled passengers with the message: "There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life."

Last November, the American Humanist Association plastered buses in the nation’s capital with pictures of a man in a Santa suit asking: "Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness’ sake."

"[Chicago’s] slogan makes the point that religion is a social, man-made creation â€" like literature, art, politics, and science â€" and as such, it should be subject to debate like everything else," Sitzes said. He said the perspective of atheists, agnostics and secular humanists are often ignored in the public square

"Atheists, agnostics and secular humanists have a unique perspective on the topic that usually gets ignored in public discussion, and we’d like to make ourselves heard," he said. "The ads aren’t an attack on religious people but an affirmation of a different point of view."

What do you think? Conversation starter or attack ad?

http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/rel ... paign.html

[SektionTen]

I'm thinking something like, "Fuck your fucking fuckaholic motherfucking fucker god, fuckers!" with a picture of the finger would be an attack ad.


... but maybe that's just me.  

[SallyMutant]

That is a provocative slogan.I don't want to imply that Theist/Deist/the Religious have s**t for brains and we are right. We need something friendly. "Reject Belief--Congratulations!"

[joeactor]

I like the intent behind the campaign.  Atheists get a bum rap in the media, for sure.

I dunno... "Atheist" is a negative word, and viewed by many as a negative position ("Not", "Without", etc.)
There are other phrases like "rationalist", or "free-thinker", but those haven't really got the same popular recognition.

It might be a good exercise to think of a positive atheist slogan - anyone up to the task?

Most of the ones I come up with just don't mention god.  That's kind of a problem in getting the message across, no?

How about: "It's a naturally beautiful world.  Take a closer look."


Here's are some of my tries for "Agnostic Theist" ads:
"God.  Have you met him?  Neither have I."
"Defining God is like chaining down Pegasus."
"I'm Agnostic, and I know less than you."
"God.  Maybe."

Think or Thwim,
JoeActor

[ProRealism]

I say we should all just blast "Holier Than Thou" by Metallica.
[youtube:35ghsp1b]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAImHAQvYEY[/youtube:35ghsp1b]


I like agnostics even if I prefer to believe atheism.


Sure, we can THINK we know about this stuff and that's fine but y'know... people should keep it to themselves when there's no definable evidence either way. Would anyone like a cup from Russell's Teapot?

But since there are people who make toothfairy claims and push it on other people I suppose there has to be something to counter it.
But are we really any better than them going around shooting off our mouths?
I think it would be great if there were militant agnostics. (the concept itself is funny) But I only know of 1.


Even in my agnostic/pantheistic days I got the impression that atheists were jerks, but I suppose that's what happens when you're exposed to biased media. It just seemed to me like a lot of them were throwing hissy fits by removing public crosses and the 10 commandments from courtrooms. It's only when I think about the first 4 or so that I say Hmm... well maybe they're right.  But I don't think that symbols of religion are necessarily offensive, it's the those who practice the religion that are offensive.

[curiosityandthecat]

"Thinking: feels good, doesn't it?"

[VietnamVet-BRIGHT]

I'm thinking something like, "Fuck your fucking fuckaholic motherfucking fucker god, fuckers!" with a picture of the finger would be an attack ad.


... but maybe that's just me.  

Not just you ... however, a probably more effective message in the OP's case may be the one used on several billboards throughout the country:




.

[Sophus]

There's one particular meme that I think we need to take down. We need to respond to ads like this:

[Hat]

Am I the only person who doesn't like things related to religion on the side of a bus?
Seriously, I can't be alone D:

[Jolly Sapper]

Am I the only person who doesn't like things related to religion on the side of a bus?
Seriously, I can't be alone D:

At least buses and magnets like each other, so advertising on a bus can be changed with just a little bit of planning and small crowd of people.

 

[rlrose328]

Am I the only person who doesn't like things related to religion on the side of a bus?
Seriously, I can't be alone D:

It's a fire with fire thing... they have their ads all over buses, billboards, bus stops, etc.  If we don't have our message out there as well, they think they have no opposition, that they own it.  

I don't like that we have to think that way, no.  But we do.

[frendlylino]

Actually I like the intent behind the campaign.interesting info. Atheists get a bum rap in the media, for sure.

I dunno... "Atheist" is a negative word, and viewed by many as a negative position ("Not", "Without", etc.)
There are other phrases like "rationalist", or "free-thinker", but those haven't really got the same popular recognition.





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