Bendy-buses, like atheism, are a danger to the public at large...

[Maguire01]

This is worth a read, if only for the hilarity of the bit in bold...

'No God' slogans for city's buses 

Bendy-buses with the slogan "There's probably no God" could soon be running on the streets of London.

The atheist posters are the idea of the British Humanist Association (BHA) and have been supported by prominent atheist Professor Richard Dawkins.

The BHA planned only to raise £5,500, which was to be matched by Professor Dawkins, but it has now raised more than £36,000 of its own accord.

It aims to have two sets of 30 buses carrying the signs for four weeks.

The complete slogan reads: "There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life."

As the campaign has raised more than anticipated, it will also have posters on the inside of buses as well.

The BHA is also considering extending the campaign to cities including Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh.

Professor Dawkins said: "Religion is accustomed to getting a free ride - automatic tax breaks, unearned respect and the right not to be offended, the right to brainwash children.

This campaign to put alternative slogans on London buses will make people think - and thinking is anathema to religion

"Even on the buses, nobody thinks twice when they see a religious slogan plastered across the side.

"This campaign to put alternative slogans on London buses will make people think - and thinking is anathema to religion."

Hanne Stinson, chief executive of the BHA, said: "We see so many posters advertising salvation through Jesus or threatening us with eternal damnation, that I feel sure that a bus advert like this will be welcomed as a breath of fresh air.

"If it raises a smile as well as making people think, so much the better."

But Stephen Green of pressure group Christian Voice said: "Bendy-buses, like atheism, are a danger to the public at large.

Stephen Green of pressure group Christian Voice 

"I should be surprised if a quasi-religious advertising campaign like this did not attract graffiti.

"People don't like being preached at. Sometimes it does them good, but they still don't like it."

However the Methodist Church said it thanked Professor Dawkins for encouraging a "continued interest in God".

Spirituality and discipleship officer Rev Jenny Ellis said: "This campaign will be a good thing if it gets people to engage with the deepest questions of life."

She added: "Christianity is for people who aren't afraid to think about life and meaning."

The buses with the slogans will run in Westminster from January.

[ziggysego]

Should get one of them buses for Ballymena

[mylestheslasher]

Should get one of them buses for Ballymena

Agree. Was up there a few weeks ago at Harryville. There was posters telling me to repent immediately or I'd burn in hell. I don't know how they knew I was coming up that day, but they did. Maybe when you are in direct contact with God you get the inside information.

So would anyone have a problem with these posters on the buses - i.e. a problem with free speech or alternate ideas/lifestyles?

[Billys Boots]

So thinking is an alternative lifestyle, Myles?

[mylestheslasher]

So thinking is an alternative lifestyle, Myles?

Now Billy. I didn't say that did I. So the answer to your question = No.

So do you have a problem with these posters on the buses?

[Hardy]

What could be the problem, Myles?

[Billys Boots]

So is free-speech this alternative lifestyle to which you allude, Myles?

[mylestheslasher]

What could be the problem, Myles?

Obviously there isn't a problem. Great. Bring on the bendy buses with athiest posters. Thread over!

[Hardy]

[Deleted] On second thoughts, your comment stands better alone drici. Nice one.

[theskull1]

Big admirer of Dawkins and his crusade. I do have concerns though that he is in fact too intellectual to realise that there are large swathes of the population who don't think. It's OK to realise through personal investigation that it's all hokus pokus but still understand the positive role it can play in alot of peoples everyday life and that everybody, religious or not has to play a positive part in the society they live in, but to tell numpties there is no god...well ..........slowly but surely it has a real negative imapct on the health of that society, because they just don't give a f**k about what they do or the impact on the world around them. 

Don't know why I'm defending religion 

I never go BTW

[Zapatista]

Has London not had enough bother with religous groups attacking buses without provoking them even more.

[Maguire01]

Skull, i don't reckon the 'numpties' are too restrained by the notion of a god as things stand. I don't think that idea is much of a deterrent to anyone who might act the fool in any circumstances. As for those 'god-fearing' people, i can't see the realisation that they might e wrong sending them on a mad crime spree.

As for Dawkins, surely he does realise that a lot of people 'don't think' (in terms of questioning religion) - otherwise why would he have supported an advertsing campaign?

[Hardy]

Has London not had enough bother with religous groups attacking buses without provoking them even more.

That's right. We can't afford to upset the muslims. After all, we'll be paying taxes to them soon enough if we let them continue to dictate how we should run the world so as not to cause offence to them.

A nice quote from http://www.patcondell.net/  :

Islam is more than just a religion. It's a complete way of life, with very strict rules of behaviour which must be adhered to by everyone, often on pain of death.

Also, it has managed to capitalise on the anger, poverty and ignorance in the Third World by giving people meaning and structure in their lives.

As a result, it now controls a large mass of volatile primitive opinion which is quick to take offence and easily moved to senseless violence.

And it wants to take over the world.

So it does have something in common with America after all.

[Tony Baloney]

Has London not had enough bother with religous groups attacking buses without provoking them even more.

That's right. We can't afford to upset the muslims. After all, we'll be paying taxes to them soon enough if we let them continue to dictate how we should run the world so as not to cause offence to them.

A nice quote from http://www.patcondell.net/  :

Islam is more than just a religion. It's a complete way of life, with very strict rules of behaviour which must be adhered to by everyone, often on pain of death.

Also, it has managed to capitalise on the anger, poverty and ignorance in the Third World by giving people meaning and structure in their lives.

As a result, it now controls a large mass of volatile primitive opinion which is quick to take offence and easily moved to senseless violence.

And it wants to take over the world.

So it does have something in common with America after all.

Do you want the web address for the Daily Mail?

[Hardy]

No thanks. I had never thought of the Daily Mail as a champion of atheism in the mould of Pat Condell or a critic of American Christian fundamentalism.