God probably doesn't exist...what's your problem?

"God probably doesn't exist" is not stating a fact, it's stating an observation. They don't have proof and their wording never implies that they have any. And why is it such a big deal for kids to be reading signs that say god probably doesn't exist when so many are told that god DOES exist?

First of all, why would you answer your own question? Secondly, in Canada, we have the right to say whatever we want as long as it isn't intentional hate speech. This is not hate speech so why can't they exercise their right to freedom of speech?

This artist probably doesn't want to use quotes. You see, there's this thing that most people have called a brain, which many can use to make their own sentences. I know it sounds crazy but it's true.

Hopefully the Catholic Church loses all of it's followers. The money and land that they have could be put to much better use elsewhere.

Of course Satanists should be able to buy space on buses. If they are willing to spend the money then why do you care? Are you that much of a jerk that you can't accept anyone with a differing opinion to yours being allowed to publicly express it?

Well said, killer_rabbit79. I second that.

It doesn't bother me in the least.  I suspect that the god that they don't believe in, is the same one I don't believe in.  Is it ok for religious institutions to put up signs  (for example: Jesus is the Reason for the Season)?  Whose authority has been established?

I suspect that they would weigh the pros and cons wherever they are posting the sign.  Perhaps they don't believe that there is a market in a predominantly Muslim country. 

These quotes are direct quotes from scripture??!!!!  What does that mean?  Are they somehow better because they are in a book?  Why?

Do you want to re-read that sentence.  "The money COULDN'T be used better"...

Satanists simply have a different allegiance.  The allegiance should not dictate which signs are permissable and which ones are not.  Which authors are we deeming to be acceptable?  So the man or woman that wrote one of the books of the bible (but we're not really sure who it was) is ok but someone or some group that expresses their own opinion is not ok.  Chances are if you really tried, you could find out the source of the ad within a few minutes on the Internet.  Now take a stab at the Gospel According to John.  Whose authorship is more easily established?..cms

I totally support it.

Ask yourself, why atheist ads? I think it's because people feel rejected and they want to see themselves in the cities we share. We should respond with affection and friendship. I care what they think. I don't reject people. It's your country too eh.

Hi lovebelize

Here is some more info. I posted on a previous thread. I don't like the ads either but they are paid for by private donations in the name of free speech.

Quotes:

I think the ads are offensive and should not be allowed.  I hope the bussing company loses lots of money for posting them.

I hope a bunch of right wing Christians make whoever owns the bus company's life a living hell for being so stupid.   And I support the right wing Christian's right to do this in the name of freedom of speech.

My only reaction is "SO WHAT??"

Levain or Luciferian Satanists?  Because Levain ones would probably put up the same sign as the atheists (them being atheists themselves and being concerned with enjoying life).  Luciferian ones would likely put up a sign that says "God probably does exist.  And he is a jerk."  In either case, I don't think it is much of a problem. 

You seem to have the odd make believe view of Satanists that many Christians do.  There is no real organized murder cats, rape women, beat children group out there.  The most popular form of Satanism (Levain) specifically prohibits hurting animals or children, as they are innocent, and would see rape or murder as a quick way to end up in jail, which would put an end to your ability to enjoy life (not good by them).  Luciferians (the second largest group), as far as I can tell,  think God and the Devil fought for control of us.  God was the winner, but not the good guy.  That is why following God's path is so hard for us.  It is a path designed by the evil winner to make our lives bad.  It is also why many harmless "sins" are so easy.

In either case, there is no pure evil group out there organized around cat blood and human sacrafice. 

Lovebelize asked, "What are your reactions?"

Well, I think the atheist advertising campaign will come in handy the next time someone tells me atheists don't organize or proselytize .

On another note, if the campaign gets people talking about matters of the spirit, I will commend the atheists for their contribution to the discussion.

And what if someone placed an ad on the bus (or anywhere) that said, "Hitler/Stalin/Idi Amin were right" ?

At what point does opinion become "hate propoganda"? When does "mildly controversial"  morph into extremely offensive?

One has to ask what is the ultimate agenda and will the onslaught of  the initial "relaxed" message become a battlecry down the road that encourages extremism within any group.

If the ultimate agenda (through cultural acceptance) was eventually to see nations "freed" from God and places of worship to become non-existent because some believe that countries would be better off without believing in "faeries" than I think you have to be very careful as to what is acceptable.

This can be applied to "religion" also.

"Freedom" of speech, can it be an illusion that enables predjudices also?

If a sign in the current Global economic situation said that a communist leader was right, I imagine most people seeing it would say "yeah, probably."

So what I'm hearing is that it's ok for "us" (because we're right) but NOT for "them" (because they're wrong). I'm hardly convinced...cms

I'm just asking, "is everything acceptable?" in the interest of free speech. I see this campaign as initially harmless BUT........will it eventually progress to intrude on others freedoms?

Serena: So, you're saying the right-wing Christians get freedom of speech, and the atheists don't.

Seriously.  Your post would have even made a bit of sense, if you hadn't brought up free speech in that last line.

I support these signs.  Wow.  This is awesome.  Where do you donate?

On the other hand, citing authorship wouldn't be such a bad idea either.  THAT APPLIES TO EVERYBODY.

I prefer the American signs, though - "Why believe in God?   Just be good for goodness' sake".

Serena, was that a serious comment?

ShamanWolf,"I prefer the American signs, though - "Why believe in God?   Just be good for goodness' sake".

I'm pro choice.

freedom of speech doesn't scare me in the least, the opposite of it scares the heck out of me.  it will be when we are told what we are allowed to post that i will fight. it will be when we are told that it had better be conforming that i will fight.  that's what i'll save my energy and spirit for.

speech - it is our freedom.  it goes hand in hand with our freedom of choice.  i see cigarette ads everywhere, i have the choice to smoke or not.  i have jehovah's knock at my door or drop literature in my mailbox almost every other weekend in the summer months.  am i a jehovah, nope.  i do read the literature though, it's interesting.  we are constantly bombarded with someone selling something, but i am so grateful that we live in a country that allows everyone their freedoms.  that i can wear what i want.  i can eat what i want.  i can watch what i want.  i can read what i want.

conformity is control.  there are countries where women and children are seen not heard, exploited and abused in the name of conformity.  women must cover their faces in the name of conformity.  they must only follow one strict religion, in the name of conformity.  we also have the choice to move our butts to one of those countries and conform, so that everyone can be the same.  is that really what any of us wants?  i know i don't.

arminius wrote in one of his posts (not in these exact words) that diablos means, in greek, i believe, something that seperates/divides.  so we can use these signs as an excuse to allow us to be seperated from one another and cause a "holy war" over it or we can accept that everyone is allowed to have their own opinion and overcome the difference of OPINION.  i have already chosen the latter.

love, afterall, conquers all and  the opposite of love is fear.

would i rather see on the 6oclock news tonight a group of athiests hosting a soup kitchen and feeding the poor, yielding signs that you don't have to believe in god to be good, hell ya.  would i rather see the christians out on the streets distributing coats or offering shelter to the homeless yielding signs, we are followers of christ, of course.  would i rather see hollywood nix scream 19 and use the money to build wells in numerous countries, uh huh.  would i rather p diddy feed a small village for years instead of hiring someone to carry an umrella around for him, obviously.  but, oh well.  that's free choice.

j

I am always amazed that people forget that we have brains. So, there are lots of ads I don't like but MY brain says agree or disagree but they have the right to put these ads up( if they are not offensive, pornographic etc.) Now that is something that would get me riled.

Then there are ad campaigns that subliminally pass on the image of the "ideal woman" by suggesting to young women that to be thin is preferable. Do we speak out or silently let impressionable young minds be sabotaged?

We older woman may become less affected but we have all been influenced in one way or another.

Where does advertising become subliminally toxic without us knowing we are being influenced? So in the initial example of the bus slogan if advertising and influence were stepped up, could a younger generation forget over time that they have other choices just because cultural norms have been replaced? The indoctrination of atheism only?

waterfall, i guess what it boils down to is all or nothing.  we allow everyone to celebrate their "religions" or we don't.  this country was founded on christian values.  why is it after all these years of christian "propoganda" is this country still not entirely christian. 

christianity was forced upon the natives when the white man arrived here, to this day, are they all christian? their true beliefs and values held steadfast.  ironically, everyone being christian would be one world religion.  there are far more believers in god than those who don't, most of whom spend to much time fighting over who is right and who is wrong.  christian vs jew.  catholic vs prodestant.  it would take more than an ad on a bus, which as a christian, i don't find offensive, to change that.  i really don't think that it's the athiests we have to worry about.  the hitler's of the world who want conformity, now they worry me.  hitler never posted signs saying that god probably doesn't exist, enjoy your life.  he tried to play god.  he used genocide to try and eliminate and entire "race".  he tried to force conformity using christianity.

i guess being aware of a wolf in sheep's clothing can be interpreted in many ways.

j

maybe we should start a thread about advertising.

I must admit also Serena, you do scare me sometimes. Freedom of speech and invoking a living hell on anyone are diametrically opposed concepts.

It is what it is, just let it go. Truth will prevail in the end.

probably? God you gotta love the athiest convictions eh

Gotta love the religious ignorance of probability...

its not ignorance for the beleiver, the ingorance is in the unbelieving observer

Explain your understanding of probability then please?  I'll admit I'm wrong if you can.  I suspect however though that you don't really have a clue.

for a christian , there is no probability or eg "likelihood" , on the God question, they know God is

for an athiest probability , more yes than no, or more no than yes gives them leaway.

Imho, an athiest who opreated out of probability on the question of God, is double minded on the issue and is not athiest but agnostic.

a true athiest will say there is no God and believe it and live it.

Why does such advertisment have to be done in such a negative way? That is what bothers me. I accept that not everyone is religious, so why can't those people except that there are some people that are?

Do Jews put ads on buses saying, "Jesus probably isn't real, so stop expecting to be saved."

The ad is not promoting atheism, its putting down other religions.

Ahh..I see...you have a problem with rational thought processes.  I knew it.  Tell me, do you believe a man lived in a fish for three days too?

There's nothing negative about it.  It's promoting dialogue and asking people to question the sometimes unquestionable.

True enough, it is promoting a lot discussion, but still see the ad as shedding a negative light on religions. It like a brand that puts out a commercial that promotes their product not by pointing out its features, but by comparing and putting down another brand

How is it negative when it's stating a fact!  God...with all that we know..probably does not exist.  To say otherwise is to avoid everything we know for a fact that refutes any biblical "evidence".  When you say you believe in god it is entirely your own personal opinion and it is exactly the same as stating "I believe in unicorns".

just as much as you believe that you are a product of a freakness of nature. Nature, hmmm natural what ever that is uh, o waite i belive the scientific community has figured is all out.

I repeat... "Tell me, do you believe a man lived in a fish for three days too?"

Anyone who does has no place trying to fuse fact with fiction.

the bible says Jesus was in the belly of the earth for 3 days, spirtual that is, how can you not being christian unterstand what is metfore, what is real and what is spirtuial and what is foreshaowing, Jonah and the fish story included, a mixture of forshadowing Jesus and medfor of Jonahs life, knowing who God was but not wanting to listen.

thats very ingorant of you to base your whole beliefe on some lines you have no clue what they mean, but take tham at face value to suite your agenda.

so i ask you now are you a freak of nature? or were your ansertors  monkeys? which one are you?

a freak or a monkeys  uncle?

Your last question actually tells me that even if I explained...you wouldn't (or are simply not willing to) understand.

How can you be sure that in your religion mixed with metaphore and so called facts that what you think is real is not just more metaphore?

Well, I guess you are right, for Levain or Luciferian Satanists: but, as long as they put authorship.

Such as, presented by....

Killerrabbitt:

In case you missed it, I am not opposed to other people putting up their ideas. IF they declare authorship.

Overlooking your name calling (jerk), if you are so opposed to religion, why are you on this site?

Because this site is advertised "for open minded discussion on  topics that mean something to you". That is why atheisto and killer rabbit are  here and that's why you are invited in.

All religious signs, I believe, should have authorship on them; like, sponsored by the CHurch of .... or John 3:16 .

A reference to a biblical book is an authorship.

Thanks for the note of levity. It seems atheists do believe in something, after all....

You know, I really get sick and tired of seeing John3:16 signs everywhere. The sign means nothing at a football game, a hockey game or a parade , imo.

Is it?  Surely authorship should be "written by god".  I think I know why that's not put on though.

You said it, not me. :)

You have a point there.

Good point. I won't post an ad, saying atheists are mistaken.

I can understand it, though i dont believe its theory of chance

simple, i have  a teacher that you believe , dose'nt exist. Try and explain to someone that a 4th or 5th deminsion exists when all they believe exists is a 3rd demsion alone, basically the person believeing in the 3rd deminsion alone , eats, sleeps, is taught, studys, shits, in the relm of that deminsion alone, there beliefe in there reality has become there bondage, a new world begins with faith that it may or does exist and in this realm of exisantice, experance and manifisations of the unseen beging, growing faith.

your confortable living in a box of this world and its teachings , not believeing that there is life beyond that box which we call life in this world.

Lets be honest here , whos really  narrow minded here? you who refuses to beging to believe, or a chhristian who belives and experances the product of that faith?

First of all..if I'm teaching anyone I do so from a position based upon reality.  If I teach a theory then I say that it's a theory.  If I teach a fact I explain the proof.  When you say you know there's a god that is just your opinion.  Nothing more.

If I'm so narrow minded why would I say that god probably doesn't exist.  That probability of existence is so small to me as to be practically non-existant.  I can say this because we have nothing at all, not a sausage, that proves he exists and plenty plenty plenty of evidence and proof to refute nearly everything in the bible and plenty plenty plenty of scientific evidence to suggest that much of religion is hocus pocus.

Now...faced with all this...you still claim you have a magic sky man that talks to you and that a talking snake helped make men and women and that a man that didn't have a dad got put in a cave when he was dead then came back to life again.  It all sounds good...but only if it's written by Marvel Comics and is read by children then immediately dismissed as fiction.  Alternatively, if someone tells you about unicorns I'm sure you might say "that's baloney" except for the fact that they are just as valid as your religion following your model.

So really...who's narrow minded when I am willing to change my mind if I'm shown anything, but you're not ready to accept anything other than your ideas however grounded in fiction they may be?