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01-19-2009 , 01:04 AM

VickreyAuction

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 4,089

There's been discussion of this in a couple different unrelated threads, so I figured I'd start one for the discussion of the atheist London bus advertisements.

Background:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7813812.stm

There's some responses from British people in the video report. Not a lot of fire-and-brimstone from British churches in the response in the article:

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The Church of England said Christian faith allowed people to put their life into a "proper perspective".
A spokesman said: "We would defend the right of any group representing a religious or philosophical position to be able to promote that view through appropriate channels.

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Pressure group Christian Voice has questioned the campaign's effectiveness...

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...the Methodist Church said it would be a "good thing if it gets people to engage with the deepest questions of life" and suggested it showed there was a "continued interest in God".

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01-19-2009 , 01:08 AM

VickreyAuction

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 4,089

The genesis:

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The campaign was devised by comedy writer Ariane Sherine.

She was inspired to seek donations after objecting to a set of Christian advertisements on a bus.

When people went to a highlighted website address, they were told that whose who rejected God were condemned to spend all eternity to "torment in Hell".

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01-19-2009 , 01:16 AM

justscott

old hand

Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,924

Nothing can be worse than the dumbass Billboards they put all over the states.

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01-19-2009 , 10:14 AM

Roland32

veteran

Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 3,010

I gave to the cause even though I am American. I am happy to see it being implemented. I think if nothing else, it shows the success that Dawkins' out campaign has been.

I will happily give more money if the campaign comes across the pond to America.

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01-19-2009 , 02:48 PM

loK2thabrain

Tiger > Jack

Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 23,203

Can someone explain to me why they chose to use the word 'probably' instead of just 'there isn't any god...'?

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01-19-2009 , 03:11 PM

Autocratic

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 11,276

FWIW this (or a nearly identical) campaign is also taking place in DC.

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01-19-2009 , 03:12 PM

Autocratic

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 11,276

Quote:

Originally Posted by Butcho22

Can someone explain to me why they chose to use the word 'probably' instead of just 'there isn't any god...'?

I think they want it to speak a little more to the average non-religious person rather than diehard atheists.

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01-19-2009 , 03:22 PM

EvilSteve

Midlife Crisis

Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 13,195

Quote:

Originally Posted by Butcho22

Can someone explain to me why they chose to use the word 'probably' instead of just 'there isn't any god...'?

because the cowards behind the ad campaign are too scared to pull the lever

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01-19-2009 , 03:30 PM

All-In Flynn

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Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 10,923

Quote:

Originally Posted by Butcho22

Can someone explain to me why they chose to use the word 'probably' instead of just 'there isn't any god...'?

I think Dawkins wanted there to be no 'probably'. I think it's better to qualify the statement, though.

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01-19-2009 , 03:34 PM

#10

devilset666

grinder

Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 661

Quote:

Originally Posted by EvilSteve

because the cowards behind the ad campaign are too scared to pull the lever

Lol. True bill sir. The truth is that it was meant to be more of an effort to provoke debate and they wished to go with a more lighthearted approach. Dawkins in an interview said he of rather gone with "there most certainly isn't".

I think the committee debating the slogan was conscious of christian propaganda which is usually along the lines of "Jesus is Lord", "God Loves You", "God loves unborn babies" etc etc and other such unprovable and preposterous claims. I think the choice of wording has suited their purposes quite well as it has even got the knickers of the christian right wing stateside twisted all sorts of ways!

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01-19-2009 , 08:57 PM

#11

Max Raker

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Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 15,738

Quote:

Originally Posted by Butcho22

Can someone explain to me why they chose to use the word 'probably' instead of just 'there isn't any god...'?

I like the probably.

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01-20-2009 , 02:07 AM

#12

tubasteve

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Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 14,283

Perhaps they used 'probably' because scientists aren't stupid enough to make unfalsifiable claims?

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01-20-2009 , 09:55 AM

#13

Roland32

veteran

Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 3,010

2 reasons for "probably"

1. They had to get the add approved by the advertisement commision.

2. There are probably no lebrachauns is a more accurate statement than there are no lebrachauns.

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01-20-2009 , 12:02 PM

#14

sickofants

old hand

Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 1,801

I like the 'probably' too. Kinda highlights the arrogance of religious group who do make claims of certainty.

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01-20-2009 , 06:49 PM

#15

VickreyAuction

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 4,089

I think Dawkins mentioned why it was "probably" in the video. Something along the lines of because "there are almost certainly no unicorns" is more accurate of a statement than "there are no unicorns."

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01-21-2009 , 12:32 PM

#16

CallumWright

grinder

Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 476

Probably is the best word to use.
Less arrogant and presumptious.
And you can't prove something doesn't exist, even if it probably doesn't.

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01-23-2009 , 02:24 AM

#17

Trogdor!

grinder

Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 584

i would of used "most likely" but "probably" is fine, "there isn't" is incorrect through

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01-24-2009 , 03:34 PM

#18

Gin 'n Tonic

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I wonder if the reaction would have been similarly relaxed if the slogan had read 'There's probably no Allah'?

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01-24-2009 , 03:59 PM

#19

Our House

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Gin 'n Tonic

I wonder if the reaction would have been similarly relaxed if the slogan had read 'There's probably no Allah'?

I wouldn't EVER ride a bus with one of those ads on it.

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01-26-2009 , 03:06 AM

#20

randie

journeyman

Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 361

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gin 'n Tonic

I wonder if the reaction would have been similarly relaxed if the slogan had read 'There's probably no Allah'?

It would have been an alternative way to commit suicide.

(Koran) Sura 22-9: “As for the unbelievers for them garments of fire shall be cut and there shall be poured over their heads boiling water whereby whatever is in their bowels and skins shall be dissolved and they will be punished with hooked iron rods.”

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Good people will do good things, and bad people will do bad things. But for good people to do bad things -- that takes religion.

Well any religion is bad, but some are just worse.

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01-26-2009 , 03:56 AM

#21

VickreyAuction

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 4,089

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gin 'n Tonic

I wonder if the reaction would have been similarly relaxed if the slogan had read 'There's probably no Allah'?

An ad like that would seem to single out a minority religion in the UK instead of the majority religion. This one would seem anti-Islam, the other is more pro-atheism, or at least pro-relaxation and more thought provoking. So there would probably be a different reaction, but it would be a different situation.

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01-26-2009 , 07:16 AM

#22

Gin 'n Tonic

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Quote:

Originally Posted by VickreyAuction

I agree that it would seem to single out Islam.

Having said that, I think that the word 'God' is going to be considered to be aimed at the Christian God by most people reading the advert.

Allah is merely the Arabic word for god - it is not the exclusive property of Islam by any means. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allah

Maybe 'There are no deities' might have been more appropriate, if less pithy?

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01-27-2009 , 08:27 PM

#23

tubasteve

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 14,283

Allah = God so I'm not sure what the problem is...

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01-27-2009 , 09:03 PM

#24

All-In Flynn

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Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 10,923

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubasteve

Allah = God so I'm not sure what the problem is...

The problem is that in English 'Allah' is only ever a proper noun, referring to the Islamic deity. The ads are in English so they use the word "god".

Edit: I should have really replied to Gin 'n Tonic, but w/ever.

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