"Why believe in a god?, Just be good for goodness' sake."

http://www.whybelieveinagod.org/didyouknow.html

Has anyone seen these ads? They're on various buses, at least in D.C. Metro. There have also been similar ads placed on buses in Britain, which say "There's probably no god. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life."

Fox news got all pissy about them, which was pretty funny, if predictable.

Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside~
Your thoughts?

I think it's a good step toward alleviating the divisions the "Keep Christ in Christmas" folks keep trying to make in the populace. Other people can celebrate the common themes of winter solstice holidays, after all, without embracing any one ideology.


This post has been edited by Lightning on Nov 17 2008, 10:45 PM

about time someone had the balls to try this

Oh good, more world-changers!


"Whatever makes you happy" doesn't seem to apply anymore!


Again, I think that:

If you told someone the activities of some "atheists" (without mentioning atheism), that someone would have no doubt in their mind that those activites were of those of a religious zealot!

This post has been edited by Tony Trombone on Nov 17 2008, 10:56 PM

This is only gonna cause more problems then it will solve, regardless of their intentions.

I find it a very stupid decision. And before you call me biased, if someone had done the same thing claiming that God is actually real, I'd still say it's a very stupid decision.

i'm divided. on one hand, great that the atheist message is being spread, but on the other hand, it's gonna cause an unneccesary ****storm.

i suppose if the pro-life people can put up anti-abortion ads and christians can putup church ads on billboard, this is fine too, though i doubt anyone will be convinced.

Don't worry, I'm atheist and I agree with you. While I'm not fond of other religions, I'm not going to dis-respect other people for believing in them. This would make sense, if it would actually work, but we know that it's too radical a change, and that it's obviously going to cause major conflict.

...spreading an idea is a stupid decision?

Well, a big problem is that many Christians feel that they have the exclusive right to celebrating togetherness with family and friends, giving gifts and celebrating the coming of a new year, because they believe in that whole story about Jesus. This is clearly not the case. However, as a result, many non-believers feel alienated in an environment of "Christmas for Christians" and "Keep Christ in Christmas" and all that other "reason for the season" crap you see around. This ad does give a kind of reminder that there are other human beings out there that don't believe, and they've got just as much a right to celebrate and be joyful as anyone else.

This ad doesn't insult anyone; it simply asks a question and gives a piece of sound advice that is accessible to people of all walks of life.

Why believe in a god?
It doesn't claim there is no god, but it questions why it is necessary to believe in one.

Just be good for goodness' sake.
Not because St. Nick will give you coal otherwise.
Not because St. Peter will send you to hell otherwise.
Good for goodness' sake. Because it's good to be good, and because it inspires other folks to be good back. That's nothing exclusive to any religion, nor is it even exclusive to the human race.


This post has been edited by Lightning on Nov 17 2008, 11:37 PM

That ad is amazing.

It's nobody's fault but the non-believers that they should feel alienated.

An idea that is liable to cause problems. You know how the religious radicals will act when they catch wing of this. Not that I disrespect your beliefs lightning, but you have to think double sided here. Sure, it's spreading a message that you support, which is obviously a good thing (to you), yet other certain people believe differently, which is gonna cause problems.

This is sorta like making an ad saying that "evolution is most likely not real, so we should all stop worrying about whether or not god truly exists, because he does!" Obviously that would offend a good majority of people, and thusly would be a stupid decision.

And why is that? Because they don't believe in a god?

Is that a sufficient reason to look down upon them as human beings and alienate them? Is it right to try to use social pressure to force people into religion? Absolutely not.

And there is no reason that non-believers shouldn't be able to enjoy the holiday season just like anyone else.



razz: I'm talking more about the ads placed in America.
and any meaningful message you make is bound to offend someone. It shouldn't stop you from sharing your ideas.
nevertheless, saying "be good for goodness' sake" is accessible to nearly anyone, whereas "god truly exists" is not.


This post has been edited by Lightning on Nov 18 2008, 12:08 AM

I think Religion is just Opinion on how everything was created. Science says the Big Bang, most Religions say a God made everything. It's all just theories.

No one's stopping you from enjoying Christmas like everyone else, Lightning. I mean honestly, if people coming by caroling offends you (Just using an example here), it's common courtesy to simply listen and smile, regardless of what you believe; just the same if someone came by and sang to me about evolution, I'd smile. It's not like it effects me in any way whatsoever.

Just like if someone posts ads spreading a positive message about atheism/agnosticism/secularity/humanism, you'd sit there and smile.

I have to admit, at first I thought it was just a "stop believing in god because he's not true" type of deal.

But now that I read the site over, I do like the intent behind it, as it is just a "be as good as you naturally are, let no science, religion, theology or any other concept influence you."



Also, religion during the Christmas holiday is actually quite nice, even if you don't believe. I sing the Christmas carols, even the absolute religious ones, and go to church ceremonies and such. It's such a great feeling, and you don't need to be religious to enjoy it.

Woah hold on there cowboy. No need to get testy.

The church doesn't stomp on anybodies beliefs or alienate them (I don't see a password entry system on my church doors anyway). The church is open to anyone and everyone. If you say most Christians feel that the celebration of Christmas is an exclusive right, then...I don't know...you might have to show them to me. It's contradictory to their/our beliefs.

Well, yeah. It's not like it's affecting me in any way whatsoever.

But this isn't about me, it's about the majority of the people who are radical Christians who will take offense to this and raise (figuratively) hell because of it.

Then again, now that I read the site over, it isn't really that bad. But you know how people are about this kinda stuff. :\

djym: I feel the same way, actually. I find myself singing along and humming Christmas songs and such now and then, because they're associated with being in that whole "holiday season" mood.

a part of these ads isn't just to make non-believers feel less alienated. it could very well contribute toward providing a wider feeling of togetherness even among people of differing religions. why attribute the reason for celebration to a higher power, a subject on which several people disagree, when we can turn to ourselves and realize that the real reason we celebrate the winter holidays is to spend time with family and friends. perhaps that can help break some barriers for all of us.

I'm not saying that I personally am being denied the right to celebrate Christmas, and that's not what these ads are about, contrary to what Fox News' strawmen happen to be.


This post has been edited by Lightning on Nov 18 2008, 12:23 AM

And sitting idly because of it is OK?

If anything, the positive message this puts out should put the "radicals" in their place and maybe change how people in the US react to stuff like that.

People need to stop taking offense to their religion.