http://www.pledgebank.com/atheistbus Comments on 'pay £5 towards the campaign to put an atheist advert on the side of a London bus' en-gb team@pledgebank.com 1901-01-01T00:00+00:00 2 hourly http://www.pledgebank.com/atheistbus#comment_2673265 Just came across this via NSS website today (6th Aug 08) I would pledge a £5 /100% Natural http://www.pledgebank.com/atheistbus#comment_2672922 http://www.secularism.org.uk/join.html http://www.pledgebank.com/atheistbus#comment_2670758 This idea needs to be marketed better. I would donate monthly to an organization that puts out messages of wisdom to the general public. Religion is oppressive, it's time to dilute and dissolve it's influence! Atheists! Stop the apathy! Spread rationalism and clear thinking! http://www.pledgebank.com/atheistbus#comment_2669951 "The so-called radical atheists simply aren't as numerous or popular as they think." No, the so-called radical atheists aren't as numerous as theists claim they are. We're not out to invade your lives and convert your children, unlike many theists. And this pledge isn't a charity. Perhaps instead atheists are giving their money on charity, whilst some Christians spend vast amounts of sums on preaching... (at £23,400 an advert for just two weeks, it scares me to think just how much Christians are spending on this). http://www.pledgebank.com/atheistbus#comment_2669258 Actually, Tom Bryant, studies (i.e. not statistics you made up to prove some spurious point) have shown that the people who self-identify as Athiests are often MORE ethical and generous. This is doubly true when you consider that they give to real charities rather than propping up their own propaganda machine - the 'Church'. The reason for so few donations here, is likely to be that most Atheists don't see the need to advertise the truth. Those that want to send a message will find it tough to agree on a message because their are individuals and not an slavish group of followers. How about: "No Santa. No fairies. No god.". Wouldn't want to upset the little kids who can read though...;) http://www.pledgebank.com/atheistbus#comment_2668923 Tom Bryant has a point, although it comes as no surprise. Organising atheists is akin to herding cats, due to their propensity for thinking for themselves. Theists, on the other hand, are quite the opposite. They are very easy to mould, muster and arrange - hence the collective noun - 'flock'. They seem to require someone, or something, to tell them what to do, and to follow it with little or no question. Compliance and malleability seem to be necessary components of the religious. However, I'd be interested to see any evidence for these 'studies' about comparative charitable giving between atheists and theists. A quick search produced nothing to support this claim, although it did show that two of the largest charitable donations in history have come from atheists: Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, who between them, have stumped up ~$40 billion. Not too shoddy. Perhaps Tom simply has 'faith' that his claim is true? Evidence, of course, has always been optional for the religious.... http://www.pledgebank.com/atheistbus#comment_2667775 877 pledges is amazing and very encouraging for a campaign with no press or funding, which started as a tiny idea barely six weeks ago. Thank you very much if you signed up. You helped the slogan to reach the national news, and many more people saw it than would have otherwise. The latest post on the campaign is here: http://arianesherine.blogspot.com/2008/08/wheels-on-bus-go-round-and-round.html http://www.pledgebank.com/atheistbus#comment_2667113 This comes as no surprize; studies have shown atheists to be less giving to charity causes in general. What is really interesting, from the perspective of a believer such as myself, is that the reason for this may be that the vast majority of atheists are of the "live and let live" variety (of which this "in-your-face" kind of action doesn't appeal to). The so-called radical atheists simply aren't as numerous or popular as they think. http://www.pledgebank.com/atheistbus#comment_2665982 Couldn't put the money where one's mouth is? ;D (quite literally too!!!) Right up there with the other famous Bushizms, like threatening suicide bombers with the death penalty, why would I care about other peoples' 'misguided beliefs' if there is no 'reward' in it for me??? Their self-imposed restrictions mean all the more opportunities for betterment of my life! :D http://www.pledgebank.com/atheistbus#comment_2662155 Basic idea, the principle, is great. I'd have gone for it. Would have liked to see a little more examination of the advertising opportunities - which buses, where, when, etc - when the total money was pledged. But I'm not a regular or frequent Guardian reader. Only saw this in The Times. Too late. http://www.pledgebank.com/atheistbus#comment_2657764 I've just signed up (on the last day) having read about it in the Times. Lots of people would do it slightly differently - change the wording, cheaper options, but it's not their idea or my idea. So if you support it in principle then sign up. Anything else is just nit-picking or inaction. http://www.pledgebank.com/atheistbus#comment_2652283 I'm assuming that you're thinking of doing a campaign based around the Bendy Bus streetliners format? You should make it clearer, as well as linking out to CBS' ratecard and explain what you're planning. http://www.pledgebank.com/atheistbus#comment_2651818 I think it is a good slogan as it keeps the debate going. For the enlightened it can be all too easy to forget what it is like to still believe in 'god' (dog if you're dyslexic) and with so many people without the internet too, this must be a good thing. The Humanist oganisation could do something like this as well if they wanted to, but this is just atheists whom are refering to known organised religions, that we know are based on bunkam http://www.pledgebank.com/atheistbus#comment_2650382 Is there perhaps some way that you could come up with a more affirming and slightly less antagonistic sounding pledge. I have read lots of comments to this effect. I would be more than happy to sign up to something that truly reflected my values as an atheist but am hesitant to support a slogan which reads a little like a backlash http://www.pledgebank.com/atheistbus#comment_2649948 I'd like to sign up for this type of pledge, but this slogan seems ill thought out. It sounds unsupportive, uncaring and trite. And surely "probably" gives the wrong message too. I would prefer a more assertive slogan which if possible conveys a caring attitude. Whatever we do as non-believers and humanists needs to be thought through. We need to be constructive. This slogan is not the right one, though the principle of advertising this way is fine, especially if we've decided exactly why we are doing it and what we want to achieve. http://www.pledgebank.com/atheistbus#comment_2623453 Brilliant project - agree with previous points about using a (series of) cheaper bus advert if this ambitious total isn't met. I hope this campaign goes on beyond this pledgebank effort - I'd have pledged more than a fiver! Maybe open it up for a choice for slogans (press opportunities there?), and aim at getting railway stations too perhaps. http://www.pledgebank.com/atheistbus#comment_2614054 I have signed this pledge but I object to the word "probably" http://www.pledgebank.com/atheistbus#comment_2612792 More affermative and definitive message I suggest. God created man/False Man created God/True. God is nothing but human imagination. http://www.pledgebank.com/atheistbus#comment_2608060 Thanks for supporting the idea. I've written another post on the campaign here: http://arianesherine.blogspot.com/2008/07/kindness-of-strangers.html http://www.pledgebank.com/atheistbus#comment_2605152 I reckon if they object to the suggested slogan, how about a quote from the bible such as the one about eating seafood being an abomination? or the bloke who volunteers his daughter to get raped instead of his mate? or the whore who gets chopped up into pieces. those'd be good to put on the side of a bus and you can say "well it's in the bible"