Bus Boycott Because of Atheist Advertisement

[mav2097]

While watching the news last night there was a story about a sign being posted on 4 local buses. The sign says this:
"Millions of American are GOOD WITHOUT GOD"

The whole story can be found here:
http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2010/12/02/bus- ... thout-god/

As a nonbeliever, I have no qualms with this but some christian leaders in the area have decided to boycott the buses until the signs are removed. They have compared it to the Birmingham, AL boycott during the 60's(?).

My question is to christians:
Is it right for christian leaders to boycott these busses because of the advertisement? If so, why?

[Lux]

I voted "No, because it is their right to advertise what they wish".

I'm an atheist so obviously I wouldn't boycott because of this campaign, but I wouldn't boycott a company if they put up religious adds either. That's dangerously close to discrimination. In fact, I'm reminded of Third Reich boycotts against convenience stores owned by jews.

[McCulloch]

Some christian leaders in the area have decided to boycott the buses until the signs are removed.

That is their right. No one is forcing them to ride.

They have compared it to the Birmingham, AL boycott during the 60's(?).

It is also their right to look like idiots. The exercise of free speech is not something to be protested against like the famous injustice of racial segregation. They will lose any support they may have had from the moderates by such an inapt comparison.

My question is to christians:

You probably will not get too many Christians chiming in. They aught to be ashamed of their brethren's behavior. I would be.

[RDCH]

Hmm, you left out the poll option I would vote for.
"No, but I think it's inappropriate"

I think in the first place, that this way of spreading atheism is kind of provoking.
It's not because christians sent their missionaries everywhere to preach in the past centuries that atheists need to do the same with busses now.
I don't think that one sentence is compatible with the atheistic idea's. I'd have been more pleased with "Does God really exist?", a question open to debate and reason; not a mere propagandist statement.

But in any case, the Christian answer was even more inappropriate.
Why, would I (atheist) boycot the president for claiming that "God bless America"?

That's just my opinion...

[Lux]

I think in the first place, that this way of spreading atheism is kind of provoking.

I disagree that this is a way of "spreading atheism". For starters, it's not proven that one can spread atheism at all. No matter how compelling an argument you could present (and such an argument would surely not fit into a bus poster) there's no indication that you can alter a human's predisposition to believe or not believe in a god. It's not as easy as converting someone from a Methodist Church to a Baptist church.

It's not because christians sent their missionaries everywhere to preach in the past centuries that atheists need to do the same with busses now.
I don't think that one sentence is compatible with the atheistic idea's. I'd have been more pleased with "Does God really exist?", a question open to debate and reason; not a mere propagandist statement.

I doubt that was the intent. I think the ads serve two purposes: They assure atheists that there are others out there who don't believe, and they emphasize the idea that one can be a good, moral person without god.

Here's a video where one of the authors explains they wanted to spark debate about secular morality. You can also see a Fox reporter being biased

[cnorman18]

I live where this is happening, and the local media had a brief story on it. Doesn't seem to be a big deal, and I think the story will disappear without a ripple. Any "boycott" that happens won't make 1% of difference in the use of the buses here.

I believe in free speech on both sides, myself. People have the right to advocate beliefs, ideas and practices as they choose, and the right to disagree as well. Everyone has an inalienable right to make a fool of himself in any way he chooses, and that might, or might not, apply to both sides here, depending on one's point of view...

If anybody sees a bus advocating conversion to Judaism for non-Jews, let me know. THAT would be pretty weird.

[Kuan]

This is terrible. This isnt spreading atheism and its a constitutional right to say what they want.

[McCulloch]

I think in the first place, that this way of spreading atheism is kind of provoking.

These bus ads are not attempts to spread atheism. What they are attempting to do is to improve the acceptance of atheists. We exist, we have existed, we are good people, you probably know some of us, we don't sacrifice kittens, you might even be one. And it is OK. Really.

[RDCH]

I think in the first place, that this way of spreading atheism is kind of provoking.

These bus ads are not attempts to spread atheism. What they are attempting to do is to improve the acceptance of atheists. We exist, we have existed, we are good people, you probably know some of us, we don't sacrifice kittens, you might even be one. And it is OK. Really.

Hmm yes, I am an atheist. And freedom of speech means technically anyone can express his or her opinions, but that does not exclude that some might be inappropriate. Would you be fine with it if - suppose a Pedophile sect would exist - they put signs of "Pedophiles are good people. You shouldn't consider us outcasts because of our sexual preferences." After all, pedophiles are totally normal, they just have a different sexual preference (children).

I would have a problem with it because it sounds immoral to me. Atheism looks immoral to theists too...

On the other hand, I just can't grasp it that America so violently excludes atheists, or as Bush Senior would put it " Atheists are not American citizens".
That situation is unimaginable for me, and perhaps that explains why I think it is inappropriate, because in Belgium this was never done.

[Kuan]

I think in the first place, that this way of spreading atheism is kind of provoking.

These bus ads are not attempts to spread atheism. What they are attempting to do is to improve the acceptance of atheists. We exist, we have existed, we are good people, you probably know some of us, we don't sacrifice kittens, you might even be one. And it is OK. Really.

Hmm yes, I am an atheist. And freedom of speech means technically anyone can express his or her opinions, but that does not exclude that some might be inappropriate. Would you be fine with it if - suppose a Pedophile sect would exist - they put signs of "Pedophiles are good people. You shouldn't consider us outcasts because of our sexual preferences." After all, pedophiles are totally normal, they just have a different sexual preference (children).

Because its against the law.

Better example I think is the BGLT community.

I would have a problem with it because it sounds immoral to me. Atheism looks immoral to theists too...

On the other hand, I just can't grasp it that America so violently excludes atheists, or as Bush Senior would put it " Atheists are not American citizens".
That situation is unimaginable for me, and perhaps that explains why I think it is inappropriate, because in Belgium this was never done.

No, I am a theist and I dont believe atheism to be immoral at all. There are many theists who dont hold that view while a lot of them, probably fundamentalists, do hold the view.