Chicago joins atheist bus campaign
28 May 2009 by Stardust
My hometown of Chicago has joined in the atheist bus campaign and their slogan is a bit more blunt than the others have been.
CHICAGO — For the past week, 25 buses from the Chicago Transit Authority have been bearing an unusual advertising slogan.
The large ads read “In the Beginning, Man Created God,’’ and they’re scheduled to remain on the sides of the buses through June. They’re part of an effort by the Indiana Atheist Bus Campaign, with the help of the American Humanist Association.
The board that runs South Bend’s city bus system recently agreed to allow ads on that city’s buses reading: “You can be good without God.’’
The group had hoped to have the ads installed on 20 South Bend buses before President Barack Obama’s appearance at the University of Notre Dame last Sunday, but that move was delayed.
Bloomington, Indiana’s city bus service recently rejected similar ads, prompting a lawsuit.
While atheists say these signs are conversation starters, some are saying they are attack ads. What do you think? Conversation starter or attack ad?
Personally, I don’t care what people think, it’s just neat that we are getting our sign space like all the rest. If other groups can place their advertisements about non-believers going to hell, and trying to woo people into the various religions and cults, then a counterpoint is in order.
28 May 2009, on 6:20 pm
One of the comments following the article was: “Sounds like hate speech to me. It wouldn’t be right for a Christian group to plaster “Athiests are going to hell.” on a bus. Why feel the need to completely belittle someone’s belief system?”
How is stating that man created god belittling anyone’s belief system? It is an alternative opinion. Just as Islam is an alternative opinion about god. They posted an ad too: http://www.callingislam.com/latest-news/141-south-florida-muslims-use-bus-ads-hotline-to-counter-qobsessionq-dvd-campaign.html
An ad such as “Christians are mindless sheep” might qualify as belittling, but then you’d have to wonder if Jesus was belittling his followers when he called them his “folk” and referred to himself as the good “shepherd”.
28 May 2009, on 6:35 pm
If this an attack ad then every fucking religious billboard, bus ad, TV commercial, what have you is also an attack ad.
28 May 2009, on 7:22 pm
Religion relies on people’s ability to believe things that don’t make any sense. They call it faith, we call it… teh stupid?
When I see a billboard that purports to quote god, or some such thing, I can just shrug and say, “That’s stupid.”
Religious people don’t have that luxury. They know their beliefs are nonsensical; that’s kind of the point. Any mention of it is an attack on their fragile faith. It’s tough to believe nonsensical things with no eveidence whatsoever, when people are saying opposing things that make perfect sense and are backed up by history and facts.
28 May 2009, on 7:25 pm
How is stating that man created god belittling anyone’s belief system?
It’s not belittling anyone’s belief system, it’s simply stating the atheists beliefs. Whenever god botherers plaster their threats of hell, etc they say that is expression of their beliefs even though it is a violent threat (imaginary, but still not very nice). All the atheists are saying is their viewpoint that humans create gods. Putting up signs that say Christians are asshats would be derogatory, like Lynda pointed out with the “Christians are mindless sheep” would be belittling. But simply stating our belief about religion and god in general is in no way belittling anyone.
However, I have had Christians in my own family say that when we belittle or speak against their imaginary friend, we are speaking against them also.
If we say hurtful things about their imaginary friend, it hurts them. If we deny their god, then we are denying part of them. Then when I said that when they tell me I am going to hell, that is wishing some horrible thing on me and they turn around and say they are telling me that “out of love”. 
28 May 2009, on 7:28 pm
They know their beliefs are nonsensical; that’s kind of the point.
And that’s why they get their panties in a knot when they see “there is no god” in print. There are their doubts right in front of their faces in big, tall letters.
29 May 2009, on 12:08 am
These ads are an attack against stupidity. This is an important first step towards the complete eradication of religious insanity from America.
29 May 2009, on 12:09 am
Young children will see this ads and they will realize their Christian parents are morons.
29 May 2009, on 9:44 am
Love the atheist bus signs, the more the better. It is not the point but I certainly enjoy that these signs upset xtians so much. The one I want to see is:
Religion is a Fraud -
Guard Your Wallet
29 May 2009, on 1:41 pm
I really like the “In the beginning, man created god” slogan better than the original, “God is probably not real…” one. This has more bite to it; it’s straight to the point. I’m sure the religionists will interpret it as an attack, but they do that with anything that has the potential to shake their silly beliefs.
I hope this campaign keeps going like the Energizer Bunny!
29 May 2009, on 1:48 pm
IMO, that’s the best, actual, bus sign…so far.
However…
gruntled atheist?…^^ That’s a great slogan. You really ought to submit that to whomever.
Perhaps, of course, for a little personal, Wallet fattening…’royalty’ reward?
Totally OT…
Me thinks “Rush Limpballs”, RE SCOTUS nominee, Sotomayor, has recently, and definitively, demonstrated that he’s reached the final, terminal, stage in the evolution of his ‘Manic Fucktardism’; which is a stage WAY beyond ‘Terminal Asshole-ism’!
30 May 2009, on 2:44 pm
“Then when I said that when they tell me I am going to hell, that is wishing some horrible thing on me and they turn around and say they are telling me that “out of love”. ”
Stardust: A quote from Kurt Vonnegut comes to mind:
“Love is where you find it. I think it is foolish to go looking for it, and I think it can often be poisonous.
“I wish that people who are conventionally supposed to love each other would say to each other, when they fight, “Please–a little less love, and a little more common decency.”"
30 May 2009, on 2:58 pm
“Sounds like hate speech to me.”
Xtians find the statement “In the beggining, man created god” to be “hate speech” (a ludicrously over-used label, BTW) because it appeals to their rational side (everyone, I believe, is capable of rational thought, even if they are not generally rational) and their rational side is entirely anathema to their religious delusion.
They also find it distasteful because it expresses the atheist’s beliefs. They want us to respect their belief system, while not expecting to have to return the respect in like.
“It wouldn’t be right for a Christian group to plaster “Athiests are going to hell.””
“Woudn’t be right” is debatable, but it certainly wouldn’t be very polite or constructive, however:
1. (as Lynda stated) These aren’t equivalent statements
2. Having no belief in hell, the statement would be meaningless to me if there wasn’t an underlying dualistic venom behind it
3. Many Christians make this statement on a regular basis, either explicity, or implicitly. It’s in their holy book–by believing in this holy book, they are confirming their belief that all non-believers are indeed hellward-bound.
“Why feel the need to completely belittle someone’s belief system?”
Because a stupid belief is a stupid belief is a stupid belief. If I find a belief stupid or dangerous, nothing about that belief should make it beyond reproach. Let’s distinguish between people and their beliefs; I’m not attacking you personally; just your stupid belief system. And actually, all I was doing was expressing my beliefs.
Meanwhile, so many religious believers have no qualms about belittling non-believers (and those of other faiths).
Really, this world would be a much better place if everyone could just get over themselves.