I think these signs could have a very real effect on children. There are probably many religious children who have not been exposed to the idea that there is no god. There is probably a period of a few years between learning to read and when your faith is ingrained enough that you reject the idea of atheism where a young child could start questioning religion, and maybe a few of them will become atheists because of this.
Many of us were theists, so I doubt you can say we don’t understand theism. As for the slogan, I doubt it can get any more laid back. It doesn’t say God doesn’t exist, it says he probably doesn’t exist, and all it asks of people is to relax.
We understand your beliefs just fine. It’s just that they are foolish beliefs with zero evidence for them even being possible, much less true. You are irrational, because you DENY rationality. You deny the need for evidence, or for your beliefs to make sense in any way. That’s what makes you irrational, not our supposed inability to understand your beliefs - which are pretty much the opposite of deep and profound to begin with. Incoherence and baselessness aren’t the same as profundity or complexity.
But that’s a good thing!
Although other atheists may disagree, I see these sorts of things not as preaching to the true believers, but as preaching to the “in the middle” folks. You know, people that go to church but don’t really believe it, they just go because their parents took them. So, they take their kids because that’s what you do. Maybe if more of these people thought about their beliefs they’d figure out they are atheists and that’s OK, and then not take the kids to church.
Just a little reminder for the religious to see the atheists are around. I like it. Having the sign on buses even shows atheists have a little power and respect.
Have you ever tried to understnd theists? Have you seriously tried to understand why people practice the religion they do? And I’m not talking about “I’ve talk to a few people and heard their opinions and took a class at the local community college” I mean a serious scientific survey on why people practice their religion and why they hold their beliefs. I’m talking about a serious anthropological or sociological study. Have you ever attempted that? Untill you have, I would argue you do not understand theistic belief.
If you don’t understand the object of your study, can you truly make a critical, serious analysis of it and then objectively support or deny it? And if you haven’t made that serious analysis of the subject, why should I take seriously anything you have to say about it? You’re simplly voicing your opinion.
I really want to see your qualifications for making such broad statements. You say religion is irrational, so what’s your proof of this? Are you qualified to offer such an opinion? Where’s the scientific, rational research that supports this? If you don’t have that, then, as I said before, you’re simply voicing your opinion on a subject, not offering anything significant to the dialogue.
It shows they have money and little bit of organisation. I’m not so sure that equals power, and it certainly doesn’t equal respect.
Actually, as I envision it, that would be money better spent. A bus full of atheists could travel the country, showing the world that they are not evil or immoral. We’re just normal folks who don’t believe. Many theists don’t come across many atheists in their lives or at least they don’t think that they do. Kinda like many straight people might think they don’t know any gay people. “The Atheist Bus Tour Campaign” could promote atheist awareness.
I’m going to make a stand here and lend my support to Der Trihs. I won’t presume to speak for him, but I’ll answer your questions with my own responses.
My proof is that every time a religious (supernatural) explanation is offered, either there is a perfectly rational, non supernatural explanation, or the situation is not fully understood and a scientific answer is not completely available. Even in this latter case, though, it is far more likely that a scientific answer exists even if we aren’t aware of it. I base this claim on the fact that science has steadily answered many of the questions religion has presumed to throughout the centuries. As for scientific , rational research. just consult any peer-reviewed scientific journal. In it, you will see the process of the scientific method at work, an integral processes needed to prove a claim. To my knowledge, religion has never followed any such logical scheme in proposing to answer questions about our universe.
Richard Dawkins, Atheism’s very own Jerry Falwell.
Forget whether it will be a “successful” campaign; I just think it’s great to get people talking openly about atheism. Most people don’t seem to even understand what atheism is.
The first I heard about this bus campaign was when it was reported on BBC radio London, where the erudite presenter Paul Ross immediately made comments including:
“Atheism is a religion too”
“I’m an agnostic because I’m not so arrogant as to think I know there’s no God”
“Evolution is just a theory”
“Scientists have admitted we don’t know why the eye evolved. The theory can’t explain it” (and that’s not a typo: he really said we don’t know why the eye evolved)
Sadly, Paul’s comments reflect well the general public perception and misconceptions, of atheism (oh, and evolution).
It might make the public tranport agency rethink it’s policy of selling ad space for religious messages. It would be even funnier if Satanists were doing this.
Yes, some people don’t know the difference between evolution and atheism, even some members of the atheist religion. 
I think this is more about getting the idea out there than actively converting people. I didn’t even know atheism was an option until I got to college, as a result of religious upbringing. I can’t be the only one.
I’ve just finished reading The God Delusion. Every single point he made was well argued and reasonable. Your comparison is ridiculous.
I find the notion incredibly difficult to comprehend. I am baffled that people can not understand the concept of atheism. It’s so simple and mindless a concept. Far less complex and mind-bending than actually believing in a God.
I think its just that most children don’t critically analyze things they are told, and if you’ve always been told there is a god, you tend not to consider options that exclude that belief.
Disclaimer: Atheist, because i just cannot accept this god fellow without seeing some sort of proof.
You’d be surprised at how many people don’t really think much about this sort of thing. They just go along with what they were raised with, or what the prevailing culture goes with.
What the “atheist movement” (the Richard Dawkins types) are trying to do is instill the value of critical thinking. To fight religion is to fight the religious mindset: the active denial of reality in favor of ancient myths. A society, especially a democracy, is better off when it’s citizens decide to put on their thinking caps instead of their religion caps.