# "There's Probably No God: Stop Worrying & Enjoy Life": Who's This Supposed to Appeal To? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 4, 2010, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-probably-no-god-stop-worrying-enjoy-life-whos-this-supposed-to-appeal-to/527707 "2010-02-04T19:55:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-probably-no-god-stop-worrying-enjoy-life-whos-this-supposed-to-appeal-to/527707/21 "2010-02-04T23:26:32Z")
> [@bup](#): > > It’s aimed at people engaged in Pascal’s wager - people who are following some religion or doing what some religion says they should only because they fear the consequences in the afterlife. I don’t think you understand Pascal’s Wager; or at least, you’re spinning it in a direction Pascal didn’t intend. As I understand it: you might as well behave as if God exists, because you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-probably-no-god-stop-worrying-enjoy-life-whos-this-supposed-to-appeal-to/527707/22 "2010-02-04T23:44:39Z")
It’s a stupid slogan. An Atheist. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-probably-no-god-stop-worrying-enjoy-life-whos-this-supposed-to-appeal-to/527707/23 "2010-02-05T00:03:03Z")
Who is _any_ kind of religious sloganeering or advertising supposed to appeal to? Is crap like “No Jesus, No Peace. Know Jesus, Know Peace” supposed to be convincing to anybody. I’m indifferent to the atheist sign, but the urban landscape is littered with religious crap which never has any more wit or persuasive value than the atheist sign, and which frequently has just the opposite effect. If nothing else, maybe it gives religionists a small taste of their own medicine. It’s obnoxious, innit? ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-probably-no-god-stop-worrying-enjoy-life-whos-this-supposed-to-appeal-to/527707/24 "2010-02-05T00:35:24Z")
I imagine it’s aimed at people who are walking around with their backs up looking for an excuse to rail on a message board against anyone who questions some point that can never be objectively settled one way or the other. Those people in particular might be happier if they relaxed a bit even though the majority of theists are perfectly happy anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-probably-no-god-stop-worrying-enjoy-life-whos-this-supposed-to-appeal-to/527707/25 "2010-02-05T01:49:52Z")
I’m American, agnostic, and think it’s a very odd ad. It does come off as confrontational; I can’t see the purpose of it, and am curious who would go out of their way to put that on a bus? ---
**Author:** ![Mrs.Cake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2acd7d/32.png) [@Mrs.Cake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrs.Cake)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-probably-no-god-stop-worrying-enjoy-life-whos-this-supposed-to-appeal-to/527707/26 "2010-02-05T02:08:16Z")
It’s sort of like the billboard I see every day on the way to work that says “Heaven or Hell: It’s Your Choice” with appropriate cloud and fire graphics. Who is that aimed at? Presumably anyone who really believes in heaven & hell is already working toward the destination of their choice and others like me, are merely mildy annoyed by the lack of a third option. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-probably-no-god-stop-worrying-enjoy-life-whos-this-supposed-to-appeal-to/527707/27 "2010-02-05T03:14:39Z")
> [@Cat\_Fight](#): > > I can see it speaking to people who have been raised religiously, realized they’re atheists and feel really guilty about it. Religion and hell were a big deal, leaving their religion and coming out to family was a big deal, and now they have trouble believing that simple lack of belief can be just that – simple. I have a friend a bit like this, who was raised as a super devout Christian, became a religion-obsessed atheist, and is now a great, well-rounded person who does a lot of charity work and just happens not to believe in a god. > > Just my two cents. I agree. It’s a reassurance that you are not the only sane man. > [@kanicbird](#): > > IMHO using the word ‘Probably’ introduces doubt in the mind of the reader and would do more harm to the atheistic cause by sabotaging their message. I think this demonstrates how little you understand atheists. If atheists were susceptible to such a meagre argument for theism, they would not be atheists in the first place - they would have converted the first time some bible thumper walked up to them and said “Jesus loves you.” ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-probably-no-god-stop-worrying-enjoy-life-whos-this-supposed-to-appeal-to/527707/28 "2010-02-05T03:31:32Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > I think this demonstrates how little you understand atheists. If atheists were susceptible to such a meagre argument for theism, they would not be atheists in the first place - they would have converted the first time some bible thumper walked up to them and said “Jesus loves you.” Think about who this ad is aimed at and then start from the beginning and try again, is my suggestion. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-probably-no-god-stop-worrying-enjoy-life-whos-this-supposed-to-appeal-to/527707/29 "2010-02-05T04:56:46Z")
IMO, when someone asks “how can anyone find this ad persuasive?”, they’re underestimating the broad spectrum of opinions out there. There are thousands of people that are a camel-hair away from dropping their religion. This is for them. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-probably-no-god-stop-worrying-enjoy-life-whos-this-supposed-to-appeal-to/527707/30 "2010-02-05T06:38:09Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > Think about who this ad is aimed at and then start from the beginning and try again, is my suggestion. Well, the website says > [@](#): > > The advertisements were designed as a response to particular hellfire-and-brimstone adverts; our slogan is an affirmation for people that it’s OK not to be religious; that if you are not religious, there is absolutely no reason to worry about that, and that one can lead a happy, enjoyable and rewarding life without religion. so I’m guessing that it’s aimed towards insecure atheists. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-probably-no-god-stop-worrying-enjoy-life-whos-this-supposed-to-appeal-to/527707/31 "2010-02-05T06:51:23Z")
Indeed or perhaps more likely the agnostic or wavering religious. It sure as heck ain’t aimed at the distinctly atheist, as \*\*Grumman’s \*\*post seems to assume. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-probably-no-god-stop-worrying-enjoy-life-whos-this-supposed-to-appeal-to/527707/32 "2010-02-05T07:58:59Z")
I think it’s been written by someone like my grandfather, or adressed to people like him. My grandfather is officially an atheist. Officially. He’s also convinced that, if God exists, he’ll burn in Hell. Rather than being convinced that God doesn’t exist, he tries to hope that God doesn’t exist… ---
**Author:** ![Staggerlee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/staggerlee/32/3134_2.png) [@Staggerlee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Staggerlee)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-probably-no-god-stop-worrying-enjoy-life-whos-this-supposed-to-appeal-to/527707/33 "2010-02-05T12:46:34Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > From the press at the time, the word “probably” was introduced by the Advertising Standards Authority which ruled (without the requisite philosophical authority, IMO) that there was no definite negative proof, so the original statement could not be used. Can this be the case? Surely the ASA allows religious advertising without this caveat? There is, after all, no proof that religion’s ‘products’ work, either. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-probably-no-god-stop-worrying-enjoy-life-whos-this-supposed-to-appeal-to/527707/34 "2010-02-05T13:27:15Z")
I can’t see the need for concern amongst the religious about the atheists’ ad convincing someone to drop their belief in God. After all, the pro-religion bumper stickers, church marquees warning of doom in the absence of devoutness, the frequent doctrinal announcements from the pope and other religious bigwigs, and the mailings urging us to attend one church or another don’t have any impact, so why worry about the atheists’ bus ad? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-probably-no-god-stop-worrying-enjoy-life-whos-this-supposed-to-appeal-to/527707/35 "2010-02-05T13:32:21Z")
Acceptance _and encouragement_ for people who do not think all humankind’s answers lie in religion, is a very much needed point of view in modern society, from my way of thinking. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-probably-no-god-stop-worrying-enjoy-life-whos-this-supposed-to-appeal-to/527707/36 "2010-02-05T14:06:54Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > I don’t think you understand Pascal’s Wager; or at least, you’re spinning it in a direction Pascal didn’t intend. A little of both. I understand it as “in case there is a God, you should behave as if there is.” I stated it a little more cynically, because I thought it fit the “enjoy life” part of the slogan. Maybe I misunderstand Pascal’s wager, but the link looks like I had the meaning of the bus ad correct - it’s in response to a Christian ad saying you’ll burn forever if you don’t believe as they do. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-probably-no-god-stop-worrying-enjoy-life-whos-this-supposed-to-appeal-to/527707/37 "2010-02-05T14:20:42Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > I think you’re overthinking it. I think the ad is designed to make you think. And it’s working. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-probably-no-god-stop-worrying-enjoy-life-whos-this-supposed-to-appeal-to/527707/38 "2010-02-05T14:37:50Z")
FWIW, I agree with **kanicbird**. Whatever the true intent of the advert (and noted that the insertion was imposed by a regulator), the presence of the word ‘probably’ seems to defeat the apparent purpose of the message itself. For example, a sign outside a restaurant reading “There’s probably no _E. coli_ in our burgers: stop worrying and enjoy your lunch” would have the exact opposite effect from its stated goal of stopping people from worrying and enabling them to enjoy lunch. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-probably-no-god-stop-worrying-enjoy-life-whos-this-supposed-to-appeal-to/527707/39 "2010-02-05T14:40:06Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > IMO, when someone asks “how can anyone find this ad persuasive?”, they’re underestimating the broad spectrum of opinions out there. There are thousands of people that are a camel-hair away from dropping their religion. This is for them. Well, why not just put a camel hair on the bus then? 😃 > [@Mangetout](#): > > FWIW, I agree with **kanicbird**. Whatever the true intent of the advert (and noted that the insertion was imposed by a regulator), the presence of the word ‘probably’ seems to defeat the apparent purpose of the message itself. > > For example, a sign outside a restaurant reading “There’s probably no _E. coli_ in our burgers: stop worrying and enjoy your lunch” would have the exact opposite effect from its stated goal (that of stopping people from worrying and enabling them to enjoy lunch). I think there’s a much deeper implicit message, which is that even if there _is_ a god, the odds of you selecting the correct religion to please Him are pretty fucking slim. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-probably-no-god-stop-worrying-enjoy-life-whos-this-supposed-to-appeal-to/527707/40 "2010-02-05T14:47:20Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I think there’s a much deeper implicit message, which is that even if there _is_ a god, the odds of you selecting the correct religion to please Him are pretty fucking slim. Well, OK, but who ever selected their religion by tombola? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-probably-no-god-stop-worrying-enjoy-life-whos-this-supposed-to-appeal-to/527707.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-probably-no-god-stop-worrying-enjoy-life-whos-this-supposed-to-appeal-to/527707.md?page=3)