Church Times - Atheist bus complaints

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Atheist bus complaints

09/01/2009 01:00:00

It seems I was wrong when I said that "Almost every Christian seems to be in support of the [Atheist bus] campaign".

Andrew Brown reports that religious affairs commentator Clifford Longley is among those who have complained to the Advertising Standards Authority about the Atheist bus adverts. The details are in his post: "Probably" probably wrong.

A number of other news reports focus on Stephen Green and "Christian Voice" who have also complained about the adverts:

Telegraph: Atheist bus adverts could lead to watchdog ruling on God's existence
Times: Atheist adverts reported to industry watchdog
BBC: 'No God' campaign draws complaint

The sad thing is that Christian Voice will be seen as representing Christians as a whole, which is far from being the case. Stephen Green last made the news pages of the Church Times in August last year by the way - see BBC pursues costs of blasphemy case.

Meanwhile Atheists in Australia have been barred from advertising in a similar manner - see the Sydney Morning Herald: Atheist message misses local bus. Their campaign was to have included slogans such as "Sleep in on Sunday mornings" and "Celebrate reason".

I think it is disgusting that such a campaign should be mounted. There is an Almighty God who looks down on us and we shall incur his wrath.

Rosemary Cather | 09/01/2009 12:35:10

Christian Voice will not be seen as representing Christians as a whole ,any more than The Church Times will.

MargaretRowling | 09/01/2009 16:59:48

the other claim in the ad is false too: research on Christian faith and happiness shows that faith increases your levels of enjoyment and reduces worry.

I love the quotation marks around "Christian Voice", well said.

David Keen | 10/01/2009 07:38:39

Stephen Green provides endless amusement to both Christians and Humanists alike - as long as people don't think we're all as barmy as him!

Fr David Heron | 12/01/2009 15:59:21

Atheist bus campaigns!, next thing you know, the church of England will be the church of Atheism. I hate England and other Countrys what support Atheism, shame on you.

Neeraj Pall | 12/01/2009 19:08:31

Longley'scomplaint (if indeed it is genuine and not a hoax) is lifted almost verbatim from a religious website (not Christian).

Robert Saunders | 13/01/2009 11:38:53

As a corrective, I'd love to get a bus going round with something on the side like "Liberal Anglicanism: Not Telling You What To Think Since 1662". How much do bus ads cost?

Mr Book Shopper | 13/01/2009 12:39:03

There probably is no Dennis Scania, which does not stop Mr.Longley telling us what he says.

There probably is no God, which has never stopped religious people telling us what he says.

Steven Carr | 15/01/2009 18:42:53