Globe and Mail: Atheists hope (don’t pray) to bring ads to Toronto

Posted by Kendall Harmon

The atheist slogan, "There is probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life," may soon be coming to subways and buses in Canada's largest city.

The Toronto-based Freethought Association of Canada, inspired by a campaign that has plastered British buses with the phrase, has contacted the private firm that handles ads on the Toronto Transit Commission to see if the message would violate any rules. Organizers plan to launch a fundraising page on the website atheistbus.ca in the next few days.

The British campaign, which has inspired similar moves in Washington, Barcelona and Madrid, has sparked complaints to the country's advertising authority and a backlash from the evangelical group Christian Voice, which has proclaimed that Britain is in "deep sin."

Read it all.

Filed under: * Culture-Watch • Religion & Culture • * International News & Commentary • Canada • * Religion News & Commentary • Other Faiths • Atheism

5 Comments
Posted January 17, 2009 at 9:50 am [Printer Friendly] [Print w/ comments]



1. Bill C wrote:

“... probably ...” indicates at least a small percentage of uncertainty in favour of the existence and presence of God.  I always thought that the atheist maintains conclusively that there is no god. 
I read the bus ad as saying to people: “if there is even the slightest chance that God exists, you are very, very foolish not to make absolutely sure of that since, if He does exist, there is no more goal in life than to discover the implications of that possibility.

January 17, 12:20 pm | [comment link]
2. libraryjim wrote:

Counter ad:
Do you really want to stake eternity on “probably”?

January 17, 12:22 pm | [comment link]
3. Harvey wrote:

I guess I am fortunate. I don’t have to read all the ads spoken of.  We are still a free country with a right to speak.  However if some try to riot - then throw them into jail.

Famous quotation: Freedom of speech does not mean you can yell FIRE in a crowded theatre ( unless the place is burning down ).

Another happening: It was said that in a famous Chicago park there was a gathering place called “Nuthouse Square”.  One day a citizen complained to a police officer asking him why he didn’t kick out these people standing on soapboxes that comlained about how things were not right with the US government.  The officer paused, thought for a minute then spoke “..what are they doing against the law? They are exercising their freedom of speech.  Now if they advocate violent overthrow of our government I will be one of the first to wade in and break up things.  On the other hand you are free to get your own soapbox, stand on it, and speak - so long as you do not advocate violent overthrow of our government.

January 17, 1:21 pm | [comment link]
4. Now Orthodox wrote:

Atheist: 
There is no God
God is omniscient.
Therefore the atheist is God for only God is omniscient.
Result is there is no atheist only God and God doesn’t believe He himself exists.
.......................................................................................
I am amazed at the conceit of someone who declares that there is no God when greater minds than theirs, throughout all of time, have pondered the concept, reality and existence of God.  Many have come to an altogether different conclusion than athesits.

January 17, 11:08 pm | [comment link]
5. Rev. Patti Hale wrote:

Who’s worrying??
Following Jesus Christ brings a profound joy and peace.

January 18, 5:56 am | [comment link]
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