Starting this week, the Freedom From Religion Foundation is sponsoring 100 ads on Seattle buses that feature a picture of Santa Claus and the words, "Yes, Virginia... there is no God." This is a play on the famous "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus" answer to 8-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon in the New York Sun newspaper in 1897. She had written to the Sun, saying, "Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, 'If you see it in THE SUN it's so.' Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?" The atheist bus campaigns are a relatively new phenomenon. They began with one in the United Kingdom just last year. Since then, bus campaigns have occured in various cities in the United States, Canada, Finland, Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, Spain, Italy and Australia. The original bus ad in the UK read, "There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life." This new FFRF slogan in Seattle is considerably more provocative... by design.
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Dan Barker, Foundation co-president said, "Most people think December is for Christians and view our solstice signs as an intrusion, when actually it's the other way around. People have been celebrating the winter solstice long before Christmas. We see Christianity as the intruder, trying to steal the natural holiday from all of us humans."
"We nonbelievers don't mind sharing the season with Christians, but we think there should be some acknowledgment that Christians really 'stole' the trimmings of Christmas, and the sun-god myths, from pagans," added Foundation co-president, Annie Laurie Gaylor.
According to its website, the 14,000+ member Freedom From Religion Foundation "is an educational group working for the separation of state and church. Its purposes, as stated in its bylaws, are to promote the constitutional principle of separation of state and church, and to educate the public on matters relating to nontheism."
The 100 "Yes, Virginia... there is no God" ads will appear on the exterior of the Seattle buses. There will be an additional 300 interior ads featuring 6 quotations from 5 famous non-believers; Richard Dawkins (scientist and author of The God Delusion), Clarence Darrow (defense attorney in the 1925 Scopes "Monkey" Trial), poet Emily Dickenson, actress Katherine Hepburn and actress Butterfly McQueen (played the maid "Prissy" in Gone With the Wind).
The bus campaign is timed to coincide with the FFRF's 32nd annual convention in Seattle, Nov. 6-8, 2009.
Photo Credits:
1) Angry deity (from Monty Python)
2) The FFRF bus ad
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Comments
Excellent, it's about time that people start hearing from Atheists. Religion has gotten a free pass for too long. If people started living this life the world would be a better place.
Yeah, I really glad the Athiests are out trying to destroy little kids Christmas time. It's not just about supporting a religious holiday but getting together with family & friends & enjoy life. Some of us like that sort of thing, you know family time. And for newstogod here is a little news for you. Our country was founded on religion & if you don't like it getting a free pass since we are provided Freedom from religious persecution get the hell out. Oh, I am actually sorry because it is your right to spit on 80% of the country like this administration is doing to us. Enjoy your pathetic life & go blow yourself.
Oh, neoconjames is such the loving Christian! Yuletide is all about family & friends -- no need to lard it with the baby Jesus mythos. ALL the traditions that children enjoy -- trees, tinsel, presents, sweets -- are based in Yule and not in Christianity. neoconjames is ignorant of U. S. history, as well. You want to live in a theocracy, you move to Iran.
"Enjoy your pathetic life & go blow yourself."
Ah yes... the love of Christ right there, folks.
@neoconjames: Ah, another compassionate conservative is here to spread democracy and goodwill! Lucky us.
Why do they fight so hard against God, if they don't believe there is one? DAAAAAAAA
I really dont understand these damn atheists. they scare our children at an early age when we try to raise them as christians or whatever religion you follow by saying things like "there is no god, no heaven, no life after this life, nothing except oblivion and darkness. [We] will have no thoughts, no feelings. Nothing of the sort." Quote unquote from my atheist friend. I swear if i ever find an atheist trying to tell my child this ill beat the hell out of him. GOD BLESS AMERICA you stupid sons of bitches
"Religion" is not "God." Religion was created by man to make himself feel closer to God by performing acts or observing/remembering certain events in history.
God would prefer that none would perish without knowing the utter joy and peace that comes from inviting Jesus into your heart. An atheist can't understand this relationship because he doesn't believe in something he can't see - or won't believe in something that restricts his own life.
Oh, and God already knew people would turn the backs He created against Him:
"For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." --2 Timothy 4:3-4
I am an atheist, and like most atheists, I'd love for people to take the blinders off and embrace life without superstition, but I don't think bus ads like this one will achieve anything good for this movement. All these ads will do, I'm afraid, is inflame people and create hate. I think the efforts of groups like this foundation would be better spent on charitable work in the name of atheists, or even on late night infomercials pointing out of the defects in religious texts, instead of useless, inflammatory campaigns like this one.
Saw this article and just smiled and smiled!
I think it's of critical importance to "get in the face" of America, so to speak.
"First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win." - Mahatma Gandhi
We're in the ridicule stage. For comparison, gay marriage is in the "fighting" stage and after a few more years we WILL have equality (something Christians just LOVE) for gay people. Interracial marriage is an issue that's been won, but a mere 50 years ago over 90% of the country was against it.
Atheists who say "We should just be nice and get along" can kiss me where the sun don't shine. We should speak the truth as we see it, stand in our convictions, and welcome whatever fight may come.
Because we can win whatever fight that comes, because we have morality, ethics, and a long history of secular humanism behind us. What do they have? A god who will strike down their enemies? Ok...
I'm waaaaaiting!
That's an interesting perspective, American Atheist, and one with a lot of merit because it has worked before. But I have some concern that HOW we win also affects WHAT we win. When we make an unproveable absolutist statement like "there is no god," we end up playing the same game as theists who claim absolutely that there is one. Ending up with acceptance as just another team on the playing field isn't enough for me. I want to change the playing field itself. I care less about whether people believe in gods or not than HOW they reach their conclusions. Acceptance of naturalism and critical thinking as a way of looking at problems is as important as the conclusions resulting from them. People valuing accuracy more than the playoff standing of their team is what I count as a win.
Then Hugh, you must support the "in your face" method because that is an efficient way to get people's attention. Exposure to an idea promotes acceptance of it and while I think the absolute phrases have an inital "shock" value to them, I think that by forcing people to think about it we are doing exactly what you want - we are creating the "HOW" by creating moments where beleifs must be defended. Is there a better way to teach critical thinking than to force people to defend their most deeply-held beleifs?
I understand your fear of becoming another player on the field, but I would liken it to a different position in the game - because bald is not a hair color, it's a new thing to do with your head, and usually comes afer a lot of experience.
Thanks for the thoughts Hugh, I appreciate it.
P.S. And when I say it causes beliefs to be challeneged I, of course, also mean the belief that there is no god. A good sword cuts all ways.
Rebelinthesouth: "beat the hell out of them you say" We all know physical abuse is usually handed down through families. Its a cycle often hard to break. I feel sorry for your upbringing with so much physical abuse you must have received as a child.
I am not an atheist but I raised my children to believe that abuse is not acceptable. I also raised my children to use their own personal knowledge to be their own person, make their own decisions, become an INDIVIDUAL not become what mommy and daddy said they had to be. I feel sorry for you.
I do support "in your face" tactics, AA, and shock value as well. But claims that can't be demonstrated to be true open us up to the theist criticism that we're faith-based too. A slogan can represent a proveable claim and have shock value as well. "Religion kills" or "religion promotes the spread of AIDS" are examples. Promoting thinking in the defense of a belief should begin, like charity, at home.
Incidently AA, I really am enjoying the tone of this debate. After listening to all the same tired, wrong-headed canards about atheism some of these people parrot from religious websites, it's refreshing to have a real exchange of ideas.
This ad does nothing to promote the views that this organization supposedly is trying to promote. What a waste of money. I don't try to push my faith based systed of belief on them, why are they doing it to me? This will not make one person that believes in God change thier mind.
At lunch I saw Jesus photos all over a restaurant. I drove past a church and read slogans about how Christ will save you. I saw giant christian symbols on signs high in the air. I turn on the radio and hear preaching about how god will save me.
With all that propaganda how can are they not pushing religion on people? Compare all that to an ad on a bus.
I heard about this grand "plan" awhile ago. It makes me sick. Atheists accuse Christians of pushing our views on them?? How is this NOT pushing their views on us??? Atheists -- and other propaganda like these buses--will be the downfall of this country. We better just not hear any atheists whining when we retaliate with our own ads. =]
by the way, atheist american, you better just drive realllly safe and hold on to your life as long as possible, because as soon as they lay you in the ground, you will face God...and I'm sure He won't be too pleased with you. just a thought... =]
It's funny. Atheists put up signs like this and Christians wail about how offended they are yet Christians have NO qualms about adding a Nativity scene on public lands disregarding the emotions of non-Christians. Christians turned a pagan holiday into a religious one. Winter holidays are NOT about Jesus and God unless you choose to make it so. Our country was NOT founded on religion. It was partially founded on one's freedom of religion - and the freedom to NOT have one.
ChristianGirl. This isn't a war. It's about respecting atheists as well. I don't care what you choose to believe but Christians have a way of demonizing atheists for their non-belief. Yes, we do charity work. We are kind to our neighbors. We help those in need. We simply choose to not believe what we see as mythology. That doesn't make us bad people. You have your support groups (churches). We have ours (FFRF). Try to respect us and we will try to respect you in return but telling us we'll "burn in hell" is far from respectful. That is YOUR belief, not ours. We may be wrong (though none of us think so) but it's OUR choice to make, not yours.
An Agnostic viewpoint is far more enlightened, rather than to be "positively sure" there is or is not a god. This in your face attack by any group, just angers and reaffirms the opposition.
Whoever coined the phrase "live and let live" had it right.
Atheist American and Hugh Kramer: It's unexpected and quite refreshing to read intelligent discourse across viewpoints on the subject of religion. I'm enjoying your debate.
As to the rest, I can't help but wish that more people understood the difference between faith and religion. Faith is personal and private. Religion is organized cultural application. I respect your faith. And I ask that you limit your religion to all parties voluntarily subscribed.
If your god is real, he made us atheists.
Why are you criticizing the work of your god?
If you're trying to be PC and no push your beliefs on other people, then shouldn't it say "We believe there is no god" not "there is no god"?
Hello Anne. First, you shouldn't lump all atheists in the same basket. That's the same as me thinking that all Christians are the same; that you're all like Rev. Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church crowd, for example. We're not all the same either. What we have in common is what we DON'T believe in; not what we do. FFRF is not trying to be PC. It's trying for publicity through a slogan designed to shock. If you'll look at my earlier comments in this thread you'll see that I don't like their slogan. It's not because I think they ought to be PC or mustn't try to shock anyone though. I can understand that as a tactic. It's because I don't like a slogan that makes an unproveable absolute claim. That opens us up to the charge of making claims based on faith... like a religion does. Any claims we make should point out the differences between how we and the faith-based think about the world rather than suggesting a similarity.
Hugh, good point man, they could/should have used a different phrase. It really does no good to "be the same as them" because we really don't want to replace Christianity. Still, I LIKE aggitation - I think it pulls more people into the discussion, wrong-headed or otherwise. The more arguing, the more chances to change opinions.
Christiangirl, please try to understand that when I die I expect absolutely nothing to happen. It is not reasonable to escape my own death. Death comes for us all and I am not afraid of it. I will face it, and the great silence that comes with it, with honor and courage. I will not bend my knee in this life on the chance that doing so will help me to escape my fate. If I am to be judged, let it be an honest judging of who I am and what I stand for. I willingly accept that possibility.
As your own faith states; there are many paths to Christ. And, I imagine, many names for him as well. My walk simply doesn't require mythology.
Sean,
Agnosticism always struck me as, well...are you agnostic on Zeus? I mean really, some guy off the street walks up to you and hands you a pamphlet on how Zeus can cure you of all your problems...do you think about it, or do you dismiss it?
If you dismiss it without thought, aren't you kind of an atheist vis a vi Zeus?
Why think about if Jesus dying on a cross gets you eternal life? What's to consider there? It's a belief, you either accept it on the face of it and with the bible as "proof" or you reject it.
Why is there a third option? "Well, maybe, I'm not really sure...it's possible, but I can't know, so I won't decide."
But, through the way you are living your life you ARE deciding, aren't you?
That's so intelligent that the FFRF "co-president" thinks that some
acknowledgment should be made for the pagans from whom their holidays were stolen thousands of years ago. I think the copyright has expired. Seriously.
They just want to rub their beliefs in people's faces.
I find your signs on the buses in Seattle to be very offensive. You are allowed your view of life and how you came to be and so are we. It is a shame you can't let others enjoy their faith and belief..without pushing your non belief especially at a time when it would be respectful to keep your view silent..I do not march against you. And since you dont believe in our god why not throw all other religions on the bus. Shame on you and your tacky display.
Hey all,
Those commenting that atheists push their beliefs in your face have not noticed the hundreds of "god" billboards that have gone up around the country, how about preachers in the streets of the every US city, college campus, and public space preaching, nee screaming, about fire and brimstone for those of us not saved by Jesus. Are these people not pushing their beliefs down our throats?
It's ridiculous to claim that the other side of the coin does not apply to the religious members of our society. The reason you are so insulted now is that the secular majority and atheist citizens of the US are starting to get on the marketing bandwagon that you Christians have been engaged in for millennia through missionaries, televangelists, billboards, mass mailings, etc.
Get over your righteous indignation. This country was set up to accept all religions. Google "Thomas Jefferson quotes religion" and see what the man had to say about religion and our founding tenets.
How long will the FFRF go on positively affirming God’s non-existence without evidence?
Is this not what they condemn as “faith”?
Freedom from religion? Atheism is itself a religion.
religion - a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe
Separation of church and state? This has always struck me as the most ridiculous argument. The amendment states there shall be no law repsecting the establishment of a religion. The key word here is LAW. I think it is safe to say that there is no law saying that Christianity or any othere religion is being promoted as the preferred or established religion of the US. That being said, if we apply the same logic the FFRF does to this current ad, promoting Atheism - a RELIGION, on a federally subsidized public transportation system, wouldn't that be violating the "separation of church and state" clause they are always so quick to invoke when stifling other religions in the federally supported public space? Hmmmm
Additionally, this ad seems to be specifically directed at monotheistic religions; "There is no God" as opposed to there are no gods. I'd be interested in hearing an atheist comment on that. Something else that has perplexed me about atheists who do this sort of thing is it appears to me to be illogical based on their beliefs. Why would you go around fighting against something that you don't believe exists? Along the lines of this ad, I would consider people who spent their time making sure people didn't believe in Santa Claus, either very bored or just ridiculous. Theistic religions which proselytize do so based on what they believe in, not what they don't believe in. In other words, it could be said that without theism, atheism wouldn't exist. This is similar to heat and light. Both are quantifiable in scientific terms, whereas the terms cold and dark which are used in everyday language only describe the absence of heat and light based on our human perception of what is normal.
Another thing about this ad that I find interesting is that it is an absolute statement, yet most atheists are proponents of moral relativism which is based on the fact that there are not absolutes. A bit contradictory if you ask me, just like they say the Bible is right? ;-)
Another thing about this ad that I find interesting is that it is an absolute statement, yet most atheists are proponents of moral relativism which is based on the fact that there are not absolutes. A bit contradictory if you ask me, just like they say the Bible is right? ;-)
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