Christians For Atheism
Apparently we can all just get along. An awww moment as British Christians give money to help float an atheist advertising campaign. They like the idea of even getting people talking about God/No God. UK Telegraph:
Even religious groups donated money to the cause in the belief that the campaign, highlighted in The Daily Telegraph, would encourage people to think more about faith and could actually enhance support for Christianity.
Organisers needed to raise just £2,750 from supporters in order to pay for adverts doubting the existence of God to be plastered across 30 London bendy-buses for a month, after the prominent atheist Professor Richard Dawkins agreed to match all donations. Previous attempts to raise the money had failed.
But the £5,500 target was met within minutes of a page being launched on the fundraising website Justgiving on Tuesday, and after a few hours more than £31,000 had been given to the Atheist Bus Campaign – over five times the amount required.
Now there are plans to get the message – “There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life” – put on buses across Britain as well as on Tube trains in the capital.
The campaign was launched after Ariane Sherine, a comedy writer, called for a “reassuring counter-advert” to religious posters on public transport that atheists believe “threaten passengers with eternal damnation”.
She said: “This is absolutely brilliant and I’d like to thank everyone who donated for their support. The sky’s the limit for atheists even if we don’t believe there’s anyone up there.”
…
One of the more unlikely donors was the religious think tank Theos, which was set up two years ago with the support of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, and the head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor.
Theos gave £50 to the cause as it believes the “weak” adverts will encourage people to think about God.
Back that bus up a sec. The people who gave money to the atheists are backed by the same guy who thinks there’s a place for Sharia law in British society.* Meanwhile, I have to think there might be trouble when Rome finds out what its Brit cardinal is backing.
Its director, Paul Woolley, said: “Initially, we almost felt sorry for the campaign, as its difficulties showed that there were not many atheists in Britain, and certainly not many who were willing to put their hands into their pockets. But when we saw the message, we couldn’t believe it.
“Stunts like this demonstrate how militant atheists are often great adverts for Christianity.”
The Rev Jenny Ellis, spirituality and discipleship officer of the British Methodist Church, added: “This campaign will be a good thing if it gets people to engage with the deepest questions of life.”
I suspect the difficulties suggest Brits don’t give a damn enough about the subject to pitch in. Good luck with the national bull session. I’m devoutly agnostic on the subject, except when being shot at, when planes take off, that kind of thing, and I’m “probably” going to hell anyway. But I’m a little surprised the atheists are that wishy washy. God “probably” doesn’t exist? I thought the point of being an atheist is you’ve satisfied yourself on that issue already.
* Heere Bigynneth the Tale of the Asse-Hatte
Topics: Britain, Christianity, God
Posted by Jules Crittenden at 9:10 pm on Wednesday, October 22, 2008
One Response to “Christians For Atheism”
Leave a Reply
Trackback URLYou must be logged in to post a comment.
October 26th, 2008 at 8:04 am
[...] in the slogan has caused some Christians to ridicule the campaign some describing it as “wishy washy.” Some atheists have also objected to the word ‘probably.’ However, it’s [...]