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Source: Jon Worth
Public buses in the main centres could sport controversial atheist messages early in the New Year.
The New Zealand Atheist Bus Campaign was launched on Thursday with the aim of raising $10,000 in public donations to fund bus ads.
The ads created a storm when they ran on the London Underground and British buses earlier this year.
The ads read: "There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life."
Similar ads have run in the United States, Canada, Italy, Spain, Australia, Finland and Germany.
Campaign spokesman Simon Fisher says they will provoke discussion on religion and take away the stigma of atheism.
Bus operators have provisionally approved the ads but still have final right of refusal before running them, he says.
The launch prompted mixed reactions.
Fisher says donations are rolling in, but so are abusive emails from opponents.
However, messages threatening that Fisher will "go to hell" do not really bother the committed atheist who expected the campaign to be "a bit" controversial.
"It's completely understandable," he told Radio New Zealand.
"Religion is a very powerful influence. We are brought up from children to believe in certain things. Indoctrination is a strong thing."
Fisher says he thinks it is as much a statement of faith to say that there is definitely no God, as it is to say there is a God.
"The chances of there being a God - it's not really worth putting any weight on it in day-to-day life."
In the 2006 census, 34.7% of New Zealanders said they had no
religion.
Do you think the atheist bus ads are offensive
to people who believe in God or are they just an
acceptable and thought provoking expression of free speech? Leave
your comments on the messageboard below.
Add a Comment:
Post new commentmeadles said on 2010-02-24 @ 08:47 NZDT: Report abusive post
??? What about... "This bus probably isn't here, so get walking!" If The UK is going to be held up as a great example of tolerance for this kind of rant... please look at the outcome! Their country is a mess!! Since when do Kiwis follow..? They lead.
djwray said on 2009-12-24 @ 17:34 NZDT: Report abusive post
These campaigns are an attention-seeking campaign as much as anything else, which indicates a variety of underlying disorders, such as an excessive need for approval. The ads won't convert anybody because nobody who is "worrying" about this issue will suddenly enjoy their life on the basis that there is no God. D J Wray http://www.atotalawareness.com
bmcg61 said on 2009-12-14 @ 00:59 NZDT: Report abusive post
The message is not intended to offend. That much should be obvious. Some people may feel offended but that is only because they are bigots. If the right to free expression doesn't protect offensive speech then what good is it?
lookup1 said on 2009-12-13 @ 08:38 NZDT: Report abusive post
A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, 'darkness' on the walls of his cell. C.S. Lewis
kclaytor said on 2009-12-12 @ 22:03 NZDT: Report abusive post
Some religious people shouldn't stop worrying. Some people need the threat of an all-seeing being to be good people. Of course, there's the problem of religious wars, so perhaps promoting atheism is best.