The wheels on the atheist bus go round and round
In a move likely to bring plague, pestilence and horrible smoting upon the land (but a smile to the dial of Richard Dawkins), an atheist group has launched a campaign to raise $10,000 for “ads carrying atheist and humanist messages on buses in major NZ cities, encouraging Kiwis to think critically about their beliefs”.
The same controversial campaign featuring the slogan “There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life” ran in the UK earlier this year (the folks who set it up there have lent their assistance to the Kiwi incarnation) and similar campaigns have run in the United States, Canada, Italy, Spain, Australia, Finland and Germany. Here’s the rationale behind the advertising.
The campaign, which aims to run six bus ads in Auckland, four in Wellington and two in Christchurch from March (more cities will be added if enough cash rolls in), will be funded entirely by donations from the non-believers (the atheistic equivalent of tithing?), with administrative support provided by the Humanist Society of New Zealand. Donations or criticisms can be made at nogod.org.nz.
The UK campaign raised about £135,000 (NZ$303,100) more than expected, which enabled the group to put the messages on 800 buses. As of 10am, almost $5,000 had been raised. Not bad for the first day’s fundraising.
Wayne Chapman, chief executive of i-Site, the company responsible for NZ bus advertising, says the campaign is at the “more polarising end of the spectrum” but didn’t think the ads breached New Zealand advertising standards. Even so, he says he will wait until he lays eyes on the final creative execution, which he believes is exactly the same as that featured on the UK buses, before giving it the go ahead.
Not surprisingly, all the campaigns riled up religious groups when they ran overseas, but the British advertising watchdog didn’t see anything wrong with them. Freedom of speech and all that, it said.
Chapman did not know the group had planned to draw attention to the advertising campaign before its release, however. The fact that similar campaigns have run overseas does set something of a precedent and he believes the ASA would take that into consideration if it had to rule on its offensiveness here. Although he says ads that have not been deemed offensive in one country, may be deemed offensive in another.
The New Zealand Atheist Bus Campaign spokesman Simon Fisher says spreading the word of no God is designed to get people to think critically about their religious beliefs and rationally about the world in general.
“While New Zealand is by and large a very tolerant and inclusive society, there is still stigma associated with an atheistic position. At the same time we have recently seen the growing influence of radical religious groups such as Brian Tamaki’s Destiny Church. With this campaign we hope to encourage positive debate on these issues. Religion should not be a taboo topic,” he says.
Fisher told the Dominion Post: “It’s okay to say you don’t believe in God. We like the slogan. It works, it’s catchy, it’s not perfect, it’s a slogan, but it roughly encapsulates what we want to say.”
When the campaign launched in the UK, Professor Richard Dawkins, who believes atheists are a persecuted minority and wants to try and herd the secular cats and fight back against religious zealotry, told the BBC: “Religion is accustomed to getting a free ride—automatic tax breaks, unearned respect and the right not to be offended, the right to brainwash children. Even on the buses, nobody thinks twice when they see a religious slogan plastered across the side. This campaign to put alternative slogans on London buses will make people think – and thinking is anathema to religion.”
So is advertising atheism appropriate—or necessary? Should atheists in glass houses throw stones? Will an angry deity smite those who use blasphemous public transport? And why are manhole covers round?
Louise
December 11, 2009
Only $10K? That should just about cover production and perhaps four or five buses in Dunedin. They are generating comment though – priceless!
Peter
December 11, 2009
10k the way isite are discounting thats about 20 buses
Hugh Mungus
December 11, 2009
Non-God botherers.
bob
December 11, 2009
atheist? Surely any message that says 'probably' is agnostic? Why not be certain about it – you'd get my money then. While religion has helped many people it's harmed a great number too. Let's encourage people to think for themselves!
Duncan
December 11, 2009
The original plan was $10k, which would have got us around 12 supersides on buses in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
However given the incredible response over the first 24 hours (we are just about to break the $10k mark now) we have now doubled our target to $20k, and we are considering expanding to additional cities around NZ.
Duncan Stuart
December 11, 2009
It seems a strange thing to spend money on – and to what end? To borrow the old example – its like running a campaign to ask people to try counting to 10 without thinking of a rabbit. Yes, gets them thinking…but who says people don't think?
Rob Bree
December 11, 2009
You probably wont get HIV from unprotected sex. But the safe bet is to wear a condom. Carlsberg is probably the best beer in the world…except that it isnt.
Angela
December 11, 2009
I believe in having a voice, but what I think is idiotic is the fact that atheism is against religious or spiritual belief systems. So, there's a group of people that have formed a group dedicated to believing in a common fundamental element. I'd call that a religious belief system myself.
The UK campaign was completely out of context as there is little, if at all any, pro-God advertising there. It only gained good exposure because it was a little 'out there'. I'm sure that after the advertising spend ran out, there was little longevity in interest.
Waste of money fad anyone?
Sparkles McGee
December 11, 2009
Bob – Even atheists acknowledge the impossibility of disproving the existence of anything :-)
Angela – Some atheists may be against religion, but Richard Dawkins doesn't speak for all atheists. Many if not most atheists are content to live and let live. Atheism is simply the lack of belief in god.
As I understand it, the original UK campaign was a response to a fire-and-brimstone bus campaign by a church. I'm not sure of the need for the campaign here, however, as atheists aren't discriminated against like they are in the US, and the only religious advertising I've ever seen in NZ have been those genius black and white ones around Auckland a year or so ago. My favourite sign read "Well, you did ask for a sign – God." Even the non-religious can appreciate that.
Anna
December 11, 2009
I'm a proud Catholic – and I certainly don't mind that people will have belief systems different from my own, but what I do mind is anyone pushing their system upon me as 'right' or even 'probably right'. I don't door knock, I don't shove books at people walking down Queen St, and I certainly don't buy bus backs and billboards in an effort to change their views. Contrary to what these atheists say, I already think a lot; about God, about life after death, and about my place in the world. But I keep those thoughts between me and my God.
Bill
December 11, 2009
"probably"? Really? Some pretty weak conviction over in the atheist camp you'd have to think. Perhaps it's not the God Squad that's short on thinking time…
Godfrey
December 11, 2009
Love it, and I'm with Bob – There's NO God (rather than probably).
How about buses with: "The Church is the misogynist's playroom" or "The Church is taking your money for real estate" or "Non-believers don't think gays/transgendered people will burn in hell."
Angela
December 11, 2009
Agreed sparkles. My comment referred not to those of us who are prepared to live and let live. But to those compelled to kick up a stink in the name of belief or anti-belief systems, thus making hypocrites of themselves in the process.
I probably could have worded it a little better.
The thing is with most other religious / spiritual advertising though, is that it doesn't put down other religions, it only invites people to church, or church event etc. This atheist advertising campaign is a blatant dig at religion.
Duncan
December 11, 2009
Bill – the choice of the word probably was quite deliberate. There is no scientific evidence to support the existence of God. It is impossible to prove that God doesn't exist, just as it is impossible to prove that anything doesn't exist.
Richard Dawkins summarises it quite nicely in The God Delusion, saying “there’s no God” is taking a “faith” position. He writes: “Atheists do not have faith; and reason alone could not propel one to total conviction that anything definitely does not exist”. His choice of words in the book is “almost certainly”; but while this is closer to what most atheists believe, “probably” is shorter and sweeter, and in some ways a bit disarming.
At the end of the day we are not out to offend anyone. It is about provoking thought, conversation and debate.
Su Yin Khoo
December 11, 2009
Re: manhole covers
Ben, The Straight Dope has got you covered: http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/220/why-are-manhole-covers-round
Ant
December 11, 2009
I thought this comment was odd:
Campaign spokesman Simon Fisher says they will provoke discussion on religion and take away the stigma of atheism.
Stigma? Really? Feels like these days the stigma is in believing.
Angela
December 11, 2009
There's a fantastic book to accompany Dawkin's book. It's called The Dawkins Letters.
A great read.
Louise
December 11, 2009
Interesting twists and turns Ant. This is an advertising campaign. What is Simon really selling?
Weirdo
December 13, 2009
It's "probably" as there is no scientific proof there is no god(s)….how could you prove something existential not existing?…it just very very very very unlikely.
bob
December 15, 2009
Hey all you religious types I've got some Magic 8 Balls if you need some help in making your own decisions… BTW with so many different Gods around how do you know you've picked the right one? (and no, God chose me, is not a legitimate answer). Oh, and nice remarks Godfrey!