Halifax Atheist Bus Campaign's Ad Denial - CTV News

[patsaxon]

If you say what is not the truth, then I would be worried as in the end, you will face God on your last day on earth.

[TheJawsusNSexmanShow]

As long as there's no double standard and they don't start putting christian ads up I see no problem with this.

[jdemeulenaer123]

All these become so touchy that we wonder how far all this can go......

[vladster7272]

So if I get "god bless us" as an ad thats fine, but if i put "there is no god" oh then there is hell, fucking hypocrite bullshit.

[raging4lcoholic]

"theres probably no god" hahahahaha oh man, thats a pretty harsh thing to say. who is that exactly supposed to make feel better?

[largestill]

@raging4lcoholic What a very myopic thing to say.

[TheEarthAbides]

hmmm. sounds to me like the bus system has decided a long time ago that they won't run ANY religious or political ads... this is a good thing.

[Bringerofdeath9753]

@TheEarthAbides Agreed. While many of the Atheist bus campaigns have been rather good, these were particularly controversial.

Even though, when we think about the probability of any individual deity existing, there really is a low probability for the existence of God, that ad does little more than slap the faces of believers.

And if it is true that the Bus System refuses to run any political or religious ads to avoid controversy, then I have no problem. As long as all groups are treated fairly

[websnarf]

And I thought Alberta was the red necks of Canada.

[orangeprimer1]

I smell a lawsuit...

[ChristianMission]

Refusing to run ads isn't a violation of free speech. Diverse views are still allowed to be voiced; the bus company is fair in their rejection, also rejecting all other religious or political ads. Ironically, wherever Christians have retaliated with their own bus ads, like in England, their ads received more complaints than the atheists ones did. The great defenders of free speech, atheists, complaining about the free speech of others, perhaps.

[TheVoiceOfReason93]

This is a violation to free speech! The Bus company should run anything so long as the other guys have money to pay for it! Why the hell should they ban it just because it is offensive to some people? They aren't the social elite, so why? They should run it for Religious fundies, homosexuals, Communists and Nazis as well for all i care! This is a gross violation of free speech!!

[Impalamark64]

If I were able, I'd like to go to Halifax, find a bus driven by Stephen Warren, and announce my non-belief as I put my fare in the box.

The religious, especially Christians, think they have society by the balls.

It's wrong to have public funding providing the Christmas decorations, while denying a privately-funded atheist ad campaign.

[murrayc1968]

What's ironic is that Halifax is easy-going with issues like equal rights for gays complete with gay pride parade and a mass gay marriage ceremony with Rosie O'Donnell's cruise ship.

Halifax becomes hypocritical when they decorate down-town with Christmas decorations paid with tax-payer money, but they won't allow a privately funded advertisement on a bus?

As for the religious bus driver, does this mean he refuses entry to passengers who don't follow HIS faith?

[riotguards]

they should just prevent any and all advertisements concerning religion nuff said

[AnarchistDictator]

1:20 Free speech? Oh please... free speech doesn't give you a right to advertise on other people's property.

[largestill]

@AnarchistDictator I does, however, give us the right to use free speech in public places.

Which in this case the bus is.

The buses are paid for and run by the city of Halifax.

It isn't a private company.

The bus is as much as our property as it is anyone else's.

[jdemeulenaer123]

@AnarchistDictator Why not..? YOu could probably "Islam go to Hell !" no..? More proper..? Don't we have enough of it..?

[slicingwater]

Morally wrong telling people there is no god. Wow is it more immoral than tellig about stories of stoning Adulterers, killing your brother because he practices yoga and wants to tell you about it, or worshipping a man who was going to kill his own son becuase he had a covenant with god.

[newcoyote]

The woman said "we don't want to be objectionable to any moral standard" Um, have you seen what Christianity's "morals" are? You don't get to just hide behind the word moral and expect immunity from objection. It is absurd.

[xerophiLIEs]

waste of money paying for those banners. if theyre allowing religious advertisements then this would be wrong. but if they take the neutral stance i could care less. why the hell do you need to advertise atheism anyway? as long as religion stays out of politics and my life it can do what it wants. pick your battles.

[Max10192]

@xerophiLIEs i think it is to let atheists know they are not alone. Sometimes social pressure to be a christian is very large, making non believers feel threaten. I think it would help them to know that an organization is there to support them.

[Spetsop]

That bus driver is an idiot. In his view it's OK for people to run around and tell everyone there IS a God, but it's "morally wrong" for people to run around and tell everyone there is NO God. Don't agree with the message on the bus and don't want to drive it b/c of that, fine, your choice... but don't be so egoistic!

[Ramshobraja]

I didn't know Canucks had religious nuts just like the US.

[Spetsop]

@Ramshobraja

Veeerrry few though compared to US :P. I was a bit surprised to see this myself, simply b/c I haven't met any of them where I live (Toronto). Met religious people of course, but all they did was go to church and mind their own business... but I guess there is an ugly duckling in every family lol

[dooyeweerd]

A broo ha ha about NOTHING!!

[Lobotaru]

After dealing some more with a group of theists... we need more in your face messages like this.

[sarahj666666]

these days there seems to be more freedom of speech in Europe than in the US.

[degillin]

but Halifax is in Canada, it is the capital city for the province Nova Scotia

[Lobotaru]

While the statement in and of itself is not an insult, Muslims and Christians will respond negatively to it, and may lead to a drop in business for the bus transport industry.

If we hope to open the hearts and minds of others to new ideas, we can't go forcing those thoughts and feelings into their faces and say "deal with it." That will just close people off from each other and burn bridges.

An "I" message says "this is what I think" without the "and you should too!"

[buddyholly24]

@Lobotaru I would agree with you, but I can't tell you how many times I've gotten into a discussion with a christian and the phrase "Look, God is real, just deal with it" is said. Tolerance and openness is worthless if one side decides not to be, and Atheist have been getting the cold shoulder for a long time.

[cheetah100]

Forcing people would be doing things like burning those who disagree at the stake. We are talking about putting a mild inoffensive message on the side of a bus. You seem to be suggesting that Religious people should not be challenged. Yet they have no problem trying to impose their beliefs on others in law.

[Lobotaru]

My opinion as an Atheist who was once a Christian and an ex-ad designer: I believe the ad would have been better received if it read "I don't know if there is a God, so I'm going to stop worrying about it and enjoy my life" or something along those lines.

The style of the type is very "in your face," being bold, a little blocky, and in all capital letters. Couple that with a rewording of the statement of "There is most likely no God" and you got a message that will ruffle some feathers.

[usuckbad2]

Well its less in your face than Jesus loves you.

[onyxragdoll]

it should be that you should be able to choose, and whatever you choose it's not the next person's business what it is, something no one but yourself should care about.

it mostly bothers me that there's such thing as a PRO at a personal desision.

on the one hand, they had points to their messages, on the other hand, they didn't have to word it so matter of factly. then again, it's not like the other side hasn't done this, but then it doesn't mean they have to too. a childish fight...

[RaptureUs911]

As a Christian, I believe this would spark some very interesting dialogue indeed. But I'm far more concerned of what kind of influence this would bring to the younger generation. I certainly would not want more Atheists out there as a result of the adds.

On the other hand, the results of the debates these adds spark might persuade adults who are currently atheists to be swayed to Christianity.

I prefer the former.

[buddhasknowbest]

They won't run the ads because it will spark controversial debate. Or, in other words, it will make people THINK!

[leejames929]

no idea shuld be put up in public for pepplke to see unlass its on a house or a biding ound by somone it just cuss this shit

[LogicSpeaks]

Broken fingers?

[crazychessman]

"I think its morally wrong to run around telling people there's no god."

Then it's morally wrong to run around telling people that there is a God, too, correct? Or are religious people automatically endowed with a greater sense of morality for having read an ancient book of myths that permits them to promulgate their beliefs in a way that should be denied to non-believers? Ridiculous...

[jdemeulenaer123]

@crazychessman Right, so, we should be able to advertize 'Islam go to Hell'..? More proper and less provocative..? Don't we have enough of it...? This in the name of free speech...?

[crazychessman]

@jdemeulenaer123

No, "Islam go to Hell" would qualify as hate speech, which is both illegal and derogatory; it shouldn't be displayed in any public place and I would never support it. "There is probably no God" is merely an opinion.

My original comment was designed to highlight the inherent double standard in the bus driver's comment that promoting atheism is " wrong", whereas a pro-theism board in its place would almost never be regarded as "wrong" by anyone of any belief system.

[Sonyoooo3]

Just a example how can a soul empty a glass water of sin when the sin keeps refiling the empty glass with sin?

[decibel333]

Say again?

[mattea19841984]

anyone notice the logical contradiction in the one ad?

"Just be good for goodness sake"

Without God, theres no such thing as good. Can we just make up our own idea of what good is?

Hitler thought killing the jews was good. He was being good "for goodness sake". Unfortunetly, being good "for goodness sake" does not give us any absolute moral standards!

[shanefairhead]

Well yes, but:

1) We have to define morality with a God existing aswell.

2) The argument you have presented says alot about your thoughts on morality, generally the only reason why you follow what the skygod says, is so you can suck up to him, that is not morality at all.

[mattea19841984]

that is not morality according to what?? your personal opinion?? I dont care about your opinion, i care about absolute truths

[VarykGerai]

@mattea19841984 do you even know what an absolute truth is?

[Sandolainen]

Do you think everything said to be moral in the bible is good? Examples would be slavery, killing your slave, incest, rape, murder, genocide and so on. A more precise example would be stoning someone for picking sticks on the sabbath. I assume you don't, since I still have some hope in humanity, which means that your sense of morality doesn't come from the bible or a god. You create your own view on the subject... and when it comes to the bible you are just picking what you like.

[mattea19841984]

you obviously havent read that bible (or if you have you didnt understand it). God revealed himself very personally to the Isrealites, so they were held much more accountable then anyone living today. The bible in no way every says any of the things you mentioned as good. If you want morality for us today, look at the new covenant (jesus' teachings). If not, your buliding straw men arguments...

[Sandolainen]

How strange then that the people punished weren't Israelites in most cases... and if you think they aren't mentioned in the bible I can get you a whole lot of quotes and verses.

So you think god changed his mind about morality? Well, go read Matthew 5:17... not that I hold it as a good source for anything, but if you believe the bible Jesus didn't change the old law... he complemented it.

Besides, if morality changed from OT to NT then morality is obviously not something universal.

[Sandolainen]

Also, please explain why animals avoid the same actions that we see as immoral such as the killing of kin?

"Morality is the herd-instinct in the individual."

"In Christianity neither morality nor religion come into contact with reality at any point."

-Nietzsche

[shanefairhead]

Well here are some beautiful moral quotes from the bible :

Anyone arrogant enough to reject the verdict of the judge or of the priest who represents the LORD your God must be put to death. Such evil must be purged from Israel. (Deuteronomy 17:12 NLT)

You should not let a sorceress live. (Exodus 22:17 NAB)

Whoever sacrifices to any god, except the Lord alone, shall be doomed. (Exodus 22:19 NAB)

[Sandolainen]

Cursed be he who does the Lords work remissly, cursed he who holds back his sword from blood. (Jeremiah 48:10 NAB)

If within the city a man comes upon a maiden who is betrothed, and has relations with her, you shall bring them both out of the gate of the city and there stone them to death: the girl because she did not cry out for help though she was in the city, and the man because he violated his neighbors wife. (Deuteronomy 22:23-24 NAB)

[Sandolainen]

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. (Ephesians 6:5 NLT)

Christians who are slaves should give their masters full respect so that the name of God and his teaching will not be shamed. If your master is a Christian, that is no excuse for being disrespectful. You should work all the harder because you are helping another believer by your efforts. Teach these truths, Timothy, and encourage everyone to obey them.

[Sandolainen]

(1 Timothy 6:1-2 NLT) (last one in the last comment)

What a merciful god. And those last two are from the new testament... I guess Jesus didn't mind slavery.

"The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic...

[Sandolainen]

capriciously malevolent bully." - Richard Dawkins

[sevlevboss]

What a great shame to all us Canadians. Halifax isn't alone in denying free speech in Canada either. Victoria and Vancouver have as well. (Ottawa was discussing further last I heard).

Theists and Atheists need to decide which way we should go together. Personally, I'm against censorship.

The question is not whether you agree with the statement or not. The question is do you wish freedom of religious expression in Canada or do you wish censorship of expression of religious opinion?

[PR0GRAMMING]

"Blasphemy is a victimless crime"

[TheJacolyte]

Well Gentlemen, hopefully this sheds light on another problem:

The monopolistic behavior of the state.

The state is just like any other corporation, and has the same corporate attitude: make money.

By allowing the state to monopolize public transportation, you limit your potential to spread a message, you limit your options, and you limit technological advances by squashing competition.

[HalifaxSciRaids]

Agreed.

[Emceetem]

Hopefully there IS a god.

So alot of people found out how much time they were wasting on sundays.

[largestill]

Hopefully there ISN'T a god.

And a lot of people will find out how much time they were wasting on Sundays.*

*Fixed

[Emceetem]

No.... I meant hopefully there IS so that they found out that they should've been feeding the poor or some other shit.

[largestill]

Your English is a little hard to understand.

So, you are saying that you hope there is a God because, if there is, then the people who were worshipping God only by going to church and not helping other will... what?

Go to some sort of "hell"?

[SexyMelon]

Woo! Bring on the Dark Ages, we haven't had those in a while!

[Afterthoughtbtw]

I love the way that saying God *might* not exist can be considered hateful.

Hateful to whom exactly? A God that almost certainly does not exist?

Please tell me that no religious organisations are allowed anything resembling advertising - because I consider proseletysing one of the least moral things anyone can do...

[nathanforst1]

I can't believe they would not allow this.

I hate how people treat us atheists as second class citizens. Religious people have the right to spout off their ridiculous garbage - even if it is hateful. For instance, saying everyone that does not agree with them will burn in an eternal frying pan! I can't see how much more hateful you could possibly get.

Fucking hypocrisy.

[namitsu1]

shes basically saying its racist. ARGH

typical canadian multicultural PC bs

[nathanforst1]

You got it. We Canadians have to be nice and gentle to everyone.

BS!

[sirnlawson]

"I don't believe people should run around telling people there is no God"

You get people running around telling people there IS a God, how is that any different?

The Nation anthem for the UK(where I live) is "God save the Queen", but I don't run around saying "I find this National Anthem offensive because it says there IS a God!" - because I'm not stupid.

"My bus says there's not a God so I can't drive it..."

Next time the bus says "McDonalds" on the side, will you complain about fast food? NO!

[lucidatheist]

Stephen Warren is a cunt. He is a public transit operator not a fucking bible salesman.

[HumblePhilosopher]

"You can be good without God." That was what the advert on the Halifax buses was going to say.

I really can't believe they wouldn't allow that. LOL

[CousinoMacul]

"All advertisements must meet acceptable community standards of good taste, quality and appearance . Furthermore, the ads will not be considered discriminatory, or objectionable to any race creed or moral standard."

I find that standard to be in poor taste and morally objectionable!

[C0ct0pus]

to stephen warren (the retarded bus driver at

1:40 ): your job isn't to think, it's to drive a fucking bus. if you cared that much about religion, you should have been a minister, not a fucking opinionated bus driver.

shut the fuck up and do your lousy job.

[fuckinrelax]

@C0ct0pus driving a bus does more good for people than atheism. a bus will get you somewhere, atheism wont ;)

[SCRulerShinoda]

@fuckinrelax Actually you are quite incorrect. Atheism gets you to think critically. So stop being a smarmy asshole.