Atheist bus campaign rejected in Australia

APN Outdoors, the company responsible for Public Metropolitan Transport Advertising, says no to Atheism.

"The bus slogan campaign proposed by the AFA with the thought provoking sentiment, Atheism Celebrate reason! has been refused for display by APN Outdoors. Various other phrases also deemed unacceptable.

Following the lead of Humanists in London and Washington in the USA, with their intended bus signs, an International program by Humanists and Atheists was to commence on the 20 January 09 using buses to express the secular viewpoint.

Richard Dawkins in supporting the London bus signs has stated that such a campaign Will make people think.

President of the Atheist Foundation of Australia Inc, David Nicholls said: I am flabbergasted. This is extremely disappointing and a severe blow to freedom of expression in Australia. We are witnessing the result of seemingly paranoid executives interfering with pertinent social comment. This action has thwarted the right to state peacefully and openly a legitimate and timely message without violence.

Australia is going to look provincial and narrow in outlook to the rest of the world because of this decision. The planet is moving to a more enlightened era but apparently, public transport advertising agents in Australia have missed the bus. Isnt that ironic."

- Atheist Foundation of Australia

(In this video: David Rutledge, host of the ABC's 'Religion Report', interviews Atheist Foundation of Australia (AFA) president David Nicholls about the recent rejection of proposed atheist bus advertisements in Sydney, Australia. Date aired: 26 November, 2008. Pictured: Atheist bus ads in London)

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• reason

[HOLDTHAPHONE]

The flying spaghetti monster is the only way to see the light

[atheistkyo]

Desperate attempt to stop the spread of Atheism, futile as usual.

No one can stop the truth. Religion will die. Nothing they can do about it.

I sorta feel sorry for them. 

[UninhabitedWorlds]

@atheistkyo, tell me the difference between an "atheist" and a "non-atheist"? Atheism is merely the belief in no creator - that's it! It is NOT a synonym for "humanitarian" - i.e. a euphemism for "angel from Heaven" - and believing there is no creator doesn't automatically make you a polymath or intellectual.

STOP the lies and STOP turning a simple belief into a new religion. Atheists are no more moral, intelligent, or happier than anyone else. End of story!

[UninhabitedWorlds]

@atheistkyo, stop the spread of atheism? 2 many atheists have turned a mere belief into a religion. I feel sorry for atheists - who no longer think! Just like religious fundamentalists, "atheists" say they're right & when u try to argue ur point, they don't want to know.

Until science can explain how particles moving create conscious experience - i.e., the flavo(u)rs I taste, the colo(u)rs I see, the sounds I hear, the pain I feel, my sense of self, etc - the notion of a creator will continue

[UninhabitedWorlds]

"There's probably no God"; "It *probably* won't rain today"

I love how this group of atheists were forced to admit that they don't know whether there is a creator or not, & the word is "creator", cos this isn't about religion. Until science can explain consciousness, atheists r wasting their breath.

Dawkins thinks people r so simple-minded that all he has to do is implant a new "meme" into their heads & that'll do the trick.

"enjoy life" - talk about patronising!

I'm agnostic!

[ThatAnnoyingGuyFrom]

Come to my house. place what ever you want.

[loly1969]

power call god is an emotional attitude , faith is a sickness

[10battalion10]

@Villainy03 Hi, I think that is democratic. Each lobby group contributes. I am not against Atheists. Some of our greatest men were once athieists like C.S.Lewis. But if you wold be honest about "being silenced" wouldn't you have to agree that the worm has turned? I mean politically incorrectness used to favour the unbeliever? Now, after seeing the -bus episode- I get the impression that it now affects you chaps. No agro. Just my observation regards.

[Villainy03]

@10battalion10 I wouldn't say Christian are being silenced. The ACL has a lot of power when it comes to government.

[freedom1234573]

hey i am a yank but i will contribute - a few years til i can contribute here - it just wouldn't happen here yet - but maybe i am just being a wuss...

[wollin20]

@wollin20 2/2 a humble quest whose honnest answers might just approximate the goal.

I suggest instead:

"Trust your intelligence. Stop believing. Start questionning."

[wollin20]

@wollin20 1/2 BTW, I am not convinced by this slogan which seems superficial: It looks like another faith created to justify a form of hedonism, promoting an egoist way of enjoying your life because, hey, we don't really think there is much to understand. Well, atheism is not an indifference to the quest for a meaning of life/death or morality...quite the contrary! Atheism IMO should also be a quest for truth if it wants to replace religions,