Have you heard about the atheist ad campaign in London? The aim is to make some sort of counter to religious advertising and will be the first ever athiest advertising in the UK.
I liked Neil Gaiman's observation that the ad seems more aimiably agnostic than atheist. (If you click on the link note that the post has several sections so and scroll to a bit over half way - the one that I'm pointing you to starts with "I saw a bumper sticker". The line that I liked was the one just before the picture…)
The article says that the campaign "will give atheism a more visible presence in the UK, generate debate, brighten people's day on the way to work, and hopefully encourage more people to come out as atheists." This raises certain questions.
The article says that the campaign "will give atheism a more visible presence in the UK, generate debate, brighten people's day on the way to work, and hopefully encourage more people to come out as atheists." This raises certain questions.
How many people are not enjoying their life because they are worrying about the probable existance of God? What proportion of the population is operating under the burning guilt and pressure of impending doom? (The article says that part of the motivation for the campaign is to counter advertising by Christian groups saying you'll burn in Hell if you don't follow Jesus.) Is it saying that if there is no God then you can do whatever you want and be happy about it? Isn't that how most people act anyway? And, of course, there is also the point that if everyone just did what they felt like it would not be likely that everyone would end up being happy.
Atheism is not a happy philosophy. It's not necessarily a sad one (depending on where you think nihilism will take you) but it is at least a-emotional. I'm not sure how the probable lack of existence of God will make anyone happy. Because then who are we going to blame for all the world's problems? Us?
It also quotes Richard Dawkins as saying that "this campaign to put alternative slogans on London buses will make people think – and thinking is anathema to religion." I suspect that in a lot of cases Dawkins is correct. But I also suspect that thinking is an anathema to most people (including most people who think they are atheists).
Atheism is not a happy philosophy. It's not necessarily a sad one (depending on where you think nihilism will take you) but it is at least a-emotional. I'm not sure how the probable lack of existence of God will make anyone happy. Because then who are we going to blame for all the world's problems? Us?
It also quotes Richard Dawkins as saying that "this campaign to put alternative slogans on London buses will make people think – and thinking is anathema to religion." I suspect that in a lot of cases Dawkins is correct. But I also suspect that thinking is an anathema to most people (including most people who think they are atheists).
