A new day of the NZ Atheist Bus Campaign
12.12.09 | simon | 
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Yesterday was a huge day for the campaign in media coverage, donations, and discussion online and on the radio. I’d like to throw out a big thank you to all those who donated and all those who emailed in positive messages of support, or suggestions for improving and expanding the campaign. Much appreciated!
Just to reiterate, our new target is $20,000. We’re nearly three quarters of the way there and still climbing!
Please continue to support/share the campaign on Facebook, on Twitter, and just by talking to friends and family about it. That is one of the main points after all – to raise awareness of atheism and humanism in NZ. To show that it’s perfectly fine to not believe in a deity and that you can be good without one.
December 13th, 2009 at 11:58 pm
Sorry if this has already been asked & answered but, after thinking I was athiest for years, I only just discovered their/your nonbelief of the supernatural.
Which I happen y=to believe in – just not a singular god in the form of a man/beast. So after a little hunt I am wondering, am i an agnostic theist?
Citing Wiki “on those who associate organized religion with negative qualities, but still hold spiritual beliefs, might describe themselves as irreligious or agnostic theist.”
And if so – should I really be supporting atheism?
December 14th, 2009 at 9:13 am
I’ve always found it hard to comprehend the way some people say, “I don’t believe in ‘God’, but I do believe there is something out there, like a spiritual energy or something”.
If you find it hard to swallow the concept of a conscious supernatural ‘person’ who exists everywhere and nowhere, but you still believe in a supernatural ‘thing’ who exists everywhere and nowhere, I think you’ve really just traded in catchphrases and haven’t really changed your standpoint or worldview at all.
One way that people continue to cling to their theist beliefs is by trying to use scientific terms to describe their theism. Like using the word ‘universal energy’ for what they believe in instead of ‘God’.
I for one don’t believe in any of that mumbo-jumbo because there’s simply no evidence. Just because physics holds that energy can be neither created nor destroyed is no reason to believe in a universal spiritual energy of which we all hail from. Energy, yes. Spiritual, no.
@Cyberguy: I’ve also enjoyed the discussion, good Sir.
December 14th, 2009 at 10:57 am
Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, still exists.
December 14th, 2009 at 11:59 am
@Holly
Atheism does not by definition mean a non belief in the supernatural, simply the lack of belief in any particular theistic deity or “god” such as the one described in the Bible.
Incidentally, most atheists also reject other supernatural claims, for the same reasons they reject the idea of gods.
December 14th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
Stephen F. Roberts.
“I contend we are both atheists, I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.”
December 14th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
I’m sorry if the religious nutters are offended by the logical assertion (and inescapable conclusion) that there is no god. Their offended sensibilities are nothing compared to the countless deaths, destruction, misery, oppression, persecution, terrorism and wars that have been perpetuated in the ridiculous effort to “prove” who has the better imaginary friend.
There are hundreds if not thousands of “gods” so how the hell (oops) do you know which is the right one? What if like Homer you’re praying to the wrong one, and just making him madder and madder every week? Good luck!
December 14th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
DEAR UNBELIEVER GUESS WHAT BEEN A BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN FOR 28 YEARS AMAZING STUFF BEFORE THAT I WAS ONE OF NEW ZEALANDS WORSE PRISON INMATES I WAS AN ALCOHOLIC IN 1981 I WALKED OUT OF OAKELY MENTAL HOSPITAL AUCKLAND STRAIGHT INTO A CHURCH FULL OF BELIEVERS FOUND THE REAL JESUS NOT THE RELIGIOUS ONE GOT SOBER TILL THIS DAY NEVER HAD A DRINK SINCE YOU COULD NEVER CONVINCE ME WITH INTELLECTUAL ARGUMENT THAT GOD ISN’T REAL I’VE SEEN TOO MUCH IN MY CHRISITAN WALK TO GIVE IT UP GOD BLESS YOU DON’T FORGET JESUS LOVES YOU AND HAS A PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE HELL IS REAL AND SO IS HEAVEN IT’S YOUR CHOICE IN THE KINGS SERVICE EVANGELIST KEVIN MAD DOG MUDFORD.
December 14th, 2009 at 5:20 pm
@Kevin Mudford;
“YOU COULD NEVER CONVINCE ME WITH INTELLECTUAL ARGUMENT THAT GOD ISN’T REAL”
You see, it’s statements like this that cause people to think that religious people just aren’t that smart. That they’re unable to comprehend the points being made against their position.
Also, Kevin, I think your caps lock key is on.
December 14th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
Also, Kevin, I think your no punctuation key is on.
December 14th, 2009 at 5:38 pm
Kevin,
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I don’t think that all of us atheists together could have done a better job of convincing the average man or woman in the street that all religious types are barking mad. May whichever god you’re worshipping today (and whichever recreational drup you’re on) be with you always and please, please, please post more of that crap on this blog because it’s just superb evidence for our case.
Oh, by the way, you might consider reading a book called ‘Eats, Shoots and Leaves’, which is a great introduction to the use of English grammar. You know the sort of stuff, capital letters, commas, apostrophes (those things that hang in the air (‘) and full stops. (One of those). Just goes to prove you don’t have to be educated to believe in god.
December 14th, 2009 at 8:32 pm
@kevin
Based on your post, I would guess you are a Christian. I am happy you have found meaning in your life and if your beliefs keep you out of prison thats great….There are a lot of Atheists who have never been to prison as well, so maybe our lack of faith is just as good
Re critising Atheists for not believing…
I love the idea that if I dont worship or believe in god, I am going to hell…
What kind of loving God is that? not much loving I say
December 14th, 2009 at 10:38 pm
@Jon Pawson
I don’t know that believing in some all pervading force is such a strange thing and I don’t think it has to be all hippy and theistic, it just might be that you think there is some reason some things are alive and some things are for all intents and purposes not alive, like rocks.
This doesn’t need to be a faith, I mean you can see a worm is alive and a rock isn’t, it’s perfectly scientific.
But even if I did believe there is some sort of shared aliveness that alive things have, that’s not the same as praying to this force and expecting it to be able to hear you, or something silly like that.
Sharing a kinship with the fact that you are surrounded by living things, doesn’t mean you feel that as a whole this sum of these living things is conscious and you can talk to it.
Hanging out amongst nature and getting a feeling of spiritual awareness and well being doesn’t mean you’re as loopy as theists.
December 14th, 2009 at 11:28 pm
@Kevin
I can see from the various internet pages about you (http://polsong2000.tripod.com/kevin_madford.html ) that you have had a rough life. You’ve been pretty screwed up. And I can see that religion has been a way out for you.
But face it. Your background hardly helps you tell the difference between reality and fantasy. You are not the best equipped person to tell others how the universe works.
You should keep your religion to yourself if it works for you, but stop spreading your messed-up worldview to others.
December 15th, 2009 at 2:20 am
@Michael Dawson
“But even if I did believe there is some sort of shared aliveness that alive things have, that’s not the same as praying to this force and expecting it to be able to hear you, or something silly like that.”
Believing in the interconnectedness of all living things is a little too “hippy and theistic” for my tastes, sorry.
“I mean you can see a worm is alive and a rock isn’t, it’s perfectly scientific.”
Superfluous. That really has nothing to do with anything you said preceding or following it.
“this sum of these living things”
What is this sum of all living things of which you speak? What is this “shared aliveness that alive things have”? Could you please elaborate?
“Hanging out amongst nature and getting a feeling of spiritual awareness and well being doesn’t mean you’re as loopy as theists.”
Well-being, yes. Spiritual awareness? Um, no. I don’t believe in anything spiritual and the word is meaningless to me. I’ll offer two definitions of the term ‘spiritual’ here and you tell me if, as an atheist, you’re comfortable using that term..
Spiritual:
1. of, pertaining to, or consisting of spirit; incorporeal.
2. of or pertaining to the spirit or soul, as distinguished from the physical nature: a spiritual approach to life.
December 18th, 2009 at 9:16 am
@BigMikey “Many of the so called ‘New Atheists’ refuse to enter into debate or argument with the religious because they believe that by doing so it gives the believers validation.”
A quick check on youtube would show you all of those labeled New Atheists by the media have entered debates with religious believers.
You’re probably getting confused on Richard Dawkins stance on not debating creationists. Which makes sense because debating creationists is equivalent to debating flat earthers and although the evolutionist will win on facts, just getting publicity is a win for the creationist.
December 18th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
@Chris Smith
Yes Chris, you’re absolutely right, thanks for the correction.