Great first day
10.12.09 | simon | 
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I’d like to thank everyone today for their donations. It’s been a steady stream of donations rolling in all day. Thanks heaps guys!
We’re over 5% of the way there, which is not bad at all for the first day. There are a number of media opportunities coming up over the next week or so that should spread the campaign to a wider audience. I’ll be sure to outline them here or on Twitter as and when they occur.
Our target is $10,000 for the initial ad run. That works out at approximately $900 per ad-on-a-bus, so we’ve nearly got one ad sorted…let’s go!
173 Responses to “Great first day”
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Pages: « 1 [2] 3 4 5 6 » Show All
December 11th, 2009 at 10:19 am
I think this is an excellent campaign. It amazes me that religious people are on here telling us that we are unjust and wrong for not believing in their God. I thought he was all about acceptance and forgiveness? How about accepting the fact that we dont want a religion? I don’t believe this is about trying to convert people to atheism, its just saying its ok to be that way. You have people on here telling us that we need ‘come have a coffee with god’ and that we are wrong. Do atheists not have a right to freedom of speech? Half the churches in Auckland have advertising in the form of billboards for all to see, they have programmes on TV, they are always in the news. And they are outraged about a few bus slogans? Didnt realise god taught hipocrisy.
December 11th, 2009 at 10:22 am
@regan if you could bring me solid evidence proving that god exists I would examine it and possibly change my mind if that is what you mean.
You see my mind is open to the possibility, it however also happens to come with a nice strong bullshit protector.
Show me the evidence. (2000+ years of waiting so far and there hasn’t been anything though so I wont hold my breath.)
Remain in your dark unquestioning room if that makes you feel safe but don’t expect me to do the same.
December 11th, 2009 at 10:28 am
@donhomer @Wayno: good response to @regan. I doubt they have the ability to actually grasp the point though.
December 11th, 2009 at 10:30 am
Children have been tormented and brainwashed by relgious organisations for too long. I wish there was no religious education and teaching brainwashing very young children with fairy tales & perverted and sick stories of burning in hell and devils trying to take our souls. This is mental abuse and there should be free counselling for children who have suffered through this and continue to suffer as adults. I hope one day our society will make it illegal for ‘religious education’ to claim children just because of who their parents are. A secular education – being taught things that are real & proven – should be the right of every human being.
December 11th, 2009 at 10:33 am
If you can see the Rainbow, then you can see God’s promise, for the next thousands of year’s
Genesis 9:13-17 (New International Version)
13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. 16 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”
17 So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.”
December 11th, 2009 at 10:34 am
@Gold: I agree. There’s actually no point in arguing with “religious” types (although sometimes the temptation is too great), because if you think about it there is actually no argument. We are after completely different things:
We want the truth, and they want their religion to be true.
December 11th, 2009 at 10:36 am
@regan
If you took the time to read through the FAQ’a you’d know why the word probably was used in the uK, and carried over to the NZ campaign, or you could carry on displaying your ignorance.
As far as I’m concerned, the death and suffering in the world today is more than enough evidence that there is no god. If this god of yours is so merciful why did he allow a church to collapse on the one day that his followers congregate, killing several of them and injuring many more?
December 11th, 2009 at 10:38 am
In addition I should point out that in my experience the only way people become atheists out of their own. They need to decide that they want to confirm their beliefs and learn the truth.
The biggest hurdle (speaking from personal experience – I was raised Christian) is allowing yourself the freedom to think outside your religious boundaries, and above all to be honestly be prepared to discover that your religion may in fact not be correct. It takes a lot of guts and willpower if you’re sufficiently brainwashed, but it’s doable.
December 11th, 2009 at 10:39 am
The support has been amazing, great to see Atheists united.
We have a right to share our belief, just the same as everybody else. Plenty of religious groups advertise, we’re just doing the same. Please respect our views as we respect yours.
And a message for the god-haters, you’re not atheists. You can’t hate something that you don’t believe in.
December 11th, 2009 at 10:45 am
Oh goodness me, the biblical quotes have started already, and yet they don’t realise that they are wasting their time. That tosh only works on the young and the weak minded.
The great thing is that the religionists are helping to add to the donations each time they post their tosh.
I have a suggestion, why don’t you godbotherers pray for this campaign to fail, then when you see the buses rolling resplendent with the fine adverts, perhaps you’ll start to see the light.
December 11th, 2009 at 10:45 am
Regan – you believe 100% that there is a God. You’re completely close-minded to the fact that there might not be one. You feel threatened anytime anyone even suggests there isn’t one.
That’s not logical. And it’s an odd way to live.
Atheists would be happy to be proven wrong. We base our beliefs on evidence. And there is no scientific evidence of God. Should that change then my view as an Atheist would change. We don’t *not* believe because we want to. No choice has been made – it’s just obvious.
I don’t choose to believe in gravity. It’s just there.
It’s called being open-minded and basing your views on logic.
My world won’t fall apart if new scientific evidence showed there is a God (though I wouldn’t get your hopes up that’s highly unlikely to happen).
Your world is nothing without the idea there is a God.
Maybe if you were 100% convinced you wouldn’t feel so threatened at other people doubting your sky god.
December 11th, 2009 at 10:46 am
Adriaan Botha, did you know that the Vatican was built upon the grounds previously devoted to the worship of Mithra (600 B.C.). The Orthodox Christian hierarchy is nearly identical to the Mithraic version. Virtually all of the elements of Orthodox Christian rituals, from miter, wafer, water baptism, alter, and doxology, were adopted from the Mithra and earlier pagan mystery religions. The religion of Mithra preceded Christianity by roughly six hundred years.
December 11th, 2009 at 10:48 am
This is great. Thank you for bringing atheism out into the open. I have always felt a little afraid to be open about being a humanist. This sort of thing is fabulous – I’m not the only one!!
Long live the invisible pink unicorn. She rocks!
December 11th, 2009 at 10:50 am
Let’s not forget the onus of proof rests on those making the claim that a god exists. It’s NOT on those who are making no claim at all.
The claim that a supernatural entity exists is just a rational as saying there is a rabbit living inside my digestive tract. People say God has an effect on their lives, well I say this rabbit is the cause of the rumblings in my gut.
It’s a ridiculous claim but no more ridiculous than those made by theists about their particular deity.
December 11th, 2009 at 10:52 am
@wayno: I totally agree that you cannot change the mind of a true believer no matter how rational your arguments if they persist in thinking of faith as a virtue.
However I still think it is important to put the arguments out there and show other people (perhaps just the fence sitters even) that atheism is a position that is supported by strong rational arguments where as theism is just a bunch of wishful thinking and hand waving.
I don’t believe because I have no evidence that suggests that I should. Until that day (if it ever comes, but like I said I’m not going to hold my breath) I will stick with the null hypothesis.
December 11th, 2009 at 11:24 am
Unquestioning faith is not a virtue.
December 11th, 2009 at 11:28 am
Heh
Rhythmbox just randomly served up Terrible Lie by NIN.
Appropriate.
_That_ should be an Athiest anthem…
December 11th, 2009 at 11:28 am
@wayno @honhomer @gold
LOL – Someone laughs at your campaign and you instantly assume they’re a “believer” – here comes the deluded enemy – “show me the proof” – “obviously you are not well versed in the scientific method”.
For the record – I’m a NON believer – an Atheist. Yes shock horror the “religious nutter” with “limited brain capacity” who is laughing at our campaign is actually one of us! *bugger*
@gold – “they don’t have the ability to grasp it” – get over yourself einstein! Personal ridicule should only be used as a last resort, right before you stamp your feet and start crying.
Out of interest, are you all celebrating Christmas?????
December 11th, 2009 at 11:33 am
Hi Regan, Sorry if I got the details wrong. Can you please explain to me why you think that the word “probably” is inaccurate to be used in this case.
If you can prove to me with 100% confidence that god does not exist I would be interested in hearing your argument.
While I would state that probably is the right word to use there I think that the chances that god exists are up there with santa claus and the tooth fairy so you don’t have too far to get me
Oh and yes I will be celebrating christmas with my family and friends
December 11th, 2009 at 11:33 am
@regan: Thanks for your $3 support so far.
December 11th, 2009 at 11:40 am
Christmas is merely a hijacked pagan festival and re-branded as a Christian celebration. The Christmas tree, holly wreath and yule log are all pagan traditions.
A holiday is a holiday, whatever its name or cause, I celebrate May Day holiday and I’m not a commie!
December 11th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
Great campaign and long overdue! More power to common sense.
Sigh.. have any of the religious fundamentalists on here ever read anything in the bible or perhaps had a quick look through the koran as well, your gods are sadistic, misogynist, war-mongering, and plainly man-made… also how did Noah really manage to get two of every animal in his backyard and fit them all on this boat? Please supply evidence of god and I might perhaps (if he/she mends their way) go along with you.
December 11th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
Regan you must be the first self-loathing Atheist I’ve ever come across.
December 11th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
@regan: Personally I’m celebrating Gravmas. At least I know that that’s a celebration of an actual person…
Also, I never said “they don’t have the ability to grasp it”.
December 11th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
Wayno, I do like your idea re donating more re all the ignorant posts here but it might get a bit out of hand!
December 11th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
@donhomer – Simple. I did a member search on facebook and he doesn’t have an account – so he “definitely” does not exist.
@jo – LOL – na, not a self-loathing Atheist. I really just don’t “care” if other people choose to believe in a god, a cow, or howl at the moon – all power to them if it rings their bell. Why waste 1 second of your time trying to convince them otherwise when there’s things like “home and away” and “master chef” on TV? Seems pointless.
As a side note, I know someone who isn’t religious, but when they go to weddings they do “the sign of the cross” thing on their chest when they enter the church. When asked, why do you do that? They replied, “hedging my bets”.
I like that.
December 11th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
@regan, lol in that case I don’t exist either then
A little curious about the reply for Jo, if you don’t care and wouldn’t waste a minute on it why did you bother to waste a minute here to post about the word “probably” in a bus campaign that you don’t seem to care about?
Your posts intrigue me.
December 11th, 2009 at 2:11 pm
@donhomer
Haha, true you might not? No, really! Forget god and ask yourself, do ANY of us actually exist? Prove it. I believe this is all just a mirage, everything, everyone. Prove I’m wrong? Got proof? Your proof is a mirage too!
Same argument all over again.
re. jo – My first post didn’t take a full 1 minute – about 30 seconds.
It’s all the posts since that have been a waste of time LOL. 
Bloody hell, looking back through the messages it amazes me how many people jumped the gun and “assumed” I was a religious nut. Poor old @Pete Knight talking about my ignorance (actually pete I did read the faq’s so ignorance is assuming that I didn’t) and “my god” breaking down churches (that happened because god said it was their time by the way) and @Jack who said I 100% believe in god” (that’s news to me jack!).
Makes you wonder… at least the believers with their bibles can actually READ!
December 11th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
@regan: $5……
December 11th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
Man this is awesome. I love seeing all the non atheists on an atheist board, rock on. So great to get the adverts on the bus to get people thinking and talking about it. Simple as that. And I love the use of the word “probably” for so many reasons, but I guess the most obvious reason is because a certain mind is a closed mind – and a closed mind, well, that’s just stupid. Lovin ya all whether you are lucky enough to have faith or not. Gosh faith, what a gift – bliss. Maybe I’ll get some for Christmas!