To make my point more clear, the healthiest nations in this world are the least religious (as indicated in this survey here: http://www.gallup.com/poll/114211/Alabamians-Iranians-Common.aspx )

Still don’t see a connection?

If you do some research and get your facts right, you will realise that Mother Theresa did hardly any good in India. In fact, she actively campaigned in India AGAINST the use of contraceptives, which she also famously declared when accepting her Nobel Peace prize. Sickening. She was a barrier against grassroots initiatives in India for the empowerment of women. What India really needs is to give women control over their own body, that’s what will make a difference.

She also believed in ‘the spiritual goodness of poverty’ and there are countless allegations of forced and coerced baptisms of the dying who were of other religions.

There is also widespread documentation by medical practitioners themselves who witnessed first-hand the horrific standard of medical care in her hospices.

And as to what she did with the millions donated, I’ll let you you find that out for yourself. Should be enlightening for you.

As Christopher Hitchens so aptly put it : “One of the most salient examples of people’s willingness to believe anything if it is garbed in the appearance of holiness is the uncritical acceptance of the idea of Mother Teresa as a saint by people who would normally be thinking – however lazily – in a secular or rational manner.”

The context of this article is not about tithings for praise vs. Donations for Bus adds. otherwise, yes I would have said the same thing about tithings….I agree, the two are very similar.

@Shama “Do you not count 9/11 as a real problem? Or the discrimination against gays? Or how the Catholic Church has decreed that condoms are evil in Africa where thousands are dying of Aids?
Or the push for Religion masked as Science in schools? Or the abuse of women who are treated as 2nd class citizens in many religious countries?”

Yes I consider all of these things to be real problems….problems that (IMO) won’t be solved simply by encouraging people to have real discussions on religion….

These problems simply do not disappear when religion does, nor do the countless acts of kindness performed by the millions of individuals who help others in the name of their religion. Without religion, Mother Theresa would have still been Mother Theresa, and Osama Bin Laden would still have been Osama Bin Laden……its the nature of the person, not the conditioning…….(once again, IMO)

I just think that this is an awfully expensive conversation starter.
and if that is the real purpose of the project, then would you not agree that all the bilboards stating that God Does exist encourage just as much conversation on the topic? When I see a Theist inspired Add I say WTF? just like I did when I saw this add……..misappropriation of funds on both sides..(again IMO)

This is not so much about changing people’s view of atheists as you put it, but rather to get people to examine their religious beliefs, atleast once, which is very important considering the pedestal religion is given and how so much evil is done in the name of religion around the world.

Do you not count 9/11 as a real problem? Or the discrimination against gays? Or how the Catholic Church has decreed that condoms are evil in Africa where thousands are dying of Aids?
Or the push for Religion masked as Science in schools? Or the abuse of women who are treated as 2nd class citizens in many religious countries?

How does spending on charity alleviate any of these issues? Only a huge shift in societal mindset can rid us of this archaic & primitive form of control, and as Simon said, little by little, piece by piece, we are trying.

The purpose instead is to stimulate discussion on these issues, and rather than winning converts to support non-believers who are underrepresented in society.

Isn’t it funny how no one complains about weekly tithings spent on praise, but a passive aggresive ‘why don’t you spend the money elsewhere?’ comes out for atheism.

If I were you I would follow my own advice….yes “There is probably no God, now stop worrying and get on with YOUR life”