Stephen Green and the Atheist Buses

[naomi24]

Stephen Green, Director of Christian Voice, has complained to the Advertising Standards Agency, saying that the slogan on the Atheist buses - 'There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life' - breaks the ASA's codes on substantiation and truthfulness.

http://www.politics.co.uk/opinion-formers/pres s-releases/stephen-green-challenges-atheist-bu s-adverts-bha-responds-$1259438$365873.htm

This is the same man who opposed the HPV vaccine on the grounds that it would encourage promiscuity (thereby leaving girls at risk of cervical cancer), who attempted to have Jerry Springer, the Opera, banned, and who was arrested for distributing anti-homosexual literature at a gay rally.

Ironically, this quote comes from Stephen Green.

'It is preposterous for the ASA to think they can outlaw Christian freedom of speech and free expression of opinion.'

Mmm ..... but it's not preposterous for him to wish to outlaw everybody else's right to freedom of speech and free expression of opinion, it seems.

Personally, I find people like Stephen Green to be not only incredibly arrogant, but tiresome in the extreme, and in some instances, positively dangerous. Nothing would ever induce me to deem anything such people have to say worthy of serious consideration, so my question is, do those who feel they are qualified to continually preach religion in an attempt to impose their will on everyone else do more harm than good to the cause they are championing - religion?

[Marijn]

Thank you. It's some reassurance, not total reassurance. As I said, it takes many years to undo the indoctrination. There were nuns all through my education, primary and secondary. It's really difficult to think for yourself after all the religious input throughout your formative years.

[Octavius]

Personally I am a little cynical of the advert, but not purely for religious reasons. I do however feel that good people should not live specifically in fear of the wrath of God, just live good moral and conscientious lives however they wish to do so, and I don�t think being faithful in worship as a result of fear is good practice, and is more likely to be detrimental to personal wellbeing and true spirituality. As I said, I am genuinely pleased for you.

[Marijn]

That's a lovely thing to say. Thank you. :-)

[naomi24]

Notafish, you're absolutely right - it isn't easy, and it takes enormous courage, which you clearly have. Well done. I wish you well. x

[Marijn]

Thank you very much. :-)

[mibn2cweus]

By all means let every voice be heard. Let them reveal to the world the nature of the adversary we face. Let those who choose to enter into blindness do so with an unobstructed view of that which they will be getting in exchange for that which they are leaving behind.

Let the world bear witness to the inevitable madness of the street corner preacher whose greatest sin was to abandon reason. To silence the rattle of the snake does nothing to diminish the potency of its venomous bite.

Let freedom ring in the hope that reason will prevail. Hide not from us the reality in which we might find hope and when we die than let us die knowing that at least for a moment we had lived.

The fear of Hell is the only fuel feeding its flames. The promise of Heaven is the lie that in its believing only gives rise to Hell on Earth.

The true hero is not the one attempting to rid the world of evil but the one who through reason has gained the wisdom to realise that evil once acknowledged and left to its own devices will devour itself. For as long as we all are free to speak our minds the worst the worst can do is bring out the best in us.

[naomi24]

Beautifully said, Mibs.

[Octavius]

Well yes, but aside from the bit about hell and whatnot, Stephen Green could deliver the same sermon and still be convinced he is right.

[naomi24]

Why aside from the bit about Hell? I imagine Stephen Green could tell us quite a bit about Hell - if we really wanted to know.

[Octavius]

Would he tell you anything that you don't already know?

[naomi24]

Don't know.

[JockSporran]

What kind of atheists are we dealing with here? 'Probably', they say. Clearly they think there just might be a God after all, huh?

Another way they might put is: There's no God, so let's get p*ssed or doped up and do what we like anyway.

There is another way of course. We can come to believe that there is more to life than existence, more to death than extinction, more to nature than matter and energy, more to to the world than war and greed. We can believe in a spirit of the universe, of love and peace. I hope you find this spirit, naomi love. x

[naomi24]

As I've said many times on AB, Jock, I already have that, but it's a concept that is impossible for people who believe in God to comprehend - as I've discovered.

Atheists say 'probably' because there is no proof and science keeps an open mind, whereas religion says 'definitely', despite having no proof either.

[naomi24]

Another thought. Why automatically assume an atheist would want to drink to excess and take drugs? All those I know live very respectable lives. They know right from wrong without the necessity of believing in a God who waves a big stick at them to keep them in line.

[Octavius]

Not a lack of comprehension really, merely a conclusion that the reason you presented for your non-belief in any (named) spiritual entities were largely ambiguous, and merely pointed to distaste for men or women of the cloth. It was confirmed by somebody else on your behalf that the belief you plant your atheistic faith in was in something ethereal with �no name�.

That is very easy to comprehend, it is what uneducated farming peasants did long before religion got organised, although no doubt various tribes and clans had various names for �it�.

Your justification for the use of probably carries no more conviction than if we were to be equally woolly about the whole issue and say �there probably is a god�.

[naomi24]

Distaste for men and women of the cloth? Where on earth did you get that from? As for belief in spiritual entities - and something etheral with no name - no. As I said, no comprehension.

Apart from that, Octavius, this question isn't about me, so if you want to discuss the original question, do, but please don't try to turn the thread into something personal and unpleasant - yet again!

[Octavius]

�please don't try to turn the thread into something personal and unpleasant - yet again!�

I�m sorry, was it something I said? What in there is unpleasant? When you said �I already have that, but it's a concept that is impossible for people who believe in God to comprehend - as I've discovered.� You made it personal.

Why can religionists be presented with endless challenges, scorn and general sneering and expected to bow down and quiver to your self-assumed superiority, yet when questioned on your beliefs you just throw in the �you don�t understand� towel?

[naomi24]

Octavius, I don't expect anything from anyone here, except hopefully sensible debate. However, where you're concerned that hope is clearly futile. You really are being very silly - and it shows you know.

[Octavius]

Still avoiding it then.

I can cope with you thinking that.
I just put it down to your self-assumed superiority.

[naomi24]

Avoiding what? No need to answer that. You've told me what you think I believe, and you've assured me you understand it, so clearly you don't need any more answers. Have a good day.