Comments on: Atheist Bus Campaign. Meh.

By: Simon Fisher

Simon Fisher — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 09:17:42 +0000

One young guy even wrote “It got me thinking that I might not be as crazy as I first believed.”

I find it very easy to get caught up in the “idea space” of my own little world/social circle etc. It’s easy to forget the multitude of differences amongst people out there in the broader population.

By: Simon Fisher

Simon Fisher — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 09:13:19 +0000

Hey Damian,

Noticed your blog post earlier, but stumbled upon it again just now. I can definitely understand and sympathise with the points you raised – they were certainly points I had to think over.

I’d like to just use this to share an aspect that hasn’t been publicised much. I received many emails by members of the public who were genuinely pleased by the campaign because they felt it gave them a voice, or the confidence to talk about their non-belief, of just the sheer fact that there are “others” out there, or other similar reasons. Such emails were a definite positive acknowledgement of the worth of the campaign.

By: Damian

Damian — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 02:45:24 +0000

Hi Ken,
Yes, if there are people who feel that way about admitting to having no religion a campaign like this may well help. It’s quite possible that there are segments of society or other age groups who feel this way that I am not aware of. The general feeling I get from the vast majority of the under-forty middle-class age group is that admitting that you take any particular religion seriously is pretty damn embarrassing. I have met a lot in this group, however, who like to be ‘spiritual’ or ‘alternative’ but they don’t at all identify with the traditional Abrahamic religions.

It will be interesting to see how the figures change in the next census but if there is a rapid increase in the number of no-religion box-tickers I’d still struggle to believe that this campaign will have been a significant contributing factor. I’ve detected a real sea-change over the last few years and am predicting 40-45% in the no-religion category in 2011 (secretly hoping to break the 50% mark though).

Still, as I say, best of luck to them. I wish them well.

By: Ken

Ken — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 01:11:08 +0000

While I tend to agree with you generally, Damian, even in good old NZ, where people are generally tolerant, I think the campaign could have spin off.

I am thinking, in particular, of the fact that many people still feel it is not respectable to admit to no religion. Even though it has nothing to do with belief.

I wouldn’t be surprised if things like these adverts lead to a significantly reduced number who tick the Christian box (49.5% in 2006 when double dippers are eliminated) in the 2011 census.

By: Damian

Damian — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 21:46:39 +0000

I am agnostic in that I don’t think you can prove either way whether there is a God but I am atheistic in that, on the balance of evidence, I believe there is no God. This balance of evidence approach fits far better with the word ‘probably’ than with ‘definitely’ and so I think it’s an entirely appropriate word from an atheistic point of view. So, yes, I agree with the wording, just not the implementation.

By: BC

BC — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 21:33:06 +0000

Probably = agnostic?

By: Dale Campbell

Dale Campbell — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:29:50 +0000

Good thoughtful post, Damian.

By: Damian

Damian — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 08:23:50 +0000

Yes, it was Bnonn. But the US has been in the headlines a lot recently with some strong reactions to various billboards as well as buses. I personally think that the UK is closer to NZ than the US with respect to their level of religiosity although they went through a bit of a rough patch with Blair’s Faith Schools and people are concerned with a growing Muslim extremism movement.

By: Dominic Bnonn Tennant

Dominic Bnonn Tennant — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 08:16:00 +0000

I almost hate to point this out, but the original bus campaign was in the UK.

By: Damian

Damian — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 08:04:18 +0000

Well, to be fair the young do taste a lot better than the old! Tender and succulent.

I have a deep respect for atheists in the states. It’s an entirely different ball game and you’re having to deal with a depth of dumb that the rest of us rarely encounter.