Man refuses to drive 'No God' bus

[Beorn]

Man refuses to drive 'No God' bus


A Christian bus driver has refused to drive a bus with an atheist slogan proclaiming "There's probably no God".

Ron Heather, from Southampton, Hampshire, responded with "shock" and "horror" at the message and walked out of his shift on Saturday in protest.
First Bus said it would do everything in its power to ensure Mr Heather does not have to drive the buses.
Buses across Britain started displaying atheist messages in an advertising campaign launched earlier this month.
Mr Heather told BBC Radio Solent: "I was just about to board and there it was staring me in the face, my first reaction was shock horror.
"I felt that I could not drive that bus, I told my managers and they said they haven't got another one and I thought I better go home, so I did.

"I think it was the starkness of this advert which implied there was no God."
When he returned to work on Monday he was called into a meeting with managers and agreed to go back to work with the promise he would only have to drive the buses if there were no others available.

First Bus said in a statement: "As a company we understand Mr Heather's views regarding the atheist bus advert and we are doing what we can to accommodate his request not to drive the buses concerned."
It added: "As an organisation we don't endorse any of the products or sentiments advertised on our buses.
"The content of this advert has been approved by the Advertising Standards Agency and therefore it is capable of being posted on static sites or anywhere else."

The advertising campaign is backed by the British Humanist Association and prominent atheist Professor Richard Dawkins.
Hanne Stinson, chief executive of the British Humanist Association, said: "I have difficulty understanding why people with particular religious beliefs find the expression of a different sort of beliefs to be offensive.
"I can't understand why some people seem to have a different attitude when it comes to atheists."

Pressure group Christian Voice has questioned the campaign's effectiveness but the Methodist Church said it would be a "good thing if it gets people to engage with the deepest questions of life" and suggested it showed there was a "continued interest in God".

The advertisements run on 200 bendy buses in London and 600 vehicles in England, Scotland and Wales.

Source (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/7832647.stm)

Link to video (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7834574.stm)

[Loki]

I have difficulty understanding why people with particular religious beliefs find the expression of a different sort of beliefs to be offensive


Indeed, so do I. I guess it's because of the spiritual exclusivity that these religions teach, based on no empirical evidence whatsoever, other than some old Middle Eastern manuscripts.

[Cato]

I find that slogan no more offensive than the slogan Jesus is Lord or Repent or go to Hell. It's almost as if many people walking around these days are wanting to be offended.

I disagree, of course, but being offended by something that is to be expected nowadays is a tad silly. I meet people all of the time who have no believe in God; some of my friends are atheists and agnostics. I think nothing of it, I just go about my usual daily routines.

[Jamt]

Indeed, so do I. I guess it's because of the spiritual exclusivity that these religions teach, based on no empirical evidence whatsoever, other than some old Middle Eastern manuscripts.

Loki. If you think about it for 5 sec, cant you come upp with statments and slogans thath are to much for you? And what emperical evidennce do you base that on? If you are baseing your morality and princeple on somthing as shalow as sience.

[Beorn]

I find that slogan no more offensive than the slogan Jesus is Lord or Repent or go to Hell.

Difference being of course is that those slogans are aimed primarily at the religious and ignored by the non-religious. I certainly pay no attention to the statements on the board outside of a church as I pass it by, but to suddenly be reminded that all you people who do believe in God/s are being told that you shouldn't worry, that you're being silly and that you really should join the people of the 21st Century and have open debate over key scientific theory...or blah blah is quite frankly an outright offence to me.

I don't believe in the Tooth Fairy and find it quaint that children get so excited over her visiting, but I don't feel the need to whisper in an authoritative and condescending manner, "The Tooth Fairy does not exist. Grow up and get on with life". It smacks of an insecurity of people retaining an element of life they can't share and an outright lack of decency.


It's almost as if many people walking around these days are wanting to be offended.

Very true, but then it also seems as if people are walking around trying to offend.

[Cato]

The lack of civility doesn't bother me. Nor do the different opinions. It's all an amusing situation, quite honestly.

[Lady L]

"I have difficulty understanding why people with particular religious beliefs find the expression of a different sort of beliefs to be offensive.

Well, because most people do. Most people find anything that they don't agree with annoying anyway. I don't know if offensive is the right word though. Isn't this really just something the man didn't agree with.? What's the big deal, its his choice and he made it. The day that we don't have that freedom is when to worry. :wink

[Groenewolf]

Difference being of course is that those slogans are aimed primarily at the religious and ignored by the non-religious. I certainly pay no attention to the statements on the board outside of a church as I pass it by, but to suddenly be reminded that all you people who do believe in God/s are being told that you shouldn't worry, that you're being silly and that you really should join the people of the 21st Century and have open debate over key scientific theory...or blah blah is quite frankly an outright offence to me.

Actualy it is more the subtle suggestion that that we are not enjoying life that comes across as a bit arogant. I am perfectly enjoying life. Can not say the same thing about some atheist I have come across who is obessed with the idea that combating prostitution is somehow bowing down to Islam :coffee: .

[Cato]

Combating prostitution is merely upholding public morality, which is essential for the well-being of any society. I've met some pretty moral atheists and some pretty immoral Christians, so the mere advertisement of an atheistic position isn't going to undermine the morality of civilization. If Christians followed every jot and tittle of the Mosaic law, they'd be stoning homosexuals to death, not sparing the rod and beating uppity children, selling daughters into slavery, pillaging heathen temples and so forth.

[Beorn]

Actualy it is more the subtle suggestion that that we are not enjoying life that comes across as a bit arogant.

I suppose this just goes to show that it can offend, or at least annoy, anyone in many different ways.

[Tabiti]

What is the point of putting stickers with such statements on buses?

[Lulletje Rozewater]

What is the point of putting stickers with such statements on buses?

Fashion statement.
My son has a large sticker:"Real man follow Jesus"
Next time he has an accident, I shall write next to it:" to the body shop"

[Cato]

Fashion statement.
My son has a large sticker:"Real man follow Jesus"
Next time he has an accident, I shall write next to it:" to the body shop"

Or, for the sake of morbidity and a bit of gallows humor, "right to the execution site." :eek:

[lei.talk]

What is the point of putting stickers with such statements on buses?the same reason
as any other advertising:
to inform others of options
of which they might, other-wise, remain ignorant.

[RoyBatty]

What is the point of putting stickers with such statements on buses?

To promote the agenda of the "society" who pays for and campaigns for it. What that agenda is exactly is a bit unclear. The mafia behind the bus advertising campaign is called the "British Humanist Association".

Picture of the "founder"
http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2009/2/12/1234451530847/Harold-Blackham-has-died--001.jpg




The British Humanist Association...


...is the national charity???? :laugh: supporting and representing people who seek to live good lives without religious or superstitious beliefs. Our vision is of a world without religious privilege or discrimination. We promote Humanism, campaign for an open society and a secular state, and work with others of different beliefs for the common good.


Ahhhh...... a quote from their website (from some months ago). Smells like..... the odour of George Soros. I can't help but be a bit suspicious about the true motives of this organisation. PS, the moment the word "charity" shows up is usually the moment I start smelling a rat. :D

The way I see it they're effectively part of a larger Communism 2.0 effort already underway and by removing people's spiritual base they're preparing them for reprogramming with BHA (and similar) ideology. People with no beliefs are easier to control by the nanny state and those who control the nanny state.

[SwordoftheVistula]

the moment the word "charity" shows up is usually the moment I start smelling a rat.

Might be for tax reasons. I don't know how it works in the UK, but in the US you can deduct 'charitable contributions' from your taxable income but not contributions to 'political advocacy groups'.


People with no beliefs are easier to control by the nanny state and those who control the nanny state.

The situation in Iran and other middle eastern countries would argue otherwise.

[Äike]

Atheism shouldn't be forced on people:icon_neutral:

[Útrám]

Don't be such a tin god.

[Tony]

I have mixed feelings about this case , I find the man's choice bizarre and honestly don't think he has the right not to drive the bus because of the stickerts he doesn't agree with but the fact is we got used to condone every "right" and abuse claimed by special groups , ethnic minorities , gays , muslims for first...
so now how can't we condone this man too?

the same reason
as any other advertising:

What articles/goods/services advertise those stykers?
I think it's more ideological propaganda than a mere commercial campaign.

How about anti-immigration billboards attached on buses and metro trains?
would they be allowed?:rolleyes:

[Cato]

Picture of the "founder"
http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2009/2/12/1234451530847/Harold-Blackham-has-died--001.jpg

It's the Crypt Keeper! :eek:

[lei.talk]

How about anti-immigration billboards attached on buses and metro trains?
would they be allowed? :rolleyes:in the market-place of ideas,
every one should receive a full opportunity
to reveal the complete foolishness
or ineluctableness of their proposition.

those whose ideas are inconsonant with reality
must rely on force (legislation), intimidation and fraud (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fallacies)
to stifle debate.

[Osweo]

I'd like to hear of someone refusing to drive a bus with some of the semi-pornographic adverts I've seen. Or adverts for films with clearly immoral content. I don't live in hope...

That some people can get excited enough about atheism to finance this sort of thing is worrying, though. I have met people from the Secular Society and whatnot at university debates, and there are some earnest people who wish to do something right to maintain freedom in our public life, so that non-religious people can live, a bit like the religious provisions in the USA's constitution, but gaudy tactics like these are a new thing. The Soros and Co. agenda has been mentioned, and not inappropriately.

[RoyBatty]

It's the Crypt Keeper! :eek:

And he has one beeeeg hooked snout.

[RoyBatty]

The situation in Iran and other middle eastern countries would argue otherwise.

I have some first hand knowledge of Iranian people and know that in Iran (as is the case elsewhere around the world) people behave one way in front of the authorities and another way when Big Brother isn't watching. Don't believe everything the New York Times, CNN and Fox tells you about "Iranians", "Muslims" or "Middle Easterners" (excluding the saintly Israelis of course) all being little Islamo zombiebots who hang on every word of the mullahs, the preachers or the state.

Especially in Iranian society (as opposed to the Arab states) there are frequently debates and arguments about how to run the country, how to live, how to run society etc. They're not afraid to question and to challenge existing doctrines. The Arab countries (especially the staunchest Western "friends") tend to be a lot less tolerant of non-conformist opinions.

As for the "spiritual angle", it's always going to be more difficult to reprogram zealots who are already stuck in their ways, eg Afghan Taleban types or US-style Evangelical Christians than people who have a spiritual void.

Incidentally, the Evangelicals are now spreading around the world like cancer. It's become a multimillion (if not billion) $$ spinning enterprise.

[SwordoftheVistula]

the New York Times, CNN and Fox tells you about "Iranians", "Muslims" or "Middle Easterners" (excluding the saintly Israelis of course) all being little Islamo zombiebots who hang on every word of the mullahs, the preachers or the state.

All those media organs promote the exact opposite, that "Iranians", "Muslims" or "Middle Easterners" etc are all liberal tolerant pluralists on the inside and this will come out if only we defeat the Hitler-du-jour who has hypnotized them. The same media organs also couldn't believe that Bush could get elected twice or that California would vote to get rid of 'gay marriage', so I figure the average Iranian is much more 'Islamicized' than the media portrays. The same media organs told us the same thing about Iraq and turned out to be drastically wrong, it would be rational to assume the same is the case on Iran and the population (average guy on the street) is probably more 'Islamicized' than they portray it.

[Lulletje Rozewater]

Swinging Safari

http://i43.tinypic.com/rrmsyt.jpg