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Unbelievable: An anonymous donor is spending $25,000 to plaster the subway system with ads promoting atheism. Which seems like a waste of money, because didn't God give up on the subway system long ago? Starting next Monday, the monthlong advertising campaign will saturate a dozen Manhattan subway stations with the slogan "A Million New Yorkers Are Good Without God. Are You?" Besides advertising Godlessness, the campaign is also promoting a new book called Good Without God, by Greg Epstein.
The ads are being coordinated by "New York City Coalition for Reason," an umbrella organization comprised of local atheist groups, City Room reports. According to their website, "All Big Apple COR organizations share common ground—promoting wider acceptance of a more rational and realistic view of the universe—but each has its own particular emphasis. Some advocate for scientific knowledge, reason, and skeptical inquiry. Some focus on the promotion of dogma-free humanist ethics, and an appreciation for life and the lives of other persons."
The subway ad campaign is an unrelated follow-up to a bus campaign that ran on Manhattan buses in July, reminding New Yorkers, "You don't have to believe in God to be a moral or ethical person." We look forward to seeing a "Cool with Christ" counterattack ad soon enough.
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Get rid of God. Then what is exactly the definition of Good? Looks like that will be open to anyone's interpretation.
Get some of this and all will be OK... http://bit.ly/2UlcrO
get rid of god and then the notion of "good" is up for anybody's interpretation? Uh...newsflash, religion is all about backing up personal or cultural moral interpretations with a supernatural being.
Jews: we are right, god told us so.
Christians: we are right, god told us so.
Muslims: we are right, god told us so.
How is that not leaving "good" up to "anyone's interpretation"? Or is your god the only one who revealed morality the correct way?
So you're saying you're only good because god says so? Boy are we in trouble.
I love this, even though it's to promote a book. I'm great without god. I would be even better without astrology too!
Tarot tonite? I'll bring some snacks...
OK! Capricorns love snacks!!
Couldn't they have hired a proper graphic designer and not used such a shoddy font?
Sure beats those Korean pastor ads though.
Agreed, have you seen the "Imagine No Religion" ones? Big blackletter type on faux stained glass, really bad.
Of all the ads on the subway, this one makes the most sense.
Never, never question the wisdom of Dr Zizmor.
Yeah, right up there with promoting atheism in foxholes.
Too bad they had to capitalize god. It looks like they believe in him/her/whatever. The picture of the sky reminds me of religious posters. Plus, what is the message? "Are you?" Yeah, I am. What of it? Oh well, shouldn't complain.
Every mythical being's proper name is properly capitalized; you don't write "santa claus" just because you don't believe that he exists.
But seriously, the ad is aimed at people who do believe in "God," and so would capitalize it. It's capitalized because it refers to the particular God of the targeted reader, not to the general concept. Same for the picture reminding you of "religious posters." It's meant to catch the eye of people who would be moved by that type of imagery.
It's capitalized out of obedience to God.
Yeah but they have to hyphenize between the G and the D or it's not Kosher.
It's capitalized for both reasons -- God was not originally a proper noun, but when used in the singular in the western world has typically come to refer to one particular fictional entity. So it should be capitalized even if not respected or believed in.
Similarly: "Tom Sawyer dropped by Vice City today to tell the Easter Bunny that his wife, Goldilocks, was stepping out with James Caan." All of those proper nouns are fictional, yet all capitalized.
James Caan is fictional?
meh. might as well say "a million new yorkers are allergic to peanut butter. ARE YOU?"
I think new yorkers are indifferent to these kinds of ads. Perhaps if the clouds were replaced with boobs. Soft and similarly pillowy boobs...
Perhaps if the clouds were replaced with boobs. Soft and similarly pillowy boobs...
You can't promote atheism with visual images that suggest there IS a god!
i have no problem at all with this ad, especially after having to tolerating subway preachers who pop out of nowhere like god samurais.
Organized atheism is so juvenile, it all seems like overcompensating for childhood slights.
Next: "One million New Yorkers stay up late playing videogames and drinking Mountain Dew. Do you?"
Agreed. That's why the capital G makes me really happy. Whether or not it's true, I like to believe a sneaky Catholic put that in there for shits and giggs.
It seems like this ad is really aimed at cheering up existing atheists, rather than creating new ones.
Depressed because you're an atheist? Don't be! A million New Yorkers are good without God :)
Ugh. I'm neither religious nor an atheist, but proselytizing atheists bother me more than religious types. Yes, religions have been / are behind some seriously misguided shit. But it's a bleak & cold world that's guided by reason alone.
I think it's more about organizing than recruiting. People don't quit their smoking habits from subway ads; Why would anyone think that do it's going to work for people's faith?
Bleak and cold? Who ever said this world existed for your comfort?
Hard to face reality, I know. But do you realize that your argument as you state it
(Yes, religions have been / are behind some seriously misguided shit. But it's a bleak and cold world that's guided by reason alone.)
is merely an argument that we should continue pretending to believe in god? Do you see that this in no way addresses whether or not god exists? You are only stating that it's good for us to pretend it's true because then we can be happier.
Your argument, in other words, is this - Considering a world without god frightens me...therefore god exists.
The atheist argument is that believing in untrue things is not healthy for humanity, even if it falsely comforts you for awhile. If that's proselytizing, so be it. And yes, it's cold.
What a waste of $25k. I understand if someone spent money to promote something they believe in. But promoting atheism is promoting that you don't believe in something.
I don't believe in Astrology and I am going to spend $25k to make sure no one else does too.
When you want liberal snark, just search for JDS's posts!
They're also always replete with syntax and grammar errors.
Don't be a grammar nazi - it shows lack of character.
Everyone makes mistakes even you. Accept it and move on.
Also, does this mean there are a million New Yorkers that are atheists or that there are a million New Yorkers that are atheists and feel pretty good about it?
As long as they wallpaper these ads around those assholes at 42nd. St. near the 7 train, I'm fine with this.
Can't they just plaster it over the jesus shouters all over the place? The morning ones are the worst. It's like take your religion outside, way too early in the morning for this bullshit.
Unfortunately, I see God in those clouds. Two eyes at the top, a nose, and a bearded mouth. I think He sabotaged this poster.
That's just patently silly, seeing things that aren't there. It's obviously the face of Mohammed, duh.
I sort of doubt that 1 million New Yorkers are good, with or without God.
preaching to the choir, so-to-speak, aren't you? how about they throw these ads on some billboards in the deep south
There are plenty of hard-core religious wackos in this city. Take it from me, as I grew up in a country that has largely been over religion for about two generations now. Many people here seem VERY far behind the rest of the developed world.
Hailing from a spiritually bankrupt pagan society that has no culture doesn't make you better or superior to other societies that are spiritual.
In fact, since the US is the lone superpower I guess that means we're WAY ahead of you, not only technologically, but also on the human evolution scale.
^ Troll
Troll? Somebody responds to your idiotic comment and they're a troll? I grew up in the midwest in a real backwards place where if you didn't go to the right church, you were liable to have the crap beat out of you and no one would do anything to help you, including school administrators, because you were going to burn in hell anyway so why should they care? That's backwards. New York is a refreshing melting pot of different cultures which sometimes clash but which generally live in harmony. There are crazies here, but there are crazies everywhere.
Now let's make some ridiculous sweeping generalizations about Europe, shall we? I'm assuming you're European here. I could be wrong. In Europe, nobody has jobs but nobody cares. Everything is unionized and everything is late. The Muslims are taking over, but nobody really seems to notice that. Oh, wasn't that fun? I just took my personal experiences and observations and made it sound like they applied to a whole continent!
No, I called her/him a troll because s/he repeatedly contradicts him/herself.
Your apparently limited perspective is what makes you think NYC is so far advanced. Your background of growing up in some rural backwater is what makes you think this place is so far advanced. Well, I've got news for you: this place has a long way to go before it catches up with the other major cities of the world. I don't know if you've noticed, but this city is just a *tad* dirty. In a matter of five minutes, I saw two people littering yesterday. Oh, and then there's the piss, spit, shit, and the rest of it. I have witnessed gay-bashing on more than one occasion. I have been harassed (cat calling and the like) on hundreds of occasions at the hands of men who have nothing to do all day. Thousands of cars in this city are adorned with plastic Jesus fish, plastic rosaries, etc. These aren't exactly the hallmarks of an advanced society.
BTW, I'm not from Europe, but way to be a presumptuous a-hole. Since we've now veered off into the presumption tangent, I'd like to make a few about you. You went to college, moved to Manhattan, make a good living, and see all these people of "other cultures" as a novelty for your own amusement. Something tells me that you don't live in a neighborhood that predominately consists of people from "other cultures", like I do.
You know, usually I like your comments on here, but this time you've proven yourself to be a real provincial boob. People like you are so blinded by the fact that you've actually made it here that you lose sight of the problems that genuinely plague this city. If you really care about and love NYC, recognize the problems that exist, rather than living in denial.
Promoting atheism is exactly what atheists need.
We live is a society that almost demands any sort of religious belief, or else. Every major politician must proclaim their beliefs to have any chance of winning an election, no matter what disgusting things they do.
It would be nice if politicians were no longer allowed to speak about religion/god, considering that church and state are supposed to be separate.
yes and yes.
I'd like you to find any society in the world where there is not an ounce of Religion, of any type, whether western, eastern, African, Polynesian.
Just as some commenters pointed, Atheism and Fundamental Religions are equally destructive. By just trying to force your beliefs, or lack thereof, an atheist behaves just like a fundamentalist zealot.
There's the very plausible theory we are all hardwired for religion. Therefore, all peoples develop religion. That's doesn't mean it's "true".
But, once again, even in NYC we have no power to impose our beliefs on believers. It's the other way around. Nor would I want the power. However, I would like you to consider there's probably no God and we're going to be alright.
I'm so sick of these freaks shoving their religious beliefs down our throats.
lol snickerdoodle never makes sense.
To us in the Esoteric and Occult circles you Atheists and Exoterics Monotheists are quite hoot.
You fight with each other, you hate each other all due to Internalized Symbols and Archetypes that are impressed on your Psyche. Let go of all that and believe only in yourself.
Translation: stop trying to use philosophy and reason, and start spouting new age jargon that makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside, even if doesn't make a bit of coherent sense.
And don't leave the sweat lodge until we tell you to.
Many philosphers would highly disagree with Atheism (Pre-Socratic, Plato, Aristotle, Kant, even Nietzsche and I can go on and on).
Your stance of equating Atheism with Philosophy is highly erroneous and your attachment to its symbolism is Ego-based.
I can also say that you equating Atheism with reason is also erroneous as "reason" is defined by the Ages not by some absolute truth.
As such you should look within yourself to see why do have a need to be attached to said symbolism that it carries. Why is it so important to your ego and sense of individuality?
uhhh, what?
Ha. Mildly entertaining. I approve.
The rest of the country probably considers much more than 1M of us godless.
i believe in bubblegum and lollipops
Thank science!
If there was ever a time that atheism needed to be promoted it's right now. As a direct result of religious hoo-ha, we've become a country that teaches its' children that evolution is a plot by 'Satan', and it has created an apocalyptic xtian culture of un-reason. We deny people medical treatment based on made up religious beliefs, gay people are regularly beaten and murdered in the name of 'god', and the US sends soldiers around the world to fight other cultures because 'our god is bigger than your god'.
Sorry. Religion isn't useful anymore, it's a dangerous delusion that is hurting us a species. I'm all for the ads.
Atheism and Fundementalist Religions are equally destructive, both proselytize internalized archetypal symbolism that is Egoic in nature.
Both Creationism and Darwinian Evolutionary theory is a distortion of truth.
The former is purely Symbolic (and the Exoteric Monotheists don't have a grasp for its symbolism) and the latter builds from a sequential method.
There is some truth to both to a certain extend, but both are equally distorted truths.
Neither should be taught in Public Schools.
Emanative Evolution (emanations) is the answer to both (as both stem from it).
I will never understand the concept of evangelizing atheism.
And I'm an atheist.
Let people believe what they want to believe. It won't effect you.
Having an atheist evangelical group makes about as much sense as running an anarchist network.
This isn't about evangelizing atheism, it's about improving PR for atheists. Typically in polls, fewer Americans say they would vote for an atheist presidential candidate than a Muslim candidate. They're trying to promote the idea that atheists are just as good and moral, if not more so, than theists.
They voted for Ronald Reagan, didn't they?
I don't think there is a flood of atheists who have donated significant money to build city museums and libraries, perform community service in downtrodden neighborhoods, help bring food/medicine/literacy to 3rd world countries, or even contribute to science. Darwin was agnostic, not atheist by the way. In fact, I think most atheists tend not to do anything to anyone for any reason good or bad. Yes some religion are more destructive than others, but some religion has done more good and help society not end up as a static cesspool.
It makes perfect sense if you're an anti-theist and you believe that not only is theistic belief incorrect, but it is also harmful.
As much as I love this ad, I cannot believe 1/8th of New Yorkers are atheists. Judging by other stats on atheism, they must be including the whole metro area, not just the five boroughs. I would like to know their source for this figure.
At least the subway platform and tracks won't be littered with silly cartoon fliers given out by that cult "Jews For Jesus"...
They're Bad without Satan all the time, so what???
And anyone who claims to "know" one way or the other is just trying to have an argument.
I hope a subway preacher sees one of these and flees screaming out at the next stop.
We would lose too many holidays with the religions. We would have to make some up. Any suggestions?
A Festivus for the rest of us!
(Like you didn't leave the door wiiiide open for that one lol!)
You're right! We can't jettison religion! Where the hell would we park?!
Religion sucks.
Where did these walking, talking, pieces of flesh and bone, get the number one million? Maybe these atheist ads will inspire missionaries to return to the subways.
joan osbourne is going to hate these adverts.
God botherer.
So I was wandering around the internets for some morning reading and what do thine see with mine own eyes? A thread full of sinners! Blasphemy!
When shit starts to hit the fan and Muslim extremists start blowing shit up, don't come crying to me asking "Why god why???". I'll be busy saving those more WORTHY of my awesomeness.
Perfect 69th post.
I wonder how fast these posters will be vandalized by righteous graffiti?
Don't see what the big deal is, people pay to publicly express their beliefs/opinion all the time.
This is NYC. I doubt anyone but the occasional tourist will care one way or the other.
What would Jesus do?
FREE COUNTRY. GET OVER IT. GEEEETTTT OOOOVVVEERRRRR IIIIITTTTTTTT
Perhaps the other 7 million will be good too once they give up the god myth!
Read the article you losers.
"promoting a new book called Good Without God, by Greg Epstein."
This isnt some profound message about religion, its a PROMOTION FOR A BOOK!
a book in deed, about no other than... RELIGION.
Expect more subway missionaries to counter these ads. Gee, thanks atheists.
"spiritually bankrupt pagan society" as opposed to "spiritually rich dogmatic society"?!
You can have a "spiritually rich pagan society",
or a "spiritually bankrupt dogmatic society"! the latest being the most bellicose type here or else where.
War as means of conversion!
Have you ever think of that?
And then based in your "anti-pagan" dogmas kill humans by the thousands!
How superior of you!
let's have a war in the name of god!
that is new!
The real truth when we die with the eternal afterlife story
is that we new yorkers turn into squirrels and pigeons.
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