quote:

ITALIAN atheists have lost a bid to run "no God" advertisements on city buses after strong opposition from conservative political parties. The ads reading "The bad news is that God doesn't exist. The good news is that you don't need him" were to have been put on buses in the northern city of Genoa, home to the Catholic cardinal who is head of the Italian Bishops Conference. The mock-up was ready and the contract was sent to the group for signing but the publicity agency changed its mind and said the ad could not run it because it violated an ethics in advertising code, according to Giorgio Villella of The Italian Union of Atheists and Rationalist Agnostics (UAAR). "Right-wing politicians criticised us ferociously," Villella said by telephone from the group's base, adding that at least one bus driver in Genoa said he would refuse to drive a "no God" bus. "It's strange that in a country where ads depicting near-naked women wearing skimpy lingerie is permitted on buses that we can't run ads about atheism," Villella said. Villella said the group's lawyers would likely file an appeal to a court to overturn the decision and that the group would try to run the ads in other Italian cities. Atheists in Barcelona, London and Washington have already run "no God" ads on city buses.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,2757...797-401,00.html

Maybe it should be. At least that way we'd get the same rights and privileges as real religions. maybe some sneaky tax breaks too!

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Atheists should elect their own Pope / representative. For the sake of it.

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Whenever you go and buy something, you are affecting someone somewhere, be it environment, a person, or a community - you're making a statement with what you buy. So make it a smart choice ... Its a big picture

Why? For believing in nothing at all?

Give me a break

Atheists need to reach the same level of charity worldwide that the big 3 religions do before they can be called anything close, if they do that then sure, let them worship an empty jar or whatever it is you guys do.

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Originally posted by Magnetonium Atheists should elect their own Pope / representative. For the sake of it.

They have, his name is Richard Dawkins and he's retarded.

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Originally posted by Alex Why? For believing in nothing at all? Give me a break Atheists need to reach the same level of charity worldwide that the big 3 religions do before they can be called anything close, if they do that then sure, let them worship an empty jar or whatever it is you guys do.

Oh yes. Their "charity". Also called "spreading our unsubstantiated opinions over the less fortunate"*. As long as the less fortunate doesn't want to carry out abortions or use condoms of course!

In any case, what my statement really meant was holding and promoting an opinion is ok, as long as that opinion doesn't go against god. Also drawing other people (like krypton) who maintain that atheism is just another religion, which we can see in practice is anything but the case.

*also known as "how many palaces can we build with the coin of the gullible.

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Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN Oh yes. Their "charity". Also called "spreading our unsubstantiated opinions over the less fortunate". As long as the less fortunate doesn't want to carry out abortions or use condoms of course!

You've really been fed the bull shit haven't you

Militant atheists are such a laugh.

I am not an atheist and I am not religious either. BUT, atheists - just like all humans, believe in SOMETHING. It just happens to be that BELIEVING that God doesnt exist is part of their beliefs.

Oh, and dont get me started on religious charity work. They do it for the sake of getting more people (converts) to their religion. Preaching. Missionary work. You get the idea.

True charities are those who do work and dont expect anything in return. They do it for the sake of helping people and making a difference. Religious groups, however, take advantage of the conflicts and poverty and work with those people to help them out, by various means, but incorporating missionary work or services as well.

For example, you wont see Catholic missionaries helping poor Peruan Catholics - but you will much more likely see them in the jungles trying to spread Catholocism to the indigineous peoples of the Amazon. Thats where you'll find most missionaries, where they are people of other beliefs or indigenous beliefs who can be converted, and in their desperate positions, some do!

Religion kills people. Atheists dont go on crusades to free people of their religion, or fight in the name of God or Allah or whomever the diety is. They just live their lives. Some are ignorant, some run productive lives and campaigns.

___________________
Whenever you go and buy something, you are affecting someone somewhere, be it environment, a person, or a community - you're making a statement with what you buy. So make it a smart choice ... Its a big picture

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Originally posted by Magnetonium I am not an atheist and I am not religious either. BUT, atheists - just like all humans, believe in SOMETHING. It just happens to be that BELIEVING that God doesnt exist is part of their beliefs. Oh, and dont get me started on religious charity work. They do it for the sake of getting more people (converts) to their religion. Preaching. Missionary work. You get the idea. True charities are those who do work and dont expect anything in return. They do it for the sake of helping people and making a difference. Religious groups, however, take advantage of the conflicts and poverty and work with those people to help them out, by various means, but incorporating missionary work or services as well. For example, you wont see Catholic missionaries helping poor Peruan Catholics - but you will much more likely see them in the jungles trying to spread Catholocism to the indigineous peoples of the Amazon. Thats where you'll find most missionaries, where they are people of other beliefs or indigenous beliefs who can be converted, and in their desperate positions, some do!

As a Roman Catholic, I think you're pulling this out of your ass like most people when they try to talk about religion.

Catholic missions do encourage conversion but it isn't a "we wont help you unless you convert" thing at all. I know dozens of people who have gone on missions including nuns and priests and the majority of the people they've helped (in Africa, for instance) have been muslims or people holding strong to their native beliefs. Some converted, most did not. Yet they all benefited from the hospitals and schools that were built for them.

As a matter of fact I know 3 people who have gone on missions to Peru, both to help Catholics and non Catholics by building entire neighborhoods including schools, libraries and hospitals for all the native population both the Spanish speaking and the aboriginals.

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Originally posted by Alex You've really been fed the bull shit haven't you Militant atheists are such a laugh.

Posting on an internet forum does not make one militant.

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Originally posted by Alex Catholic missions do encourage conversion but ...

But ... but ... but ...

I never said they FORCE people to. Oh, they used to FORCE people into their religions. In the past, millions of natives around the world were slaughtered, tortured, forcefully converted - what can easily be amounted to genocide - in the name of religion, to clear the "heretics", and because their God was right.

And not just natives, but peoples of other religions. And religious people are the ones who stirr most of the problems when it comes to beliefs. You dont see atheists protesting and boycotting British buses with religious advertisements. However, devout Christians like the one bus driver from UK refused to drive a bus with "No God" ad. And Italian religious groups have so far successfully fought against bus ads for atheists. While their ads are OK.

Dont feed me the bullshit.

___________________
Whenever you go and buy something, you are affecting someone somewhere, be it environment, a person, or a community - you're making a statement with what you buy. So make it a smart choice ... Its a big picture

Poser

quote:

Originally posted by Magnetonium But ... but ... but ... I never said they FORCE people to. Oh, they used to FORCE people into their religions. In the past, millions of natives around the world were slaughtered, tortured, forcefully converted - what can easily be amounted to genocide - in the name of religion, to clear the "heretics", and because their God was right. And not just natives, but peoples of other religions. And religious people are the ones who stirr most of the problems when it comes to beliefs. You dont see atheists protesting and boycotting British buses with religious advertisements. However, devout Christians like the one bus driver from UK refused to drive a bus with "No God" ad. And Italian religious groups have so far successfully fought against bus ads for atheists. While their ads are OK. Dont feed me the bullshit.

Actually that's exactly what atheists do worldwide, whenever religion voices it's opinions on anything the atheists get up in arms and want whatever the religious are trying to do to either remain or become secular.

I don't advocate what people did in the name of God when it comes to killing people, but I don't see how that discredits the religion's motivations nowadays. Especially when it helps millions of people worldwide.