Earlier this month, 800 buses appeared in the UK carrying the message "There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life."
I just realised that a Christian bus driver, Ron Heather, from Southampton, Hampshire, the man on the photo below, has refused to drive a bus with this slogan.
Story is here.
Obvious questions arise: For example, should a Muslim driver refuse to drive a bus advertising a particular Christian church? Or vice versa? Why does the NO-GOD phrase offend Christians (and other religious people) more than the DIFFERENT-GOD claim?
I think you'll find that Muslims and Christians worship the same God, albeit in a slightly different way.
ReplyDeleteWhy should a devout Christian have to drive a bus carrying a message that he clearly would not want to be associated with? Particularly given that it is an article of his faith that he should "spread the word of the Lord."
I am an athiest myself, but find nothing strange or difficult to comprehend in this man's perfectly legitimate stance.
Jim
It is absurd to be a member of a sect that says "spread the word", isn't it? Especially if the word is nothing more than sheer fiction.
ReplyDeleteIt's all cultural, a matter of tradition. I understand that. But this does not mean that this tradition is not absurd.
I don't think the god of the Muslims and Christians is the same. Think of how many times they fight each other in their name of their own god each. This means that they do not think their gods are identical. Besides, what do we actually mean that two gods are the same if they are both products of peoples' minds?
As to beliefs, mutual respects are more constructive. I do not find that the slogan promoting certain belief is appropriate in public services, whether against or for the gods.
ReplyDeleteHere is a story in the autobiography of Gandhi---the story of my experiments with truth Chapter XX Acquaintance with religions:
On our way back from the funeral we had to wait at the station for our train. A champion atheist from the crowd heckled one these clergymen.
'Well, sir, you believe in the existence of God?'
'I do', said the good man in low tune.
'You also agree that the circumference of the Earth is 28000 miles, don't you?’ said the atheist with a smile of self-assurance.
'Indeed'
'Pray tell me then the size of you God and where he may be?'
'Well, if we but knew, He resides in the hearts of us both.'
'Now, now, don't take me to be a child?' said the champion with a triumphant look at us.
The clergyman assumed a humble silence.
This talk still further increased my prejudice against them.'
Bob wrote:
ReplyDeleteAs to beliefs, mutual respects are more constructive. I do not find that the slogan promoting certain belief is appropriate in public services, whether against or for the gods.
Very well then. Show me one religion that is not advertising its goodies left and right and then we can talk.
For centuries, millennia, we've been tortured by the sheer idiocies of religion, not only the advertising of it, but the direct imposition of it. It has been the case (and is still so in many places) that if you don't follow the particular dogma imposed upon you then you lose your job or your life.
Now this is worse than advertising, isn't it?
Atheists merely want to say: We exist, and we do not think that morality has anything to do with religion. These voices MUST be heard and MUST be accepted, don't you think?
It is not atheists who do not respect the opinion and beliefs of religious people, but vice versa. And it has been so for ages.
Besides, it SHOULD be made known that belief in absurdity is idiotic.