Man refuses to drive 'No God' bus

[GlesgaeHibby]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/h...re/7832647.stm

Anyone that has been to London will notice there are plenty of buses that have Bible verses and Christian messages on the side of them. Since the bus company have accommodated this mans stupid refusal, should all atheists now refuse to drive the buses with Bible verses on them?

[CB_NO3]

There is NO god, believe me I know. Who is doing the advertising on the buses ?

[Woody1985]

[quote=GlesgaeHibby;1908143]http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/h...re/7832647.stm

Anyone that has been to London will notice there are plenty of buses that have Bible verses and Christian messages on the side of them. Since the bus company have accommodated this mans stupid refusal, should all atheists now refuse to drive the buses with Bible verses on them?[/quote]

I think they still should drive them. They drive around with Winnie the Pooh and other made up stories on them.

[Filled Rolls]

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There is NO god, believe me I know. Who is doing the advertising on the buses ?

That's probably why they have saved on advertising on Scottish buses. No point in preaching to the converted.

[Doddie]

"There's PROBABLY no God"?

PROBABLY?

What's the probability factor then?

80%? 85%? 90%? 95%? 99%?


I think we should be told.

I mean, it'll be a bit unfortunate if folks believe those ads, and then it turns out that the ads were wrong....

Are the atheists covering themselves against lawsuits?

"Well, we can't say for absolutely certain that there IS NO GOD, so let's cover ourselves with a 'probably'. Then if we all end up in the big burny-burny, nobody can sue us...."

WARNING: these advertisements are only 75% true (we think)....

Dear me.

[ancienthibby]

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There is NO god, believe me I know. Who is doing the advertising on the buses ?

Oh YES there is!!

Believe me - I know - he lives in my life!!

[col02]

Does anyone else think if this was a group targetting another religion say Islam for example there would be a greater deal made of it? If the people behind this do not believe in God then so be it does it really do any harm other people having faith in Christianity? I go to my local church and it does an awful lot for the local community via it's charity work! If some people want to poke fun at that concept of helping others then who really has the skewed perception of life?

[Woody1985]

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Does anyone else think if this was a group targetting another religion say Islam for example there would be a greater deal made of it? If the people behind this do not believe in God then so be it does it really do any harm other people having faith in Christianity? I go to my local church and it does an awful lot for the local community via it's charity work! If some people want to poke fun at that concept of helping others then who really has the skewed perception of life?

I take issue with those type of comments from religious people, as I assume you are.

People who don't believe in God don't necessarily think that religion can't do good things for people ie give them hope, support etc etc (it can also have the opposite effect as we all know).

Have a think next time buddy

[Doddie]

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I take issue with those type of comments from religious people, as I assume you are.

People who don't believe in God don't necessarily think that religion can't do good things for people ie give them hope, support etc etc (it can also have the opposite effect as we all know).

Have a think next time buddy

No, but respect should be mutual.

And there's no a lot of respect given to religious belief or believers on these forums, buddy.

[LiverpoolHibs]

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Does anyone else think if this was a group targetting another religion say Islam for example there would be a greater deal made of it? If the people behind this do not believe in God then so be it does it really do any harm other people having faith in Christianity? I go to my local church and it does an awful lot for the local community via it's charity work! If some people want to poke fun at that concept of helping others then who really has the skewed perception of life?

How is it not aimed at Islam?

It's surely, by its very nature, aimed at every monotheistic religion.

[col02]

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How is it not aimed at Islam?

It's surely, by its very nature, aimed at every monotheistic religion.

Perhaps my thinking was it was aimed at Christianity in the UK. Apologies if i misconstrued that aspect.

[Doddie]

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Perhaps my thinking was it was aimed at Christianity in the UK. Apologies if i misconstrued that aspect.

Nope - it's aimed at all of us.

(Probably.)

[CropleyWasGod]

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Perhaps my thinking was it was aimed at Christianity in the UK. Apologies if i misconstrued that aspect.

That is part of the problem, I suppose, misinterpretation. (which may be the root problem of all religion and religious debate and divide, but that's for another thread!).

Let us not forget that the God of Jesus is also the God of Mohammad.

[col02]

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That is part of the problem, I suppose, misinterpretation. (which may be the root problem of all religion and religious debate and divide, but that's for another thread!).

Let us not forget that the God of Jesus is also the God of Mohammad.

Fair point has to be said!

All i know is that i enjoy going to my local church and feeling part of the local community and the good work it contributes to locally and further afield. That said it is at the stage where you almost feel ashamed to admit you have religious leanings which is a real shame imho.

[Storar]

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How is it not aimed at Islam?

It's surely, by its very nature, aimed at every monotheistic religion.

If the advert said 'Allah doesn't exist so get over it and have fun' then there would be significantly more people complaining about it.

[stu in nottingham]

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Fair point has to be said!

All i know is that i enjoy going to my local church and feeling part of the local community and the good work it contributes to locally and further afield. That said it is at the stage where you almost feel ashamed to admit you have religious leanings which is a real shame imho.

So do I, Col.

Never be ashamed to hold and stand up for your beliefs.

[CropleyWasGod]

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If the advert said 'Allah doesn't exist so get over it and have fun' then there would be significantly more people complaining about it.

See above. God and Allah are one and the same.

It will be interesting to see what reaction there is from Islamic groups.

[GlesgaeHibby]

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How is it not aimed at Islam?

It's surely, by its very nature, aimed at every monotheistic religion.

Correct. Muslims worship a God just like Christians, along with many other religions.

At the end of the day I think the driver was completely OTT for refusing to drive the bus and should have been disciplined. It is merely a point of view plastered on the side of the bus, and he needs a reality check if that offends him.

[Storar]

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See above. God and Allah are one and the same.

It will be interesting to see what reaction there is from Islamic groups.

I know that but it's obviously aimed at Christians because 'God' is the Christian name for whatever it might be. If it said Allah then there is no way on Earth that it would be directed at Christians.

I don't expect much of a (negative) reaction from Islamic groups at all.

[Doddie]

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That is part of the problem, I suppose, misinterpretation. (which may be the root problem of all religion and religious debate and divide, but that's for another thread!).

Let us not forget that the God of Jesus is also the God of Mohammad.

I wouldn't say that to too many Muslims, if I were you.

There's a world of difference between the Islamic doctrine of Allah the Omnipotent creator and the Christian doctrine of the Holy Trinity, FGather, Son, and Holy Spirit.


But of course we MUST remember that "probably" they neither exist....

[Doddie]

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Correct. Muslims worship a God just like Christians, along with many other religions.

At the end of the day I think the driver was completely OTT for refusing to drive the bus and should have been disciplined. It is merely a point of view plastered on the side of the bus, and he needs a reality check if that offends him.

So you wouldn't allow him liberty of conscience?

He wasn't demanding that the posters be taken down, just stating that HE wasn't prepared to drive a bus with that particular poster on the side.

As I understand it, he was perfectly prepared to be told he was sacked.

So he may be wrong, but shouldn't he be allowed to stand up for his principles?

[CropleyWasGod]

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I know that but it's obviously aimed at Christians because 'God' is the Christian name for whatever it might be. If it said Allah then there is no way on Earth that it would be directed at Christians.

I don't expect much of a (negative) reaction from Islamic groups at all.

Gonna be a real pedant here. "God" is merely the English word. Just as "dieu" is the French. "Al lah" is the Arabic.

[Storar]

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Correct. Muslims worship a God just like Christians, along with many other religions.

At the end of the day I think the driver was completely OTT for refusing to drive the bus and should have been disciplined. It is merely a point of view plastered on the side of the bus, and he needs a reality check if that offends him.

I think he's quite within his rights to refuse to drive it. He's obviously a religious man and his faith is important to him so why should he be forced to effectively go against his own beliefs and advertise God's non existance by his own employers?

Can you imagine the outrage if a Muslim driver was diciplined for refusing to drive a bus that claimed Allah didn't exist?

[Storar]

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Gonna be a real pedant here. "God" is merely the English word. Just as "dieu" is the French. "Al lah" is the Arabic.

Yeah that was pretty pedantic. I'm quite aware that Christian isn't a language

[CropleyWasGod]

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I wouldn't say that to too many Muslims, if I were you.

There's a world of difference between the Islamic doctrine of Allah the Omnipotent creator and the Christian doctrine of the Holy Trinity, FGather, Son, and Holy Spirit.


But of course we MUST remember that "probably" they neither exist....

You see, this is the stuff that fascinates me, Doddie. All the interpretation and passion that divides folk. I have no doubt that you know your stuff...... but my basic philosophical argument is that if he/she/it/they exist, by definition God and Allah are the same.

Excuse me while I disappear up my own argument..

[CropleyWasGod]

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Yeah that was pretty pedantic. I'm quite aware that Christian isn't a language

Wellllllllllllll, if I ain't gonna win the philosophical argument, I may as well try and score some petty know-all points!!!

[Hiberlin]

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Correct. Muslims worship a God just like Christians, along with many other religions.

At the end of the day I think the driver was completely OTT for refusing to drive the bus and should have been disciplined. It is merely a point of view plastered on the side of the bus, and he needs a reality check if that offends him.

If it was a religious driver who refused to drive the bus because of an anti god message, then he'd have received more support.

[GlesgaeHibby]

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I think he's quite within his rights to refuse to drive it. He's obviously a religious man and his faith is important to him so why should he be forced to effectively go against his own beliefs and advertise God's non existance by his own employers?

Can you imagine the outrage if a Muslim driver was diciplined for refusing to drive a bus that claimed Allah didn't exist?

If he believes God does exist then whats his problem with other people expressing a view that he doesn't? If atheists refused to drive buses with a christian message on them (as Is often seen in London) then there could be hundreds of drivers refusing to drive buses and the situation would be crazy.

[Doddie]

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You see, this is the stuff that fascinates me, Doddie. All the interpretation and passion that divides folk. I have no doubt that you know your stuff...... but my basic philosophical argument is that if he/she/it/they exist, by definition God and Allah are the same.

Excuse me while I disappear up my own argument..

On your own terms, assuming God ("he/she/it/they" as you put it) exists, then God is who God is, and nothing can change God's nature.

One Hebrew name of God from the Old Testament, which is also a name Christians use for God, is אהיה אשר אהיה, pronounced ehyeh asher ehyeh.

It means "I am Who I am", or possibly "I will be Who I will be".

"Allah" is simply the Arabic word meaning "God". Muslims use it, obviously because that's the word the Qu'ran uses; Arab Christians will speak of Allah al'Ab - "God the Father" to distinguish the two concepts.

My starting point, IIRC, was that I had been living on the assumption that God DIDN'T exist, and had got myself into quite a mess.

The possibliity that he DID exist at least offered some purpose in life, and the possibility that HE might be able to sort me out where I had so signally failed myself (if, that is, he/she/it existed).

So I decided to give God (whoever he/she/it might be, if he/she/it existed) 6 months to do just that. Make-believe a God, and see what happened.

Well, if it wasn't God who sorted things out for me, it was someone exactly like God.

(I mean, if it looks like a camel, and smells like a camel, and belches like a camel, it probably IS a camel. And if you behave as if God exists, and ask him for help, and rely on him to take care of things, and treat the world and the poeople around you as his creation - and life works ever so much better than before.... Get the idea?)

And it all went on from there.



BTW - those posters don't offend me. They're too silly.

I mean - "THERE PROBABLY IS NO GOD"?

How about: "There probably is no God, but, then again, there MIGHT be. So be afraid. Be VERY afraid...."?

[Doddie]

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If he believes God does exist then whats his problem with other people expressing a view that he doesn't? If atheists refused to drive buses with a christian message on them (as Is often seen in London) then there could be hundreds of drivers refusing to drive buses and the situation would be crazy.

First, I suspect that the number of committed convinced atheists is very small. It's rather apparent that when that Airbus went into the Hudson river last night, there were very few atheists aboard. (Unless they were all praying to the God they didn't believe in.)

Check the witness reports if you don't believe me.

Second, perhaps this chap's more faithful to HIS principles than atheists are to theirs?