Atheist Bus Campaign

The Atheist Bus Campaign is launched in October 2008 by the British journalist Ariane Sherine advertising campaign on buses propagates the attitude of atheism on labels. The action for a fulfilling life without religion was conceived in response to a campaign of evangelical groups and received support from Richard Dawkins and the British Humanist Association. The campaign attracted worldwide attention and found numerous offshoots and imitators in other countries.

History

Sherine launched the Atheist Bus Campaign in response to an evangelical Christian bus wraps, which campaigned with a website on the infidels "eternity in the torments of hell " and a " burning in a lake of fire " was prophesied.

The British Humanist Association and a prominent critic of religion Richard Dawkins supported the action Sherines, London buses with the advertising line " There's probably no god. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life " ( German: ". There 's probably no God, so get not worry and enjoy your life ". . ) To put up posters.

Following the Christian party rented for about 17,000 euros advertising space for the slogan: There is God sure. So the Christian Party and enjoy your life joins.

Actions in other countries

Germany

According to the German organizers Buskampagne.de, which was initiated by Philipp Möller, Carsten Frerk, Peder Iblher and others who want the " secular campaign " people "who renounce their belief in a supernatural, metaphysical forces show that they are not alone are "and" that ethics and morality are not given by God, but man-made and made ​​for people " are. My slogan is: There are almost certainly likely no God.

Based on the British campaign Buskampagne.de published on 9 March 2009 its own appeal for donations. Target of the call was to collect donations in the amount of at least € 19,500 to so three months finance advertising on three buses of public transport in Berlin, Cologne and Munich can. This goal reached the campaign on 13 March 2009.

However, the Berlin Transport Authority rejected a bill posting of advertising on their buses on the ground, the company did not want to, " that passengers of the SNB must have upset, " they also want to " allow no ideological advertising more ". Also met with the Cologne public transport companies advertising on rejection. The Munich Transport Company has rejected the campaign because they " basically Advertise with political or ideological statement, whether now atheistic or theistic nature, reject ." The transport association Bremen / Lower Saxony recommends its partner companies, " not to turn this advertising atheist bus campaign, because they despising faith " would be. The Dortmund transport companies have a bus that says Do not worry: there is God. So nice day accepted at an atheism campaign, however, one can not be sure whether people felt offended and if in doubt even damaged buses. The plants in Dresden, Leipzig, Potsdam, Münster, Fulda, Regensburg, Stuttgart and Hamburg rejected on the grounds that it would not allow ideological advertising from. The Essenes transport company took their initial commitment for the promotion after massive protests and boycotts back again as economic losses were to be feared.

The Archdiocese of Berlin responded: "We do indeed advertising, why should not do that ." Expressed similar Auxiliary Bishop of Münster Franz -Josef Overbeck. The Evangelical Church in Germany sees, according to their culture officer Petra Bahr, the campaign also as an opportunity to raise the issue of God publicly this week, and calls for the implementation. The state chairman of the party Die Linke Berlin, Klaus Lederer, criticized the decision of the Berlin Transport Authority not to allow the atheist bus campaign advertising on their vehicles, especially anywhere in the Berlin subway placards with slogans such as "Jesus loves you " hang. The bus campaign is now supported by organizations such as the Brights, the Federation of Spiritual Freedom, the International League of non-religious and atheists and the Giordano Bruno Foundation. Following the cancellation of the transport services of all major German cities, the initiators organized a Germany - tour with a rented Berlin double-decker bus.

The bus tour started on 30 May 2009 in Berlin. On a three week tour of 24 cities in Germany briefings were " unbelief Confession " offered a positive, non-religious, enlightened view of the world with that it probably is no God and therefore, people are responsible for their morality itself. Connected to the tour was an invitation to get involved in public debates, however, it should not go to an " atheistic proselytizing ".

The campaign followed on each of its stations a counter - bus tour of the evangelical organization Campus Crusade for Christ.

Italy and Spain

In Spain, the Spanish Civil Rights Movement Unión de Ateos y Librepensadores (UAL ) provided with the campaign bus Ateo in Madrid, Barcelona and Zaragoza for similar actions. The Italian association Unione degli Atei e degli Agnostici Razionalisti ( UAAR ) intends to plakatieren two buses of the transport companies of genoa with the Italian language version of the advertisement.

United States

In November 2008, the American Humanist Association began in Washington, DC a bus campaign with the slogan "Why believe in a God? Just be good for goodness ' sake " ( German: ". Why believe in a God Just be good for the sake of goodness "? . ).

Netherlands

Here the atheist bus campaign has failed to transport operators and dodged on billboards. Well advertises a huge poster next to the Amsterdam airport for a godless world.

Switzerland

The Freethinkers Association of Switzerland ( FVS ) is planning, that the advertising slogan: " There's probably no God. No need to worry, enjoy life! " Should be at each a public bus in ten cities of Switzerland. The campaign is a response to posters with Bible quotes like "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God " or "Jesus is the light of life " to be. The aim of the campaign is to give a voice to those who feel harassed by missionary sayings.

Unknown threatened the Lucerne Transportation Company ( VBL ) to set the buses on fire, if such posters were hung; also VBL staff were insulted. The FVS received hate mail from radical Christians.

The Evangelical People's Party of Switzerland (EPP ) is considering to launch a counter-campaign.

The Municipal Transport Company Bern ( SVB ) rejected the campaign on the grounds: "We do not join this provocation" from. Similarly, one responded in Zurich and Geneva: there would not risk it, that religious feelings are hurt. If the action does not come with the buses reached, will resort to street posters in the FVS.

Austria

In Vienna ( after initial pledge ), Graz and Innsbruck, which forced the Central Council of confessionless to Niko Alm action by the authorities of the respective transport company was prevented. The subjects were then placarded on the Vienna Mariahilferstraße and caused large media interest from.

Luxembourg

On 11 April 2011 launched the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, a three -month campaign on public transport. Five with the slogan Net reliéis? Increase dozou! ( Not religious? Standing to!) Buses provided by private companies went from that date both by the city of Luxembourg and the surrounding area. Initiator of the alliance was previously founded in vun humanist, atheist, agnostic to short AHA.

Immediately after the start of the campaign boycott threat was especially known by various parishes against the bus company concerned. Since the companies were to receive subsidies from the public sector for the implementation of regular services, but received no revenue from advertising and also have no say in the selection of their buses mounted on billboards in return, these hands were tied. Partly remote bus operators in breach of contract, the billboards or put the vehicles are not on the grounds that they must be repaired.

The events sparked an intense public debate in the Luxembourg daily press. A joint parliamentary inquiry of four parties represented in the Luxembourg Parliament then led to an opinion of the Minister responsible for Sustainable Development and Infrastructure, Claude Wiseler in which it stressed that the campaign was deontological not objectionable and will therefore be continued.

Other countries

In Canada and Australia are similar actions in planning.