Comments on: Atheism On The Buses http://www.xerode.net/blog/2008/10/24/atheism-on-the-buses/ The blog and portfolio of Paul Bennett, a 26 year old Flash developer and occasional photographer Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:33:28 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Base on Mars http://www.xerode.net/blog/2008/10/24/atheism-on-the-buses/comment-page-1/#comment-56 Base on Mars Mon, 27 Oct 2008 12:28:23 +0000 http://www.xerode.net/blog/?p=203#comment-56 interesting point: dawkins says it makes no sense to say god does not exist, he wanted 'almost certainly' "so, as Dawkins writes in The God Delusion, being an absolute “7″ on the faith scale (insisting “there is no God”) doesn’t make sense, as nobody can ever state this as an absolute. The alternative Dawkins proposes is “almost certainly”, but “there’s almost certainly no God” doesn’t make for an overly catchy advertising slogan!" http://www.atheistcampaign.org/probably/ interesting point: dawkins says it makes no sense to say god does not exist, he wanted 'almost certainly'

"so, as Dawkins writes in The God Delusion, being an absolute “7″ on the faith scale (insisting “there is no God”) doesn’t make sense, as nobody can ever state this as an absolute. The alternative Dawkins proposes is “almost certainly”, but “there’s almost certainly no God” doesn’t make for an overly catchy advertising slogan!"

http://www.atheistcampaign.org/probably/

]]> By: xerode http://www.xerode.net/blog/2008/10/24/atheism-on-the-buses/comment-page-1/#comment-55 xerode Mon, 27 Oct 2008 11:00:57 +0000 http://www.xerode.net/blog/?p=203#comment-55 @Z Well it doesn't really point out the probability involved in the decision but then that's what The God Delusion is for! ;) I do agree with you that the slogan is better as it is but even that "probably" is enough to derail discussion about the campaign. The <a href="http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=2989768" rel="nofollow">Something Awful thread</a> is a great example of agnostics and atheists getting caught up with the wording and it's precise meaning, stifling any useful debate. @Base on Mars I kind of agree with you, especially over "the typical way that the left/liberals side fails" - I just wish the campaign didn't leave such a bitter taste! @Z Well it doesn't really point out the probability involved in the decision but then that's what The God Delusion is for! ;)

I do agree with you that the slogan is better as it is but even that "probably" is enough to derail discussion about the campaign. The Something Awful thread is a great example of agnostics and atheists getting caught up with the wording and it's precise meaning, stifling any useful debate.

@Base on Mars I kind of agree with you, especially over "the typical way that the left/liberals side fails" - I just wish the campaign didn't leave such a bitter taste!

]]> By: Base on Mars http://www.xerode.net/blog/2008/10/24/atheism-on-the-buses/comment-page-1/#comment-53 Base on Mars Fri, 24 Oct 2008 13:29:58 +0000 http://www.xerode.net/blog/?p=203#comment-53 I see your point about no religious advertising but it feels like nit picking. Id' say keep your eye on the goal and support it where you can. Help give the people a voice. Arguing over the details is the typical way that the left/liberals side fails. (i know i'm not gonna change your opinion, we had this chat over a cuppa the other night, but you can't say i didn't try ;) ). I see your point about no religious advertising but it feels like nit picking. Id' say keep your eye on the goal and support it where you can. Help give the people a voice. Arguing over the details is the typical way that the left/liberals side fails.

(i know i'm not gonna change your opinion, we had this chat over a cuppa the other night, but you can't say i didn't try ;) ).

]]> By: Z http://www.xerode.net/blog/2008/10/24/atheism-on-the-buses/comment-page-1/#comment-52 Z Fri, 24 Oct 2008 11:00:17 +0000 http://www.xerode.net/blog/?p=203#comment-52 I appreciated the way they phrased their tagline - had they simply stated 'there is no God', I would be in complete agreement with you, however, I can't see the harm in pointing out that probability wise, there is likely not to be a God and encouraging people to spend their time enjoying life rather than worrying about burning in hell. I appreciated the way they phrased their tagline - had they simply stated 'there is no God', I would be in complete agreement with you, however, I can't see the harm in pointing out that probability wise, there is likely not to be a God and encouraging people to spend their time enjoying life rather than worrying about burning in hell.

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