Latest:

20:22 Don't be scared to vote NO - Adams
20:20 McGuinness in attack on dissidents
19:00 Robshaw - We've proved a point
19:00 Cockerill bemoans composure
18:32 Power lands Guineas glory
18:32 Emulous off to a flyer
18:32 Tiddliwinks adds to gains
17:22 Super-sub Long heads Ireland to victory

Translink: We weren’t approached to put ‘No God’ adverts on buses

Tuesday, 20 January 2009

More pictures

The transport company Translink last night confirmed it has not been approached to carry the controversial ‘No God' adverts on their buses, as has been the case in Britain.

The firm made the statement after Free Presbyterian minister the Rev David McIlveen and East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell raised the issue of the advert, ‘There is probably no God' appearing on buses in England and Wales.

Mr McIlveen called on Translink to turn down the advert and DUP man Mr Campbell raised the issue in the House of Commons through an Early Day motion, calling on Christian organisations to mount a counter-campaign, with the slogan ‘But what if there is?'

Their moves followed a stance by Southampton driver Ron Heather, a committed Christian who refused to take out a bus which bore the slogan.

Mr McIlveen described the advert as “an affront to the Christian faith” and asked Translink to refuse the advert if offered it.

The campaign is being financed by the British Humanist Society.

Last night a statement from Translink underlined it had not been offered the adverts. It added: “We have a socially responsible policy with regards to adverts on public transport.

“We work closely with our external advertising contractor and the Advertising Standards Agency to ensure we operate within legal limits.”

Print
Text Size
- Normal
- Large
- Extra Large

Comments

First |
Previous
1
2
Next
| Last

25 Comments

The ad. is obviously intended to wind-up by being offensive.
Returning the favour or making facile responses is hardly an answer but some will take the bait, no doubt.
Why not ignore it? or if you can't, then ask who probably said 'eat,drink and be merry for tomorrow your soul will be required'.

Posted by Gordon | 21.01.09, 02:21 GMT

M Spence - I couldn't agree more, especially after I noticed tonight an advert on the bus from a christian organisation quoting Roman 5, v8 and reminding us that we are all sinners. Although I certainly wasn't offended by this I couldn't help but think of the standards adopted by Rev McIlveen and his like in believing they deserve special treatment.

Posted by Maria | 20.01.09, 20:02 GMT

I totally agree with the right of Atheists to advertise their beliefs where and when they want, as long as it fits in with advertising standards. As for Gregory Campbell and David McIlveen, they seem to have got this advert noticed (which is the whole point of advertising) by the people of Northern Ireland before it is even talked about by Translink. Maybe they should travel the world and complain about all the adverts which don't fit into their beliefs, it sure would take a while (and I don't think they or their comments would be missed). The only problem that seems to be wrong with the advert is the wording, it should actually read "there are no gods, now get your head out of your ass and enjoy your life". I think that if I was stuck on a desert island I would rather be stuck with Richard Dawkins than either of the above clowns. At least there would be intelligent debate and a chance of surviving as the other two would be lying starved to death clutching their bibles.

Posted by John Mortimer | 20.01.09, 17:19 GMT

The advert should read....

"There's probably no bus...
now stop waiting and enjoy your walk"

Posted by PT | 20.01.09, 16:44 GMT

Thanks for the thread McD, thanks to Stu christians have lost the argument now stop worrying and enjoy your life!

Posted by AndyD | 20.01.09, 16:18 GMT

@Stu

also, thank you for applying Godwins Law so early in the thread...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin's_Law

Posted by McD | 20.01.09, 14:28 GMT

ero,

Your comment highlights your ethno-cultural bias. The adverts state God, not your specific God! therefore they apply to Muslims and anyone else who believes in such nonsense and then insist on subjecting the rest of us to it!

You have just demonstrated why this campaign is a good idea. Maybe it should be launched in NI?

That would be awesome!

Let us see various agencies refuse to show the adds, then challenge these decisions in court (Discrimination), closely followed by a ban on any Worldview/Belief system based advertising :-)

We can't loose!

Posted by M Spence | 20.01.09, 13:08 GMT

seems to me most of these comments are against the christian stance, and as a believer in god thats fair enough as god gave us a brain to make our own decisions, but i would still love to know what the outcome would be if the advert was questioning the muslim faith. i am sure there would be widespread condemnation and rioting. but people in the uk can attack or even question the existence of our god, what a tangled web we weave.

Posted by ero | 20.01.09, 10:07 GMT

So let's get this straight.

Huge reams of space in newspapers has been devoted to the debate about these advertisements on buses when in fact they have not appeared on a single bus in NI and are unlikely to do so.

Much ado about nothing then, how typical of the narrowminded bigoted people who claim to be Christians in Northern Ireland.

Where is your tolerance? Or is it still acceptable to cherry pick the values of Jesus Christ?

Posted by Anne | 20.01.09, 09:55 GMT

At one time I wanted to believe this was true and tried quite hard to make it so.

I am so grateful to my loving God for not letting me go my own way.

Ken

Posted by ken | 18.01.09, 02:14 GMT

Christianity, as are the majority of religions, is one giant money making business crossed with a cult where the brain washed blindly follow. That is exactly why you cant change their minds. Religous people arent generally unintelligent, they are just brainwashed. It is riddiculous in the 21st century these adverts are even needed however it may make a few of them think. maybe they main gain faith in themselves and fellow human beings rather than be led and have faith in things of myth and lore

Posted by soarer | 17.01.09, 14:53 GMT

Oh dear here we go again, a faith based system demanding special pleasding "but we are special and shouldn't have to see things we disagree with"

They don't even understand the word "theory" nevermind the theory in question.

Most people realize that basing things on evidence is a fairly wise thing to do. Imagine if we where still using 2000 year old medicine books for our medical knowledge !

Posted by Rob | 17.01.09, 12:36 GMT

If we were to be absolutely fair, balanced and in line with advertising standards, wouldn't Christian ads on buses have to say, "Jesus allegedly died for your sins"?

or "We think Jesus loves you"?

Posted by Jon Hatch | 17.01.09, 11:59 GMT

@ Stu. Thanks for beautifully demonstrating why people raised money for the ad. Straight from the word go!

The threat of torment in Hell (a fictional location) and burning eternally (an impossibility) along with Hitler (laughable) is what we'll get! Despite the fantasy element it's a pretty horrific thing to wish on a person.

“But What If There Is?” - I wonder which of the many Gods Gregory Campbell is suggesting we contemplate the existence of? I'm hoping for Thor.

Posted by roy | 16.01.09, 18:52 GMT

Stu. Catch yourself on.

Posted by Barry | 16.01.09, 13:23 GMT

McD, I couldn't agree more with you, You will NEVER win against the Lord Almighty and to those who agree with the campaign, well you'll find out how wrong you were 1 second after your death; when you ARE being tormented in that eternal fire with terrorists like Herr Hitler et al.

Posted by Stu. | 15.01.09, 21:31 GMT

Gregory is sadly misguided if he thinks that people who do not believe in god will spiral into moral decline due to a lack of spiritual guidance and values. Lets face it, the humanitarians advert is a far cry from advocating the mass murder, wholesale slaughter, torture, sacrificing, sexual discrimination and child abuse of the old testament!

Posted by Not DUPed | 15.01.09, 19:00 GMT

"Stop worrying and enjoy your life"?!? Something tells me the ivory towers of Humanism haven't been hit by the recession - yet!

Posted by Steve | 15.01.09, 18:09 GMT

Why do we have to attack anyone's belief system? It doesn't matter if a person believes in God, Krishna, Allah or little green men from Mars. Why can't the ad just say Enjoy Life? Isnt that the real point?

Posted by Enjoys Life | 15.01.09, 16:28 GMT