Community | October 21, 2009 | 263 comments

Atheist ads to adorn New York subway stations

source: http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/10/21/new.york.subway.ads/index.html

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Some New Yorkers may want to reconsider exclaiming "Thank God" when arriving at their destination subway station beginning next Monday.
Or at least that's what a coalition of eight atheist organizations are hoping, having purchased a month-long campaign that will place their posters in a dozen busy subway stations throughout Manhattan.

The advertisements ask the question, written simply over an image of a blue sky with wispy white clouds: "A million New Yorkers are good without God. Are you?"

On October 26, a dozen bustling New York City subway stations will be adorned with the ads as "part of a coordinated multi-organizational advertising campaign designed to raise awareness about people who don't believe in a god", according to a statement from the group, the Big Apple Coalition of Reason.

New York City's subway system is one of the busiest in the world with over 5 million riders per day and over 1.6 billion total passengers in 2008, according to the Metro Transit Authority.

Recognizing this, the Big Apple Coalition of Reason decided the "best bang for the buck" was to place posters in popular subway stations to capitalize on the amount of potential viewers, says Michael De Dora Jr., Executive Director of the New York Center for Inquiry, one of the associated atheist groups.

De Dora says the ambitions behind the advertisements are threefold.

First, the coalition hopes the promotion will enhance awareness of New York City's secular community. He explained that the coalition also hopes to encourage "talking and thinking about religion and morality," as well as support involvement in groups that encourage a sense of a social community for non-believing New Yorkers.

John Rafferty, President of the Secular Humanist Society of New York, another member group of the coalition, said the ads are in no way an anti-religious campaign. They are looking to reach out to more people who have similar feelings, but might not be aware of an outlet to express their beliefs, he said.

Rafferty and De Dora cite the American Religious Identification Survey, released earlier this year, as evidence of a shift away from organized religion. Those checking "none" for religion rose from 8% of the population in 1990 to 15% in 2008, effectively making "no religion" the fastest growing religious identification in the United States.

De Dora said that the "million" New York nonbelievers mentioned in the advertisements is the result of an extrapolation based on the survey's findings. With over 8 million residents living in New York's five boroughs, the organization projects over a million potential atheist New Yorkers.

De Dora said individuals "don't need religion to be good people and productive members of society" and ultimately he feels that groups of nonbelievers are "adding to cultural life of NYC."

The United Coalition of Reason, which is a national organization that helps local groups advocate atheist ideas, approached the New York nonbeliever associations in August with an offer of a donation from an anonymous source to help fund the subway station ad campaign. The donation amount was for exactly $25,000 and specifically allocated for the subway advertising promotion.

Rafferty says the groups involved expect no substantial backlash over their ads. Since news of the campaign was made public early this week "reaction has been mixed," De Dora said. He emphasizes that the Big Apple Coalition of Reason ads are not "forcing issues, they're just getting ideas out there," with the hope of fostering discussion in New York.

The ads are "not poking fun at religion and not being outright nasty," he said.

A year ago some unease was caused by advertisements that ran inside subway cars promoting Islam. While the ads themselves weren't controversial, they were partially funded by an imam of a Brooklyn Mosque who served a character witness for convicted 1993 World Trade Center bombing mastermind Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman.
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263 comments // Atheist ads to adorn New York subway stations

  • troyl2
  • KingCrimson
    • 0
      KingCrimson  

    • DO NOT LISTEN TO THE ATHEIST WAYS!!!! They are flukes and neglect the spirit inside each human being. We are aware and We are conscious. Current science is here to please the needs of the Pro Consumer wall street thieves and will influence people in any way. AWAKEN YOURSELF. BELIEVE IN THE EXISTENCE OF YOUR HEART AND SOUL. BECOME AWARE THAT YOU ARE THE ARTIFICER OF YOUR OWN LIFE AND HAPPINESS, BECOME AWARE YOU ARE YOUR OWN GOD!!!!

    • 2 years ago
  • tangibleparadox
    • 0
      tangibleparadox  
    • KingCrimson:

      i could be considered atheist in that i do not believe in a god (and agnostic because i believe it's possible a god or multiple gods exist, i just don't know)... but i do not deny or neglect the human spirit. :) i can't speak for everyone who doesn't believe in a god... but i can say life is worth living without any existence after death, at least for me. i have this life, and i want to make the best of it. i do have faith in mankind to build a better future, even though there are far too many examples of corruption, hate, deception, greed, etc... i at least have faith in the human potential to do good on this earth.

    • 2 years ago
  • BillyTistrak
  • tangibleparadox
  • J_Jammer
  • tangibleparadox
  • fun_size
  • J_Jammer
  • hpseaton
    • 0
      hpseaton  
    • BillyTistrak:

      Any asshole who trots out the damn Nazi or neo-Nazi argument shouldn't be given the time of day.

      Jammer that's just idiotic on your part to join in and use the holocaust in a move discredit atheism. sad.

    • 2 years ago
  • J_Jammer
  • AaliasChrisCarter
  • letlhogonolo
  • tommytupa
    • 0
      tommytupa  

    • I am a recovering god-aholic. I go to a 12 step program and it has really changed my life. I feel free and happy now. Goooooooo atheists

    • 2 years ago
  • desertcat
    • 0
      desertcat  

    • Since I do not live in NY nor plan to visit it is of no concern to me. When the signs come to Paradise (even though we have no subways or bus service) I will then support them.

    • 2 years ago
  • dabne
    • 0
      dabne  

    • No God, No Guilt?
      Really?

      Didn't know you had to believe in God to feel guilty.

      How long did they think up that slogan?

    • 2 years ago
  • asherp
    • 0
      asherp  

    • No guilt?! I think guilt has a perfectly good function, regardless of religion.

      It shows empathy.

      if you screw somebody over, and you feel bad about it, it's because you have empathy.

    • 2 years ago
  • UndoInfluence
    • 0
      UndoInfluence  
    • asherp:

      Why should humans be in guilt from the moment they are born? Why should humans be shamed for normal functioning of their (presumably god-given) body and mind? Why should those living (one way or another) the golden rule feel guilt for actions that don't effect others?

    • 2 years ago
  • J_Jammer
  • hpseaton
  • Manatee_man
  • Mudboy16
  • ecuae30
  • metalcookiesxy70
    • 0
      metalcookiesxy70  

    • Its always the discussions like these that has the most feedback, its occurs that more and more people are showing up, revealing perspectives such as these....

      Atheist, nothing directly wrong from that..

    • 2 years ago
  • Hakotay
  • egorananev
    • 0
      egorananev  

    • There is a reason behind the atheists' desire to create a group. Usually, religious people have no problem connecting with like-minded community. For atheists, a new organization is just a way to communicate between each other.

      That doesn't mean I'd join it, though.

    • 2 years ago
  • bekah_1984
    • 0
      bekah_1984  

    • I think this is good to get the idea out there that not everyone has the same ideas about spirituality. I do wonder, however, if those that checked 'none' on the survey did so because they do not believe in anything spiritual or if they did not have their religion listed and simply thought it meant "none of the above". I don't think that they are anti-church or anti-religious either. It is a lack of religion and belief and while I wouldn't consider atheism another option to spiritual beliefs (since it has none), I do think that people need to understand there are vast and numerous beliefs as well as the lack of belief out there.

    • 2 years ago
  • Isidro_Leal
    • 0
      Isidro_Leal  

    • Also, don't believe everything that you read about, "sugarlilly". There are many things in the Bible that are incorrect, I agree and I still disapprove of Atheism with this knowledge.
      btw Atheists, there are some things in the Bible that are true. My evidence, people considered the City of Troy to be a Biblical myth until archaeological evidecne of the city centuries later.

    • 2 years ago
  • fun_size
    • 0
      fun_size  
    • Isidro_Leal:

      I dont understand. You recognize the bible as being wrong but you dont approve of atheism. Why?

      btw I dont understand your Troy reference at all. Just because they found Troy after reading the Iliad didnt mean that the stories were true. Well unless you believe that epic heroes existed and that Achilles was the son of a Goddess... but then again this has NOTHING to do with the bible!

    • 2 years ago
  • StrangE2U
    • 0
      StrangE2U  

    • Again, to quote the movie Dogma:

      Rufus: He still digs humanity, but it bothers Him to see the shit that gets carried out in His name - wars, bigotry, televangelism. But especially the factioning of all the religions. He said humanity took a good idea and, like always, built a belief structure on it.

      Bethany: Having beliefs isn't good?

      Rufus: I think it's better to have ideas. You can change an idea. Changing a belief is trickier. Life should be malleable and progressive; working from idea to idea permits that. Beliefs anchor you to certain points and limit growth; new ideas can't generate. Life becomes stagnant.

    • 2 years ago
  • Isidro_Leal
  • Isidro_Leal
    • 0
      Isidro_Leal  

    • Alright, I'm putting up my bulshit flag.
      Since Atheists insist on posting this sort of bullshit propaganda, then we are going to have to get some facts** straight about Atheism.

      1. Atheism is a religion because it promotes anti-religious ideas. Saying that Atheism is not a religion is like saying that, "jelly is not part of the original peanut butter and jelly sandwich," which is illogical and non-sensical to say btw.
      2. Those with good cognitive function are able to foresee, thanks to intelligence, that Atheism is not a good philosophy to adapt. The reason for this is due to the rapid decline of morality and order that will occur in the future if Atheism manages to destroy spirituality or religious ideas, they have clearly displayed that this is the goal for the ATheist "movement". Only through the knowledge of Psychology can one understand the serious negative effects that will occur if spiritual/religous ideas are ignored.
      3. Atheism is a form of close-mindedness, so is Theism.

      Sadly everything in this comment is true. Sorry Atheists.

    • 2 years ago
  • Uncle_B
  • Isidro_Leal
  • Uncle_B
  • fun_size
    • 0
      fun_size  
    • Isidro_Leal:

      "jelly is not part of the original peanut butter and jelly sandwich," which is illogical and non-sensical to say btw. "

      I dont know about the rest of your post but yeah i can totally agree with this point at least. lol

    • 2 years ago
  • sugarlilly
  • jjtcorsair
  • StrangE2U
    • 0
      StrangE2U  
    • Isidro_Leal:

      Uncle_B:

      While I certainly don't agree with everything Isidro_Leal said, I agree with number 3 (atheism is a form of close-mindedness, so is theism). By saying yes to one, you are, ipso facto, saying no to the other, and that is the basis a belief structure, even though one is the belief in "not believing."

      Saying "there isn't" is the same as saying "there is." Which is why there is so much head butting when this subject is debated.

      The real issue at hand in these types of debates is intolerance and subjugation of individual's way of thinking, not what is true and what isn't.

      That being said, I do not subject myself to the tortures of putting it in definitive terms. I simply don't know because there is no way of actually knowing. I am a true agnostic, I question the ideas that believers put forth about all of the gods, but I also admit that there is the possibility that one (or many) exist.

    • 2 years ago
  • Uncle_B
  • metalcookiesxy70
    • 0
      metalcookiesxy70  
    • Isidro_Leal:

      The third point is the only fair point, everything else about what he just said can be ultimately be proved false...

      What humans believe to be fair or "true"(obviously in their opinion), it seems they cannot stop attacking the other side...

    • 2 years ago
  • hpseaton
    • 0
      hpseaton  
    • Isidro_Leal:

      Isidro, I know I'm just wasting my time (although the whole peanut butter and jelly metaphor raised you a bit in my esteem) discussing this with you, but hell let's try to get all logical on your ass!

      So, since religion, mostly christianity has held sway over a good portion of the world for several hundred years, why don't you go ahead and explain why religious/spiritual ideas should be held as exemplars of the 'good'? Obviously there are less wars, less poor, less sick, less hungry, etc. right? Less children being used as sex slaves, right? Less murder? Go ahead, I'm waiting...

    • 2 years ago
  • sugarlilly
  • EdJoyProductions
  • fun_size
  • J_Jammer
  • sugarlilly
    • 0
      sugarlilly  

    • the higher ones religiosity, the lower ones intelligence. we read about it in my "psychology of religion" class. just something to think about.

    • 2 years ago
  • bethopea
    • 0
      bethopea  

    • how are these ads raising 'awareness about athiests' seems like they are promoting faith (or lack there of...) either way seems aweful tempting to have NO GUILT and be told to debaptize now in order to feel guiltless...? maybe i do not understand too well - but it seems to me they are doing what i hate about religious people - using scare tactics and temptation to turn people over to their side....all institutions end up on the same side in the end...

    • 2 years ago
  • fun_size
    • 0
      fun_size  

    • So why is it that atheists are considered the most distrusted and feared group in the US?

      Personally i think its because most religious people are too afraid of what atheism represents. How many Christians have honestly done any critical thinking about their belief system? To believe the word of god comes from a 2000 year old book that 'borrows' stories from the Sumerians, Babylonians, Assyrians, Greek and Romans is insanity. If God were to try and pull that nowadays his ass would get locked up for copyright infringement.

      Or how about this brain buster. If God wrote the 10 Commandments and wanted all people to worship him, then shouldnt Judaism have been the very first religion?

      What about the stories of Adam and Eve and Noahs arc? Totally unbelievable and impossible. If Adam and Eve for the first two humans they there must have been a LOT of incest going on in the first few generations. Also how do you account for different skin color? People obviously never lived with the dinosaurs but werent they created at the same time? Lets not even start on Noah's arc or how it is a blatant rip off of the flood in the Epic of Gilgamesh.

      Honestly do a little thinking about your religion. Make sure to ask the tough questions. Its the only way to wake yourself up. You dont need religion to be a good person. Just be a good person.

    • 2 years ago
  • hpseaton
    • 0
      hpseaton  
    • fun_size:

      You go, fun_size!

      Sidebar: For all those believers out there who aren't quite comfortable with the Bible, pick up any of Bart Ehrman's books. They'll give you all the information you need on the accuracy of that 'flawless' book you rely on.

    • 2 years ago
  • Uncle_B
    • 0
      Uncle_B  
    • fun_size:

      fun_size, couldn't agree more...
      "You dont need religion to be a good person"

      However, you DO need religion to go through life thinking you'll live in a wonderful happyland for eternity after you die while all the people who aren't like you are burning in neverending flames.

      that one brings in a few converts...sad but true.

    • 2 years ago
  • tangibleparadox
  • bailey78
  • eden49
  • tangibleparadox
  • bailey78
  • dusty_red_rivet_head
  • bailey78
  • DONROBLES
    • 0
      DONROBLES  

    • I know i worship the right god and everything it say in the good book is happening right now atheism is just another way to destroy human beings and their free will but calling mankind god that's why I do not support atheism at all plus I used to work with atheist the atheist ideology is a very disrespectful one that why we have a lot of hate in this world

    • 2 years ago
  • fun_size
    • 0
      fun_size  
    • DONROBLES:

      *facepalm*

      My Gackt you have no idea what you are talking about do you? Is this supposed to be satire or are you really just this stereotypical?

      "I know i worship the right god"

      Really now? EVERY religion says it is the only true one. Why are you so sure?

      "everything it say in the good book is happening right now"

      First off nice grammar. Soooo what exactly is happening right now that was in the good book?

      "atheism is just another way to destroy human beings and their free will but calling mankind god that's why I do not support atheism at all

      So encouraging people to think critically about their religion and their view of the universe is a way to destroy free will... interesting.

      "that why we have a lot of hate in this world"

      So atheists are the cause of all the hate in the world. Ahhh those damn atheists starting all of the religious wars around the world! /sarcasm

      I think ignorance, greed, and RELIGION are the main causes of hate in the world.

    • 2 years ago
  • Uncle_B
    • 0
      Uncle_B  
    • DONROBLES:

      you're so lucky that you happened to be born into a family that practices christianity (presumably) and not the other THOUSANDS of religions that humans have created throughout history. cause all those other ones are wrong, aren't they?

    • 2 years ago
  • jjtcorsair
  • metalcookiesxy70
  • Lurkistan
  • hpseaton
  • bc_f
    • bc_f [removed]  
    • This comment was removed as a violation of community guidelines.
  • J_Jammer
  • tangibleparadox
  • J_Jammer
  • DONROBLES
    • 0
      DONROBLES  

    • why are atheist so adamant to want to convince anybody that no religion the way well look at russia it fell and Communist China is going to fall too Iam a Christian and iam proud and to all the atheist look who commit suicides its not christians its atheist that do no have any morals in life and people wonder why we are in a recession

    • 2 years ago
  • MirrorLake
    • 0
      MirrorLake  
    • DONROBLES:

      Those nations fell because of their political ideologies, not their lack of faith. What proof do you have that Christianity is the right religion and you are worshiping right god?

    • 2 years ago
  • neonbunny
  • fun_size
  • hpseaton
    • 0
      hpseaton  
    • DONROBLES:

      No morals? Geez don't you believers ever check in on the arguments against your faiths? The whole morals thing has been decimated time and time again, by some mighty fine minds.

      And are you telling atheists to commit suicide? I'm not following along well, sorry.

    • 2 years ago
  • sugarlilly
  • jjtcorsair
  • EdJoyProductions
  • metalcookiesxy70
  • kaitlinlikesbirds
    • 0
      kaitlinlikesbirds  
    • DONROBLES:

      Ah yes, the secret behind suicides and recessions is really just the lack of morals from the atheist population! If this were an argument over anything else, there wouldn't be much blame or disrespect. It's just religion, just another topic. I support the ads 110%.

    • 2 years ago
  • wekebu
  • dusty_red_rivet_head
    • 0
      dusty_red_rivet_head  

    • I'm all for giving atheism more exposure. The more visible we are, the more people will see that it's an acceptable thing to be and that we aren't amoral nut jobs, but normal people just like everybody else.

    • 2 years ago
  • carmalite
    • 0
      carmalite  

    • I think their ad is not going to be effective. I have no problem with athiests, its just that they need to deliver their message in a more positive way.

    • 2 years ago
  • Uncle_B
  • UndoInfluence
    • 0
      UndoInfluence  
    • carmalite:

      What's a more positive, non-offensive way to deliver our message than simply stating that we exist? The second we state why our viewpoints are valid we're called arrogant, whenever we point out any mistakes around us we're labelled hateful.

      Would you expect us to put up ads such as "Oh please mighty benevolent theists, whom are the true patriots of this country, allow us 3/5 the rights accorded to "normal" people such as yourselves. We promise we'll stay in the closet and continue publicly denying our own reasoning."
      Or would that simply mean we'd then be called condescending?

      How is an ad that simply states that Atheists Live in this City Too, labeled as negative?

    • 2 years ago
  • J_Jammer
  • Uncle_B
  • hpseaton
    • 0
      hpseaton  
    • carmalite:

      giggle....incorrigible! Uncle_B you rock!

      On to more pressing issues...I nominate this as the new atheist slogan...

      'Atheism...because it's just way cooler. And the sex, my god, the sex!'

      I'm sending it off asap!

    • 2 years ago
  • jjtcorsair
    • 0
      jjtcorsair  

    • I don't think it's about recruitment. These campaigns might help the millions of people in this country who aren't superstitious to speak up about what they believe. Richard Hawkins talks about ending this need to pay respect to religion even if we don't believe. Why should I allow a group of myth worshipers to decide how I live my life and how my country is run.

    • 2 years ago
  • sonnnnicboom
    • 0
      sonnnnicboom  

    • Joesph Campbell and Carl Sagan should be read by more.
      Both sides of the argument are terribly ignorant of each other, though surely I know that each and every of us have to make a Reply redirecting someone's ignorant comment about either I love god or I hate God, when really the fact there is an argument about it proves that both god does and doesn't exist. Now lets move on to the next point, wherein, I boost my Ego by proving the next Ego wrong. Love you all!

    • 2 years ago
  • jjtcorsair
  • StrangE2U
    • 0
      StrangE2U  
    • sonnnnicboom:

      Exactly.

      Why is it our nature to force a definitive? What's wrong with simply not knowing? Agnostics FTW!

      To quote the movie Dogma: "It doesn't matter what you have faith in, just that you have faith"

      Now that doesn't have to mean a faith in god, or a faith in the fact there isn't one. Why not a faith in humanity? Or the goodness of the individual? Or science? Or philosophy? Or Nature? Or any of a billion other things in this tiny spec of an existence.

    • 2 years ago
  • GrinningSatyr
    • 0
      GrinningSatyr  
    • sonnnnicboom:

      Because faith is exactly what my personal brand of Atheism is completely opposite to.

      I have reasons for the things I think are true. I don't "believe in" Science, I ask it to back up it's claims. I have "faith" in logic because it makes sense and relies upon my own powers of reasoning to prove itself true.

      Faith is having a conviction or a belief in something without any requisite proof. It's throwing your trust to the wind, which is perfectly fine for some, but I simply cannot do it.

      Faith is what I cringe at.

    • 2 years ago
  • sonnnnicboom
    • 0
      sonnnnicboom  
    • sonnnnicboom:

      Well it does seem that you have faith enough to not have faith! If you believe in science given that it has "answers" for your logical factual life than you have faith in the one's perception of reality. For example,Jung points out in his book Synchronicity "The experimental method of inquiry aims at esablishing regular events which can be repeated. Consequently, unique or rare events are ruledout of account. Moreover, the experiment imposes limiting conditions on nature, for its aim is to force her to give answers to questions devised by man. every answer of nature is therefore more or less influenced by the kind of question asked, and the result is always a hybrid product. The so-called "scientific view of the world" based on this can hardly be anything more than a psychologically biased partial view which misses out all those by no means unimportant aspects that cannot be grasped statistcally." Cringe at that. Why does it start to appear to me like most atheists are just self-loathing?

    • 2 years ago
  • KingCrimson
    • 0
      KingCrimson  
    • sonnnnicboom:

      Not alone are they self loathing, they seem to not understand who they are. every person has faith, they have faith in themselves, faith in the sun, faith the our planet doesn't decide to destroy itself in mere seconds. To have faith in nothing is to be a animatronic robot who sees nothing but the ego and the self. America is unfortunately moving into a non faith based society in which people are becoming more reliant on consumerism and commercial imagery than the metaphysical. Awaken your inner being and be the human being that you were created to be. Synchronicity and spiritualism do exist without the pre destined western gods. Awaken your life goal and give up the means of science and religion. Believe and have FAITH to your inner being and the path you are suppose to be on, and not the path that the Neo- Conservative Christian right capitalists have destined for you, even though you do not believe in their god! If you seem to cringe at faith, for gods sakes and i am using the term god incredibly loose, kill yourself. We today, not only don';t want to hear you non-sensical bullshit, we could care less that you rely on reason (which is merely opinion) to form your answers. GOOD RIDDANCE!

    • 2 years ago
  • Saladin
    • 0
      Saladin  

    • The 90's was the gays' time to come out of the closet. These decades are the atheists' time.

      There's no reason we should be persecuted for something that is supposed to be a protected right in this country.

    • 2 years ago
  • MirrorLake
  • FishaHouse777
    • 0
      FishaHouse777  
    • Saladin:

      There's no reason atheist's or religious/spiritual people should get persecuted, which according to these posters it seems will happen very soon. I wouldn't be surprised to see heathen's hazing religious people on the streets soon for believing in God.

    • 2 years ago
  • hpseaton
  • StrangE2U
    • 0
      StrangE2U  
    • Saladin:

      to FishaHouse777

      If they wanted to they would have all the rights in the world to do so. Does that make it any more right than the street evangelist I walked passed in Ann Arbor about a month ago who told me unequivocally that I was going to hell? No

      "Heathens" will be heathens not matter what deity (or lack thereof) they claim to be doing it for.

    • 2 years ago
  • fun_size
    • 0
      fun_size  
    • Saladin:

      @fisha

      "I wouldn't be surprised to see heathen's hazing religious people on the streets soon for believing in God."

      I think its far more likely for us "Heathens" to be attacked by 'tolerant' Christians for speaking up.

      Plus if you think saying "A million New Yorkers are good without God. Are you?" is an attack on religion then you should get your head checked out. Maybe you hit it when you were praying for a new ipod.

    • 2 years ago
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