Wednesday, January 7, 2009 | Reason : In the News | print version

Print | Comments |

Atheist bus ad campaign provokes bitterness in Barcelona

by Guardian

Reposted from:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/07/atheist-bus-advertising-spain

Spread of controversial advertising campaign to Spain upsets members of Catholic church

The posting of atheist advertising on Barcelona's buses has been branded "an attack on all religions".

Next week, Barcelona will become the first city in predominantly Catholic Spain to copy the controversial UK campaign when its buses use a direct translation of the slogan adopted in Britain by the scientist Richard Dawkins and other prominent atheists.

"Probablemente Dios no existe. Deja de preocuparte y goza de la vida," it reads. "There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy life."

Madrid, Valencia and other cities are being targeted to run similar campaigns.

Campaigners say that with 20% of Spaniards professing they do not believe in God, it is time atheism becomes a visible phenomenon.

"It is time for non-believers to make themselves seen and display their pride in their own convictions," said the Catalan Atheists group.

The campaign has provoked a reaction from the Catholic archbishopric of Barcelona. "Faith in God is not a source of worry, nor is it an obstacle for enjoying life," it said in a statement.

"It is an attack on all religions," said Javier Maria Perez-Roldan of the church's Tomas Moro centre, blaming the socialist government for the privately funded campaign. "The government has created an atmosphere of belligerence."

The go-ahead for campaigns in other Spanish cities may depend on the political colour of the city halls that own, or co-own, the municipal buses.

Conservative officials in Madrid and Valencia are coming under pressure from Catholic lobbyists to prevent the advertisements circulating around their streets.

The spread of the Spanish campaign will also depend on how much funding atheist groups can raise.

Donations have been flooding into the fund opened by the Catalan Atheists. "We raised a thousand euros in the first day," the group said. "At this rate we will be able to take the campaign to Madrid as well."

Negotiations to get the advertisements on to Madrid's buses are reportedly set to start today.

The atheist campaign comes as Spain's Catholic church becomes increasingly involved in political campaigning.

It has fought against laws passed by prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero's socialist government allowing gay marriage, simplifying divorce and reducing the importance of religious instruction in the school timetable. It is campaigning against changes to Spain's abortion laws.

Although church and state are nominally separate in Spain, the Catholic church receives funding from the government.

Posted: Wednesday, January 7, 2009 | Permalink

Comments 1 - 50 of 143 |

Reload Comments | Back to Top | Page Numbers

1. Comment #314979 by Dr Doctor on January 7, 2009 at 10:46 pm

What a dumbarsed picture that is.

(The comment with the picture in it was above this post, it seems to have been deleted).

Other Comments by Dr Doctor

2. Comment #314982 by Rodger T on January 7, 2009 at 11:02 pm

Don`t mind them , they are from Barthelona.

Other Comments by Rodger T

3. Comment #314983 by Ohnhai on January 7, 2009 at 11:06 pm

where is the link to the fund raising page?

Other Comments by Ohnhai

4. Comment #314984 by Rodger T on January 7, 2009 at 11:10 pm

"the Catholic archbishoprick of Barcelona."

Thats not a Freudian slip ,thats a Freudian fall on your arse inadvertent truth.

Other Comments by Rodger T

5. Comment #314985 by aw6334 on January 7, 2009 at 11:14 pm

"There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy life."

This campaign will be used by religious manipulators as (yet) another example of militant, shrill, and strident atheists.

Bring it on!

Other Comments by aw6334

6. Comment #314989 by Richard Dawkins on January 7, 2009 at 11:31 pm

The spread of the Spanish campaign will also depend on how much funding atheist groups can raise.

Donations have been flooding into the fund opened by the Catalan Atheists. "We raised a thousand euros in the first day," the group said. "At this rate we will be able to take the campaign to Madrid as well."

If any members of the Spanish bus campaign read this, please feel free to send in details for how to subscribe. Not just in English, in Spanish (and Catalan?) too.

It is very encouraging to learn that this seems to be hurting the Catholic Church in Spain (the church that backed Franco).

Richard

Other Comments by Richard Dawkins

7. Comment #315002 by Ian on January 7, 2009 at 11:59 pm

Yes, I would like to make a donation. Please provide details.

It's interesting to see the religious becoming shrill.

Other Comments by Ian

8. Comment #315004 by Gironzolatore on January 8, 2009 at 12:14 am

See "Donaciones" tab at

http://www.busateo.org/

Cheers

Other Comments by Gironzolatore

9. Comment #315012 by binlid on January 8, 2009 at 12:30 am

I would love to see a similar campaign here in catholic Ireland .I am just being sarcastic when I say catholic Ireland iam living here 40 years and have meet maybe 10 genuine Catholics and that's 10 too many I know .

Other Comments by binlid

10. Comment #315013 by Paula Kirby on January 8, 2009 at 12:31 am

"It is an attack on all religions," said Javier Maria Perez-Roldan of the church's Tomas Moro centre

Well spottted, that man. Perhaps he should tell Eamonn Holmes and others in the UK who have made the predictable comments whingeing that "They wouldn't be allowed to get away with attacking any religion other than Christianity".

"The government has created an atmosphere of belligerence"

"... rather than the unquestioning obedience to the church that we have been insisting on for millennia. It's outrageous. The old ways suited us far better."

Other Comments by Paula Kirby

11. Comment #315015 by sunbeamforjesus on January 8, 2009 at 12:36 am

Belligerence ?
We can't have that against the Catholic church!
We should all kiss the bishops ring and seek forgiveness!
Right where's my credit card?

Other Comments by sunbeamforjesus

12. Comment #315017 by binlid on January 8, 2009 at 12:39 am

who the hell is eamoon holmes anyway . not that fat guy from tv is it .

Other Comments by binlid

13. Comment #315018 by Vanpastel on January 8, 2009 at 12:42 am

Comment #314989 by Richard Dawkins
At last a good reason to be proud of being a Spaniard, the information on how to donate to the campaing in Spanish and Catalan can be found in this link:
http://www.busateo.org/
Edit: Oh that link was already here, sorry.

Other Comments by Vanpastel

14. Comment #315021 by binlid on January 8, 2009 at 12:44 am

you can get away with your life when taking the piss out of christianity in public and elsewhere but try it with Islam and see what happens . I think that was the point the fat guy from tv was trying to make . paula

Other Comments by binlid

15. Comment #315023 by DoctorE on January 8, 2009 at 12:47 am

JudeoChristLam your god does not exist, be glad because he is a total looser :)

Other Comments by DoctorE

16. Comment #315025 by Quetzalcoatl on January 8, 2009 at 12:48 am

By this logic, adverts for Christianity are an attack on all other religions and non-believers. Yet somehow, I suspect that he would not see things that way.

Other Comments by Quetzalcoatl

17. Comment #315026 by Hugo on January 8, 2009 at 12:48 am

Comment #315004 and #314989
Thanks and done, I hope this fresh wind of atheism continues to blow over the whole of Europe and the world!

Other Comments by Hugo

18. Comment #315028 by sornord on January 8, 2009 at 12:50 am

Can't wait to hear the whining if/when this ever hits the US!

(I still don't know if the Root of All Evil program was ever broadcast there.)

Other Comments by sornord

19. Comment #315034 by andersemil on January 8, 2009 at 1:11 am

When will atheism stop being tied to socialism and fascism? It's ridiculous. My impression is that atheism is quite evenly spread across political views, it's just that some people don't know how to separate the two. Sigh. Such a long way to go, but at least we're slowly getting there.

Other Comments by andersemil

20. Comment #315035 by Vaal on January 8, 2009 at 1:14 am

Yes, well spotted that man.

The atheist campaign comes as Spain's Catholic church becomes increasingly involved in political campaigning.

Can't have your bread buttered on both sides, can you? Now do you have a small clue why atheists are becoming a lot more vocal?

Maybe they are afraid of the atheist inquisition, or more likely, the job centre.

Other Comments by Vaal

21. Comment #315044 by Paula Kirby on January 8, 2009 at 1:22 am

Binlid: you can get away with your life when taking the piss out of christianity in public and elsewhere but try it with Islam and see what happens . I think that was the point the fat guy from tv was trying to make . paula

Yes, I know what point he and the others were trying to make: they make it constantly. The real point is that, as the church spokesman cited in this article has spotted, this slogan isn't specifically anti-Christianity, it's anti-religion. Which includes Islam. Which makes their whinges about Christianity being picked on rather redundant, doesn't it?

Christopher Hitchens laughs at the way Christians keep dragging up the Hitler/Stalin argument: his response is that, when you're dealing with opponents whose best argument is, "Well, say what you like about Christianity, at least we're not as bad as Hitler", you know you've already won. The same has to apply to these comments about Islam, wouldn't you think? "Well, say what you like about Christianity, at least it's not as foul as Islam" isn't a STRONG case, is it? Try standing up in court sometime and telling the judge, "Well, it's true that I stabbed my mother, but at least I didn't hack her to bits with a pickaxe" and see how far it gets you.

Other Comments by Paula Kirby

22. Comment #315056 by Buchner on January 8, 2009 at 1:36 am

There's an English version of the campaign details, but not about making a donation.

I was too thick to follow the Spanish instructions

Can anyone provide a translation please....

Other Comments by Buchner

23. Comment #315059 by Raiko on January 8, 2009 at 1:39 am

I am trying to grasp how this is an attack.

"There probably is no point to astrology. Now move on with your life and be happy." - would that be considered an attack on everything 'spiritual' or on every magazine as well?

Other Comments by Raiko

24. Comment #315061 by Ivan The Not So Bad on January 8, 2009 at 1:41 am

More news from Spain.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2009/01/06/europe/06church.php

A vital battleground for the RC Church, it seems.

Other Comments by Ivan The Not So Bad

25. Comment #315066 by Paula Kirby on January 8, 2009 at 1:46 am

Raiko: I am trying to grasp how this is an attack.

Well, that's a very fair point, Raiko. But it's "in opposition to", which is enough for these thin-skinned religious types to feel it's an attack. Besides which, Christianity teaches them that they are especially blessed if they are persecuted for their faith, which means they have a vested interest in being paranoid.

Other Comments by Paula Kirby

26. Comment #315067 by irate_atheist on January 8, 2009 at 1:47 am

Fuck 'em.

Other Comments by irate_atheist

27. Comment #315069 by binlid on January 8, 2009 at 1:48 am

I stand corrected paula . I forget there are so many gods as long as the bus campaign attacks all gods including Allah . then fair enough . as long as we leave Buddha out of this .

Other Comments by binlid

28. Comment #315072 by Rosbif on January 8, 2009 at 1:50 am

It is an attack on all religions,"

Well how about a new campaign using varied slogans and then publisizing the reactions?

I was thinking of mix of slogans like:

"There's probably no Zeus so it's safe to go out in a storm"
"There are probably no fairies so enjoy the forest"
"There's probably no Apollo so just enjoy the sun"
There's probably no Eros, so love must be natural"
"There are probably no Unicorns, but Barbie still sells them"
"There's probably no Delling, but dawn happens all day everyday somewhere in the world"
"There's probably no Ehecatl, so just get out there and enjoy sailing"
"There's probably no Cizen, but you're going to die anyway"
"There's probably no Vulcan, but Pompei is still worth a visit"

etc ....

It might demonstrate the extent to which we are all athiestic about somethings and highlight the similarities between past and present mythical powers.

Other Comments by Rosbif

29. Comment #315075 by mixmastergaz on January 8, 2009 at 1:54 am

Paula:

Has Eamonn Holmes waded in on the issue of the atheist bus campaign or was the cliched moan you mentioned above about something else(qm) It seems odd that he characterised this an attack on Christianity specifically. Obviously it's an attack on any monotheistic religion!

Eamonn Holmes eh (qm) What a 'heavyweight' intellectual. We're in trouble now folks! For some reason I'm reminded of an episode of Alan Partridge when one of his guests asks him who his favourite contemporary philosopher is an he replies "Peter Ustinov".

Other Comments by mixmastergaz

30. Comment #315079 by Paula Kirby on January 8, 2009 at 2:00 am

mixmastergaz: Has Eamonn Holmes waded in on the issue of the atheist bus campaign or was the cliched moan you mentioned above about something else(qm) It seems odd that he characterised this an attack on Christianity specifically. Obviously it's an attack on any monotheistic religion!

Yes, he apparently made some comment wondering whether we'd have got away with it if it had been any religion other than Christianity we'd been bashing - I've seen it online, but I can't remember where just now and I'm late for work so can't stop to check.

The fact that it was Eamonn Holmes is pretty irrelevant - as you say, intellectually he's no Nicky Campbell, is he? ;-)))

But it's a response I'm hearing a lot - I lurk on a Christian Beliefs forum elsewhere and in their their discussion of the atheist buses, "They wouldn't do it about Islam" featured quite prominently.

Interesting, isn't it, how any follower of a monotheistic religion must AUTOMATICALLY assume it's their god we're talking about!

Other Comments by Paula Kirby

31. Comment #315081 by alovrin on January 8, 2009 at 2:03 am

Atheist bus ad campaign provokes bitterness in Barcelona.
Meanwhile on the other side of the world some people seem to think they can just wait it out.

The UK press is full of reports of the Atheist Bus Campaign, which has raised 140,000 pounds to fund ads on buses saying "There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life". The campaign is now spreading to Spain, Australia, and the US. So why not here? I can think of two reasons. Firstly, while religious belief holds on in all sorts of odd places, we're a country where secularism has won, at least in our public culture. Religion is widely seen as a private matter, and seems to be quietly dying out (particularly among the young). Secondly, in the absence of the kind of public fightback / death spasm from religion against secularism currently seen in the UK, there seems to be little reason to give a damn - and every reason not to. After all, the whole point of godlessness is not giving a shit. There's no point being an atheist if you're going to waste all your time talking about the god you don't believe in. And talking about it simply boosts the belief amongst the godful (God-ed? Begodden? Godly has certain implications...) that their imaginary friends are somehow relevant to people's lives. Better to avoid that, and let their delusions die a quiet, demographic death, than waste breath on it and in the process give them oxygen.

Says this blogger.
http://norightturn.blogspot.com/

Other Comments by alovrin

32. Comment #315083 by Paula Kirby on January 8, 2009 at 2:06 am

Mixmastergaz - Ah, I read it on this site (where else?!), on the other atheist bus thread:

450. Comment #314404 by Richard Hughes on January 7, 2009 at 5:58 am
Did anyone see Sunrise with Eamonn Holmes on Sky this morning?

He was reviewing the newspapers and his female collegue bought up this story of the Atheists launch bus ad campaign to which Eamonn replied "poor god getting it the neck from Atheists...I wonder if they would get away with it if it wasn't christianity they were attacking"

Has he actually read the ads? Why does he single out his religion as the victims? Getting away with what exactly?

Unbelievable.

Other Comments by Paula Kirby

33. Comment #315091 by Vaal on January 8, 2009 at 2:22 am

Paula

Ah, the irony of somebody in the media, particularly the vacuous portly Eamonn Holmes, whining that Christianity can be attacked, yet not the poison of Islam. Christopher Hitchens has written a great article below showing that the censorship of Islam has been shamelessly self-imposed by the spineless media.

http://richarddawkins.net/article,3490,Assassins-of-the-Mind,Christopher-Hitchens-Vanity-Fair

Shame on Eamonn and his ilk, slavering with fatwa envy.

Other Comments by Vaal

34. Comment #315097 by Major Bloodnok on January 8, 2009 at 2:29 am

Interesting, isn't it, how any follower of a monotheistic religion must AUTOMATICALLY assume it's their god we're talking about!

I suppose it's an easy conclusion to come to when your god's name is "God".

Other Comments by Major Bloodnok

35. Comment #315102 by chinnus on January 8, 2009 at 2:39 am

The sooner we manage to defeat religion, the sooner we can get on to halting the rise of the Sea Otters if you ask me.

It always amuses me when I see this kind of backlash, as a previous poster has already said, how dare we disrupt the civil order that religion has imposed through enforced exodus, church backed facism and Inquisition. How awful of us.

Maybe they're concerned that these donations are taking away from the collection plate which goes to funding all of those worthy religious iconography and other religious bling. But then they'd be forgetting that it is easier for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God, than to take the time blending a camel and finding a suitable pippette and that's not something religion would do'

What a crazy world we live in. On the plus side, it's been proven (beyond reasonable doubt, as science tends to do) that black holes form first (or are magikked into existence) and galaxies form around them. Bloody fantastic. I love science me. Also, Patrick Moore convinced me to buy a telescope and a shed on BBC3 last night.

Other Comments by chinnus

36. Comment #315103 by Matt Heath on January 8, 2009 at 2:39 am

I live in Portugal and hear a fair amount of news from Spain. "Spain's Catholic church becom[ing] increasingly involved in political campaigning." is an understatement. Since Zapetero's left-wing and secular government came to power and started giving rights to gays and other such "outrages", the RCC have gone back to fighting the Civil War (on Franco's side naturally). Every priest or nun killed by the Republicans (even those who were outspokenly pro-Hitler or known to be giving aid to the Nationalists) has been beatified by the Vatican (with the encouragement of the Spanish Catholic hierarchy).

Other Comments by Matt Heath

37. Comment #315104 by Fuller on January 8, 2009 at 2:40 am

The posting of atheist advertising on Barcelona's buses has been branded "an attack on all religions".

Then it has been accurately branded. Success!

Other Comments by Fuller

38. Comment #315111 by Phate on January 8, 2009 at 2:58 am

You can donate here: http://ateus.org/busateu/?page_id=18

Donations are done via Paypal or bank transfer. All proceeds will go to funding the campaign and all costs will be made public.

Other Comments by Phate

39. Comment #315114 by tieInterceptor on January 8, 2009 at 3:02 am

20% atheists in Barcelona only? I can't belive it, I grew up there and the churches are empty,

in no way people from 40 years down have an 80% belive in supernatural nonsense.

the Church better get use to atheism, it is not going to go away... Spain was historically very catholic, but they really screw their rep with their unapologetic support for the fascist coup. The new generation that includes me, has grown up in a non religious enviroment... specially in Catalonia.

and once you miss one generation of religious indoctrianation, it's too late.

tough luck for them

Other Comments by tieInterceptor

40. Comment #315119 by hyperdeath on January 8, 2009 at 3:07 am

They should call the bluff of the "you wouldn't say that about Islam" crowd, and replace "God" in some of the adverts with "Allah". The reaction of the Jihad-envious Bible-bashers would be a joy to behold.

Other Comments by hyperdeath

41. Comment #315128 by gyokusai on January 8, 2009 at 3:22 am

Probablemente Dios no existe. Deja de preocuparte y goza de la vida.

How sweet that sounds! I love the Spanish language.

What we should set up, possibly, is a place where we can collect translations for this slogan in every language known to humankind, no?

@Rosbif Priceless! LOL!

^_^J.

Other Comments by gyokusai

42. Comment #315129 by bamboospitfire on January 8, 2009 at 3:24 am

What these people fail to realise is that the campaign only says "probably" because we have to include gods such as the invisible pink unicorn and the flying spaghetti monster in the term "god". Thankfully, gods such as the monstrosity of Judeo-Christian Islamic mythology are certainly fictional since they cannot exist, thanks to their self-contradictory definitions. If a campaign was launched against specific religions, it would be open to us to say: "Christianity/Judaism/Islam is certainly false. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life."

I hope that the Spanish do not allow the authorities to shackle their freedom of expression. The Australians must also make sure that they circumvent the obstacles that have been placed in their path.

Other Comments by bamboospitfire

43. Comment #315133 by Clairebear on January 8, 2009 at 3:30 am

How anyone could find this offensive baffles me. I wasn't into it when I first heard of it, but having seen the ads I now absolutely love it. I actually think it's extremely sweet - and I don't mean in a twee way necessarily - but just such a simple and lovely answer to the authoritarian garbage that it counters. The answer of the liberated mind to a past rooted in fear and doubt. It's an uplifting message. I really hope it isn't torn down.

Sometimes I feel like these radical religious people must be sort of masochistic. How else could they be against such a thing?

Other Comments by Clairebear

44. Comment #315154 by Rosbif on January 8, 2009 at 3:56 am

"There's probably no school for Witchcraft and Wizardry"

Am I attacking these stories or merely making a statelent of probability?

Am I specifically targeting Hogwarts or should I be afraid that the Beaubaton jihadists have realised that I am also referring to l'Ecole de Sorcellerie et Magie?

Am I in anyway suggesting that people can not enjoy reading these works of fiction?

Would any rational person want those who believe it all to be true, to have a say in government, be it local, national or international?

Should we teach the fabrication of Pollyjuice potion in chemistry classes?

Other Comments by Rosbif

45. Comment #315159 by DoctorE on January 8, 2009 at 4:03 am

Religious people are afraid of this because they know their god kills everyone when he is angry, including his own sheep.

Other Comments by DoctorE

46. Comment #315162 by jharps on January 8, 2009 at 4:04 am

Clairebear: Sometimes I feel like these radical religious people must be sort of masochistic

Aren't they sado-masochistic? That's why they like the Golden Rule so much...do unto others as you would have them do to you.

(Edited for spelling)

Other Comments by jharps

47. Comment #315173 by MrPickwick on January 8, 2009 at 4:28 am

To donate here's the link:
http://ateus.org/busateu/?page_id=292
and click the "Donar" ("Donate" in catalan) Paypal button.

Other Comments by MrPickwick

48. Comment #315180 by k1mgy on January 8, 2009 at 4:44 am

My my... those hot-headed Spanish Catholic priests. They seem to get disproportionately bothered by the most milquetoast of assertions. They're not even mentioned in the ad and it becomes an "attack". The way they're reacting, one might have the impression this campaign would threaten their source of income, social, and political power.

Other Comments by k1mgy

49. Comment #315182 by js8765 on January 8, 2009 at 4:48 am

I don't want to open up a political can of worms here, but I find it no surprise that the first place this campaign has taken foot in Spain has been Barcelona. I lived there and in other parts of Spain for some time. There is a far greater percentage of Catalans that are atheist than the rest of Spain. Catholicism is seen by many Catalans as a club for the typical centralist, non rational, former Franco supporting Spanish.

I can predict now that no other city in Spain will adopt this measure due to the traditional, conservative majority. With regards to religious thinking "Catalunya is not Spain"

Other Comments by js8765

50. Comment #315183 by CaptainMandate on January 8, 2009 at 4:50 am