atheist blunder - doh!

[TANGODANCER]

And who gives a Flying Feckl.
Two pages of posts about something that %90 of us dont Fecking care about.
Yes its a bit of a boo boo, but, feckin hell, it dont matter.
I dont believe in God etc, so I dont give a t0ss whos kids are in the photo.
Please discuss something of interest.

You mean you've got something 90% of us on here would be interested in? Get it up.

Oh - you're asking for it there TD. I'll wager it'll end in "out".

And I still have the abilty to move that where it belongs.

[CAPSLOCK]

Get a life

All of you

Theres a 436 page thread on sacking managers elsewhere on the board

[thebish]

the new atheist bus campaign featuring two children - happy and smiling (presumably) because they are safe from the horrid "labelling" faith people and have "chosen for themselves"...

the kids were picked from stock photos - and are (actually) the children of a committed evangelical christian family....

And who gives a Flying Feckl.
Two pages of posts about something that %90 of us dont Fecking care about.
Yes its a bit of a boo boo, but, feckin hell, it dont matter.
I dont believe in God etc, so I dont give a t0ss whos kids are in the photo.
Please discuss something of interest.

you give enough of a flying "feckl" to add to the thread to yourself..

here's the thing - you DON'T have to read or respond to everything on the Forum...

and - you are quite at liberty to introduce a topic "of interest" whenever you like - go ahead - and if it is - we'll all join in...

[Verbal]

It's a bollock dropped.

Children brought up in seriously christian/muslim/buddhidt/Zoroastrian and atheist families will have a happy childhood if they are brought up well, with love and attention.

But they aren't 'christian' 'atheist' or whatever children - until they've exercised choice.

And that's the truthful message clumsily offered...

Indeed - the underlying message is surely that children are too young to understand. Adopt whatever half-arsed superstitious nonsense you like, but don't pretend your children believe it, too.

Or should we also claim that the children of Marxists are also Marxists? And so on.

agree completely.

anyway - either way you cook it - it's a bit of a cock-up!

Agreed muchly. The sentiment expressed is fine, but the portrayal...jeez.

almost rivalling the LGBT school of telling you off

[Prufrock]

On that basis we should ban every nativity play, children from singing hymns or any songs of a religious connotation, children from saying prayers etc.

In fact I'm in favour of that TD. I assume you are too!

Gee, BWFCI, we've gone a fair way to doing just that already. First thing every December was the Nativity scene lit up on the Town Hall Square. Where is it now? No religious themes (even though Christmas is a religious festival) on stamps etc. Like I said, this isn't a religious debate for me, it's just not necessary to use kids to promote views they don't have. And that's exactly what this bus advert is about. When did you last see a Christian ad anywhere outside Church grounds (or some guy on a soapbox who everybody ignores anyway? Jehovas Witnesses knocking on doors every two months? Who takes any notice anyway. At least they don't use three year old kids to promote themselves and they're never aggressive. I don't really care what views anyone else holds, they're entitled to them, but at least let them be their own and formed as adults.

Merry Christmas.

Who's making a point? Jesus wept. The whole point of the bloody thing is people shouldn't use kids to make a point. Trust me, if the 'Atheist brigade who want to bully the nice religious folk who keep them all to themselves' they'd have a lot more material than some cute kids woth a sign saying don't label me. Christ. WHy does everyone feel like they are constantly being persecuted, religious and not. I've seen PLENTY church ads, I've seen plenty Islam ads, and plenty Judaism ads, I've seen Atheism ads too. It's a free multicultural society. The whole point of this isn't make your kids atheist as you seem to have plucked form somewhere. Seeing as you seem to think it is, I'm interested in what way, apart from Bish labelling it so at the start, you find this a pro atheism advert?

[thebish]

I'm interested in what way, apart from Bish labelling it so at the start, you find this a pro atheism advert?

because it highlights a problem - the labelling of children - and fills a banner with coloured labels to illustrate - all of the labels are religious - thus suggesting that the problem labellers are religious.

it is no accident that they don't have their own label on there - it is deliberate - thus it is saying (maybe not overtly, but fairly clearly) - WE don't label, THEY do.

(I don't feel persecuted by this - I don't think I ever said I did - I posted it because I found it to be an amusing irony that they accidentally plastered the kids of an evangelical christian couple onn their ad. I have no objection at all to atheists having ads on busses - but I reserve the right to snigger at a blunder!)

[thebish]

When did you last see a Christian ad anywhere outside Church grounds

all the time - all over London.

[seanworth]

Touchy subject, and one that is very hard to remain objective about. I am an atheist who never went to church as a kid. I was in my thirties before I even approached the subject of religion with my family. The turning the back on the church really came from my mother's side as her father was protestant and her mother catholic. I already knew that but never ever gave it a second thought.

My family never talked about religion to me whether it be positive or negative. I mentioned once that I was interested in reading the bible which I knew surprised them but they supported me. Never got far, and I only had interest in reading to see what all the fuss was about.

Personally couldn't give a rat's ass who is religious and who isn't, and I think it does help many people who need some answers for their existance. I only get touchy when people try to force those beliefs upon myself or openly express their belief in their superiority as a result of their beliefs. I also don't try to force my atheist beliefs upon others. If you are a Christian or Buddhist fine.

I have no problem with the ad to be honest except while in the background text it does say agnostic child, it should have also included atheist child.

[Worthy4England]

I think it's excellent that so many on here, will be working over the period from 20th Dec to 30th December as their high falutin principles certainly wouldn't allow then to take time off for a festival associated with "Christ". What? You're taking the time off? Thought so.

Anyhow, if the main contention is that they're too young to understand that they've been labelled X or Y, then what the feck does it matter one way or another? They're too young to understand it.

At a point in time they will make thier own choice. Don't believe anyone is preventing them doing so.

They will still be labelled, by the rest of society for all sort of thing unconnected with religion and the only way I could see of avoiding this would be to bring up all children exactly the same. Same house, same level of parental wealth (so no kids have something other kids can't afford - we don't have haves and have nots), surely we'd all have to have the same colour parents, parents with the same sexuality, disciplining children would be the same for all families etc. etc. because we don't want anything to be different or diverse.

I'm a Catholic - not a good one, don't go to church etc. but I've not noticed it's caused me a problem one way or another in my journey through life so far. I'm struggling to recall the last time I thought it might be a good idea to go on a Crusade or owt.

[seanworth]

I think it's excellent that so many on here, will be working over the period from 20th Dec to 30th December as their high falutin principles certainly wouldn't allow then to take time off for a festival associated with "Christ". What? You're taking the time off? Thought so.

Anyhow, if the main contention is that they're too young to understand that they've been labelled X or Y, then what the feck does it matter one way or another? They're too young to understand it.

At a point in time they will make thier own choice. Don't believe anyone is preventing them doing so.

They will still be labelled, by the rest of society for all sort of thing unconnected with religion and the only way I could see of avoiding this would be to bring up all children exactly the same. Same house, same level of parental wealth (so no kids have something other kids can't afford - we don't have haves and have nots), surely we'd all have to have the same colour parents, parents with the same sexuality, disciplining children would be the same for all families etc. etc. because we don't want anything to be different or diverse.

I'm a Catholic - not a good one, don't go to church etc. but I've not noticed it's caused me a problem one way or another in my journey through life so far. I'm struggling to recall the last time I thought it might be a good idea to go on a Crusade or owt.

I will be working until around 3:00am for a Christmas Eve Party, then be back to work 8 hrs later to organize a full on Christmas dinner for that afternoon and early evening then run a Christmas party from 7:00pm until around 3:00 am again. I would love a day off but will be quite occupied until February when I can escape for a week. So don't even think to ask me my thoughts regarding Christmas or New Years for that matter.

[William the White]

[quote="Worthy4England"]I think it's excellent that so many on here, will be working over the period from 20th Dec to 30th December as their high falutin principles certainly wouldn't allow then to take time off for a festival associated with "Christ". What? You're taking the time off? Thought so.

Strangely enough, at approximately those dates, i'm celebrating the Feast of the Winter Solstice, an ancient festival, predating christianity, involving eating, drinking and merriment, intended to brighten up the darkest time of the year. I think certain traditions should definitely be upheld. oh, yes.

[Prufrock]

I'm interested in what way, apart from Bish labelling it so at the start, you find this a pro atheism advert?

because it highlights a problem - the labelling of children - and fills a banner with coloured labels to illustrate - all of the labels are religious - thus suggesting that the problem labellers are religious.

it is no accident that they don't have their own label on there - it is deliberate - thus it is saying (maybe not overtly, but fairly clearly) - WE don't label, THEY do.

(I don't feel persecuted by this - I don't think I ever said I did - I posted it because I found it to be an amusing irony that they accidentally plastered the kids of an evangelical christian couple onn their ad. I have no objection at all to atheists having ads on busses - but I reserve the right to snigger at a blunder!)

Agnositcism isn't 'religious'. It certainly isn't anti-atheist granted, but I'n not convinced it's really 'anti-religious' either especially since it contains 'agnostic'. Granted there is an arrogance to it, but I'm not sure it is anything more than the arrogance of believing one's viewpoint is correct, an arrogance we are all sometimes guilty of. I'm still not convinced it is 'pro-atheist', atheism isn't even mentioned and I think it is relying on a lot to expect people to read that, then look up the BHA and their views, before projecting that back on to the ad. It's very subtle pro atheism if at all, some might argue too subtle for the majority of our lot

Fair enough on your little giggle, as I mentioned, for me it highlights the point even more, but I like to laugh at daft stuff to. Cockfosters.

[Prufrock]

I think it's excellent that so many on here, will be working over the period from 20th Dec to 30th December as their high falutin principles certainly wouldn't allow then to take time off for a festival associated with "Christ". What? You're taking the time off? Thought so.

Anyhow, if the main contention is that they're too young to understand that they've been labelled X or Y, then what the feck does it matter one way or another? They're too young to understand it.

At a point in time they will make thier own choice. Don't believe anyone is preventing them doing so.

They will still be labelled, by the rest of society for all sort of thing unconnected with religion and the only way I could see of avoiding this would be to bring up all children exactly the same. Same house, same level of parental wealth (so no kids have something other kids can't afford - we don't have haves and have nots), surely we'd all have to have the same colour parents, parents with the same sexuality, disciplining children would be the same for all families etc. etc. because we don't want anything to be different or diverse.

I'm a Catholic - not a good one, don't go to church etc. but I've not noticed it's caused me a problem one way or another in my journey through life so far. I'm struggling to recall the last time I thought it might be a good idea to go on a Crusade or owt.

Oh do come on Worthy, you are better than that. The winter holiday the Christians nicked from the Romans who nicked it from others, the winter holiday that occurs in so many faiths. Jesus wasn't even born at that time of year, it just got stuck there because many cultures have a holiday in mid winter. The only way I will be celebrating Christmas in the sense you mean is by the word. Still having my holiday ta.

[Worthy4England]

I think it's excellent that so many on here, will be working over the period from 20th Dec to 30th December as their high falutin principles certainly wouldn't allow then to take time off for a festival associated with "Christ". What? You're taking the time off? Thought so.

Strangely enough, at approximately those dates, i'm celebrating the Feast of the Winter Solstice, an ancient festival, predating christianity, involving eating, drinking and merriment, intended to brighten up the darkest time of the year. I think certain traditions should definitely be upheld. oh, yes.

And none of the various Feasts/Festivals associated with Winter Solstice pre-Christianity are remotely connected with any form of "ceremony" - which I hope you're going to uphold too.

If you need a sacrificial offering - I could venture a name from our very own football club...

I'll even throw in a copy of the Wicker Man which you could probably get away with following, as a sort of "Pagan Celebrations for Dummies", if you chose somewhere in Blackburn to perform the ceremony.

[Worthy4England]

I think it's excellent that so many on here, will be working over the period from 20th Dec to 30th December as their high falutin principles certainly wouldn't allow then to take time off for a festival associated with "Christ". What? You're taking the time off? Thought so.

Anyhow, if the main contention is that they're too young to understand that they've been labelled X or Y, then what the feck does it matter one way or another? They're too young to understand it.

At a point in time they will make thier own choice. Don't believe anyone is preventing them doing so.

They will still be labelled, by the rest of society for all sort of thing unconnected with religion and the only way I could see of avoiding this would be to bring up all children exactly the same. Same house, same level of parental wealth (so no kids have something other kids can't afford - we don't have haves and have nots), surely we'd all have to have the same colour parents, parents with the same sexuality, disciplining children would be the same for all families etc. etc. because we don't want anything to be different or diverse.

I'm a Catholic - not a good one, don't go to church etc. but I've not noticed it's caused me a problem one way or another in my journey through life so far. I'm struggling to recall the last time I thought it might be a good idea to go on a Crusade or owt.

Oh do come on Worthy, you are better than that. The winter holiday the Christians nicked from the Romans who nicked it from others, the winter holiday that occurs in so many faiths. Jesus wasn't even born at that time of year, it just got stuck there because many cultures have a holiday in mid winter. The only way I will be celebrating Christmas in the sense you mean is by the word. Still having my holiday ta.

Indeed - people of whatever faith - no problems with them celebrating the days that are important to that faith. Just slightly surprised that people who follow no faith would be remotely interested in doing likewise.

[seanworth]

I think it's excellent that so many on here, will be working over the period from 20th Dec to 30th December as their high falutin principles certainly wouldn't allow then to take time off for a festival associated with "Christ". What? You're taking the time off? Thought so.

Strangely enough, at approximately those dates, i'm celebrating the Feast of the Winter Solstice, an ancient festival, predating christianity, involving eating, drinking and merriment, intended to brighten up the darkest time of the year. I think certain traditions should definitely be upheld. oh, yes.

And none of the various Feasts/Festivals associated with Winter Solstice pre-Christianity are remotely connected with any form of "ceremony" - which I hope you're going to uphold too.

If you need a sacrificial offering - I could venture a name from our very own football club...

I'll even throw in a copy of the Wicker Man which you could probably get away with following, as a sort of "Pagan Celebrations for Dummies", if you chose somewhere in Blackburn to perform the ceremony.

I'm sure more that a few will be sacrificing their liver during that period.

[InsaneApache]

I think it's excellent that so many on here, will be working over the period from 20th Dec to 30th December as their high falutin principles certainly wouldn't allow then to take time off for a festival associated with "Christ". What? You're taking the time off? Thought so.

Strangely enough, at approximately those dates, i'm celebrating the Feast of the Winter Solstice, an ancient festival, predating christianity, involving eating, drinking and merriment, intended to brighten up the darkest time of the year. I think certain traditions should definitely be upheld. oh, yes.

Indeed. I always celebrate the festival of Sol Invictus. You can't beat it!

[Worthy4England]

I think it's excellent that so many on here, will be working over the period from 20th Dec to 30th December as their high falutin principles certainly wouldn't allow then to take time off for a festival associated with "Christ". What? You're taking the time off? Thought so.

Strangely enough, at approximately those dates, i'm celebrating the Feast of the Winter Solstice, an ancient festival, predating christianity, involving eating, drinking and merriment, intended to brighten up the darkest time of the year. I think certain traditions should definitely be upheld. oh, yes.

Indeed. I always celebrate the festival of Sol Invictus. You can't beat it!

More than happy for you to celebrate to the sun god Sol Invictus.

My comments were to people who believe there are no gods. I'm happy for them to believe that - it causes me no problems. But you can't surely spout that a particular group of beliefs should or shouldn't do this or that, then take a holiday in the name of the particular god(s) it was designed to celebrate without being largely unprincipled and hypocritical.

[InsaneApache]

Oh I don't believe in him. I just celebrate.

[Worthy4England]

Oh I don't believe in him. I just celebrate.

Don't suppose he has any particular feast days around 28th November does he? I need an excuse for tonight's celebration. Well, actually I don't, but there's always no harm in having one.