I recently came across the news on this interesting ad campaign inspired by a young British comedy writer and promoted by Richard Dawkins, the writer of the book "The God Delusion." The group called "Atheist Bus Campaign" had raised more than $200,000, posted the add saying, "There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life." on 800 buses across Britain on the last day of 2008. A similar attempt was made in November last year in Washington sponsored by American Humanist Association, but with a more muted message -- "Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness' sake."
On my January 9 Japanese blog, I refer to this campaign and requested readers to come up with messages from believers' point of view that would refute these rather uninformed atheist messages. At the end of the blog entry, I have presented the following:
"Life is wonderful--" "The evidence that God loves even atheists."
"Why doubt God," "When you don't doubt your conscience?"
Please feel free to add more...
- MT
For your info: a Guardian movie clip --
(http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2009/jan/06/atheist-bus)
Here's what's going on in Spain --
(http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/07/atheist-bus-advertising-spain)
Atheist Bus Campaign -- Official Website --
(http://www.atheistbus.org.uk/)
Saturday, January 10, 2009
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9 comments:
Dear Rev. Masanobu,
Thank you very much!
Thank you for your message and invitation to discuss this issue.
Yes I did see on television about this campaign. To be honest my first reaction was of serenity. With time I got to understand that God is so big, so huge, so Infinite, that It's like a huge target: nobody, absolutely nobody can or will miss it: in "the end", everyone will get there (we're all actually there already, right?). I hope you know what I mean. I myself know that when it was not something coming from inside, I wouldn't See. And when I finally Saw, that was it. No one, absolutely no one can take it away from me. I know everyone with a similar Heart feels the same as I do. And I know that when the right moment comes, maybe in this physical life, maybe in future lives, everyone else will eventually re-Member! It can take a million years. Or seven eternities. God is not in a rush, because It just IS.
Secondly, I was serene because I myself I do not believe in the God they are referring to. They obviously are referring to the phenomenal God, because they don't know of any other God. Their mind frame is in the "phenomenal mode". Most of them do not know the concept of the Absolute, of the Jisso, so that is why, in a certain level, I agree with them!
I went to their Facebook community and read some of the posts. Most of them mention Jesus Christ and they are all discussing and disputing Bible facts, etc. This shows clearly that most people still make this basic Christian confusion of Jesus being God. Even I dispute that! I believe that, if Jesus was God, he was God in the same way the we all are God. To me, all he meant was to show us not what *he* could do, but what *we call all* do.
Also regarding the concept of God: to these people refusing to believe in God, they are clearly talking about a judgemental God, someONE "out there", watching us, judging us, a good-and-evil-minded being. Basically someone perfect, who created us all imperfect and punishes us for it. To us in Seicho-No-Ie this is nonsense and I totally understand why they choose not to believe in such an illogical "truth".
So should we try to change this? For starters, believing in a God does not necessarily mean working for world peace. We have seen it all too much now. Many people do not believe in a God and are still kind-hearted, and this is more important in my point of view. The only "problem" is that they are "unconscious"; they are unaware of the power they have of transforming their lives, of being in control, of being creators and not victims. They are unaware they are God themselves. But as I mentioned before, for each individual there comes a moment for finding this truth and this is something they will only come to when they are ready, so why worry about them? We will be there for them. Seicho-No-Ie will be there for them. We are not here to fight Atheism, because it does not Exist!
I hope you understand my way of reasoning. If there is anything you would like to discuss further, please write me!
Thank you very much!
Gassho,
Madeleine
Madeleine,
Thank you for your GREAT post. I think I understand what you want to say. I agree that many of the ABC(Atheist Bus Campaign) people want to deny a judgmental God who created us but cannot trust what He created.
- MT
Dear Rev. Masanobu,
I am so glad you understand my opinion. It is an honour to discuss anything with you.
Thank you very much!
Madeleine
Madeleine,
It's my pleasure to talk to someone living in London, which I miss. - MT
Dear Masanobu,
Gong Xi Fa Choi! Happy Lunar Year of the Ox!
We had the pleasure of having Rev. Outsuka in London last weekend. It was so lovely to see him, he always brings so much Light with him.
He lectured about your post on the ABC campaign, but with the theme " 'There is no judgmental God. So stop worrying and enjoy your life'. By Seicho-No-Ie". Great one, isn't it?
The room was full, and with a handful of non-Brazilians, which is wonderful. I am sure they will come back for more =)
Thank you very much!
Kind regards
Madeleine
Madeleine,
Thank you for the report. Rev. Otsuka is really a character. Please send him my best thanks.
BTW, I've read the news that they, i.e., Atheist Bus Campaign people, did a major demonstration in London. How was that?
- MT
Hi Rev. Masanobu,
I had not heard of anything about a demonstration so I did a bit of research, it's going to be on Feb 14th, this is the Facebook link to more info:
http://en-gb.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=32985131033&topic=7667
I will NOT be attending that, by the way. =)
Speak to you soon!
Madeleine
Madeleine,
Wao, on the Valentine's Day. Thank you for the tip! Of course, I'm not attending either.
A Happy New Year, second time!
- MT
Madeleine
I am deeply grateful for your introduction about my lecture on Jan 24th at Notting Hill Gate. It was a little bit adventurous for me. But I accomplished it with help from lots of Seicho-No-Ie members in UK. Thank you very much!
Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi
Thank you very much for your guidence also through the website. International Peace by Faith Movement in UK is going on step by step thanks for the sincere dedication from SNI members in UK. It's my pleasure to report it to you on this website. Thank you very much.
Yuji Otsuka
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