On the atheist bus of London
Another interesting news from IHT:
[…..And then she thought, how about putting some atheist messages on the bus, as a corrective to the religious ones?
And so were planted the seeds of the Atheist Bus Campaign, an effort to disseminate a godless message to the greater public. When the organizers announced the effort in October, they said they hoped to raise a modest $8,000 or so.
But something seized people's imagination. Supported by the scientist and author Richard Dawkins, the philosopher A. C. Grayling and the British Humanist Association, among others, the campaign raised nearly $150,000 in four days. Now it has more than $200,000, and last Wednesday it unveiled its advertisements on 800 buses across Britain.
"There's probably no God," the advertisements say. "Now stop worrying and enjoy your life."…..]
In a time when the world needs God more than ever before, they managed to rise more than $200.000 campaign to deny God’s existence. Fantastic!
Yesterday I had a late conversation with two of my best friends, Ben and Rean about everything. From intolerable shopaholic behavior of our friend who just bought a bag for 17millions rupiah (for God sake!!), to Palestine-Israel war to the latest stupidity of Indonesian government on destroying the Majapahit site. And we agreed on one thing: the world is sick.
That is why I believe that God (not religion) is now needed more than ever before. Human is now facing one of its hard time. Let’s make a list of some: global warming, lethal diseases on the rise, depletion of oil (and still no feasible alternative), food and water crises are soon to be next global agenda (or next war-trigger), corrupted governments everywhere—not to mention war-addict government, terrorism on the rise, xenophobes are now a common thing and many more; feel free to add some.
Who don’t need God when everything seems falling apart? Well…I’m no big fan of religion but I completely believe in God. I believe that there is one single omnipotent power on whom we can rely on, who create the grand-design of all this mess beautiful life and also have the power to fix all these. Call me naïve, but that is what I believe.
Anyway, I’m not going to discuss about God on this post, as it must be an endless discussion, a cliché that human must follow when they want to reach the truth about God’s existence.
What I want to highlight here is the robust freedom of expression that the British has shown to us in this matter. I think it is amazing to live among societies who are so open-minded to accept even the most sensitive things to be challenged in such public display.
I’m getting sick to see those fundamentalist movements here in Indonesia who always judges everyone with their religious affiliation. We see many examples of this on the Palestine-Israel issue, when suddenly the Islamic movements everywhere poured in to streets and shouts “KILL ISRAEL” and “SAVE PALESTINE”. The worst part is that they don’t know the issue that well when we actually ask them what are they struggling about!
Ben told me this in our last night conversation, that he asked one of the protesters in Bandung about what is actually he stands for. Well, not a surprise, he don’t know sh*t about Israel-Palestine war. All he knows is that Israel kills Palestine (a.k.a Muslim) and Israel should be killed for that. That is more than enough reason for him to join the ‘laskar’.
I dreams on when will our society can have such open-minded tolerance, with fair observation and logical reasoning, instead of religious verses and superstitious foretell….will we have that kind of luxury…?
________________________
***On a lighter side, it is funny if you read the article and pay attention to the slogans the atheist used in the bus. Here are some:
“There’s probably no God, now stop worrying and enjoy your life.”
“Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness’ sake.”, the ads read, over a picture of a man in a Santa suit.
“Atheism: Sleep in on Sunday mornings.”
is that dawkins in front of the bus??? that looks like dawkins. sweet mother…what have we come to.
that sign really does make me cringe. and i’m agnostic. i think. hahah.
“there probably is no god. so enjoy life.”
whaaaaaaaaaaaaat? as if atheists have everything figured out and they’re just out there having fun.
they really think someone’s going to stop dead in their tracks, read the sign, suddenly be enlightened, and go do something only atheists do…whatever the heck that is…
I’m reluctant to give the kudos for freedom of speech.
Irene
8 Jan 09 at 8:30 pm
IMO that slogan is double-edged. If we see it on the other side, we can say “There’s probably God”, no?
If what you mean by society is Indonesia, we first need our national Enlightenment thinkers, I think
Isn’t it how the the Europeans started? CMIIW.
Salam kenal, thanks for your comment in my blog
lambrtz
8 Jan 09 at 8:57 pm
hem..it really worries me to see that fundamentalism is growing in Indonesia. I’ve spoken to many people concerning this matter, from our lecturers to some politicians and also to social-cultural specialists, and they seem to have the same voice, fundamentalism will not take over Indonesia and turn Indonesia into a Islamic state or in other words the implementation of Syariah Islam. They keep convincing me that our future, although uncertain, will certainly not be an Islamic state.
but..it’s rather hard for me to believe such a thing. yes, i understand that many will certainly object if Indonesia does(amit2) become an Islamic state such as the minority groups, the armed forces and nationalistic-pluralist groups. nevertheless we can not deny the facts that fundamentalism has planted itself deeply in many universities in Indonesia such as IPB. Even high schools have been somewhat effected with fundamentalism(remember the stories you use tell me abut your high school years bek?).
it is rather sad to see such a thing. it is more saddening to see that fundamentalists care more about their brothers and sisters who are thousands of miles away then their “real” brothers and sisters in their very own country. nationalism seems to beaten by fundamentalism and this can clearly be seen almost everywhere and anywhere.
i was quite upset when i saw KAMMI(Kesatuan Aksi Mahasiswa Muslim Indonesia) protest to the local government concerning the Israel-Palestine conflict while reciting verses from the Holy Quran. But what upset me even more was the vests they were wearing, on the back of the vest was embroidered, “SAVE OUR PALESTINE!”
OUR PALESTINE? what about OUR INDONESIA? saddening isn’t it? the government and us really needs to address this problem quickly, perhaps Indonesia won’t be a Islamic state in the near future. However there is always a possibility of becoming one if this nonsense is allowed to cultivate and spread.
and please do remember that fundamentalism spreads easily in 3rd world countries such as ours. the government should tackle this problem by reforming its education system, it should emphasize on morality not religion. To tell you the truth, I do not really believe that Indonesians are ready for these imported religions.
fundamentalism is the result of a morally undereducated individual embracing religion as the way to satisfy his or her spiritual needs because of the lack of his or hers physical needs.
to minimize fundamentalism is not as complex as many have said. we just need an effective education system that emphasizes itself on moral values rather than religion. because when we blindly adopt a religion, a political system, a dogma, we become automatons. we cease to grow. let us not become of that. let us grow, let us be strong, let us be just and let us become the Indonesia our forefathers wanted us to be.
“Kami menggoyangkan langit, menggempakan darat, dan menggelorakan samudera agar tidak jadi bangsa yang hidup hanya dari 2 ½ sen sehari. Bangsa yang kerja keras, bukan bangsa tempe, bukan bangsa kuli. Bangsa yang rela menderita demi pembelian cita-cita”
Ir. Soekarno.
Ben Laksana
8 Jan 09 at 9:32 pm
In a time when the world needs God more than ever before, they managed to rise more than $200.000 campaign to deny God’s existence. Fantastic!
—> eh, the Vatican raises billions of Dollars every month as a result ,or to prove, God’s existence. Atheist can’t make money as good as the religious ones haha..
boy
8 Jan 09 at 10:33 pm
[...] a comment » *this post is actually a reply comment posted on of my best friends blog, Andika. of course with some minor modifications. just trying to share my opinions towards this [...]
the fundamentals « the notions of a mad man
9 Jan 09 at 10:49 am
As we obviously share the scepticism about organized faith, I guess you also, as I do, think it is weird that some atheists now reveal themselves as just another, though unusual, kind of believers.
I agree it is great they can air their opinion or even shout it from the rooftop ( or advertise it on a bus). Yet every now and then I get the impression that the likes of Richard Dawkins got stuck in the same trap as religious zealots: lack of critical doubt. A real pity (I say as an agnostic).
colson
9 Jan 09 at 10:35 pm
Well, G/god is something that couldnt be verified or falsified, I couldnt deny existance of miracles, actually, the fact we have mind and born in the world is a proof there is indeed, something in higher plane exists above us.
Try asking simple question like why human have form like this? Where is mind located in our brain? Why people experience encounter with ufo while others encounters angels (or something spiritual)?
In my opinion, G/god is a diamond with infinite point of view, nobody could perceive truth exactly like someone else. Truth is relative, and I hope I’m not alone in this.
Calvin Michel Sidjaja
14 Jan 09 at 10:39 am
maybe later..when there is no FPI
ato orang bergaris keras
sebenernya saya kadang malu melihat sodara seiman yang ‘memaksa’ orang lain mengikuti apa yang mereka imani.
apalagi kalo buntutnya kemudian adalah kekerasan. kekerasan berbalut agama.
wennyaulia
15 Jan 09 at 12:41 pm
@Irene
Yes, its the God of the Godless himself…
Its terrifying to see the message they delivered, but to see that the society can have such a freedom of expression, I think its just amazing. It might be good for the atheist to have their message in a public sphere, as it will spark more debates on God’s existence (or might be religions). At least it will serve as a wake-up call to those who believes in God to speak up their voice more.
@ lambrtz
Haha! yap, that’s a double edge. That is why Dawkin still not sure about that one slogan. Check out the main article and you’ll find it. I think enlightment is very much needed in a country like Indonesia who has so many differences. Salam kenal juga, thx for your comment too!
@ Ben
Our last line of defense from being an Islamic state is democracy itself, but democracy favors the majority will. And if this idea of fundamentalist movement keeps growing at today’s pace, it will soon threatening the seeds of democracy we planted since the political reform in 1998. If the majority favors Pancasila to be replace by Syaria law, then that’s the end of our discussion here, Ben.
Your sentence of ‘nationalism beaten by fundamentalism’ is ironically happening today. We need more than education Ben, we need a public sphere that can support these free-flow of thinking to provide more space for logical reasoning rather than doctrines. An that is rather hard to accomplished. I second your nationalism Ben.
@ Boy
Hey, that is surprisingly true!! Why did I not see this coming! hwaha! interesting point u have mentioned!
@ Colson
Couldnt agree more Colson. Once they become highly organized and started to act dogmatics, they are no different from their counterparts. That is why I think their ads in public is, on certain degrees, good for the public itself. It will spark more debates on the issue, and keep critical doubts from both sides live.
@ Calvin
hwaha! Well, on your comment, I still believes that god is exist. It might be a good analogy to perceive god as a diamond with infinite point of view as you perceived, and nobody could perceive it exactly like anyone else, but when you said that truth is relative, I think god’s existence can’t be categorized as that ‘truth’. The truth about god can’t be perceieved as relative as it is the ‘prima causa’. Other truth might be subjectively debated, but this prime-omnipotent should not be categorized as such. But this might be a long debate to discuss this matter. So, would you mind make a post on the topic, Rev. Calvin Michel Sidjaja? 
It is interesting to find a perspective of a believer here, as you are now a part of an organized religion, Vin..
@ Wenny
maybe later means that we will have this luxury someday? good to have an optimistic view on this matter.
Kekerasan yang dibungkus dengan agama adalah kekerasan yang paling munafik dan sama sekali tidak dapat dibenarkan. Completely agree on you, wen!
Andika
19 Jan 09 at 8:54 pm
@bebek
whoops, I’ll save it for very later on or I *might* spoil the entire plot of my inadvertently, my next novel is talking the essence of god. and philosophy of mind. oh I should stop it now.
but again bek, the concept of primordial chaos in many myths actually pretty similar with the chaotic state before big bang occurred. If god is impossible to be defined as single personality (the great father, queen of heaven, you name it), god might be the collection of entire universe, the world itself is god, thus we part of god and… I’m pretty sure we cant discuss it here XD
Calvin
21 Jan 09 at 10:24 am
Interesting,
and i still belive about God existence, But i can appreciate it. Haha
iman
23 Jan 09 at 10:24 pm
“We need more than education Ben, we need a public sphere that can support these free-flow of thinking to provide more space for logical reasoning rather than doctrines. An that is rather hard to accomplished. I second your nationalism Ben.”
of course we need more than education, i do not see education as the holy grail of solving every problem in Indonesia, but i do see a morally based education as the foundation of to initiate a logical reasoned civil society that fully embraces democracy. having a public sphere without a morally educated civil society(which will produce a logical civil society) will, of course, cause wider problems.
fundamentalism(which then evolves to terrorism) needs to be addressed as a whole, it needs to be seen its core problems rather than bashing it out with force, stupid Bush. haha
Ben Laksana
4 Feb 09 at 8:55 am