Atheist Bus Campaign in… Germany?

Atheist buses are finally coming to Germany!

The actual ad hasn’t been decided upon yet, but a few prototypes are below:

According to Spiegel Online, the atheists are trying to get buses to display the messages.

Atheists pledging a euro or more to the campaign can vote on a selection of slogans, some loosely based on the British signs. Phillip Möller, one of the campaign organizers, says the German group has collected €3,500 in the first four days of fundraising. They need €16,000 euros more to fund the project.

Möller, one of the six founders, doesn’t see himself as any sort of missionary. “We just want to inform people,” he said. “In an enlightened society you should be able to say something like that without being punished.”

They got the €16,000 euros quickly. The new goal is €19,500. (Which has already been surpassed as I write this.)

The 19,500, – Euro for advertising on three buses needed (one each in Berlin, Cologne and Munich – for three months) and for the press conferences.

The actual wording of the signs is still up in the air — here’s how the poorly translated versions could read:

The motif designs you see on www.buskampagne.de displayed. As a reminder, here again the lyrics:

A: Gottlos HAPPY.
… A fulfilling life does not need any faith.
… Values are human — to us it.
… Enlightenment means to take responsibility.

B: GOD IS AN ALLEGATION.
… Human rights are real to us is what counts.

C: There are (almost certainly be) NO GOD.
… A fulfilling life does not need any faith.
… Values are human — to us it.
… Enlightenment means to take responsibility.

Good for them. It’ll be exciting regardless of how this goes!

You can donate by going here (It helps if you know German…).

(Thanks to everyone for the links!)

nullifidian

Hopefully better translations (in idiomatic English) of the above ads:

There is (almost certainly) no god. — A fulfilled life doesn’t need belief.

There is (almost certainly) no god. — To us, values are human (nature).

There is (almost certainly) no god. — Enlightenment calls for us to take responsibility.

I miss Germany 🙁
tiamsuu

Second one is more like “There is (with probability bordering on certainty) no god – Values are human. [Everthing] depends on ourselves.”
someone

1. A fulfilled life doesn’t need faith.
2. Values are human. We matter.
3. Enlightenment means taking responisbility.
Hugo

The between brackets is more like “with on certainty bordering probability”

I love it, it is not as catchy as just “probably” but a lot more in-line with my views.
Richard Wade

I really like the phrase about enlightenment meaning taking responsibility. I wonder if that is what scares theists the most.
Rsanders

“I really like the phrase about enlightenment meaning taking responsibility. I wonder if that is what scares theists the most.”

I had a creationist tell me that there was no need for conservation because if God wants to he can just make another earth. This is what scares me the most about them, they actually want the earth to be destroyed so they can go live in heaven and never half to be responsible for anything.

Hows that for good decent family values?

If I was an all powerful being who gave this incredible gift to people who willingly ruined it, I would be very pissed off.
Andra

A better translation:

There is (with a probability boarding on certainty) NO GOD.
… A fulfilling life does not need any faith.
… Values are human(nature) — it’s up to us.(I don’t think “we matter” was the meaning here at all. Though, it could be understood that way.)
… Enlightenment means taking responsibility.
Greta Christina

I think I’m going to have to vote for “Values are human — to us it.” That really sums it up nicely, I think…
John

For folks old enough to remember the Yippies: I think it’d be great of this campaign could be waged in a spirit of fun and whimsy, rather than as yet another in-your-face you-idiot confrontation.
Devysciple

Just contributed 20 Euros (25,83 USD / 18,48 GBP) to these guys! I’m so happy they are doing it here in Germany as well.

I guess there is an infintely small possibility that Atheism might turn into a global conflagration. (Who said only religious people were prone to wishful thinking?)

Anyway, Atheism FTW!!!

P.S.: Hemant, TYVM for pointing out that opportunity. Without your blog, I certainly would have missed it!
Siamang

For folks old enough to remember the Yippies: I think it’d be great of this campaign could be waged in a spirit of fun and whimsy, rather than as yet another in-your-face you-idiot confrontation.

Fantastic idea, John. Let us all know when you get that up and running!
Matt Stone

Möller, one of the six founders, doesn’t see himself as any sort of missionary. “We just want to inform people,” he said. “In an enlightened society you should be able to say something like that without being punished.”

Not a missionary, LOL. That’s (probably) a pretty good job description for a missionary.
Einmaliger

They are already getting problems in Berlin, where the local public traffic company refuses to display the signs on their busses. They claim that they never allow religious messages, which is a lie because they are currently have “Jesus Loves You” signs on subway trains.

Source: http://brightsblog.wordpress.com/2009/03/14/bvg-keine-religios-weltanschauliche-werbung/#more-4025
Christophe Thill

Kudos to the Germans. They devised 3 good slogans, that nobody could possibly call agressive or confrontational. I have a slight preference for the first one because it rhymes nicely.