Atheist Bus Campaign in… Iowa! August 5, 2009

Atheist Bus Campaign in… Iowa!

By Guest Contributor
August 5, 2009

The Iowa Atheists & Freethinkers (IAF) and the United Coalition of Reason have put the following ad on the sides of 20 buses in Des Moines:

IowaBus

Obviously, it’s reaching out to current atheists rather than tearing down religion.

I-A-F spokesperson Lily Kryuchkov says the purpose of the ads is to simply raise awareness of the group’s existence.

“A lot of times nonreligious people feel isolated and with all the negative attitudes toward atheism, they don’t have anybody to talk to,” Kryuchkov said. “So, we’re trying to provide a community for them.”…

“We’re not really forceful and not trying to convert anybody, but kind of in a friendly way, letting people know there’s an alternative view that exists here in town. But, we’re not real aggressive about it,” Kryuchkov said.

I expect there to be no controversy whatsoever…

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  • Roku

    It says, and I quote “Don’t believe in god” Obviously punctuation is meaningless, so all theist should be outraged.

    The fool hath said in his heart, there are no question marks.

  • It might have worked. I’m warming up membership dues as I speak. Thanks, Hemant.

  • I was trying to think of a Christian response to this but I keep going back to the idea of hell.

    Don’t believe in God?

    …Burn in hell then.
    …Just believe.
    …Nor Santa I’ll bet.
    …You won’t be alone in hell.

    All my responses are mean. Except..

    Believe in God? … You are not alone. Nearly a third of the planet believes in the same God.

    I wonder if the Christians will bother?

  • TXatheist

    I gotta say I’m impressed with Iowa. They take the goofy joke of Idiots Out Wandering Around but when they give the nod to gays and now atheist buses I have to say good job Iowans.

  • bill

    i’d say of all the bus ads/billboards, “Don’t believe in God? You are not alone” is my favorite. although i’d prefer “Don’t believe in any gods? You are not alone”…

  • «bønez_brigade»

    “Fox & Friends” still finds something to complain about in 5…4…3…

  • Teresa

    I love my Iowa. 🙂

  • I expect there to be no controversy whatsoever…

    You should know better than that by now. They’ll always find something to whine about. They are insulted by the very fact that we exist.

  • Shannon

    I also like this one the best.

  • Adele

    This is my favorite. One would think they’d have to be batshit insane to take offense at this… but they will. They will. Perhaps their taking offense at it will result in people noticing, finally, their batshit insane-ness.

  • This ad is timed also to be on the buses during the Iowa State Fair when people all over the state converge on Des Moines and the buses are almost always at capacity. Very good timing!

  • SteveC

    It seems kind of ambiguous.

    “Don’t believe in God? you are not alone.” (there are others like you)

    “Don’t believe in God? you are not alone.” (God watches you from the sky despite your disbelief)

  • Adele

    Gah. I appear to be having difficulties making myself clear today. Instead of my completely incoherent comment above, I should have said: “Despite its completely benign nature, the crazies are still going to react – well, crazily – to this ad. Here’s hoping, if that happens, people will finally understand the depths of their insanity.”

    Hm. Still somewhat incoherent. Ah well.

  • Richard Wade

    Adele,
    Your meaning was clear in both comments, don’t worry. It’s hard to be surrounded by crazies and to talk about their craziness without wondering if any of it is rubbing off on you. You’re fine.

  • Tom in Iowa

    Yay for us Iowans! We tend to be an independent lot. We didn’t much care for raising the legal drinking age to 21 either (circa 1986), and we let motorcyclists feel the wind in their hair (and maybe between their ears as well, but that’s part of the independent spirit ;^)).
    Just hope I get a chance to visit Des Moines before the contract expires.

  • Apparently the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority has already taken down the ads.

  • Todd

    Now if we can just keep the buses from running over people…

  • «bønez_brigade»
  • Bob

    That’s my favorite bus ad yet.

  • Dan W

    First I’ve heard of this and I live in Iowa! Oh how I love this state- first the reasonable court ruling on gay marriage, now this. Of course, even here there are religious fanatics who, I’m sure, will claim to be “offended” by that ad…
    …and apparently the ad was taken down due to ‘an “overwhelming” number of phone calls’ about it. Damn.

  • Simon Gardner

    Umm. Sorry to break it to you guys but the ads have been pulled.
    KCCI News

    Controversial Atheism Bus Ads Pulled
    DART Says Signs Never Approved In First Place

    DES MOINES, Iowa — The atheist advertising signs on Des Moines Area Regional Transit buses that created a storm of controversy when they first went up on Aug. 1 have now been taken down….

    And Chicago Tribune

  • Pat VanNess

    Todd had the perfect comment.

    “Now if we can just keep from running over people.”

    I laughed my head off.

  • Linda

    Another very proud Iowan here!

    But, did you all hear the stupid remark from our governor, that he was “disturbed” to see those signs on the buses!
    Disturbed????
    I guess he thinks those of us who are non-believers eat our own babies, poison the neighbors pets and just create all around hell and torment here in Iowa!
    HE needs to get out of his bubble and open his eyes. The percentage of religious believers in the world is dropping. The number of non-believers is increasing. We are good and decent people who live, for the most part, a moral life, without a god or a bible to tell us how to do so.