Comments on: Atheist buses: the effect of religion http://shoredfragments.wordpress.com/2009/01/12/atheist-buses-the-effect-of-religion/ 'These fragments I have shored against my ruins' (TS Eliot, 'The Wasteland') Tue, 29 Dec 2009 12:50:26 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: NEWS: Atheist Bus Drives into Controversy « Religion Compass Exchanges http://shoredfragments.wordpress.com/2009/01/12/atheist-buses-the-effect-of-religion/#comment-363 NEWS: Atheist Bus Drives into Controversy « Religion Compass Exchanges Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:29:24 +0000 http://shoredfragments.wordpress.com/?p=123#comment-363 [...] Atheist Buses: the effect of religion January 12, 2009 [...] [...] Atheist Buses: the effect of religion January 12, 2009 [...]

]]> By: Steve H http://shoredfragments.wordpress.com/2009/01/12/atheist-buses-the-effect-of-religion/#comment-355 Steve H Thu, 15 Jan 2009 21:12:50 +0000 http://shoredfragments.wordpress.com/?p=123#comment-355 Hi David, welcome. What do you think of my theory that the basic effect of religion is to make people more activist? My friends at Theos (http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/ ) agree with you about the 'making people talk and asking questions' line, incidentally. Hi David, welcome.

What do you think of my theory that the basic effect of religion is to make people more activist?

My friends at Theos (http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/ ) agree with you about the ‘making people talk and asking questions’ line, incidentally.

]]> By: David E http://shoredfragments.wordpress.com/2009/01/12/atheist-buses-the-effect-of-religion/#comment-354 David E Thu, 15 Jan 2009 19:27:48 +0000 http://shoredfragments.wordpress.com/?p=123#comment-354 I am an atheist, I am not at all worried about religion, and perfectly happy with my life. I did not contribute to the bus posters, neither did any of my various atheist friends.There must be thousands like us. I found the fuss over the poster amusing humbug on the part of proselytizing religious folk who pour out torrents of propaganda for their beliefs. The posters made people talk and ask questions which is enough! As to raising money: the total money spent on cosmetics in the Western World probably exceeds the amount raised by many churches. What does that tell us? I am an atheist, I am not at all worried about religion, and perfectly happy with my life. I did not contribute to the bus posters, neither did any of my various atheist friends.There must be thousands like us.

I found the fuss over the poster amusing humbug on the part of proselytizing religious folk who pour out torrents of propaganda for their beliefs. The posters made people talk and ask questions which is enough!

As to raising money: the total money spent on cosmetics in the Western World probably exceeds the amount raised by many churches. What does that tell us?

]]> By: Jason Goroncy http://shoredfragments.wordpress.com/2009/01/12/atheist-buses-the-effect-of-religion/#comment-353 Jason Goroncy Mon, 12 Jan 2009 21:53:01 +0000 http://shoredfragments.wordpress.com/?p=123#comment-353 Steve, you are probably right about new denominational ventures. Still, the Disruption was the one that came first to my mind. And anyway, isn't the Athiest Bus idea a new venture? It might be interesting to compare the Atheist Bus work with say that of Christian mission organisations with varying lengths of history. NZ is great. Thanks for asking. Steve, you are probably right about new denominational ventures. Still, the Disruption was the one that came first to my mind. And anyway, isn’t the Athiest Bus idea a new venture?

It might be interesting to compare the Atheist Bus work with say that of Christian mission organisations with varying lengths of history.

NZ is great. Thanks for asking.

]]> By: Steve H http://shoredfragments.wordpress.com/2009/01/12/atheist-buses-the-effect-of-religion/#comment-352 Steve H Mon, 12 Jan 2009 21:32:01 +0000 http://shoredfragments.wordpress.com/?p=123#comment-352 Hi Jason, how's NZ? 1843 was, as you say, unique. Chalmers's ability to organise support was astonishing, and made the Free Church. But I suspect that prodigious giving is at the root of (almost?) every new denominational venture... Hi Jason, how’s NZ?

1843 was, as you say, unique. Chalmers’s ability to organise support was astonishing, and made the Free Church. But I suspect that prodigious giving is at the root of (almost?) every new denominational venture…

]]> By: Jason Goroncy http://shoredfragments.wordpress.com/2009/01/12/atheist-buses-the-effect-of-religion/#comment-351 Jason Goroncy Mon, 12 Jan 2009 20:37:47 +0000 http://shoredfragments.wordpress.com/?p=123#comment-351 Steve. Thanks for this post. As a related - albeit somewhat unique - comparison, one recalls the remarkable events around the time of the 1843 Disruption. The generosity of Free Church folk was unprecedented: in the weeks and months leading up to the Day of Disruption, 687 local associations were formed, and £232,347 had been given or promised (apart from the ongoing needs of local parishes); and within 12 months £366,719 had been raised - £66,719 above budget! What's more, this rate of support was maintained for years, even while giving for overseas mission work increased as well. Steve. Thanks for this post. As a related – albeit somewhat unique – comparison, one recalls the remarkable events around the time of the 1843 Disruption. The generosity of Free Church folk was unprecedented: in the weeks and months leading up to the Day of Disruption, 687 local associations were formed, and £232,347 had been given or promised (apart from the ongoing needs of local parishes); and within 12 months £366,719 had been raised – £66,719 above budget! What’s more, this rate of support was maintained for years, even while giving for overseas mission work increased as well.

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