'No God' campaign draws complaint

Rrose Selavy

Stranded in Sub-Atomica
Rrose Selavy
Joined
Sep 11, 2004
Messages
3,395
An atheist campaign claiming "There's probably no God" has been reported to the advertising regulator.
Click to expand...


But organisation Christian Voice has complained to the Advertising Standards Authority saying they break rules on substantiation and truthfulness.
Click to expand...


But Stephen Green, national director of Christian Voice, said: "There is plenty of evidence for God, from people's personal experience, to the complexity, interdependence, beauty and design of the natural world.

"But there is scant evidence on the other side, so I think the advertisers are really going to struggle to show their claim is not an exaggeration or inaccurate, as the ASA code puts it."
Click to expand...

yeah right....:rolleyes: ironic is one word for it...

Hanne Stinson, chief executive of the British Humanist Association, said: "I've sought advice from some of our key people here, but I'm afraid all I've got out of them so far is peals of laughter. "I am sure that Stephen Green really does think there is a great deal of evidence for a God (though presumably only the one that he believes in), but I pity the ASA if they are going to be expected to rule on the probability of God's existence
Click to expand...


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7818980.stm
 
Riiiiight. I'm sure the courts will love to declare atheism "unsubstantiated and untruthful". The judicial system jumps at chances to involve itself in unresolvable philosophical debates, especially ones that have been going on for thousands of years.
 
Simplest solution will be to rule it an opinion and dismiss the case.
 
I caught that on the news this evening. Unbelievable.

However, as I read in an earlier article:
A Stagecoach spokesman said all adverts on its buses were vetted before being published. "This particular advert is being carried on a number of bus operators' vehicles across the UK. We took advice from the Advertising Standards Authority in advance of publication and we have been advised the advert complies with the relevant guidelines and legislation."
Click to expand...
 
Unfortunately (for them) the athiests are going to loose pretty bad on this
 
Surely there's scope for a counter complaint eg on similar grounds

eg "jesus Loves you" or "Jesus Died for You" ?-

how about "proving" the validity of the above statements?

However I think that in the UK at least, religious like political advertising is exempt from the usual honest /truthful legal guildlines & regulations that other advertisers are meant to adhere to as long as they aren't considered "indecent" or illegal.

My experience is The Uk Advertsing Standards Authority is a pretty toothless watchdog anyway and advertisers who are cirticized can often ignore its adjudications.-
 
Last edited:
It'll get dismissed instantly.

If not, then there could be some pretty funny suites brought up against the "godspeaks" billboards.
 
KingMerv00 said:
Why do you say that?
Click to expand...

Because the British government already offically acknowledges the existence of God through the existence of the State religion, Church Of England. The Queen is the head of both the British government and the titular leader of the faith.

For the court to rule against the existence of God, is to rule itself out of existence
 
MG1962 said:
Yes and pay legal fees to lawyers for a case you ARE going to loose
Click to expand...

You obviously have no idea how the ASA works in the Uk - Anyone can make a complaint about an advert or claim by writing or emailing a form - it doesn't involve lawyers etc - they simply make an Adjudication - it's not a court of law with any real powers . If ignored, or on real illegal activity , they can only refer to the Office of Fair Trading, which they do rarely.
 
Last edited:
Rrose Selavy said:
You obviously have no idea how the ASA works in the Uk - Anyone can make a complaint about an advert or claim by writing or emailing a form - it doesn't involve lawyers etc - they simply make an Adjudication - it's not a court of law with any real powers . If ignored, or on real illegal activity , they can only refer to the Office of Fair Trading, which they do rarely.
Click to expand...

Okay my apologies, in New South Wales, the system is slightly different. If the complaint is upheld, it can lead to a court case. Our version of the Office Of Fair trading will initiate court action
 
MG1962 said:
Okay my apologies, in New South Wales, the system is slightly different. If the complaint is upheld, it can lead to a court case. Our version of the Office Of Fair trading will initiate court action
Click to expand...
Yes, but Australia also has an Establishment and Free Exercise clause in our constitution. And yet similar adverts have already been rejected by Australian advertisers.
 
MG1962 said:
Because the British government already offically acknowledges the existence of God through the existence of the State religion, Church Of England. The Queen is the head of both the British government and the titular leader of the faith.

For the court to rule against the existence of God, is to rule itself out of existence
Click to expand...

But surely Liz Windsor and her family are living proof that if there is a god at all, he's at best indifferent and more likely downright hostile towards Britain. I enter Prince Charles as Exhibit A in the case for the nonexistence of God.
 
MG1962 said:
Because the British government already offically acknowledges the existence of God through the existence of the State religion, Church Of England. The Queen is the head of both the British government and the titular leader of the faith.

For the court to rule against the existence of God, is to rule itself out of existence
Click to expand...

So you really, really are a Real British Lawyer then? It will be the End of the World as We Know it? :scared:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top Bottom