There is probably no Allah

The Freethought Association of Canada (FAC) has entered into an agreement with the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) to place ads on buses and in subway cars. Following a similar ad campaign in Great Britain, the ads will read, “There is probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.”

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The FAC plans to expand their campaign to other parts of the country. As expected, there has been some criticism of what the FAC is doing. According to Dr. Charles McVety, president of Canada Christian College and of the Canadian Family Action Coalition, these are nothing more than attack ads directed at people of faith and should not be allowed to appear on public transit vehicles. McVety added that the proposed advertising attacks the belief system of others and that intolerance of the beliefs of others is the classic definition of bigotry. This view is supported by the fact that the authors of the ad are critical of those of faith when they strongly imply that those who believe in God cannot possibly enjoy their lives.           On the other hand, Katy Kish, the vice president of FAC has been quoted as saying that the ads are not an attack on religion or on people of faith. The purpose of the ads, according to Kish, is to “inspire dialogue”. And that says it all.           Now Katy and the Freethinkers (sounds like a rock group) should understand that they live in Canada where, yes, we have freedom of speech. But we are also a multicultural country that prides itself on equality and tolerance. The FAC approaches the subject as if there is no difference between Hindus and Jews and Muslims and Christians and other religions. “Those people” are all the same. Well, let’s just look at Muslims. Although practicing Muslims believe in a supreme being, they don’t refer to the deity as God. Their Supreme Being is of course, Allah. If the Freethinkers Association of Canada truly believed in our notion of equality they would respect Islam and ensure that at least some of the ads on the transit system would read, “There is probably no Allah”. This is what Canada is all about. Of course we will never see those ads. Attacking Allah is way too politically incorrect. Besides, if the TTC ever even contemplated running “There is probably no Allah” ads, its chairman, Councillor Adam Giambrone would probably wet his pants. Kish to the contrary, the ad campaign in nothing more than an attack on Christians albeit a well disguised one.           The FAC are basically cowards for wanting to “inspire dialogue” rather than engage in dialogue. If the dialogue that they want so badly to “inspire” is really important, and it may very well be, they should come out from hiding behind their five word ad begin a dialogue instead of inspiring one.           For example, if there probably isn’t a God, then there probably isn’t a Son of God either. And again, this is multicultural Canada; let’s not leave Muslims out. If there probably isn’t an Allah then there probably isn’t a Prophet of Allah named Mohammed. But don’t expect anyone in the FAC to ever say these things; they really don’t want to enter into a dialogue. Their purpose is just to antagonize people of faith except probably Muslims. People really shouldn’t be upset by these ads; they should just take them for what they are; a childish attempt by a group that simply wants to create trouble so that they can stand by and watch and no doubt feel superior to those who are upset at the advertising campaign.           So the FAC should respect the fact that Muslims are Canadians too and that their God is every bit as worthy of probably not existing as the deity of other faiths. But don’t hold your breath waiting for a “There is probably no Allah” campaign. It will never come.

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