It is kind of offensive (ninja'd). I've seen advertising going the other way with just as strong  a message.

In fact, the other day I was stopped by three muslims (initially one) handing out free Qurans at my University (I got mine). They asked me whether I was atheist and when I said yes they told that atheism inevitably leads to murder, and then began to reel off a list of atheist murderers and genocidal maniacs.

Now that's pretty damn offensive because I wouldn't hurt a fly, which is why I like the "Religion does not define character" sentiment of one of the adverts. But for the same reason I hate the advert that says "If God exists then everything is allowed", because that's the sentiment that offended me in the first place and it would be hypocritical of me to send that back in their direction and claim it's ok.

(Actually does anyone else think those two are mutually exclusive?)

Also, "We're all atheists to other people's gods" is so true (even though it is repeated a little too much).

I can't believe they did that to you. That is like the pot calling the kettle black.

I always think it's funny when atheists and Christians argue about Hitler. I mean, there is strong evidence pointing many ways, so it's all a little unclear; but I always find the situation of "No he's yours!", No, he's yours!" a little funny.

He was clearly raised as a Catholic and had many Catholic influences in his life. But then again he clearly rejected Catholicism at later points in his life. But I don't think he was an atheist either. He often used to use atheism as propaganda against the soviets and socialism, and was certainly very hostile to atheism and atheists on a number of occasions and was massively opposed to state atheism.

I don't know what he was, but I'm pretty certain he wasn't either atheist or christian.

Well with Atheism it's pretty black and white. You either believe there is a higher God or you don't. It's worth pointing out that the ad doesn't call Hitler a Christian or a Catholic. It simply states that he believed in God, which is pretty much universally agreed upon by historians. And that's the point of the ad. Brazil along with many other Latin countries are extremely religious compared to the U.S., Canada, U.K, Australia, etc. If you openly proclaim that you don't believe in God in Brazil, you will most likely be discriminated against.

They were doing it to everyone.

And yes, the (rather unfounded) hypocrisy was one of the things I found infuriating. A person's personality is not defined by religion.

Yes Stalin was an atheist, but I'm not a communist responsible for 40 million deaths, and I don't plan to be either. I'm not Stalin. Same I'm sure the terrorists responsible for 9/11 were muslims, but I'm sure the muslims I spoke to wouldn't condone their murders, etc...

I once had a similar experience with Christian too though (or my friend did anyway, I was just standing nearby on the phone at the time). I think regardless of which religion you belong to (or if you don't belong to one at all), it's easy to view the "other guys" as the immoral ones. It's a dangerous trap.

Yeah, I knew that. I was just commenting on the Hitler's religion situation in general lol.

As for your second part, I think I'm quite lucky to live in the UK in that respect because we seem very tolerant of religious views. I sometimes think the discrimination against atheists in the USA is bad, but I know it can be so much worse in other parts of the world. It's a little depressing really.

Ah I see. The Sovjets are another (atheist) species.

Following UK, USA and Spain, Brazil's ATEA (brazilian Association of Atheist And Agnostics) will have ads on buses in Porto Alegre eand Salvador for a month, maybe more if they can get the money.

The Association tried to do the same in São Paulo, but the bus company refused. These are the images of the four ads to be used:

Upper-left reads: In light green background: "Doesn't believe in God". In red background: "Believes in God" . On Darker green: Religion does not define character. In Yellow (same for all images): "Say no to the prejudice against atheists".

Upper right: red: "If God exists, everything is allowed."

Bottom-left: light-green: "Faith gives no answers. It just stops questions."

Bottom-right: red: "We're all atheists with other people's Gods"

So, what do you think?

Too offensive? Maybe just asking for more trouble? Or is it a good wake-up call?

http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/cotidiano/843807-campanha-em-onibus-diz-que-deus-pode-nao-existir.shtml

While Hitler originally used religion to show meaning in a cause, didn't he want to eliminate Christianity from the reich?

(Also the first one is really bad, I mean we had murderers and genocide done by people who don't know worship god.)