Comment

Comment by Grinning Cat on March 6, 2013 at 11:04am

This video looks like it's based on the atheism commercial, but edited -- made monochrome, a few video scenes inserted, the ending changed -- to promote the Imam's book.

The atheism commercial itself replaced the last few seconds of a Scientology ad that was aired in certain major markets to give the impression of a national Superbowl commercial.

The Scientology ad itself used framing -- curiosity, freethinking, knowledge -- that's true for atheism, not Scientology's expensive woo. A couple of commenters at Friendly Atheist said it well:

Blacksheep:

I could show this to a bunch of Christian kids and it would resonate perfectly as a Christian message (without the atheist ending that felt sort of clipped on).

C Peterson (replying to Blacksheep):

Well.. except for the part about logic. And the part about freethinking. And the part about thinking for yourself. These things are, and always have been, at complete odds with Christianity. (Of course, they're at complete odds with Scientology, too, which is why the modified ending is the only one that can turn what is otherwise a farce into a powerful message.)

Rich Wilson (replying to C Peterson)

It's cold reading. Everyone will think all of those things apply to themselves. That's what makes it an effective ad. You can tack whatever word you want on the end, and it works.

Whether we think those attributes actually apply doesn't really mater. The viewer thinks they do.

Comment by Tom Reeves on March 6, 2013 at 10:12am

Okay, I'm confused. At the end the text says, "The Delusion Of Atheism" A Book By: Imam Ahmed AL Hasan.

 

I'm not sure this is the message atheists want to leave people with in a commercial.

Comment by Paul K on March 6, 2013 at 9:05am

They should air this everywhere!