Bus Stop Bible Studies began the campaign two weeks ago, featuring a series of 24 questions for God on TTC vehicles, which are answered online at answerme.ca based on interpretations of biblical passages.
David Harrison, president of Bus Stop Bible Studies, said he knew the ads would garner attention, but insists they try "not to be judgmental or use words of condemnation or anything like that."
"The TTC has an obligation under the Ontario Human Rights Code not to refuse religious advertising," Commission spokesperson Brad Ross said. But, "the website content that this ad pointed to was not appropriate."
The website content has since been pulled; Harrison refused to comment on what the answer was, saying only that it was based, like all answers on the site, from biblical passages.
Ross said the website "went beyond a religious message and into the realm of sexuality and sexual orientation and that's where the difficulties lie." He said the TTC, which reviews ads if it receives five or more complaints, asked Bus Stop Bible Studies to pull the content from their website. Bus Stop Bible Studies then pulled the specific ad voluntarily, Ross said.
The answer to the question "does God care if I'm gay?" on the website was replaced with message from Harrison, stating: "It has become apparent that, while one is free to ask the question, "Does God care if I'm gay?" one is not so free to answer the question from a Biblical perspective."
"The prevailing attitude at the time is you're free to say anything that I'm in agreement with, which is not real dialogue," he said in an interview. "In a supposedly liberal society, 'liberal' has become a one-word oxymoron."
Last year, an ad campaign by Atheist Bus reading "There's probably no god. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life" ran on the TTC. Harrison said he supported those ads, as they were just expressing freedom of speech.
The question-and-answer campaign was created in conjunction with a class of advertising students at Centennial College from all different religious backgrounds, who created the list of 24 questions. The question at the centre of the controversy was created by an openly gay student.
Bus Stop Bible Studies posted a note on its website from the Centennial student. Referred to only by the initials M.D.B., the student is quoted as saying: "I do not endorse or agree with the response, but am tolerant and understand the answer's origin. We as homosexuals ask for tolerance of our lifestyles, so we must also respect the lifestyles of others. For that is true equality."
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"I do not endorse or agree with the response, but am tolerant and understand the answer’s origin. We as homosexuals ask for tolerance of our lifestyles, so we must also respect the lifestyles of others. For that is true equality." M.D.B.
The Bible is not about true equality among men. I wish real men would stand up and give a sincere answer to homosexuals. Apologizing and good intentions will not save them. Hearing the gospel will by God's grace. My answer is, Yes, God does care.
This is a very delicate matter. They really have come to terms with their sexual immorality and accepted it. Let them hear the gospel, or better yet, lead them to reading the gospel. It's not good to directly attack their sin. Let God work in them. It's not about tolerance, it's about the truth. And it's a heart issue, so it's very delicate.
You can't tell, but the apology by the president of bus stop bible studies said it's best that individuals seek the answer themselves. He said the message of God's justice and grace was being misinterpreted. So who knows, maybe people were saying angry things.
Basically, the President said this was created to encourage individuals to consider the personal relationship with God and seek Him. that's a good message. I mean with such a delicate sin like that. He closed all comments about the question because it went out of hand, I guess. But they should still try to give a sincere answer. I guess they just find it hard to give one without pushing homosexuals away from the gospel.
I hope that guy will read the gospel. From reading his comment it sounds like he was told the answer, but he doesn't agree with it. He believes since homosexuals are asking for tolerance, that's true equality.. but that has nothing to do with the gospel. That's the world's idea. I think this ad campaign for the buses is a great idea. It get's people thinking about the gospel and get's people asking Christians questions.
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