Christian driver refuses to drive atheist bus
Friday, 16 January 2009 6:26 PM
By politics.co.uk staff
A Christian bus driver from Hampshire has refused to drive a bus featuring the atheist bus adverts.
The adverts were released last week on 600 buses across the country, and feature the slogan
"There is probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life."
Ron Heather told BBC Radio Solent: "I was just about to board and there it was staring me in the face, my first reaction was shock horror.
"I felt that I could not drive that bus, I told my managers and they said they haven't got another one and I thought I better go home, so I did.
"I think it was the starkness of this advert which implied there was no God."
Mr Heather returned to work on the condition he would not have to drive a bus featuring the advert.
First Bus said in a statement: "As a company we understand Mr Heather's views regarding the atheist bus advert and we are doing what we can to accommodate his request not to drive the buses concerned.
"As an organisation we don't endorse any of the products or sentiments advertised on our buses.
"The content of this advert has been approved by the Advertising Standards Agency and therefore it is capable of being posted on static sites or anywhere else."
Religious activists Christian Voice attempted to report the adverts to the Advertising Standards Agency last week.
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