Atheist buses to challenge religious messages
Tuesday, 6 January 2009 6:56 PM
By Alex Stevenson
An advertising campaign by atheists has been launched after exceeding its donations target by 2,400 per cent.
"There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life" is the message on the 'atheist buses', the results of a campaign by comedy writer Ariane Sherine.
After an article she wrote for the Guardian suggesting the campaign attracted considerable attention, prominent atheist scientist Professor Richard Dawkins of Oxford University pledged to match the first £5,500 of donations by the public.
Within four days they had raised £100,000 from individual donations made by the general public and it has now raised over £135,000.
As a result the advertising campaign will be far more substantial than initially anticipated. The 800 buses, 200 of which will be in London, will be joined with two large LCD screens on Oxford Street and 1,000 adverts on the London Underground.
Prof Dawkins said the sentiments driving the Atheist Bus Campaign were reflected in those of the Alpha Foundation, a Christian organisation.
"I once saw a poster which said 'is this all there is?'. How much more do you want?" he asked.
Ms Sherine added: "You wait ages for an atheist bus, then 800 come along at once.
"I hope they'll brighten people's days and make them smile on their way to work."
In addition to the capital the buses will be running in cities including Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, Edinburgh, York, Leeds, Newcastle and Sheffield.
The campaign is also gathering pace abroad. Atheist buses can already be found in Washington DC while some are in Barcelona and others are coming to Italy.
Hanne Stinson, chief executive of the British Humanist Association (BHA), said the campaign revealed "how many atheists out there have been looking for a voice".
"Now that the buses are rolling out across the country, I feel sure that everyone with non-religious beliefs who spots one of these buses on the streets will be delighted to see what this amazing appeal has achieved."
The Church of England said it would defend any group's right to promote religious or philosophical views through appropriate channels.
A spokesperson added: "However, Christian belief is not about worrying or not enjoying life. Quite the opposite: our faith liberates us to put this life into a proper perspective.
"Seven in ten people in this country describe themselves as Christian and know the joy that faith can bring."
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