Atheists Advertise on UK Buses

A novel advertising campaign underway in the United Kingdom reads "There's probably no God. Now, stop worrying and enjoy your life." Residents will see it on the sides of buses, and perhaps, on posters, and elsewhere. In addition to the slogan, the adverts will feature the URLs of secular, humanist and atheist websites, so that readers can find out more about atheism as a positive and liberating alternative to religion. There is also an interactive campaign website and Facebook group, so that questions raised by the adverts can be publicly debated. The group British Humanist Association is sponsoring the campaign and is seeking donations. Apparently multimillionaire Richard Dawkins has been matching donations – but only up to a total of £5,500. £11,000 is needed to keep two sets of 30 buses carrying the slogan across Westminster for four weeks. By last night, individuals and organisations had pledged more than £47,900.

Writer Ariane Sherine, who suggested the idea in a Guardian Comment is Free blog last June, said she was surprised by the level of support but was pleased with the extra money, which would finance a more ambitious campaign. "We could go national, we could have tube posters, different slogans, more buses, advertising inside buses. The sky's the limit - except, of course, there's nothing up there."

To donate to the atheist bus campaign, please visit JustGiving.