An idea which took birth in Guardian’s Comment is free by a writer has ended up becoming most talked advertising campaign in UK. Ariane Sherine had proposed an atheist advertising campaign to counter religious advertisements in buses which talk about damnation to hell. Reader’s response has made it into reality.
The campaign was launched on 21st October and within two days it has raised twice the amount of funding required to run 30 buses carrying the slogan “There’s probably is no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life” for four weeks. This means more buses for more weeks will ply on streets advertising one of the best of atheist and secular thought!
It doesn’t come as a surprise that this bus campaign has on board people like Richard Dawkins and many other humanitarian, secular, atheists’ individuals and groups. The word ‘probably’ in slogan doesn’t confront existence of god directly and hence there is no fear of the bus facing any conservationists or religious roadblocks.
Notion of punishing God, fear of hell and promise of heaven has been basic premise of some religious groups and has led to much hatred and intolerance in the world. This campaign is much needed intervention to absolve people of fear and insecurity and see life in a new light. It remains to be seen if this new humanitarian trend gains popularity.
Via Guardian
I love this! Thank you for the post Salazar!
Well, I am surprised to see this counter religious advertising happening in reality that too in such a big way in Uk!
Well, i am worried if it gets success in inviting the sentiments of conservationists. Would it mean another wary situation?
Moral of the story: Atheism helps you mint good dough! Huh!
Yeah, I agree that God is on too many buses.
I just noticed one thing. The use of the word ‘probably’ there makes the atheistic message campaign weak. If the atheists were quite sure about what they want to say, they wouldn’t use a word with ambiguous implications. Maybe, they weren’t too sure?
Well pointed out GSerrano!
It is so true that religions always have been the cause for violence, wars and hatred. The notion of an all-knowing god, hell and heaven has deluded people since the beginning of civilization. People will now have to decide if they choose to hate each other or adopt humanism. Waiting for God is like ‘Waiting for Godot’. Samuel Beckett would be happy to ride in one of those buses, so would Camus be.