British Humanist Association advertises on buses: "There's probably no God."

[morningpaper]

The complete slogan reads: "There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life."

I can't deny that I really dislike this approach. What are they trying to say exactly? Who are these people who are sitting around worrying about the possibility that God exists?

Perhaps they should cut to the chase and say: "There's probably no God. So stop running all the free toddler groups and feeding the poor."

What crackers to pay for advertisement when there is absolutely no product. Nothingness. Ah well, there's one born every minute, as they say.

Well, to be more precise they are paying to advertise the fact that there is no product, in case people hadn't noticed. Unique, surrealistic, fantastically absurd!

And even they recognise they are not sure that there is no product, wtf????

Stephen Green is that officious buffoon who tried to get a campaign rolling against Jerry Springer: the Opera, isn't he? I think Rev Jenny Ellis's response to the BHA Campaign was far more representative of what most Christians I know feel about Richard Dawkins. He's just filled with hate. And it is a lame strapline. Dawkins' laboured punning in the press release makes Arlene Phillips look like Dorothy Parker.

Yes I think it is actually just the vaguely nihilistic lameness of the strapline that is annoying

Look, just to be pedantic I actually agree with the slogan.

and I'm a Christian.

If it was about probability then there probably isn't. Thankfully it's about something different, faith.

And just get on and enjoy life - I wish everyone would do that. There are far to many Christians (other faiths too) wrapped up in the promise of a hereafter which I don't believe in instead of concentrating on this, this real life. In my opinion a lot less shit would happen in the world if people didn't believe that others would get their 'just desserts' in hell or that the poor will be 'rich' in heaven.

Jesus, the great humanist in my opinion.

I'm glad that's on buses, maybe people will have more conversations about the afterlife (or no afterlife as I obviously believe)

I'm not all that keen on this. Yes there are Alpha posters on the back of buses, but they don't carry any dogmatic statements that would offend anyone, just an invitation to go to the course (If I remember right, anyway. Haven't seenm one in a while.)

The implication of the Humanist slogan is that God is somehting that ges in the way of having a good, fulfilled, productive life, and instead worries people. My experience as a christian couldn't be further from this. I have loads of friends of all sorts of beliefs and I am no way pushy about it, but if we get cahtting about faith then I would always say that for me, my faith is at the heart of my life, it gives me a senes of purpose and destiny, a sense of belonging and love, it gives me the wisdom I need to to get through life, it inspires and energises and envisions me for my own personal sense of purpose and also for working for good in the world. Most Christians I know would say the same.

Religion that stops you enjoying life and worries you is not what I'd call real faith. I'd write slogans about that kind of religion too, tbh. Although I might be so bold as to add an invitation to explore what real faith is all about.

moriningpaper - you're not alone! I thought the Alpha posters said that too.

This "atheist bus" thing came about as an initiative by Grauniad Comment Is Free readers. Has anyone linked to the article yet?

I'm not that bothered about it, really. But people should understand the technical usage of the word "probably" - it's entirely sound in this context and in keeping with Dawkins's arguments. In fact it could say "very very very probably." If it simply said "there's no God" then the goddies would be leaping up and down and frothing at the mouth going "but where is your proof?! Hmmm? PROOF?!"

THey should have underneath -

"but if Carlsberg made a GOd, it would probably be the best God in the World"

I like it. The public sphere is full of statements from the Godly, what's wrong with one little message from the opposition?

Although my favourite ad on a vehicle is 'Grey Matters Ltd, emergency philosophers. Don't even think about it, call us instead!'

Seen regularly on a van around here. 'Every thought handled from inkling to eureka. 10 per cent discount if you mention Tarki's...'(can't remember the details).

Spotted the driver a while back and approached him to find out if it was true. Only to find he'd bought the van from someone else and didn't speak enough English to know what it was all about...

I think if the aim is to "unconvert" the believers they are going to have to think of something a little bit more serious. It shows they do not understand believers at all: "Enjoy your life???" I already am, thank you :-). If you are going to use marketing techniques you must learn more about your target first.

I love it too. Did you see how much has been raised for the ads on JustGiving?

There probably is no god (or God).

It's perfectly possible to be a good person, volunteering and the like, and not believe in God. More commendable, perhaps, because you're doing it because you want to see people be happy, not because you fear the eternal damnation of a righteous deity.

Here - they wanted £5,500 - just look at it now!

I love that the mild-mannered, polite and softly-spoken Dawkins gets under the skin of the religious so easily. Anyone would think he was issuing fatwahs...
I was horrified to see the weekly newsletter from a local Catholic school urging parents to write to their MPs and campaign on amendments to abortion rights. I cannot believe that state schools should be funded to push certain political activism on children and parents.

LOL. Xenia's made a donation (our Xenia? No idea, but I'd like to think so)

I like it. It makes me smile Kind of like that.

Bloody hell, 42k now!

I wish people would donate money like that to me! I'm lovely!

Interesting most of the names of those who've donated are men.

The British Humanist Association represents the interests of the large and growing population of ethically concerned but non-religious people in the UK.

Our Vision is a world without religious privilege or discrimination, where people are free to live good lives on the basis of reason, experience and shared human values,

i like this idea

I shall look forward to the atheist-run jumble sales for water relief, and the atheist-run soup kitchens, and the atheist-run ofsted outstanding primary schools, and of COURSE all the atheist-run toddler groups

I hope they all have LOTS of free time for volunteering for these Good Works

i dont like this idea, or sentiment

Stephen Green of pressure group Christian Voice said: "Bendy-buses, like atheism, are a danger to the public at large"

this however is

The complete slogan reads:

"There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life."

'probably' is good for me as a dragged up lapsed catholic

have you read some of the comments posted on just giving...

It's time people stop thinking religion is 'natural' or automatic and choose to be free.

Free your mind!

I'm on the bus!

I'm not so insecure I can't accept my insignificance or mortality. I do not need religion to excuse prejudices. The universe is enough wonder for me.

How would you know if you had been brainwashed? Question your beliefs.

and that is just the first page of many

Does anyone really believe there is one god? Really?

I'm not on about doing good / toddler groups / OAPs / but seriosly?

With the body of evidence now?

There is no higher being.

I am a Christian, and I do believe in God. I also believe in free speach, and everybody's right to have their own religious or non-religious conviction.

The poster does not bother me. It makes people think, and that can only be a good thing.

Somewhere there may be a person seeing the poster, and KNOW in him/herself that he/she disagrees and for the first time ever says to him/herself "but, I DO belive there is a God"

QS - FWIW, I do believe there may be a GOd.

But I don't believe in / agree with religion.

And, I don't believe (if there is god) he is linked to any religion.

LOL at teh suggestion of having satan on the underground on the Just Giving list.

I like this campaign, shows a sense of humour which is a leetle bit lacking in the sodding Alpha campaigns

If there's a god, I don't imagine he really gives a toss whether anyone "believes" in him or not. Would you?

agree UQD - I mean its a big egotistical if you were a higher being expecting everyone to worship you because you'd created them. Not sure I like the sound of such a narcissistic god.