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UK Group Raises $80K for Atheist Bus Ads

Fundraising target far surpassed, campaign may expand nationwide

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 22, 2008 2:47 PM CDT
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(Newser) – A campaign to plaster London buses with agnostic advertising has far exceeded its fundraising goal, the Guardian reports. The ads, aimed to counter what one writer sees as overbearing Christian messages, will say, “There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.” Organizers have raised 10 times more money than their target, and are contemplating an expanded blitz.

“We could go national, we could have tube posters, different slogans, more buses, advertising inside buses,” said Ariane Sherine, who floated the idea in the Guardian in June. “The sky's the limit—except, of course, there's nothing up there.” Religious groups were unperturbed by the campaign. “Christian belief is not about worrying or not enjoying life. Quite the opposite,” the Church of England said.

A London bus.
A London bus.   (AP Photo)
An ad for tolerance in England.
An ad for tolerance in England.   (Getty Images)
London buses pass the front of The Bank of England.
London buses pass the front of The Bank of England.   (AP Photo)
The proposed advertisement.
The proposed advertisement.   (Atheist Bus Campaign)
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Ours is a fun and light-hearted message but it does have a serious point to it: that atheists want a secular country, we want a secular school and a secular government. The strength of feeling has been shown.
- Ariane Sherine, on the funds raised

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. - Author Ariane Sherine, marveling at the unexpectedly flush atheist movement

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Sherine's recent plea to supporters
Guardian (UK)

In hopes of a conversation, even religious groups give money
Telegraph (UK)

Want to donate? The total is now around $120,000
Atheist Bus Campaign

 
London • advertising • Christianity • Britain • atheism • Church of England • agnostic • fundraising • Ariane Sherine • Bill Maher Grid

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