By Lloyd Mackey

CANADIAN skeptics have announced that they will advertise their atheism on buses and other public-transit vehicles across the country -- and many Christians are welcoming the "competition." In fact, some Christian leaders note that they have been promoting their own faith on buses for years, themselves.

The Freethought Association of Canada announced in mid-January that it was raising funds to sponsor ads similar to those that appeared recently on the sides of buses in London, England and Washington, DC. The ads say: "There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life."

The group plans to start its ad campaign in Toronto, followed closely by Calgary, and it is using the website AtheistBus.ca as part of its fundraising strategy.

As it happens, a group of Christians have been sponsoring bus ads -- albeit inside, rather than outside, transit vehicles -- for two years. Based in Scarborough, Ontario, Bus Stop Bible Studies (BSBS) now has 196 ads in play. Each ad includes a quote from the Good News version of the Bible, followed by several thought-provoking questions.

BSBS founder David Harrison told CC.com he welcomes the freedom of expression and freedom of religion in Canada that make possible the Bible study ads -- and, for that matter, the atheist ads.

Connie denBok, a minister at Alderwood United Church in Toronto, told CC.com she is happy that the Freethought Association wants to sponsor the ads.

Alderwood's youth group recently sponsored BSBS ads in some Toronto subway cars -- an experience they found most satisfying, said denBok, because they got to choose the biblical passage that would go on the sign they sponsored.

"There is a pathological politeness among Canadian church people," who tend to keep silent in the face of attacks against belief in God, said denBok. She quoted the Bible in defence of her stance: "When the disciples are silent, even the rocks will cry out." (St. Luke 19:40)

The United Church's national office has piggy-backed onto the issue by offering a chance for people to vote between "There's probably a God" and "There's probably no God" on WonderCafe, a UC outreach website.

As of Thursday, the pro-God vote had claimed 64 percent of the vote.

The online campaign was organized by Toronto advertising agency Smith Roberts Creative Communications. Agency president Malcolm Roberts told the Globe and Mail: "We can't sell you on church. We can't sell you on, there is a God or isn't a God. We just want you to formulate your own opinion and what makes you feel comfortable."

Freethought Association president Justin Trottier told the Globe and Mail he welcomes the "cheeky" UC counter-ads, suggesting "that's what this is all about, dialogue."

For his part, Don Hutchinson, vice-president of the Centre for Faith and Public Life and legal counsel for the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, welcomed the fact that atheist groups appear to have reversed what he suggested was their previous opposition to public expression of religious beliefs.

Now, he suggested, "religion is welcome in the public square, and this is really good news!"

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Atheists hope (don't pray) to bring ads to Toronto
The atheist slogan, "There is probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life," may soon be coming to subways and buses in Canada's largest city. The Toronto-based Freethought Association of Canada, inspired by a campaign that has plastered British buses with the phrase, has contacted the private firm that handles ads on the Toronto Transit Commission to see if the message would violate any rules. Organizers plan to launch a fundraising page on the website atheistbus.ca in the next few days.
Globe and Mail, January 16

Group wants to put atheist ads on Toronto transit buses, much like U.K. campaign
In Toronto, organizer Katie Kish says she hopes the message will spark discussion while countering the notion that atheists and agnostics are negative people.
Canadian Press, January 16

There's probably no God
The catchphrase from an atheist organization's ad has got some laughing, some angry and others puzzled by the humanist movement
Stephen Marche, National Post, January 17

That there is no God is about all they agree on
Two rival atheist groups will attempt to peddle their different views of non-belief to Canadians through separate advertising campaigns on public transit. . . . Pat O'Brien, president of the Humanist Association, said his group considered working with atheistbus.cabut decided a pure atheist campaign would be too negative. "Joseph Stalin was an atheist," said Mr. O'Brien, who considers atheism an element of humanism. "He was not a humanist. We want to send a positive message. Atheism is what you're not; humanism is a positive world view."
National Post, January 22

United Church hitches ride on God campaign
Commissioned by the United Church, the ads have been created in provocative response to "There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life" transit ads, sponsored by the Freethought Association of Canada and destined for buses, streetcars and subways in Toronto and, the association hopes, soon to be approved in Calgary and Halifax.
Globe and Mail, January 30

United Church gets playful with pro-God ads
The United Church of Canada is launching a national advertising campaign this weekend, recasting the atheist ads bound for Canadian transit systems with a multiple choice question that includes the answer: "There's probably a God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life." It's the latest volley in an ongoing public debate that has some faith groups marketing themselves in a search for new converts, while others aim to clear up misconceptions.
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Also: Vancouver Sun

Bet on God and you might get lucky
The whole thing is kind of funny and I have always believed God has a sense of humour. How could He or She not? What humourless deity would have created platypuses, red hair and Rush Limbaugh? But I do think the atheist bus promoters need a quick dose of Blaise Pascal, the French mathematician and philosopher (1623-1662) who wrote what is now called "Pascal's Wager."
Lyn Cockburn, Edmonton Sun, January 31

TransLink faces a devil of a question
The B.C. Humanist Association wants to place ads in the transit system promoting atheism
Vancouver Sun, February 4

Bring on the atheist bus ads
It's amazing that transit officials in B.C. and other parts of Canada are worrying about whether to run atheist ads on the sides of buses. From what I gather, previous atheist advertising campaigns have been good-natured -- adding up to decent discussion starters. I find it hard to imagine what people are afraid of.
Douglas Todd, The Search, Vancouver Sun, February 5

February 5/2009