Oh yeah? Then how do you explain Pop Tarts?

There's an ad campaign that's causing quite a stir over here in the ol' U of K. It seems a group of godless heathens calling themselves the British Humanists Association, with the assistance of some crank named Richard Dawkins, have taken out ads on British buses informing people that there is, in all likelihood, no God. In fact, what the ads say is, "There's Probably No God. Now Stop Worrying and Enjoy Your Life."

I've seen these ads on a few buses and have even tried to take some photos for you, but those buggers move too damn fast. So here's a photo from the web:


Now I know what you're all thinking: dang, atheists are cute! Oh, and also, isn't Europe already like 98.7% atheist? Why bother shelling out money for an ad campaign that tells people what they already know?

I'm afraid I'm not really able to answer that question, but I can tell you this: there are some folks around here who are taking considerable exception to the ads. In the (strangely named) town of Southampton, a Christian bus driver has refused to drive any bus bearing the ad, although whether he has taken similar exception to driving buses with ads for violent or exploitative movies and/or video games is unclear. Predictably, some of the most vocal opposition has come from Northern Ireland, where hard-line Protestant politicians have been working themselves into a right ol' tizzy over the prospect of any similar ads showing up in their fair land. If Dawkins & Co. know what's good for them, they'll steer well clear of that hornet's nest.

As for me, I've been on London buses, and I can tell you that being told that there is no God just before boarding one of those lurching behemoths is the very opposite of comforting. It's downright terrifying. The same goes for trying to navigate the streets on foot with those monsters careening all over the place. There is no God? Fine - but don't expect me suddenly to stop worrying and start blissfully skipping down the lane. If there is no God then that means human beings are in charge, and that is a troubling notion not only with respect to public transport in London, but to a whole bunch of other things as well.