As an agnostic, I find the atheist advertising campaign on the buses most odd. First of all, it seems unlikely that an advert on the side of bus is going to change minds about something as fundamental as whether or not there is a God. Second, the slogan,
"There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life" seems to rely on the idea that most people who believe do so purely out of fear of fire and brimstone. Yet, most of those who are blessed with faith find comfort and solace in it. The idea that there is no God does not necessarily remove worry
as Alan Jacobs argues over at the American Scene. Just consider his alternative slogans:
“
“There’s probably no God. So stop praying for comfort and accept that the disease you suffer from will ensure that you die in pointless agony.”
“There’s probably no God. So forget about being reunited with loved ones when you die.”
Having said this, the organisers of the atheist ad campaign would probably point to all the publicity it has gotten, I think this is the third Coffee House post on it after Theo and Lisa’s comments, and say mission accomplished.
