Religious think tank welcomes launch of atheist buses

Theos, the public theology think tank, has welcomed a new atheist bus campaign, being officially launched in Central London today (Tuesday).

The bendy-buses, with the slogan "There's probably no God", are the idea of the British Humanist Association and have been supported by prominent atheist Professor Richard Dawkins. They are now running on the streets of London.

Commenting on the launch of the buses, Director of Theos, Paul Woolley, said:

"We think that the campaign is a great way to get people thinking about God. The posters will encourage people to consider the most important question we will ever face in our lives.

"The slogan itself is a great discussion starter. Telling someone "there's probably no God" is a bit like telling them that they've probably remembered to lock their front door. It creates the doubt that they might not have done so.

"A new Theos research study, to be published next month, shows that there are as many people finding God in Britain today as losing it, so this campaign is speaking into a very live debate.

"Mike Elms, a Fellow of The Marketing Society and former Chief Executive of ad agencies Ogilvy & Mather and Tempus/CIA, has said that the campaign could play a role in the revival of Christianity.

Mr Elms said "For too long, the British public has been able to dodge the 'God choice' - is there or isn't there? - by scribbling C of E on their hospital admission form. But now atheists are challenging us to make that choice one way or another. The atheist campaign opens the door toward a very public debate on the existence and nature of God."

www.theosthinktank.co.uk