There's probably no God - Now stop worrying and enjoy life
Man refuses to drive 'No God' bus
A Christian bus driver has refused to drive a bus with an atheist slogan proclaiming "There's probably no God".Ron Heather, from Southampton, Hampshire, responded with "shock" and "horror" at the message and walked out of his shift on Saturday in protest.
First Bus said it would do everything in its power to ensure Mr Heather does not have to drive the buses.
Buses across Britain started displaying atheist messages in an advertising campaign launched earlier this month.
Mr Heather told BBC Radio Solent: "I was just about to board and there it was staring me in the face, my first reaction was shock horror.
"I felt that I could not drive that bus, I told my managers and they said they haven't got another one and I thought I better go home, so I did.
"I think it was the starkness of this advert which implied there was no God."
When he returned to work on Monday he was called into a meeting with managers and agreed to go back to work with the promise he would only have to drive the buses if there were no others available.
First Bus said in a statement: "As a company we understand Mr Heather's views regarding the atheist bus advert and we are doing what we can to accommodate his request not to drive the buses concerned."
It added: "As an organisation we don't endorse any of the products or sentiments advertised on our buses.
"The content of this advert has been approved by the Advertising Standards Agency and therefore it is capable of being posted on static sites or anywhere else."
The advertising campaign is backed by the British Humanist Association and prominent atheist, Professor Richard Dawkins.
Hanne Stinson, chief executive of the British Humanist Association, said: "I have difficulty understanding why people with particular religious beliefs find the expression of a different sort of beliefs to be offensive.
"I can't understand why some people seem to have a different attitude when it comes to atheists."
Pressure group Christian Voice has questioned the campaign's effectiveness but the Methodist Church said it would be a "good thing if it gets people to engage with the deepest questions of life" and suggested it showed there was a "continued interest in God".
The advertisements run on 200 bendy buses in London and 600 vehicles in England, Scotland and Wales.
These controversial ads will soon be in Madrid. They are already seen around Barcelona.
What is your opinion on them?
Do you think they should be allowed?
Do you agree with the bus driver?
Can you think of any other ads that were controversial for some reason?
What is your opinion on them?
Do you think they should be allowed?
Do you agree with the bus driver?
Can you think of any other ads that were controversial for some reason?
Comments
God doesn´t exist. I´m sure.
This topic is very old. I don´t know why it´s necessary refer to Barcelona, as if this place was different to other places in the world.
Mi opinion is that this topic is for people who don´t want to research about it. Generally speaking, the science doesn´t get on well with the religion Or you choose science or you prefer religion. With the science you have to work but with the religion only you have to believe whatever.
I suppose that a private association can do what it wants, whenever that it wasn´t illegal. But it´s possible that Mr. Heather was good for the British Humanist Association because they jumped at the chance him to expand its campaign free. There are rules in United Kingdom to protect workers.
I agree with respect to everyone. We can think with freedom absolutely and everyone must respect us. I respect to Mr. Heather although I don´t agree with him.
Yes. I think so. It´s not necessary to mention several examples to who lives in Spain.
See you.
I don't think God exists either. I wonder if an atheist bus driver could refuse to do his job if the bus had a pro-God ad on its side.
This story is very old. I don´t know why it´s necessary to refer to Barcelona, as if this place was different to other places in the world. (I don't understand your obsession with the Catalans)
My opinion is that this topic is for people who don´t want to research it. Generally speaking, science doesn´t get on well with religion. Either you choose science or you prefer religion. With science you have to work but with religion you only have to believe.
I suppose that a private association can do whatever it wants, as long as it isn't illegal. But it´s possible that Mr. Heather was good for the British Humanist Association because they jumped at the chance for him to expand its campaign for free. There are rules in the United Kingdom to protect workers.
I agree with respect to everyone. Absolutely, we can think freely and everyone must respect us. I respect Mr. Heather although I don´t agree with him.
Yes. I think so. It´s not necessary to mention several examples to someone who lives in Spain.