Whoever thought buses were dull?

They're back. Again. The atheist bus adverts just won't go away. If the idea behind them was to raise awareness of matters of belief, the adverts' creators have certainly been successful.

I admire the moral courage and principals of the driver who refused to drive the bus with the adverts. However, I don't think that in the same place I'd have refused. Maybe I should. Perhaps it's just a lack of moral courage on my part. However, it does give the advantage slightly to the advert's creators, who can now say that it's unfair for him to refuse, because a non-believer who refused to drive a bus with (say) Christian adverts on would probably be less likely to get such sympathetic treatment from his employers.

Besides, I really don't see the bus adverts as much of a threat to Christianity- or any other faith. People don't change their beliefs just because they see something on a bus! The adverts may (I hope they do) make people think. If they help people realise that they don't really believe in a God, that's fine. It might make them realise what they're missing out on. If the adverts make people think about what they believe, realise that they don't really know, and decide to find out about the whole idea, even better. As for people who already believe, (or have decided they don't) it's unlikely to make them change their minds one way or the other. My favourite response is still that of the Methodist Church, who have apparently '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".'

One thing that struck me today is that all the response and criticism I've seen has come from Christian organisations. I'd be interested to hear what the Islamic or Jewish communities make of the adverts.

Another possible take on the adverts came to me as a result of my local bishop's sermon at the installation of my church's new minister earlier this week. He was advocating sending Christians out to work in the community- for example, the newsagent who knows his customers and can chat to them, bringing a Christian perspective to the news he's selling. Maybe the church should be encouraging Christian bus drivers to comment on the adverts to colleagues and customers, and engaging in debate with the atheists, rather than just rubbishing them.


You can read my previous comments on the buses here and here.