Atheists Hope (Don't Pray) to Bring Ads to Toronto

January 16, 2009

Author: Jeff Gray

Source: The Globe and Mail

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20090116.ATHEIST16//TPStory/Front

The atheist slogan, "There is probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life," may soon be coming to subways and buses in Canada's largest city.

The Toronto-based Freethought Association of Canada, inspired by a campaign that has plastered British buses with the phrase, has contacted the private firm that handles ads on the Toronto Transit Commission to see if the message would violate any rules. Organizers plan to launch a fundraising page on the website atheistbus.ca in the next few days.

The British campaign, which has inspired similar moves in Washington, Barcelona and Madrid, has sparked complaints to the country's advertising authority and a backlash from the evangelical group Christian Voice, which has proclaimed that Britain is in "deep sin."

Here in Canada, reaction to the idea from religious groups reached by The Globe and Mail was muted.