Sunday, January 11, 2009 | Reason : Commentary | print version

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My week: Ariane Sherine: I'm a believer – in plastering buses with atheist slogans

by Ariane Sherine, Times Online

UPDATE: Another article, from the Irish Times:
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2009/0110/1231515455241.html?via=mr

Reposted from:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article5488849.ece

ariane, RD, Toynbee & Bus

RED TAPE AND LIES

I haven’t had a conversation for two weeks which hasn’t featured the words “bus” and “launch” and a swear word. I’m the creator of the Atheist Bus Campaign, which was launched on Tuesday, although ordinarily I’m a comedy writer.

The slogan, which is going to be running on 800 buses across the UK, is: “There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life”. But before the launch I had so much to do that I was worrying loads and enjoying nothing.

In the days leading up to it, everything I had to do was dull: tasks included “Read public liability insurance policy”, “Amend risk assessment” and “Debrief contractors re erection” (this one sounds like it could be interesting – it isn’t). In addition, I’ve had to lie a lot – when the venue asked suspiciously, “What sorts of events have you organised before?”, I said, “Numerous corporate functions” instead of “My birthday party”.

SITTING ON EINSTEIN

On Monday, the day before the launch, I call all the celebrities, press, builders, lighting, audio, security, barriers, first aid, police, insurance, easels, lectern and bus suppliers. I crawl out of bed on Tuesday morning after a long night awake – I’ve forgotten how to sleep. The adverts we’re unveiling (quotes from famous atheist thinkers) are so large that they won’t fit in the van unless I sit on them. I worry that I’m creasing Einstein with my bum.

By 7am we are in Kensington Gardens. It was minus 5C and my launch outfit was a T-shirt and jeans. Graham Linehan, the atheist writer of Father Ted, warns: “Put a jumper on – if you get pneumonia everyone’ll think it’s the wrath of God.”

IN THE, LAAK, PUBLIC EYE

The press coverage on Wednesday is more positive than I had imagined it would be.

Before the launch I was so anonymous that I could have gone round people’s houses waving the Watchtower around and no one would have blinked. Nobody knew what I looked like – but not by Wednesday. This morning, when I went out, a group of teenagers gasped, “Oh my dayz! Was you, laak, on the telly talkin’ ’bout God?” When I lied and said “No”, they looked dejected and asked, “You got a light?”, which I didn’t.

I apologised for disappointing them in so many ways.

DAWKINS CHIPS IN

Being recognised feels very surreal: I’m used to making wry observations about the news, not being on it. When I wrote a comment article for the web back in June called “Atheists – gimme five”, I had no idea that it would take off. I decided to pitch the piece after seeing evangelical Christian advertisements on red London buses featuring Bible quotes (example: “Jesus died for your sins”) and a website. I visited the site because the adverts looked curiously apocalyptic – and learnt that, as a non-Christian, I was going to “spend all eternity in torment in hell”, burning in a lake of fire.

I’ve always felt truly exasperated at the idea of hell – I think it comes from having parents of two different religions. My family background sounds like the set-up to a joke: my father’s side are Unitarian Universalists, my mother’s are Zoroastrians, and there are a few Jehovah’s Witnesses thrown in, too. As a mixed-race kid, being brought up Christian, the thought that my mother was going to hell merely for coming from a different part of the world seemed nonsensical and cruel.

I couldn’t quite believe that ideas of eternal damnation were being spread from the side of a bus in 2008, so I suggested at the end of the article that all atheists reading it donate £5 to fund a positive, rational counter-advert. The response was phenomenal. Richard Dawkins offered to match the first £5,500 donated, the British Humanist Association offered to support the campaign and in October we launched officially. We expected to raise £5,500 and ended up raising £141,000 – and inspiring countries including the United States, Spain and Italy to launch their own atheist bus campaigns. Sadly, the Australians were banned from launching theirs and they had the best slogan: “Atheism – sleep in on Sunday mornings”.

MY GREAT-AUNT’S VERDICT

Although not atheists, my family have been broadly supportive of the campaign. My 83-year-old Zoroastrian grandmother sewed advert covers for the launch and told me that my devout Jehovah’s Witness great-aunt saw me on BBC News. “What did she say?” I asked nervously. “She said it was very nice,” my grandmother replied.

Maybe the volume on my great-aunt’s TV is broken . . .

Visit the campaign website at www.atheistbus.org.uk

The articles keep coming in: Taking on the believers, one bus billboard at a time - Globe and Mail

Posted: Sunday, January 11, 2009 | Permalink

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1. Comment #316868 by mordacious1 on January 11, 2009 at 12:33 am

Great job, Ariane.

A lot of great people were from zoroastrian stock, including Freddie Mercury.

Look out for one chap named David...

[edit] Oh, and if he donates, get cash.

Other Comments by mordacious1

2. Comment #316869 by tieInterceptor on January 11, 2009 at 12:40 am

Great job, I feel proud of having 'participated' on this with my humble donation.

also, she is cute! how many will be seduced into evil atheism by that t-shirt I wonder? ;-)

Other Comments by tieInterceptor

3. Comment #316884 by Jack Rawlinson on January 11, 2009 at 1:43 am

Good job, Ariane.

I was initially somewhat sceptical about the value of this but I'm sold now, mainly because it's really raised the profile of atheism. It was also nice to hear you on "Thought for the afternoon" yesterday!

Other Comments by Jack Rawlinson

4. Comment #316887 by Logicel on January 11, 2009 at 1:55 am

Fantastic campaign, Ariane.

Other Comments by Logicel

5. Comment #316892 by Mr DArcy on January 11, 2009 at 2:05 am

Good one Ariane.

“Read public liability insurance policy”, “Amend risk assessment”

Is this in case God strikes the buses with lightning?

Other Comments by Mr DArcy

6. Comment #316894 by Rodger T on January 11, 2009 at 2:08 am

Prof Dawkins looks like the cat that got the cream.

Jammy bastard :)

Other Comments by Rodger T

7. Comment #316898 by dsainty on January 11, 2009 at 2:21 am

Is this in case God strikes the buses with lightning?

Totally off topic, but on holiday in Australia over the new year I couldn't help laughing at the churches there protected by lightning rods :)

That's an indication of confidence...

Other Comments by dsainty

8. Comment #316899 by SpacePup84 on January 11, 2009 at 2:26 am

Great article :) Thank you Ariane!

I was sitting on the tube yesterday, doing my usual staring off into space, when I realised I was staring at on of the posters - this one featuring a quote from Douglas Adams. All of a sudden I had an enormous grin across my face, and couldn't stop smiling! I'm looking for these adds everytime I see a bus or am on the tube now :P

Other Comments by SpacePup84

9. Comment #316906 by DamnDirtyApe on January 11, 2009 at 2:51 am

win.

And I slept in this morning. I think late breakfast time!

Other Comments by DamnDirtyApe

10. Comment #316912 by Metch on January 11, 2009 at 3:17 am

What a great add, I feel like flying to London just to see it for real!

Other Comments by Metch

11. Comment #316913 by Mr Blue Sky on January 11, 2009 at 3:21 am

Dear Ariane, Isn't it great when you find you have been in the right place at the right time for once and really have done your bit to change a part of the world? Keep up the good work it should provide some great material for the day job! You have so much support that I (and am sure we all) hope you can turn it to your advantage in every possible way, not just for the cause! What a splash! glad to have been a part of it.

Other Comments by Mr Blue Sky

12. Comment #316917 by Stephen Welch on January 11, 2009 at 3:34 am

Great work Ariane. I'm looking forward to seeing them when I come up to London. You should be proud.

Other Comments by Stephen Welch

13. Comment #316923 by alabasterocean on January 11, 2009 at 3:52 am

Nicely done Ariane. As a bonus you proved how useful lying can be if you like to run a fun-fun bus advertisement with out experiment.

Next time, let's be more honest about the odds of a God or God's. Let's say: to believe in God is equal to being ignorant and maybe stupid, not a bad person, but ignorant and presumably really stupid.

Thanks again my new friend

Other Comments by alabasterocean

14. Comment #316927 by SurfDude on January 11, 2009 at 4:12 am

Ariane, from little acorns do mighty non-dogmatic oaks grow! Well done for putting your ideas up for general consumption - you have taken a risk on behalf of many very grateful rationalists.

However, I would like to add some cautionary notes to your new-found celebrity. Now that the "Atheist Bus" campaign has hit the ground running, 2 related things need to happen:

1. The momentum must be maintained somehow, be it by further donations and continuous adverts, or via heightened media awareness and inclusion of "spokespeople" on national TV and radio (for which you appear ably qualified).

2. You will need to manage your moment in the sun with dignity and a necessary quotient of cynicism. The media will embrace you one minute and eat you alive (or simply ignore you) the next. Stay true to who you are and avoid some of the lecherous goats on this forum :)

Other Comments by SurfDude

15. Comment #316931 by Dr Doctor on January 11, 2009 at 4:27 am

I don't agree, the momentum can't be maintained. At this point a strategy that lets the religious flog the dead horse would be more effective.

Other Comments by Dr Doctor

16. Comment #316937 by SurfDude on January 11, 2009 at 4:45 am

Dr. Doctor,

Yes you are more than likely correct. It takes a certain amount of zealotry to keep campaigns like this going.

On the one hand, faith-heads have unlimited supplies of self-righteous indignation. On the other, well, it seems that Ariane managed to herd a bunch of cats together; what are the odds of keeping them all in one place?

Other Comments by SurfDude

17. Comment #316941 by Mayhemm on January 11, 2009 at 5:13 am

I still like the idea someone had at the beginning of the campaign to sponsor a NASCAR (even though I hate it) in the US. Seeing that big red 'A' zooming around a track would be hilarious.

Other Comments by Mayhemm

18. Comment #316947 by beanson on January 11, 2009 at 5:35 am

why isn't Polly wearing a t-shirt too?

actually it were freezing cold yesterday, brrrr

Other Comments by beanson

19. Comment #316951 by phil rimmer on January 11, 2009 at 5:42 am

Great work, Ariane.

I'll be honest I was cynical at first over the value of this campaign. But the back story (of being told you'll go to hell unless.. etc.) changed my mind completely.

If they can preach hateful stuff we should be able to provide some sort of inoculation against it.

Can't wait for what happens next... (I tried sponsoring a Christian's objecting posts here at £1 per post, along with a few others...It raised £66 before he left. It seemed a bargain. I think we should try it some more. Sponsored ASA complaints perhaps?)

PS. I do like RD's "A Christian Child?" idea for some future campaign.

Picture of child's face, a little puzzled, a little miffed.

"A Christian child?... A Marxist child???

It should be her choice, not yours."

EDIT Dr Doctor, agreed.

Other Comments by phil rimmer

20. Comment #316953 by Jivlain on January 11, 2009 at 5:51 am

I'm not a very good Aussie atheist - this morning (Sunday) I got up early so I could go and play golf.

Other Comments by Jivlain

21. Comment #316958 by oasis-al-reason on January 11, 2009 at 6:20 am

Contrats Ariane!

You look so bubbly and cute - like a teenager who just happened by - that its easy to overlook you must have been freezing in that T shirt, and the sheer hard work and sleepless nights that you put into the project. Proves that where there is a will....

Feels great to have chipped in my part at the start of the campaign.

By the by, strange that you mentioned Jehovah's Witnesses, many moons ago it was persistence from one of them that got me thinking about the subject, read up RD's books and the rest is history.

Look forward to more from you...

Other Comments by oasis-al-reason

22. Comment #316969 by Tengu on January 11, 2009 at 6:55 am

"Totally off topic, but on holiday in Australia over the new year I couldn't help laughing at the churches there protected by lightning rods :)"

A few years ago the church that I used to be an altar server in was struck by lightning and burned to the ground.

The locals joked that God had been aiming at the working men's club next door and missed.

I think that it is more likely that it was due to the church being the tallest building for half a mile, but that's just me being cynical :)

Other Comments by Tengu

23. Comment #316971 by Butler on January 11, 2009 at 7:01 am

"I worry that I’m creasing Einstein with my bum."

Somehow I don't think he would mind.

Other Comments by Butler

24. Comment #316974 by Laurie Fraser on January 11, 2009 at 7:22 am

Comment #316969 by Tengu

Enjoy your stay in our beautiful country, Tengu! Don't worry about lightening rods on churches - we put them there to attract it!

Other Comments by Laurie Fraser

25. Comment #316975 by Enlightenme.. on January 11, 2009 at 7:23 am

"Stay true to who you are and avoid some of the lecherous goats on this forum :)"

Sigh, I count five so far..

"You know, You're gonna get so much sex now, that's what fame's for"
- That film about a meteor headed for Earth.

erm, that's six

--------------------
There was a good 'Beyond belief' episode on Zoroastrianism on Beeb radio 4 last month, still podcastable I think.

CMIIW but it's pretty much at the core of monotheism's origins isn't it? so it's got a helluvalot to answer for!

Contrary to what one might think about it having to mellow rather than self-destruct, it sounded as intolerant as ever - a chap went to a templeorwhateva and got pulled aside and told "Your kids can stay, but your missus will have to leave"
How could they tell missus wasn't Zorro?
I sorta presumed she was incorrectly skintoned or Zorro-nosed (or improperly attired I spose)

-----------------
"Don't worry about lightening rods on churches - we put them there to attract it!

Damn that Jefferson, he's got a helluvalot to answer for.

Edit; Benjamin Franklin I meant!

Other Comments by Enlightenme..

26. Comment #316977 by Border Collie on January 11, 2009 at 7:28 am

Even though I won't be going to church this morning, I'm certain they're railing against a liberal, decadent Europe that would allow atheists to advertise blasphemy on buses. Maybe in a few centuries we can do the same here in Texas.

Other Comments by Border Collie

27. Comment #316979 by crusader234 on January 11, 2009 at 7:36 am

Maybe there is no actual place called hell. Maybe hell is just having to listen to our grandparents breathe through their noses when they're eating sandwiches.

Other Comments by crusader234

28. Comment #316980 by Double Bass Atheist on January 11, 2009 at 7:43 am

Nice work Ariane!
My only complaint is that I wish you had used some stronger wording.
I've already heard several christians saying things like "Probably is the furthest an atheist can go" as if it's equally likely that there "probably could be a god."
...and "I do enjoy life and I'm not worried because I know my eternal future in heaven." ...bla, bla, bla

Other Comments by Double Bass Atheist

29. Comment #316986 by Verylee on January 11, 2009 at 7:52 am

How about: "Oh don't be so silly! (There probably isn't a god)"

Other Comments by Verylee

30. Comment #316987 by Enlightenme.. on January 11, 2009 at 7:55 am

Probably

Like RD (of course) It's totally grown on me.
It's so..
disarming.. is that it?
It's kinda Life-of-brianising, get-a-lifeing.
..and it's knocking RD and his intolerant acolytes down a peg or two into the bargain, which is obviously no bad thing.

Other Comments by Enlightenme..

31. Comment #316992 by Sturmunddrang on January 11, 2009 at 8:03 am

Mayhemm, you said:

"I still like the idea someone had at the beginning of the campaign to sponsor a NASCAR (even though I hate it) in the US. Seeing that big red 'A' zooming around a track would be hilarious."

I agree that it would be funny, but isn't it better to put it on a bus, which is one of the vehicles that might help reduce human contribution to global warming, rather than an unnecessary gas guzzling NACSAR car?

Other Comments by Sturmunddrang

32. Comment #317003 by Colwyn Abernathy on January 11, 2009 at 8:28 am

Comment #316979 by crusader234

Thanks, cru...I really didn't need that bloody jingle running through my head today (considering I'm IN Market Research) but thanks all the same. ;)

5...5 dollah...5 dollah footLOOOOOOOONG! ;)

Curse you! CURSE YOOOOOOOOOOO!

Other Comments by Colwyn Abernathy

33. Comment #317015 by Dr Benway on January 11, 2009 at 9:04 am

Busses filled with WIN!

--titmouse

Other Comments by Dr Benway

34. Comment #317016 by aquilacane on January 11, 2009 at 9:07 am

Great Job, I'm not surprised it never made it to Canada. We're too shy to speak here.

I know how she feels about the damnation stuff. That “spend all eternity in torment in hell” probably cost me my job when I refused to work on a Christian project that promoted this sort of thinking to a young girls' club called Gems.

I told my boss I didn't feel right promoting the idea that I myself should burn in hell. My boss' rebuttal: evolution hasn't been proven... but fine, I understand. 3 months later after I helped win 3 major awards and $3mil in new billings I was fired. Go figure.

Other Comments by aquilacane

35. Comment #317019 by Ed-words on January 11, 2009 at 9:17 am

Aquilacane # 35

Start your own company, and put the S.O.B.s out of business.

Other Comments by Ed-words

36. Comment #317022 by Ed-words on January 11, 2009 at 9:30 am

Great piece.Great lady.I hope she finds time to
contribute occasionally to the RD.NET threads.

BUT, I think the Aussie "Sleep In On Sunday Morning" slogan is flip. Let's hope there are better reasons for becoming agnatheists.

Other Comments by Ed-words

37. Comment #317023 by crusader234 on January 11, 2009 at 9:38 am

Other Comments by crusader234

38. Comment #317027 by Ed-words on January 11, 2009 at 9:42 am

Crusader 234 # 38

Hilarious! Wouldn't this make a wonderful
dream?

Other Comments by Ed-words

39. Comment #317029 by epeeist on January 11, 2009 at 9:44 am

Comment #317023 by crusader234

Nice - would work even better on a picture of Mother Teresa...

Other Comments by epeeist

40. Comment #317031 by Jack Rawlinson on January 11, 2009 at 9:45 am

crusader234 - PRICELESS!

Other Comments by Jack Rawlinson

41. Comment #317033 by Lycosid on January 11, 2009 at 9:51 am

Thank you Ariane! We owe you a debt of gratitude and free drinks.

Other Comments by Lycosid

42. Comment #317034 by Ed-words on January 11, 2009 at 9:52 am

Epeeist # 39

You'd have to find a picture of Mother Theresa on a bus(or similar vehicle).

Other Comments by Ed-words

43. Comment #317035 by chuckgoecke on January 11, 2009 at 9:52 am

Nice job, Ariane! I love the Popemobile pic too. Now for a campaign that hits a little closer to home with the theists, especially applicable to us here in the USA. "Churches enjoy tax free status, but engage in political activities"

Other Comments by chuckgoecke

44. Comment #317038 by Sargeist on January 11, 2009 at 10:01 am

The popemobile picture brings home to me again the amusement of seeing the deputy of the overlord of the entire universe riding around in a bulletproof cage!

Other Comments by Sargeist

45. Comment #317044 by Ed-words on January 11, 2009 at 10:20 am

Sargeist # 44

I think this "Popemobile" was built after
Benedick's predecessor was shot. Pope John
attributed his survival to Our Lady of
Fatima's intercession. He later
developed Hodgekin's Disease in spite of
all the Masses and prayers.

millions of Cubans (esp. exiles)prayed for
an infirm Castro's death, and he SURVIVED.

Other Comments by Ed-words

46. Comment #317046 by Sargeist on January 11, 2009 at 10:22 am

Ed,

Indeed. One of my favourite parts of TGD is the bit asking why "Our Lady" didn't see fit to make the bullet miss altogether!

Other Comments by Sargeist

47. Comment #317049 by Ed-words on January 11, 2009 at 10:28 am

Sargeist # 46

Message from Our Lady to RD,

"Who do you think I am, Superman?"

Other Comments by Ed-words

48. Comment #317052 by Ed-words on January 11, 2009 at 10:42 am

Crusader # 234 # 37

YOU CAN DO IT! Get a photo of one of these London buses with the slogan on the side.
Then superimpose the head of Mother Theresa
sticking out the driver's window and waving.

YES! (Wasn't she full of doubt?)

Other Comments by Ed-words

49. Comment #317067 by squinky on January 11, 2009 at 12:00 pm