It’s not big news here yet, but give it a day or so and… wait, Fox News (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,443705,00.html) is on it.  The Atheist Bus is coming to town.  Ariane Sherine noticed a mild religious advert (this is British news losers, we’re using the Queen’s English today) on the side of a London bus.  When she went to the website she found it a little more aggressive than the ad, since it was forcefully explaining to her that she and all her atheist friends were going to “spend all eternity in torment.”  As a retort, she got together with Richard Dawkins and attempted to raise $8,000 to put their own message on a few buses.  In four days, they raised almost $150,000.

Their message is simply, “There probably is no god, now stop worrying and enjoy your life.”  I’ve been reading news articles about this story for the last few hours and the more I read, the more I think we’re all finished.  I thought it might be time for me to respond to a couple of the quotes that I’ve read.

Sandra Lafaire, a 76 year old from Los Angeles said, “I think it’s dreadful.  Everyone is entitled to their opinion but I don’t like it in my face.”  Well Sandra, I agree completely.  Let’s fix this problem immediately.  Have everyone stop knocking on my door at 8 am Saturday morning.  I’m either on the road, or hung over.  Either way I couldn’t give a fuck that only 250,000 people are getting into heaven.  While we’re at it, I don’t want to see anymore church billboards or those shitty little marque signs.  They’re too “in my face” and they’re blocking the view of the informational billboard that tells me what exit Georgia to take if I want a fat naked trucker whore to bring me a $12 microwave cheeseburger.

Paul Woolley, the director of the religious think tank Theos, said “It tells people to stop worrying, which is hardly going to be a great comfort for those who are concerned about losing jobs or homes in the recession.  Stunts like this demonstrate how militant atheists are often great adverts for Christianity.”  First, how telling people to stop worrying and enjoy their life not a comforting message?  I’m thinking it’s a pretty relaxing message, rather laid back if you will.  So laid back in fact that some of the unemployed people with homes in foreclosure may think that their remaining money is better spent supporting their family instead of the church.  The got they support may be helping, but last I checked he wasn’t hiring.  And second, how is the word “probably” a “militant” message?  Don’t get me wrong, I know Dawkins is a militant atheist.  He’s also a genius and an asshole which is why I like him so much.  If you want a militant atheist message I’m sure he would be more than willing to burn one in your front yard in a language you’re too stupid to translate.  Until then, accept the fact that this little sticker is nothing more than a peaceful, “what-if” statement.  A lot like the things the hippies were saying about 40 years ago.  Good thing your people got there in time to cave in some fucking skulls before the pot heads got too militant.