Atheist ad campaign gets off to good start

LONDON, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- A campaign to raise money to run atheist advertising on London buses succeeded beyond its organizers' wildest dreams, they said Tuesday.

The informal group was hoping for 5,500 pounds (almost $9,000). In 24 hours, supporters sent in 47,900 pounds (almost $80,000), The Guardian reported.

The lower amount would have been enough for four weeks of ads on 30 buses. The proposed ad reads: "There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life."

Ariane Sherine, who got the ball rolling with a comment posted on The Guardian Web site in June, said the additional money opens lots of possibilities.

"We could go national, we could have tube posters, different slogans, more buses, advertising inside buses," she said. "The sky's the limit -- except, of course, there's nothing up there."

The group can expect even more money. Richard Dawkins, author of "The God Delusion," has promised another 5,500 pounds.

Sherine said that the "light-hearted message" on the ads makes a serious point -- that Britain is a secular country.