Atheist bus adverts could lead to watchdog ruling on God's existence

The advertising watchdog is being called upon to rule on the likelihood of God's existence after complaints were made about the atheist bus advert campaign.

Officials at the Advertising Standards Authority are now considering whether to tackle the question that has taxed the minds of the world's greatest thinkers for centuries.

It has recorded 48 complaints since Tuesday when buses first hit the streets emblazoned with the message: "There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life." At least 40 more people were understood to have made objections by last night. Most of those who have contacted the ASA consider the adverts offensive and say they break guidelines on taste and decency.



Stephen Green, the Christian campaigner, is claiming they should be taken down because the statement in the adverts cannot be substantiated. He said: "If you're going to put out what appears to be a factual statement then you have to be able to back it up. They've got to substantiate this proposition that in all probability, God doesn't exist."

The ASA is now considering whether to investigate his complaint, which could lead to it reaching a deep ontological conclusion about a supreme being.

If it ruled that the wording in the posters was unsubstantiated, it would be interpreted as effectively saying that in all probability God does exist. Ruling that the words were justified could be taken as an agreement that God probably does not exist.