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21/01/2009
Atheist Ads 'Did Not Breach Advertising Code'
An atheist UK bus advertising campaign, that concluded 'There's Probably No God' has not breached the advertising code, a watchdog has ruled.
The Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) said it carefully assessed the 326 complaints it received, but ruled the advert was not in breach of the code.
Some people complained the campaign by the British Humanist Association was offensive and denigratory to those who followed a religion. Others challenged whether the ad was misleading because the advertiser would not be able to substantiate its claim that God "probably" does not exist.
However, the ASA Council did acknowledge the content of the ad "would be at odds with the beliefs of many", it concluded it was unlikely to mislead or to cause "serious or widespread" offence.
The Council added the £140,000 advertising campaign was an expression of the advertiser's opinion and the claims were "not capable of objective substantiation".
The ads, with the slogan "There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life", were launched earlier this month following fund-raising by the British Humanist Association.
The posters featured on 200 bendy buses in London and 600 other vehicles in England, Scotland and Wales, and were backed by high profile atheists, including Professor Richard Dawkins.
(JM/BMcC)
The Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) said it carefully assessed the 326 complaints it received, but ruled the advert was not in breach of the code.
Some people complained the campaign by the British Humanist Association was offensive and denigratory to those who followed a religion. Others challenged whether the ad was misleading because the advertiser would not be able to substantiate its claim that God "probably" does not exist.
However, the ASA Council did acknowledge the content of the ad "would be at odds with the beliefs of many", it concluded it was unlikely to mislead or to cause "serious or widespread" offence.
The Council added the £140,000 advertising campaign was an expression of the advertiser's opinion and the claims were "not capable of objective substantiation".
The ads, with the slogan "There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life", were launched earlier this month following fund-raising by the British Humanist Association.
The posters featured on 200 bendy buses in London and 600 other vehicles in England, Scotland and Wales, and were backed by high profile atheists, including Professor Richard Dawkins.
(JM/BMcC)
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