I love the probably! For so long we've been told there's no way there's a God! Have atheists finally come out of their lonely ravine? It's slipped a bit since it's height 200 years ago hasn't it!

Philip Berry, Guildford, UK

What a stupid waste of money. A society addicted to the pleasure principle and self gratification needs no exhortations to enjoy itself and the message will appear ludicrous to people worriying about their jobs, mortgages and savings. £83,000 would be better spent by donating it to my local hospice

James, London, UK

Atheists "open to new evidence" ? Stuart Hartill obviously doesn't know any.

Jon, London, England

I'm not sure what you mean by the atheists' "handle", Andrew, but I think you mean the slogan "implies" something. The inference is yours.

alan, germany,

I thought we believers were indulging in escapism, yet the slogan infers we're giving ourselves unnecessary worry. It can't be both. So much for atheism having the handle on rationality.

Andrew L, Leeds, United Kingdom

Two reasons for 'probably'.
Firstly, the wording, like everything else, evolved from an online discussion and the opening suggestion was a pun on a classic advert - 'Religion:probably the worst idea in the world'.
Secondly, only religionists 'know' they're right. Atheists are open to new evidence.

Stuart Hartill, Ramsey, Isle of Man,

We cannot prove universal synthetic statements. Hence we never know for certain whether they are true. All assumptions expressed in universal statements are fallible. Thus "we must regard all laws and theories as hypothetical or conjectural; that is, as guesses" (Popper)

jim, sydney,

There is no certain knowledge, except perhaps in pure sciences, logic and mathematics. Given the untestability of God's existence, and the controversial nature of the "evidence", we have to admit doubt. This holds for the conjecture that is theism as well.

jim, sydney,

The golden rule was recorded in Vedic tradition in India ~3000BCE; the Middle East (Hebrew) ~1300BCE; Zoroastrian ~600BCE; Buddhist, Confucian, Jain, Taoist traditions ~500BCE, Socrates ~440BCE. It likely predated all dates here.

jim, sydney,

"Probably" was actually added at the insistence of London Transport. It shouldn't have been added, because you can't prove 'There is no God' is false advertising. Otherwise, I'm off to sue the church for false advertising!

Andrew, Fareham,

Excellent article. The arrogant assumption by many religious bods that morals come from the supernatural, and hell awaits those who don't worship the correct God is trully baffling. Bring on the buses.

iain rae, tunbridge wells, t.w.

to M Robinson - the "Golden Rule" comes from Plato who said it 400 years before Jesus was born. Questions of morality should be decided upon on the basis of whether or not they reduce the sum of human suffering - and not on some arbitrary text.

Nick , London,

Fantastic news! I am glad atheism is finding a voice.

And to those like M Robinson - maybe there are no absolutes. No divine purpose. No good and evil. Scary, but brilliant, because we are not nihilists, we are not immoral, and we appreciate the universe, which is more wonderful than any god.

Ben, York,

Joan Bakewell is wrong. I am not a 'young person', I am 60 years old and no-one has been listening to my (Atheist) point of view for a long time! Hurrah for the bus, and hurrah for the campaign against faith schools!

Elaine, Pinner,

Professor Dawkins invests so much time and money in a lack of belief! Astounding

Steven, Buckhurst Hill,

But where does the 'golden rule' come from? Who decides what is right or wrong, good or bad, truth or lie? Who is the final arbiter of these things? One atheist might think one thing, another atheist something else. Hitler wanted to kill Jews, Mao wanted to kill intellectuals; who decides?

M.Robinson, London, UK

Just wanted to point out that:
A) This campaign now has very good funding and..
B) This is morey important:
http://www.justgiving.com/faithschools

This is also worth a look (they don't want a donatiion, just an email to the BBC):
http://www.pledgebank.com/thoughtfortheday

Crispin, London,

To the question raised by Colin Mackinnon, “Where is atheism’s moral framework located”. It is inside my head, your head, everyone’s head, it evolved with us, allowed us to live together, reproduce together. Now it comes in a written form as well, LAW!

Karl Pollitt, Rotherham,

Revd John Richardson:

The bus didn't have room for "if you're one of the mentally ill who think they need a 'god' then religion won't help you but a psychiatrist might"

Gareth

Gareth Kelly, Sheffield, Yorkshire

dph, the idea that life and everything is "pointless" without something else beyond it (the universe was built just for us, we live forever, or whatever) is, actually, profoundly insulting.

It seems that the wonder of the universe and of being alive is just not good enough for some people.

Peter, Liverpool,

Thanks for keeping the faith issue going and to Ariane et al for the sucinct "There's probably no God. Now stop worring and enjoy your life". It's a great antidote to the often blind fundamentalism. May I join the pedantists (footsoldiers) and suggest including 'probably' means it is an agnostic bus

peter ainley, salford,

Yep. Life is all about amusing yourself while you can. Tiberius would have been pleased opinion finally turned his way. But for some, non-belief is the thing that truly insults the intelligence. That this whole world, galaxy, universe is basically pointless. Just happens to be there.

dph, salisbury, England

The so-called "Christian Voice" is a small group of narrow extremists. Please, Joan (and the BBC), don't let them claim to speak for the majority of Christians - they certainly don't for me.

G Humphries, Portsmouth, England

"Where is atheism's moral framework located? Who has written it down? What is it? What does it say about abortion (24 weeks? 30 weeks? 36) or assisted suicide?. How does it define a just war?"

It isn't written down. That's the point. Atheists think for themselves. They do not follow a dogma.

GFA, Plymouth, Devon

I think if some religious body wanted to run a pro-religious poster campaign it would be much easier for it access taxpayers' cash.

I'm fed-up being told by Christians that my lack of religion makes me inferior in some way; and I'm concerned that so much taxpayers' money funds religion.

Des, Edinburgh,

Atheist, agnostic, beleiver, whatever, we are going to die! The words are meaningless and stem from ego and self justification. Regardless of which camp you choose to dwell in, aspire to love and kindness and do not judge. You can see was right when your dead and is you were wrong it won't matter.

Michael Pearce, Gloucester, UK

"Stephen Green of Christian Voice predicts that such displays will be covered in graffiti."

Well I suppose that's rather more restrained than blowing the bus up!

J Green, Stockport,

Colin Mackinnon, all the Bible says on unborn "rights" is that if you beat a pregnant woman into losing the baby, there's no extra penalty unless you make her infertile. Murder a person, you get death. So we may conclude the Bible says a foetus isn't "murderable". Abortion itself is never mentioned.

Lizzie, London,

Joan, 'live and let live' is fine if religious faiths do not interfere with the lives of atheists, but they persist in interfering. In areas like abortion, assisted dying, developments in genetics, moral choice, sexuality not to mention terrorism and extremism, they slow progress and cause pain.

Paul Freeman, London, England

I'm not young and I don't feel un-listened to. I'm just an atheist, plain and simple. I don't need to be told what's right or wrong, I can figure that out for myself.

Katie, BRistol,

Mel Hassan, in his book "A Guaranteed Formula for Happiness" indicates proof of the existence of God. Quote: "Who but God could have selected from the entire Universe the one and only Solar System that was conducive (through its perfectly balanced Earth, Sun, Moon) to the creation of life".

Menchem Chazan, Deerfield, Fl, USA

Hi Colin.
Read Ch 6 of Dawkins' The God Delusion. It explains where our sense of morality probably comes from and shows that humans the world over have a very similar moral compass. This is regardless of religion and even though we often cannot articulate why we believe something is wrong or right.

Jane Clements, Sydney, Australia

I call for the education of children, not the indoctrination of children.

Richard Bembridge, Sheffield,

It's the British Humanist ASSOCIATION, Joan. Perhaps you are mixing it up with the National Secular Society?

Anyway, hope you've made your £50 donation.
All aboard!

Pete Moss, Reading, UK

It's the British Humanist Association, not British Humanist Society.

Kim Northwood, Bedford, UK

Several mentions of Christianity, bishops, church of england, but no mention of muslims or Islam. How about a bus saying "There is probably no Allah"? No? Why could that be? I can't imagine.

Trofim, Birmingham, UK

Next stop - Humanism on "Thought for the Day" please! I would stop tuning out every time it's on if I thought my viewpoint may be represented. Bearing in mind many others "probably" do likewise, surely the current religious monopoly on the slot is tantamount to preaching to the converted.

Paul Brill, Insch, Scotland

Colin Mackinnon asks: "Where is atheism's moral framework located?"

Atheists construct their own morality, based on evolutionary instincts, social influences and their own reasoning. Better that than following (ie. cherry-picking from) a 2000-year-old anthology. We're all individuals, even you!

Jason Mills, Accrington, UK

Yes, "this has started in a gentle and unconfrontational way" and the thing is, most atheists like me are not prepared to fight and kill people to defend their beliefs in the way that most followers of religion are. You can bet your boots that it will be the religious right who turn nasty!

Chris Shaw, Dorchester, United Kingdom

Interesting that some people have to have a book of morals to be able to distinguish right and wrong. As an Atheist, our life and choice in life is up to us. But we live with the social consequences and guilt that comes with our choices with no absolution from God. I live by the golden rule...

Joanna, Los Angeles, USA

Colin: The whole point is you don't live your life from a book. Just because Athiests don't have a god doesn't mean you have to put something else in that place. Just do well towards others, aim to be a good person. People are responsible for their own actions, not a deity or his evil counterpart.

Dave, Kent,

Colin - the moral framework is located in the individual, free to explore the world around them. Most atheists I know have a deep sense of morality. Basic human values of compassion and co-operation existed a long time before organised religion, and will exist long after it has faded away.

Joe, Hertford, UK

Atheism's moral framework is located in the thoughts and concience of its adherents. That seems a better place than a rule book where rules are emphasised to justify the outrageous or ignored at will. Are your personal instincts so depraved that the only thing controlling you is religion?

Sarah Baker, Essex, UK

Good article Joan, and thanks for assuming I'm young ;)

Mark Allen, Nottingham,

Where is atheism's moral framework located? Who has written it down? What is it? What does it say about abortion (24 weeks? 30 weeks? 36) or assisted suicide?. How does it define a just war?

Colin Mackinnon, Oxford, United Kingdom

Back in February, Ms Sherine wrote about her struggle with depression, "Anti- depressants depressed me till I prayed to God to make the pain stop."

Shouldn’t her slogan add the words " unless life is unbearable, in which case although atheism won't help, God just might"? Or is the bus too short?

Revd John Richardson, Elsenham, UK

The question is not about science and theology, the question is about being able to justify not only your own way of life but the legislation you impose on others. 'Justification' that requires special access to 'truth' not available to all or open to verification or even debate needs challenging.

Darren Canning, Edinburgh, UK

I've been paying close attention to the comments on the fund raising page and it is evident that donators are of all age groups and from all walks of life. This is not just young radicals questioning their elders!
This is "probably" the best campaign of the year!

Andrea Busby, Bradford, UK

A minor error in the article: the Bishops in the House of Lords are Lords Spiritual, the remainder are Lords Temporal.

Bruce, BRISTOL,

One of the worst aspects of religions and one that perpetuates them is the assumption that a newly born child has the religion of one or both its parents.
An age of religious consent and choice for teenagers would i believe lead to many more ticking the no religion box.

wayne, huntingdon, cambridgeshire

In the 2001 census, 7.7 million people ticked "No religion". It's about time we had a voice.

Jason Mills, Accrington, UK