ASA clears atheist bus ad

The Advertising Standards Authority has ruled that the British Humanist Association’s “There’s probably no god” campaign is not in breach of the advertising code.

The ASA has concluded that although the ad was likely to be at odds with those who believe in God it was unlikely to mislead or cause “serious or widespread offense”.

The watchdog has received 326 complaints to date about the bus and London Underground campaign, which has the strapline, “There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life”.

It received some complaints that the ad was offensive and or harmful to people of faith, while others said it was misleading as the BHA could not substantiate its claim that god “probably” does not exist.

The ASA, however, said the ad was an “expression of the advertiser’s opinion and that the claims in it were not capable of objective substantiation.”

The BHA campaign is a response to Christian group Jesus Said which last year ran an outdoor campaign that threatened “hellfire for unbelievers”.