Barcelona to feature atheist bus ads

Atheist groups in Barcelona plan to emulate the example of their British counterparts and pay for ads on city buses. "There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy life," will be the slogan running on a pair of Barcelona buses starting on Monday. Officials in other Spanish cities like Madrid and Valencia are considering whether or not to permit similar campaigns.

As you might imagine, not everyone is thrilled with the atheist ad campaign:

The campaign has provoked a reaction from the Catholic archbishopric of Barcelona. "Faith in God is not a source of worry, nor is it an obstacle for enjoying life," it said in a statement…

"It is an attack on all religions," said Javier Maria Perez-Roldan of the church's Tomas Moro centre, blaming the socialist government for the privately funded campaign. "The government has created an atmosphere of belligerence."

Despite Spain’s strong Catholic tradition a 2006 Harris Interactive poll found that 11% of Spaniards are atheist and that slightly less than half believe in God.

The British Humanist Association and book author Richard Dawkins recently launched a massive atheist ad campaign that includes posters on hundreds of London buses and subway cars.

Image- The Age (“Author Richard Dawkins, who wrote The God Delusion, lends his support as the London bus atheism advertising campaign is launched.”)
Online Sources- AHN, Monsters & Critics, Guardian UK, Harris Interactive