There is Probably No God...

In the UK there has been an advertisement campaign for ateism lately that has been getting rather a lot of attention. Buses have been driving around London with big advertisements saying:

"There is probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life"

When I first read about it I thought it was almst a bit inappropriate. But then when I read an interview with the woman who was behind it all I totally understood where she came from. Because the reason she started the campaign was another bus campaign trying to guilt people into being religious. She was so provoced by this that she started a campaign of her own trying to send a more positive message, hence the stop worrying and start enjoying your life bit.

When it comes religion and faith I don't really know where to define myself, although I am definitely on the wrong path by many people's definitions I'm sure. And they may fine well be right, but all I know is that I am very relaxed about it and I like to think that I live my life in keeping with a lot of Christian values.

And I register that I have actually been to church more times in the last year than for a very long time. Mainly for weddings and concerts though. Sunday mornings are to me either for catching up on much needed sleep or for riding Richie. But I have found that I have really enjoyed it. Sitting in the big cathedral has balanced me in a funny way. It has helped filter out the crap that I normally spend time worrying about.

Before Christmas I went for a special evening service in connection with the introduction of the ban on cluster munitions and sat there in the cathedral I couldn't help but think that maybe we were all part of something bigger after all. And that maybe religion could actually be something to unite people instead of causing conflict. If it was only used right.

So when I read about the bus adds it made me think of something I heard a religious pop artist say once -not the religious super star kind - but a local singer who is also a priest.

"A church that is about making people feel guilty is a church I don't want anything to do with."

I still don't know what I believe in, but I know this much: There is so much destruction and suffering in this world that if people need something to worry about they should worry about that instead. So here's my take on it:

"There is probably no God, but there is no harm in believing so - if it makes you a better person."

And that is why I am not in advertising.