Battle Over Atheist Ads On Ft. Worth Buses

The New York Times reported yesterday on the battle over advertising signs on public buses in Ft. Worth, Texas. After an atheist group bought space on the outside of four city buses for signs reading "Millions of People are Good Without God," some businessmen arranged for a van that began following the buses around carrying signs that read "2.1 Billion People Are Good with God," and below it, "I Still Love You-- God." Black religious leaders in Ft. Worth have called for a boycott of buses, saying that the ads are a direct attack during the Christmas season. Others are urging the Ft. Worth Transportation Authority to ban all religious advertising on buses. Terry McDonald, chairman of the group Metroplex Atheists,says the bus ad was not intended to insult Christians, but was aimed at consoling atheists, adding: "It can be pretty lonely for a nonbeliever at Christmastime around here."