Even Time magazine is reporting on the atheist bus campaign in Chicago (and beyond). It’s not an opinion piece; it’s just giving background on the bus campaign and what supporters hope to accomplish:
The aim, [American Humanist Association executive director Roy] Speckhardt says, “is to attract the interest of those who already believe as we do. We’re not trying to convert people.” Referring to a recent poll, he notes that more Americans view themselves as non- believers than the population of Jews, Muslims and Mormons combined. “Yet,” he says, “you don’t see that group having a caucus in Congress, or anywhere else. It’s a group that’s been in the closet. People are afraid to ‘come out’ to their families and say they don’t believe in God.” The ads are designed to show lonely atheists that they do not walk alone — and to go on disbelieving.
My favorite line has to be this one:
Apart from the predictable blogosphere chatter, Chicago has largely greeted the ads with a quick, curious look and then a shrug.
Which is what the response should be… from non-religious people.
I hope atheists (closeted or otherwise) would see it and get far more excited. Maybe they’ll even be encouraged to meet other like-minded people.