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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Man refuses to drive 'No God' bus | Man refuses to drive 'No God' bus |
| (4 days later) | |
| A Christian bus driver has refused to drive a bus with an atheist slogan proclaiming "There's probably no God". | A Christian bus driver has refused to drive a bus with an atheist slogan proclaiming "There's probably no God". |
| Ron Heather, from Southampton, Hampshire, responded with "shock" and "horror" at the message and walked out of his shift on Saturday in protest. | Ron Heather, from Southampton, Hampshire, responded with "shock" and "horror" at the message and walked out of his shift on Saturday in protest. |
| First Bus said it would do everything in its power to ensure Mr Heather does not have to drive the buses. | First Bus said it would do everything in its power to ensure Mr Heather does not have to drive the buses. |
| Buses across Britain started displaying atheist messages in an advertising campaign launched earlier this month. | Buses across Britain started displaying atheist messages in an advertising campaign launched earlier this month. |
| Mr Heather told BBC Radio Solent: "I was just about to board and there it was staring me in the face, my first reaction was shock horror. | Mr Heather told BBC Radio Solent: "I was just about to board and there it was staring me in the face, my first reaction was shock horror. |
| "I felt that I could not drive that bus, I told my managers and they said they haven't got another one and I thought I better go home, so I did.Mr Heather said he was shocked at the "starkness" of the advert | "I felt that I could not drive that bus, I told my managers and they said they haven't got another one and I thought I better go home, so I did.Mr Heather said he was shocked at the "starkness" of the advert |
| "I think it was the starkness of this advert which implied there was no God." | "I think it was the starkness of this advert which implied there was no God." |
| When he returned to work on Monday he was called into a meeting with managers and agreed to go back to work with the promise he would only have to drive the buses if there were no others available. | When he returned to work on Monday he was called into a meeting with managers and agreed to go back to work with the promise he would only have to drive the buses if there were no others available. |
| First Bus said in a statement: "As a company we understand Mr Heather's views regarding the atheist bus advert and we are doing what we can to accommodate his request not to drive the buses concerned." | First Bus said in a statement: "As a company we understand Mr Heather's views regarding the atheist bus advert and we are doing what we can to accommodate his request not to drive the buses concerned." |
| It added: "As an organisation we don't endorse any of the products or sentiments advertised on our buses. | It added: "As an organisation we don't endorse any of the products or sentiments advertised on our buses. |
| "The content of this advert has been approved by the Advertising Standards Agency and therefore it is capable of being posted on static sites or anywhere else." | "The content of this advert has been approved by the Advertising Standards Agency and therefore it is capable of being posted on static sites or anywhere else." |
| The advertising campaign is backed by the British Humanist Association and prominent atheist Professor Richard Dawkins. | |
| Hanne Stinson, chief executive of the British Humanist Association, said: "I have difficulty understanding why people with particular religious beliefs find the expression of a different sort of beliefs to be offensive. | Hanne Stinson, chief executive of the British Humanist Association, said: "I have difficulty understanding why people with particular religious beliefs find the expression of a different sort of beliefs to be offensive. |
| "I can't understand why some people seem to have a different attitude when it comes to atheists." | "I can't understand why some people seem to have a different attitude when it comes to atheists." |
| Pressure group Christian Voice has questioned the campaign's effectiveness but the Methodist Church said it would be a "good thing if it gets people to engage with the deepest questions of life" and suggested it showed there was a "continued interest in God". | Pressure group Christian Voice has questioned the campaign's effectiveness but the Methodist Church said it would be a "good thing if it gets people to engage with the deepest questions of life" and suggested it showed there was a "continued interest in God". |
| The advertisements run on 200 bendy buses in London and 600 vehicles in England, Scotland and Wales. | The advertisements run on 200 bendy buses in London and 600 vehicles in England, Scotland and Wales. |
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| Bus driver Ron Heather said he was 'shocked and horrified' | Bus driver Ron Heather said he was 'shocked and horrified' |