God Doesn't Ride London Buses
This story was written by CBS News producer Amy Guttman in London.
It all started when Ariane Sherine, a comedy writer, penned a blog criticizing the flood of billboards around London preaching Christianity, warning hell and damnation as the consequences for failing to convert.
She half-heartedly suggested non-believers band together to advertise the opposite view, giving people permission to enjoy life. Sherine never expected to strike such a chord. A quarter-million dollars later, the ads are on 800 buses throughout Britain, and the London Underground.
Delivering lines is all about timing, and Sherine's couldn't be better. In a climate filled with stress about the worldwide recession, the "chill-out" message is being welcomed as a good antidote. Even Church of England leaders have embraced the open dialogue about faith.
In a nation where less than a third claim to be observant, Brits still see religion as a taboo topic. The ads may be great for business, but they're unlikely to affect church attendance.