Fantastic media coverage for the Dawkins story...

Yesterday, the Methodist Church issued a press release welcoming news of Richard Dawkins' 'atheist bus' campaign. We wanted to take a different approach, thanking Richard for his continued interest in God and for getting people talking about the big issues of life.

You can check out the press release here: http://www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentogod.newsDetail&newsid=295

We got lots of good media coverage from this, thanks to the hard work of the CCEA cluster and our Senior Leaders. Jenny Ellis did a turn on Premier Radio, Christine Elloitt appeared on London Tonight (ITV) and I was on BBC London. In addition, we got great coverage online and in the newspapers - check out the links below...

Thanks again to everyone for their hard work and creativity,

Anna

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/3236701/Atheist-buses-ready-to-roll-across-country-after-making-31000-in-a-day.html

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article1839299.ece

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/oct/22/religion-atheist-dawkins-god

http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/7811

http://www.christiantoday.com/article/methodists.see.opportunity.in.dawkins.no.god.bus.slogans/21703.htm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7681914.stm

http://www.itvlocal.com/london/news/?void=248598

Methodist Church thanks Richard Dawkins for getting God onto London buses

THE METHODIST CHURCH

NEWS RELEASE

21 October 2008

Methodist Church thanks Richard Dawkins for getting God onto London buses

Dawkins thanked for encouraging a ‘continued interest in God’

The British Methodist Church has welcomed news that Professor Richard Dawkins is to fund an advertising campaign on London buses despite its slogan ‘There is probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life’.

Revd Jenny Ellis, Spirituality and Discipleship Officer, said; ‘We are grateful to Richard for his continued interest in God and for encouraging people to think about these issues. This campaign will be a good thing if it gets people to engage with the deepest questions of life.’

Responding to Dawkins’ comment that ‘thinking is anathema to religion’, Jenny said; ‘As Christians, we respond to Jesus’ call to love God with our minds as well as our hearts, souls and strength. Christianity is for people who aren’t afraid to think about life and meaning. John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, believed that no one should be saved from the trouble of thinking because that is the path to understanding God.’

http://www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentogod.newsDetail&newsid=295