CTV News Montreal

Updated: Fri Feb. 27 2009 4:36:22 PM

ctvmontreal.ca

God probably doesn't exist, so stop worrying and enjoy your life, says a group of Quebec atheists.

And soon they'll be spreading the message on downtown busses.

The Quebec Humanist association has bought ad space on about 10 bus panels. They will appear on busses that circulate downtown.

"There is still a fairly sizeable segment of the population that considers atheists [to be] second rate citizens, and are not to be trusted. And this is the attitude that we want to change," said Michel Virard, with the Quebec Humanist Association.

Similar campaigns have run in London, England, Washington, DC, and Toronto to varying degrees of controversy.

Australia and Italy have banned such campaigns in the past.

In Montreal, it appears citizens are of mixed mind.

"People should be allowed to express their views. I don't necessarily believe it, but that's okay," said one man who spoke to CTV Montreal.

"I think some people would be very angry at that," said another.

According to the QHA, at last count there were 400,000 non-believers in the province. That means they are second to Roman Catholics in terms of belief groups Quebec.

The group points out that US President Barack Obama was raised by an atheist mother. They point out he gave them a shout-out in his inauguration speech.

"And the fact that the President of the United States dares mention that there are non-believers in the U.S. that was a big thing. I hope it's going to catch on when other people realize you can be good without God," said Michel Pion, also with the Quebec Humanist Association.