By Jake Thomas
jthomas@portlandobserver.com

Beginning this week, 10 TriMet buses will now be displaying advertising that challenges the beliefs of religious people.

The Portland Coalition of Reason purchased ads that will run on the side of TriMet buses that feature an image of a blue sky and clouds with the words “Good without God? Millions Are.”

Similar ads have been run in 14 other cities across the country by the United Coalition of Reason, which funded the Portland ads, as part of a national campaign to remind agnostics, atheists, and humanists that there are other like-minded individuals, according to a statement by the organization.

“We want people to understand that humanists, freethinkers, agnostics and atheists are essentially like everyone else,” said Sylvia Benner, spokesperson for Portland Coalition of Reason in a statement. “We have most of the same values and concerns. And people will find us among their friends, neighbors, coworkers and family members. Now it’s time for us to be acknowledged and granted our rightful place at the table.”

TriMet Public Information Officer Bekki Witt said that TriMet used to only accept advertising by organizations offering goods and services, but a court challenge to the rule prompted the mass-transit agency to suspend the rule until further notice.

“We pretty much get to accept anything now,” said Witt.

Witt, who didn’t know which lines will be displaying the ads, noted that TriMet has accepted advertising from religious groups in the past, but wasn’t sure if it had run ads from organizations expressing skepticism towards religion.

The ads run until December 13.