Could an Athiest be elected President?

[Turtleboy]

Forget a woman, a black, a Jew, a Mormon -- those are all possible, under the right circumstances.

An athiest? No way.

I'm not even talking about an "in your face" athiest, the type of person who'se religion is athiesm.

I just mean someone who happens not to believe in God, or be part of any organized religion.

No way in the non-existent hell would the American people ever elect them President, even if that person was otherwise Perfect.

[Man In Black]

I would think so, as long as that person didn't say anything about it.......

[Pablo]

No, I do not believe so.

[JPriller]

Of course not. There was a poll taken some while ago about the trustworthiness of persons of varying religions, and Atheists scored worse than Muslims for the bottom.

This is one of the things that makes Christians in this country whining about "persecution" all the more ironically entertaining to us Atheistical folk.

Here's (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14638243/site/newsweek/) mention of some older polls, the most recent that gives 37% as the number of Americans would would vote for an Atheist. In 1999 we got beat out by homosexuals.

[Man In Black]

What about a black, athiest, lesbian?

I would. :P

[eddyj]

Not a chance in hell...so to speak. :p

In the movie Contact, the Jodie Foster character loses out on the big trip because she is an atheist, and the people in charge cannot handle that. I see someone running for president as getting the exact same reaction, except more so.

[Turtleboy]

Well what office could they achieve?

Governor? Maybe of Vermont.

Senator? Ditto.

Congressman of the right districts.

In order to be president, you have to be somethng first.

[Pablo]

Well what office could they achieve?

Governor? Maybe of Vermont.

Senator? Ditto.

Congressman of the right districts.

In order to be president, you have to be somethng first.
Actor -> head of SAG -> Congressman from the California San Francisco Bay Area.

[aindik]

Check out the Arkansas Constitution
http://www.sos.arkansas.gov/ar-constitution/arcart19/arcart19-1.htm

That can't possibly be constitutional under the First Amendment, can it?

[Pablo]

Check out the Arkansas Constitution
http://www.sos.arkansas.gov/ar-constitution/arcart19/arcart19-1.htm

That can't possibly be constitutional under the First Amendment, can it?
Sure it can. This appears to hit two parts of the First Amendment and don't you know: two negatives make a positive.

[RegBarc]

Check out the Arkansas Constitution
http://www.sos.arkansas.gov/ar-constitution/arcart19/arcart19-1.htm

That can't possibly be constitutional under the First Amendment, can it?
Not saying I agree with the reasoning (and I certainly don't), but it could be under the assumption an Athetist isn't a religion in and of itself. I believe Atheism to be a religion, and they obviously disagree.

Alternatively, they may have put that there because it's not a religious test, but a personal philosophy test (since there are those that believe Atheism is a philosophy).

Not saying I like it, but it makes sense when put that way. To me, anyway.

[JohnJr]

God willing. ;)

-John

[aindik]

Not saying I agree with the reasoning (and I <i>certainly</i> don't), but it could be under the assumption an Athetist isn't a religion in and of itself. I believe Atheism to be a religion, and they obviously disagree.

Alternatively, they may have put that there because it's not a religious test, but a personal philosophy test (since there are those that believe Atheism is a philosophy).

Not saying I like it, but it makes sense when put that way. To me, anyway.

It's the endorsement of religion versus absence thereof. It's also discriminatory on the basis of (lack of) religion.

[JYoung]

No way.
I think it's more likely that a Black Man or a Woman would be elected President before an Atheist would be.

[BrettStah]

I think it's likely that we've already had one or more atheists/agnostics serve as president. But I know what you're asking... could someone be open in their lack of belief in the supernatural be elected. Not yet, I don't think. The closest that we'd probably see would be someone who refuses to publicly discuss his religious views, under the auspices of a right to keep those views private. Then add in some blather about respecting everyone's right to believe what they choose to believe, and respecting the right to worship or not worship freely without persecution, etc.

[BrettStah]

It's the endorsement of religion versus absence thereof. It's also discriminatory on the basis of (lack of) religion.
It's also a great way to avoid being a witness in any trial in Arkansas. :)

[heySkippy]

I think it's likely that we've already had one or more atheists/agnostics serve as president.
I agree with that. They were just smart enough to keep their mouth shut about it.

[Martin Tupper]

I believe that an unabashed Atheist could definitely win the Presidency...if he was running against a pedophile (or Hillary Clinton).

[JoeyJoJo]

I definitely don't think an "out of the closet" atheist could win in a presidential election. it would be possible to win the northeast and west coast, but I don't think that he or she could carry enough of the rest of the country to win.

Depending on the state, I'd agree that it would be possible to get to the Senate and House, and in a few more states than VT, governor would be possible.

The only political office that I've ever noticed the religious affiliation of the candidate was President, and that's only when it gets past the primary season and it starts being shouted to the whole country which candidate loves God more.

It seems to matter more elsewhere than here. I couldn't tell you what the beliefs are of either of our new congressmen (but they're Democrats so they're probably God-hating liberals ;)) or our senators or Governor. I suspect that is not the case in some other states.

[aindik]

I think it's likely that we've already had one or more atheists/agnostics serve as president. But I know what you're asking... could someone be open in their lack of belief in the supernatural be elected. Not yet, I don't think. The closest that we'd probably see would be someone who refuses to publicly discuss his religious views, under the auspices of a right to keep those views private. Then add in some blather about respecting everyone's right to believe what they choose to believe, and respecting the right to worship or not worship freely without persecution, etc.

In the fantasy-politics of The West Wing, Arnold Vinick (played by Alan Alda) was the Republican nominee for President. He wasn't an "atheist" per se, but there was a mini-scandal about him admitting that he hasn't been to church in a number of years or decades. He diffused it with a speech much like that one. I wonder if that would work in real life. Probably not with a Republican, but maybe with a Democrat.

[mark13]

Check out the Arkansas Constitution
http://www.sos.arkansas.gov/ar-constitution/arcart19/arcart19-1.htm

That can't possibly be constitutional under the First Amendment, can it?
Well, one positive thing is that if you're an atheist you won't ever have to worry about testifying in court.

Want to kill somebody? Lure them to an atheist convention in Little Rock first! ;)

[Otto]

Check out the Arkansas Constitution
http://www.sos.arkansas.gov/ar-constitution/arcart19/arcart19-1.htm

That can't possibly be constitutional under the First Amendment, can it?
Doesn't have anything to do with the First Amendment. It's explicitly illegal according to Article Six of the US Constitution.

To the best of my knowledge, it's never been enforced in Arkansas, and wouldn't hold up if somebody tried.

[aindik]

Doesn't have anything to do with the First Amendment. It's explicitly illegal according to Article Six of the US Constitution.

To the best of my knowledge, it's never been enforced in Arkansas, and wouldn't hold up if somebody tried.

I'm not sure if Article Six applies to the states. It's textually ambiguous ("but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States"), and I'm not aware of a case that says the 14th Amendment makes it apply to the states (like the First Amendment and most (but not all) other aspects of the Bill of Rights), though that might be simply because there hasn't been an opportunity for such a case.

[bsnelson]

No, an atheist will never be POTUS unless there is a MAJOR shift in thinking in this country. We'll have a woman, a black person, probably even a gay or lesbian before we have an atheist in office (OK, maybe that last one is a stretch, but maybe not).

Brad

[Pendragn]

Wow interesting question. There go my big plans for '12.

tk

[Pablo]

Wow interesting question. There go my big plans for '12.

tk
Don't worry. You can become born again before then.

[RegBarc]

Wow interesting question. There go my big plans for '12.

tk
Randomly pick a date and call it your "rebirthday". Every ultra-religious type will know what it means and not question you again.

Worked for one guy already. ;)

[Pendragn]

Will I get two sets of birthday presents? If so, I might be interested.

tk

[RegBarc]

Will I get two sets of birthday presents? If so, I might be interested.

tk
If you considering getting dunked in a tank of water voluntarily a present...yes, I guess it's a gift. A "Hallelujah!" type of gift, but still.

If you want an easier way out, but are willing to lose some net votes, join an Episcopal Church outside of the Virginia Diocese grasp.