http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/story/o.../16646491/

I kind of get the feeling that this "problem" is the kind that fixes itself, Brain

The answer is... yes.

(October 6, 2014 at 6:41 am)Alice Wrote: I kind of get the feeling that this "problem" is the kind that fixes itself, Brain

The answer is... yes.

I get the feeling that you don't recognize the problem.

The answer is... it's problematic.

(October 6, 2014 at 7:12 am)Chas Wrote: I get the feeling that you don't recognize the problem.

The answer is... it's problematic.

Old people stuck in their ways, and people who haven't declared themselves unaffiliated from religion? The first will die out within two generations, the last will not be guided by the first in two generations.

The only way this does not "solve" itself is if we take a particular and sudden shift to the dystopian and/or fascism, and somehow return to alienation of noncaucasian peoples (and russians, of course).

I don't perceive it as a problem that needs to be addressed, as it will be addressed naturally when politicians are aware that the masses are more inclined to trust secular judgement in its internal affairs than the guidance of 'God'. It's only relevant in the short term... and there is little that isn't very drastic (re: dystopian) that can possibly change that in the short term.

Poll after poll after poll tells politicians the same thing: there isn't anything they can identify as that would be less popular than atheist. Open atheists can get elected, but it doesn't seem to happen all that often. But even that varies from region to region. In California or New York, an atheist would stand a much better chance than they would down here in Texas. Atheists also poll better in urban areas than in rural areas.

(October 6, 2014 at 7:12 am)Chas Wrote:

(October 6, 2014 at 6:41 am)Alice Wrote: I kind of get the feeling that this "problem" is the kind that fixes itself, Brain

The answer is... yes.

I get the feeling that you don't recognize the problem.

The answer is... it's problematic.

AND? It is not our baggage that believers hold.

Of course, in local areas atheists could get elected in some regions. However, in higher offices it would take 79 to 100 years before this occurs.

Oh sure, atheists can be elected to major public office .. just not here in the US.

Rep. Pete Stark (D. CA) and Rep. Barney Frank were both atheists. Neither is currently in office. Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (D. AZ) is almost certainly an atheist.

And I'll eat my hat if Senator Tammy Baldwin (D. WI) isn't an atheist.

There are very likely more in the closet.

Open and notorious adulterers are considered viable presidential candidates in the conservative party (Giuliani and Gingrich). Serial polygamists are respected and adored by almost all stripes of conservatives (McCain, Limbaugh, Dole, etal).

So what's the problem with atheists ??

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Hell, Reagan's wife was consorting with an actual honest to God witch, even to the extent the witch had veto power over the presidential schedule, and the religiousites had nary a peep of concern, let alone protest over the practice.