Why not more of us in Congress?

[Minimalist]

i think we have a closet agnostic president right now. when i hear people say "i'm a christian", some say it with a certain conviction an some say it like, "i'm a ... uh ... a christian". i think our current is the latter. perhaps i just want to think that.

Obama is a very smart man. Right there, you have to think that he doubts the bullshit.

A lot of republicunts are probably full of shit, too, but they have to play to the asshole base of their party.

[The Grand Nudger]

I honestly don't care, so long as their religious beliefs do not affect their policymaking. That's always the trouble.

[mrlmichael]

I have heard before that there is somewhere between 20-30 Congressmen who are Atheist, but only one is openly atheist. Their colleagues kind of have some sort of pact not to out them because it would be electoral suicide for them. Quite a shame.

I have heard the comparison before that being an atheist in America today is similar to being a homosexual. You struggle for acceptance in a society that does not trust you, many atheist are "in the closet" for fear of how their views would effect their careers and lives. I can see the similarities, especially for somebody like me who comes from a devout Catholic family but am an atheist myself. Proclaiming I am an atheist would probably by just as awkward as it is for a homosexual to tell their family.

A lot of people have said in this thread that is should not matter whether or not someone is atheist or what religion they believe when electing public officials. In a perfect world I would totally agree with that and wish that is the way it was. However, in the world we do have it does matter. I am more likely to care, and vote for someone based on religious beliefs or lack thereof simply because people take their beliefs and try to make them into public policy. A perfect example of this is recent candidate Rick Santorum. Now, I am not saying I would vote for Rick Santorum based on his other policy positions, that is a different topic, but I would surely be more likely to vote for him if he was atheist, and did not want to make silly laws violating peoples freedom of choice.

[Darth]

Everyone has the right to run for public office, however they should have to declare what they believe about themselves,

For once in your miserable life you are right, G-C.

I want to know what stupid shit my elected representatives believe in. And dead jews coming back to life rates right on the top of my "Fuck You" list.

I disagree with GC, they shouldn't have to. Holding it as a personal requirement i.e. "tell me or you don't get my vote" is fine but politicians are typically granted even more free speech rights than anybody else (slander and whatnot). Having an actual legislative rule that requires politicians to reveal their personal beliefs wouldn't bode well for the rest of society imo.

also, american atheist politicians wouldn't fare to well...

[Annik]

There are 6 states in the US who currently have laws against atheists running for office on the books. You can find the states, along with the laws, here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discriminat...ted_States

[Godscreated]

There are 6 states in the US who currently have laws against atheists running for office on the books. You can find the states, along with the laws, here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discriminat...ted_States

I see our state is one of the six, it should be changed, equal rights for all citizens, still think everyone who runs for public office should have to declare their beliefs, people have the right to know who they are voting for.

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

There are 6 states in the US who currently have laws against atheists running for office on the books.

Um,I think the US constitution forbids any kind of religious test for any elected office.

The No Religious Test Clause of the United States Constitution is found in Article VI, paragraph 3, and states that:

The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Religious_Test_Clause

[Annik]

Obviously, that hasn't stopped the states in question.

[Darth]

There are 6 states in the US who currently have laws against atheists running for office on the books. You can find the states, along with the laws, here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discriminat...ted_States

I see our state is one of the six, it should be changed, equal rights for all citizens, still think everyone who runs for public office should have to declare their beliefs, people have the right to know who they are voting for.

They have the right to not vote for somebody who won't reveal their beliefs.

What if its somebody's religious/moral belief that they shouldn't reveal their religious beliefs, that its an entirely personal affair, are they to be excluded from public office? What if a particular voter is looking for a politician who refuses to disclose their beliefs or lack thereof, under your rules they won't even have the possibility of ever being represented. You are free to ask any politician you want what their beliefs are, and they are in turn free to answer however they wish, a non answer or refusal is a type of answer.

Also, article 6 of your constitution "... The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States."

Seems to me that that would prevent rules that specifically exclude specific religious groups, but that it would also prevent answering the question "what is your religion" from being a requirement* to holding public office.

*requirement in a legislative sense, of course voters are free to have it as on of their own requirements of politicians which may effectively make it a requirement if enough voters do so. I'd bet a bible/christianity or a "my religion is ____" pledge would be like the no tax increase pledge, it easily gain traction in America.

[toro]

I see our state is one of the six, it should be changed, equal rights for all citizens, still think everyone who runs for public office should have to declare their beliefs, people have the right to know who they are voting for.

What other things should we have to know about a candidate? Whether they are gay? Whether they are vegetarians? Whether they did or didn't change their name following marriage? Whether they adopted their children? Had an abortion? Hold stocks? Send their kids to private school? Married a foreigner? Naturally born? Drinks alcohol? What kind and how much? College grades? Don't shop at Walmart? Traveled to Ethiopia? Owns a winter cabin? Buy foreign cars? Use condoms? Watch porn? What kind and how much? The list goes on.

Shall I keep going?

Everything is important to someone. What's important is not supposed to be their personal life, but their planned changes and protections regarding public legislation. Hence, if they intend to be expanding civil rights and simply ignore religious issues, they should share that they are civil libertarians, not that they are Orthodox Christians.

It sounds like you want legislators that are going to be voting based on their religious nature, not their political opinions. I think that's called a legislative theocracy.

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Also, they simply can't enforce those laws, despite the fact that it's been shown to be unconstitutional by SCOPUS. Those six states haven't changed their official constitution though. In fact, in Louisiana, when a legislator tried to introduce a bill to simply re-write that part of the constitution and make it reflect modern law, it was not even voted out of committee by the right-win S***-heads that didn't care.

Way to not read the constitution and ignore federal law which was one of the most major points of immigration and the revolution. Go Christians!