Atheist representation

[fuckass365]

What would it take for Atheists to be represented as a minority in the United States? Is there anything we can do to get this going?

[Paul the Human]

Get them to come out of the closet. That's the first step. I proudly display the Scarlet A on my car.

[Minimalist]

Um, xtian fuckwittery notwithstanding, the constitution specifies no religious test for any office.

[libalchris]

Um, xtian fuckwittery notwithstanding, the constitution specifies no religious test for any office.

Several state constitutions do...

These in particular: Arkansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas

[Minimalist]

Unconstitutional.

http://ffrf.org/faq/state-church/religio...ic-office/

Eight states still have language requiring a belief in God in order to take public office. However, the Torasco v. Watkins decision renders the statutes null and void. Please note that Maryland’s and South Carolina’s religious test provisions have been explicitly struck down by federal courts.

[Shell B]

What would it take for Atheists to be represented as a minority in the United States? Is there anything we can do to get this going?

Are religious or non-religious views being covered under this now? Hmmm, I'm scared to go there. Scientologists will be claiming minoritiship right behind us. Ick.

[mediamogul]

Unconstitutional.

http://ffrf.org/faq/state-church/religio...ic-office/

Eight states still have language requiring a belief in God in order to take public office. However, the Torasco v. Watkins decision renders the statutes null and void. Please note that Maryland’s and South Carolina’s religious test provisions have been explicitly struck down by federal courts.

Precedent was set for this in the 1960's. The constitutional separation of church and state on a national level overrides individual state's constitutions on this issue. There is some noise right now about bringing suit against a city councilman, Cecil Bothwell, in N. Carolina who is an atheist and the right wingers are trying to say he doesn't pass the "religious test". I like his cavalier attitude about it. He thinks that it might be fun to go head to head with the christians.

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2...n1213.html

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This was the point I was trying to make in my thread "rebranding atheism" about uniting under a single banner and essentially demanding rights as a minority group.

The first step is uniting under a banner. I think as inclusive of all non-religious people as possible the better.

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

What would it take for Atheists to be represented as a minority in the United States? Is there anything we can do to get this going?

Nothing,I hope. The last thing the US needs is another group of fanatical loons claiming a mandate they do not have.

Oh,there is no 'we'; atheists are not an homogeneous group in any sense of the word.

[libalchris]

Unconstitutional.

http://ffrf.org/faq/state-church/religio...ic-office/

Eight states still have language requiring a belief in God in order to take public office. However, the Torasco v. Watkins decision renders the statutes null and void. Please note that Maryland’s and South Carolina’s religious test provisions have been explicitly struck down by federal courts.

I completely agree. That doesn't mean that if an atheist tried to run for public office that they'd be able to. You know how the Christian right can be, especially in states like Texas.

[fuckass365]

Oh,there is no 'we'; atheists are not an homogeneous group in any sense of the word.

No, but as atheists we all agree that the likelihood of a god is very very small. So we do share one similar belief, for lack of a better word.