We will have a black President, and a woman President, long before we will have an avowed atheist or even agnostic President of the United States. Possibly even after we have an out gay President, but I think that’s a toss-up.
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So?
That is, statistically how is would work. 52% of Americans are women, about 11% black and only about 8% don’t believe in God.
More over, religion is a far more salient issue than being black, so why wouldn’t an atheist have more backlash? Afte rall, running for President is about beliefs ; religion certainly qualifies as one of those, where race and gender do not.
Agnostics, we already had those.
I personally don’t think race, gender or religion should be an issue in choosing a President. But I guess that puts me in the smallest minority of all.
If you believe that race and gender don’t count as beliefs, you’re touchingly naive.
So because I was born female, that is my belief?? Huh?
If anyone else saw Contact, the scene where Jodie Foster is being interrogated about why she doesn’t believe in god–and being kept from a job she’s qualified for because of it–reminds me of this thred. Or vice versa.
It’s insulting to think that someone can’t rule because they don’t go to church. Bush goes to church and he’s proven to be the most evil, noncompassionate, godless person we’ve had in office in awhile.
Why shouldn’t religion matter? It is one of the most core beliefs one can hold. It permiates into most decisions politically.
If you don’t think religion should matter than you have to think that ANY politics don’t matter. What else shouldn’t matter? Ideas about economics or war or liberties? You might as well pick someone out of a hat. (note: this will apparently increase Howard Dean’s chances of being President)
PS no one said someone *can’t* rule because they don’t believe in God, they just won’t because no one will vote for them.
PS, Adam look, you don’t know “objective” and your readers don’t know “proof.” Seei t all works out for you.
If religion shouldn’t matter in politics, then nothing matters? Yeah, that makes sense, Mosey. Your position as official contrarian around here is on shaky ground.
Actually, religion should matter in politics – politicians should be committed to religious freedom, and separation of church and state. Those actually *are* principles this country was founded upon. Too bad those issues don’t get talked about, and whether the candidate goes to church on Sunday does.
Put another way…
A Mormon, an Episcopalian, a Jew, a Catholic, an agnostic and an atheist walk into a bar. Which one will make the better President?
I would be happy to vote for an agnostic or atheist candidate. Or Christian, Muslim, Jewish… as long as he or she supports the separation of church and state and citizens’ right to practice any religion or none. I am agnostic myself, and feel that religion or the lack thereof has little to do with what I am looking for in any elected official: fair-mindedness, intelligence, moral/ethical conduct and a willingness to work hard.
Mosey’s argument that electing an agnostic/atheist candidate is impossible simply for statistical reasons–i.e., there aren’t enough of us–is just poor reasoning. It assumes we only vote for people who are demographically like ourselves. I’m female and straight–yet I have voted for male and gay candidates. I don’t vote for Tammy Baldwin because she is a lesbian. I vote for her because her political views (which may be informed by, but are not interchangeable with, her sexuality) are similar to mine. While I respect and admire her as an “out” public figure, it is not the main reason I vote for her.
Mosey seems to think politics & demographics — and politics & religion — are inseparable. So how does he explain a candidate like John Kerry, who, as a Catholic, is personally against abortion, but pro-choice as a public official? Mature people can see that sometimes a choice they would not personally make should still be available to other people, because we can’t make other people’s most intimate decisions for them. That is why I’m frustrated about religiously-based arguments against gay marriage. So what if some religions don’t accept it? Some religions forbid drinking, but we haven’t gone back to Prohibition.
We can conduct our religious lives–or non-religious lives–in ways that don’t infringe on other people.