I think if a brillant person came upon the political scene that happened to not be a Christian, but someone that had no specific belief pertaining to God or religion, they would stand no chance of being elected to anything other than dog catcher. The thought police would see to it that no one with a free mind could ever be in office. The best people stay out of politics for a good reason. They don't stand a chance.
Originally posted by buckky I think if a brillant person came upon the political scene that happened to not be a Christian, but someone that had no specific belief pertaining to God or religion, they would stand no chance of being elected to anything other than dog catcher. The thought police would see to it that no one with a free mind could ever be in office. The best people stay out of politics for a good reason. They don't stand a chance.
Pete Stark is an atheist in the US House of Representatives. He's been re-elected numerous times.
You are correct, though, an atheist would have a hard time winning most offices.
Originally posted by rwingett Pete Stark is an atheist in the US House of Representatives. He's been re-elected numerous times.
You are correct, though, an atheist would have a hard time winning most offices.
Forget being an athiest. Just someone other than a Christian.
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Originally posted by buckky I think if a brillant person came upon the political scene that happened to not be a Christian, but someone that had no specific belief pertaining to God or religion, they would stand no chance of being elected to anything other than dog catcher. The thought police would see to it that no one with a free mind could ever be in office. The best people stay out of politics for a good reason. They don't stand a chance.
The current Prime Minister of Australia is an atheist.
Originally posted by buckky I think if a brillant person came upon the political scene that happened to not be a Christian, but someone that had no specific belief pertaining to God or religion, they would stand no chance of being elected to anything other than dog catcher. The thought police would see to it that no one with a free mind could ever be in office. The best people stay out of politics for a good reason. They don't stand a chance.
Give me a break. There are no 'mind police'. America is a Christian majority country—if people generally vote for those whose views conform to their own, it only makes sense that most politicians in America would be (or at least claim to be) Christian. In Muslim democracies, for the same reason, it would be difficult for a Christian or an atheist to be elected there. There's no need to conjure up something like 'mind police' in order to explain the facts.
Also, there's no reason to think that atheists are in possession of a "free mind" simply based on their lack of belief in God. The opinions of atheists are no less determined by bias or less vulnerable to prejudice than are the minds of theists. I know of several atheists in my circle of friends who have extreme prejudices and biases which cause me to question their overall judgment, and other atheist friends who do not. Belief in God or lack thereof is of little value in determining whether an individual is capable of compassionate and progressive thought.
Originally posted by buckky I think if a brillant person came upon the political scene that happened to not be a Christian, but someone that had no specific belief pertaining to God or religion, they would stand no chance of being elected to anything other than dog catcher. The thought police would see to it that no one with a free mind could ever be in office. The best people stay out of politics for a good reason. They don't stand a chance.
Originally posted by buckky Forget being an athiest. Just someone other than a Christian.
Both Keith Ellison, D-MN and André Carson, D-IN are Muslims. Mazie Hirono, D-HI and Hank Johnson, D-GA are Buddhists. Plus there are many Jewish Congress members. And then, as I said, there is the atheist, Pete Stark, from California.
Originally posted by rwingett Both Keith Ellison, D-MN and André Carson, D-IN are Muslims. Mazie Hirono, D-HI and Hank Johnson, D-GA are Buddhists. Plus there are many Jewish Congress members. And then, as I said, there is the atheist, Pete Stark, from California.
Does the demographic in government reflect the demographic in the country?
I suspect that Christians are over-represented and possibly that many politicians exagerate their religious beliefs.
Even in the UK I think an atheist politician will have a harder time than a "believer" (regardless of religion strangely). I believe atheists are the majority in UK but I;m sure someone will prove me wrong!
The problem is that most of the population are brain-washed into trusting religion. so even a staunch atheist will think that a devote Christian is a GOOD guy even while disagreing with their theism.
Originally posted by wolfgang59 The problem is that most of the population are brain-washed into trusting religion. so even a staunch atheist will think that a devote Christian is a GOOD guy even while disagreing with their theism.
I don't think that's true. I have a distrust of some Christians simply because they are Christian. I am biased towards certain denominations.
I believe that even in the US when a politician says they based their decisions on what God told them then a lot of people (even Christians) are critical of that. (both Bush and Palin have been criticized for that but maybe not by US news outlets).
Originally posted by buckky I think if a brillant person came upon the political scene that happened to not be a Christian, but someone that had no specific belief pertaining to God or religion, they would stand no chance of being elected to anything other than dog catcher. The thought police would see to it that no one with a free mind could ever be in office. The best people stay out of politics for a good reason. They don't stand a chance.
Originally posted by rwingett Both Keith Ellison, D-MN and André Carson, D-IN are Muslims. Mazie Hirono, D-HI and Hank Johnson, D-GA are Buddhists. Plus there are many Jewish Congress members. And then, as I said, there is the atheist, Pete Stark, from California.
Originally posted by twhitehead Hey! I thought Obama was Muslim! 🙂
But he ran as a Christian, inspite of his muslim background as a child.
I don't doubt that much of his thinking is aligned with the Black Muslims
of America. He however, attended a Black Christian church headed by
a radical pastor, who preached hatred toward the White race.
Originally posted by rwingett Both Keith Ellison, D-MN and André Carson, D-IN are Muslims. Mazie Hirono, D-HI and Hank Johnson, D-GA are Buddhists. Plus there are many Jewish Congress members. And then, as I said, there is the atheist, Pete Stark, from California.
Originally posted by RJHinds But he ran as a Christian, inspite of his muslim background as a child.
I don't doubt that much of his thinking is aligned with the Black Muslims
of America. He however, attended a Black Christian church headed by
a radical pastor, who preached hatred toward the White race.
What was his "Muslim background" as a child, and what is your evidence that his "thinking is aligned with the Black Muslims of America," whatever that means?