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Why can't an atheist get elected president?

Why can't an atheist get elected president?

Spirituality

MB

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Most people seem to think an atheist cannot be elected in this day and age because people who believe in god will not vote for him/her.

I am assuming this is correct. Why is it correct? Do people distrust atheists? Why do spiritual people discriminate against atheists?

rc

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Originally posted by Metal Brain
Most people seem to think an atheist cannot be elected in this day and age because people who believe in god will not vote for him/her.

I am assuming this is correct. Why is it correct? Do people distrust atheists? Why do spiritual people discriminate against atheists?
Australia has an atheist head of state, but you must realise that America is, well
America, and not representative of the rest of the world. I think it will be a long time
before such a thing happens in America where those silly evangelical Christians,
foaming with hatred for everything not of their own ilk, decry such as satanic. Even as
a theist i dont distrust atheists, in fact i find them more reasonable than many theists.
In what way are spiritual people discriminating against atheists?

ka
The Axe man

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Originally posted by robbie carrobie
Australia has an atheist head of state, but you must realise that America is, well
America, and not representative of the rest of the world. I think it will be a long time
before such a thing happens in America where those silly evangelical Christians,
foaming with hatred for everything not of their own ilk, decry such as satanic. Even as
a ...[text shortened]... asonable than many theists.
In what way are spiritual people discriminating against atheists?
she might be an atheist on paper, but she followed (as did all other PM's here) America into all "God blessed" wars. Politically speaking Australia is just another U.S. state, so any religionist point of view here is mute because out hands are tied.
(Remember that we are only one of three of the "coallition of the willing", including UK and the U.S. The rest of europe opposed that action. )

Australian politics is rotten to the core ...

w

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Originally posted by Metal Brain
Most people seem to think an atheist cannot be elected in this day and age because people who believe in god will not vote for him/her.

I am assuming this is correct. Why is it correct? Do people distrust atheists? Why do spiritual people discriminate against atheists?
Atheists I thought were about 3 or 4% of the population in the US.

Anyhew, what makes you think the US has not already had one? I think you will find what they say and do are two entirely different things indeed, or do you not follow politics that much?

So the question begs, why would an atheist admit he is an atheist when running for the highest position in the land, unless the population increases dramatically in terms of atheists?

MB

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Originally posted by robbie carrobie
Australia has an atheist head of state, but you must realise that America is, well
America, and not representative of the rest of the world. I think it will be a long time
before such a thing happens in America where those silly evangelical Christians,
foaming with hatred for everything not of their own ilk, decry such as satanic. Even as
a ...[text shortened]... asonable than many theists.
In what way are spiritual people discriminating against atheists?
If a person avoids voting for an atheist just because he is an atheist it is a type of discrimination. I became curious about this when I watched the McLaughlin Group last week. Someone on the panel suggested people want someone with the same beliefs as themselves, but I don't see how believing in god is going to help a person make decisions. If anything, I would think it would have the opposite effect.

MB

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Originally posted by whodey
Atheists I thought were about 3 or 4% of the population in the US.

Anyhew, what makes you think the US has not already had one? I think you will find what they say and do are two entirely different things indeed, or do you not follow politics that much?

So the question begs, why would an atheist admit he is an atheist when running for the highest position in the land, unless the population increases dramatically in terms of atheists?
Valid point. When I watched the McLaughlin Group last weekend Eleanor Clift said the same thing.

GWB could be a closet atheist. It would not surprise me.

rc

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Originally posted by karoly aczel
she might be an atheist on paper, but she followed (as did all other PM's here) America into all "God blessed" wars. Politically speaking Australia is just another U.S. state, so any religionist point of view here is mute because out hands are tied.
(Remember that we are only one of three of the "coallition of the willing", including UK and the U.S. The rest of europe opposed that action. )

Australian politics is rotten to the core ...
Australian politics is rotten to the core, correction, ALL politics is rotten to the core,
why? self interest.

667joe

Maryland

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Abraham Lincoln, perhaps our greatest president is likely to have been an atheist!

667joe

Maryland

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Originally posted by whodey
Atheists I thought were about 3 or 4% of the population in the US.

Anyhew, what makes you think the US has not already had one? I think you will find what they say and do are two entirely different things indeed, or do you not follow politics that much?

So the question begs, why would an atheist admit he is an atheist when running for the highest position in the land, unless the population increases dramatically in terms of atheists?
Atheists are 10% to 15% of the US population.

rc

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Originally posted by Metal Brain
If a person avoids voting for an atheist just because he is an atheist it is a type of discrimination. I became curious about this when I watched the McLaughlin Group last week. Someone on the panel suggested people want someone with the same beliefs as themselves, but I don't see how believing in god is going to help a person make decisions. If anything, I would think it would have the opposite effect.
i thought that in politics policy mattered, that is the actual content of what a particular
candidate is promising to deliver irrespective of their personal beliefs. Why a persons
personal beliefs should have a bearing on either their ability to make decisions or to
form a governing body you have not stated although without a doubt i suspect that
some kinds of bias may exist. I have no idea what the McLaughlin group is.

There were and are many religious groups which have fomented great social change
from hospital and prison reform to the abolition of slavery. Are you willing to deny
that they were motivated to a lesser or greater degree by their religious convictions?

rc

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Originally posted by 667joe
Atheists are 10% to 15% of the US population.
so are Texan longhorns, your point is?

667joe

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Originally posted by robbie carrobie
so are Texan longhorns, your point is?
Atheists are more than 3-4% oof the population.

667joe

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Originally posted by robbie carrobie
so are Texan longhorns, your point is?
Atheists are more than 3-4% oof the population.

667joe

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Originally posted by robbie carrobie
so are Texan longhorns, your point is?
Atheists are more than 3-4% oof the population.

667joe

Maryland

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Originally posted by robbie carrobie
so are Texan longhorns, your point is?
Atheists are more than 3-4% oof the population.

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