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Have there ever been any Atheist presidents?

Doubt it....many people think that believers are better people than atheists
rolleye.gif


Odd, given the separation of Church and State.....


JC
 
Originally posted by: JC
Doubt it....many people think that believers are better people than atheists
rolleye.gif


Odd, given the separation of Church and State.....


JC
Click to expand...

Yeah, 'cause, ya know the reason behind seperation of church and state is to keep public officals from having relgious beliefs...


Lethal
 
I remember hearing that 95% of Americans believe in some form of a deity.

So atheists aren't a big portion of the population - so there's a better chance a religious person would be elected.

"i hope so i am tired of having WASPs in office."

Hmm, let's see, Kennedy was Catholic. I'm sure there were others, but I can't think of any off the top of my head.
 
Originally posted by: X-Man
I remember hearing that 95% of Americans believe in some form of a deity.

So atheists aren't a big portion of the population - so there's a better chance a religious person would be elected.
Click to expand...

That is true, but lets not kid ourselves. If a suitable candidate said he is an atheist, half the population would not vote for him because they'll automatically think he has no morals.



 
Slate article, somewhat related

"The Protestant monopoly no longer stems from prejudice. Americans insist they would vote for a presidential candidate of almost any religious background. In 1937, 46 percent said they would vote for a Jewish presidential candidate, and 47 percent said they wouldn't. In 1999, 92 percent said they would vote for a Jew, and only 6 percent wouldn't. In 1958, 27 percent of Americans said they would not vote for a Catholic. In 1999, only 4 percent said they wouldn't. Though folks probably pretend to be more tolerant than they are, the virulent anti-Catholicism that cost Kennedy 2 million votes has vanished, as has most anti-Semitism. No one would dream of hinting that a Catholic president would take orders from the pope, as some did in 1960. Mario Cuomo says he "never even considered the possibility" of anti-Catholic prejudice when he was pondering a presidential run. Recent non-Protestant candidates didn't fail because of religion. Hatch was dreary. Specter was a pro-choice Republican in a pro-life party. Ted Kennedy never recovered from Chappaquiddick. Bobby Kennedy was murdered. Buchanan was too vitriolic."

. . .

"As for atheists, forget it. Only 49 percent of Americans would vote for an atheist presidential candidate?compared to 59 percent who would vote for a gay one."
 
Clinton's behaviour in office certainly didn't indicate any concern about whatever "god" he may believed in. His behaviour strongly suggests he didn't believe in anything except personal gratification.
 
59 percent of Americans would not vote someone who was gay into office. No way, no how. That's just BS people tell pollers. And 92 percent of Americans wound't vote a Jew either. You know why? Because Joe Liberman is Jewish who is moderate, supports agressive military action and reform on the economy. One of the only Dems to praise Bush's foreign policy yet has intentions of cleaning up at home (economy, etc) . Isn't that what Americans are looking for? Yes, but he won't win the nomination because Dems are afraid to put him on the ballot and even if he did win the nomination, he would not beat Bush. Many people would say, oh yeah, he might be a good candidate, but when it comes time to pulling that level, it won't happen.
 
Originally posted by: IGBT
Clinton's behaviour in office certainly didn't indicate any concern about whatever "god" he may believed in. His behaviour strongly suggests he didn't believe in anything except personal gratification.
Click to expand...

oh, thats funny, only the godless have affairs.
 
I doubt we'll see an atheist president (or any other high level politician) in our lifetime.

It's funny how a country who separates church from state still has oaths to a god and a bible during swearing in ceremonies, etc...
 
Originally posted by: NakaNaka
59 percent of Americans would not vote someone who was gay into office. No way, no how. That's just BS people tell pollers. And 92 percent of Americans wound't vote a Jew either. You know why? Because Joe Liberman is Jewish who is moderate, supports agressive military action and reform on the economy. One of the only Dems to praise Bush's foreign policy yet has intentions of cleaning up at home (economy, etc) . Isn't that what Americans are looking for? Yes, but he won't win the nomination because Dems are afraid to put him on the ballot and even if he did win the nomination, he would not beat Bush. Many people would say, oh yeah, he might be a good candidate, but when it comes time to pulling that level, it won't happen.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't vote for Lieberman, either. Not because he's Jewish - because he believes in censorship of video games. Stupid reason? Yeah, probably, but I agree with most every other position he's taken.

Originally posted by: aircooled
I doubt we'll see an atheist president (or any other high level politician) in our lifetime.

It's funny how a country who separates church from state still has oaths to a god and a bible during swearing in ceremonies, etc...
Click to expand...

The seperation of church in state as referred to in the Constitution is more of a declaration that the U.S. will not have an "offcial, national religion", as England did when we broke away from them. Why do you think the Pilgrims came here in the first place?
 
Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
Originally posted by: IGBT
Clinton's behaviour in office certainly didn't indicate any concern about whatever "god" he may believed in. His behaviour strongly suggests he didn't believe in anything except personal gratification.
Click to expand...

oh, thats funny, only the godless have affairs.
Click to expand...

LOL...

I liked Clinton.

 
Well, if there have been they certainly haven't let it be known publicly. There's no reason an Atheist pres. would be any better or worse then a non-atheist. But if I was atheist and was running for public office I would prolly take some extra effort to make sure it was not public information.
 
Originally posted by: X-Man
Slate article, somewhat related

"The Protestant monopoly no longer stems from prejudice. Americans insist they would vote for a presidential candidate of almost any religious background. In 1937, 46 percent said they would vote for a Jewish presidential candidate, and 47 percent said they wouldn't. In 1999, 92 percent said they would vote for a Jew, and only 6 percent wouldn't. In 1958, 27 percent of Americans said they would not vote for a Catholic. In 1999, only 4 percent said they wouldn't. Though folks probably pretend to be more tolerant than they are, the virulent anti-Catholicism that cost Kennedy 2 million votes has vanished, as has most anti-Semitism. No one would dream of hinting that a Catholic president would take orders from the pope, as some did in 1960. Mario Cuomo says he "never even considered the possibility" of anti-Catholic prejudice when he was pondering a presidential run. Recent non-Protestant candidates didn't fail because of religion. Hatch was dreary. Specter was a pro-choice Republican in a pro-life party. Ted Kennedy never recovered from Chappaquiddick. Bobby Kennedy was murdered. Buchanan was too vitriolic."

. . .

"As for atheists, forget it. Only 49 percent of Americans would vote for an atheist presidential candidate?compared to 59 percent who would vote for a gay one."
Click to expand...

I wonder what the percentage for Islam would be. I'd guess lower than athiests.

And when half the poeple won't vote for you just because you're athiest, you know you stand no chance. On the bright side, if trends continue an athiest or gay president will be possible in 2060 or so.
 
Originally posted by: Beast1284
Originally posted by: Ameesh
i hope so i am tired of having WASPs in office.
Click to expand...

?
Click to expand...

WASP stands for White Anglo-Saxon Protestant. They are also sometimes known as "whitey" or "the man". I don't know the exact number, but at least 80% of all politicans and business leaders probably fall under that ethnic catagory.
 
Originally posted by: X-Man

Hmm, let's see, Kennedy was Catholic. I'm sure there were others, but I can't think of any off the top of my head.
Click to expand...

Kennedy was the only one that is not PROTESTANT!!!

 
Originally posted by: DaWhim
Originally posted by: X-Man

Hmm, let's see, Kennedy was Catholic. I'm sure there were others, but I can't think of any off the top of my head.
Click to expand...

Kennedy was the only one that is not PROTESTANT!!!
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That was his point, pretty much. No Catholics are protestant.

 
Hmm... well, if Abraham Lincoln was an atheist... Thomas Jefferson was thought to be an atheist in his day. I don't know about Lincoln though...
 
Originally posted by: Mith
Hmm... well, if Abraham Lincoln was an atheist... Thomas Jefferson was thought to be an atheist in his day. I don't know about Lincoln though...
Click to expand...





Try Google.
 
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