Randy

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Username:: solitaire
Name:: Randy
Location:: Rossville, IN
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Par For The Course

Religion > Imagine

Imagine

Sen. Mike Pence (R) is running for governor of Indiana. His commercials are filled with all that home-grown, family values, religious piety that makes one (me) want to vomit. I'm 100% certain he'll win. (By the way, remember Rupert of Survivors? He's running on the Libertarian ticket.)

I just wonder how an atheist candidate would fare running for public office--any office?

I can tell you that (according to Gallup poll) despite 19% of Americans claiming to be "non-religious", atheists are on the bottom of the totem pole when it comes to voting for one. No secular candidate would dare admit to being a non-believer. It's the kiss of death. (There is one atheist in Congress--Pete Stark of California, but he was elected and re-elected before he "came out".)

Only 54% of those polled said they would vote for an atheist, below the 58% Muslim supporters. A clear religious test exists for candidates for public office. This comes after 52 years since JFK stated "I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute". How dismaying that standing up for secular government can be seen as career killing, even seditious.

Indira Gandhi and Nehru were secularists. Many other world leaders were and are non-believers (Chilean president and Australian Prime Minister).

It may be a matter of time before Americans see the light. Percentages have improved. In 1958, only 18% said they would vote for an atheist. And with a growing number of non-believers, who knows what will happen in another 50 years.

In my lifetime, I'd love to see an "non-religious" candidate run for and WIN some sort of public office. Hope springs eternal.

posted on Aug 16, 2012 11:45 AM ()

Comments:

Some of the most religious people I know and have known, are the most difficult people, most intolerant, most controlling, most judgmental. Not all, but most in my limited experience.

comment by crazylife on Aug 21, 2012 9:26 PM ()

For sure! Fortunately, I don't judge people by their religion. Character counts.

reply by solitaire on Aug 26, 2012 5:13 AM ()

I seem to have a lot of agnostics/atheists in my life. I don't know if they were always there or just now "coming out" because the conditions are right. Also, many friends were raised Catholic and "fell away". Including me.

comment by boots586 on Aug 17, 2012 2:57 PM ()

I think, like gays, we're "coming out" more and more. I'm optimistic we'll be a growing trend.

reply by solitaire on Aug 20, 2012 4:50 AM ()

Church and state may be separate at the institutional level, but at the human level folks still use their religious values to woo voters because it defines for the voters the basis of their ethics and values (morals). The 'moral majority' believes atheists are amoral. That may be completely incorrect, but they cannot understand the source or foundation of someones ethics and values if it is not derived from the Judeo-Christian or other religious teachings. I think atheists need to do a better job of defining their morality base if they want broader acceptance.
BTW: It sickens me too when political candidates talk about their religious values. Can you spell HYPOCRITE?

comment by dragonflyby on Aug 17, 2012 8:21 AM ()

You state the case very well. Naturally, it irritates the hell out of me (no pun intended).

reply by solitaire on Aug 20, 2012 4:47 AM ()

comment by elderjane on Aug 17, 2012 7:54 AM ()

I would vote for an atheist as long as he didn't trample on my right to exercise religious freedom.

comment by jerms on Aug 17, 2012 4:30 AM ()

Logic is better than what is in second place: blind faith -- insofar as interfering with religious freedom, nothing that has happened so far comes close despite attempts to mischaracterize the health benefits issue at religious based institutions. Even after absolving them of having to pay for things they disagree with, they insisted they were being discriminated against, egged on by those with political motivation and too eagerly accepted because, after all, the guy "doing it to us," was black. That is definitely a factor. Mind you, I am not placing you in this camp - I only hope you cast an objective eye to this kind of behavior.

reply by tealstar on Aug 17, 2012 5:23 AM ()

Surprisingly (or perhaps not), most atheists are a tolerant bunch. They know what it's like to be excluded and try not to act the way "religious folks" do. I, for one, respect my believer friends and family. I'm just happy in my own skin (in not believing).

reply by solitaire on Aug 17, 2012 5:17 AM ()

In the 50 and 60s there were newspaper stories about the declining church membership in this country. I thought we were on our way to a logic based society. Ha.

comment by tealstar on Aug 16, 2012 1:11 PM ()

It's cyclical, and we're a gullible people (no offense to Jeremy).

reply by solitaire on Aug 17, 2012 5:13 AM ()

You imply that logic precludes religion. I disagree.

reply by jerms on Aug 17, 2012 4:29 AM ()

Hi Randy, Maybe YOU should run for an office, any office, just to test the theory.... Hmmmmmmm..... At least we all know there would be at least ONE honest candidate on the ballot..

comment by hennaladykim on Aug 16, 2012 1:01 PM ()

I've thought about it--for no other reason than to test my theory and quench my curiosity. But, I'm not smart enough to run for any office. Or is that just smart enough NOT to run?

reply by solitaire on Aug 17, 2012 5:12 AM ()

Imagine there no sunshine.I am like kris.I grew up Catholics and dislike religion.
I am sick of tired hear about all of this religion that is going on.
They are a bunch of phonies.Greed etc.nuff said
I

comment by fredo on Aug 16, 2012 12:20 PM ()

It's pervasive and invasive. Drives me nuts.