Dean vs Nader...a small personal point and question.

[anelson]

Yesterday, Howard Dean was debating Ralph Nader regarding the need and status of third parties in the US. It was covered on NPR and C-SPAN 2. Anyway, one of the last questions asked by the moderator was of this effect....How long will it be before someone like an atheist has a legitimate shot at the presidency of the US? Though I am a huge Dean supporter, I was sad to hear him shy away from the answer. Both of these guys kind of hemmed and hawed...

http://www.npr.org/features/feature.php?wfId=3262027

I have thought of running for political office some day, but I wonder what kind of chance I have when so few Americans understand or are willing to support atheists. Would I have to be a "closet" atheist to get into politics? Are there ANY elected atheists in the US?

[qazplm]

1. yes

you would...as an agnostic, if I ever have aspirations for elected office, I will have to basically lie or just remain silent on my religious beliefs to have any chance of getting elected.

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. Yeah, probably several closet atheists, or at least agnostics

in office. But most are afraid to speak up in this insane near-theocracy we are living in. :(

[TexasSissy]

3. I would hesitate a bit on voting for an atheist.

Not for any philosophical reason right off the bat. But because the few atheists I know of are/were weird people. I think it's kind of odd to be an atheist. That's just what I think.

Why do I think that? Well, religious people are religious because they have "faith." Others are agnostics because there is no absolute proof that there is a God...or there is not a God. I understand that, on a logical basis. But to be an atheist one must have faith in the negative. In other words, there's no proof of what they believe in. And it doesn't require a faith IN someone or something. So they are being atheistic for some reason such as wanting to be anti-religious. Which is a negative thing that I view as somewhat hostile to another's belief. I'm more comfortable with people who have a positive view.

Having said that, I'd consider an atheist, depending on the person. But I'm not very religious, so if I would hesitate in voting for an atheist, I think it's fair to say that the majority of people, who are religious, wouldn't even consider it.

[anelson]

5. I am not sure you understand atheism....

but I do appreciate your points. I am atheistic from the stand point of not believing in any god, gods, deity, etc. However, I do believe in people, and how we are ultimately responsible for the good and ill that befalls our world and society. I guess you'd say I was a secular humanist.

How weird are the atheists you know? What makes them weird?

[TexasSissy]

7. Well, there was that famous woman who was killed. What was her name?

You know the one. I thought she was very odd, indeed. And not in a good, eccentric way. And I have a friend who is an atheist. She's smart, interesting, and I like her. But she is lacking a certain....compassion or morality or something... for those who think differently (about different subjects). And she definitely has hostilities to religious people. Just the fact that they are religious is enough; they don't actually have to DO anything or be the born-again, holy roller type.

On the other hand, I think Charles Darwin was an atheist. And he was certainly a credit to society. (Or was it George Bernard Shaw?) One of them was an atheist, at any rate.

Those are the only ones I know or know of.

[anelson]

9. Yes, i know of the lady you mentioned...

she was later found murdered. and she was from TX as well. Atheists take on all types of personas, just as democrats do. Here is a link you may be interested in...

http://infidelguy.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewforum&f=7

This link will take you to a forum of atheists and freethinkers. Most of whom I would consider thoughtful and "not weird" people. By the way, how many weird Christians are out there??? Jimmy Swaggert, Pat Robertson, George W. Bush....I think the list is nearly endless... :-)

[IronLionZion]

4. link to audio

http://www.npr.org/features/feature.php?wfId=3262027

on edit: yeah I just noticed you had this link, nevermind

[hlthe2b]

6. I think that one could refuse to answer questions on one's religious

beliefs by stating that you consider religion and spirtuality to be a highly personal issue between onself and their "maker" (latter language does not necessarily imply a belief in God, afterall). One could then stress their strong belief in freedom of religion, respect for diversity, including a range of religious opinion, yet believe (as did the founding fathers) in a strict separation of church and state. This is how I would imagine an atheist would get elected in all but the most liberal/progressive areas of the country (where one might be able to be elected as an avowed atheist). Frankly, I think most politicians should start assuming this stance. Only then will we start dealing with the culture wars that are decimating any true political discourse. I'm increasingly reticent to talk about my own religious beliefs, since frankly I do think it is a private issue. Though I have no intent on going into politics, it deeply offends me that Christianity is being increasingly (and wrongly) implied as synonymous with the hypocrisy of the RW fundamentalists.

[w13rd0]

8. Unlike rational "first-world" countries...

...you can't be too much of a wingnut to run for office here in the US of A. A profession of faith and the obligatory church attendance, while REQUIRED here, if exercized to the same degree in Canada, would absolutely horrify them. There may be a handful of elected persons in the US that publicly are agnostic, but atheism was tied to communism throughout the cold war. Heck, we put "In God" on our money and the pledge just to scare those damned red commies (you see, their heads explode at the mere mention of God).

[anelson]

10. Hmmm

A very good point about the heads exploding...I wonder if God has anything to do with the Russian Banks Imploding...they should probably put God on their money, to make sure its always solvent...