# Amy Coney Barret and Atheists? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 23, 2021, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amy-coney-barret-and-atheists/942720 "2021-05-23T03:42:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Dereknocue67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6de8d8/32.png) [@Dereknocue67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dereknocue67)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2021, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amy-coney-barret-and-atheists/942720/63 "2021-05-24T07:42:04Z")
Of course. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2021, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amy-coney-barret-and-atheists/942720/64 "2021-05-24T08:02:36Z")
> [@MEBuckner](#): > > Sec. 4. RELIGIOUS TESTS. No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office, or public trust, in this State; nor shall any one be excluded from holding office on account of his religious sentiments, provided he acknowledge the existence of a Supreme Being. Am I allowed to nominate myself? > [@jtur88](#): > > It is illegal to drive a car in most states, without first entering into a civil contract acknowledging a belief in God, the Acts of whom may relieve the insurance company from liability to indemnify you for certain perils. That affects me as a premium-paying driver This is wrong on at least three levels. Firstly, you seem to be implying that your rights are somehow infringed by being forced to take out certain cover that contains an exception. If the exception didn’t exist your rights would be less not more - you would be forced to pay for a higher level of cover which would _increase_ your premium. Secondly, as I’m sure you know, “act of God” is simply legal shorthand for random acts not caused or reasonably preventable by human intervention. That this form of words is used doesn’t affect you. If another form of words was used for the same thing, you would be no better or worse off. Thirdly, whether you get auto insurance that covers _Acts of God_ is in your control. You can pay for it or not. There are simply different levels of cover. If a different wording was used, the same situation would exist. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2021, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amy-coney-barret-and-atheists/942720/65 "2021-05-24T08:06:08Z")
To the extent that this is a thing that happened at all, I suspect it was opposition from a group like the Freedom From Religion Foundation (which frequently airs TV ads where its spokesperson, Ron Reagan, professes that he is a “life-long atheist, not afraid of burning in hell”), which does advocacy against things like religious exemptions to neutral laws and regulations. That’s not necessarily atheists thinking that life will be harder for them so much as it is a political advocacy organization thinking that the new justice would be bad for their issues generally, which is a perfectly normal thing to have happen during a Supreme Court nomination process. There were likely hundreds of issue-oriented groups that did the same thing, pro or con. ---
**Author:** ![GeneralTang](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/97f17d/32.png) [@GeneralTang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GeneralTang)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2021, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amy-coney-barret-and-atheists/942720/66 "2021-05-24T08:40:50Z")
I really dislike perspectives like those voiced by the OP. It’s like who I am as an atheist is somehow divorced from who I am as a person. While this is a common western way of thinking (trying to boil someone, or a group, down to its platonic ideal), it is a fundamental fallacy. I am a white male scientist, so have little to fear from people like Barret (especially given I no longer live in the states, but that is beside my point) for my OWN safety. However, I do not live my whole life solely focused on my own safety, but I care far more about the safety of those close to me, the majority of which do not share my privilege. This type of viewpoint seems to be entirely missed by those on the right. I am not an atheist just because it is good for me, but also because it is good for those around me. Therefore, since Barret threatens those I care about, atheism is the least of my concern. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2021, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amy-coney-barret-and-atheists/942720/67 "2021-05-24T10:57:06Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > This is wrong on at least three levels. No, it’s not “wrong” on any “level”, it’s just out of conformity with such a wishy-washy meaning of the word “God”. But what the hell, it’s only a legal contract. ---
**Author:** ![saje](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saje/32/3631_2.png) [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2021, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amy-coney-barret-and-atheists/942720/68 "2021-05-24T11:03:32Z")
> [@GeneralTang](#): > > I really dislike perspectives like those voiced by the OP. It’s like who I am as an atheist is somehow divorced from who I am as a person. While this is a common western way of thinking (trying to boil someone, or a group, down to its platonic ideal), it is a fundamental fallacy. That’s what I was trying to get at way up above. Well said. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2021, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amy-coney-barret-and-atheists/942720/69 "2021-05-24T12:46:31Z")
You are most likely the closest to fully answering. Among the _many_ organizations that expressed reservation to the appointment, there would be those concerned about rulings inserting religious justifications into the judicial decision making on a variety of issues, naturally including some who already advocate actively for a strict SOCAS principle. That is not the same thing as " the atheists". As to the matter of whether there are cases pending or presented, it is a known position from various interests on the Right that they’re waiting to be sure of a favorable majority to go after some particular legal ruling - guns, abortion, ACA, for instance - to try and raise a case. But those would have been concerns with ANY justice that could be appointed at that point. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2021, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amy-coney-barret-and-atheists/942720/70 "2021-05-24T13:02:30Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > The law didn’t require Hobby Lobby to pay for birth control for its employees. What the Supreme Court did was allow Hobby Lobby (and other employers) to restrict its employees’ access to birth control based on the religious beliefs of the employer. In other words, the decision allows employers to impose their religion on their employees. The second and third sentences of this quote absolutely do not follow from the first, and are not even remotely true. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2021, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amy-coney-barret-and-atheists/942720/71 "2021-05-24T13:28:25Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > You’re the fourth or fifth person to misspell the Justice’s name in this thread. Is it deliberate My spelling the former “first lady’s” name Melanoma was obviously deliberate. Why would you think shorting ACB a “t” in any way would be a slight? ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2021, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amy-coney-barret-and-atheists/942720/72 "2021-05-24T13:32:15Z")
Wishy washy what way? Last I checked – no matter how out of keeping the term maybe with modern secular thought – the simple fact is that it is one of the oldest used and best understood legal phrases going. But if you can tell me where it’s causing confusion in the way that some other term might not, feel free to do so. You also haven’t addressed the other two points concerning the availability of cover with and without this exception and why your post isn’t wrong in those respects. I’ve only been practising insurance law for 30 years so go easy on me but if you want to get technical, I’ll see if I can understand. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2021, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amy-coney-barret-and-atheists/942720/73 "2021-05-24T18:33:27Z")
@RitterSport I don’t remember exactly where I first heard that atheists were upset at RBG’s passing. I could do a search. But I assume it was all over the place. Also, I noticed some people on these boards were pretty upset. I was even watching one thread. I guess some of the people there might’ve been gay and whatnot. But I noticed most of them didn’t specify what the cause of their worry was. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2021, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amy-coney-barret-and-atheists/942720/74 "2021-05-24T18:37:40Z")
In summation the premise of the thread was basically “what concerns would atheists have with ACB on the bench?” The only material answers I’ve seen given fall into two categories: 1. Issues that already exist and have existed for decades under previous courts/jurists 2. Fanciful scenarios for which there is little direct evidence of them coming to any impending realization anytime soon, if ever ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2021, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amy-coney-barret-and-atheists/942720/75 "2021-05-24T18:39:19Z")
> [@Jim\_B](#): > > @RitterSport I don’t remember exactly where I first heard that atheists were upset at RBG’s passing. I could do a search. But I assume it was all over the place. Yeah, that’s what I thought. Well, I think your OP is not well-founded. I’m sure lots of atheists were pissed at ACB’s selection, but not necessarily because they were atheists. Maybe they were pro-choice, or pro-LGBTQ-rights, or just liberals, or just anti-Trump, or whatever. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2021, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amy-coney-barret-and-atheists/942720/76 "2021-05-24T19:53:34Z")
I just thought it odd that so many people made the same spelling error in a relatively short thread, that’s all. It wasn’t an accusation, and it wasn’t to meant to be directed at any specific poster(s). I just picked the most recent to quote. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2021, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amy-coney-barret-and-atheists/942720/77 "2021-05-24T19:59:38Z")
**modnote** : And on that note, lets drop this minor sidebar and get back to whatever this thread is actually about. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2021, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amy-coney-barret-and-atheists/942720/78 "2021-05-24T23:05:31Z")
> [@GeneralTang](#): > > I really dislike perspectives like those voiced by the OP. It’s like who I am as an atheist is somehow divorced from who I am as a person. While this is a common western way of thinking (trying to boil someone, or a group, down to its platonic ideal), it is a fundamental fallacy. Nobody is saying that a person’s atheism is the entire person. People belong to groups that don’t define their entire personality. Do you object to any questions about what women or college grads or blacks or gun owners or abortion rights supporters think about a certain thing? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2021, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amy-coney-barret-and-atheists/942720/79 "2021-05-24T23:20:27Z")
> [@Jim\_B](#): > > I don’t remember exactly where I first heard that atheists were upset at RBG’s passing. I could do a search. But I assume it was all over the place. Then I assume that examples should be extremely easy to find. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2021, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amy-coney-barret-and-atheists/942720/80 "2021-05-25T01:22:58Z")
FWIW, [here](https://www.atheists.org/2020/10/amy-coney-barrett-supreme-court-confirmation/) is the American Atheists statement on her appointment. I think they bring up a lot points already made in this thread. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2021, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amy-coney-barret-and-atheists/942720/81 "2021-05-25T01:25:52Z")
See post #5. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2021, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amy-coney-barret-and-atheists/942720/82 "2021-05-25T01:31:50Z")
Sorry, when open up a thread, my smartphone just takes me to the latest posts. I don’t see the earlier ones. So what’s the problem then? Someone already cited an example. In the meantime, I have to remember where I saw that news story. I seem to recall seeing it recently. But I don’t remember where. As I said, I did see a lot of distress just here on these boards. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amy-coney-barret-and-atheists/942720.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amy-coney-barret-and-atheists/942720.md?page=5)