Yoohoo, north of the border callling.
There are only a few cases of religion being an issue for a Canadian politician. One is Bill Vander Zalm, who was BC premier on an evangelical slate. He was also loony as a cow.
The other is former federal opposition leader Stockwell Day-- who earnestly believed the earth was about 6,000 years old.
I wouldn’t be surprised if every other Canadian politician, from municipal level right up to the PM, was an atheist. Wouldn’t matter to the Canadian public.
“Ever” is a long time! But currently, no, there’s no chance a self-proclaimed atheist could get elected President.
Now, if a popular, veteran Senator or Congressman of long standing announced in some forum that he doesn’t believe in God, would that end his career? No, not even in the Bible Belt. Most people vote on the bread-and-butter issues, so a guy who’d been in Congress or the Senate for 30 years, and had an impressive track record of bringing pork barrel to his district, most voters (including the devoutly religious) would probably shrug, and vote for him anyway.
But when people vote for a President, they generally want more than just a man with the technical skills to do a job. They want a man who espouses (and, one hopes, embodies) their ideals. For that reason, I don’t think most religious people would vote for an atheist as President… unless the alternative candidates were just too horrible to think about.
HOLD up a second!
I could have sworn I saw a movie where the “president” said that all presidents have to swear and become Atheists in order to serve their country…
Is this true? Or has hollywood lied to me again?
For clarification the movie was about the US bombing Iraq with atomic weapons. It was recent and had the guy who played Samwise Gamgees in it.
How long before you have anything other than a white male straight christian president?
I’m in the uk and we managed a female primeminister, but only once.
I think I saw the movie Meatros saw (were they stuck in a diner in a snowstorm?) and I don’t remember that part. (Guess that makes this post pretty worthless, no?) Kinda stupid movie, really, but then again, I don’t really like hardly any movies. I did enjoy Iraq getting nuked of the face of the planet and the US Prez displaying his huge balls to the world.
I just wanted to say that an atheist would be too smart to want the job of president.
Damn! I have forgotten to not become drunken again!
gatopescado- Uh…They were in a diner, I couldn’t tell you if it was because of a snowstorm or not (I missed the begining).
Well actually the pres was supposed to be jewish and had renounced his religion.
Watching Iraq being tricked into using dud nukes WAS pretty entertaining…
You’re absolutely right, Evil One. I never said any of them did [Ford does, but he’s a Baptist, he just screwed up the form]. I was just pointing out how if there are any Atheists in Congress, they’re liberals from liberal districts, and how atheists are still on the fringe of American politics.
For the record, there are two other gay Congresspeople, Jim Kolbe (R-AZ05, AZ08 after this election) and Baldwin. Off the top of my head, I can’t think of any gays with a shot at a seat this year. There are many in state legislatures, but most of them would only get to Congress if there was a vacancy in a liberal district.
I’m willing to concede that I may have been misinformed. Someone recently told me that the reason that Cherie keeps getting pregnant is that they’re Catholic (and hence, no birth control); however, that someone may have jumped to an unwarranted conclusion.
Personally, I think Blair worships himself. But then, they don’t let me vote in UK elections (yet).
Sure, I’d vote for one!
If, that is, I agree with the policies of the candidate, I can trust the candidate, I believe that the candidate could get things done, I can trust the candidate to compromise when is necessary, but not when convenient, and I think that the candidate will be respected in the international realm.
So, I’d venture, are the views of most Americans. The problem is, we will never know until an open Atheist runs a formidable campaign with moderate exposure, based on issues people care about.
—I just wanted to say that an atheist would be too smart to want the job of president.—
gatopescado, are you saying that presidential ambitions are an indicator of stupidity, or that only an idiot would want the job? THAT’S why we’re in such a mess! Everyone smart enough to run the country are smart enough not to run a campaign! :rolleyes:
My quixotic job ambition du jour is to become president of the good 'ole US of A! Don’t hold your breath, though. I’m decidedly not Atheist. I’m not hellfire/brimstone either, so it’s a start! 
Soup in 2020! Spread the word! 
Cherie is a Catholic, IIRC Tony was brought up Anglican (Episcopalian) but the whole family goes to church together. Their kids go to a Catholic school but I believe they maintain a generally ecumenical stance on Christianity at home - as far as I know or care.
FWIW I’d say European countries generally have a much more relaxed attitude than the USA’s to politicians’ religious affiliations.
The same seems to apply to the other “controversial” personal characteristics being discussed here. Lots of countries over here have had female premiers; Britain had a Jewish Prime Minister in 1868; lots of MPs are not practicing Christains or are openly athiest; there are currently several openly gay MPs, including cabinet ministers; there have been deaf MPs, blind MPs etc. etc.
Haven’t seen it, but it sounds like a indie film called Detterence. I assume it took place in a diner because of a lack of budget.
About Rep. Abercrombie mentioned above. He not only looks like David Crosby but I’m sure they share pretty much the same political page.
All is clear, thanks.
Yes and no. How many high-ranking Jewish politicians are there in Germany these days?
The atheist has to be a flaming, hard-line, bleeding heart moderate.
Good point. I’m not sufficiently expert in German politics to answer that but my guess would be “not many” in Germany, Austria or several other central/east European countries. The conservative parties in Germany and Austria tend to include the word Christian in their names too.
While I’m here, it occurred to me that maybe your previous post begged another question that I didn’t ask you - was there a reason why you expected Catholicism to be a political hot potato in the UK?
HPL- Yes, it was deterence, I’m about 85% positive about that.
So do presidents have to take some sort of oath? It might be a slight hijack, but I think it fits with the OP.
My History of the EU teacher made a point of mentioning that the Christian Democrats in Germany were originally so-named not because they wanted to emphasize their Christianity, but rather to stress their non-Jewishness.
I was contrasting with the US, where even now a Catholic candidate might face some opposition on religious grounds from a small segment of the populace. It might also prove awkward in dealing with Northern Ireland, but then even an Anglican finds Rev. Paisley awkward.
A black lesbian female would be elected before an atheist.
No. They have to officially and solemnly promise they will faithfully execute the office of President, but the Constitution specifically words that requirement such that this can be done in a way which will not conflict with the religious or philosophical convictions of members of any group which does not believe in swearing oaths (which includes various Christian sects, of course). From Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution of the United States:
The words “So help me God” at the end of the oath or affirmation are traditional only, and have no bearing on its legal validity. Ditto for placing one’s hand on the Bible. (And not every President has been sworn on a Bible, which fact came up in a recent thread, only I can’t recall where.)
See also Article VI: “…no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.”
Deterrence and that director’s other film, The Contender, while entertaining and largely well-made, take place in a fantasy world that’s so leftist it makes The West Wing look like an Ann Coulter column. I believe the line of dialogue you referencing was meant to imply that only an atheist can rightfully execute the office of president. The Contender has a female candidate for VP that is an open atheist, and is an honest-to-God “gun grabber” (and I thought the NRA made them up!), yet she worries the Republicans because she was a former GOPer herself, and therefore “can’t be too liberal” and is thus a viable candidate. So take anything from those films with an oceanful of salt.
As for the OP, I say it depends on what kind of atheist. How does he feel about (say) the pledge issue? An atheist who allows “under God” would go a long way towards placating nervous theist voters. Ironically, an atheist president could do more harm towards the separation of church and state than a demonstrably religious one.