# Would you vote for an atheist? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 6, 2004, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-vote-for-an-atheist/223063 "2004-01-06T19:03:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**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:** [January 7, 2004, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-vote-for-an-atheist/223063/41 "2004-01-07T00:39:57Z")
1. Absolutely. 2. Extraordinarily difficult due to the degree of _cultural_ prejudice among the “American Middle”. Yes I said cultural, not religious. Earlier on in the thread there was an impugnation of the level of real religious belief of several recent Presidents. But the thing is, a large number of Americans already have some sort of religious identification be more a _cultural_ or ethnic thing than an element of true practice of faith. I know a bunch of people who identify as being of X organized religion yet have not been to one of its places of worship, except for weddings, since childhood and routinely break every one of its precepts. Many Americans would easily tolerate someone who declared “I believe in my own way that there is a Greater Will at work in the Universe, but while we’re here we must do what’s best to improve the human condition here and now”, if he’s NOT all New Agey about it and comes across as an otherwise down-to-earth guy, and as mentioned before _does not come across as condescending_(\*). Oh, the fundies may freak, but if his policies are good on taxes, jobs and security, many in the so-called “Middle” would think “good enough that he believes in Something Greater”. The key is to not be “too different” _culturally_. And the culture is theist _even if the structures of the State are secularist_. Sure, being from the Judeo-Christian tradition helps, but even there you have to be wary. Say you’re a Christian but attend church kind of irregularly, and when you lived in Florida you attended a Methodist Church and when in Oregon you attended a Baptist and when in DC you attended a Presbyterian because they were closest to your house… well, if you mouth the right biblical quotes when interviewed on the Christian Radio station then that’s not too bad, after all we all have busy schedules. OTOH attend the same church every Sunday, pray before every meal, and be even a deacon in the congregation… that officiates gay marriages? You are a prohibitive longshot. If you’re a Joe Lieberman-type Orthodox Jew, you are electable. OTOH if you go around in the broad-brimmed hat, the beard, the curly sideburns, tassels hanging from under your coat, it’s uphill for you. (\*)I know, I know, demands for examples, etc. Look, politics is about perception – and the so-called “American Middle” has an anti-intellectual tradition longer than we care to recount. Atheism, agnosticism, utilitarian ethics, heck throw in darwinism, neuropsychology, and even whole-language reading classes, they all look and sound to that “Middle” as highfalutin’ talk from fancy-pants perfessers with too much book-learnin’ fer their own good. When Ann Druyan writes about how wondrous and beautiful it is to behold this world and realize it’s the product of countless natural processes that came together just right, what THEY feel is “hey, is that lady sayin’ that believin’ it came from God is simpleminded?” Again: the problem lies in being _perceived_ as either a cultural outsider or a cultural elitist and that the American Middle would worry that it means at best you cannot truly understand their hopes and fears and at worse you _dismiss_ their hopes and fears. Never mind that you do or not. (Of course, the geniuses behind the doomed proposal to rename atheists as “Brights” are a beautiful example of How to Lose Friends and Alienate People.) One semi-serious plus of an atheist/materialist Prez is that the guy with his finger on The Button has got to be a little more careful if he’s NOT expecting that after the world gets toasted he gets to move in with 72 virgin playmates/meet Jesus/come back as a cow. ---
**Author:** ![Gadfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/aeb1de/32.png) [@Gadfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadfly)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-vote-for-an-atheist/223063/42 "2004-01-07T00:50:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rashak Mani \* > \*\*I would love to even SEE an openly atheist presidential candidate. Or better even an atheist politician for that matter. Has any atheist ever won any election in the US or Latin America ? I don’t know any. Outside of Europe an atheist elected is nigh impossible. > > So YES I would vote for an atheist… NO chances he would get elected. \*\* You’re forgetting your friendly neighbours to the north. As to the OP: Yes. No. ---
**Author:** ![IWLN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b5ac83/32.png) [@IWLN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IWLN)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-vote-for-an-atheist/223063/43 "2004-01-07T01:43:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by blowero \* > In the interest of expanding this into more than just a poll, could I prevail upon you to give us some cites for these atheists who “think everyone who believes in God is ignorant or just flat out stupid”, and some more detail on why this might be a concern for you in your voting? Not to pick on you, but so far this has been almost unanimous; I was hoping someone could stir things up a little.😉 Although it isn’t a concern to me in voting, I think I can provide you with a little sampling of atheist bigotry. Only in fun. Don’t hurt me.:eek: This comes from that unfortunate thread I started when I was uh…a little bigoted [myself.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=220146) I would rather my president not share these views, or at least not use them in any determinations about me. If I had to choose an equal candidate, which I don’t think ever happens, and I could choose between one who agreed with my beliefs or one who thought I was a little wacky; that might be the deciding factor. I would by far, rather have an atheist than a Christian. Decisions based on religion should be made at church, not in our government. These answers are in response to my question about whether or not belief in G-d made one less intelligent, more gullible, etc. > [@](#): > > Personally I feel many are less inteligent for not thinking it out… some can barely answer inquiries into their beliefs… they just accepted it. IMHO.Rashak Mani > > Yes, to some extent, but in most cases I think it’s harmless and I know I cannot exert influence everywhere I’d like.El\_Kabong > > I think it implies less critical thinking. But it’s not a big deal to me. Believe if you wish.John Mace > > I see belief in God as a mental or emotional crutch, a way of explaining away everything, and making everything better. A placebo effect.Gadfly > > Do I believe that it’s right to try to convince a believer that their comfort is a sham? Absolutely. That is mainly because I, personally, place intellectual discovery above “feeling warm and fuzzy” on the scale of importance. To my mind, belief in God is kind of like a “little white lie”. It’s meant to help rather than hurt, but it’s lie nonetheless.Joe Random > > 1. I don’t object to anyone having religious beliefs for the same reasons I don’t object to someone believing in astrology, tarot cards, etc… I’d be happy to try to dissuade you from it, but I’ll recognize your right to believe what you want. I do object to, and see a danger in, setting policy according to such beliefs or imposing those beliefs on others. I cite the countless religious wars throughout history and into the present.Short > > There is harm in believing in god if that belief could harm others. More people have been killed in the name of God than anything else in history.Ryle Dup > > I believe religious faith harms a person’s ability to think logically, and I think it does retard a person’s emotional growth.Badtz Maru > > I may believe that the majority of religious people lack critical thinking skills and have not considered their faith in objective depth, but I do my best to resist the urge to generalize therefrom.Cervaise > > I don’t think it implies less intelligence, but I do think it implies less critical thinking, and probably more gullibility. No offense intended.MrO > > Also, as a skeptic I feel it is important to convince people not to believe in illogical things like psychic healing, astrology, chiropractic medicine, acupuncture, etc., because not only can those beliefs be harmful if they are overly relied upon. And I guess I’m not sure why religious beliefs should be exempted from this. If it is OK to tell people that astrology is a crock, even though it brings people comfort, why would it be wrong to tell them that religion is a crock as well?godzillatemple > > What’s the harm in believing in Santa Claus? None, really, except that you’re living in a fantasy world. And for organized religions, that fantasy world and its rules were created by people who were schizophrenic, power-hungry, and/or ignorant of the basics of modern accepted science.jmonster > > No but it DOES suggest a lapse in critical thinking. > Moron. GodlessSkeptic [Okay the moron answer came from a later question, but it’s one of my favorite sentiments.:)] > > I guess I do percieve someone that seeks comfort above all else to be a little week. > However, once your belief in God short-circuits your critical thinking skills (including your critical thinking regarding religion) then I’ve got a problem. I believe that critical thinking is the only thing that can counteract evil, and I don’t look kindly on things that discourage it.even sven > > I worry about people saying that they will act in a certain way because a voice in their head tells them to. > I advise people not to get addicted to drugs - isn’t religion an addiction too?glee > > You give up freethought and decision making powers to your invisible God friend,owlafaye > > The harm is that it impedes critical thinking and reduces the drive to find true answers to questions. Without the hindering influence of the church, science would have progressed a lot faster for several centuries. > It doesn’t imply gullibility or less intelligence, but it does imply flawed ability of reason.Priceguy ---
**Author:** ![sibyl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b9e5f3/32.png) [@sibyl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sibyl)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-vote-for-an-atheist/223063/44 "2004-01-07T02:30:23Z")
Yes, No. Religion has no place in politics. If you claim divine influence or mandate (as Bush has) I’d have to question your sanity and I certainly wouldn’t vote for you. However, I am not saying I would not vote for a religious candidate. Religion is and should stay a personal thing. After all, doesn’t every religious argument always boil down to having personal faith? If they understand that and choose to believe in any religion of their choicing, that is neither a pro or con for them. Everytime I see GWB say things like God influenced his decision to go to war, etc. my stomach lurches. I may agree to conservative or republican stances on many things but I do not support a secular country being run by the Christian God. ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-vote-for-an-atheist/223063/45 "2004-01-07T04:53:01Z")
Answering these questions: 1. Yes, if he/she could say the same in reverse. 2. To quote Eliza Doolittle\*, “Not bloody likely” - In “Pygmalion”, not “My Fair Lady” ---
**Author:** ![SnoopyFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@SnoopyFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnoopyFan)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-vote-for-an-atheist/223063/46 "2004-01-07T05:16:45Z")
1. If they were pro-life and their opposition was pro-abortion, absolutely. I’m a one-issue voter. As long as they aren’t rabidly atheist (the kind that hate all people of faith and look down on them), I’d have no problem with an atheist Prez. 2. Not anytime soon but I doubt as the decades pass that Americans will care very much about spiritual matters, so I think it could happen in about 50 years or so. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-vote-for-an-atheist/223063/47 "2004-01-07T06:30:59Z")
1. Yes. On the right though I am, I’d love to see the “religious” part of our contingency fade away. Religion is a private thing, and no model for basing a rein of government on. 2. Sadly, no. I’m not sure if atheist president would come on the timeline before or after black/hispanic president, or female president. Probably after both. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-vote-for-an-atheist/223063/48 "2004-01-07T07:15:15Z")
Another yes to #1 and no to #2. I think a female or black candidate would be much more electable than an atheist candidate. Liddy Dole ran in the Republican primary in 2000, and there are two black Democratic candidates (one of them a woman). Hillary Clinton may make a run in one of the next few elections, and Condoleeza Rice and Colin Powell are both respected and occasionally mentioned as potential future candidates. Can’t think of any atheists who gets similar recognition. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-vote-for-an-atheist/223063/49 "2004-01-07T08:02:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Aldebaran \* > \*\*If a non religious presidential candidate even doesn’t make any chance, how can you claim the USA is a secular nation. > > Salaam. A \*\* What an astute observation. You should start a thread along those lines! Oh, wait, you already did. That was a real success, IIRC.:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Rashak\_Mani](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ea666f/32.png) [@Rashak\_Mani](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rashak_Mani)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-vote-for-an-atheist/223063/50 "2004-01-07T11:03:58Z")
I wouldn’t vote for anyone who wears his religion on his sleeve and mentions God every paragraph (eg Bush)… but then we atheists are the minority. The same way I wouldn’t expect theists people to vote for a rabid atheist. (Yet they do vote for rabid theists sadly …) ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-vote-for-an-atheist/223063/51 "2004-01-07T11:11:34Z")
Yes. Apparently not. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-vote-for-an-atheist/223063/52 "2004-01-07T13:31:26Z")
I would probably vote for a conservative atheist over a liberal theist. But the more central he made the issue of his atheism to his campaign, the less I am likely to support him. I don’t want someone who looks down his nose at the majority of the American populace. Regards Shodan ---
**Author:** ![netscape\_6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8c91f0/32.png) [@netscape\_6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/netscape_6)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-vote-for-an-atheist/223063/53 "2004-01-07T13:54:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by blowero \* > \*\*This is a spin-off from [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=233122). It might be more of an IMHO thing; I wasn’t sure. > > Anyway, the question is, would you vote for an atheist for president? Assume that you agree with the person’s platform and approve of his/her actions in the past, but that when asked about religious beliefs, the person simply says she/he doesn’t believe in God. Also, your own vote aside, do you think an atheist would have any chance of being elected president? \*\* Assuming he/she was all for freedom of Religion, yes. That qualifier is no different for a thiest though. Maybe someday. ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-vote-for-an-atheist/223063/54 "2004-01-07T14:22:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by IWLN \* > Uh…splutter. How has religion made him a better person? I’m a “believer” and I won’t vote for Bush because I’m sick of him taking his personal agenda and views on G-d and using it for political reasons and influence. Everyone who believes in G-d doesn’t believe the bigotted crap that comes out of that man’s mouth. Huff!!!🙂 Yes, yes, yes. The SDMB is a liberal board where the majority of the posters hate Bush. But, must you break out into conniption fits every time his name is mentioned? ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-vote-for-an-atheist/223063/55 "2004-01-07T14:48:24Z")
\ Yes and No. Anyway, I believe Bush’s decision to give up drinking at the age of forty was influenced primarily by his embrace of his faith and being ‘born again’. From all accounts he has stuck to the pledge and is a successful recovering alcoholic. I’m for anything that reforms drug addicts, having seen far too many of them in my time. I think this has also led to his can-do attitude about problems, too, in a way–he struggled up from the addiction and made it–so surely any person or country can do it if they just try hard enough and believe in the right things. Not saying I believe this entirely myself (although it’s a better way to go through life than hopelessly cynical and apathetic to evil), but I do think it explains a lot about him. ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-vote-for-an-atheist/223063/56 "2004-01-07T14:49:35Z")
Aw man, how did that happen? Not a Joe Lieberman (who I’d like to vote for if he’s still on the ballot) dig, folks. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-vote-for-an-atheist/223063/57 "2004-01-07T15:18:51Z")
Very doubtful (except in rarity of antiabortion political conservative atheist vs proabortion political liberal believer)- I really think a person who can’t/won’t acknowledge that life, the universe & everything is the product of a Caring Mind is perceptively impaired. Hopefully not (except in same rare case) ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-vote-for-an-atheist/223063/58 "2004-01-07T15:48:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by FriarTed \* > \*\*I really think a person who can’t/won’t acknowledge that life, the universe & everything is the product of a Caring Mind is perceptively impaired. \*\* Ah, would that this were the Pit! Nah, even then, I have too many religious friends on the Board to respond to this in kind . . . ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-vote-for-an-atheist/223063/59 "2004-01-07T16:04:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by FriarTed \* > **I really think a person who can’t/won’t acknowledge that life, the universe & everything is the product of a Caring Mind is perceptively impaired.** If you have the guts, feel free to start a thread where you show us perceptively impaired your overwhelming evidence of this Caring Mind. But you won’t, will you? ---
**Author:** ![Dob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Dob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dob)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-vote-for-an-atheist/223063/60 "2004-01-07T16:16:58Z")
> [@](#): > > I really think a person who can’t/won’t acknowledge that life, the universe & everything is the product of a Caring Mind is perceptively impaired. Ack! you see stuff like this gives theists a bad name. I wouldnt vote for anyone who held this view, regardless of which side he held it on. Because I dont believe as you doesnt make me imparied, it just means I see things differently. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-vote-for-an-atheist/223063.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-vote-for-an-atheist/223063.md?page=4)