tom and cheddarsnax
You provided for interesting replies on my question in this thread.
I made an other one to comment since doing it here has nothing to do with the OP anymore.
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=233634
and included there also the interesting post of RDelirious to debate on.
Salaam. A
Perhaps I could clarify my previous post.
I could not vote for an atheist who regards believers as ignorant and uninformed, but bristles at any suggestion that we might consider him so in return.
Regards,
Shodan
I would vote for a socially conservative athiest who supports free expression of all faiths, but atheism is a rather big malus in my book. Would support an athiest GW over a professed religions Howard Dean, etc.
Can’t find “malus” in my dictionary—did you mean “minus?” If so, why? Would you rather vote for someone who believed in a religion besides yours than an atheist? Again, why?
You’re obviously lucky enough to not be amongst those groups of people that his religion drives him to hate.
Malus is Latin for “evil.”
In that case, he’s really got some ‘splainin’ to do!
God, YES! Hell, NO!
True Blue Jack
I feel confident I already have, more than once.
Although I admit, I enjoyed your statement waaaay more than I should have, how does “no belief” in G-d translate to “Evil”?
I always figured malus was the opposite of bonus, at least that’s how I’ve heard some furriner’s use it.
Much like everyone else said, Yes, and No. But personally I think a person’s religious beliefs should have no bearing on whether or not they should be elected. If they were so devoted to a religion or belief as to be blinded by it, it would be evident in their positions and debating techniques I would think.
Yes and yes, the latter due to a probably misplaced faith in the American public. Back when I was a teenager, I didn’t think Reagan would be elected once, let alone twice.
I’ll be the first to admit that dealing with the pressures of running the United States, including dealing with contentious issues such as abortion, fractious politicians, whining bureaucrats and lobbyists could drive a person to prayer, profanity, or both, but I don’t see how the presence or absence of a religion could contribute to a person’s ability to do the job.
I’m a tech, at heart. This means that, when it comes to doing any job, whether it’s president or paperboy, the ultimate question is, “Can the person do the job?”. Religion has nothing to do with one’s ability to manage. Indeed, I freely admit it can interfere with one’s ability to look at things clearly and objectively – just look at discussions of homosexual marriage.
If a politician’s views matched mine more than anyone else’s, and he wasn’t a Republican or Democrat, I’d vote for him (or her!) in a heartbeat. If his views were close enough, I might even make an exception to my policy of not voting for major-party candidates and vote Republican or Democrat. Of course, I might want to go to confession, afterwards.
I am a Christian. On the other hand, the person on this message board who has most infuriated me is also a Christian. Two of my closest friends and the most moral people I know are Wiccans. They’re also Republicans, at least one of whom supported Reagan (he has other redeeming characteristics!;)). Several good friends are, I think, agnostic to Atheist, and I think they’re amused by my quaint religiousness. Certainly, some of my favorite people around here (gobear, to name one) are atheists. On the other hand, blowero, if we need to bring up Atheists who have a low opinion of Christians, do I really have to mention badchad? Maybe I’m not a true Christian for saying this, but to me, whatever faith a person does or does not profess is not a reliable indication of the content of his or her character or ability.
I’d much rather vote for a competent Atheist than an incompetent Christian. In fact, if anyone knows a competent Atheist politician, could you please send him or her my direction? My city and state could use competent politicians! 
Respectfully,
CJ
Priceguy- I won’t say it’s overwhelming evidence buy I do think that if one denies a Guiding Mind behind the emergence of ordered system from chaotic energy, life from non-living matter, mind from non-thinking life, human from non-human minds, the survival & thriving of the Jews from among humanity & the rise of Jesus among the Jews, then that person’s perception is so different from mine that I’d question it in many other things. Feel free to believe that my perception is prone to hallucinating things that aren’t there.
FriarTed, that’s a far cry from “perceptively impaired”. And I won’t mention hallucinations until you give me a reason. But you do commit some very common and basic fallacies in a few lines… as I’m sure you’re aware. And that’s as far as I’ll take this hi-jack.
Ah, much better. Yes, our “perception of things” is indeed very different.
And if you would be uncomfortable being governed by even one atheist, think how I feel being constantly governed by people who believe in religion!
Yes, I would vote for an atheist. A candidate’s religious beliefs (short of believing that babies should be sacrificed on the Capitol steps) are none of my concern.
The Constitution requires that the the Chief Executive take the following oath of office:
“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” Period. End of Report. No mention of “So help me God,” “So help me She That Must Be Obeyed,” So help me Donald Duck." Religion (or lack thereof) is a purely personal decision to be made by the individual according to his/her own deliberations on the subject.
hehe… well should Atheists not beleive in Dollar Bills since they say “In Go we Trust?” I beleive in Euros more than Dollars nowadays… but its not my Atheism doing it.
Bonus means “good.”
Yes (I would prefer an atheist), No - not if he/she touted his beliefs.
So, you’re saying you can’t see yourself voting for, not just an atheist, but any non-Christian?