Could an atheist or person w/no religon be elected president in this country?

[HockeyDude]

?  What do you think?  We there yet?  So much has been made of Bush being religious, and people seem to like that.  Would liking someone who's religious tracslate into dislike for an atheist canidate?  

[KEmperor]

Unfortunately, I don't think so.

[YRABNNRM]

I think its possible we could've alread had one...

[opebo]

I think its possible we could've alread had one...

To whom are you referring?

[YRABNNRM]

I think its possible we could've alread had one...

To whom are you referring?

No one specifically but its quite easy for someone to fake their religous beliefs. May have happened, may have not. We'll never know.

[angus]

yes.  it is possible that any native-born citizen, at least 35, with no felony convictions can be president.  any other requirement is in your head.

[??????????]

Lincoln was non-religious. Andrew Johnson was non religious as well.

[The Duke]

Jefferson was a Deist, which is certainly not a common religion in modern America, Madison also leaned that way.  Reagan never went to church as President, though he did believe in God.  People like Clinton and JFK were nominally religious, but obviously didn't believe the doctrine and everyone could see it.

[dazzleman]

I don't think that at this point, a person who professed atheism could be elected president.

Clinton and Kennedy faked their religious beliefs, and did what they wanted anyway.  But most people can relate to that, because a lot of people do that to one degree or another.  To the average voter, there's a big difference between doing that and professing atheism openly.

[ShapeShifter]

A presidential candidate can never openly say they are athesist and expect to be elected. Not in this day of age. Maybe in the future when religion is not a big thing anymore.

[JohnFKennedy]

Kennedy was Catholic only by birth, he didn't follow the religion at all really.

[??????????]

I do not believe their is a true faith called "atheism" because I believe deep down most people believe in a God Creator. In my book about presidents every president is listed as having a religion except Andrew Johnson who had no known religion.

[HockeyDude]

I do not believe their is a true faith called "atheism" because I believe deep down most people believe in a God Creator. In my book about presidents every president is listed as having a religion except Andrew Johnson who had no known religion.

I don't believe in a God Creator......

[??????????]

So you believe in absolutely no creator. When you die everything goes black. The end. You are in a small minority, and being as 90% of Americans express a belief in God, I do not see an atheist being president anytime soon.

[ShapeShifter]

So you believe in absolutely no creator. When you die everything goes black. The end. You are in a small minority, and being as 90% of Americans express a belief in God, I do not see an atheist being president anytime soon.

Just because the majority believes in something does not mean it is correct. Not to long ago, people believe the Earth was flat.

[??????????]

Actually, it wasn't common for people to believe the Earth was flat. The Church knew and preached a round earth.

[ShapeShifter]

Actually, it wasn't common for people to believe the Earth was flat. The Church knew and preached a round earth.

Is.11:12,
Is.40:22,
Ezek.7:2,
Mt.4:8,
Lk.4:5,
Rev.1:17, 7:1

Well, according to these passage, your book inspired by *god*, said the world was flat.

[??????????]

Is.11:12 - He will set up a banner for the nations,
And will assemble the outcasts of Israel,
And gather together the dispersed of Judah,
From the four corners of the earth. (Where is the earth flat comment?)

Is.40:22 - It is HE who sits above the circle (?flat? StRts) of the earth, And its inabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.

Ezek.7:2 - An end! The end has come upon the four corners of the land.

Mt.4:8 - Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.

Lk.4:5 - Same as Matthew, I'm not retyping it.


Rev.1:17, 7:1 - 1:17 Has no reference to the earth at ALL.
7:1 refers to the four corners.

I dont see where you are getting "The earth is flat" thing from. The four corners are the edges of the "known world".

[ShapeShifter]

Is.11:12 - He will set up a banner for the nations,
And will assemble the outcasts of Israel,
And gather together the dispersed of Judah,
From the four corners of the earth. (Where is the earth flat comment?)

Is.40:22 - It is HE who sits above the circle (?flat? StRts) of the earth, And its inabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.

Ezek.7:2 - An end! The end has come upon the four corners of the land.

Mt.4:8 - Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.

Lk.4:5 - Same as Matthew, I'm not retyping it.


Rev.1:17, 7:1 - 1:17 Has no reference to the earth at ALL.
7:1 refers to the four corners.

I dont see where you are getting "The earth is flat" thing from. The four corners are the edges of the "known world".

Circles don't have corners.

[??????????]

Your arguments are weak. Haven't you ever heard the expression, "Coming from the four corners of the earth"?

[Nation]

To keep this from becoming a theism/atheism discussion ( I can give you a good message board for that), let's get back on topic.

I once heard that John Quincy Adams was an atheist, but that was prolly wrong, heh.

I believe an atheist could be elected President, if he clearly showed he was big on national security and state's rights (not trying to impose any strange atheist policies  onto the states . )

The majority of US folks may believe in a deity, but I don't think a good candidate running for office who didn't have a religion would be tremendously hurt by it.

[ShapeShifter]

Your arguments are weak. Haven't you ever heard the expression, "Coming from the four corners of the earth"?

Honestly, that is not my argument really. Just playing devil advocate. I like hearing from all side than just mine.

[??????????]

Also a compass could be the four corners as my wife just reminded me.


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[??????????]

To keep this from becoming a theism/atheism discussion ( I can give you a good message board for that), let's get back on topic.

I once heard that John Quincy Adams was an atheist, but that was prolly wrong, heh.

I believe an atheist could be elected President, if he clearly showed he was big on national security and state's rights (not trying to impose any strange atheist policies  onto the states . )

The majority of US folks may believe in a deity, but I don't think a good candidate running for office who didn't have a religion would be tremendously hurt by it.

Most of the people that lived in the previous two centuries and were farmers would be considered diests. They lived on their farm, they were largely isolated. They believed in a God but they often did NOT go to a organized church. They believed God gave them support in keeping their land bountiful. Almost a paganistic type of deal.

[Gustaf]

I remember reading that someone, I think it was Hayes was non-religious, did not attend a church and that that was rather common back in those days.