Chances there will ever be an Atheist President?

[PhoenixMac]

What do you think the chances of ever having an Atheist President. With how huge the population of Americans that are religious, and how going to a certain church where a pastor can potentially tarnish your image, do you think we would ever accept a nomination for an agnostic/atheist candidate?

[Chundles]

Our PM's an atheist.

Pretty much the only thing she's got going for her.

Our next election will be just like that one on South Park between the giant douche and the turd sandwich.

I don't think the religious leanings of any politician should ever be an issue, they should not court the religious vote, appear to favour one particular religion or call on fictional supernatural deities for policy decisions.

They should govern based one what's best for their constituents.

[swingerofbirch]

If it happens, I don't think it'll play out that a candidate actively declares him or herself as atheist. I think if it did happen, it would happen at a time society becomes less religiously active and combines religious and political views less, and candidates would start to become more private about their beliefs. I think already we have candidates who talk about the importance of their beliefs in varying degrees. Ranging from Pat Robertson who ran for president to Ralph Nader.

If a candidate right now were to talk about his or her beliefs less, I'm not sure if there would be a huge clamoring for more information. You could, as a candidate, say that your beliefs are personal and private. I'm not sure if it would play out well, though, if you didn't at least say you were Christian.

And, it doesn't seem to be going in the direction where politics and religion are becoming more separate. But it could change. Remember that Jefferson was very skeptical of parts of the Bible. He wrote his own copy, taking out most of the supernatural elements and I think all of Revelations.

But for right now I think you would at least need to be Christian, if in name only. I don't think being fanatical about it, talking about it a lot, or going to church regularly is necessary. Just some lip service.

[decafjava]

They should govern based one what's best for their constituents.

That made me smile. :D

Anyway, never say never but it will be a loooong time I think.

[iBlue]

I think swingerofbirch is right about how that may eventually happen.

I often wonder where humanity would be without the hinderance of religion. It'll happen one day but things are going to get uglier and more divisive as science continues to reveal things that stubborn believers don't want to hear.

I wish I could be around to see the day when those that believe in gods as described in holy books are but an insignificant number of crazy people. For now they are writing laws and dictating what is taught to children. This scares and appalls me. I'm getting used to that feeling. :-/

[Dagless]

I wonder how many previous presidents, prime ministers, leaders etc have been secretly atheist/agnostic?

[niuniu]

Our PM's an atheist.

Pretty much the only thing she's got going for her.

Our next election will be just like that one on South Park between the giant douche and the turd sandwich.

Your PM is the lowest form of atheist. Doesn't believe in a deity, but accepts religious indoctrination and bigotry. Some new sort of idiot. :confused:

Dawkins has a poll in the start of one of his books (maybe God Delusion) that shows that Americans would be more likely to vote for any type of person (black, gay etc) than they would for an atheist. Only around 50% thinks an atheist is trustworthy enough to hold a position of power.

The UK has an atheist deputy-Prime Minister but he's only noteworthy for being a Tory lapdog. Hopefully he'll disappear into obscurity soon.

I think we won't see an openly atheist PM in the UK, or atheist Pres in the US in my lifetime.

[juanm]

I think yes, eventually it'll happen.

Always worth watching:
http://www.ted.com/talks/richard_dawkins_on_militant_atheism.html

[macquariumguy]

I would bet there have already been several atheist presidents, including the current POTUS.

[Peterkro]

I would bet there have already been several atheist presidents, including the current POTUS.

Quite,if the number of Catholic priests I've met who are actually atheists is anything to go by I'd think several have been atheists.

[Chundles]

That made me smile. :D

Anyway, never say never but it will be a loooong time I think.

It will NEVER happen. Because the primary objective of all politicians is to remain politicians.

They're all a bunch of useless idiots.

[NewbieCanada]

Our PM's an atheist.

Pretty much the only thing she's got going for her.

It's not easy to be an atheist and living common law and STiLL be a homophobic bigot, but she manages.

[Chundles]

It's not easy to be an atheist and living common law and STiLL be a homophobic bigot, but she manages.

Oh, never said she wasn't a decent multi-tasker. :D

[BugBytes]

Quite probable, but you probably won't know it because they will say they are something else. We may even have had one already and just not known it. I have kinda learned not to take what the leader SAYS is his religion but what he DOES for his religion as a true indicator.

[Fazzy]

Most of the guys who end up as president are probably atheist anyway, only being christian in name. It may be difficult for an open atheist to swing some republican voters though.

Either way, you're much more likely to see an atheist potus than, lets say a Hindu, or Sikh one. Even less so for a Muslim guy.

[niuniu]

When are we going to see a black or gay PM in the UK I wonder. Chuka Umunna is a likely candidate for a black PM. I would like to see an openly gay PM, that would shake our constitutional conventions to their core.

http://www.chuka.org.uk/

[malman89]

I voted "No, never!" not because I'm against it, but believe it'll be near the end of my lifetime (even though I'm my 20s) or the country will collapse making it impossible for there to be an Atheist President :p.

Note: I'm going with a public atheist. I think anyone can easily get away with being publicly/privately non-practicing.

[yg17]

I would bet there have already been several atheist presidents, including the current POTUS.


I agree somewhat, I get the feeling that Barack Obama is more of agnostic than an Atheist, and is paying lip service to Christianity. He's definitely not an evangelical nutter like GWB was, and doesn't believe in Planet Kolob and magic underwear like Mitt does.

But if the question is will we ever have an Atheist president who is out of the closet and openly admits he/she's an Atheist, I'm not sure. I'd like to think that in 50 years, when the older generation dies off, some of the attitudes towards nonbelievers, or those who believe differently, will die off with them, but I know plenty of people in their 20s who carry that same attitude.

[Iscariot]

I'm much more interested in having a governing body that actually embraces secularism than a president that plays on my team. Nobody's beliefs should be law, and anybody that truly understands that is more valuable to a nation than somebody who believes what I believe.

[leekohler]

Never- most Americans are too stupid and paranoid.

[Huntn]

I believe it's likely we'll get a spiritualist/agnostic type leader sometime in the distant future, after humanity smartens up. That choice was not available on the poll.

[Zombie Acorn]

They probably all are atheists already. With the way they run the show they surely aren't worried about being judged. ;)

[NewbieCanada]

When are we going to see a black or gay PM in the UK I wonder. Chuka Umunna is a likely candidate for a black PM. I would like to see an openly gay PM, that would shake our constitutional conventions to their core.


A more interesting question, to my mind, is when we'll see an openly gay heir to the throne. Party leaders are chosen, but being gay is more-or-less random chance.

[Thomas Veil]

I think we'll see a woman president, a Hispanic president and a gay president before we see an atheist president. That's how things work here in Jesusland.

So nope, not in my lifetime.

[Heilage]

You guys are headed towards a theocracy. It can go either way now. Be careful, or you won't have atheist citizens, let alone presidents. :)

[Eraserhead]

I think we won't see an openly atheist PM in the UK,

Ed Milliband is an Atheist, so if Labour wins the next election we'll have an atheist prime minister. Clement Attlee was an atheist prime minister in the 1940s (source (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_atheists_in_politics_and_law#United_Kingdom)).

[niuniu]

A more interesting question, to my mind, is when we'll see an openly gay heir to the throne. Party leaders are chosen, but being gay is more-or-less random chance.

When they do it will be marketed as a grand celebration of how the Royals are doing so much for our rights.

And oh how we should look at them in wonder and be thankful :rolleyes:

----------

Ed Milliband is an Atheist, so if Labour wins the next election we'll have an atheist prime minister. Clement Attlee was an atheist prime minister in the 1940s (source (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_atheists_in_politics_and_law#United_Kingdom)).

Excellent, wasn't aware of that..hopefully he'll promote secularism if he gets in.

[Don't panic]

if the right candidate comes up, it won't matter.
and i would be likely be voting for her/him.

[NewbieCanada]

When they do it will be marketed as a grand celebration of how the Royals are doing so much for our rights.

And oh how we should look at them in wonder and be thankful :rolleyes:[COLOR="#808080"]



As long as he poses naked with hot guys in Vegas instead of girls, I'm good. :eek:

[decafjava]

Ed Milliband is an Atheist, so if Labour wins the next election we'll have an atheist prime minister. Clement Attlee was an atheist prime minister in the 1940s (source (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_atheists_in_politics_and_law#United_Kingdom)).

Well score one for the UK.

I'm a believer btw, but rate Atlee very highly.

[Happybunny]

The Netherlands got it's first openly Atheist PM in 1973, Joop den Uyl.

http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joop_den_Uyl

I do think that progress in the USA will be slow, but one day it will happen.

[LIVEFRMNYC]

Yes, Most likely when everyone over 40 dies out.

[Dagless]

Yes, Most likely when everyone over 40 dies out.

And then everyone else. (http://yrnf.com/)

[niuniu]

And then everyone else. (http://yrnf.com/)

Nuke it from orbit. It's the only way to be sure. (http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2012/jul/17/creationist-groups-approval-free-schools)

[Happybunny]

Nuke it from orbit. It's the only way to be sure. (http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2012/jul/17/creationist-groups-approval-free-schools)


Isn't that how "hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy" started :eek:

[Macman45]

I wonder how many previous presidents, prime ministers, leaders etc have been secretly atheist/agnostic?

Exactly....People can profess to be anything they wish in order to gain votes / get elected to just about anything. Who can say there hasn't already been an atheist President?

[jeremy h]

Well score one for the UK.

I'm a believer btw, but rate Atlee very highly.

Interestingly I think we've reached the point here were the question could be "Will there ever be an openly religious Prime Minister". To which the answer has to be no. Most of the religious people I know here don't even really believe in a biblical God. Even in religious circles I come into contact with (C of E, Methodist, Quaker) a belief in a literal heaven and hell and a resurrection etc etc is seen as pretty wingnut.

[Jackintosh]

It amazes me that intelligent people who make it to the ranks of PM or president believe in mythological and miraculous causes and guidence of the universe. Unless many of these people are role playing for the benefit of the masses. As many of you have said here, I suspect that's the case more often than not.

Tony Blair was always a puzzle to me, as otherwise he's highly intelligent. Kevin Rudd liked to slam Julia for her lack.

[jeremy h]

Tony Blair was always a puzzle to me, as otherwise he's highly intelligent.
I don't think anyone else understood it either.

His advisors saw it as sure-fire electoral suicide here. There was one famous case where an interviewer tried to quiz him on it and Campbell (his spin doctor) shut down the interview with the now famous "We don't do God!" line. The media were desperate to get an admission that he prayed with G Bush ... but they never managed it.

Perhaps there is a God gene after all?

[Jackintosh]

His advisors saw it as sure-fire electoral suicide here. There was one famous case where an interviewer tried to quiz him on it and Campbell (his spin doctor) shut down the interview with the now famous "We don't do God!" line. The media were desperate to get an admission that he prayed with G Bush ... but they never managed.

Interesting. This is where Christopher Hitchens is missed.

[niuniu]

Interesting. This is where Christopher Hitchens is missed.

Unfortunately on this issue Hitchens was at his most disappointing. :(

[Jackintosh]

Unfortunately on this issue Hitchens was at his most disappointing. :(

In the video excerpts I saw, I noticed that too. I think his medical issues were too far along at that point.

[Rampant.A.I.]

Probably, but not even close to in my lifetime. There may be a non-generically-Christian president, but that also may not be in my lifetime.

There was a big to-do over the Dems having to put God back in their platform, because apparently, not mentioning your faith/gratitude/platitudes for God in your POLITICAL PLATFORM is just outrageous to too many 'Mericans.

[thewitt]

Tell me again which church Obama selected and attends every Sunday?

[citizenzen]

Tell me again which church Obama selected and attends every Sunday?

The First Order of Baby-Killing Satanistic Devil Worshippers?

[Heilage]

The First Order of Baby-Killing Satanistic Devil Worshippers?

I thought it was "The Church of Latter Day Commie Pinkos". My bad.

[NickZac]

If the trend of falling religion within the United States continues, then yes. Each generation is substantially less religious than the previous, and those who are religious put less emphasis on how religion dictates their life. (this is a common knowledge fact FYI)

[Technarchy]

If the trend of falling religion within the United States continues, then yes. Each generation is substantially less religious than the previous, and those who are religious put less emphasis on how religion dictates their life. (this is a common knowledge fact FYI)

It's cyclical.

Societies tend to become less "religious" until they become so decadent and morally disgusting that people once again seek answers from a higher power, instead of the men who failed them.

[Europa13]

What do you think the chances of ever having an Atheist President. With how huge the population of Americans that are religious, and how going to a certain church where a pastor can potentially tarnish your image, do you think we would ever accept a nomination for an agnostic/atheist candidate?

I think a better question would be, "Do you think America will ever elect an openly atheist president?" We may have already had a president who didn't believe in a god. Disclosing that would decrease a candidate's chances of being elected so they may not admit it. According to 'The God Delusion' by Dawkins, Americans are more likely to elect a president that is female, gay, Jew, Mormon, or 72 years or older than an atheist.

[Rampant.A.I.]

Unfortunately to most of the population, "atheist" is still synonymous with "satanist." It's difficult, if not impossible, to explain to the truly indoctrinated that rejecting supernatural beliefs includes everything in the canon they believe is undeniably true.

Even for those who don't strictly adhere to western JDC religion, there's still the idea that if you don't believe in God, you somehow still believe in the opposate supernatural power. These are deeply ingrained cultural ideas tied to good and evil. The average person seems to have an extremely hard time accepting a rational argument without an authority figure to back it up. And when you already believe you have access to the highest authority possible, it's difficult to give that up.