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I believe the US will be better off if we have an atheist or agnostic for president. That person will not be beholden to irrational beliefs based on thousand year old texts whose authenticity is dubious at best. If George Bush had been an atheist, I doubt he would have invaded Iraq. He would have had a greater respect for the finiteness of human life than to send thousands of young people to their deaths. A rationalist and humanist president would have the mature perspective needed to run this country.
It's sad to see that many politicians have to pay lip service to their religion (in our case, Christianity) just so they can be elected to office.
There is a way big difference between an Atheist and an Agnostic. Actually it is impossible for anyone with an IQ over 110 to be an Atheist.
VERY true! As a Christian (Episcopalian/Anglican), I don't try to force my beliefs on others but I have NEVER met an atheist who didn't make snide remarks about people of faith and call our beliefs "fairy tales." The other thing they do is equate Christianity with Evangelicalism/Religious Right when that is FAR from reality.
An atheist/agnostic president would NOT live and let live. He would work to strip every vestige of religious expression from this country, even that which is historical and not really faith-based. The atheist who was suing the government to remove "under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance was using his own daughter (who was being raised a Christian by his ex-wife) to push his agenda.
As an "I don't care one way or the other but I don't believe in a god or gods -ist" I have NEVER tried to force my beliefs on anyone else.
I find it's the people who profess to be "christian" who try to force their beliefs on others as in trying to keep the phrase "one nation under god".
Or try to force RELIGIOUS symbols and celebrations in PUBLIC schools...or who want THEIR ten commandments on PUBLIC property....or a president who thinks he talks to god !!!
I have even heard of "christians" threatening the LIVES of atheists!
So a few snide remarks shouldn't distress anyone....unless their faith is weak.
In his book The God Delusion, Richard Dawkins laid out the difference between atheism and agnosticism and explained why the latter is intellectually indefensible.
Yes, but atheists have had their sights set on the schools for decades. It's not so bad down here in Texas, but when we lived in NH, the school district outlawed the annual Christmas concerts. The schools had to do "Winter Solstice Celebrations" and sing about snow and sleigh rides. Forget about the beautiful, classical music that has delighted people of all and no faiths for generations -- it wasn't permitted.
Schools were not allowed to have decorations at Christmas, either. No trees, no wreaths, nothing red and green. It was really stupid, especially when you consider that wreaths are from the pagans and hardly "threatening."
My girlfriend is a teacher in the public schools. They still have Christmas programs and the classrooms still put up Christmas decorations. I'd wager that there a more atheists here in Texas than there are people in New Hampshire. The atheists never make an issue about it here. Maybe it's more an issue of Yankee stodginess vs Texan friendliness.
I believe the US will be better off if we have an atheist or agnostic for president. That person will not be beholden to irrational beliefs based on thousand year old texts whose authenticity is dubious at best. If George Bush had been an atheist, I doubt he would have invaded Iraq. He would have had a greater respect for the finiteness of human life than to send thousands of young people to their deaths. A rationalist and humanist president would have the mature perspective needed to run this country.
It's sad to see that many politicians have to pay lip service to their religion (in our case, Christianity) just so they can be elected to office.
I do not think an atheist could make a rational decision!!!!
As an atheist, I'd settle for a president that kept his political and religious beliefs completely separate.
Like teatime, I agree with this wholeheartedly. I would be in favor of an atheist president if he or she could be an effective, compassionate leader, and religious affiliation (or lack thereof) isn't really the issue to me. I have a friend I would gladly write in as my candidate in the voting booth (if we didn't have the electronic ones here) and he happens to be a minister. Thing is, I think he would be one of the first to keep everyone's interests in mind as much as possible.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Floridabound09
I do not think an atheist could make a rational decision!!!!
While you aren't obligated to, can you back and/or justify such a blanket statement made about a large, varied group of people?
....I'd settle for a president that kept his political and religious beliefs completely separate.
Me too.
As an Independent, it's obvious to me that there's a much greater chance of that person being a Democratic candidate (assuming we remain stuck with 2-party politics); the Republican platform pretty much requires candidates to trumpet Christian beliefs to some degree. Ron Paul is the only one I can think of who didn't make a big deal of it.
As far as Romney goes, IMHO it was the media and his opponents who kept dragging his Mormon faith into the spotlight; I got the impression that he really does keep his religious and political beliefs separate and would not voluntarily bring it into either the campaign or his administration.
IMO the only likelihood of a candidate or President who would keep his/her religious and political beliefs completely separate, would be an Indepedent. I certainly can't see it ever happening with a Republican!
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