First Non-religious Congressmen since like foreveh

[CptStern]

Rep. Pete Stark (D-Calif.) is first Congress member in history to acknowledge his nontheism

There is only one member of Congress who is on record as not holding a god-belief.

Rep. Pete Stark (D-Calif.), a member of Congress since 1973, acknowledged his nontheism in response to an inquiry by the Secular Coalition for America. Rep. Stark is a senior member of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee and is Chair of the Health Subcommittee.

Although the Constitution prohibits religious tests for public office, the Coalition's research reveals that Rep. Stark is the first open nontheist in the history of the Congress. Recent polls show that Americans without a god-belief are, as a group, more distrusted than any other minority in America. Surveys show that the majority of Americans would not vote for an atheist for president even if he or she were the most qualified for the office

http://www.secular.org/news/pete_stark_070312.html

I cant believe this is even an issue ..why is there a need for a Secular Coalition group?

The only way to counter the prejudice against nontheists is for more people to publicly identify as nontheists. Rep. Stark shows remarkable courage in being the first member of Congress to do so."

I can honestly say I've never encountered that sort of prejudice ..although sometimes it is true for the reverse but it's redicule rather than prejudical treatment

 

[theotherguy]

http://www.secular.org/news/pete_stark_070312.html

I cant believe this is even an issue ..why is there a need for a Secular Coalition group?



I can honestly say I've never encountered that sort of prejudice ..although sometimes it is true for the reverse but it's redicule rather than prejudical treatment

Excellent. It is estimated that 3-5 percent of congressmen in the U.S are atheist/agnostic but are too afraid to admit it. Really I think there needs to be a political/civil movment in the U.S asking for rights and respect for nontheists. If you don't think atheists have a terrible stigma against them, try living in Texas. It's like living in 1984. If I say anything openly to anyone about my atheism I am immediatley ridiculed and asked to go to a bible study. (Except in very rare cases like school discussions on theology, in which case the teacher pulls me aside and asks me to not be so "offensive")

 

[Jintor]

Wtf, America.

Man, I thought you guys were the land of the free.

 

[gick]

Im just waiting for the fundies to start yelling about how he's the antichrist.

 

[CptStern]

they're too busy foaming at the mouth over the darkie with a terrorist sounding name running for President

 

[Tyguy]

you mean obama the terrible?

 

[CptStern]

no, Barack the Fiendishly Muslim Terrorist

 

[W4d5Y]

Although I'm not an atheist and will cry out in joy 'Hooray! Down with the sickness!' I do actually appreciate this kind of thing.
As Frank Zappa once said, America is going to become a religiously fanatical nation, now with leaders defending their right to invade nations, that haven't yet shared their oil with them, with such honourable, bold intentions as defending freedom and all the shit. Yeah, you know all the shit, dontcha?

JESUS CHRIST FINALLY SOMEBODY this is what I basically wanna say, guys.

 

[CptStern]

not believing in god is a sickness now? then I must be on my deathbed

 

[Atomic_Piggy]

not believing in god is a sickness now? then I must be on my deathbed

:x

 

[Sulkdodds]

Hey, look, that atomic swine guy is dying too.

How horrible it is that this is even newsworthy.

I do also like how they cleverly avoid that tell-tale term: "atheist."

It's political correctness gone mad!

 

[DeusExMachina]

This is only the beginning. More will come.

 

[CptStern]

nah, he'll be crucified for his convictions. they'll hatch some fiendish scheme to discredit him ..perhaps involving a lady of the night, payola money or repeated screams of "you cant trust a man who doesnt trust in the lord"

 

[DeusExMachina]

America has become increasingly less and less religious as the years have gone on, we're still a minority yes and by the looks of some politicians and religious leaders in America, it would appear they have great power. But it won't last. This country was founded by Freethinkers and it's only a matter of time until we take the reigns of the country again, perhaps for an indefinite amount of time.
Everything changes. Christianity and religion in general is losing its foothold on the world and while America is taking its sweet time, it will come.

 

[PvtRyan]

Kinda sad how backwards the US seems to be in certain areas for a modern western country. We now got an atheist anti-ID biologist as minister of education/culture/science here, in a mostly Christian government.