danyboy809

Hi,

I just read the previous statement in a magazine, "Book," July/August 2002 edition, with Ethan Hawke on the cover, on page 17, if you would like to see the validity of that "allegation."

I would like to hear what you guys have to say about atheism being a "notorious belief," a belief which is scoffed at, and the people that maintain this belief as having no possibility, in the remotest sense, of maintaining any public office.

It is for you, my fellow Mavericks, to rant and ridicule this law!

Mad Lion

Reminds me that it's also illegal to have oral sex in Tennessee. I'm sure alot of states have absurd old laws that have fallen into disuse, rather than be repealed.

Pitshade

Off you go.

Buffman

danyboy809

Welcome.

Based on the info below, Tennessee would be hard pressed to defend that law and prevail.

<a href="http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/art6.htm" target="_blank">http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/art6.htm</a>

"....but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States."

<a href="http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/amend1.htm#14" target="_blank">http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/amend1.htm#14</a>

I would like to hear what you guys have to say about atheism being a "notorious belief," a belief which is scoffed at, and the people that maintain this belief as having no possibility, in the remotest sense, of maintaining any public office.

Given the current percentages of believers to non-believers, "notorious" is an apt descriptive adjective for atheism. However, Thomas Jefferson was visciously attacked as being an atheist (though actually being a Deist). He prevailed and became President. However, it would seem that the voters of his day were more enlightened than those of today...especially in Tennessee. (Gore's lost home state...but perhaps for reasons they know better than the general public.)

I fear that it will be a good long time before a publically professed non-theist is elected to any official government office in the USA. Of course there is the case of the Notary Republic and one can always wonder exactly what Governor Ventura's beliefs really are.

I do find it somewhat incongruous that a belief that is scoffed at stirs such enmity in a significant portions of the majority faith belief in this country. Of what are they so frightened? Verifiable facts?

Hayden

Fortunately for Bill Clinton, he was from Arkansas.

CX

On the other hand what atheist would want to live in Tennessee much less hold office there?

PopeInTheWoods

I know you're just being rhetorical here, but parts of TN are breathtakingly beautiful. Also people born and raised there who happen to be atheists (all seven of them ) might not want to leave. Oh, and there are some decent universities that may have some infidels as profs or students (isn't the "Rationally Speaking" author on staff at one of them?).

Andy

Vorkosigan

Not just Tennessee, but several other states. I made a list in ugly fonts, but effective, on the states and god.

<a href="http://users2.ev1.net/~turton/constitution.htm" target="_blank">http://users2.ev1.net/~turton/constitution.htm</a>

(edited by Toto to fix link)

[ July 24, 2002: Message edited by: Toto ]</p>

crazyfingers

Michael, can you check that link? Doesn't work.

Reprobate Rambler

Just drop the trailing 'l'.

<a href="http://users2.ev1.net/~turton/constitution.htm" target="_blank">http://users2.ev1.net/~turton/constitution.htm</a>