An Atheist President

[garnett_21]

If the best qualified candidate for the secular job of running the country is an Atheist, I have no problem voting for that person.

JammingJames said it best. Religion, as with race, and multiple other things, should have no impact on who to vote for.

[gatorboymike]

I'm an atheist, and I sure as hell would vote for an atheist. Unless he was crazy, stupid, evil, incompetent, manipulative, dishonest, backed by heartless billionaires who would poison and kill the entire world without a moment's hesitation just to make a buck, and bashed his opponents mercilessly for having the same flaws that he had. In other words, unless he was a politician.

Hmmm...is that a Catch-22? Thanks for nothing, Jospeh Heller!

[RenegadeLonghorn]

Religion and race do not matter to me. I will vote for the best candidate.

[TechMan]

i agree.

Would you vote for an atheist just because your an atheist if there was a better candidate?

[maccards44]

"best answer 100%"

Yes, and I am a person of faith. Faith is a personal matter. If the best qualified candidate for the secular job of running the country is an Atheist, I have no problem voting for that person.

Not that I'm itching to move to europe but this is largly how it is over there, the religion of the leader (or lack of) is viewed as deeply personal and not something that every voter needs to know about. Very different from here. I think they have this one right.

[OnePimpTiger]

I'm a Christian and I believe that my faith is a part of everything I do. If I were to run for public office, it would have an impact in that. So if the candidates running for President are Christian, then I expect it to have an impact for them as well.

That being said, a candidate's faith is not the main thing I look at. If two candidates were relatively equal in the areas I consider most important, I would vote for the Christian over the atheist. But if the atheist is obviously more qualified, they get the check mark.

[aw00d05]

i said maybe, i could care less on the persons religion as long as it's not something very very odd. all i care about are policies and truthfulness.

[JayJagFan]

As an Atheist going into politics, I've looked into this very thoroughly. I found this article to be pretty revealing, and depressing:

http://www.thinkingliberal.com/the_f...lp_the_at.html

[themanishere]

As an Atheist going into politics, I've looked into this very thoroughly. I found this article to be pretty revealing, and depressing:

http://www.thinkingliberal.com/the_f...lp_the_at.html

Good piece. (The one about education is also a good read - although some of the comments are ridiculous.)

Its odd, and troubling, that some states could keep a person from office if he/she does not acknowledge a 'Supreme Being'. Sounds like church and state interacting, no?

Sadly, religion matters, just like race. And these two characteristics always will matter, among others. The situation is never just about politics and qualifications, and many, many people fail to separate secondary characteristics from ability and knowledge of politics, the economy, and society.

[streicher187]

I am an athiest.

It depends, IF they flaunt the fact they are then I would not, I hate when religious people talk like their religion is the be all end all and I hate when athiests try and take away peoples religious freedoms.

If they were an athiest but had no problem with people expressing their beliefs then I would vote for them. If they were one of those wack job athiests that complain about the word God in the pledge or on the dollar or scream about a teacher having a bible in school then even though I don't believe in religion I couldn't in good consious vote for that person.

I could see a communist getting elected before an athiest in this country though..