An Atheist for President!

Isn't it pretty sad (and kind of revolting) that Americans have finally voted their first black president and are so happy about the whole race thing, but an atheist candidate would probably stand no chance?

Or would he/she?

Do we know anything about possibly "closet-agnostic/atheist" former American presidents who just never came out publicly?

I live in Europe and I'm glad that our political figures at least act out their religiousness in private for the most part, if at all. It doesn't seem to matter all too much over here overall, and it's a good thing we don't really have to deal with religion in politics.

Only downside is ... we still have the Pope. lol

So what do you think? Would an atheist candidate in the near future stand a chance if they ran for president of the US?
Not to say that I would vote for someone simply based on the fact that they were agnostic or atheist -- obviously a president has much more important standards to fulfill than that.

But I thought it's an interesting question.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Cattywonky on October 8, 2009 at 1:11am

unfortunately, an atheist candidate wouldn't stand a chance at all. in the us, a persons religion is really important and drives most of the decisions that a person would make. not only would a candidate of no faith be unacceptable he/she would be laughed off the stage no matter the content of their position. welcome to the us, the home of the brave, the home of free speech, the home of separation of church and state, the home of we found this country to escape religious persecution. yadayadayada

Permalink Reply by Crina on October 8, 2009 at 3:31am

Maybe the best strategy for an atheist trying to achieve political success would be to appear neutral, prove they're of genuine value as a political figure, gather followers, etc., and only actually out themselves once they've been in office long enough?
Wouldn't it then be clear that the only thing "wrong" with them was irrelevant to their country's success?
Clearly, turning away from them at that point would be considered unconstituional?

Or would people become suspicious if the candidate did not finish every sentence with "God bless America"?

Permalink Reply by Michelle on October 8, 2009 at 6:00pm

My dream of becoming a politician is slowly dying. lol.
Does anyone think the general consensus is going to change in the next 20-30 years or so?

Permalink Reply by Crina on October 17, 2009 at 5:46am

Maybe, maybe not. I hope it will change quicker than that, but then again, think how long it took people to accept homosexuality, and that's not even equally well accepted all over the US yet, let alone around the globe.

Permalink Reply by Carolina on November 25, 2009 at 9:27pm

I said the frist black Pres wouldn't work so I'm open-minded about this it could totally happen.

Permalink Reply by bblogger_ on August 22, 2010 at 1:14am

At this point in history NO out-of-the-closet atheist would make it to high office in the United States. It is simply impossible. Maybe in a few decades.

Permalink Reply by Max B on November 10, 2010 at 10:30am

I would agree that right now in the USA, this would be impossible. Over here in the UK, though, Deputy Prime Minister (and leader of the Liberal Democrats) Nick Clegg is openly atheist.

Permalink Reply by Rockccoli on February 12, 2011 at 9:16pm

They probably wuldn't stand much of a chance :( Sadly, a lot f Americans Vote on religion. I mean, look how many people voted for Bush and his uber Christian ass. Though, I have to say, and Atheist president would rock! Maybe we'd finally get "In God we trust" off all our shit!

Permalink Reply by Sheena St.James on January 6, 2012 at 4:08am

I highly doubt it. Apparently atheists are trusted about as much as rapists by your average, garden-variety American citizen. Sad as it is, people seem to think that it's actually impossible to be good without god, and I have a feeling that the predjudice won't change soon.

Permalink Reply by Jackalope Joe D'Antonio on January 6, 2012 at 4:06pm

I think it is possible but unlikely. People will say that they have no morality and that a person with no morals can't run the country. Even though that neither statement is true (aethiests do have morals and lets be honest to be a politician you have to leave your morals at the door). But it really isn't about what the truth is, but what people think the truth is. Also people will claim that an aethiest will ban religion, which i think is untrue. Most aethists don't care about what religion people hold just that they don't mess with our religion of non-belief. I think that the aethists candidate would lose a lot of the votes from their party because any die hard religious will not want an aithiest president. I think the attack would be brutal as well. Anyone who runs as an aeithiest would have to be ready to be called all manner of terrible things some that will not even make sense but will all hurt.

Permalink Reply by Ali M on January 23, 2012 at 6:29pm

Hell no. Did you hear about the fit everyone threw over Obama's potential Islamic beliefs that don't exist? Hell would freeze over before an openly atheist candidate was elected president.

I'm optimistic that this could happen in the future, and hopefully even in my lifetime, but it simply couldn't happen today.