Rep. Fortney "Pete" Stark, D-Calif., is the first openly "nontheistic" member of Congress, the Secular Coalition for America announced Monday, March 12.
In a statement, Stark said he is a "Unitarian who does not believe in a supreme being."
Only 45 percent of Americans said they would vote for a "generally well-qualified" atheist, according to a February Gallup Poll, ranking them lowest on a list that included Mormons (72 percent), candidates on their third marriage (67 percent) and homosexuals (55 percent).
Only three other elected officials agreed to be identified: a school board president in Berkeley, Calif.; a member of a school committee in Maine; and a town meeting member from Massachusetts.
"Atheists are the last group that a majority of Americans still think is OK to discriminate against," said Fred Edwords, director of communications for the American Humanist Association.
Story taken from http://www.beliefnet.com/story/213/story_21388_1.html
This article really makes me want to jump on the soapbox today. So here I go.
Religion in politics is a very touchy subject and not one many canidates will openly discuss. In reality who or what you believe in does not make you a better leader. Does it matter if you shape your polices around the Christian way? No it doesn't matter at all! It does however make you more likable, and more electable if you do go down that path. If you are a Christian than you'll win just about every "Red" state.
See the thing is people vote because of religious issues first and what is truly important second. Don't get me wrong I am not against religion or god. I just want people to wake up and realize that religion is not, and should not effect our government policies, and it should not decide the outcome of an election. If you notice in the article you see that Americans would not elect an openly atheist president into office. Why not I ask? Does it make them a bad person? All it means is that they may be open to ideas and polices that many leaders would be opposed to. Several of those leaders only support Christian beliefs because it wins them votes.
It's not just atheists that get the political shaft with voters. People of other religions get chastised in the media, and by the common American for there beliefs. I guess our country is only free for Christians. Its like were saying you can live in our country and pay taxes, but you can never lead our country because your beliefs make you inferior to the rest of the population.
I for one think its time for us to wake up and pay attention to what the 2008 runner's ideas are. Who cares if they are gay, straight, black, white, or atheist. This country is about equality. If we don't practice this than we don't deserve to vote, or even live in this great nation. Its time to grow up and open our closed minds to new ideas. Let's honor the rights of all our citizens and not just the ones who look to a higher being for answers. Remember that the person you elect is responsible for your life and the lives of the ones closest to you. Please don't elect another president without looking at everything they stand for. Just look at our country and its leardership now. "Strong faith based morals" don't always equal a good leader now do they?
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