Political question: what would it take for an atheist candidate for president to be viable?

Question

This nation has made some strides, but politicians still have to kiss the hindquarters of the Almighty to get elected to any office higher than Representative from Alameda.

What sort of candidate could say that he/she is an atheist without having it immediately submarine any shot of becoming president? Is the answer someone famous? (Keanu Reeves, unfortunately, is the first to come to mind.) Some sort of Reaganite "Great Communicator" with great verbal jujitsu?

Is it a "Only Nixon could go to China" thing? Would the first atheist candidate have to be a Republican (from the neocon, libertarian, or monetarist wings of the party) to dispel that 'godless Communist' specter?

How far off is it from happening?

Answer 1

Being a republican might help--but I think the biggest thing such a person could do in his/her favor is have a HUGE human rights background. If he/she could prove that their life evidenced a lot more "moral" behavior than most Xians', I think people might be able to get past the lack of religious affiliation.

Answer 2

As a fundamentalist Christian Republican voter, I would rather vote for an atheist who lives by his or her moral convictions (whether I agree with those convictions or not), than a person who claims to be a Christian but doesn't live as a Christian and only trots out his/her beliefs at election time.



Thomas Jefferson was not an atheist, he was a deist. He recognized a higher power, although he had doubts about Christianity.



Until John F. Kennedy ran for the Presidency, a person's religious beliefs had little impact on the campaign. Maybe that is because most Americans assumed that the candidates were Christians. Now, just like gender, race, military experience, etc., religion is used as a marketing tool.



Will it ever happen? Who knows?

Answer 3

I'm sure that Atheists have already been president . Religion , or the lack of it , is strictly in the mind . Politicians and business men know that since the majority of voters are religious , it's good policy to pretend to be religious also .Since we can't read the minds of people , we can't know what their religious thoughts are .

If you mean , one who is openly Atheist , I believe it will take some time . Europe is dropping religion rapidly . We're dragging our feet , but it's coming .

Superstition is loosing out to reality and common sense .

Answer 4

I think that as long as more than 50% of the voters in the country believe in some sort of benevolent being, there is little hope for an atheist president in the future.

Answer 5

The only way an atheist would get elected president is if this person did something so impossible, it caused everyone to fall in love with him/her.



For example, if I single handedly convinced Osama Bin Laden, to surrender to *me* and me alone, and give himself up for trial here in the US, if I invented a way for ordinary people to power their cars and heat their homes with garbage, and if I mailed out money tree seeds to every household, I might have a fair shot at the presidency. People would be so amazed, they'd overlook religion.

Answer 6

i think of you're ultimate out of balloting. far too many human beings settle for sufficient standards while it is composed of the politicians they throw their help in the back of. look on the state of the Republican lineup. quite than be appalled on the shoddy record of capacity applicants, precise wingers have backed mediocrity to that is fullest quantity (Herman Cain may be the apparent occasion), quite than call for greater powerfuble applicants. comparable applies for the left, yet from what i've got seen to a lesser degree. besides, that replace into off element. in my opinion I chosen observe to vote on the final uk elections, faith performs a critically much less place in uk politics so that is form of of a non subject quite, yet i might vote for a candidate no count number what their ideals are, see you later as they did no longer seek for to enforce them via their politics. David Cameron got here out and suggested that the united kingdom needs to undertake greater 'christian values' the day in basic terms before this, which i got here across demanding, whether i think of he's done a quite good activity in fee. As for united statesa., asserting your self a christian is a prerequisite for working for president besides, so quite if i replace into to vote it may be for the least elementary candidate.

Answer 7

How many politicians do you think really believe in God and don't just say it? I'd have to say that some of them have actions that don't match their beliefs and that many act as though they will not have to stand judgment for immoral decisions. Don't be surprised if there's already been more than one atheist president. I wouldn't be.

Answer 8

Well truthfully he would not be able to disclose that he/she was an atheist to have any chance at being pres.



Or they could do the typical politician thing and just lie about the subject.

Answer 9

i think it would be a libertarian, but our country wouldn't elect him or her unless the religious right continues on it's path of destruction and becomes even more intolerable. A large number of people would have to start getting really pissed off at them, but I'm already on board.

Answer 10

How about a Pat Robertson or Mitt Romney getting elected and then right after that declaring that he has renounced his faith and become an atheist?

Answer 11

It will probably take at least another 50 years.



The only other option would be to lie about it, then take office, and then release it publically. Personally, I think that would be hilarious.



(I think we have a couple closet atheists in the running right now, actually)

Answer 12

J-Mick, I'm pretty sure I'm real.



I think it would have to be a republician for an open atheist to be elected.



and also, as the one poster said, a strong human rights and/or philantropy background would help immensely.

Answer 13

The Rapture

Answer 14

Easy..

All those who whine about the evangelical right need to get off their lazy butts and get out and vote. There are more people who are not part of the fundie right. But its that fundie right that has the highest voter turn out

Answer 15

Don't hold your breath.



It would take America becoming religiously like Western Europe.

Answer 16

Not going to happen in the near future but the person would definitely have to be a Democrat.

Answer 17

Universal Pants for president!

Answer 18

I think that it is possible, but it would have to be an atheist with moderate views on abortion, gay rights, etc. Otherwise people might view them as being too "radical".

Answer 19

Americans voted in that dumbass, religious bigot Bush. Perhaps they've learned their lesson and will vote for Obama, a man who does not need to pray to any make-believe entity.

Answer 20

Your president is already an athiest. He just goes through the motions. 10th commandment. Thou shalt not kill. (Clinton - Thou shalt not bear false witness)

Answer 21

Given this day and age, I'd say a time machine that would take us back a hundred years or so.

Answer 22

There's no such thing as an atheist Republican. :P It's a myth, like the unicorn.

Answer 23

Of the US?



A miracle FROM God :)



The problem is that the Nation (like it or not) WAS founded through the Christian God... we are given rights that are endowed to us by our CREATOR. When you have a man who doesn't even believe in that he could be a catalyst of changing America for the worse.



For example, if God doesn't give you your rights you eventually end up socialized and your nation starves to death.



IE: North Korea vs. South Korea

Answer 24

Dishonesty about it. =0(

Answer 25

way off, 20 elections at my best guess, i doubt i'd live to see it...

Answer 26

An act of God.

Answer 27

Hell freezing over ... for starters!