Atheists may finally be able to hold office in Arkansas

Joachim

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http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/undergod/2009/02/an_advocate_for_atheists_in_ar.html

Even though the law has been unconstitutional since the 60s, I'm glad someone is taking the initiative to manually strike it down.


Being legally permissible and likely are two different things. Thank in large part to Bill Clinton and his organization the two party system never came to Arkansas. It is still a one party state where in both the cities and small towns all elections are decided in the Democratic Primary. An atheist simply can't win a free election in Arkansas even if you remove this symbolic law. How do you think Huckabee got elected in what in state politics is such an overwhelmingly Democratic state. He got elected because a large proportion of the population is Baptist and at the time he was running for Lt. Governor he was one of the state's leading Baptist clergymen.

The day an atheist is elected to the Arkansas legislature is the day that hell freezes over.
 
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BlackAndy

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Being legally permissible and likely are two different things. Thank in large part to Bill Clinton and his organization the two party system never came to Arkansas. It is still a one party state where in both the cities and small towns all elections are decided in the Democratic Primary. An atheist simply can't win a free election in Arkansas even if you remove this symbolic law. How do you think Huckabee got elected in what in state politics is such an overwhelmingly Democratic state. He got elected because a large proportion of the population is Baptist and at the time he was running for Lt. Governor he was one of the state's leading Baptist clergymen.

The day an atheist is elected to the Arkansas legislature is the day that hell freezes over.

Agree.
 
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Gishin

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Being legally permissible and likely are two different things. Thank in large part to Bill Clinton and his organization the two party system never came to Arkansas. It is still a one party state where in both the cities and small towns all elections are decided in the Democratic Primary. An atheist simply can't win a free election in Arkansas even if you remove this symbolic law. How do you think Huckabee got elected in what in state politics is such an overwhelmingly Democratic state. He got elected because a large proportion of the population is Baptist and at the time he was running for Lt. Governor he was one of the state's leading Baptist clergymen.

The day an atheist is elected to the Arkansas legislature is the day that hell freezes over.
The point is, a man is making a move to at least get that bit of bigotry out of the state constitution. It was already legally permissible since the supreme court already said it was unconstitutional.
 
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BlackAndy

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Lol. That was a law? Thank goodness that law was abolished! That was so unconstitutional. I don't even know what to say.

Article 19 Section 1 of the 1874 Arkansas Constitution states that "No person who denies the being of a God shall hold any office in the civil departments of this State, nor be competent to testify as a witness in any court."

Makes sense when thepreamble to a State's Constitution is:
We, the People of the State of Arkansas, grateful to Almighty God for the privilege of choosing our own form of government; for our civil and religious liberty; and desiring to perpetuate its blessings, and secure the same to our selves and posterity; do ordain and establish this Constitution.

And Article 2:25 is:
Religion, morality and knowledge being essential to good government, the General Assembly shall enact suitable laws to protect every religious denomination in the peaceable enjoyment of its own mode of public worship.
 
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BlackAndy

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But it does seem to conflict with Article 2:26:

No religious test shall ever be required of any person as a qualification to vote or hold office; nor shall any person be rendered incompetent to be a witness on account of his religious belief; but nothing herein shall be construed to dispense with oaths or affirmations.

One can only assume that since Article 19 is entitled Miscellaneous Provisions that it should be understood that no religious test shall ever be required of any religious person (as to show prejudice toward one denomination or another) and that an atheist does not qualify to hold office because of Article 2:25.

Controversial, to be sure.
 
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lawtonfogle

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http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/undergod/2009/02/an_advocate_for_atheists_in_ar.html

Even though the law has been unconstitutional since the 60s, I'm glad someone is taking the initiative to manually strike it down.

Hey, I am planning on doing the same in SC, but I am not yet old enough to try to run for office. So if it isn't done in the next 11 years, assuming I have stayed in SC for that long, does anyone mind challenging my attempt to run for governor so I can take it to court?

Of course, anyone who is 30+ in age and has lived in SC for 5+ years can do it, so any takers?
 
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S53

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Article 19 Section 1 of the 1874 Arkansas Constitution states that "No person who denies the being of a God shall hold any office in the civil departments of this State, nor be competent to testify as a witness in any court."

Makes sense when thepreamble to a State's Constitution is:
We, the People of the State of Arkansas, grateful to Almighty God for the privilege of choosing our own form of government; for our civil and religious liberty; and desiring to perpetuate its blessings, and secure the same to our selves and posterity; do ordain and establish this Constitution.

And Article 2:25 is:
Religion, morality and knowledge being essential to good government, the General Assembly shall enact suitable laws to protect every religious denomination in the peaceable enjoyment of its own mode of public worship.

BlackAndy, don't get me wrong. I'm all for God. I'm a Messianic. However, I'd rather have a Atheist in charge who knows what they're doing than a Bible thumpin Sunday Christian who doesn't. :doh:
 
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savvy

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I'm trying to gain certification for teaching and was interested in Arkansas...I talked to the guy in charge of hiring and asked what actions he recommended I take to get employed. His suggestion was that I engage in lots of prayer...
 
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Billnew

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AMENDING THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION TO REPEAL THE PROHIBITION AGAINST AN ATHEIST HOLDING ANY OFFICE IN THE CIVIL DEPARTMENTS OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS OR TESTIFYING AS A WITNESS IN ANY COURT.
So you commit a crime in front of athiests, and you could walk away from the crime?
It's hard to believe these laws are still in the book.
But like others have said, they weren't inforce. They just haven't been removed.
 
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wpiman2

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Article 19 Section 1 of the 1874 Arkansas Constitution states that "No person who denies the being of a God shall hold any office in the civil departments of this State, nor be competent to testify as a witness in any court."

Good to see that they didn't discriminate against Polytheists.
 
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keith99

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Being legally permissible and likely are two different things. Thank in large part to Bill Clinton and his organization the two party system never came to Arkansas. It is still a one party state where in both the cities and small towns all elections are decided in the Democratic Primary. An atheist simply can't win a free election in Arkansas even if you remove this symbolic law. How do you think Huckabee got elected in what in state politics is such an overwhelmingly Democratic state. He got elected because a large proportion of the population is Baptist and at the time he was running for Lt. Governor he was one of the state's leading Baptist clergymen.

The day an atheist is elected to the Arkansas legislature is the day that hell freezes over.

Ever since I became familiar with Dante's Inferno I've found this an amusing phrase, since per that classic the 9th and worst level of Hell is the frozen lake.
 
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savvy

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There are atheists in Arkansas? Are you being held against your will? Should we send in a rescue team?

Is there an Atheist Rescue Team I didn't know about??? Why hasn't anybody come for me before???? I could be relocated to a more natural environment, like when tigers get rescued from peoples' back yards and are taken to sanctuaries. Air lift me please!
Actually I just wanna work there because they pay a darn good salary for starting teachers in that particular county.
 
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Phylogeny

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There are atheists in Arkansas? Are you being held against your will? Should we send in a rescue team?

LOL.


I also live in a very red state. I know someone who is an atheist and she doesn't exactly share it with people. She says occasionally she bumps into fellow atheists and they commiserate.

It's hard to be an atheist in a religious state, even around the school campus here. People can respect and understand almost any religion, even the non-mainstream ones, but to say you don't believe in God is difficult for most to understand. I grew up in an atheist household and even though I am not one, if I mention it, I think it gives people pause.
 
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