Would You Vote for an Atheist?

[Marek]

Suppose a popular candidate was running for the presidential office and this candidate shared all of your views on politics and governmental policy but was an atheist.

Would you vote for this candidate? Why or why not?

I ask this because polls show that atheism is an extremely discouraging attribute to many Americans. I'm just curious as to why.

 

[JustMeSee]

Yes, because "this candidate shared all of MY views on politics and governmental policy".

I don't vote for candidates because of their religion or lack thereof.

 

[Ringo84]

Yes. It's none of my business whether or not someone believes in God, and it's certainly not a reason to deny a qualified person a government job.
Ringo

 

[JustMeSee]

Ringo, you mean yes?

 

[Voegelin]

No...I believe in separation of church and state. This person, making a point of being an atheist, would be pushing a religious belief. We couldn't trust him not to do what atheists did in China, in Cambodia, in Poland, in Russia, in Albania, in Hungary, in Romania, in East Germany, in Mongolia and in the Ukraine.

 

[JustMeSee]

But Christians should not be judged by the same standard?

 

[Sketcher]

All of my views? Of course I would vote for him. That would, though, make him both pro-life and pro-free exercise of religion, which are not normally attributed to atheists.

 

[Ringo84]

Ringo, you mean yes?

Yes!

Thank you. I misread the OP.

I believe in separation of church and state.

No you don't. I don't think you even know what it means.

This person, making a point of being an atheist,

No more than a Christian is "making a point" by running for office.

We couldn't trust him not to do what atheists did in China, in Cambodia, in Poland, in Russia, in Albania, in Hungary, in Romania, in Mongolia and in the Ukraine.

Point being?
Ringo

 

[variant]

No...I believe in separation of church and state. This person, making a point of being an atheist, would be pushing a religious belief. We couldn't trust him not to do what atheists did in China, in Cambodia, in Poland, in Russia, in Albania, in Hungary, in Romania, in East Germany, in Mongolia and in the Ukraine.

Atheists can't believe in separation of church and state or the free exercise of religion now?

To answer the question I would definitely vote for an atheist, but I would not vote for anyone who shared all my political beliefs because it wouldn’t do any good for them to serve in the current political climate, and might actually end up damaging causes I care about.

 

[GigageiTsula]

All of my views? Of course I would vote for him. That would, though, make him both pro-life and pro-free exercise of religion, which are not normally attributed to atheists.

Good points. I agree.

 

[tulc]

I vote for one every time she runs.
tulc(has for many years now)

 

[Vendetta]

No...I believe in separation of church and state. This person, making a point of being an atheist, would be pushing a religious belief.

I know, right? Just like that Catholic Kennedy, who forced everyone to conform to his Catholic agenda, and demanded the American people kneel before the Pope.

Oh, wait...

 

[katautumn]

But Christians should not be judged by the same standard?

I, personally, feel Christians are (and should be) held to a much higher standard. I even see it here on this forum. Non-christians daily saying things like, "you oppose health care reform?" or "you oppose abortion rights? Wow, Jesus must be really proud of you". Nine times out of ten a Christian won't expect non-christians to adhere to the standards of the Bible. Sure, you have the occasional "see things my way or burn in hell *foams at the mouth*!!!!!" member, but for the most part I hold Christians to a higher standard than others. For example, I could care less if a non-christian espouses a certain view on a socio-ethical issue, but might take issue if a Christian felt the same way.

Now, if a presidential candidate was an atheist and yet still espoused my views I don't know if I'd vote for them. It would depend. If they were an atheist that simply did not believe in God and yet it wouldn't affect their policies then I would vote for them. If they were the sort of Richard Dawkins "Christianity is a mental disorder and taking a kid to church should be prosecuted as child abuse" atheist and yet still espoused my political views I would never in a million years vote for them.

 

[JustMeSee]

Richard Dawkins is an extreme. I don't think I would vote for him even if we shared to same political views.

 

[variant]

Richard Dawkins is an extreme. I don't think I would vote for him even if we shared to same political views.

About as extreme as many religious leaders views on atheism. Who do you think would do a lot better at the polls?

 

[JustMeSee]

About as extreme as many religious leaders views on atheism. Who do you think would do a lot better at the polls?

Oh, obviously an extreme Christian religious leader in the USA. I wouldn't vote for that person either.

 

[USincognito]

Depends, but probably not. Most of the atheists I know personally are way too liberal or libertarian for my liking, but if there were a fiscally prudent center-right moderate similar to myself I would.

No...I believe in separation of church and state. This person, making a point of being an atheist, would be pushing a religious belief. We couldn't trust him not to do what atheists did in China, in Cambodia, in Poland, in Russia, in Albania, in Hungary, in Romania, in East Germany, in Mongolia and in the Ukraine.

B flat.

 

[JustOneWay]

No...I believe in separation of church and state. This person, making a point of being an atheist, would be pushing a religious belief.

Will you vote for a Christian pushing a religious belief? Are you for or against abortion? That is a religious argument.

 

[Voegelin]

About as extreme as many religious leaders views on atheism.

The moral equivalency excuse even here? What religious leader's views on atheism in the last or this century compares to the views and actions of the atheists who ran the Piteşti experiment?

( I gots dozens more examples but I'll leave it with
Piteşti for now)

 

[TerranceL]

No...I believe in separation of church and state. This person, making a point of being an atheist, would be pushing a religious belief. We couldn't trust him not to do what atheists did in China, in Cambodia, in Poland, in Russia, in Albania, in Hungary, in Romania, in East Germany, in Mongolia and in the Ukraine.

Using your line of logic I'm sure you've never voted for a christian after all, look what they did to the jews.

Unless you are a hypocrite.