Atheists/ agnostics: Can you run for office in your state?

[Bossy Monkey]

Appears to be 11 states/commonswealths that so forbid:
http://www.godlessgeeks.com/LINKS/StateConstitutions2.htm
NC, SC, TN, KY, FL, MA, CT, PA, TN, MD, TX; I feel like going and running for governor as an atheist just to challenge its constitutionality.

I'm not going to go and check the individual constitutions of these states; I'm willing to trust the website above at least for argument's sake. If you live in one of these states and don't think they ban atheists (MA & CT, say), feel free to seek second opinions.

Anyway, whaddayasay?

[SheepyMcSheepster]

1. nope i am here in NC

and what a crock that is.

[Bossy Monkey]

2. SC here; maybe we can do a North-South atheist/agnostic gubernatorial run

"What a crock" is right.

[RPM]

3. I'll back you on that one

i am ashamed to see PA on that list...

on edit: we need to get that shit out of there (growing more angry by the moment)

[Mr. Blonde]

5. And I was surprised to not see Oklahoma on the list

Not that I don't think it is a de facto rule that you better be churched. Preferably Southern Baptist.

[DIKB]

13. I would have at least expected

Arkansas to be on the list, oh well, guess i can run :)

[Bossy Monkey]

7. This IS the internets we're talking about

The only place that everybody appears to agree still requires adherence to the Christian faith is this one here: SC. Most sites mention Texas but not definitively. The site above is the only one to mention this many states, but inasmuch as the person compiling the list appears to be unable to count to 11, my confidence in them is somewhat limited. Still it's an interesting question. Don't get too angry though until you confirm that the language is still in the Pennsylvania constitution.

[Jesus Saves]

4. These are lawsuits waiting to happen - I have a hard time

believing these law exist. The Constitution says no religious test shall be given to hold office - it flat out says it.

[YankeyMCC]

17. It exists in MA

And I'm surprised also:

http://www.mass.gov/legis/const.htm#cart090.htm

On edit: I found the amendment that removes the xian requirement but it's still required that you swear an oath to god.

Unless you're a Quaker

[bobd]

6. As An Atheist I KNOW That I'm

a persona non-grata practical everywhere. Publicly out atheists cannot, and will NEVER be allowed to hold any sort office in any state ever, ever, ever, ever.

The US has become a rancid, fucked country that prides itself on claptrap christianity - the right-wing kind. We'll be among the first to be hauled off to the death camps by our god-fearing, and loving christian neighbors and family members.

[Bossy Monkey]

8. Well there was one...

Culbert L. Olson, elected governor of California in 1938:
http://www.atheists.org/Atheism/roots/olson/
Also, apparently Jesse Ventura blasted organized religion in a Playboy interview while in office. Believe me, I know, these are the exceptions that prove the rule.

[progressoid]

15. I can't imagine an openly atheist getting elected gov today.

And Jesse made his remarks after he was elected. I doubt he would have been elected if he had said those things during the campaign.

It is sad to think that California of the 1930s may have been more accepting than today.

[CAMANY]

9. You can run for office in any state

the constitution CLEARLY says no religious test shall be given.

[Bossy Monkey]

12. I can run for office in any state if unconstitutional provisions of state

law or in this case the state constitution are overturned, which is what I said in the original post. Unfortunately, the Constitution Fairy doesn't come along and magically blink away such provisions; they have to be challenged in court. Overdue, don't you think?

[politicaholic]

10. Sooooooo disappointing...

Atheists can't even be on some juries. Sure, it gets you out of jury duty, but that's not the point. I guess people in this country feel afraid of Atheists and equate that they are the opposite of god and thus unable to make a moral decision in court. Unfortunately they don't realize that decisions in court aren't made on moral grounds, but on legal grounds.

There are only a few thousand of us in the whole world, can't they just leave us the fuck alone and let us be equal instead of demonizing us constantly?

Atheism isn't the opposite of God, like darkness isn't the opposite of light, it is the absense of light, and thus Atheism is merely the absense of God.

Yeesh, it's not hard to figure out.

[LiberalFighter]

18. Now that would be unconstitutional

because defendants have a right to a jury of their peers.

[rniel]

11. And Christians consider theirselves persecuted

Try being an Atheist.

[MollyStark]

14. You should run

That's a great idea.

[pelagius]

16. This Christian...

...stands firmly opposed to any religious test to hold office or exercise any other right of a US citizen.

And, for what it's worth, I've always preferred the company of thinking atheists than thoughtless Christians.

[SteveG]

19. TORCASO v. WATKINS, 367 U.S. 488 (1961)

The Supreme Court invalidated all of these state requirements in this decision. They may still be in the State Constitutions but they don't mean nothing......

http://members.aol.com/TestOath/Torcaso.htm