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Would you vote for an Atheist?

Would you vote for or consider voting for an Atheist for any public office?

  • Yes

    Votes: 62 89.9%
  • No

    Votes: 7 10.1%

  • Total voters
    69
Where's the option to *only* vote atheists?
 
Now that you've come to the dark side do ya wanna beer?

Thanks, but I'm afraid if I had a beer that I'd wind up in a country where they don't speak english. Well, that's what happened the last time.
 
Try an experiment if you want. I have tried it several times because as I said every so often I get in an anti God mood due to all the suffering in the world, I feel like if there is a god F*** him. Then as things seem ever darker I try my morning prayer again and open the door and things just get better, it's really weird. Here is my prayer, try it or something similar for a week and try to mean it when you say it, consider it a scientific experiment.

Thank you God for another day of this wonderful life you have given me, please help me think good thoughts do good things live in the now and stay strong.

sorry, no can do ... I was O.K. after "thank" and "you" and then I hit a roadblock ... I'd rather thank my parents, my wife and kids, my friends, the people who built the roads and bridges and buildings I use, the people who invented things to make my life easier, the scientists who found cures for and immunizations against diseases that could've killed me long ago, the soldiers and cops who protect us, the teachers who taught me, the farmers who grow the food I eat ... get my drift? They're the ones who make my life wonderful ... and I have to believe that if there was a God, s/he/it would want me to thank them too ...
 
When I thought about doing this poll, I thought that most Americans still wouldn't. But the poll I looked up to post this has apparently changed that information:
Majority Of Americans Would Vote For An Atheist For President (POLL)

I would like to ask as a DP poll though, would you vote for or consider voting for an Atheist in any public office, not just the Presidency.

As a discussion point, I believe there are six states that do not allow Atheists to hold public office, even though that is against the US constitution.

Also as an Atheist, my vote is naturally yes.

I'd vote for an atheist so long as his or her views regarding theology does not motivate their decision making or use their lack of theological faith a motivation to disenfranchise religious followers.
 
sorry, no can do ... I was O.K. after "thank" and "you" and then I hit a roadblock ... I'd rather thank my parents, my wife and kids, my friends, the people who built the roads and bridges and buildings I use, the people who invented things to make my life easier, the scientists who found cures for and immunizations against diseases that could've killed me long ago, the soldiers and cops who protect us, the teachers who taught me, the farmers who grow the food I eat ... get my drift? They're the ones who make my life wonderful ... and I have to believe that if there was a God, s/he/it would want me to thank them too ...
Excellent post. This really reminds me of this meme too: :lol:

thanks-jesus-for-this-food-de-nada.jpg
 
When I thought about doing this poll, I thought that most Americans still wouldn't.

Anthropologically, we should vote for Atheists over theists for a simple reason.

The only thing that will survive of an atheist, besides their genes if they have children, is their legacy. A theist has some vague notion of the afterlife or heaven and in theory, will place their actions in the context of getting into a better afterlife. Those actions are ultimately self serving as they have a personal goal in mind and not necessarily in line with serving others. You can be a total genocidal maniac and repent on your death and be accepted into Heaven in some religions.

An atheist does not have any of this. They face oblivion. Thus, the only thing they truly have to leave behind is their legacy and thus will want to be held in respect and in theory, therefore place the needs of others above their own as that is what generates long term respect. We do not respect in the same way the businessmen who made huge sums of money, we respect people and leaders who put others first, JFK, MLK, Lincoln, Washington, Cincinnatus, Leonidas, Socrates. Look at Bill Gates, he's rehabilitated his image by donating billions to charity. Nobel is not remembered for inventing TNT, he's remembered for the peace prize and other prices. Carnegie is not respected primarily for his steel empire, but for the institutions he left behind (which Ford should have done, but did not). Nikola Tesla is the greatest scientist EVER and he died penniless, leaving patents that could have made him wealthy, free for anyone to use. There will always be exceptions, such as Rosa Parks and Warren Buffet, but the majority follow the path I've described. An atheist who faces oblivion should view their legacy as one of their key priorities and therefore do what is necessary to ensure a good legacy.
 
I don't have any misgivings for voting for an atheist to hold the highest office in the land. But (here comes the butt monkey) like all candidates, I judge them on their willingness to uphold the Constitution. If the atheist is talking social justice and spread the wealth, I won't be voting for him. Not because he is an atheist but because I am in conflict with his/her political views.

Every election cycle the most abused voters are probably the social conservatives which includes both sides of the aisle. It is why you find Republicans and Democrats depending on what district espousing their pro life beliefs and anti-gay marriage. Look what Obama espouse about gay marriage when he was candidate Obama verses President Obama. He pandered to those social conservatives by assuring them that he believed marriage to be defined as between a man and a woman which we all know Obama flipped flopped on the issue.

Social conservatives (left and right) tend to vote on single issues. What is unfortunate about that is they always end up feeling like they were screwed when things don't change to their liking. And for the most part they have a right to feel that way for they are being played for their vote.

Social conservatives (left and right) see the recognition of their God to be fundamental in their choice of vote.... a litmus test. Never mind that some atheists have made a compelling secular argument against things like same sex marriage and even groups of homosexuals are openly against same sex marriage as well. Abortion and same sex marriage are often a social conservative's litmus test. There are atheists that are pro life. So what social conservatives (left and right) need to do is stop painting everyone with such a broad brush. Start focusing on the first principles of the Constitution and stop the litmus tests. In doing so, you protect what you hold dear.

Nuff said.
 
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