The Texas Constitution, Article 1, Section 4
"No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office, or public trust, in this State; nor shall any one be excluded from holding office on account of his religious sentiments, provided he acknowledge the existence of a Supreme Being."
North Carolina Constitution Article 6 Section 8
"Disqualifications of office. The following persons shall be disqualified for office: First, any person who shall deny the being of Almighty God"
South Carolina constitution Article 4 Section 2
"Person denying existence of Supreme Being not to hold office. No person who denies the existence of the Supreme Being shall hold any office under this Constitution."
Tennessee Constitution Article 9 Section 2
"No person who denies the being of God, or a future state of rewards and punishments, shall hold any office in the civil department of this state."
2006-07-21 11:34:44 · 22 answers · asked by azmurath 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Crazy Kod, I am on your side so chill out. I am just trying to show exactly how far the Christian terrorist cult has infiltrated our government.
2006-07-21 11:44:31 · update #1
tdickey, that section of the Texas constitution was last ammended on Septemeber 13, 2003.
2006-07-21 11:53:26 · update #2
you are a liar. No one believes you. America is the land of freedom. and everybody knows it. I am an atheist in one of these states and occupy a very respectable office... GET LOST YOUR BODY
2006-07-21 11:42:58 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
I think it's unfair to call it persecution if these rules and statutes aren't enforced. If they are enforced, that's not athiest persecution, because theists of a form that don't promote a singular allmighty entity could also be disallowed...
Regardless, the first ammendment to the constitution says the state can't recognize any religion, but that's a bit dubious. If one tries to extend that to mean the state can't recognize anything that's accepted by a given religion (such as a single omnipotent entity) then you can't have the state accepting that, say, murder is wrong, unless the state justifies it as "Economic ineffeciency" or something that's irrelevant to morality. Which is just fine if the state can go far enough to justify it, it just takes a bit of effort.
I by no means agree with any of those statutes, I just enjoy playing devil's advocate. Anyway, an athiest feeling persecuted should just admit the existence of an allmight entity... and say that entity is completely without consciousness. In short, "all existence" can be considered an entity. Personally, I'd be more in favor of such a person appealing to a court based on the constitutionality of such statutes. I guess the Supreme Court might just fail to hear it, despite the relatively obvious unconstitutionality of the case, so sure, in that sense, yes, it is athiest persecution.
2006-07-21 11:45:17 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not just Southern states, though. Until, I believe, the 20th century, it was illegal for anybody but a Protestant to hold any office in New Hampshire. I say that coming from New Hampshire and loving New Hampshire.
Granted, that law was made shortly before the Constitution of the United States and was really an attempt to keep Catholics out of office and not the seven or eight atheists who lived in the United States, but anyway, have you checked the dates of these laws? Are they still active? When were they made? Are they followed?
2006-07-21 11:48:28 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Great you have just proved that the Constitution of the United States was based on the Bible. The states based their articles from the Constitution. Thank you a lot. Hope all of the people that had these questions will read your question.
2006-07-21 11:41:35 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They would never hold up in Federal Court. Yes a state court might rule in favor of that law, but the appeal would be overturned once a Federal judge hears the case. It is covered by The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. As long as it is not a religious position such as with a church,which is exempt then you can not be discriminated for it.
2006-07-21 11:53:23 · answer #5 · answered by ancient_wolf_13 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As an atheist been denied an opportunity to hold office under those sections of code in those four states?
2006-07-21 11:45:56 · answer #6 · answered by rangedog 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Interesting. But have you noticed these states are usually considered "southern" states and located within the "bible belt" of the United States. Do northern state constitutions address this issue?
2006-07-21 11:40:02 · answer #7 · answered by Angry C 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well the good news is that apparently they haven't actually used those laws to discriminate against anyone who could have then brought a lawsuit. Or have they? I can't imagine any of those would have been ruled constitutional.
2006-07-21 11:40:09 · answer #8 · answered by Danaerys 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm brokenhearted that I can't hold office in the Carolinas. This is really horrendous. Imagine the uproar if it were on the books that a person could not hold office if they were Jewish.
2006-07-21 15:59:52 · answer #9 · answered by wrathpuppet 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's really scary, isn't it? Run for office, and then scream discrimination when you don't win. Take it all the way to the supreme court.
2006-07-21 12:08:53 · answer #10 · answered by judy_r8 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the only one's who seem to continuously whine approximately being persecuted are lots of the theists. I seldom, if ever, pay attention atheists whining approximately it? i'm valuable it particularly is handed off...yet (in my journey) particularly to not the degree shown via some theists. i think of being doomed to their Hell is lovable. I have fun with it.
2016-11-02 12:06:27 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋