Religion
Related: About this forumWhen Will We Have an Atheist President?
July 7, 2014
By Adam Lee
So far this year, a rightward-leaning Supreme Court has issued two major rulings granting sweeping new privileges to religious belief. Atheists and secularists in America are angry and frustrated, and it’s natural to wonder when we’ll have a government that heeds our wishes. Is there any prospect of an atheist president any time soon, or a nonbeliever in some other high political office?
My message, to atheists and friends of secularism, is that there’s reason to hope. It won’t be next election cycle or even next decade, but things may change faster than we think.
The most underappreciated fact about the future of American politics is that the so-called Millennial generation, born between 1982 and 2000, is both the biggest (yes, bigger than the Baby Boomers) and least religious generation in American history. It seems likely that they’re on the leading edge of the same secularizing shift that’s already happened in Europe and other First World countries, as religion ceases to be an overwhelmingly important part of daily life. Higher levels of education are playing a part in this, but it’s likely that, in America at least, it’s also a reaction against the way politically aggressive fundamentalism has made religion synonymous with a particular harsh and intolerant political outlook.
As the younger, more secular demographics grow into adulthood and replace more religiously homogeneous voters, blatant appeals to religion will begin failing as a campaign tactic. We’re already seeing the first encouraging signs of this – the 2006 U.S. midterm elections were swung by independent voters, of which the non-religious are a major bloc; and atheist-bashing political ads have failed to turn the tide in elections, to say nothing of the non-religious’ overwhelming support for Barack Obama in two elections – but it hasn’t happened often enough or obviously enough to really catch politicians’ attention.
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/daylightatheism/2014/07/when-will-we-have-an-atheist-president/
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tridim
(45,358 posts)tridim
(45,358 posts)hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)tridim
(45,358 posts)hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)tridim
(45,358 posts)Like the President, I have been to church a few times in my life, but I don't have to get elected.
hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)
okasha
(11,573 posts)This is the guy who opposed equal marriage because "God isn't in the mix," then allowed his voice and image to be used in support of prop h8 and defended DOMA in court.
You sure you want to claim him ?
Goblinmonger
(22,340 posts)because of their lack of Christianity.
We've had several atheist presidents. It is just damn near statistically impossible we haven't. They just know that can't say it and have to pay lip service to the Christian population if they want to get elected.
okasha
(11,573 posts)would also render him unelectable.
ladjf
(17,320 posts)And that's most unfortunate as many of our smartest people are Atheists.
LeftishBrit
(41,212 posts)The real question is when will you have one who admits it.
ETA: I doubt very much that Obama is one of the atheists.
okasha
(11,573 posts)TM99
(8,352 posts)or a Neo-Pagan one, or a Muslim one, etc. etc. 
Goblinmonger
(22,340 posts)So there's that.
cbayer
(146,218 posts)And when it does, it will be someone who is accepting of people of all faiths and no faiths, and not an anti-theist.
That will never happen.
mr blur
(7,753 posts)News flash: politicians tell people what they think you need to hear.
InternetPersonlol11
(2 posts)We've probably already had a athiest president who was a closeted atheist without anyone finding out. As for a open atheist, I (sadly) doubt it will happen for this decade - at the earliest, we might get one for the 2036 or the 2040 Presidental elections as the Millennials begin to take charge of the government and economy.
