Here Are All The Atheists In Congress

[cbayer]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/19/atheists-in-congress_n_3944108.html

By Nick Wing
Posted: 09/19/2013 7:40 am EDT | Updated: 09/19/2013 8:55 pm EDT

It's becoming more common not to believe in God or organized religion these days, so it would only be natural for a few atheists to have made their way to Congress, right?

Below, we've managed to cram all of the atheists serving on Capitol Hill into one important GIF:


Yeah, there isn't a single admitted atheist currently in Congress.

For purposes of demonstration, however, the cat can represent former Rep. Pete Stark (D-Calif.), who left Congress in 2012 as its only avowed atheist. Much like the flying feline, he fell a bit short of his mark after having his legs taken out from under him by another Democrat, thanks to California's "top-two" primary election system.

A few months after retiring, former Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) also announced his nonbeliever status, a declaration he made more than 25 years after coming out as the first openly gay member of Congress.

more at link (with lots of embedded links to other articles)

[redstatebluegirl]

1. Due respect

I do not think religion should bema determining factor in serving in Congress. Those of us who are not believers deserve representation as well.

[cbayer]

2. Agree, but it's been a handicap in anyone's campaign.

Even the one person who declared herself a non-believer and actually got elected has backtracked significantly.

It will be interesting to see if the new PAC, created to support the candidacy of non-believers, has an impact.

Unfortunately, having certain religious beliefs continues to be a critical criteria for some voters.

[redstatebluegirl]

5. Agreed but many of those

Who feel it is a deal breaker have never set foot in a church...go figure

[cbayer]

6. I'd not heard that before.

The fact is that the evangelicals/fundamentalists were energized and politicized in a very effective way. They have remained a pretty formidable force, though I am cautiously optimistic that will change.

[skepticscott]

10. So why do you always upbraid people

for focusing their criticism on the extremist end of the Christian spectrum, when you yourself acknowledge what a large, vocal, influential and destructive group that is?

[skepticscott]

7. Do you have any facts to back that up?

Or is this just an invented factoid that, if coming from someone else, would be dismissed out of hand by some of the prominent posters here. In this case, it seems to have been swallowed whole.

[redstatebluegirl]

8. I live in the Bible Belt

I haveworked with people whosay you must be Christian to serve. When I inquire what Church the attend they said "been a Baptist frever but never went to Church". Same from ll three when questioned...

Do not mean to be disrespectful I just want those imposters to be identified.

I am someone who doesn't demonize Christians please keep that in mind.

[skepticscott]

9. Ok, so we're not actually talking about

"Many of those who feel it is a deal breaker", we're talking about a few people you happen to have met personally.

Clear now.

[gopiscrap]

3. chickenshits

[cbayer]

4. I think it has more to do with constituencies than it does with the candidates.

But we may see some change in the near future.

[dimbear]

11. Nobody has any idea at all how many atheists there are in congress.

If you count folk who pay no attention to Biblical principles, there are lots. Honest, out atheists is what counts up to none.

[cbayer]

12. The article addresses that. It is talking about out atheists.