http://news.yahoo.com/atheists-around-world-suffer-persecution-discrimination-report-000945958.html
Move over gays, now it's atheists turn to cry. Not much of a story. The most persecution (and a death penalty) are in the (surprise) Muslim countries. They didn't mention that anyone who wasn't a Muslim faces similar problems.
The interesting part was this:
"In at least seven U.S. states, constitutional provisions are in place that bar atheists from public office and one state, Arkansas, has a law that bars an atheist from testifying as a witness at a trial, the report said."
From my research:
Arkansas:
"No person who denies the being of a God shall hold any office in the civil departments of this State, nor be competent to testify as a witness in any Court."
Maryland:
"That no religious test ought ever to be required as a qualification for any office of profit or trust in this State, other than a declaration of belief in the existence of God; nor shall the Legislature prescribe any other oath of office than the oath prescribed by this Constitution.”
Mississippi:
"No person who denies the existence of a Supreme Being shall hold any office in this state."
South Carolina:
"No person who denies the existence of a Supreme Being shall hold any office under this Constitution."
Tennessee:
"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."
Texas:
"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."
What a surprise that these are southern states. Like many old laws still on the book they haven't been applied as far as I know.
And here's a heartwarming statement from George W. Bush on Nov 3, 2004 at a press conference:
"I will be your president regardless of your faith... And if they choose not to worship, they're just as patriotic as your neighbor."
Jim J
Move over gays, now it's atheists turn to cry. Not much of a story. The most persecution (and a death penalty) are in the (surprise) Muslim countries. They didn't mention that anyone who wasn't a Muslim faces similar problems.
The interesting part was this:
"In at least seven U.S. states, constitutional provisions are in place that bar atheists from public office and one state, Arkansas, has a law that bars an atheist from testifying as a witness at a trial, the report said."
From my research:
Arkansas:
"No person who denies the being of a God shall hold any office in the civil departments of this State, nor be competent to testify as a witness in any Court."
Maryland:
"That no religious test ought ever to be required as a qualification for any office of profit or trust in this State, other than a declaration of belief in the existence of God; nor shall the Legislature prescribe any other oath of office than the oath prescribed by this Constitution.”
Mississippi:
"No person who denies the existence of a Supreme Being shall hold any office in this state."
South Carolina:
"No person who denies the existence of a Supreme Being shall hold any office under this Constitution."
Tennessee:
"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."
Texas:
"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."
What a surprise that these are southern states. Like many old laws still on the book they haven't been applied as far as I know.
And here's a heartwarming statement from George W. Bush on Nov 3, 2004 at a press conference:
"I will be your president regardless of your faith... And if they choose not to worship, they're just as patriotic as your neighbor."
Jim J
"Much of the social history of the Western world, over the past three decades, has been a history of replacing what worked with what sounded good." - Thomas Sowell
