Atheist Congressman

[Kage]

We finally have an atheist congressman (at least one who is willing to admit it).

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17594581/from/RS.5/

 

[tracer]

The question is: Will this be more, or less, of a detriment to his career than it would if an an NFL Football player came out and admitted to being gay?

 

[TheChadd]

I'm sure there's alot more atheists among your politicians...He has to be applauded for his views, but I see an oreilly smear campaign at 12:00.

 

[Ducky]

I sent him a letter of support.

 

[Fnord]

... I see an oreilly smear campaign at 12:00.

[OPINION]

I see a collective yawn by the Average American Citizen.

Surely, there will be some Christian fundie groups that will cry out for impeachment, resignation, and a revival of faith. Almost as certain, this will be seen by some Moslem politicians as de facto evidence of America as the Great Satan (or Shai-Tan, if you prefer).

But no more will be made of this than is actually represented; an American leader does not believe in the existance of a supernatural deity. This is not exactly front-page news, especially when compared to news about politicians who are actual criminals, convicted or otherwise.

He might run into some opposition come election day, but when you consider the constituency he represents, I doubt that the opposition stands much of a chance.

[/OPINION]

 

[Beleth]

I sent him a letter of support.

So did I.

http://www.house.gov/stark/contact/index.htm

 

[Ducky]

So did I.

http://www.house.gov/stark/contact/index.htm

Oh hell, I sent it to the email address on his campaign site. It was a hotmail account.

 

[grayman]

I too have passed along a letter of encouragement.

 

[thaiboxerken]

I hope he doesn't get assassinated. Seriously, I think there is a danger of it.

 

[Ducky]

I got a very kind response back from the Congressman wishing me and my wife well.

Thai: not sure about assassination. He doesn't strike me as someone to actively incite or insult over beliefs. Though I guess there are crazies everywhere. I sincerely hope it doesn't happen.

 

[Schmitt.]

Quite surprising

I was going to suggest that it'd be good to have a bit more atheists and agnostics in government coming out of the closet regarding personal faith issues and personally demonstrate that the irreligious aren't a group of evil and scurrilous money obsessed sex-fiends, before it occurred to me that this particular torch would be carried by politicians

 

[Questioninggeller]

We finally have an atheist congressman (at least one who is willing to admit it).

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17594581/from/RS.5/

I'm glad he has the courage to stand up against the stigma.

So did I.

http://www.house.gov/stark/contact/index.htm

Excellent idea.

 

[Questioninggeller]

My favorite parts of the article:

Stark, whose district is in the San Francisco Bay-area town of Fremont, confirmed his belief in a statement to The Associated Press late Monday. He said he was "a Unitarian who does not believe in a supreme being."

"I look forward to working with the Secular Coalition to stop the promotion of narrow religious beliefs in science, marriage contracts, the military and the provision of social services," he wrote.
...
Stark has represented Fremont in Congress since 1973 and chairs the health subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17594581/from/RS.5/

It seems people don't care:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=13&entry_id=14402

 

[Fnord]

It seems people don't care:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=13&entry_id=14402

Wow. Did I call that one, or what?

Move over, Sylvia; da Fnord iz in teh houz!

 

[EeneyMinnieMoe]

I'm happy about this cause it once more demonstrates the diversity of our Congress. We have women, we have African-Americans, we have Asians, we have Buddhists, we have Jews, we have gays, we have a gay Jew and now an atheist Unitarian.