There are still 8 states in which atheists cannot hold public office?

[BSdetect]

I just found out about this.

Simply astonishing.

[DURHAM D]

1. Do you have a list? nt

[BSdetect]

5. If you guess southern states you will be accurate. See link bekow

[Mr.Bill]

2. If tthere are any elected officials in those states

who don't attend church regularly, we should openly accuse them of being Atheists whenever they campaign.

[RKP5637]

3. Sadly not surprised. The US is really hung up on religious bullshit! n/t

[Maru Kitteh]

4. A list with a source would have rounded this thought out nicely as a post.

Just thinking out loud here.

[Easterncedar]

6. And how many functions require an oath on the Bible?

In Maine the law says if a person “is scrupulous about swearing” “so help me god”, alternate wording may be used. I like the assumption that the god botherers don’t have scruples about it.

[walkingman]

7. I find that mind-boggling. I guess I truly am naive. Hard to believe.

I am a atheist but didn't openly admit it until I became old. Not well received here in Texas.

[brooklynite]

8. No, there are NO states in which Atheists cannot hold public office.

Notwithstanding what their State Constitutions say, the prohibition is unconstitutional and has not been upheld in the past.

Article VI: The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.

[comradebillyboy]

9. Thank you for pointing out the facts.

[walkingman]

10. Absolutely - sometimes things are understood without being said.

Article 1, Section 4 of the Texas Constitution states, "No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office, or public trust, in this State; nor shall anyone be excluded from holding office on account of his religious sentiments, provided he acknowledge the existence of a Supreme Being."

The language of the provision was challenged by a Texas voter in the mid-80s – but instead of striking the language, the voter and then-Attorney General Jim Mattox signed an agreement in federal court saying that line was “void” because of the U.S. Constitution.

Let's face it - the reason it remains in the State Constitution is de facto support for it - no other reason.