These are the religious beliefs of Europe’s leaders—including the atheists

[rug]

"Let me know when you're done. &quot Reuters/Yannis Behrakis)

By Kabir Chibber & Jason Karaian
5 hours ago

Despite the ceremony being officiated by an archbishop, Alexis Tsipras this week became the first Greek prime minister to be sworn in without taking a religious oath (pictured above). You see, Tsipras is an avowed atheist.

The leader of the Syriza party—which shocked many by taking power in Greece this week—becomes one of a rare breed: A world leader who has reached the highest office despite not believing in God. According to Quartz’s analysis of news reports and public statements made by heads of government, there are at least three atheist leaders in Europe:



Despite being raised a Catholic, French president Francois Hollande is also an atheist. “I have reached a point where what is clear to me is the conviction that God doesn’t exist, rather than the contrary,” he told a journalist in 2002 (link in French), as well as telling a Catholic weekly that doesn’t practice religion “but I respect all faiths. Mine is not to have one.”

Perhaps a more surprising non-believer is Croatian prime minister Zoran Milanović, who managed to reach the highest levels of power despite the fact that his country is 90% Catholic. Religious leaders in Croatia are outraged that Milanović doesn’t want to attend church on religious holidays.

http://qz.com/334402/these-are-the-religious-beliefs-of-europes-leaders-including-the-atheists/

[cbayer]

1. I hope that the trend is that one's religious affiliation or lack thereof

is becoming less and less important.

[LeftishBrit]

2. Hopefully No. 4 will come in May, when I hope Ed Miliband gets elected PM of the UK

He would not be our first atheist Prime Minister, either.

ETA: I don't support him specially because he's an atheist; I support him because he's Labour!

[rug]

3. I don't know much about him but he's bound to be better than Cameron.

[LeftishBrit]

4. +1000!