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Religion

MineralMan

(151,345 posts)

4. I suspect that Americans have already elected more than one

Reply to cbayer (Original post)

Fri Jul 27, 2012, 10:45 AM

Jul 2012

atheist to the Presidency. Not an open atheist, probably, but...

Franklin Pierce, our 14th President, was the first President, and maybe the only one, to affirm his oath of office, rather than to swear, and had his had on some other book than the Bible. He entered office while still in mourning for his son, who was killed in a train accident that also involved Pierce and his wife.

He wasn't a particularly effective President, unfortunately, and few people think about him today.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_Pierce

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Poll: Most Americans would vote atheist for president [View all] cbayer Jul 2012 OP

This is an important change. longship Jul 2012 #1

Totally agree. It is the combination you describe and more. cbayer Jul 2012 #2

Great - all a nonbeliever needs is to convince 93% of voters who even consider him to vote that way! dmallind Jul 2012 #3

It's the trending that is notable, IMO. cbayer Jul 2012 #5

No trust me the hate is pretty notable too. And the ranking. dmallind Jul 2012 #8

Well, then they are not well informed, are they? cbayer Jul 2012 #9

A serious question - why do you think they remain in that state? dmallind Jul 2012 #12

Depends what you mean by intentional bigotry, I guess. cbayer Jul 2012 #13

I suspect that Americans have already elected more than one MineralMan Jul 2012 #4

Did not know that about Pierce, but I agree cbayer Jul 2012 #6

Quite a few probably just paid lip service to it. jeepnstein Jul 2012 #11

Progress, but since most elections hinge on just a few percentage points... Silent3 Jul 2012 #7

I'm a Christian. jeepnstein Jul 2012 #10

Where the Aussies lead, we can follow: Julia Gillard, PM of Oz, is an atheist. dimbear Jul 2012 #14

Oz is, and always has been, a pretty nonreligious place, but I like your theory. cbayer Jul 2012 #15

Your link in your OP is broken. It takes me to a "post new message" screen. LAGC Jul 2012 #16

You are so right and I am so sorry. Should be fixed now. cbayer Jul 2012 #17

Thank you!! LAGC Jul 2012 #18