Would Voters Entrust The White House To An Atheist?

[GSOgymrat]

The answer, unsurprisingly, is no.

http://www.npr.org/sections/13.7/2015/08/10/431205042/should-we-distrust-atheists

The videos in this article are very interesting. If you don't want to read the article or watch the videos the bottom line is:

Putting these pieces together, the story is this: On the one hand, we don't need God to be good â€" either as a matter of philosophical foundations, or as a matter of human psychology; on the other hand, many people believe that we do.

The result is distrust of atheists. And unless people correct their assumptions about the relationship between ethical behavior and religious belief, we're not likely to see an openly atheist presidential candidate make it to the White House anytime soon.

The second video gives very convincing evidence why if you care about the  perceptions and value judgments of others you shouldn't tell people you are atheist. Many people will assume you are not trustworthy and you enjoy having sex with chickens before you eat them.

[Baruch]

There is an underlying narrative, and to be successful in politics, you have to manifest that narrative more strongly than the other candidates.  People today admire wealth, power and fame.  They also admire divisive hot button issues.  And people like a pedigree ... hence the drift into monarchial forms.  Being a public atheist (as opposed to a private one) works against that narrative in the US.  Not so much in the old Soviet Union.  In China today, it is best to be pro-business, Confucian and Maoist all at the same time.  It is as if the voter is looking for a momentary avatar of their inchoate longings and fears.  Trump and Sanders are doing this better than the others so far.  This is also why Obama had to be objected to by so much of the US ... if the President is the US personified, he superficially didn't look the part.  The American ideal is a middle aged White guy built like Superman, but in an expensive three piece suit.  Rmoney didn't quite fit either, too wimpy, too Mormon.

[peacewithoutgod]

Well of course they should trust me less for being completely honest with them, and not claiming my actions are justified by a belief in the logical equivalent of a 6' rabbit who lives in the sky.

[GSOgymrat]

Well of course they should trust me less for being completely honest with them, and not claiming my actions are justified by a belief in the logical equivalent of a 6' rabbit who lives in the sky.

"Completely honest"... sorry but you are not presidential timber.

[CrucifyCindy]

"Completely honest"... sorry but you are not presidential timber.

Neither was George W. Bush but look where that got him.

[peacewithoutgod]

Neither was George W. Bush but look where that got him.

Apparently, a good prerequisite for that job is "completely stupid", in a way which makes one predictable and easy for his corporate campaign orchestrators to control.

[Baruch]

"I will not run if nominated, I will not serve is elected"

Don't mess with the pooka ;-)

Arrh!  Nobody likes a loose cannon on deck!

[SkyChief]

Atheists running for public office is actually BANNED in 7 states!

The good news is, about 15% of Congress is not affiliated with a religious group. Meaning they are atheist or agnostic.

The bad news;   they cannot admit this because that would mean instant ostracization.

A truly sad commentary of the political state.

But the great thing is, as time passes, more elected officials will be denouncing beliefs in false gods.

And eventually, we can wipe away the filthy stains of religion and remove the stigma associated with being atheist.

[Aupmanyav]

The American ideal is a middle aged White guy built like Superman, but in an expensive three piece suit.

Trump for the Presidency. Stupid, suits wonderfully.

[Baruch]

Dur Fuhrer Prinzip.  Der Volk project their sense of power, fame and wealth onto their leaders, and the prefer this to be real rather than fake.  Americans project their ideal (Trump minus the toupe).  Germans in the 1930s projected their inner mustache ... even the women wanted to bit of hair beneath their noses.  But then European women don't shave, even if they need to ;-)

People of a ... more spiritual bent, know that getting all bent out of shape about power, fame and wealth is as delusional as reality itself.  They either have a higher consciousness, or are catatonic ;-)  I project a nutty, complicated, avuncular rabbi.