US Congressman Holds No God-Belief
Rep. Pete Stark (D-Calif.) is first Congress member in history to acknowledge his nontheism2. Comment #25369 by amazeen on March 12, 2007 at 5:35 pm
3. Comment #25371 by mithraman on March 12, 2007 at 5:54 pm
Wow! Astounding! Great contest result, Secular Coalition for America! Thanks, Rep. Stark!4. Comment #25372 by Bremas on March 12, 2007 at 6:02 pm
Also sent him an email.5. Comment #25374 by nonsequitar on March 12, 2007 at 6:13 pm
A brave man in a lost world (america!) Kudos!6. Comment #25375 by Teapot_Believer on March 12, 2007 at 6:16 pm
7. Comment #25379 by cheshirecat on March 12, 2007 at 6:31 pm
Briatins first atheisist MP was Charles Bradlaugh who was elected in 1880. He refused to take the oath on the grounds of his atheism which caused him inumerable difficulties and challenges fromhis opponents. However the speaker overuled the opposition complaints and he went on to be re-elected Liberal MP for Northampton. According to some his favourite party trick was to take out his pocket watch and time 60 seconds in which he challenged God to strike him down.(I hope the standard of debate has moved on from this but i'm not sure) He died (somewhat ironically) of Bright's disease in 1891.8. Comment #25381 by Yorker on March 12, 2007 at 7:01 pm
Let's hope his brave act will encourage more of his ilk (who statistically must exist) to "come out" in support.9. Comment #25383 by BigJohn on March 12, 2007 at 7:50 pm
10. Comment #25384 by Cwazy Cat Lady on March 12, 2007 at 8:40 pm
11. Comment #25386 by WalkingARazor on March 12, 2007 at 9:06 pm
12. Comment #25387 by James Carroll on March 12, 2007 at 9:09 pm
Wait, it says he acknowledges his non-theism, yet he's actually a unitarian, so he does believe in a God.13. Comment #25388 by lpetrich on March 12, 2007 at 9:20 pm
14. Comment #25389 by justme on March 12, 2007 at 9:27 pm
15. Comment #25390 by Michael Paver on March 12, 2007 at 9:35 pm
One more e-mail sent in support16. Comment #25391 by IPV4 on March 12, 2007 at 9:42 pm
Finally a congressman with some balls!17. Comment #25392 by stgben on March 12, 2007 at 10:13 pm
18. Comment #25394 by James Carroll on March 12, 2007 at 10:46 pm
justme: You can be both a Unitarian and an atheist.19. Comment #25397 by nogodude on March 12, 2007 at 10:51 pm
A little history on Pete Fortney Stark20. Comment #25402 by Tom Day on March 13, 2007 at 12:10 am
Cheshirecat: your story of Charles Bradlaugh and his watch made me laugh. I remember being caught in a storm whilst on a camping trip when I was a teenager (some 25 years ago). Some of my friends were very devout Christians and we were arguing about God when the storm started. Someone suggested that the storm was evidence of God's anger, at which point I remember challenging him to strike me down with lighting:-) Obviously I'm a bit older and wiser now and use a bit more subtlety in making my case.21. Comment #25410 by GoodbyeGodNZ on March 13, 2007 at 1:35 am
22. Comment #25411 by Logicel on March 13, 2007 at 1:38 am
23. Comment #25412 by Mikado on March 13, 2007 at 1:58 am
I have a problem with the Unitarian - atheist bit if this is Unitarianism:24. Comment #25415 by Zelgadis on March 13, 2007 at 2:36 am
25. Comment #25417 by Hal9000 on March 13, 2007 at 2:42 am
26. Comment #25419 by Noodly on March 13, 2007 at 2:58 am
27. Comment #25423 by MartinSGill on March 13, 2007 at 3:28 am
28. Comment #25425 by Hal9000 on March 13, 2007 at 3:42 am
29. Comment #25428 by Eamonn Shute on March 13, 2007 at 3:58 am
30. Comment #25436 by BeyondBelief on March 13, 2007 at 5:50 am
31. Comment #25451 by simonchase on March 13, 2007 at 7:21 am
32. Comment #25459 by Keinen_Gott on March 13, 2007 at 8:20 am
I believe your opponent next election dont use it against you in his/her campaign.33. Comment #25460 by Keinen_Gott on March 13, 2007 at 8:20 am
sorry believe is supposed to be hope im tired34. Comment #25462 by mintcheerios on March 13, 2007 at 10:01 am
This is some of the best news I've heard in awhile.35. Comment #25464 by sanjiv on March 13, 2007 at 10:47 am
For what its worth, atheists on this forum may like to know that India, the most populous democracy in the world has at least two openly atheist members of the ruling Cabinet - Mr. Jaipal Reddy and Mr. Manishankar Aiyar. While Mr. Reddy calls himself Agnostic and respects his wife's religious sensitivities, Mr. Aiyar is more direct - he has written a book - 'Secular Fundamentalist' in which he defends Secularism and clearly states that he is an atheist. India's ruling coalition also crucially depends on the support of an atheist party, the DMK. Another fact of interest is that two of the most literate states in India - Kerala and West Bengal, continue to vote in Communist parties. We atheists in India know that Communists are not atheist, but having Communist parties supporting the government does help in keeping religious fundamentalist parties at bay.36. Comment #25471 by shetlandforpeace on March 13, 2007 at 1:59 pm
At times it's startling how different attitudes are in the US from the UK. Having only recently become aware of the whole subject (my interest fired up thanks to reading Climbing Mount Improbable) it seems the most appropriate action for all concerned people is to express our support for Pete Stark. Can anyone suggest the best way of getting this the highest possible profile in the media?37. Comment #25472 by John Pritzlaff on March 13, 2007 at 2:30 pm
I sent him an appreciative email. What a brave man!38. Comment #25482 by neander on March 13, 2007 at 3:32 pm
39. Comment #25486 by space monkey on March 13, 2007 at 4:24 pm
The article I read today said there were also two Buddhists elected to congress. Maybe someone here can offer further explaination. But I thought that Buddhism was a non-theistic religion. Therefore that would be 3 non-theists in Congress.40. Comment #25493 by RichardPrins on March 13, 2007 at 5:42 pm
In the United States popular support for the cultural and moral superiority of theism is so extensive that popular disbelief in God ranks as another major societal fear factor.
41. Comment #25496 by dreamflow on March 13, 2007 at 5:59 pm
42. Comment #25512 by MartinSGill on March 13, 2007 at 11:49 pm
43. Comment #25552 by Hal9000 on March 14, 2007 at 4:36 am
44. Comment #25592 by MartinSGill on March 14, 2007 at 7:56 am
45. Comment #26020 by MartinSGill on March 16, 2007 at 6:25 am
1. Comment #25368 by 601 on March 12, 2007 at 5:29 pm
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