<p>I just found out that atheists cannot hold public office or testify in court in seven states. It’s looking more and more like atheists are the true victimized minority.</p>
<p>Which states?</p>
<p>-Arkansas Constitution, Article 19 Section 1 of the 1874 constitution:
“No person who denies the being of a God shall hold any office in the civil departments of this State, nor be competent to testify as a witness in any court.”</p>
<p>-Maryland’s Bill of Rights: Article 36:
“That as it is the duty of every man to worship God in such manner as he thinks most acceptable to Him, all persons are equally entitled to protection in their religious liberty; wherefore, no person ought by any law to be molested in his person or estate, on account of his religious persuasion, or profession, or for his religious practice, unless, under the color of religion, he shall disturb the good order, peace or safety of the State, or shall infringe the laws of morality, or injure others in their natural, civil or religious rights; nor ought any person to be compelled to frequent, or maintain, or contribute, unless on contract, to maintain, any place of worship, or any ministry; nor shall any person, otherwise competent, be deemed incompetent as a witness, or juror, on account of his religious belief; provided, he believes in the existence of God, and that under His dispensation such person will be held morally accountable for his acts, and be rewarded or punished therefore either in this world or in the world to come.”</p>
<p>-North Carolina’s Constitution, Article 6 Sec. 8:
“Disqualifications of office. The following persons shall be disqualified for office: First, any person who shall deny the being of Almighty God…”</p>
<p>-Pennsylvania a Declaration of Rights: Article 1, Section 4:
“No person who acknowledges the being of a God and a future state of rewards and punishments shall, on account of his religious sentiments, be disqualified to hold any office or place of trust or profit under this Commonwealth.”</p>
<p>-South Carolina’s Constitution, Article 4 Section 2:
“Person denying existence of Supreme Being not to hold office. No person who denies the existence of the Supreme Being shall hold any office under this Constitution.”</p>
<p>-Tennessee’s Bill of Rights: Article 9:
Section 2. “No person who denies the being of God, or a future state of rewards and punishments, shall hold any office in the civil department of this state.”</p>
<p>-Texas’ Bill of Rights Section 4:
“RELIGIOUS TESTS: No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office, or public trust, in this State; nor shall any one be excluded from holding office on account of his religious sentiments, provided he acknowledge the existence of a Supreme Being.”</p>
<p>And I’m sure all of those laws are up to date and strictly enforced.</p>
<p>
I’d take it that they are, they’re kinda in the state Constitutions…</p>
<p>Besides, I have no doubts that a lot of places would deny an atheist the right to testify in court if he/she chooses not to swear on the Bible.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>haha I guess I can never serve in my highly redneck-Republican state.
How sad…</p>
<p>They are sort of nullified by the US’s constitution. I think a few southern states kept slavery in their constitutions after the Civil War in the event that the 13th amendment was repealed. In my AP US Gov book, it shows that homosexuals and atheists are least likely to have people vote for them in elections, so the whole public office thing doesnt matter anyway because their chances of wining the spots are really low to begin with.</p>
<p>
There are plenty of laws not enforced. I live in Tennessee. Atheists are not denied the right to testify.</p>
<p>There are all sorts of crazy non-enforced laws on the books, like goats cannot wear trousers after 5 pm in the county of blah blah blah. I used to have a book full of them.</p>
<p>also, atheists are the most distrusted minority in America</p>
<p>I should file a discrimination lawsuit!!!</p>
<p>Doesn’t the constitution override state constitutions using the 13th amendment or something like that? Geeze, and I just learned about this in Government two years ago!</p>
<p>But any discrimination is bad discrimination. Except if they were to prosecute satanists(well satanists with the intent to harm others).</p>
<p>do you still have to swear on the bible if you are not christian?</p>
<p>There was a big thing about a new Muslim congressman swearing on the Koran instead of the bible when taking the oath of office. IMO, they should swear on the constitution, and if they break it, they lose their rights.</p>
<p>“There are all sorts of crazy non-enforced laws on the books, like goats cannot wear trousers after 5 pm in the county of blah blah blah. I used to have a book full of them.”</p>
<p>Yea, these laws are usually exaggerated in the books.
The law would actually be, 'No animals can wear harmful constricting clothing at any time…" because back in 1964 a large amount of animals were dying because of the clothing their handlers put on them.
and then that translates into goats, trousers, and 5pm.
And most of the time, it would take more time to get rid of the law, then to actually just bury it and not enforce it. </p>
<p>The rules are still odd, but not unthinkable.</p>
<p>
It doesn’t. You’re thinking about the 10th Amendment, which states “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people”.
The First Amendment’s clause on religion says “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof”. I don’t know the caselaw on this, but apparently it’s been interpreted to mean that you have the freedom to believe in whatever God you want but you must believe in a God (the way it’s been interpreted in these state constitutions).</p>
<p>And I don’t believe this is one of those “crazy laws” since it’s kind of in the Constitution. States have books upon books of obscure laws that sit on shelves collecting dust, but the Constitution represents the standard by which all other laws are supposed to be made. I have no problem believing that an Atheist would be denied a public office position in one of these states on the grounds that they don’t believe in any God.</p>
<p>They can alway take it to federal courts where the parts of the state constitutions will be declared unconstitutional…</p>
<p>Perhaps these Constitutions assume that by the time a potential candidate is of legal age of run for office, he will have outgrown such immature worldviews as Atheism. </p>
<p>Natch.</p>
<p>
Tell me this when you stop having imaginary friends.</p>
<p>Hey, at least I can run for office, heretic.</p>