Why no Athiest Politicians?

[Garland Names the Planets]

Originally Posted by Riadach

Then elect the bunny.

Smart bunnies don't run for election. They just whisper in the ears of those that do

[Cato]

Originally Posted by Didimus

You disagreed with his policy which is fine. If an atheist politician had the same policy you would also disagree.
Presumably if a politician who was regular massgoer nationalised all church policy you would agree to.

No, I am not in favour of the nationalization of church property. That would be an interference in freedom of religion and the right to private property. However, I am for the church paying their fair share of the compensation paid to their victims, and if that resulted in the church been asset stripped then so be it.

Woods allowed his religion to influence a decision off public policy - that should never happen. A person's religion, like their STDs, should be solely a private matter.

[Didimus]

Originally Posted by Cato

. However, I am for the church paying their fair share of the compensation paid to their victims, and if that resulted in the church been asset stripped then so be it.

Think you missed my point. So here goes again:

You disagreed with his policy which is fine. If an atheist politician had the same policy you would also disagree.
Presumably if a politician who was regular massgoer had a policy of the church paying their fair share of the compensation victims you would agree also.
Beliefs don't come into it.

[st333ve]

Originally Posted by femmefatale

Firstly, I think St333ve wants the religious ones branded for ease of identification.

Secondly, St333ve does because he seems to think only Atheists can be good, trustworthy politicians.

I'm not bothered by your average semi-detatched Christian.
I think religion is an important part of society as a tradition.
We need weddings, burials, graveyards etc.
I'll probobly become religious when I get old, just to fool myself into a false sence of security.

It's the people who really believe in God and every word of the Bible that freak me out, and no I wouldnt trust them as a politician.
Ireland has been run by religious people before, they arnt to be trusted.
Infact as a voter I'd like to know who takes the Bible literally so that I can make sure I never vote for them.

[Cato]

Originally Posted by Didimus

Think you missed my point. So here goes again:

You disagreed with his policy which is fine. If an atheist politician had the same policy you would also disagree.
Presumably if a politician who was regular massgoer had a policy of the church paying their fair share of the compensation victims you would agree also.
Beliefs don't come into it.

Because in the past politicians have not shown the ability to seperate their private religious beliefs from their public duties we should, in the future be suspicious of them doing the same, unless it becomes a part of our political culture that politicians perform such a separation. As it currently stands can we trust (for example) Catholic politicians to act in good faith towards gays? I think not. If, however, the culture was one of separation of private faith from public matters then we could, of course, trust Catholics, and other Christians, to do their proper duty.

[femmefatale]

Originally Posted by Cato

A person's religion, like their STDs, should be solely a private matter.

[Cato]

Originally Posted by femmefatale

You have a great line in smilies. Sorry, I could not resist that line. I have to compensate for the change-over from 'Xian' to 'Christian'.

[femmefatale]

Originally Posted by Cato

You have a great line in smilies. Sorry, I could not resist that line. I have to compensate for the change-over from 'Xian' to 'Christian'.

You know ... you could abandon the (knowingly) provocative approach altogether ...

There's no smilie to convey that sentiment.

[imokyrok]

It would be a dreadful step backwards if Irish politicians religious persuasions came under the microscope of public opinion. The god bothering politicians in the US seem to have to drag their deity into every pronouncement they make. I don't recall ever wondering what religious beliefs a politician has. It should be and I think is irrelevant in Ireland.

[SideysGhost]

Originally Posted by st333ve

What would be the political ramifications of a Political leader or politician declaring him/herself Athiest?

Notbeing able to attend funerals and losing the vote of everyone over 50. And that's as far as our political class are capable of thinking about the matter.

The Irish inbred political system won't change until there is a generational shift...but - by amazing coincidence - every single time a generation shift is possible, along comes a wave of emigration to remove the best and brightest of that generation, leaving behind only the already-connected gombeens. As so the system perpetuates itself.