America's new religious litmus test

"What is so miserably wrong and unelectable in being a Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist or Jain?
The pigment of Obama's, Jindal's or Haley's skin does not seem to matter goes the popular narrative, but Christian faith is a foregone criterion for electability. A religious litmus test is clearly in play."
On Faith Panelists Blog: Haley, Jindal and America's new religious litmus test - Aseem Shukla

What faiths are electable? Haley was raised a Sikh and converted to Christianity. I doubt she would have been elected as a Sikh. Can an atheist be elected? Do we have an unofficial Judeo-Christian theocracy?

__________________
"Every message, regardless of form or content, is an expression of a need."

Marshall Rosenberg

It is only in my life time that the religious test on electability has extended to Catholic.

__________________
Ally of Justice
Addoration for Great and Dear Leader 0bama
連邦政府軍のご協力により、君達の基地は、全てCATSがいただいた。

I don't have a problem electing people of any faith as long as they stand for the principles of the Constitution and limited government.

__________________
"I have been asked what I mean by 'word of honor.' I will tell you. Place me behind prison walls--walls of stone ever so high, ever so thick, reaching ever so far into the ground--there is a possibility that in some way or another I may escape; but stand me on the floor and draw a chalk line around me and have me give my word of honor never to cross it. Can I get out of the circle? No! Never! I'D DIE FIRST!" (Karl G. Maeser)

"We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion." (D&C 121:39)

Article 6

__________________

Yes but the OP is quite correct. You have to be a Christian to see the ballot. It is an enigma of sorts since there are not many that vote based on religion yet somehow there is always a Christian as the president. I have no theories on this really and hope someone here has a better handle on the possible reasons.

Kennedy was the first Catholic ever elected. Has there been any more? The country is 80 percent Christian of course our Presidents will be Christian.

__________________
The fact that an opinion has been widely held is no evidence whatever that it is not utterly absurd. Indeed in view of the silliness of the majority of mankind, a widespread belief is more likely to be foolish than sensible.
-Bertrand Russell

Facts are stubborn things, but statistics are more pliable
-Laurence J. Peters

I never said that you had no right to have an opinion. I just said that it was, in fact, worth nothing.
-Maineman ( on 12 June 2007)

I read several quotes, a few days ago, that said a Mormon would never be elected
*shrug*

80% of us are also right handed, RetiredGySgt. If someone is ethical, what difference should it make?

__________________
Certified Yankee Girl Scout Bitch. Next time, I bet you'll just buy the damned cookies.

Haley was elected despite being called a raghead, a Sikh, an adulterer, and a fake convert to Christianity. Why don't you give the voters enough credit to think that they picked her because everything that was said against her did not really matter to them, and actually made them think less of the people who were tossing the accusations? I think it makes a lot more sense than to insist that voters care more about what church someone goes to than the actual issues. After all, they elected Obama despite the fact that he went to a racist and anti-American church for years.

__________________
A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly.
Specialization is for insects.

Be extremely subtle, even to the point of formlessness. Be extremely mysterious, even to the point of soundlessness. Thereby you can be the director of the opponent's fate.

What are you talking about? Jews, Athiests, Hindus, Muslims, etc are elected to local and federal office all the time.

Heck, we just elected a black liberation theology believer. You think that's mainstream?

__________________
"I have been asked what I mean by 'word of honor.' I will tell you. Place me behind prison walls--walls of stone ever so high, ever so thick, reaching ever so far into the ground--there is a possibility that in some way or another I may escape; but stand me on the floor and draw a chalk line around me and have me give my word of honor never to cross it. Can I get out of the circle? No! Never! I'D DIE FIRST!" (Karl G. Maeser)

"We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion." (D&C 121:39)

Americans elect a lot of public officials – over half a million, from the President down to school district level. If atheists and other nonbelievers were represented fairly, you would expect about 50 in the US Congress and another 50,000 at State and local level. In 2007, the Secular Coalition for America tried to find them. They found only five. Three were very local officials: a school board president, a school committee member and a town meeting member.
America’s top elected atheists | michaelnugent.com

__________________
"Every message, regardless of form or content, is an expression of a need."

Marshall Rosenberg

I was specifically referring to the presidency where there are almost always protestants and never anyone that was not a Christian, at least publicly. Even in the senate and house, non Christians are not often elected. I do not believe that that creates a theocracy or is even encouraging it, just that it is a rather odd statistic and quite interesting.

I doubt a non-christian will ever be President.

__________________
"Every message, regardless of form or content, is an expression of a need."

Marshall Rosenberg

By some standards there have been quite a few presidents who are not Christians.

Religious Affiliation of U.S. Presidents * Religion

As far as the Senate and House, it seems to be fairly representative, right down to Scientology.

Religion of U.S. Congress

__________________
A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly.
Specialization is for insects.

Be extremely subtle, even to the point of formlessness. Be extremely mysterious, even to the point of soundlessness. Thereby you can be the director of the opponent's fate.

OK windbag- Let me qualify my statement further. I doubt a non-christian will be elected President in my lifetime.

__________________
"Every message, regardless of form or content, is an expression of a need."

Marshall Rosenberg