Should atheism be illegal?

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Steve40 said:
An aitheistic religion is still an established religion so the Government is prohibited by the Costitution of adopting aitheism. The Constitution requires 2/3 majority vote and radification in every state in the Union to change. Attempts to modify the Constitution by Judicial decree is a subverting of the Constitution.

One can love their country and still act teasonously and sediciously. Working to eliminate freedom through aitheism is one way this is done.
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Noone is recommending making atheism the state religion. But if you outlaw you are making theistic religion a state religion. One should be free not to believe without such ridiculous accusations of treason.
 
While atheism should not be illegal, there is an important issue related to the foundation of Truth in the legal and legislative system.

As in the trial of Our Lord, justice can only be preserved if the judge and jury can agree on an answer to Pilate’s question “What is Truth?”

If you have a system where one member of the jury swears on a Bible, another on the Qu’ran, and another ‘affirms’, i.e. swears by himself, then how can there be agreement on the foundation of Truth? What happens if a Satanist wants to swear by the father of lies?

Back in the 19th century, J.S. Mill pointed out the irony of the situation that existed at that time, where only a Christian could give evidence in court, because the honest atheist was excluded while the dishonest atheist who could swear on the Bible dishonestly could give evidence.

Surely the only answer is to follow more literally what Our Lord teaches “do not swear at all… but let your yes mean yes and your no, no - anything more than this comes from the evil one.” I can’t swear to tell God’s Truth, or Allah’s truth, or Waheguru’s truth, because I’m none of them. I can swear to tell my truth, my limited, human perception of the situation I find myself in, and that’s all.
 
markomalley said:
You’re kidding, right?
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I should probably make myself clear.

I’m an atheist. I’m very concerned about the influence of Christianity (and religion in general) on our government. I don’t think atheism will ever become illegal in America, but it’s not because of religious reasons, and I think it’s in spite of religious logic that would lead to other religions becoming illegal. Let’s not forget the history of Christianity and it’s periods of extreme intolerance of other religious viewpoints for perfectly logical reasons - if you accept those religious tenants. Let’s not forget the numerous passages, chapters in the Bible (which I have read, by the way, and taken a number of classes on, as a Religious Studies undergraduate major) that say adherance to any god other than Yahweh ought to be met with death (along with a whole host of other offenses, I might add).

The history is there. The logic is there. It could happen again. It’s possible.

I just wanted to see where these forums stood. The general consesus is (1) it’s unenforceable, (2) the principle of freedom supercedes the religious principles underlying the reasoning behind the criminalization of atheism/non-chrisitan religious beliefs, or (3) if you make Atheism illegal, you could make Catholicism illegal.

Which is good. I’m glad that’s the general answer, and the 9% minority is viewed with disdain.
 
goofyjim said:
One should be free not to believe without such ridiculous accusations of treason.
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I actually do agree with the freedom part but all power and authority comes from God. So saying that atheism is treason is not that ridiculous.

Separation of God and State is a fantasy that will never stand the test of time. Believing in God should be strongly encouraged up to and including outlawing the promoting that God does not exist or that God is dead.
 
Steve40 said:
I actually do agree with the freedom part but all power and authority comes from God. So saying that atheism is treason is not that ridiculous.

Separation of God and State is a fantasy that will never stand the test of time. Believing in God should be strongly encouraged up to and including outlawing the promoting that God does not exist or that God is dead.
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How do you propose to do that? How will you enforce such a law?

Are you going to walk down the street wearing a turban and carrying a crystal ball, reading people’s minds to detect those who don’t believe?
 
vern_humphrey said:
How do you propose to do that? How will you enforce such a law?

Are you going to walk down the street wearing a turban and carrying a crystal ball, reading people’s minds to detect those who don’t believe?
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The same way the Boy Scouts do. If you openly believe there is no higher power, you are out, you lose you citizenship and can not vote.

Anyone who does not believe that our freedom comes from a higher power than the government should not take part in the government in any way.
 
Steve40 said:
The same way the Boy Scouts do. If you openly believe there is no higher power, you are out, you lose you citizenship and can not vote.
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Are you going to walk down the street wearing a turban and carrying a crystal ball, reading people’s minds to detect those who don’t believe?
Steve40 said:
Anyone who does not believe that our freedom comes from a higher power than the government should not take part in the government in any way.
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Are you going to walk down the street wearing a turban and carrying a crystal ball, reading people’s minds to detect those who don’t believe?
 
vern_humphrey said:
Are you going to walk down the street wearing a turban and carrying a crystal ball, reading people’s minds to detect those who don’t believe?

Are you going to walk down the street wearing a turban and carrying a crystal ball, reading people’s minds to detect those who don’t believe?
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No. But if you feel strongly about it, I would support your efforts.
 
If the Christian majority make it a law that atheists cannot be U.S. citizens, or worse must be imprisoned, how long before they make it a law that Moslems, Bhuddists and Hindus should be imprisoned. Then since most Christians in the U.S. are Protestants how long before the same laws are inacted against Catholics?

This whole idea of making atheism is foolish, worse it opens a pandora’s box that would ultimately lead to the persecution of the Church.
 
A long time ago, I was sworn into the Army and took the oath to uphold the Constitution. It didn’t come with an expiration date.

We cannot force anyone to believe, and if we even tried, we would be in violation of the Constitution.
 
vern_humphrey said:
A long time ago, I was sworn into the Army and took the oath to uphold the Constitution. It didn’t come with an expiration date.

We cannot force anyone to believe, and if we even tried, we would be in violation of the Constitution.
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Thank you, Vern. I wish I could do the same but with a mental health background I am forbidden. Never learned to swim either.
 
goofyjim said:
Thank you, Vern. I wish I could do the same but with a mental health background I am forbidden. Never learned to swim either.
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What?

Sorry, I don’t follow this at all. Vern said he swore an oath to the constitution that doesn’t expire. Jim says he’s forbidden to do the because he has a mental health background. AND he can’t swim. Could someone please explain this, 'cuz I don’t get it.
 
daeve said:
What?

Sorry, I don’t follow this at all. Vern said he swore an oath to the constitution that doesn’t expire. Jim says he’s forbidden to do the because he has a mental health background. AND he can’t swim. Could someone please explain this, 'cuz I don’t get it.
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I’m forbidden to join the Army and therefore can’t take an official oath. Of course, as a citizen I will unofficially uphold the Constitution.
 
goofyjim said:
I’m forbidden to join the Army and therefore can’t take an official oath. Of course, as a citizen I will unofficially uphold the Constitution.
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Jim, the Constitution requires virtually all officials to take the oath, not just the military. When I was sworn in as a member of the County Election Board, I took it again.
 
vern_humphrey said:
Jim, the Constitution requires virtually all officials to take the oath, not just the military. When I was sworn in as a member of the County Election Board, I took it again.
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I doubt whether anyone would vote for a mentally ill person for any office either, so I’ll never get the chance to officially uphold the Contitution.
 
Freedom of religion for everyone must mean freedom for some to choose to believe nothing.
 
goofyjim said:
I doubt whether anyone would vote for a mentally ill person for any office either, so I’ll never get the chance to officially uphold the Contitution.
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I suggest the people have voted for mentally-ill persons before. I would give you a list of obvious candidates, but the rules forbid it.
 
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