Faux News has done it again!

[Laura]

What do you all think of this news story stirring up trouble about whether or not an atheist city council person should be allowed to serve? www.foxnews.com/opinion/2009/12/14/decide-north-carolina-bothwell-god-atheist/

[mrsconfused]

I heard about this!!! I think it's crap personally. Do people think that if you're atheist (or just non-religious) that you automatically are immoral and will make unethical decisions? I like to think I'm one of those moral, ethical people I know and I would consider myself non-religious. Makes me sick. In fact, I think there are plenty of examples where so called Christian politicians make unethical/immoral decisions. Should we even mention all the governors who have gotten caught committing adultery? I'm sorry, but I can't stand hypocrites.

[Steve]

This is a moot issue, in North Carolina and in every other state (including my state, Arkansas), because of an old decision of the US Supreme Court - Torcaso v. Watkins, 367 U.S. 488 (1961). In that decision, the Supreme Court ruled that according to the Federal Constitution, all religious tests for public office - even if that test is enshrined in a state constitution - violated the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the US Constitution.

Therefore this issue is as legally dead as slavery.

[Laura]

oh, yeah, I know it's moot and wrote about the Arkansas version last May. I was wondering about what you think of Fox stirring it up again. I think it's ridiculous that people are taking Fox seriously, even the atheist blogs are claiming there is a small chance Bothwell could lose his seat. Um, no! Fox stirring it up amongst the nonlegal people of the country, I think, is heinous.

[mrsconfused]

Thank goodness the Supreme Court has some sense ;-)

[thiswormwine]

How dumb. Its a bad law, no doubt, which should be struck off the books. However North Carolina (and every other place for that matter) has plenty of dumb laws. I hardly think that the North Carolina legal system will start prosecuting those who sing off key, or have sex in positions other than the missionary position (http://www.dumblaws.com/laws/united-states/north-carolina) so it would make no sense for this man to lose his seat on the basis of a similarily out dated law.

Also, LOL at realchange2012 in the comments section, who says that atheism is caused by not being loved enough as a child.

[mrsconfused]

There is a law in Boone, NC that states that more than 3 women living in a house is a brothel. This is why there are no sorority houses in Boone. Also, more than 3 people in a room with their feet off the floor is considered an orgy. Boone was a fun place to live during college

[Nora]

That's silly! What if you had 3 sisters living together? Unless there is some sort of "relatives" clause, that seems like a totally unenforceable law!