This along was shared with me on google. I highlighted the members of congress without religious affiliation. The point is 16.1% of Americans have no religious affiliation, yet there is no representation of them in congress. There are more people in the US that do not have any religious affiliation then there are people that identify themselves as Methodist, Presbyterian, and Anglican/Episcopal Lutheran combined. The numbers show Methodist, Presbyterian, and Anglican/Episcopal Lutheran combined make up 15.2% of congress. Which correlates fairly well with the amount of people that belong to that faith among the public.
I’m not assuming anyone that says they are unaffiliated are Atheists or Agnostics. Some of these people probably don’t have strong religious views. I’m also sure that some members of congress might not have any religious affiliation, but feel pressured to claim that they do. I’m not really making a fuss. I also am not shocked. I just found it interesting. That’s roughly 50 million people. There are also 1.2 million Hindu Americans and no one in congress that is Hindu.
I bet in 5 years time we will see an atheist holding some sort of power.
I heard Sean Faircloth speak, who works with Secular Coalition for America, and he said there are actually 24 (or 25? I can't remember the exact number) members of congress who are secular, but they are not "out" because it would effect their poll numbers. There is one openly atheist member. This is something that SCA is fighting for...to make it more acceptable to be openly atheist as a politician.
I'm not 100% sure how it works in America, but in Australia we have a serious 2 party mentality. Since your vote only counts to get someone elected for your area, it is extremely hard for minority groups to get ANY representation in parliament. I suspect the same thing happens in America and probably anywhere where elections for large scale areas are done on a per small scale area.
Using the above example, the unaffiliated are grossly under-represented in your congress. If all of those people were in a small geographic area, they would easily be able to vote in someone to represent them. But because they are geographically separate, their votes are considered separate of each other.
Long story short, the system doesn't work....need a new system imo.
I just don’t like to see anyone not have political representation. Regardless if it’s beneficial to me or not. Remember, America is suppose to be this “cultural melting pot” that’s so “diverse” and we are all equal, but only if you’re an upper-class, white, heterosexual Christian. Sorry that sounded pissy.
I agree, political representation is (should be?) everyone's right. Australia has an Atheist Prime Minister but she refuses to do anything about gay marriage equality... The only party I know of which openly supports it got enough votes nationally to secure a seat but the votes were spread too thin and so now that party has no input whatsoever in parliament. The parliament is just not representative of Australian's on a national level and I blame the current voting system.
There is a protestant offshoot called holiness? That's a new one to me. Are the "Don't Know/ Refused" the closeted atheists?
Either that or something unsavoury which they don't want known.
I don't know if Pete Stark is still in Congress, but he is an atheist. It was mentioned a while back when DJ Groethe hosted "Point of Inquiry."
@Wyatt my guess is the 'Don't Know/Refused" are secular, atheist or agnostic but because of political reprocutions they stay in the closet.
@Matt We also have a two party system and is clearly is not working and is only getting worse. Keith Olbermann recently called for mass disobedience in his commentary in response to the latest deficit debacle. The problem is American are too lazy to act.
@Morgan I agree, and in maybe less time than that. You should run! I would but my past is too shady. ;-)
Started by maruli marulaki in Ethics & Morals May 14, 2020. 0 Replies 1 Like
Started by Andrew Guthrie in Religion and the Religious, Atheism and Atheists. Last reply by 34u0tmz9oc778 Apr 16, 2020. 1 Reply 0 Likes
Started by D L in Small Talk. Last reply by 34u0tmz9oc778 Apr 21, 2020. 1 Reply 0 Likes
Started by rudrappa agadi in Pseudoscience, The Paranormal, and Conspiracy Theories. Last reply by 34u0tmz9oc778 Apr 9, 2020. 1 Reply 0 Likes
Started by D L in Small Talk. Last reply by D L Aug 8, 2020. 6 Replies 1 Like
Posted by James C Rocks on November 12, 2020 at 10:49am 5 Comments 0 Likes
Posted by ETRON on September 6, 2019 at 12:44pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
© 2021 Created by Rebel.
Powered by
You need to be a member of Think Atheist to add comments!
Join Think Atheist