Poll: Americans Won’t Support Atheist for President

Last updated on: May 22, 2014 at 5:19 pm by Paul Jesep

Poll: Americans Won’t Support Atheist for President 2014-05-22T17:19:11-06:00 Paul Jesep

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

State and federal laws and constitutions prohibit discrimination based on religious belief. Ironically, American’s are 53% less likely to support someone for president who expresses disbelief in God, according to a recent Pew Research poll.

Marriage equality has more popularity with a growing number of Americans than honest, hardworking professionals who, for understandable reasons, are without a belief in a higher authority.

A presidential candidate with integrity, character, and experience in a committed, loving marriage would still be viewed negatively if he or she had no belief in a higher power.

Although I haven’t see any polls on the subject, it’s likely a non-believer may not do much better in a competitive, fast-paced work environment when a senior manager needs to choose among two equally ranked candidates for a promotion and one is public about his or her absence of faith.

The 2014 Pew results, when measured with the 2006 findings of researchers at the University of Minnesota (UOM), are not much different.

According to the earlier UOM results, “American’s increasing acceptance of religious diversity doesn’t extend to those who don’t believe in a god.”

Why would any person of faith avoid or exclude a person without belief or unsure of a higher authority? In my observations it comes down to fear and ignorance.

There’s a larger irony among persons of faith, especially those whose religion calls them to love more, judge less, and build community. In light of the percentage of believers sent to prison, the wars caused by corporate religion, dwindling attendance at places of worship, the failure by believers to own a holy book of their faith or reading it on a regular basis, and the growing trend in the South to permit guns to be carried into places of worship, among many other things, irony, if not hypocrisy, abounds.

Atheists, agnostics and humanists tend to be intuitively bright and in my personal experiences are kind, compassionate folks with a very strong sense of ethics. They are sometimes more genuinely spiritual than those who profess faith. Yes, an atheist, agnostic or humanist is a very spiritual being who can have transcendental experiences, like when time stands still as they hold their baby for the first time.

I don’t distrust them anymore than I would a person of faith. And I’d vote for an atheist as America’s next president, if he or she demonstrated traits I thought necessary to lead the nation.

A non-believer has never made me afraid or spiritually insecure. If they did, then I have to ask why they threaten me and how strong is my faith. If I’m threatened then it’s an opportunity for me to examine my faith and perhaps deepen it.

Atheists, agnostics and humanists, as well as persons of faith, are sisters and brothers who have much to teach me. I welcome their views.

I also want them at my table to share a meal. They often provide good conversation challenging me to think.

Paul Jesep is an ethicist, attorney, personal and corporate chaplain, and founder of CorporateChaplaincy.biz, a firm committed to the spiritual wellness of professionals and organizations. He is author of “Lost Sense of Self & the Ethics Crisis: Learn to Live and Work Ethically”.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

April 27, 2014

The Sojourn, it is about process, not a goal

Next Post

June 24, 2014 What do you do?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Sophiology Uncategorized

Select a Month May 2017 March 2017 February 2017 December 2016 October 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 October 2013 September 2013 July 2013 May 2013 February 2013 September 2012 August 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 October 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What day is often called the day of rest in the Bible?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Monday Wednesday Friday Sabbath