Publicity Over Atheist City Councilmember in Asheville, North Carolina and State Constitutional Provisions Barring Them

Cecil Bothwell, a new member of the Asheville, North Carolina city council, says he is an atheist. The North Carolina Constitution bars atheists from holding public office. Newspapers around the U.S. are covering the issue. Here is a story from Texas (which mentions that the Texas Constitution has a similar provision), and here is one from California.


Comments

Publicity Over Atheist City Councilmember in Asheville, North Carolina and State Constitutional Provisions Barring Them — 11 Comments

  1. Richard,
    Thank you for running the follow-up story. I raised that same Texas issue on my post on BAN of 12/14. I
    know the gentleman in the Confederate uniform. I saw
    him on the street several time with the Confederate
    Flag with St. Andrews Cross in Ashville, NC. My aunt
    was from Ashville, NC also.

    Sincerely, Mark Seidenberg, Vice Chairman, American Independent Party.

  2. The EVIL bad old days had —-

    1. Govt major support for some religions.

    2. Govt major purging of other religions — i.e. trying to wipe them out.

    Think – Crusades (Christians v. Muslims), the various Inquisitions (Catholics v. non-Catholics) and the horrific 30 Years War (1619-1648) between the various Catholic and Protestant regimes in Europe (among many, many wars and internal purges).

    Think – the official Church of England — head — the King / Queen of England (in 1776 and now) — with all sorts of pro-Protestant (Anglican church) and anti-other religion laws (esp. anti-Catholic) before 1776 (not repealed until about 1845 in the Victorian era).

    Many American colonies were formed by religious groups escaping from the Europe stuff.

    America Result – NO test oaths and the 1st Amendment religion type language in many State constitutions — a LONG background history that the party hack Supremes keep messing up — due to TERRIBLE research going back to the late 1800s.

    See the ex-Church-State regime in Japan in World War II — obey the Japanese emperor = obey god on earth — in the brainwashed heads of the Japanese people — causing lots of the kamikaze / banzai attacks — one is dying for the Japanese god when making suicidal attacks.

    And now the rise of some FANATIC Muslims in S.W. Asia.

    Deja vu all over again.

    Any petitions going around calling for a church-state emperor in the U.S.A. (and the instant death of all non-believers) — circulated and/or signed by those Asian hoards — with all petition signers publicly identified on TV or the Internet ???

  3. Baron –

    Bid difference. This is a Christian country. Our tradition does not include atheists, Muslims, Jews, and if you go back far enough, the Vatican.

    But don’t worry…we’ll get this all sorted out after Sarah Palin gets elected.

  4. Nathan –

    I agree 1000%. In fact, I think the same rule ought to apply to school teachers.

    It’s time to take back America for Americans.

  5. America was founded by deists, who did not believe in Jesus’s divinity
    REAL America is open to everyone-all creeds, all orientations, all races

    There is nothing to “take back”-today’s inclusiveness is the reuslt of the wisdom of our foudning fathers (yes, DEISTS)

    Go to Iran is if you want a country run by religion.

    Praise the Flying Spaghetti Monster!

  6. # Nathan Radcliffe: December 22nd, 2009 at 9:04 pm
    “This Christian amendment is good. I think every state constitution should specify that all office holders must be God-fearing Christian men.”

    Don Lake: Why stop there? Male WASP! [Light skinned men of a Christian yet non Catholic persuasion …….]

    You do know that the Christ was probably not born in the tenth Roman Month (December) much less the Mirtha dominated Winter Solistest! You do know that he was definitely not born in the Roman Year Zero!

    I mean you are kidding, right? Progressives believe in PROGRESS! The Bible does not criticize slavery? Modern Society can go beyond that! You are kidding aren’t you?

  7. 8 –

    So…were Deists Muslims? Jews? When they cracked open a book to read on religion, wasn’t it the Bible?

    You atheist punks will stretch the truth until it bleeds, won’t you? Just another reason to keep you out of office.

  8. 8 –

    Oh…and by the way…I’d be happy to go to Iran if it were run by the correct religion. But we’ll get there, you just wait and see, heathen-boy.

    Go Sarah!

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