It's high time to nominate an Atheist or Agnostic to the SC

[superpatriotman]

Atheism and Agnosticism are the two fastest growing segments of the US populace, yet there are few, if any, elected or appointed to government positions.

Catholics are over-represented.

Will it ever happen?

[LakeArenal]

1. I'm an atheist and I don't think it matters

If that bunch even leaned a bit Catholic, we wouldn’t have any of the bullshit that Republicans emit.
CINO.

[lagomorph777]

2. Although I am a devout atheist, I have to point out that Article VI is applicable.

If you are not familiar with it:

"no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States"

[Hekate]

4. Thanks for pointing this out

[shrike3]

8. Yes, I agree.

[unblock]

17. That doesn't prevent a president nominating an atheist or agnostic

Nor a senate from confirming such a nominee.

Nor even does it prevent a president from prioritizing such a nominee, in the same way biden has prioritized a black woman.


In theory, it prevents a president from refusing to consider anyone with the "wrong" religious beliefs, and it prevents a senate from refusing to confirm based on the same. That said, there's really no enforcement mechanism for that. It's not like a potential nominee can sue and be awarded a Supreme Court seat via trial.

In practice, this clause really only applies to the other branches and to elected judges. It prevents candidates from being denied a place on the ballot due to religion, for example.


I should note that in practice, it certainly appears that Christianity or Judaism has long been a requirement.....

[IL Dem]

24. Yes, we know it says that, but the problem is what happens in the confirmation hearings.

The senators make it a litmus test. Candidates are questioned repeatedly about their religious beliefs. Oh the horrors if someone said they did not believe in god! I think that would be an immediate disqualification in the Senate.

[Hekate]

3. As in a return to the good old days of the country's founding? There were a number of Deists...

…among the Founders, iirc.

[Farmer-Rick]

5. Hell, I would be fine with non-sexual abusers

Seems the pervs and idiots make up the majority of Supremes.

But yeah an atheist would be good too. Just no more perverts and religious slave/wives.

[shrike3]

9. Which justice is a sexual abuser?

[WA-03 Democrat]

11. Justice Thomas

Last edited Fri Jan 28, 2022, 01:08 PM - Edit history (1)

If i had to guess. Pubic hairs in a Diet Coke, Anita Hill, etc. He is the man who brought sexual harassment into national consciousness of the USA in the 90s.

[shrike3]

13. Oh, duh. I watched those hearings.

How soon we forget.

[Farmer-Rick]

12. Check out Clarance and Brett

They are the 2 most obvious.

[shrike3]

14. Duh. My brain must not be functioning today.

[FBaggins]

6. A grand idea...

… apart from being explicitly unconstitutional of course.

[shrike3]

7. Actually "nothing in particular" is the fastest growing segments of the U.S. populace.

If you look at the numbers, athiests and agonistics are a small slice of that population. This according to have I've read at Pew. I know people who aren't religious in the least, but they say, "Yeah, I believe in God." They just want nothing to do with religion.

That said, I don't think one's religion should be a factor at all when naming a justice to the court.

[pamdb]

10. none

I completely agree. Far too many catholics. But in this country? HAH? I'll be dead before that
happens.

[barbtries]

15. I wish.

i don't know when we'll get to that point. I think they're probably already on the Court, but to say it aloud is a death knell in this country.

[Ocelot II]

16. The Constitution forbids any religious test for public office.

I should think that would include actively professing no religion. A person's religion or lack of it should not be taken into consideration at all.

[spooky3]

20. But in fact, it has been, to the same extent that nominating

Last edited Fri Jan 28, 2022, 01:58 PM - Edit history (1)

An atheist or agnostic would be. The OP doesn’t argue that religious people should be excluded from the court. In a sense OP is arguing that it is time to stop violating this religious test provision. Atheists and agnostics are (depending on measurement) between 8-22% of the population but none have ever served on the Supreme Court.

One could also argue that Biden’s refusing to consider anyone other than a black woman constitutes prohibited race and sex discrimination. I think you can see the problem with that line of reasoning.

[superpatriotman]

22. Well said

Now we have a general discussion.

[kentuck]

18. No doubt Democrats would run over each other to support the "atheist"...

[former9thward]

21. A Justice was an avowed agnostic.

Benjamin Cardozo. Appointed by Herbert Hoover. He came from a Jewish heritage but was an agnostic since his teen years.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_N._Cardozo

[superpatriotman]

23. Thank you

Never knew about Judge Cardozo but I have stayed at his hotel in Miami Beach!