Atheism and US citizenship - does anyone know of a poll on this?

[Silent3]

It has been debated whether Bush 41 ever actually said that he didn't think atheists should be allowed to be US citizens.

Whether Bush said that or not, does anyone know how popular that position is, especially among Republicans?

I'm guessing that the number of Republicans who feel that way is pretty high, while someone else I know dismissed thinking such a terrible thing about Republicans as "kool-aid".

The issue came up in response to this: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2013/01/25/arizona-republicans-propose-bill-that-would-not-allow-atheists-to-graduate-high-school/

I seems pretty clear to me that among Republicans forcing people to swear to God is tasty political red meat. It would be nice, however, to have some numbers to back up that perception. I've seen the poll about voting for a president, and how many people wouldn't vote for an atheist, but that's not quite the same issue. So far my Google-foo has not been strong enough to discover such a poll.

[cbayer]

1. I have never seen any proposed law or regulation which would

deny US citizenship to atheists.

I believe there are still some states which have laws prohibiting atheists from holding some offices.

And there are other countries which make you choose a religion to get a passport (I think Pakistan is one).

But US citizenship would be a new one on me.

[Silent3]

2. I'm not talking about laws, simply about the sentiment.

I'd like to know how many people, Republicans specifically, would say that they simply don't want atheists to be US citizens, that they'd prefer that atheists leave the US or convert, whether or not they'd propose getting their way by force of law.

[cbayer]

4. I am sure that some might say that, as polls support significant distrust

of atheists. But I have never heard that attached to the republican party or any other organizations official stance. And i have never heard of anyone proposing that as legislation.

Not saying it hasn't happened and will be interested if anyone else has information supporting your suggestion.

[cbayer]

3. One more thing - The Secular Coalition of America chose Edwina Rogers,

a staunchly conservative Republican, to be their executive director.

[okasha]

10. SCOTUS struck down the state laws

barring atheists from some offices in Torcaso v. Warkins.

[cbayer]

11. That's good to know. I thought I had read something in this group

that some states still had them, but I must have misread.

[appleannie1]

5. If this is anything to go by, it is a high number

I think that is a strong yes! People seem to think I'm some intolerant religious nut. I'm really not. I think in a perfect world we all just believe in what we want, but the world isn't perfect, we have children to raise. Children are being influenced and atheism is turning them to drugs, homosexuality and other Godless behavior. I think atheists just need to go back to France and they can live their sinful life there.

"I don't know that Atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God." - President George W. Bush

Punishment For Atheism
I have put much thought into the proper punishment for atheist behavior and I seem to come to the same conclusion. They should spend the same time in jail as a rapist or child molester. Atheists practice the same things on a child's mind and that's what they deserve.
http://www.conservatipedia.com/2008/01/should-atheism-be-illegal.html

[cbayer]

6. That "quote" has been attributed to GHW Bush, not W, and has never been confirmed, btw.

[tama]

13. That's parody site

[Silent3]

7. It's not hard numbers, but the reaction of this San Antonio church crowd...

...to a bit of John Hagee atheist bashing says a lot:

[cbayer]

8. Fundamentalists always have and most likely always will condemn atheists.

It's part of their MO, as atheists represent the biggest threat to their "one way" form of theology.

[LeftishBrit]

9. No idea about numbers...

but here is a link to an 'America-love-it-or-leave-it' article from 2001, which indicates that religion is a key part of being American, and anyone who doesn't like it should leave.

http://web.archive.org/web/20020213210735/http://vietnow.com/artbar1.htm

I remember this being posted on a mostly-American non-political message-board to which I belonged in around 2004; and that some people agreed with it. I found it particularly offensive, as I have elderly friends and a relative who exercised their 'right to leave' America in the McCarthy Era, and this is a good example of the sort of attitude that drove them away.

[muriel_volestrangler]

12. I love the first comment on Patheos:

'You can't spell "CRAZY" without "R-AZ"'