Atheist Cartoons

The information graphed here is frequently cited as an example of how atheists are discriminated against in the US, and always have been. Any US presidential candidate must not only be a Christian, but make a big show of how Christian he is, in order to be considered.

However, some Christians have countered that all this is irrelevant, as atheists are as free as anyone else to work and live in the United States; that there are no laws specifically targeting atheists. This is a concrete claim and requires a concrete response. Bear with me.

Article 6 of the Unites States Constitution clearly states that there can be no “religious Test” for people who wish to hold public office. Let’s see how the states manage to get around that.

“No person who denies the being of a God shall hold any office in the civil departments of this State, nor be competent to testify as a witness in any court.”

- Article 19 Section 1 of the 1874 Arkansas Constitution

“That no religious test ought ever to be required as a qualification for any office of profit or trust in this State, other than a declaration of belief in the existence of God; nor shall the Legislature prescribe any other oath of office than the oath prescribed by this Constitution.”

- Articles 36 and 37 of the Maryland Bill of Rights

“Therefore, to promote their happiness and to secure the good order and preservation of their government, the people of this commonwealth have a right to invest their legislature with power to authorize and require, and the legislature shall, from time to time, authorize and require, the several towns, parishes, precincts, and other bodies politic, or religious societies, to make suitable provision, at their own expense, for the institution of the public worship of God, and for the support and maintenance of public Protestant teachers of piety, religion and morality, in all cases where such provision shall not be made voluntarily.”

- Article III of the Massachusetts Declaration of Rights

“The following persons shall be disqualified for office: First, any person who shall deny the being of Almighty God.”

- Article 6 Sec. 8 of North Carolina’s Constitution

“Person denying existence of Supreme Being not to hold office. No person who denies the existence of the Supreme Being shall hold any office under this Constitution.”

- Article 4 Section 2 of South Carolina’s Constitution

“No person who acknowledges the being of a God and a future state of rewards and punishments shall, on account of his religious sentiments, be disqualified to hold any office or place of trust or profit under this Commonwealth.”

- Article 1, Section 4 of the Pennsylvania Declaration of Rights

“No person who denies the being of God, or a future state of rewards and punishments, shall hold any office in the civil department of this state.”

- Article 9, Sections 2 and 4 of Tennessee’s Bill of Rights

“No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office, or public trust, in this State; nor shall any one be excluded from holding office on account of his religious sentiments, provided he acknowledge the existence of a Supreme Being.”

- Section 4 of the Texas Bill of Rights