Tennessee bans atheists from office

[JoeyKnothead]

[The Barbarian]

The First Amendment to the Constitution banned religious tests for office. But only on the Federal level. States were still free to do so until the Fourteenth Amendment which requires states to comply with the Bill of Rights.

So no, states are not free to ban anyone from any office on any religious grounds. Legislators are free to strut and shout, and pass any law they like. But such laws have no more force than if they screamed at the moon to go away.

And they know this. Such bills are only there to troll for the votes of stupid people. Who often tip elections one way or another.

[The Barbarian]

It's one of those laws that no one will change because it panders to popular prejudice, but will never be enforced, because an appeal to higher courts would result in it being tossed out.

It's like "In God we trust" on coins. It comforts those who want state religion, but doesn't really bother people who don't.

[Purple Knight]

It's one of those laws that no one will change because it panders to popular prejudice, but will never be enforced, because an appeal to higher courts would result in it being tossed out.

In this case though it does have an effect. In order to get the law overturned, an atheist would have to run, win, and be barred from being sworn in. Arguably, because of the law, that's even less likely to happen than it would be without the law.

[JoeyKnothead]

It's one of those laws that no one will change because it panders to popular prejudice, but will never be enforced, because an appeal to higher courts would result in it being tossed out.

In this case though it does have an effect. In order to get the law overturned, an atheist would have to run, win, and be barred from being sworn in. Arguably, because of the law, that's even less likely to happen than it would be without the law.

Nor can we dismiss how overturning Roe led to "dead laws" being enforced.

For me, it's the fact the law exists, not whether or not it's enforced.

[The Barbarian]

It's one of those laws that no one will change because it panders to popular prejudice, but will never be enforced, because an appeal to higher courts would result in it being tossed out.

In this case though it does have an effect. In order to get the law overturned, an atheist would have to run, win, and be barred from being sworn in. Arguably, because of the law, that's even less likely to happen than it would be without the law.

Seems to me, that popular prejudice against atheists would be sufficient. In many states, a publicly-professed atheist just wouldn't be elected.

[boatsnguitars]

I think what's kinda disturbingly telling here, is no Christian has felt the need to comment about this clearly discriminatory law.

I reckon long as they control the levers of power, they'll keep hushed when discrimination works in their favor.

It's always been about the power - and the diddling of kids - for the religious.

I can't help but notice, those are some of the same States that have the worst economies, and worst social problems. Seems they need some good atheist ideas there, instead of trying to use Mosaic laws to run the show...