Barack Obama raised a small stir when he stated during his inauguration that "We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus, and nonbelievers." Yet recognition is a far cry from election. Nonbelievers head a few other countries, and we've had a couple of secular statesmen of our own, but the future doesn't look bright for atheistic ascension to the highest office.
A Look at Past Evidence
"I don't know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God." —George H.W. Bush, 1987
"I would be unelectable. I'm an atheist." —Ron Reagan Jr., 2004
1954
The year the phrase "under God" was added to the Pledge of Allegiance.
Claims to Fame
A breakdown of the religious affiliations of U.S. presidents:
- Protestant 34
- Catholic: 1
- Quaker: 2
- No Formal Affiliation: 3
- Unitarian: 4
In God We Trust
Why do people fear an atheistic president? Could be the trust factor. People consider atheists no less pleasant or intelligent than theists, and being religious induces employment discrimination against atheists only for jobs that require a high degree of trust, according to new research by Will Gervais, Azim Shariff, and Ara Norenzayan of the University of British Columbia. Bad news for godless candidates: Running the country is a high-stakes gig and people want to have faith in the guy with the red telephone.
