5 ms·

Sure. If you want to be a politician in the West, you can't really avoid participating in a Christian community of one kind or another. But people who are inter

by cwp 14y ago

Sure. If you want to be a politician in the West, you can't really avoid participating in a Christian community of one kind or another. But people who are interested in stoicism probably have other goals.

onno 14y ago
This is true only in America, or maybe in the "Anglosaxon" world in general, but certainly not in Europe.
- barry-cotter 14y ago
  It isn't true of Ireland, Britain, Australia or New Zealand. I don't think it's true of Canada. Among WEIRD [0] nations I think the US is the only one where being openly atheistic would abort any serious political career. [0]Western Educated Industrialised Rich Democracies
  - nikatwork 14y ago
    While being an atheist won't sink you, being christian certainly helps in Australia. For example, John Howard was fond of recording video messages which would get played in christian churches during the service. My guess is that it would be more helpful at a local than a national level, but church influence could definitely swing a few key seats.
  - cpeterso 14y ago
    According to a 2012 Gallup poll, 43% of Americans would not vote for a qualified atheist candidate. For comparison, the numbers for a Muslim candidate or a gay or lesbian candidate were 40% and 30%, respectively. http://www.gallup.com/poll/155285/Atheists-Muslims-Bias-Presidential-Candidates.aspx http://www.gallup.com/poll/155285/Atheists-Muslims-Bias-Pres...
thisrod 14y ago
As a counter-example, everyone in Australia knows that our Prime Minister is at least agnostic. It might well be a point in her favor, to the very slight extent that people care.
- hnriot 14y ago
  Now if only they would stop censoring the Internet and using the same citizen monitoring that the Chinese do it might count for something. The west is obsessed with religion, as has been pointed out, however hypocritical it might be it's a well practiced ritual in DC if you want to get elected for anything.

by cwp 14y ago

onno 14y ago

This is true only in America, or maybe in the "Anglosaxon" world in general, but certainly not in Europe.

barry-cotter 14y ago
It isn't true of Ireland, Britain, Australia or New Zealand. I don't think it's true of Canada. Among WEIRD [0] nations I think the US is the only one where being openly atheistic would abort any serious political career. [0]Western Educated Industrialised Rich Democracies
- nikatwork 14y ago
  While being an atheist won't sink you, being christian certainly helps in Australia. For example, John Howard was fond of recording video messages which would get played in christian churches during the service. My guess is that it would be more helpful at a local than a national level, but church influence could definitely swing a few key seats.
- cpeterso 14y ago
  According to a 2012 Gallup poll, 43% of Americans would not vote for a qualified atheist candidate. For comparison, the numbers for a Muslim candidate or a gay or lesbian candidate were 40% and 30%, respectively. http://www.gallup.com/poll/155285/Atheists-Muslims-Bias-Presidential-Candidates.aspx http://www.gallup.com/poll/155285/Atheists-Muslims-Bias-Pres...

thisrod 14y ago

As a counter-example, everyone in Australia knows that our Prime Minister is at least agnostic. It might well be a point in her favor, to the very slight extent that people care.

hnriot 14y ago
Now if only they would stop censoring the Internet and using the same citizen monitoring that the Chinese do it might count for something. The west is obsessed with religion, as has been pointed out, however hypocritical it might be it's a well practiced ritual in DC if you want to get elected for anything.