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"Truth, for a change"
"Call, for a change"
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Albuquerque, NM 87191-4721
Jason@Call4Democracy.org
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2007.11.27 : MITT ROMNEY, MORMONISM, AND WHY DO WE CARE?
:: Comment on this article ::
 One of the things that troubles me about contemporary politics in America is the entanglement therein of religion. A few months back, the leading Democratic candidates were asked about how their faith plays a guiding role in their politics, and we saw them each, Barack, Hillary, and John, try to scramble to the top of the dogpile of piety. Now Christopher Hitchens, in today’s Slate, is demanding that Mitt Romney answer questions about his Mormonism [link]. What troubles me about this is that he justifies the interrogation relative to Robert Byrd answering about his KKK membership, and some potential black candidate answering questions about ties to Louis Farrakhan. The KKK is an overtly violent and racist entity, and Farrakhan has made statements concerning the Jews that are less than congenial. Perhaps those are questions that we might want answering. But to simply press a candidate to talk about their faith, which is, and should remain, personal, seems to go beyond the bounds of normalcy – and yet it is now the norm.
I can’t help but wonder why expressions of faith are so important in American politics. The US Constitution expressly states, in Article 6, that “no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.” Furthermore, there is no mention of God in the US Constitution (and that includes any Oath of Office) and the founding fathers (particularly Jefferson and Madison) made many, many profound statements to the effect that religion and politics should not mix, as such mixing is to the detriment of both.
Prophetic ideas, those…and no pun intended.
I bring these things up as a candidate for US Congress, because if I ever get that far, someone is going to ask me about my faith. And though I won’t like the question, I’ll answer it honestly – and hopefully my answer will shed some light on a constitutional perspective of religion in politics.
I am an atheist. I personally don’t feel that I need to defend my position as a person of “non-faith”, but eventually the questions will come, because according to recent polling, atheists are the people least likely to be elected to public office – and in fact, in the entirety of Congress, there is only one affirmed atheist, Representative Pete Stark of California’s 13th Congressional District. According to the polls, somewhere between 7% and 15% of Americans are atheists. It would be nice to have some proportional representation in Congress.
It is further highly disturbing to me that there are four states in our Union that forbid an atheist to hold any public office (take a guess as to which four – you’d probably get at least two right.)
Texas: [link] (Article 1, Section 4)
Arkansas: [link] (Article 19, Section 1)
North Carolina: [link] (Article 6, Section 8)
Tennessee: [link] (Article 9, Section 2)
Back to Mitt Romney, though. What bothers me the most about the pressing of Romney on his faith is that there is some underlying notion that his Mormonism qualifies him less for the office of president than Protestantism or Catholicism would (without even broaching Judaism or Islam!) This is clearly a religious test. Not under the law, I suppose – the media can ask whatever they wish – but the end result in the electorate will undoubtedly be that Romney’s faith is a disqualifier (as opposed to the preferred method of disqualification, being a Republican.) As an atheist, I believe absolutely in freedom of religion as protected by the Constitution. That, however, must include the freedom to “not believe” in a higher power.
This is a desperately needed conversation at a crucial point in American politics. Why is faith so important? I would like to have this conversation, and I’m going to set this topic up as a “blog” discussion on my website (the first blog!) and encourage everyone to participate.
Sincerely, and in Peace,
Jason Call
www.Call4Democracy.org
Candidate, US Congress, New Mexico CD 1
POSTED COMMENTS:
From Bird T. , sent 2007.11.27 7:17 pm:
I wonder what Texas etc would say to a Buddhist running for office. I'm a Buddhist & we do not believe in a Supreme Being either. We do believe in enlightened beings, many Buddhas. We do believe in morality & the law of cause & effect. We assert the truth of suffering, the causes of suffering & the path to end suffering. I'll bet you are running for Congress to lessen suffering, Jason. Maybe you are a Buddhist & don't know it! But atheist is OK with me...
From Carla W. in Florida, sent 2007.11.27 7:02 pm, MST:
Bravo Jason!
Though not an atheist, I am an agnostic. I have often wondered why religion enters into politics. As I have told you, I (sadly) cannot vote for you since I'm not a resident of New Mexico. I only wish that we had someone like you running here in Florida! My best wishes to you - keep on keeping on!
Sincerely,
Carla
From David A. 11/27/07 at 10:02pm
It should be obvious to everyone, but it is not, that they do NOT subscribe to the one true religion. "If it is so obvious - and I do believe that I do subscribe to the one true religion - then why do you say it is obvious that I do not?"
If you are a Christian, a likely accident if you were born in the USA, consider all the world's other major religious groupings: Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Confucianism, and a few other major groupings. One in every four people in the world are Christian; so, by your reckoning, the other ¾ of the world who are not Christian must be deluded, and doomed to eternal damnation.
If you are Protestant, a likely accident if you were born in the USA, consider all the world's other major Christian denominations: Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Pentecostal, Anglican, Oriental Orthodox, Non-Trinitarian and a few other major groups. One in every ten people in the world are Protestant; so, by your reckoning, the other 90% of the world who are not Protestant must be deluded, and doomed to eternal damnation.
If you are Baptist, a not unlikely accident if you were born in the USA, consider all the world's other major Protestant religious groupings: Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, Congregationalist, Lutheran, Anabaptist, Evangelical or one of hundreds of other lesser denominations. Fewer than one in every one hundred people in the world are Baptist; so, by your reckoning, 99% of the world who are not Baptist must be deluded, and doomed to eternal damnation.
And how many Baptist denominations are there? And how lucky must you be to have chosen the "one true religion," the one with a monopoly on the truth: about God, the Earth, Heaven and Hell, and all humanity. But did you even use your heart and mind to choose the true religion? No, the vast majority of you were born into your one true faith.
But here's the rub: your certainty of your good fortune to have the truth is shared by your neighbor, who is just as sure as you are that his is the one true faith; and his faith is not the same as yours.
But relax; your faith IS the one true faith - for YOU, at this moment in time. But as it is YOUR true faith, as it is the truth for you, you no longer have any reason to insist on the primacy of your true faith, in the country or the world, as it is YOURS, not everyone else's.
That is why this nation is a secular nation: not a nation without God, just a nation whose fore-fathers were smart enough to avoid the calamities of centuries of European Christian wars, and insist on the NON-primacy of ANY religion, Christian or otherwise. A secular nation actively chooses not to choose between one person's truths and another's, as that can only lead to death. So, be thankful that you live in a nation where your particular choice is honored and respected, but never enthroned.
From Vernon Huffman in WA 11/28/07 at 12:12 am
I agree with your stand, Jason, and will venture an answer to your question. People care about religion of others, especially potential leaders, because their own faith is shaky and needs constant social confirmation. Wouldn't it be nice if they could get over their fears and realize they'll be okay even if God doesn't exist?
From Doris V. 11/28/07 at 9:28am
Talking about politics and religion and Mitt Romney. I was born, raised and educated in the Catholic faith. However,I have decided that I'll give respect to people who deserve it. The so called "Golden Rule" is what I try to live. I'm an Obama supporter for President because he seems to have some good ideas. Yes, I agree that religion and politics are strange partners.
From M. Zenon Zamora 11/28/07 at 2:33pm
Bravo, Mr. Call! The bottom line is "separation of church and state". It seems that the meaning of this fundamental doctrine of our founding fathers has been lost (along with the lessons of history). Religious fervor has often led humanity down a treacherous path; it is with this in mind that it must be recognized that religious piety in any form (through any denomination) can be dangerous when mixed with the social responsibilities of a political office.
History supports the assertion that theocratic governments are inherently detrimental to the masses. This is not to say that religion does not play an important role in how people establish their moral belief structure. I simply believe that everyone has the right to confirm their own relationship with a "higher power", whatever the form; be it universal energy, the Christian god, or simply a set of moral beliefs.
Therefore, the idea of placing an individual into a political office simply based on their beliefs is fundamentally flawed. One of the great things about this country is that if I choose to believe that my higher power is a house plant, I have every right to do that AND it doesn't make me any less of a moral human being.
Where did we lose direction? Hopefully, you can help put this country back on the right path.
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