Study shows many American atheists hide their non-belief
Study shows many American atheists hide their non-belief
A recent yearlong study to investigate the psychological well-being of — rural-residing and woman-identified atheists reveals various issues experienced because of their non-belief.
We need to stand up and be counted.
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I don’t know that I “hide” it per se, I just don’t openly talk about it because there’s nothing really to talk about. If it was brought up I wouldn’t have a problem talking about it, but literally no one I’m around, whether friends or coworkers ever brings up religion, so it’s not a subject of discussion really.
It's actually illegal for atheists to hold public office in several states. I'm not sure if that would legally hold up in court but much of systemic inequalities in the US never make it to court.
Wth seriously?
The states are Arkansas, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.
The U.S. Constitution 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."
In 1961, the Supreme Court ruled in Torcaso v. Watkins that a person could not be denied the office of notary public for not being a believer because it "unconstitutionally invades his freedom of belief and religion guaranteed by the First Amendment and protected by the Fourteenth Amendment from infringement by the States."
Source: (no paywall) https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/politifact/2021/11/10/7-states-ban-atheists-office-but-bans-unenforceable/6352254001/
Thanks!
Here's an article by the Washington post on it but yeah it looks like 8 states.
Thanks!
Yup. The law is still on the books. It's been determined to be unenforceable, but that law still exists.