December 25th / 27th, 2009
"Law Against Atheists Must be Repealed"
'Tis the season to be jolly. A time when our hearts are filled with love
and goodwill to all men. Then there's Asheville, where it's the season for
persecuting atheists.
Earlier this month, atheist Cecil Bothwell was sworn in, then sworn at, as
Asheville's newest member of City Council. Bothwell haters say his
election violates an 1868 state law which forbids anyone, "who shall deny the
being of Almighty God" from holding office. Fortunately this antiquated law is
trumped by a 1961 Supreme Court ruling which prohibits states from
requiring candidates to meet any kind of religious test. Still, Bothwell's critics
are threatening to mount a legal challenge, and while it is sure to fail,
their very attempt is a stain on our societal melting pot. Unfortunately,
the city of Asheville is not alone in its distaste for atheists.
A new study by the University of Minnesota's department of sociology finds
that Americans perceive atheists as the group least likely to embrace
common values, and a shared vision of society. Meanwhile, a study by the
American Mosaic Project reports that, "Atheists are the minority group most
Americans are least willing to allow their children to marry". And, a Gallup
poll reveals that Americans are least likely to vote for an atheist candidate
than any other group".
It's no wonder, then, that so many atheists refuse to come out of the
closet, and that makes it difficult for pollsters to track their actual
numbers. The University of Minnesota estimates that 14% of Americans claim, "no
religious identity", and that 7% say they do not believe in God. Regardless,
the numbers are significant, and always have been. Groups like American
Atheists, founded in 1963, advocate for non believers, and push for
tolerance, but most Americans just aren't ready or willing to accept what they
consider as evil doers. In fact, as of this writing, six other states still have
anti-atheist laws on the books. They are: Arkansas, Maryland,
Pennsylvania, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Texas, none of which is poised to repeal
their laws any time soon. In North Carolina, for example, changing the state
Constitution requires a 60% vote in both legislative chambers, followed by
a simple majority in a statewide vote. The operative word here is
"simple", because it's the simple minded, hypocritical people who derive some great
satisfaction from their own ignorance and prejudice. Mark Twain wrote, "A
man is accepted into a church for what he believes, and he is turned out
for what he knows". Translation? So-called people of faith will welcome you
with open arms until you start to question the myths of organized religion,
or the existence of a single God. That's when the welcome mat gets rolled
up. One who professes atheism shouldn't fear reprisals, especially from good
Christians, and especially not during this Holy season. But that's the
dilemma facing Cecil Bothwell, who is, by the way, author of Asheville's
official guide book. Ironic, isn't it, that the man who helps to promote the
city's assets, is considered by many there to be a liability. Call it a
separation of church and state of mind.
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