Inconsistencies
Les tackles the inconsistencies in TN law:
§ 1. Clergy; eligibility to serve in legislature
Whereas Ministers of the Gospel are by their profession, dedicated to God and the care of souls, and ought not to be diverted from the great duties of their functions; therefore, no Minister of the Gospel, or priest of any denomination whatever, shall be eligible to a seat in either House of the Legislature.§ 2. Atheists holding office
No person who denies the being of God, or a future state of rewards and punishments, shall hold any office in the civil department of this State.
Can’t be an atheist or a preacher and hold public office. Interesting.
The source is Mike, who is currently MIA.
November 10th, 2003 at 10:17 am
It would be interesting to know the history on those provisions: whether or not they were adopted at the same time, the written record on their purported purpose, if/how they have ever been challanged.
November 10th, 2003 at 12:12 pm
The anti-atheist thing probably has as much to do with oaths as with anything else. If you look at the US constitution, offices are sworn in by oath or affirmation. An oath is something that you swear before your God or whatever it is you hold sacred. Whereas an affirmation is nothing more than a solemn promise.
By requiring people to swear an oath before God, there’s the threat of eternal hellfire, which in theory makes people less likely to break the oath. Since an atheist doesn’t believe in hellfire and all that, the atheist is unlikely to take such a threat seriously.
The disparaging bottom line: since atheists don’t fear damnation, they can’t be trusted. Pretty pessimistic view of human nature, but there it is: people won’t do the right thing unless there’s the threat of unthinkable punishment for transgression.