Congressman says he doesn't believe in God

MoominPapa

I never thought I see the day
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-atheist13mar13,0,7008061.story?track=ntothtml

Zombrex

MoominPapa wrote:

I never thought I see the day
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-atheist13mar13,0,7008061.story?track=ntothtml

Should be interesting to see what happens to him ... my bet is a good old fashioned lynching

MoominPapa

Wicknight wrote:

Should be interesting to see what happens to him ... my bet is a good old fashioned lynching

I think the Bible literalists running that country may prefer a even older fashioned stoning

Seems to be a bit of a thorn in Bushs side http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Stark

Zillah

Well thats his career out the window.


Then again, its looking like the next president is either gonna be a black man or a white woman so times are changing.

5uspect

Brave man, I wonder if he survives the lynch mob will others join him? Would be interesting to see the true level of belief in the US government.

Scofflaw

5uspect wrote:

Brave man, I wonder if he survives the lynch mob will others join him? Would be interesting to see the true level of belief in the US government.

If it reflected the makeup of the general population, there out to be about 53-54 non-theists in Congress, not 1.

cordially,
Scofflaw

5uspect

Sure, but does faith make you more proactive politically, or less so?

MoominPapa

5uspect wrote:

Brave man, I wonder if he survives the lynch mob will others join him?

I wouldn't count on it. Fair play to him on coming out but he is 75 with two years left in this congress and hes been a congressman for 33 years so even if he is going to stand next time I'd imagine he's set himself up for a comfortable retirement if he isn't re-elected.. Live in hope though

5uspect

The glass is still half full (and I'm an engineer!)

Dr Pepper

In a similar vein, I often wonder if there are any/many athists/agnostics in the priesthood in Ireland, ridiculous as it may sound (a la Dougal of 'Father Ted'). I know one priest who has confessed to having serious doubts at times about the whole thing. What a strange life that would be..

pigeons >> cat << pigeons

Dave!

Holy crap! Cool!

If he were a Republican then it might be more helpful... There's a good chance that since he's a Democrat, the Republicans will just use this as ammunition for the next election, ie. Democrats aren't just lefty pinko liberal hippies -- THEY'RE SATANISTS TOO!!! :eek:

lookinforpicnic

Yeah he might get "a good old fashioned lynching" alright, but nevertheless it should spark some reaction and debate which is always a good thing. And as 5uspect suggests his step should make it easier for younger atheist congressman to do the same:)

Myksyk

I emailed Pete Stark yesterday to say 'well done' and got this back this morning:

Thanks for your support from all the way in Ireland. So far, I've been amazed at the outpouring of support. Thanks again.

8kvscdpglqnyr4

Dr Pepper wrote:

In a similar vein, I often wonder if there are any/many athists/agnostics in the priesthood in Ireland, ridiculous as it may sound (a la Dougal of 'Father Ted'). I know one priest who has confessed to having serious doubts at times about the whole thing. What a strange life that would be..

pigeons >> cat << pigeons

I was thinking the very same thing recently after seeing an interview with Fr Brian Darcy. To paraphrase what he said ... he believes in the "God of Love" and he does not believe in the same God he believed in when he joined the priest hood X number of years ago (I assume he was talking about the God of the Bible here).

So if he's defining God as Love, then he's not a Catholic. If God==Love, then I believe in God.

MoominPapa

Myksyk wrote:

I emailed Pete Stark yesterday to say 'well done' and got this back this morning:

Thanks for your support from all the way in Ireland. So far, I've been amazed at the outpouring of support. Thanks again.

Well done yourself, thats really cool

lostexpectation

he still has some sort of faith thought he's a Unitarian Universalist


ah he's the repib who tried to forced a new draft through to embarass Bush


i wonder who else is on their list.


there is that socialist congressman, I wonder if he's a catholic?

Stephen

Fair play to him, given America's current bible-tastic atmosphere. I'm going to mail him my congratulations too

SonOfPerdition

Jayce Helpless Shingle wrote:

I was thinking the very same thing recently after seeing an interview with Fr Brian Darcy. To paraphrase what he said ... he believes in the "God of Love" and he does not believe in the same God he believed in when he joined the priest hood X number of years ago (I assume he was talking about the God of the Bible here).

So if he's defining God as Love, then he's not a Catholic. If God==Love, then I believe in God.

Ah ha, that was the ryan confidential show, glad to see somone else saw that.
As you said, he declared love as his idea of god, he seemed to completely dismiss the abrahmic god.

Was a good interview, must admit i had the utmost respect for Brian at the end of it.

I have been searching RTE's website to see if they host it to no avail, i think people on this forum would be interested in what motivates a man to continue to be a priest who no longer believes in god.



EDIT: And well done Congressman stark!

Schuhart

SonOfPerdition wrote:

what motivates a man to continue to be a priest who no longer believes in god.

Three squares a day and a roof over your head?

Beruthiel

Schuhart wrote:

Three squares a day and a roof over your head?

Plus housekeeper privileges

SonOfPerdition

Schuhart wrote:

Three squares a day and a roof over your head?

LOL, i had forgotten that church cuisine is world renowned.

magicbastarder

that man is quite adept at playing from both decks - not only does he not believe in a supreme being, but he's a member of a church.

magicbastarder

A USA Today/Gallup poll last month found that 45% of respondents said they would vote for a "well qualified" presidential candidate who was an atheist. Ninety-five percent said they would vote for a Catholic candidate, 92% a Jewish candidate and 72% a Mormon candidate.

i'd be curious to how these figures held up in a real world scenario; while i'm sure there's a significant proportion of the population who would use religious beliefs as a demarcation between candidates, i imagine that most people would place religion behind economic policies, etc., while voting.

SonOfPerdition

magicbastarder wrote:

i'd be curious to how these figures held up in a real world scenario; while i'm sure there's a significant proportion of the population who would use religious beliefs as a demarcation between candidates, i imagine that most people would place religion behind economic policies, etc., while voting.

oh i dunno, people would surprsie you . .. look at how many people believe in creationism.

It's scary sometimes how people let fundemental beliefs turn them into idiots.

Scofflaw

Some reactions from the Christians...

cordially,
Scofflaw

Scofflaw

magicbastarder wrote:

i'd be curious to how these figures held up in a real world scenario; while i'm sure there's a significant proportion of the population who would use religious beliefs as a demarcation between candidates, i imagine that most people would place religion behind economic policies, etc., while voting.

Sure. However, the question specifically asked "given a candidate whose platform you otherwise supported...".

cordially,
Scofflaw

magicbastarder

well, i'm sure most people would tell you that height makes no odds in who they vote for, but it appears it does have an effect.