Arkansas, 5 Other States, Ban Atheists from Public Service. Seriously

Goduznt Xzst

Source: usnews.com

Can it be constitutional to exclude from public service or service as a witness in a state court any and all atheists? Such a practice is so throw-back in nature, that it reminds one of the Spanish Inquisition. And yet, when I read the first part of this Washington Post piece, I was flabbergasted to find that Arkansas is one of a half-dozen states that does so. Read on and be flabbergasted (or not) yourself. But know in advance that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled illegal all such laws in 1961:

Hard to say what was more remarkable about the resolution that was read into the record and referred to committee Wednesday by a member of the 87th Arkansas General Assembly.
The resolution itself: HJR 1009: AMENDING THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION TO REPEAL THE PROHIBITION AGAINST AN ATHEIST HOLDING ANY OFFICE IN THE CIVIL DEPARTMENTS OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS OR TESTIFYING AS A WITNESS IN ANY COURT.
Or the fact that it was submitted by the Green Party's highest-ranking elected official in America, state Rep. Richard Carroll of North Little Rock, who was elected in November winning more than 80 percent of the vote in his district.
Arkansas is one of half a dozen states that still exclude non-believers from public office. Article 19 Section 1 of the 1874 Arkansas Constitution states that "No person who denies the being of a God shall hold any office in the civil departments of this State, nor be competent to testify as a witness in any court.

There is a special place in heaven for atheists who have to endure such nonsense. Yes, I'm kidding.

lol I also found this interesting in the linked article

Meanwhile, in a related story, the Arkansas House passed a bill Wednesday allowing people to bring their guns to church.

Well at least they've got their priorities right :rolleyes:

Stercus Accidit

"But know in advance that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled illegal all such laws in 1961"

Pretty much sums it up.

Ah tabloidy sensationalism hits A&A

Rev Hellfire

Its certainly interesting, but kind of irrelevant since such actions are throw back to over a hundred years ago. Not to mention unenforceable nowadays.

Its more like those silly laws still on the statue books which people haven't got around to appealing like say in ottumwa, "It is unlawful for any male person, within the corporate limits of the (city), to wink at any female person with whom he is unacquainted."

Galvasean

Just as well they fixed law. Imagine if the president wasn't allowed hold public office! :P

Dades

What would be newsworthy would be if that particular law had been applied in recent memory.

CPT. SURF

Dades wrote: »

What would be newsworthy would be if that particular law had been applied in recent memory.

You might feel differently if it were your tax dollars being spent on the creation of this piece of garbage legislation.

Rev Hellfire

CPT. SURF wrote: »

You might feel differently if it were your tax dollars being spent on the creation of this piece of garbage legislation.

The point is anyone whose tax dollars where spent on that legislation are long dead.

Goduznt Xzst

lol well if the Christianity forum can have them why can't we?

The article linked from in it is more positive than negative for Atheists though, as these relics are finally getting kicked out, by the highest ranking Green Party Official, more than 40 years after they where made unconstitutional.

lostexpectation

damn greens, where's sean penn when you need him.