Representative Pete Stark (D-CA) has become the first U.S. congressman (also the highest-ranking official) to publicly state that he does not believe in a god. Said Stark, who has served in Congress since 1973, "I am a Unitarian who does not believe in a supreme being." He rejected the label "atheist" however.
Stark is surely not the first non-believer in Congress, just the first to acknowledge his views publicly. Regardless of one's beliefs, everyone should applaud Rep. Stark for his honesty.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
such a lonely word.
Posted by Dr. Strangelove at 12:47 PM
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4 comments:
And yet one would gather by their behavior that there are very few Congressmen who believe in God.
Anonymous misses the point. Belief in a supernatural diety does not translate to moral behavior. It is a completely independent dimension of human belief and behavior. Frankly, I'm being generous when I say it's independent. Of the self described devout Christians I know I'd say about 2/3 are deeply flawed in their approach to morality and ethics - chosing to use their religiosity as an excuse to forgive their own lack of empathy for others while at the same time imposing harsh judgements on anyone who does not agree with their cosmological point of view. Happily, our friend, LTG has taught me that it is possible to be ethical, moral and Christian all at the same time - something I had come to have serious doubts about.
As for the Congressman saying he's a Unitarian who doesn't believe in a supreme being...I'm not ready chalk one up for secular rights because of this. It's a step but a baby step. He's still hedging to satisfy the Theocratic bullies in this country.
I'll really cheer when someone comes out to a press conference and says, "No, I don't attend church at all. Why not? Because I don't believe in God. Nevertheless, I consider myself a moral person which I'll let you judge by my actions. Next question please."
Belief in a moral deity should not 'independent' of moral behavior. If it is, then what we see is hypocrisy. Atheists who behave badly are not hypocrites unless they proclaim themselves to follow an ethical code. Theists subscribe to an ethical code automatically.
Of course, it was probably a joke, the implication of which is that they Congressmen are either atheists or hypocrites.
I should also add that church attendance and belief in God are not identical. George W. Bush and Ronald Reagan, our two most "religious" modern presidents, do not attend church. Clinton, whom their followers despise as godless and immoral, did.
Oh, and no politician will ever ask to be judged on his actions, if he knows what's good for him. =)
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