Originally Posted by Bestworking:
Sarah Green remembers feeling like she didn't belong in her own state after discovering that Tennessee's constitution bars people who don't believe in God from holding public office.
"It was one of the things that made me realize how unwelcome it could be for an atheist, especially in the South," Green said. "It pretty much informed my decision to stay closeted, if you will, for almost 15 years."
The 30-year-old Hermitage woman came out as an atheist almost a year ago and is adding her voice to a national push to take provisions that discriminate against the nonreligious off the books. The effort is spearheaded by Openly Secular, which issued a report late last year finding that eight states, including Tennessee, had similar language in their constitutions.
More:
http://www.tennessean.com/stor...onKey=&autologin=
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Tennessee's Constitution is something of an equal opportunity discriminator. Not only does it bar atheists from holding public office [Article 9 reads, “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.”], it also forbids "Ministers of the Gospel" from eligibility "... to a seat in either House of the Legislature. “
The Tennessee Constitution explains its basis for this : “Whereas Ministers of the Gospel are by their profession, dedicated to God and the care of souls, and ought not 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. “
Don't ask me how this can be reconciled with Article 1, Section 4, which reads: ”That no political or religious test, other than an oath to support the Constitution of the United States and of this state, shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under this state.” This wording is almost verbatim with Article 6 of the United States Constitution.
These unenforceable artifacts of a prior era should be repealed. I suspect that some legislators are reluctant to accomplish this–and especially with respect to Article 9–out of fear that their political adversaries will use it against them as in, “My opponent took a pro-atheist position. He/she voted to make it easy for atheists to hold political office.”
And the sheeple will cluck and wag their heads and vote for such sleazy charlatans.
