Americans don't want an atheist president

http://www.dawn.com/2011/11/08/us-voters...eader.html

UNITED STATES: Two-thirds of Americans believe that it is important for a presidential candidate to have strong religious beliefs, even if those beliefs are different than their own, a survey released on Tuesday found.

The survey of Americans’ attitudes by the nonpartisan Public Religion Research Institute found only one in five Americans would object to a candidate whose beliefs were different to their own.

When asked about specific religious faiths and the presidency, 29 per cent of Americans would be uncomfortable with an evangelical Christian in the job, 53 per cent would be uncomfortable with a Mormon, 64 per cent with a Muslim, and 67 per cent would be uncomfortable with an atheist as a president.

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman are Mormons running for president. The remaining Republican candidates are Christian, with some espousing strong beliefs.

Romney and businessman Herman Cain, a baptist, lead the pack in national polls.

Eight in 10 Americans believe creating jobs is the nation’s most important priority, the survey found, while six in 10 said reducing the government budget deficit is critical.

The survey confirmed a majority distrust the solutions being offered in Washington.

President Barack Obama was seen by 44 per cent of those polled as having good ideas about how to create jobs, compared to 35 per cent backing the approach of Republican leaders in Congress.

Opinions of Obama showed 28 per cent pronounced themselves “satisfied” and five per cent “excited” about his presidency, while 26 per cent felt “worried” and 10 per cent felt “angry.”

Nearly one in three felt “disappointed” in his presidency.

Among a subset of Republican voters who had formed an opinion about the party’s 2012 presidential candidates, Cain led with 73 per cent having a favorable view of him, followed by Romney with 66 per cent and Texas Governor Rick Perry with 53 per cent.

Between late September and late October, when the survey was conducted, Romney’s favorable rating dropped 10 points and Perry’s rating fell by 18 points.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Sunday showed the percentage of Republicans who viewed Cain favorably dropped nine percentage points, to 57 per cent from 66 per cent a week ago, following allegations of sexual harassment emerged against him.

In another line of questioning reflecting the Occupy Wall Street movement, six in 10 Americans agreed that the nation would be better off if the distribution of wealth was more equal, while 39 per cent disagreed.

Proposals to increase taxes on Americans earning more than $1 million a year was favored by 70 per cent of Americans, compared to 27 per cent opposed.

The survey polled 1,505 adults between September 22 and October 2, and had a 2.5 percentage point margin of error.

Why do the atheists attack on christians (at forums etc) you ask? Because the christians hate everyone who isn't a christian, and it seems especially atheists.

Why justify rational decisions with an ancient fairylaw? Lol at you US.

I am glad America is such a smart country they we shun the worthless.

Why do atheists attack on christians (at forums etc) you ask? Because christians hate everyone who isn't a christian, and it seems especially atheists.

Yup because you generalizing all christians doesnt make you look just as stupid.

I was going to say "Dude, the source is originally from 'Public Religion Research Institute,'" but after some quick Googling I'll admit they seem pretty legitimate.

You still don't have to turn this into a please-sympathize-for-us-Atheists thread which you always seem to do though.

Edit: I'm also a bit weirded out by the fact more people dislike Athiests to be President rather than Muslims. No, I have nothing against Muslims at all, that just seems weird.

http://www.dawn.com/2011/11/08/us-voters...eader.html


Why do atheists attack on christians (at forums etc) you ask? Because christians hate everyone who isn't a christian, and it seems especially atheists.

Why justify rational decisions with an ancient fairylaw? Lol at you US.

atheists attack on christians? I'm an atheist and I honestly don't care what other people believe.

Living in a country in which religion is so important some religious people feel like is odd for someone to not belive in the flying pasta monster and in someway worry about that person soul and pomegranate like that, but most feel that way but act in a way that the different ones should be eliminated.

atheists attack on christians? I'm an atheist and I honestly don't care what other people believe.

Me neither, but it gets on my nerves when people start discriminating on people of other religions or the people who don't have one. Not generalizing all christians in any way, but 67% is still a lot, or should I say... too much.

This is just my biased opinion now, but I think atheists would in fact be the ones, that would treat all religions most equally.

Me neither

What.

Me neither

That certainly isn't the vibe you give.

but it gets on my nerves when people start discriminating on people of other religions or the people who don't have one.

NO KIDDING, GUESS WHY SOME PEOPLE ARE ANNOYED AT YOUR CONSTANT CHRISTIANITY BASHING.

I personally don't care, if people want a religious leader that's their choice really, some cultures are like that.
Also statistics can be twisted and turned into almost any result you want.

"it gets on my nerves when people start discriminating on people of other religions or the people who don't have one."

"christians hate everyone who isn't a christian, and it seems especially atheists."

Man you're stupid.

I'm a Christian who doesn't hate atheists, I have atheists friends. Except you, I do hate you.

Typical thread from Satellite.

I believe this goes back to the idea many religious people have, that atheists have no conscience.
"So if there's no God, why not steal and rape and murder?"

Muslims are at least answerable to their Allah, an atheist is answerable to no-one, especially if he's, arguably, "the most powerful man in the world."

I am surprised that this past decade of demonization of Muslims (not that they were presented as particularly nice people before) hasn't had more of an effect. I remember people trying to discredit Obama saying he can't have the best interests of the USA at heart because he's a "closet Muslim".

Not saying that it's logical but if this poll is serious, then i can see some people thinking 'Oh, well someone who has some religion to respect has some kind of moral standard to uphold making them less likely to be completely untrustworthy.'

Then again, this was only 1505 people... and i don't know how varied or how widespread this poll was. Cause lets be frank, there is some level of 'similar thinking' among people living in similar conditions. A poll like this would need to be taken in the west coast, the east coast, in wealthy areas, in poor areas, in urban areas AND rural areas for me to take it seriously.

You'd think someone from Finland would have a healthier fear of governmental atheism.

You'd think someone from Finland would have a healthier fear of governmental atheism.

Considering they have about 2% more religious people than us?

atheists attack on christians? I'm an atheist and I honestly don't care what other people believe.

This.
I don't absolutely care about what people's faith is, what they think about me, if they generalize their opinions based on that or not. I can also understand why they don't want an atheist president, tho. Because in a country that the majority of people have faith in a religion, in this case, christians, they want someone that they can match to the population, someone that is "like everyone else."

Wanting people to think differently is like wanting any other country that has a religion attached to the majority of the population to put someone that has a different faith in charge of their country. They want someone to defend their interests and to be like them, and in this case, their interests also apply to the religious interests.

Also, christians attacking atheists and atheists attacking christians are both equal stupidity. If you want to be respected, then the first thing you should think about is not to attack or to show yourself as what they think about you. Both are example of ignorance, and lack of common sense. I've heard many atheists saying "But i'm just trying to defend myself from the steryotypes". By being someone that attacks people for their faith, you just confirm these.

If you really want people to think about you for not being an atheist, but for who you are, then don't yell at EVERY SINGLE MOMENT that you are an atheist. Let people discover that AFTER meeting you, not before. Then, they'll see that they were wrong. This is wanting respect, it's wanting people to know you before knowing your faith.

Some stupid thoughts like that also come from some "Feminists" that keep saying "Men are pomegranatety, ridiculous, worthless" and attacking any men. It's the same case of idiocy, Feminism is an awesome movement that is about fighting for the SAME RIGHTS as men, and this is the true meaning of feminism. But some claim themselves as feminists, but don't say a pineapple about their rights and say that they don't care about how they can fight for a better life, but just blame men for it and keep attacking them.

Such behavior isn't feminism, it isn't fighting about a peaceful world for both men and women, and for equal rights, but is just the female equivalent to the machism stupidness. This is exactly what should happen to this ridiculous war between Christians and Atheists, if you really want them to break their steryotypes, stop claiming yourself as part of a group, and let them know you before you introduce such aspect. Fighting like that, for both sides, is equally stupid.

Considering they have about 2% more religious people than us?

Considering their military history over the past century or so.

Idk who these polls continually question for opinions, but dam they must be some ignorant people. So many Americans are really so stupid. I'd prefer if the President was athiest, then maybe I wouldn't have to worry about their policies coming from religious ideologies.

Idk who these polls continually question for opinions, but dam they must be some ignorant people. So many Americans are really so stupid. I'd prefer if the President was athiest, then maybe I wouldn't have to worry about their policies coming from religious ideologies.

I'd rather my leader come from a clean-room and be raised by scientists, that way he'll have no opinion at all

...and this news story matters... why? xd I'm inclined to not care whatever religion any candidate follows as long as one, he/she doesn't beat his/her beliefs on us, and two, that religious beliefs are not major factors into their policy making.

Then again, most politicians here only follow the religion of money, so moot point.