An Atheist in Congress

Religiosity is an issue no more if you wish to run for federal office...we at least if you're planning on running in the California 13th district. The district's incumbent, Congressman Pete Stark, admitted today that he is, in fact, an atheist. Stark told the Associated Press that he is "a Unitarian who does not believe in a supreme being."

Stark has been in Congress since first being elected in 1972, so essentially there's been an atheist elected since then. I believe there are probably more, but they refuse to admit it and pretend to believe in God to appease the obsession in this country over religion. Personally, I think it's worse to fake your beliefs to win votes than to lose votes telling the truth.

Anyway, I believe in God personally and can't imagine living a life where you just didn't believe in it, but I don't think it makes you a less caring person or a person to be less respected. I firmly believe the fear people have of allowing atheism to exist (and this goes with homosexuality as well,) is fear they will have family members who will come out as atheists themselves. You hear "protect the children" as arguments for everything. It's not protecting the children, it's sheltering them.

If a person chooses to be atheist, that is their choice, it doesn't make them any less of a person. This doesn't make Congressman Stark any less of a humanitarian, any less of a caring, hardworking representative of the people.

Luckily, I highly doubt Stark will pay for his beliefs at the polls. He represents a district where George W. Bush only got 28% of the vote in 2004. He is, one of what I call the "Liberals By The Bay," which includes the ten Democrats (sans Ellen Tauscher,) whose districts border San Francisco Bay and who are to the left of the majority of the country.