States Where I Could Not Serve In Office

If I chose to run for office in any of these states, and I was honest about what I DID NOT believe,  I could not hold office.  Isn’t there something odd, in fact unjust, about that, in a free, pluralistic, secular, 21st Century nation?

Arkansas, Article 19, Section 1:
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.

Maryland, Article 37:
That no religious test ought ever to be required as a qualification for any office of profit or trust in this State, other than a declaration of belief in the existence of God; nor shall the Legislature prescribe any other oath of office than the oath prescribed by this Constitution.

Mississippi, Article 14, Section 265:
No person who denies the existence of a Supreme Being shall hold any office in this state.

North Carolina, Article 6, Section 8
The following persons shall be disqualified for office: Any person who shall deny the being of Almighty God.

South Carolina, Article 17, Section 4:
No person who denies the existence of a Supreme Being shall hold any office under this Constitution.

Tennessee, Article 9, Section 2:
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.

Texas, Article 1, Section 4:
No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office, or public trust, in this State; nor shall any one be excluded from holding office on account of his religious sentiments, provided he acknowledge the existence of a Supreme Being.

God Drops Puppies from the Sky

     

Gotta love American Religion in all its childlike incarnations. . . 

Hawk (God) drops Puppy

And so sad to think of all the ones that aren’t caught!

But, as we all know, there’s a Puppy Heaven (thank the Hawk God!)

One World is Enough

An image from Highland and a quote from Nietzsche

Atheist Minister

More of these stories need to be told, and heard (NPR)

Why I’m Not an “Atheist”

I’m NOT a Republican. . .I’m NOT a member of the NRA. . .I’m NOT a Finlander. . .

What’s the purpose of continually identifying with a Negative, with what I am NOT?

Speaking at a Secular Students Alliance event recently, a professor said I was an Atheist.

I responded that I am a Freethinking lover of Nature but “I’m not sure what to call myself.”

In my speech I said I like the word “Secular” because it merely means “this present world”

and I wouldn’t be qualified to speak of any other world.

Do I believe in a Supreme Supernatural Being?  No, as a matter of fact.

Does that make me a “NOT Theist”?  Yes.

Am I not an Atheist?  Well, I couldn’t say I’m a NOT NOT THEIST!

I simply know that I see no reason to call myself an “I’m NOT one of THOSE.”

How does that do any good or improve the world?

Pastor Tells the Truth on Easter!

How refreshing, in an odd way, that a local pastor writes an article published in the local paper on Easter Sunday that is so honest and truthful (though I’m not sure he realizes how honest).  I can hear lots of Amens from the congregation and many Christians around the city, the county, the country and the globe.  The only problem is. . .well, what he says. . .

After assuring us that Easter “is all about” what happens after we die, he reminds us that “Easter is the heart of Christian faith.”  OK.  We get that; pretty obvious.  Then comes this amazing paragraph:

“Understanding the Easter message is not easy, nor is it arrived at by common sense.  It is trust against the evidence, risk in the face of the odds. . . .”

Wow.  I had to read that over a few times to believe. . .to believe my eyes!

Not sure I’ve heard the “heart of Christianity” articulated so concisely and clearly.

The heart of this Easter message is indeed a wonder and I might fall to my knees to Praise Nature!

This old (long ago) Evangelical heart is aflutter and full of thanks on this Easter Morning!

The heart of this (fresh and new) Heretic is filled with happiness that this one pastor has affirmed what some of us have been saying for a very long time:

Faith is not about common sense, or evidence, or the odds.

And don’t forget:  Christianity begins with an Execution and arose from a Cemetery. . .which should tell us a great deal where this is going. . .

So, everyone, have a Very Happy Easter Day. . .I know I will, walking in the sunlight of reason with the resurrection of joyful common sense!

 

 

Is God Dead?

Well, William Hamilton is.  One of the original “Death of God” theologians.

I remember reading some of these writings and Robinson’s “Honest to God” while in seminary.  Stirred up some great discussions and slumbering brainmatter.

The question for me remains:  concepts of something called “God” may be challenged and put to rest, but can you bury someone who never lived?

Would there be a collective gasp if TIME or any other major publication asked,

Is Easter Bunny Dead?

Is Santa Claus Dead?

Is Tooth Fairy Dead?

Is Allah, Vishnu, Kali, Hera, Zeus, Poseidon. . .Dead?

Or maybe our modern question ought to be:  Have they killed each other?

or maybe, Are they all on vacation?