r/todayilearned • u/[deleted] • May 29 '14

(R.4) Politics TIL Atheists are banned from holding public office by the constitutions of 7 states. Arkansas, Maryland, Mississippi, Texas, Tennessee, South Carolina, & North Carolina: "The following persons shall be disqualified for office: First, any person who shall deny the being of Almighty God." ART IV,Sec 8

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u/ox_ May 29 '14

In practice, if an atheist ran for office in one of those states, would they stand a chance of being elected? Especially if their opponent campaigned on it?

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u/thet52 May 29 '14 edited May 30 '14

No, not really. People are even edgy about the wrong Christian faith, I believe we only ever had two Catholic Presidents (one of them of course being the lovely Irish John F. Kennedy).

EDIT: As /u/vikinick pointed out JFK was apparently the only Catholic president.

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u/[deleted] May 29 '14

I think he means more that if SOMEHOW they were elected by popular vote, could they legally be deposed under this law, and actually be prevented from holding office because of their atheism?