By Max Boot Max Boot Columnist covering national security Email Bio Follow Columnist May 8 at 3:11 PM Among the 21 candidates seeking the Democratic nomination, virtually every ethnic, religious and sexual identity is represented. There’s a gay man, six women, three African Americans, a Chinese American, multiple Catholics and Protestants, even a Hindu. But there is one conspicuous absence: Not a single candidate publicly identifies as an atheist.
Yet people who profess no religious identity are one of the largest and fastest-growing demographic groups in the United States. According to the Pew Research Center, 22.8 percent of Americans are “nones,” slightly fewer than the number of evangelical Protestants and slightly more than Catholics . No other religious identification comes close. Of course, not all “nones” are atheists; Pew found that 27 percent of them believe in God.
There are too many examples of evil committed in the name of God to assume that people act morally because they are afraid of divine punishment. More likely, people are social animals who develop moral codes so they can live at peace with their neighbors. That’s why almost all societies, whether religious or not, have similar taboos against murder, robbery, rape and other sins.
The WAPO ideal candidate for President is a minority female transgender socialist Democrat anti-christian pro-abortion vegatarian who entered the country illegally and lived off the government before entering politics.
I am fed up with the people in power using religion as justification to be horribke humans being. What they're doing isn'tabout being Christian, it's about being greedy.
You mean an atheist who practices Christian values right?
Already had one, 44
Great news! We already have one. That's the great thing about a pathological liar: they'll be whatever you want them to be if your head is deep enough in the sand.
'You' voted for one...'you' know who 'you' are!
No
We did his name was Obama oh wait that was a Muslim President
I don’t think an individual who is an atheist would be an awful idea since being atheist doesn’t mean one is devoid of a moral code.
People who don't believe in God are untrustworthy. They answer to no one. Thankfully, the real America is a Christian nation.
'Putinville'
Kind of like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln? Oh, wait.....
Having trouble finding things to write about are we?
BoSnerdley Why do the left continually chase after 'firsts'? 1st black, 1st woman, 1st gay, 1st Muslim, 1st atheist? All of which are fine, but you leftists never searched for the best if any if those, just the first.
Tired of the closet atheist that is in there now?
Yup.. Atheist..Agnostic.. to clear up the bullshit with Faith.. esp Evangelical..crap. sorry but its over the gd top with Hypocrisy..
BoSnerdley BarackObama
Another garbage article from Wapo. Another new low for “journalism”. What a sorry excuse for a “newspaper”.
BoSnerdley I prefer the opposite. Atheist can only impose their version of morality by force.i prefer those who live believing they must answer to a higher force than themselves and their fellow man.
There is a reason the left in America wants to do away with religion, particularly Judeo-Christian religions. That reason is 'The Ten Commandments' which have stood the test of time ... a moral compass. Same sex marriage, abortion, etc all go against the Ten Commandments.
Not until that atheist can acknowledge religion has a moral purpose.
BoSnerdley It's time to stop reading the Washington Post
BoSnerdley 2008-2016. Were you under a rock?
BoSnerdley Like Stalin?
wow
Or agnostic... because they are open to all theology.
Yes.
Atheist or a radical Islamist terror supporter but definitely no Christian
Yes or we will enter a post American world in a generation.
Good plan
it doesn’t matter what religion or lack thereof your president practices. It’s a government-wide problem. What you need at this point is French style secularism.
Do you want Satan running a Christian country! Totally against the basis of America. But then again we got satin running this country that’s why were in the predicament were in
I thought that’s what we have now.
Way past time.
Amen?
Donald Trump is an atheist.
dimas_______ 💯 Hallelujah! Praise the Atheist! Sunday Science Sermons! Worship Scientists!
We had one - his name was Obama and he has gone down as the worst President ever.
You guys actually get paid to write this garbage I’ve seen y’all post a lot of dumb stuff but this is right up there...
American Chrisianity has alwasy confused us in the rest of the world who follow teachings of one Jesus Christ. Is it a sect or a cult and how exactly does it relate to the Vulgate ? what indeed do they worship ?
It is way past time.
We already had one for 8 years....Obama
You can't even stand an unapogetic Christian whose faith represents that of most Americans. What makes you think that having an unapologetic atheist who represents so few Americans would be a step up?
No thanks.
Flattering, but I’m really not interested. Surely you can find someone else. Thank you.
Um...No, it's NOT.
God damn right!
No. Atheists are like vegans. They never shut up about it.
America is NOT an atheist country. The vast majority of Americans are Christians & the rest has diverse spiritual beliefs. Are you truly this out of touch? No, you’re not. You know this full well. Globalist propaganda pushers.
Why?
Not in a country which has 'In God we trust' on its currency!!!
I'm pretty sure you already do
Absolutely Yes!
F WaPo!
It’s time for you to be shut down 👍
Great President Trump is a wonderful moral God fearing man we r blessed to have him unlike demon Hussein Obama
Im ready
Legalize fentanyl instead
Unhinged wp
Typical leftist, socialist propaganda!!!!
Isn’t that what we have in the office already. Trump needs to appeal to a certain base that is religious but he’s clearly an atheist and not moral.
A few years ago you would have thought that distinction would go to Trump.
Can we get the unapologetic fascist out of there 1st?
Stupid writing. Doesn't even suggest why this would be better or different just that it would be different. Also, this statement, if referring to Chinese government is idiotic: 'Is there any reason to believe that China is a less moral place than the United States.'
Opinion- it’s time for us to have someone with an IQ higher than a slice of lunch meat in the Oval Office
We’re already in hell.
YES ... PLEASE
Lol. Who ‘us’ And Official motto of the US Constitution is ‘in GOD we trust’ ! And Lame DIMMs tried to change that in 2018 when they tried to get this line removed from our currency and it was thrown out by courts ! Extreme TDS at wapo !
Amen !
You already have one! Why do you want another one?
We already have one. He’s just faking NOT being one.
No its time we have me in the Oval Office. A high quality female; that isn't desperate and will think with my brain and heart not my pussy. Educated; ex stripper; military trained; liberty; and a mommy granny; designer google: shannon m kaiser religion Non desperate leader
Amen to that.
I’m agnostic and I would still say F off. I still like Christian values. Society is still better with good moral values.
Nope
I'll take the job!
Yes!! Ok, that's my cue to run!
I think that’s exactly who is in the White House right now. Then again, maybe not, as Trump believes in God, but believes he is that God.
No
May God have mercy on this country.
Maybe it’s time for identity politics to die; it exists and thrives on chaos. By nature it’s divisive as it seeks to purify the society through conflict. Are liberal really that dumb fucked to realize none of these problems will be solved as long as the elites profit from them.
Yes it is, but there is a hardcore group of “Christians” who would lose their minds. They’re so dumb they think atheist worship the devil. They just can’t grasp someone being strong enough mentally not to need a “parent” figure to protect them from all their fears.
YES!
Us atheists have put up with Christians ruling us long enough. Your turn Christians.
Then I am your candidate!
We already had one. OBAMA.
What!!!? You silly Democrats...
One can only hope.,,
the separation of church and hate
*points at thrice-married serial adulterer who likes war crimes* I think we’re good on this one already guys.
Oh I’m sure an unapologetic atheist would be super charming.
I'd like the idea of this, however the American populus isn't as smart or as open to religious freedom as they claim.
No
Agree! What’s really scary is how the Dems are becoming some type of brainwashing religion. They use the same play book as the Catholics. Self loathing know it all’s. Everybody is a sinner but us! They are going to burn in hell.
Preach!
The Bible thumping, gun loving rubes who call themselves Christians, will start a Civil War if that happens.
Please remember we had many founding fathers who were not religious. I'm reading Ben Franklin right now and we know Jefferson's thoughts although neither would call themselves atheists. Yes, you can have morals without religion!
How about just an honest coherent citizen
Ironically, Trump is most likely an unapologetic atheist.
Sorry, Hillary ran in 2016 and lost.
The Bonobo and the Atheist ©️2013 Frans de Waal. “Religion looms as large as an elephant in the United States, to the point that being nonreligious is about the biggest handicap a politician running for office can have, bigger than being gay, unmarried, thrice married...”
I nominate Ron Reagan.
Agree
Wrong
WP- we have one: Chump! He thinks of Sundays as....GOLF Day! Not church. He worships four things only: Himself, Money, Dictators, and Golf. Somehow he still got the JerryFalwellJr vote. It's a crazy world.
Why You already have a unapologetic Christian in the White house. Who is giving the American people the opportunities and tools to achieve greatness.
As long as it's not one those evangelizing atheists. Always feverishly looking for opportunities to insinuate their religious views into the conversation and convert you. That would be tiring.
Perhaps it’s also time to have a devout editorial writer at the Post.
Didn't read the story, but the headline is horrible. Could you name one atheist that has occupied the White House? Didn't think so.
For lack of a better word? AMEN
Try for a real follower of Christ.
I’ll just settle for a functional adult at this point.
GOD bless America
I would much rather have an Atheist President than an Evangelical President...
It'd be great if we had a President who's only higher power was justice, freedom, and human rights
yawn
Oh right.. no values, no boundaries, no baseline? Got it. Anything goes.
Seriously?!?!
Yes. America would be a much better place if it had a leader not influenced by religion.
I mean, Trump is kind of a pretend Catholic.
He's already there..
We do, but the evangelicals claim him chosen by God...
God willing.
i agree!
No kidding
No.
I agree.
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