Archive for Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Congress has first public nontheist
March 14, 2007
Advertisement
Washington, D.C. — It is a year of religious firsts in Congress: the first Muslim, the first Buddhist (two of them, actually) and, as of now, the first lawmaker to say publicly that he does not believe in any supreme being.
The Secular Coalition for America, an association of eight atheist and humanist groups, held a contest in December to identify the highest elected "nontheist" in the land. This week it announced the winner: Rep. Pete Stark, D-Calif. Stark, 75, in his 18th term representing San Francisco's East Bay, issued a brief statement confirming that "I am a Unitarian who does not believe in a supreme being."
A number of other Unitarians, including John Adams and Adlai Stevenson, have served in Congress, and Thomas Brackett Reed, speaker of the House in the 1890s, called himself a freethinker. But they all claimed some belief in God, according to Fred Beuttler, deputy historian of the House of Representatives.
Freshman Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., is the first Muslim in Congress. Reps. Hank Johnson, D-Ga., and Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, are the first Buddhists.
More like this
- Religion renews its pull on U.S. politics 1 comment / March 25, 2007
- A spirited debate June 15, 2001
- The long road 5 comments / May 17, 2008
- CHURCH, STATE COLLIDE OVER PRAYER February 17, 1995
- JOURNAL REQUIRED BY EACH STUDENT. June 12, 1990
Top ads RSS
- Grant Writer Spencer Museum of Art, University of Kansas seeks ...
- NEUVANT HOUSE of Lawrence Personal Memory Care Seeking Administrator for ...
- Googols of Learning Child Development Center is now hiring for ...
- Project Coordinator The KS Biological Survey at the University of ...
- Tonganoxie Nursing is now hiring for: LPN-Part Time 2PM-10PM & ...
Marketplace
Arts & Entertainment · Bars · Theatres · Restaurants · Coffeehouses · Libraries · Antiques · Services
- Mangino not living on his knees November 29, 2009 · 9 comments
- Jobless recovery will haunt Democrats November 29, 2009 · 1 comment
- Blog: A Snootful Of E-Mails November 23, 2009 · 30 comments
- City commission agenda for Dec. 1 November 28, 2009 · 5 comments
- One dead after car-motorcycle accident near 27th and Missouri November 27, 2009 · 58 comments
- President turns over nuclear authority November 29, 2009 · 1 comment
- Two arrested after altercation at Henry's November 29, 2009 · 7 comments
- FINAL: Ressel's last-second field goal gives MU 41-39 victory over KU November 28, 2009 · 85 comments
- On the street: With the retirement of U.S. Rep. Dennis Moore, what characteristics would you like to see in a new congressman? November 29, 2009 · 4 comments
- Miserable ending November 29, 2009 · 5 comments
- Two arrested after altercation at Henry's November 29, 2009
- Victim ID’d in fatal car-cycle crash November 29, 2009
- Reese's Pieces: Kitty Reese screen-prints designs with a darker ‘Holly Hobbie Country Rainbow Brite’ aesthetic November 29, 2009
- KU walk-on Juenemann enjoys career game November 29, 2009
- Lawrence City Commission expected to approve $800,000 in improvements to Kasold Drive November 27, 2009
- Firebirds’ 4-year run notable November 17, 2009
- City caters to its increasingly diverse population with culture, food offerings November 28, 2009
- City commission agenda for Dec. 1 November 28, 2009
- Miserable ending November 29, 2009
- ‘It’s about time’ November 28, 2009
14 March 2007
at 2:59 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Confrontation (Anonymous) says…
Although they all claim to be of some religion, their private and public lives often prove otherwise. Just like a huge percentage of other people who claim to be of a particular religion, they are hypocrites.