Atheists not allowed to testify in Texas Court?

[kwikkirk]

Heck no, there's no reason to waste the stake. They should enjoy their time on earth now because they will have plenty of time for burning later!

 

[>Charlotte<]

Maidao2001, would you please be so kind as to provide the source from which you got that information about seven states having anti-athiest laws?

Secondly, re: the articles and sections you cited--are those SC statutes?

Thanks

 

[maidao2001]

http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1203340

From what I got from the article those are SC statutes. Here's a link to the actual statutes

http://www.scstatehouse.net/scconstitution/scconst.htm

I have verified that what was stated in the article is true.

 

[seniorjudge]

ARTICLE VI.

OFFICERS

...

SECTION 2. Person denying existence of Supreme Being not to hold office.

No person who denies the existence of the Supreme Being shall hold any office under this Constitution.

....

http://www.scstatehouse.net/cgi-bin/query.exe?first=DOC&querytext= supreme&category=Constitution&conid=2954293&result_pos=0&keyval=6#OCC2

 

[maidao2001]

As crazy as we are in California, we do allow atheists to hold public office in my state. Pete Stark, the congressman in the district next to mine.
Eventually I expect there will be an public officer in SC who will want to come out of the closet and will challenge that law. My faith in our legal system (yes, us atheists have faith) believes that it will be ruled unconstitutional. If they don't, then I think South Carolina should succede from the Union!

 

[mommyof4]

As crazy as we are in California, we do allow atheists to hold public office in my state. Pete Stark, the congressman in the district next to mine.
Eventually I expect there will be an public officer in SC who will want to come out of the closet and will challenge that law. My faith in our legal system (yes, us atheists have faith) believes that it will be ruled unconstitutional. If they don't, then I think South Carolina should succede from the Union!

Hmmm...they tried that. It didn't seem to work out too well.

Thanks for the information you have imparted, though. (seriously). I had no idea that the TX constitution barred atheists from holding office. Interesting (and wrong, IMO).

Atheist can and do testify in court here in TX, though.

 

[BoredAtty]

Duh...who in their right mind would even consider denying the existence of God after taking into consideration the risk of being wrong?

Whatever your religion, chances are that you're wrong anyhow. It's not just a choice between believing and not believing, right? Jews think everyone else goes to hell. Muslims think everyone else goes to hell. Christians think everyone else goes to hell. Etc.

So, you probably only have a 20% chance of being correct even if you chose the most popular faith.

Regardless, if there truly is a god who condemns those who didn't believe in him, I doubt he'll be much kinder to those who merely pretended to be believers for no other reason that to avoid his wrath.

 

[BoredAtty]

In 1993, Herb Silverman, professor of math at the College of Charleston, tried to apply as notary public. In the pre-printed application there was an oath he had to sign, which ended with "so help me God". He crossed out the "God". His application was thus turned down.

Herb contacted the ACLU. They filed a lawsuit against the state of South Carolina. It took 4 whole years, but in 1997 the state Supreme Court ruled that the law was unconstitutional as it violated both the first and the sixth amendment.

It's almost hard to believe that the state bothered to litigate the issue. I haven't read the case, but it seems like such an obvious violation of the Constitution.

 

[seniorjudge]

It's almost hard to believe that the state bothered to litigate the issue. I haven't read the case, but it seems like such an obvious violation of the Constitution.

I always notice that the folks who refuse to take an oath on religious grounds turn out to be the biggest liars!

 

[fairisfair]

Whatever your religion, chances are that you're wrong anyhow. It's not just a choice between believing and not believing, right? Jews think everyone else goes to hell. Muslims think everyone else goes to hell. Christians think everyone else goes to hell. Etc.

So, you probably only have a 20% chance of being correct even if you chose the most popular faith.

Regardless, if there truly is a god who condemns those who didn't believe in him, I doubt he'll be much kinder to those who merely pretended to be believers for no other reason that to avoid his wrath.

I do so adore you.

 

[BoredAtty]

I do so adore you.

Oh yeah? Maybe I'll let you buy me a drink, maam. *wink*

(if I should have written "sir," then yuck! )

 

[seniorjudge]

Oh yeah? Maybe I'll let you buy me a drink, maam. *wink*

(if I should have written "sir," then yuck! )

fair is quite demanding

 

[fairisfair]

fair is quite demanding

and very much a girl!!

 

[Silverplum]

and very much a girl!!

*boggle!*







[Yeah, Fair's girly. ]

 

[fairisfair]

Oh yeah? Maybe I'll let you buy me a drink, maam. *wink*

(if I should have written "sir," then yuck! )

and maybe I will,

and if YOU are a ma'am then yuk back at ya.