Atheism and Citizenship

A map of European atheism as of 2005. Apparently France, in particular, is going to the devil.

An atheist friend points out that several US states have laws, albeit unenforced, that prohibit atheists from holding office. This she sees as discrimination.

As a matter of fact, though, both Locke and Rousseau, the two philosophical founders of liberalism as a political doctrine, held that atheists could not hold public office, or indeed citizenship. When they advocated freedom of religion, they did not think it also meant freedom to have no religion.

The problem, as they saw it, was that atheists could not swear an oath. Therefore, they could not be party to a valid legal contract. Including the social contract on which liberal democracy is based.

From a religious perspective, too, there is a special problem with atheism. In the words of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “At all times and in every race, anyone who fears God and does what is right has been acceptable to him.” This covers sincere members of any monotheistic faith. It does not, however, cover atheists.

Consider, too, the Ten Commandments, an expression of universal morality. Atheists automatically violate the first three or four, which demand worship of the one true God. Similarly, when Jesus was asked what was the most important commandment, he responded, “to love God with your whole heart, and with your whole soul, and with your whole mind, and with your whole strength” “love your neighbor as yourself” comes second. Obviously, no atheist is following this first and most important commandment.

Atheism then becomes a moral issue. It is not cool to be an atheist; it is a conscious choice of evil.

This makes sense, of course, if and only if the existence of God is not up for grabs intellectually; if and only if no reasonable person could honestly believe God does not exist.

And I do believe that is the state of play.