Fans applaud politician for revealing atheist beliefs

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Monday, March 19, 2007

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By the Associated Press

SAN LEANDRO — A federal politician who publicly acknowledged last week that he doesn’t believe in God appears to enjoy healthy support among constituents.

Rep. Pete Stark, a California Democrat representing suburban San Francisco voters since 1973, received cheers and applause Saturday from about 70 people who attended a regularly scheduled town hall meeting.

Stark, 75, said he was shocked by the volume of letters, phone calls and e-mails since March 12, when he acknowledged his “nontheism” in response to an inquiry by the Secular Coalition for America.

Stark calls himself “a Unitarian who does not believe in a supreme being.” He was the only member of the 535-person Congress willing to say he or she was an atheist.

The coalition was offering a $1,000 prize to the person who could identify the “highest level atheist, agnostic, humanist or any other kind of nontheist currently holding elected public office in the United States.” The group wanted to highlight the difficulty politicians have declaring they don’t believe in God, and organizers expected no one from Congress to come forward.

Stark, a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee, said he’s received more than 500 responses since Monday; about 25 were negative. On Tuesday, the American Humanist Association took out an ad in The Washington Post supporting Stark.

Constituent Chuck Cannon of Concord compared Stark to civil rights leader Rosa Parks, praising him for bucking the trend of politicians who emphasize their religious faith and faithfulness.

“Over the last several years, many of us have felt threatened by organized religion’s attempt to force a particular view, through legislation, on all of us, which means we lose our family values,” Cannon said at San Leandro City Hall. “I just wanted to commend you for your courageous yet commonsense stance that sets you above the religious pandering that goes on in Washington.

Stark brushed off comments about courageousness.

“It’s not courageous to make a simple statement about personal beliefs,” he said. “What is courageous is to stand up in Congress and say, ’Let’s tax the rich and give the money to poor kids.”’

21 comment(s)

Lamont Cranston wrote on Mar 20, 2007 12:13 AM:

" After watching 19 pious religious folks take down the twin towers, it is comforting to think that there is at least one member of congress who is not listening to voices in his head. And by the way, I lived in Jersey since before the towers went up - what is this 'WTC'? They were always the twin towers, except on the subway sign. "

Infidel aka Gary wrote on Mar 20, 2007 10:42 AM:

" Bravo Pete Stark, I am sure that Pete Stark is not alone as an atheistic member of congress. He is just alone in his courage. I hope that the courage is contageous. Shalom, Infidel "

Christine Canty wrote on Mar 20, 2007 3:02 PM:

" Thank-you Pete Stark! "

george wrote on Mar 20, 2007 6:50 PM:

" thank you Mr Stark. "

PRM wrote on Mar 20, 2007 11:57 PM:

" Bravo Rep. Stark! I urge everyone to read Richard Dawkins's new book, "The God Delusion." Wanna know why we are in as much trouble as we're in right now? Credulous human belief in the unbelievable is a start. "

Glenn wrote on Mar 21, 2007 1:16 AM:

" There are any number of folks who managed to come up with reasons to kill millions of people without hearing "voices in his head", Hitler, Stalin, and Mao among them. Let's not be so ignorant as to think atheism as a panacea to the world's social ills. "

God wrote on Mar 21, 2007 1:28 AM:

" On your deathbed, you will believe. They all do. "

Kaye wrote on Mar 21, 2007 11:39 AM:

" Glenn, you may want to do a bit of history reading. Hitler and Stalin weren't 'atheist'...both men actually were educated in religious schools. Many times Hitler invoked the name of God as justification for his work. As for Stalin and Mao, they weren't atheist, they were sociopaths...HUGE difference. In fact, the most secular,(atheistic), societies on the planet are also the most progressive, healthy, peaceful societies today. Is atheism a cure-all solution? No, but then I don't exactly see a whole lotta lovin' going on with all the religious nuts, either. "

John Bakalik wrote on Mar 21, 2007 3:04 PM:

" As a young man of 17, with Catholic upbringing, I went to WW2 combat Navy, saw much death and destruction, brother killed in Belgium, three of my boyhood friends never came back from the war, as I got a bit older, I realized there is no such thing as a heavnly father soaring somewhere out in space, the Hubble space camera proved it. Agostic or Athiest, call it like it is the Mensa group. "

Zach wrote on Mar 21, 2007 4:28 PM:

" Thank you for speaking out for the people who do not follow any Invisible Man in the sky. I do find it odd that I am a better person than any "Christian" I have ever met. Thanks again for speaking out. "

Bob wrote on Mar 22, 2007 1:31 AM:

" Not everyone believes on their 'deathbed'. Famously, Carl Sagan did not. I would bet $1 million that Paul Kurtz will not, either. Richard Dawkins, Arthur C. Clarke: I would bet heavily on many such people, but would have a long time to wait collecting on these bets... Maybe one of these pseudo-scientific religious groups that study the 'efficacy of prayer' should do a study on 'deathbed beliefs'. "

Summer wrote on Mar 23, 2007 11:29 AM:

" Amen! Congressman Stark! "

ninewands wrote on Mar 23, 2007 3:11 PM:

" Congressman Stark should be praised for this courageous move. The difference between a Christian and an atheist is that an atheist will knowingly vote for a Christian. "

Bill Baker wrote on Mar 25, 2007 12:12 PM:

" Kudos to Stark. As a nontheist myself{Deistic} I am proud to see nontheists in govt come out of the closet proudly and deny a belief in a personal god{or in a god at all}. I hope Congressman Stark enjoys success in his position and helps turn things around for Nontheists everywhere in the U.S. In Reason: Bill Baker "

Joanne wrote on Mar 26, 2007 9:30 PM:

" It is sad, indeed, that in this great nation, which is supposed to be founded on the principle that its citizens are equally free to embrace any religion or none at all, one need fear being "outed" as a "non-believer". What does that say about our advertised values? That we do not actually "practice what we preach." I applaud you, Mr. Stark, for helping to bring us closer to actually "walking the walk" in this regard, rather than just paying it hollow lip service. "

Long time Christian wrote on Mar 27, 2007 9:54 PM:

" Mr. Stark if you are right ,none of us have think about going to Hell or Heaven ,BUT if we Christians are right ,you are really in trouble !!! ( I am very happy with my faith in God .It has brought me through many hard places in my life..I am not talking about organized religon ,I mean an experience with God ..knowing Him .) It is wonderful.. "

To long time Christian wrote on Mar 29, 2007 11:47 AM:

" Tell us about when you met god. How do you know god is a male. People who don't believe in god aren't in trouble at all. Christians just use heaven and hell as a way to scare people into christianity. If this so called god was such a wonderful and caring thing it wouldn't punish people by having them burn in hell. Also, if Noahs Ark really happened the way the bible says then I would never want to be with god if he killed all those people and animals intentionally just because they didn't have faith. That would be a really cruel and immature thing to do. "

Cheri wrote on Mar 29, 2007 12:46 PM:

" Thank you, Congressman Stark. "

Long time Christian wrote on Mar 29, 2007 4:13 PM:

" We will all know in a 100 years who God is ...and who is right or wrong ... "

Long time Christian wrote on Mar 29, 2007 4:46 PM:

" One last comment .. the Truth does not have to be defended ,just proclaimed .. I don't argue religon or politics ..I just know there is a God and there is a Heaven and Hell ..How ? Just read the Bible with an open heart and God will reveal it to you ..May you be blessed in your life !!! "

DJ-LLsyawlla wrote on Oct 20, 2009 6:47 PM:

" Dear Long time Christian which bible?
I must admit the easiest way to live a life, it to believe blindly,or with out question.
Question
When you go out each day what are you going to do believe or investigate?
Do you know who said that?

Here is a great American fantasy "My team is better than yours"

DJ "

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