[extropy-chat] Re: atheists barred from office in several states

[Technotranscendence]

This is a cross-post from another list where I forwarded the original
post Eliezer to.

Dan

From: Michael Hardy <hardy at math.mit.edu>
To: atl2 <atlantis_II at yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, December 06, 2003 6:07 PM
Subject: [atlantis_II] atheists barred from office in several states

 Article 6, Clause 3 of the US Constitution says:

   ... no religious Test shall ever be required as a
   Qualification to any Office or public Trust under
   the United States.

This alludes to a law that existed in England from some time
in the 17th century until the early 19th century, saying that
those not adhering to the right religion were barred from public
employment, including not only what we usually called public
office, but also, if I'm not mistaken, academic appointments
at Oxford and Cambridge.  Thus, Isaac Newton kept his
unitarianism secret for fear of being fired from his position
as professor of mathematics.  I think "under the United States"
means _federal_ rather_ than _state_ office, but the way the
courts have construed the 14th Amendment may have effectively
extended the rule to state office, thus rendering those
provisions of state constitutions void.  But have these clauses
been tested in court?   -- Mike Hardy

--
Michael Hardy
hardy at math.mit.edu