[Brenda]

Axeman wrote:

Brenda wrote:

Since the countries are built on religion, the leader will always be religious, or not be running. Simple.

In this respect, the Soviet Union was ahead of the game.

You mean Putin?

Edit:
Oh wait! I catch your drift!
The Soviet Union (or even Russia now) has 4

http://religionclause.blogspot.com/2007 ... putin.html

The video: http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/ ... 91,00.html
At about 3 minutes, there is said Russia is an Atheist country.... Yet, Putin is religious
(Russian Orthodox)

[Axeman]

Brenda wrote:

Edit:
Oh wait! I catch your drift!
The Soviet Union (or even Russia now) has 4

http://religionclause.blogspot.com/2007 ... putin.html

The video: http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/ ... 91,00.html
At about 3 minutes, there is said Russia is an Atheist country.... Yet, Putin is religious
(Russian Orthodox)

I believe I said "USSR".

[Brenda]

Ok, so what is your point?

You said "Soviet Union", to be very nitpicky.

[Axeman]

that the state policy of the USSR was a ban on religion. That's foresight.

[Brenda]

Yet, Putins boss at the KGB was Russian Orthodox


The USSR's religion was Socialism
But yeah, you're right, it was an Atheist state, that is what I said, right?

[ShepherdsDog]

Putin was an openly practicing Christian before the Orthodox Church regained its prominence in Russian society. There have been plenty of Christians active in the communist movement as well. One of the best known members of Liberation Theology is Father Ernesto Cardenal Martínez. He served as the Sandanista Minister of Culture from 1979 - 1987.

I remember watching on TV when JP II got off the plane in Nicaragua, and Father Ernesto knelt to kiss his hand. John Paul laid into him right there, shaking his finger at him(and not letting him kiss the ring), about how priests had no business being in government, especially with communists.

As for Western leaders being atheists, one has to wonder about PET's personal beliefs.

[GenericHito]

Axeman wrote:

that the state policy of the USSR was a ban on religion. That's foresight.

Personality discrepancy, I thought you were Libertarian.

[Sapio]

GenericHito wrote:

Axeman wrote:

that the state policy of the USSR was a ban on religion. That's foresight.

Personality discrepancy, I thought you were Libertarian.

I think you are mix us up. I'm the closing thing to Libertarian around here.

[Scape]

lily wrote:

That said - what's the big deal? According to some people, most Americans/Canadians aren't religious, so why would it matter enough that it's an election issue? The numbers don't seem to add up.

The deal is not as pronounced in Canada I grant you that but the US if you are not seen as devout it is a mark against your electability and if you openly proclaim you are and agnostic or atheist you are irredeemable. I would like to think that would play somewhat differently north of the 49th but we all have our prejudices.

[Murray_Smith]

lily wrote:

That said - what's the big deal? According to some people, most Americans/Canadians aren't religious, so why would it matter enough that it's an election issue? The numbers don't seem to add up.

Who are "some people," and where can I get the drugs they are so clearly on?

Three-quarters of both U.S. adults and Canadians identify themselves as Christian.

[Murray_Smith]

Scape wrote:

The deal is not as pronounced in Canada I grant you that but the US if you are not seen as devout it is a mark against your electability and if you openly proclaim you are and agnostic or atheist you are irredeemable. I would like to think that would play somewhat differently north of the 49th but we all have our prejudices.

Please stop exaggerating the ways of my country. We elected a guy who said that some people "cling to guns and religion." Hardly "devout," although he did reference his own faith far more than his opponent.

I suspect the reason for the lack of atheist and agnostic elected officials is that a lot of the more religious folk in this country think that atheism and agnosticism are the same thing as, or very similar to, nihilism.

[martin14]

wow, how did a gay PM get onto God so quick ?

I'm thinking this is the Icelandic version of Kim Campbell..
One year, maybe two, then into oblivion.

[Thanos]

"And I for one welcome our new rug-munching overlords."

- Kentaa Brockmaansen

[JJ]

I didn't mean to imply she would ONLY lose if she was a lesbian, but it's still relevant. If she does lose, it will mean there has never been an elected gay head of state, just as if Obama lost it would have meant America never elected a nonwhite president. We're drawing all sorts of conclusions on why an atheist has never been head of state, why is it wrong to do the same about homosexuals?

[roger-roger]

lily wrote:

Scape wrote:

Eisensapper wrote:

Call me when the first athiest is democraticly elected as a leader of a western nation....

Good point.

You think there hasn't been any?

You think there hasn't been any gays elected head of state before?