It depends on their morals and humanistic beliefs. Non believers can still be evil. But I think that in this century, not very well, because there is too much religious conservatism. An openly secular president wouldn't even get elected.

They'd probably have an easier time separating church from state.

I wish our elected officials would stop the foolishness of acting as if non believers aren't capable of running things. Yes, I think an atheist president would probably do a much better job if for no other reason than he/she wouldn't be restrained by all the dogma crap. I really think most are not really religious at all, but have to play the dog and pony show anyway. That said, as things stand now an atheist president would probably end up spending all his or her time trying to defend his or her beliefs instead of things that actually matter.

They're BELIEF in God is irrelevant. I would look at their lifestyle and actions and relationship with God. If those are top notch than I would assume that their leadership would be good also, with other characteristics of course... such as experience, etc.

I really don't think it would make that much of a difference, but at least an atheist wouldn't claim that god told him to attack Iraq.

I can only say I ask for Gods guidance every day of my life in every thing I do. I feel he does help me make good decisions. So I dont know where he would get the guidance he would need. + 5

Well, let's see, I think most of the idiots in office pretend to believe and don't have a passing acquaintace with God so we already have some examples of that.

I think a godless president could do just as good a job screwing things up as a religious one.

I personally feel like it would be a disgrace! Religion, gives a good sense of morals, values, and reason for our well being. I also think that when we declared our independence we did it (under god).

Much worse or not at all- Patrick Henry: "Orator of the Revolution." • This is all the inheritance I can give my dear family. The religion of Christ can give them one which will make them rich indeed.” —The Last Will and Testament of Patrick Henry “It cannot be emphasized too clearly and too often that this nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religion, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason, peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here.” [May 1765 Speech to the House of Burgesses] “The Bible is worth all other books which have ever been printed.” "Without Religion this World would be Something not fit to be mentioned in polite Company, I mean Hell." [John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, April 19, 1817] | "We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." -John Adams-October 11, 1798 Samuel Johnston: • “It is apprehended that Jews, Mahometans (Muslims), pagans, etc., may be elected to high offices under the government of the United States. Those who are Mahometans, or any others who are not professors of the Christian religion, can never be elected to the office of President or other high office, [unless] first the people of America lay aside the Christian religion altogether, it may happen. Should this unfortunately take place, the people will choose such men as think as they do themselves. [Elliot’s Debates, Vol. IV, pp 198-199, Governor Samuel Johnston, July 30, 1788 at the North Carolina Ratifying Convention] James Madison “ We’ve staked our future on our ability to follow the Ten Commandments with all of our heart.” “We have staked the whole future of American civilization, not upon the power of government, far from it. We’ve staked the future of all our political institutions upon our capacity…to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God.” [1778 to the General Assembly of the State of Virginia] • I have sometimes thought there could not be a stronger testimony in favor of religion or against temporal enjoyments, even the most rational and manly, than for men who occupy the most honorable and gainful departments and [who] are rising in reputation and wealth, publicly to declare the unsatisfactoriness [of temportal enjoyments] by becoming fervent advocates in the cause of Christ; and I wish you may give in your evidence in this way. Letter by Madison to William Bradford (September 25, 1773) • In 1812, President Madison signed a federal bill which economically aided the Bible Society of Philadelphia in its goal of the mass distribution of the Bible. “ An Act for the relief of the Bible Society of Philadelphia” Approved February 2, 1813 by Congress “It is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian forbearance, love, and charity toward each other.” • A watchful eye must be kept on ourselves lest, while we are building ideal monuments of renown and bliss here, we neglect to have our names enrolled in the Annals of Heaven. [Letter by Madison to William Bradford [urging him to make sure of his own salvation] November 9, 1772] At the Constitutional Convention of 1787, James Madison proposed the plan to divide the central government into three branches. He discovered this model of government from the Perfect Governor, as he read Isaiah 33:22; “For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; He will save us.” [Baron Charles Montesquieu, wrote in 1748; “Nor is there liberty if the power of judging is not separated from legislative power and from executive power. If it [the power of judging] were joined to legislative power, the power over life and liberty of the citizens would be arbitrary, for the judge would be the legislature if it were joined to the executive power, the judge could have the force of an oppressor. All would be lost if the same … body of principal men … exercised these three powers." Madison claimed Isaiah 33:22 as the source of division of power in government See also: pp.241-242 in Teaching and Learning America’s Christian History: The Principle approach by Rosalie Slater] James McHenry – Signer of the Constitution Public utility pleads most forcibly for the general distribution of the Holy Scriptures. The doctrine they preach, the obligations they impose, the punishment they threaten, the rewards they promise, the stamp and image of divinity they bear, which produces a conviction of their truths, can alone secure to society, order and peace, and to our courts of justice and constitutions of government, purity, stability and usefulness. In vain, without the Bible, we increase penal laws and draw entrenchments around our institutions. Bibles are strong entrenchments. Where they abound, men cannot pursue wicked courses, and at the same time enjoy quiet conscience. Jedediah Morse: "To the kindly influence of Christianity we owe that degree of civil freedom, and political and social happiness which mankind now enjoys. . . . Whenever the pillars of Christianity shall be overthrown, our present republican forms of government, and all blessings which flow from them, must fall with them." John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg In a sermon delivered to his Virginia congregation on Jan. 21, 1776, he preached from Ecclesiastes 3. Arriving at verse 8, which declares that there is a time of war and a time of peace, Muhlenberg noted that this surely was not the time of peace; this was the time of war. Concluding with a prayer, and while standing in full view of the congregation, he removed his clerical robes to reveal that beneath them he was wearing the uniform of an officer in the Continental army! He marched to the back of the church; ordered the drum to beat for recruits and over three hundred men joined him, becoming the Eighth Virginia Brigade. John Peter Muhlenberg finished the Revolution as a Major-General, having been at Valley Forge and having participated in the battles of Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth, Stonypoint, and Yorktown. Thomas Paine: “ It has been the error of the schools to teach astronomy, and all the other sciences, and subjects of natural philosophy, as accomplishments only; whereas they should be taught theologically, or with reference to the Being who is the author of them: for all the principles of science are of divine origin. Man cannot make, or invent, or contrive principles: he can only discover them; and he ought to look through the discovery to the Author.” “ The evil that has resulted from the error of the schools, in teaching natural philosophy as an accomplishment only, has been that of generating in the pupils a species of atheism. Instead of looking through the works of creation to the Creator himself, they stop short, and employ the knowledge they acquire to create doubts of his existence. They labour with studied ingenuity to ascribe every thing they behold to innate properties of matter, and jump over all the rest by saying, that matter is eternal.” “The Existence of God--1810” Benjamin Rush: • “I lament that we waste so much time and money in punishing crimes and take so little pains to prevent them…we neglect the only means of establishing and perpetuating our republican forms of government; that is, the universal education of our youth in the principles of Christianity by means of the Bible; for this Divine Book, above all others, constitutes the soul of republicanism.” “By withholding the knowledge of [the Scriptures] from children, we deprive ourselves of the best means of awakening moral sensibility in their minds.” [Letter written (1790’s) in Defense of the Bible in all schools in America] • “Christianity is the only true and perfect religion.” • “If moral precepts alone could have reformed mankind, the mission of the Son of God into our world would have been unnecessary.” "Let the children who are sent to those schools be taught to read and write and above all, let both sexes be carefully instructed in the principles and obligations of the Christian religion. This is the most essential part of education” Letters of Benjamin Rush, "To the citizens of Philadelphia: A Plan for Free Schools", March 28, 1787 Justice Joseph Story: “ I verily believe Christianity necessary to the support of civil society. One of the beautiful boasts of our municipal jurisprudence is that Christianity is a part of the Common Law. . . There never has been a period in which the Common Law did not recognize Christianity as lying its foundations.” [Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States p. 593] “ Infidels and pagans were banished from the halls of justice as unworthy of credit.” [Life and letters of Joseph Story, Vol. II 1851, pp. 8-9.] “ At the time of the adoption of the constitution, and of the amendment to it, now under consideration [i.e., the First Amendment], the general, if not the universal sentiment in America was, that Christianity ought to receive encouragement from the state, so far as was not incompatible with the private rights of conscience, and the freedom of religious worship.” [Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States p. 593] Noah Webster: “ The duties of men are summarily comprised in the Ten Commandments, consisting of two tables; one comprehending the duties which we owe immediately to God-the other, the duties we owe to our fellow men.” “In my view, the Christian religion is the most important and one of the first things in which all children, under a free government ought to be instructed...No truth is more evident to my mind than that the Christian religion must be the basis of any government intended to secure the rights and privileges of a free people.” [Source: 1828, in the preface to his American Dictionary of the English Language] Let it be impressed on your mind that God commands you to choose for rulers just men who will rule in the fear of God [Exodus 18:21]. . . . If the citizens neglect their duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will soon be corrupted . . . If our government fails to secure public prosperity and happiness, it must be because the citizens neglect the Divine commands, and elect bad men to make and administer the laws. [Noah Webster, The History of the United States (New Haven: Durrie and Peck, 1832), pp. 336-337, 49] “All the miseries and evils which men suffer from vice, crime, ambition, injustice, oppression, slavery and war, proceed from their despising or neglecting the precepts contained in the Bible.” [Noah Webster. History. p. 339] “The Bible was America’s basic textbook in all fields.” [Noah Webster. Our Christian Heritage p.5] “Education is useless without the Bible” [Noah Webster. Our Christian Heritage p.5 ] George Washington: Farewell Address: The name of American, which belongs to you, in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of Patriotism, more than any appellation derived from local discriminations. With slight shades of difference, you have the same religion" ...and later: "...reason and experience both forbid us to expect, that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle..." “ It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and Bible.” “What students would learn in American schools above all is the religion of Jesus Christ.” [speech to the Delaware Indian Chiefs May 12, 1779] "To the distinguished character of patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian" [May 2, 1778, at Valley Forge] During his inauguration, Washington took the oath as prescribed by the Constitution but added several religious components to that official ceremony. Before taking his oath of office, he summoned a Bible on which to take the oath, added the words “So help me God!” to the end of the oath, then leaned over and kissed the Bible. Nelly Custis-Lewis (Washington’s adopted daughter): Is it necessary that any one should [ask], “Did General Washington avow himself to be a believer in Christianity?" As well may we question his patriotism, his heroic devotion to his country. His mottos were, "Deeds, not Words"; and, "For God and my Country." “ O Most Glorious God, in Jesus Christ, my merciful and loving Father; I acknowledge and confess my guilt in the weak and imperfect performance of the duties of this day. I have called on Thee for pardon and forgiveness of my sins, but so coldly and carelessly that my prayers are become my sin, and they stand in need of pardon.” “ I have sinned against heaven and before Thee in thought, word, and deed. I have contemned Thy majesty and holy laws. I have likewise sinned by omitting what I ought to have done and committing what I ought not. I have rebelled against the light, despising Thy mercies and judgment, and broken my vows and promise. I have neglected the better things. My iniquities are multiplied and my sins are very great. I confess them, O Lord, with shame and sorrow, detestation and loathing and desire to be vile in my own eyes as I have rendered myself vile in Thine. I humbly beseech Thee to be merciful to me in the free pardon of my sins for the sake of Thy dear Son and only Savior Jesus Christ who came to call not the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Thou gavest Thy Son to die for me.” [George Washington; from a 24 page authentic handwritten manuscript book dated April 21-23, 1752 William J. Johnson George Washington, the Christian (New York: The Abingdon Press, New York & Cincinnati, 1919), pp. 24-35.] "Although guided by our excellent Constitution in the discharge of official duties, and actuated, through the whole course of my public life, solely by a wish to promote the best interests of our country; yet, without the beneficial interposition of the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, we could not have reached the distinguished situation which we have attained with such unprecedented rapidity. To HIM, therefore, should we bow with gratitude and reverence, and endeavor to merit a continuance of HIS special favors". [1797 letter to John Adams] James Wilson: Signer of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution Supreme Court Justice appointed by George Washington Spoke 168 times during the Constitutional Convention "Christianity is part of the common law" [Sources: James Wilson, Course of Lectures [vol 3, p.122]; and quoted in Updegraph v. The Commonwealth, 11 Serg, & R. 393, 403 (1824).] ________________________________________________________________________ Public Institutions Liberty Bell Inscription: “ Proclaim liberty throughout the land and to all the inhabitants thereof” [Leviticus 25:10] Proposals for the seal of the United States of America • “Moses lifting his wand and dividing the Red Sea” –Ben Franklin • “The children of Israel in the wilderness, led by a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.” --Thomas Jefferson On July 4, 1776, Congress appointed Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams "to bring in a device for a seal for the United States of America." Franklin's proposal adapted the biblical story of the parting of the Red Sea. Jefferson first recommended the "Children of Israel in the Wilderness, led by a Cloud by Day, and a Pillar of Fire by night. . . ." He then embraced Franklin's proposal and rewrote it Jefferson's revision of Franklin's proposal was presented by the committee to Congress on August 20, 1776. Another popular proposal to the Great Seal of the United States was: " Rebellion to Tyrants is Obedience to God"; with Pharoah's army drowning in the Red Sea The three branches of the U.S. Government: Judicial, Legislative, Executive • At the Constitutional Convention of 1787, James Madison proposed the plan to divide the central government into three branches. He discovered this model of government from the Perfect Governor, as he read Isaiah 33:22; “For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; He will save us.” Article 22 of the constitution of Delaware (1776) Required all officers, besides taking an oath of allegiance, to make and subscribe to the following declaration: • "I, [name], do profess faith in God the Father, and in Jesus Christ His only Son, and in the Holy Ghost, one God, blessed for evermore; and I do acknowledge the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be given by divine inspiration." New York Spectator. August 23, 1831 “ The court of common pleas of Chester county, [New York] rejected a witness who declared his disbelief in the existence of God. The presiding judge remarked that he had not before been aware that there was a man living who did not believe in the existence of God; that this belief constituted the sanction of all testimony in a court of justice: and that he knew of no cause in a Christian country where a witness had been permitted to testify without such belief. New England Primer: Used in public and private schools from 1690 to 1900 second only to the Bible Some of its contents: A song of praise to God Prayers in Jesus’ name The famous Bible alphabet Shorter Catechism of faith in Christ Site Map | Home Family Adventures | Bible Lessons | God Bless America! | Homeschooling Famous Quotes | Science | Holiday Resources © 2007 EadsHome Ministries All materials produced by EadsHome Ministries are free for your use as long as a profit is not made. Materials copyrighted to others are specifically noted and linked. “ It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and Bible.” ~ George Washington "Christianity is part of the common law" [Sources: James Wilson, Course of Lectures [vol 3, p.122]; and quoted in Updegraph v. The Commonwealth, 11 Serg, & R. 393, 403 (1824).] New England Primer: Used in public and private schools from 1690 to 1900 second only to the Bible Some of its contents: A song of praise to God Prayers in Jesus’ name The famous Bible alphabet Shorter Catechism of faith in Christ

Worse because he wouldn't have the support of our evangelical Congress. Otherwise...the same.

Speaking as an atheist, that President, who would be admittedly atheist, would still have to deal with politics. So I think it would be politics as usual.

better!... they would only have to deal with logic and not be hamstrung by the beliefs of fairy tales and myths

Religion (or lack thereof) does not make the man. There are atheists who would do an excellent job of being president, and atheists who would not. This is the same for any belief system. However, I suppose that if there was an atheist president, we wouldn't have to worry about the US having a president who blocks scientific research and scientific teaching, denies reproductive rights, and bombs countries because he/she thinks their god told them to. I do not think that an atheist is necessarily "better" for the job, but I would feel safer knowing that one was running the US.

Theoretically yes. They'd have one less excuse for acting like an idiot.

It's impossible to say. Winners and losers exist in the entire spectrum of humanity.

*****

this nation is drifting further and further away from God, we built all our rules on his law in the first place. without God this nation will die, and its getting closer and closer.

There have been several recent presidents who did not or do not appear to believe in God. Some did well, and some were terrible. All of them will claim some faith, but, being politians, you have to take the claim with a grain of salt.

Wow, good question. I think there are intelligent people on both sides of the spectrum. I'm not religious at all, but it certianly doesn't bother me if someone else is religious. I really could care less if our president believes in God, woships a giant potato, or doesn't believe in anything spiritual. All I care about is how he/she runs our country.

We can't know. We know that every president so far has CLAIMED to believe in a god, but many of them have not acted like it. For instance, George Bush had people tortured to death, even though this is against national, international, and religious law. He ordered a war which even the Pope said was immoral, and so far, it has caused the death of over 4,000 Americans and an unknown number of Iraqis, estimated between 250,000 and over a million, depending on the source. He knew in advance that the levees around New Orleans needed repair, but did not nothing, and over 1,800 people died. He laughed about the execution of prisoners. So -- he said he believed in the Christian god, but he certainly didn't act like it. We really can't tell which of our prior presidents ACTUALLY believed in a god or gods. I think someone who is openly atheist could do a perfectly good job running the country, and possibly better because they would be more likely to obey the First Amendment to the Constitution. They would treat all religions equally and not give preference to their own.

I think anyone who thinks god has anything to do with running the USA is delusional.

Better, but unfortunately the 'separation of religion and politics' as envisaged by the 4 founding father of the US was systematically obliterated by dishonest crooks. Richard Dawkins' book 'God Delusion' has interesting quotes by all 4. But a cent coin says "In God we trust!" World history says "Trust those who trust in God at your peril!"

I really don't think it would make much difference, i.e., no better or no worse.

Believing in god is not the issue. Using that belief in your decisions is the issue. When you are making desicions for 300 Million(300,000,000) people of so many different backrounds you have to take god, religion and even your own feeling out of the equation. You have to do what the correct thing is for the majority most of the time and the minority some of the time.

An atheist may or may not have all the skills needed to run the country. As an atheist, I would posit that there are many atheists who won't be able to run the country as well as some believers, and vice versa. However, I would like to present the following as food for thought: - If a person brags about believing in God just to appease the religious right, is that better than a person who honestly says that he doesn't believe in a higher power? - And if a person has demonstrated to have led a moral, brave and selfless life despite not believing in eternal reward or punishment, would you trust that person more so than one who only does good things because he feels he's being watched by a divine power? - And in the course of making policy decisions concerning the lives of many people of a variety of faiths, would you prefer a chief-executive who believes one of them is "true" and the others "false", or someone who has no incentive to favor one unproven deity over another? - Does it make sense to limit our pool of leaders only to those who believe in virgin births and talking serpents?

Isn't that what we have right now?

No concept of analogy? It's clear who the dumbass is.

It would'nt matter because the president does not run the country, the congress, house, senate run the country.

Probably better, but the religious people in this country wouldnt let him do a good job. it's a shame really.

I think it could be run better or worse. All the decisions made in this country aren't all made and carried out by the President alone. A President only has so much power to influence things so an atheist President in a majority christian office would have a hard time influencing all government policy. But having an absolute separation of church and state as well as a man making decisions that were in the interest of mankind and not gods would be nice..I mean atheists are now the smallest minority in the USA, when do we get our man in office?

Yes. An Atheist could be a better or a worse president than other presidents. The real question is: Would the people vote for an Atheist candidate? Or a Jewish candidate? Or a Muslim Candidate? With love in Christ.

Well I hope one day you change your mind! Look around at all the good and realize how blessed you really are!

Wasn't George Washington an Atheist?