I am not even looking at the Republican candidates – the Democratic side has scary enough religious connections. Barack Obama gave a speech at Dr. King’s Church that basically sounds like a sermon. His Website says he is a committed Christian. Hillary Clinton, too, has a “powerful religious strand in her own politics” as Mother Jones pointed out.

So, what’s a voting atheist to do with these options? Not vote? I have decided, reluctantly I must admit, to overlook the religious views and look at other issues. It is frustrating, though, that religion is such an issue in the U.S. – and it has to be the right religion, otherwise a person isn’t even considered qualified to be a President (as can be seen by the continuous attempts by the Right to convert Obama to a Muslim). It is clear that the religious views influence these politicians and after the Bush years, I am a bit scared about this influence.

There appears to be only one Congressman, Pete Stark, who is willing to publicly admit that he is an atheist. Let’s hope that the Out Campaign will change that. By coming out as atheists, politicians show that politics without religion is possible and remains ethical (well, Bush has clearly shown that politics with religion can be rather unethical). And it might make religion unimportant in political campaigns and decision making, as it should be in a democracy that truly separates church and state.

Maybe there’s hope after all: Obama gave a speech that outlined his support of religion-state separation. Ron at the Frame Problem has summarized the speech in an interesting article. Thanks to the Open Parachute for bringing Ron’s post to my attention!