“It is wrong for a secular government to promote prayer. We think the National Day of Prayer is unconstitutional. What if the president declared a National Day of Cursing God because He failed us on September 11? Americans would say, "You've overstepped your authority." That's how we feel when he promotes prayer.” IfsThinkingFeelsGovernmentPresidentPrayerAtheismAuthorityPositive AtheismWhat IfSecularSeptemberSeptember 11CursingUnconstitutionalNational Day Of Prayer Author:Dan Barker
“My job is to make sure that, as President, people understand that in this country you can worship any way you choose. And I'll take that a step further. You can be a patriot if you don't believe in the Almighty. You can honor your country and be as patriotic as your neighbor.” PeopleIfsWayBelieveCountryJobsPresidentStepsAtheismHonorWorshipDon't BelievePositive AtheismNeighborPatrioticYou ChooseAlmightyPatriot Author:George W. Bush
“Indeed, one modern President abjured God altogether, ending speeches with a chaste 'Thank you very much.' This was Jimmy Carter, the most genuinely devout President of the postwar period.” PresidentAtheismModernPeriodsSpeechPositive AtheismJimmyCarterChaste Author:Jonathan Rauch
“In those days, in Far Rockaway, there was a youth center for Jewish kids at the temple.... Somebody nominated me for president of the youth center. The elders began getting nervous, because I was an avowed atheist by that time.... I thought nature itself was so interesting that I didn't want it distorted like that. And so I gradually came to disbelieve the whole religion.” WantWholeKidsPresidentInterestingAtheismYouthAtheistNervousTemplesElders Author:Richard P. Feynman
“If the aim is to keep "Christ" in the shopping-mall Christmas or to ensure that pagan trees and mistletoe don't lose their Christian labels, then it might make sense to attack presidents and business owners who commit the "happy holiday" sin. But if the goal is to restore the religious meaning of the Christian holy day, then they are aiming at the wrong Target.” IfsMightChristianGoalPresidentChristLosesReligiousSinTreeAtheismHolyAimPositive AtheismCommitLabelsMake SenseHolidayOwnersTargetShoppingPaganMallsBusiness OwnersHappy HolidaysHoly DaysMistletoe Author:Charles Haynes
“Some president wishes to be re-elected, and thereupon speaks about the Bible as "the corner-stone of American Liberty." This sentence is a mouth large enough to swallow any church, and from that time forward the religious people will be citing that remark of the politician to substantiate the inspiration of the Scriptures.” PeopleEnoughInspirationSpeakWishPresidentChurchReligiousLibertyAtheismPoliticianMouthsStonesCornersPositive AtheismSentencesScriptureRemarksCitingAmerican Liberty Book:The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll Source: The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll
“I would not look with favor upon a President working to subvert the First Amendment's guarantees of religious liberty ... Neither do I look with favor upon those who would work to subvert Article VI of the Constitution by requiring a religious test - even by indirection.” FirstsLooksPresidentReligiousLibertyAtheismTestsConstitutionPositive AtheismFavorsGuaranteesArticlesAmendmentsFirst AmendmentReligious Liberty Author:John F. Kennedy
“I am not a spokesperson for the church and the church is not a spokesperson for the United States of America.” StatesRunningAmericaPresidentChurchUnitedUnited StatesAtheismConstitutionPositive AtheismSeparationUnited States Of AmericaStrictChurch And StateSeparation Of Church And State Author:John F. Kerry
“The Queen of England is Defender of the Faith but the President of the United States is Defender of the Constitution, which defends all faiths.” StatesPresidentUnitedUnited StatesAtheismConstitutionEnglandPositive AtheismQueensDefendersQueen Of England Author:Walter F. Mondale
“Whatever his private beliefs and religious practice, a president must be the guardian of the laws which ensure America's religious diversity.” AmericaLawBeliefPresidentReligiousPracticeAtheismDiversityPositive AtheismGuardianReligious DiversityReligious Practices Author:Walter F. Mondale
“I believe that this Republic will endure for many centuries. If so there will doubtless be among its Presidents Protestants and Catholics, and very probably at some time, Jews. I have consistently tried while President to act in relation to my fellow Americans of Catholic faith as I hope that any future President who happens to be Catholic will act towards his fellow Americans of Protestant faith. Had I followed any other course I should have felt that I was unfit to represent the American people.” PeopleIfsShouldBelieveHappensCoursesI BelieveFeltPresidentAtheismCenturyShould HaveRelationCatholicFellowsEndureJewPositive AtheismRepublicConsistentlyProtestantsCatholic Faith Book:Letters of Theodore Roosevelt: The big stick, 1905-1909 Source: Letters of Theodore Roosevelt: The big stick, 1905-1909
“Whatever else I might have thought of [President George W] Bush's call, with its assumption that prayer is some sort of miracle Vicks VapoRub for the national charley horse, it's clear that his hands were reaching for any hands but mine.” HandsMightPresidentPrayerClearAtheismMinesMiracleHorsePositive AtheismAssumptionReachingPresident George W Bush Author:Natalie Angier