Can an atheist be President of the U.S.?

Answer 1

Yes. Many countries do not have any state religion, i.e. they are secular and a specific religion is not prerequisite for being elected.

Answer 2:

In fact there have probably been several atheist or agnostic US presidents. Probably the most famous is Jefferson - although he may have been a deist. But Franklin Pierce, although brought up in a religious household, reportedly lost all belief after the death of his son and affirmed his presidential rather than swore it. There is no constitutional reason to prevent an atheist becoming president.

Answer:

Yes. In the United States there is a law stating that no religious test shall be required to run for office; however, due to religious bias in the USA, a person who is openly atheist is unlikely to get elected. (Take a look at the fiasco happening in North (?) Carolina because of an atheist in public office. Even with a federal court precidence in Torasco v. Watkins, they're still trying to get him removed from office using an unconstitutional (federal) law that is still in the state's constitution.

With the number of senators and people in the house of representatives, it is unlikely though that none are atheists. They simply are not open about it for fear of something happening like in Carolina.

Answer:

Depends on where you are really. In America, according to the constitution no religious faith is required for positions in office, ie separation of church and state. However, around 75% of Americans believe in God. A presidential candidate announcing his/her Atheism would be committing political suicide. In countries like Iran, announcing one's atheism would actually be suicide.

Answer 2

Yes, there is no US Constitutional requirement that any federal officeholder be a believer in any religion. Article VI of the Constitution states that all Senators and Representatives, state legislators, and all executive and judicial officers both of the US and of the states shall be bound by oath or affirmation to support the Constitution. The inclusion of the optional "affirmation" avoids the implication that such officeholders be religious if only the word "oath" had been used. In addition, after requiring the oath or affirmation, Article VI goes on to say that no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States. It should also be noted that the phrase "so help me God" which every president has said at the end of the oath of office is not in the Constitution. That phrase does not have to be said. George Washington voluntarily said it when he was inaugurated and it has become tradition ever since. Had that phrase been part of the Constitutional oath of office, it could be inferred that no atheist could become president, because that phrase means nothing to an atheist and an atheist would most likely refuse to say it.

Answer 3

No US president has ever said that he did not believe in the existence of a supreme being. However, several presidents were not orthodox "Christians", being either Unitarian or Deist, such as both Adams ,Jefferson,Madison and Tyler. Several (including Monroe, Van Buren, Taylor, Lincoln, Johnson, Grant, Hayes and Arthur) were not active in any church and/or did profess any particular theological views.

Answer 4

Who knows. Atheists aren't popular in America and anyone who was an atheist who wanted to be president would have to have the appearance of a theist. There is no way to determine what a person really thinks.