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Opinion

Stark shows religion is not necessary in politics

Austin Havican
Opinion Columnist

When Rep. Pete Stark, a California democrat, came out as the highest-ranking non-religious congressman in the history of the United States last week, he was met with a surprising response -- overwhelming support.

The Secular Coalition for America, a non-religious lobbying organization, sent out surveys to find the "highest level atheist, agnostic, humanist or any other kind of nontheist currently holding elected public office in the United States." Of course, expecting no positive results, the group was pleasantly surprised with Stark's outing as the only admitted godless federal politician.

The Congressman calls himself a "Unitarian who does not believe in a supreme being," which is technically not atheist. However, the Unitarian Universalist Church tolerates spirituality, and both godlessness and god-belief, which therefore accurately categorizes Stark as non-religious. 

Stark answered "Yes" to the statement "I am a nontheist," a term the questionnaire defined as "a humanist, atheist or other freethinker who does not believe in a supreme being or beings."

"Like our nation's founders, I strongly support the separation of church and state. I look forward to working with the Secular Coalition to stop the promotion of narrow religious beliefs in science, marriage contracts, the military and the provision of social services," Stark told The Wall of Separation, a blog by the Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

This occasion marks an important point in American politics and further diversifies our governmental institutions. With this announcement and this year's presence of Buddhists and a Muslim, the U.S. Congress is starting to accurately represent the American population's increasing dissimilarity. 

While atheistic politicians will still have a difficult time acquiring seats in government, this voluntary outing at least gives non-religious parties the confident knowledge that election is possible. Our nation is starting to see that God is not necessary to run a country, and should be encouraged to put their trust and political judgment on a candidate's skills, policies and personal merit.

Havican, an English senior, 
can be reached via dccampus@mail.uh.edu