Should there be a religious requirement to hold political office?

[Hauldren Collider]

We already have an atheist in office, so I'd say that there isn't one.

Yeah, that's probably true.

He still has to publicly profess to be Christian though.

[DaShi]

Our last president already made decisions based on what God told him to do and it was disaster.

[OzzyKP]

Except it was really Dick Cheney whispering from the next room.

[rah]

I still remember back in the 60's where they were questioning if JFK could ever be elected since he was Catholic.
We've come a long way.

[dannubis]

And yet such a long road still lies ahead...

[MrFun]

Yeah, that's probably true.

He still has to publicly profess to be Christian though.

Hence, the reason why I created this thread. Everyone here knows that officially, the constitutional law forbids religious requirement for holding political office. But there are many voters who vote for a particular candidate for stupid reasons - such as what that person's religion is. I'm not saying this should be illegal, but again, we're talking about stupidity here.

[Ben Kenobi]

DOes Canada have a Constitution?

Yes, and no. Yes, in that we had the British North America Act dating back to 1867, which is somewhat similar to the US constitution, but there are substantial differences. Then the 'repatriated' constitution in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms which was brought home by Turdeau.

So it's a bit different for Canadians. They don't have a 'founding document' although they have 'organising principles' for lack of a better word.

[Dr Strangelove]

I still remember back in the 60's where they were questioning if JFK could ever be elected since he was Catholic.
We've come a long way.

Really? Name the second Roman Catholic President.

[Dr Strangelove]

Yes, and no. Yes, in that we had the British North America Act dating back to 1867, which is somewhat similar to the US constitution, but there are substantial differences. Then the 'repatriated' constitution in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms which was brought home by Turdeau.

So it's a bit different for Canadians. They don't have a 'founding document' although they have 'organising principles' for lack of a better word.

Wasn't there some sort of basic charter document written and signed when Canada became a (more or less) united Dominion?

[Hauldren Collider]

But there are many voters who vote for a particular candidate for stupid reasons - such as what that person's religion is.

You mean like democrats?

This troll has a deeper point to it, by the way.

[MrFun]

I'm a Democrat and I don't vote for a candidate for a stupid reason like what that candidate's religion is.

[Ben Kenobi]

Wasn't there some sort of basic charter document written and signed when Canada became a (more or less) united Dominion?

That's the British North America Act.

The biggest differences from the US constitution is that Canada had no amending formula, amendments could only be passed in Westminster.

[Hauldren Collider]

I'm a Democrat and I don't vote for a candidate for a stupid reason like what that candidate's religion is.

What I meant is that religion is a completely valid part of a candidate's platform.

[Elok]

Care to elaborate on that? Given the 1st Amendment, it only seems relevant if the religious beliefs are really out there, to the extent that they call the candidate's character into question. For example, if somebody who follows Fred Phelps somehow managed to get off the ground politically while screaming "God hates America" all the time, I'd wonder if perhaps he were a bit unhinged. Ditto for Scientologists, but I can't think of much else. I guess I'd have a hard time taking a Wiccan or Satanist seriously, but I could probably overlook even that for a sufficiently impressive candidate.

[Hauldren Collider]

There is a difference between no established religion plus freedom of religion and voting based on religion. While I personally think it is silly, it is valid to vote for somebody because their beliefs line up with yours--be it political beliefs, religious beliefs or both.