Seven States in United States require a religious test for public office holders.

[Ben Kenobi]

No, he's not. Texas totally could have kicked the Union's butt single-handedly but instead decided to surrender because Texans are nice guys.

What more did they have to prove? There was nothing to be gained by further humiliating the invading Yankees.

[MichaeltheGreat]

I thought "under these United States" means to include state level offices, as well as federal level offices when it comes to prohibiting religious tests.

I was multitasking between windows and monitors and forgot to paste back in a chunk I'd moved around. The "under these United States" construction is strictly referring to federal offices.

[MichaeltheGreat]

The difference between, "actually defeated", and "would have been defeated", is the magic of the subjunctive. Historical fact says that the Texas army under Kirby Smith remained undefeated throughout the civil war.

Other than a good song, E. Kirby Smith was irrelevant. Hell, even the CSA government recognized the irrelevance of Texas - it was part of the "Trans-Mississippi Department" which was the polite southern equivalent of "Outer Bum****istan."

[MichaeltheGreat]

The difference between, "actually defeated", and "would have been defeated", is the magic of the subjunctive. Historical fact says that the Texas army under Kirby Smith remained undefeated throughout the civil war.

Other than a good song, E. Kirby Smith was irrelevant. Hell, even the CSA government recognized the irrelevance of Texas - it was part of the "Trans-Mississippi Department" which was the polite southern equivalent of "Outer Bum****istan."

[Ben Kenobi]

Other than a good song, E. Kirby Smith was irrelevant. Hell, even the CSA government recognized the irrelevance of Texas - it was part of the "Trans-Mississippi Department" which was the polite southern equivalent of "Outer Bum****istan."

Hence the insignificance of Vicksburg.

[MichaeltheGreat]

Hence the insignificance of Vicksburg.

Which is not only not in Texas, it's on the relevant side of the Mississippi.

[Felch]

Historical fact says that the Texas army under Kirby Smith remained undefeated throughout the civil war.

Historical fact also says that the Irish army was undefeated throughout WWII.

[giblets]

Germany remained undefeated throughout WWI until they mysteriously surrendered.

[MrFun]

Germany remained undefeated throughout WWI until they mysteriously surrendered.

[MrFun]

So if I follow BK's logic, if a country surrenders during a war, it does not mean that that country lost/was defeated.

[Ben Kenobi]

So if I follow BK's logic, if a country surrenders during a war, it does not mean that that country lost/was defeated.

Glad to see you recognizing Texas as a country.

[MichaeltheGreat]

Now if it would only take the rest of the deep south with it.

[PLATO]

Now if it would only take the rest of the deep south with it.

[Kidlicious]

So what's the big deal to have those states officially remove them?

There is no big deal. Atheists can't win anyway.

[MrFun]

There is no big deal. Atheists can't win anyway.

That's true. Ignorant and bigoted American citizens have the right to vote and vote the way they do, for whatever reason, like anyone else.