When Will There Be Guaranteed Freedom From Persecution To Be Religious

[Cin]

During what is arguably the worst economic crisis to date, you have congress and the house focusing on passing legislation reaffirming that "In God We Trust" is our motto.

In our court system there is discrimination in favor of religious parents and against irreligious ones, or in favor of more religious parents and against less religious ones, in child custody cases, on the theory that it's in the child's "best interests" (that's the relevant legal test) to be raised with a religious education.

Some people think being raised in a religion will make a child follow some moral code, but others feel strongly that it is in a child’s best interest to be raised skeptical of all religions because it will more likely make the child into a rational thinker who doesn’t take factual assertions on faith unless he is given solid evidence that they’re true. And a belief in god does not guarantee morality any more than atheism guarantees a lack of a moral code. Freedom of religion and freedom of speech means governments shouldn’t make custody decisions based on such assumptions.

Atheists are seen as controversial even among people and organizations that aren’t personally bigoted. They just bring too much unwanted attention as baggage.

If atheists put up billboards saying “you can be good without God” people freak out.

Atheist veterans marching in a Memorial Day parade get booed.

The list goes on and on.

There are states that still have clauses in their constitution that make it impossible for an atheist to hold public office.

I realize that federal law now makes these clauses null and void. However, they remain on the books so still retain great symbolic value, teaching citizens that atheists should be considered at best second class citizens.

If you are an atheist you cannot run for public office in North Carolina. Article 6 Section 8 of the state constitution states:
The following persons shall be disqualified for office:
First, any person who shall deny the being of Almighty God.

If you are an atheist you cannot run for public office or testify as a witness in Arkansas. Article 19, Section 1 of the state constitution states:
Atheists disqualified from holding office or testifying as witness.
No person who denies the being of a God shall hold any office in the civil departments of this State, nor be competent to testify as a witness in any Court.

If you are an atheist you cannot run for public office in Maryland. Article 37 of the state constitution states:
That no religious test ought ever to be required as a qualification for any office of profit or trust in this State, other than a declaration of belief in the existence of God; nor shall the Legislature prescribe any other oath of office than the oath prescribed by this Constitution.

If you are an atheist you cannot run for public office in Mississippi. Article 14, Section 265 of the state constitutions states:
No person who denies the existence of a Supreme Being shall hold any office in this state.

If you are an atheist you cannot run for public office in South Carolina. Article 17, Section 4 of the state constitution states:
No person who denies the existence of a Supreme Being shall hold any office under this Constitution.

If you are an atheist you cannot run for public office in Tennessee. Article 9, Section 2 of the state constitution states:
No person who denies the being of God, or a future state of rewards and punishments, shall hold any office in the civil department of this state.

If you are an atheist you cannot run for public office in Texas, Article 1, Section 4 of the state constitution reads:
No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office, or public trust, in this State; nor shall any one be excluded from holding office on account of his religious sentiments, provided he acknowledge the existence of a Supreme Being.

There are innumerable oaths of office that require one to recite the words in god we trust. You probably don’t have to do it if you don't want to, although it might take time to convince someone of this or it might end up with you involved in a court case.

If we have a republican president elected in 2012 along with a republican house and senate, well, all I can think to say is may god help us then.

We are guaranteed freedom from religious persecution. When will we be guaranteed freedom from persecution to be religious.