After reading this post I went further investigating this matter and discovered there are western countries that declare themselves secular and yet fail to stick to it, to the point that in some cases religion is more or less mandated by law! I found the following examples for the US:
Constitution of Arkansas in article 19.1 says:
19. 1. 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.
Constitution of Maryland in article 36 and 37 of Declaration of Rights says:
Art. 36. That as it is the duty of every man to worship God in such manner as he thinks most acceptable to Him, all persons are equally entitled to protection in their religious liberty; [omissis] nor shall any person, otherwise competent, be deemed incompetent as a witness, or juror, on account of his religious belief; provided, he believes in the existence of God, and that under His dispensation such person will be held morally accountable for his acts, and be rewarded or punished therefore either in this world or in the world to come. [omissis]
Art. 37. 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; [omissis]
Constitution of Massachusetts, in article III of Declaration of rights says:
Article III. As the public worship of God and instructions in piety, religion and morality, promote the happiness and prosperity of a people and the security of a republican government; [omissis]
Constitution of North Carolina, in article 6 says:
Sec. 8. Disqualifications for office.
The following persons shall be disqualified for office:
First, any person who shall deny the being of Almighty God.
Constitution of Pennsylvania, in Section 4 of Article 1 Declaration of Rights says:
Religion
Section 4.
No person who acknowledges the being of a God and a future state of rewards and punishments shall, on account of his religious sentiments, be disqualified to hold any office or place of trust or profit under this Commonwealth.
Constitution of South Carolina, in Section 2 of Article 4 says:
SECTION 2. Qualifications of Governor.
No person shall be eligible to the office of Governor who denies the existence of the Supreme Being;
Constitution of Tennessee, in Article 9 says:
Section 2. 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.
Constitution of Texas, in Article 1 Bill of Rights, Section 4 Religious tests, says:
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.
In other words, if you live in one of the above states you either believe in God (whatever this means) or your rights are somehow limited, e.g. you are ineligible to work in a public office. Now, it’s true the First Amendment of the Federal Constitution makes all of the above statements invalid, but then why don’t they clean up this mess? Are they so proud of such relics of the past? Maybe yes, after all they have the words “In God we trust” printed on their dollars.
