Blog - Tennessee Constitution: Both Atheists and Ministers not allowed in State Legislature?

What Preachers and Atheist have in common!
Posted Thursday, October 8, 2009, at 1:27 AM

What Preachers and Atheist have in common is that they can't hold a position in the Tennessee legislature. Recently as I was studying Tennessee's State Constitution and I came across three very interesting points.

ARTICLE IX

Disqualifications.

Section 1. Whereas ministers of the Gospel are by their profession, dedicated to God and the care of souls, and ought not to be diverted from the great duties of their functions; therefore, no minister of the Gospel, or priest of any denomination whatever, shall be eligible to a seat in either House of the Legislature.

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.

Section 3. Any person who shall, after the adoption of this Constitution, fight a duel, or knowingly be the bearer of a challenge to fight a duel, or send or accept a challenge for that purpose, or be an aider or abettor in fighting a duel, shall be deprived of the right to hold any office of honor or profit in this state, and shall be punished otherwise, in such manner as the Legislature may prescribe.

OBSERVATIONS

1) So according to this when Bobby Scott (and I know him personally so I'm not attacking him-settle down) recently ran for State Representative, had he won, he would have had to resign from being a pastor. Right? Well then what does the law require if the person is a part time pastor?

2) If the writers of this Constitution didn't allow a known atheist to hold these offices, do you think in the days that they lived (late 1700's and 1800's) that they would have disqualified a Muslim or Buddhist or any other religion?

3) I'm pretty sure that it's safe to take Section 3 off the books now.