Apparently, in one North Carolina town, a few people haven't progressed
past the 10th century.

Atheist city councilman in NC challenged by foes citing outdated clause of
state Constitution

ALYSIA PATTERSON Associated Press Writer
5:45 p.m. EST, December 11, 2009

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- Asheville City Councilman Cecil Bothwell believes in
ending the death penalty, conserving water and reforming government -- but
he doesn't believe in God. His political opponents say that's a sin that
makes him unworthy of serving in office, and they've got the North Carolina
Constitution on their side.

Bothwell's detractors are threatening to take the city to court for
swearing him in, even though the state's antiquated requirement that
officeholders believe in God is unenforceable because it violates the U.S.
Consititution.

"The question of whether or not God exists is not particularly interesting
to me and it's certainly not relevant to public office," the recently
elected 59-year-old said.

Bothwell ran this fall on a platform that also included limiting the height
of downtown buildings and saving trees in the city's core, views that
appealed to voters in the liberal-leaning community at the foot of the
Appalachian Mountains. When Bothwell was sworn into office on Monday, he
used an alternative oath that doesn't require officials to swear on a Bible
or reference "Almighty God." ..........(more)

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/sns-ap-us-godless-
politician,0,4070443.story

--- Xnews/5.04.25