Who’s Underrepresented in Congress? Baptists, Pentecostals and “No Religion”

[The Straight Story]

Who’s Underrepresented in Congress? Baptists, Pentecostals and “No Religion”

There are no atheists in foxholes, or in the chambers of the 112th Congress.

A survey of those serving in the U.S. House and Senate reveals not a single member considers themselves an atheist, agnostic or “nothing in particular.” This is in stark contrast to the general population of the country, of which 16% falls into the non-religious category.

There also are some religious denominations that are underrepresented in the new Congress. Baptists make up 17.2% of the nation, but only 12.7% of politicians on Capitol Hill. Pentecostals account for 4.4% of Americans, but are not represented at all.

Those overrepresented include Episcopalians (8% Congress; 2% nation), Presbyterians (8% vs. 3%) and Jews (7.3% Congress; 1.7% nation).

The majority of representatives and senators are Protestant (57%), which is somewhat higher than the U.S. rate of 51%. The second largest group is Catholics, who make up 23.9% of American adults, but 29.2% of Congress.

http://www.allgov.com/Controversies/ViewNews/Whos_Underrepresented_in_Congress__Baptists_Pentecostals_and_No_Religion_110118

[mmonk]

1. What about the people that buy them?

They are the real represented.

[hobbit709]

2. Our congresscritters should wear suits like NASCAR drivers.

Then we'd know at a glance who owns them.

[last_texas_dem]

3. I thought I remembered Rep. Pete Stark being an atheist...

Apparently he's a member of the Unitarian church (though he acknowledges holding atheistic views).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Stark

[PassingFair]

8. He's an agnostic atheist.

He sent me a letter when I donated money
when it first came out that he wasn't afraid
to be counted as "no religion".

It wasn't very much money, but I was proud of
his bravery.

I love him.

:hug:

[Zephie]

4. I don't really want more baptists in congress...

And hey, how about under representation of Pagan religions? 12.7% of politicians is better than 0!

[old mark]

5. OK, but IIRC, most of the USSC is either Catholic or Jewish...is that to balance out Congress?

I don't think an openly agnostic or athiestic person could be elected to congress in the US these days...another reason I feel uncomfortable here lately.

mark

[LiberalFighter]

6. The more people are forced to think about their religion the more likely

they will change to a different belief other than a Jewish/Christian/Muslim oriented belief.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

7. Well, the OP suggests that those groups are both "overrepresented" in Congress, so no. N.T.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

9. Liberal, educated denoms are overrepresented in Congress.

Jews are highly educated.
Among Protestants, Episcopalians and Presbyterians are the most educated, or near the top.

That's better than having lots of bible-thumpers who don't believe in evolution.

There tend to be more Democrats that are lawyers, so that would skew the education.