Has there ever been a Taoist, Jain, Sikh, Baha'i, or Shinto member of Congress?

[PSOL]

I don’t think we’ve ever had anyone professing beliefs outside of Western traditions—mainly the three Abrahamic traditions—one Hindu, one Buddhist, and various irreligious categories. We have had, however, one Scientologist member of Congress named Salvador “Sonny” Bono, so we have had at least one occultist.

In all honesty, I’m more interested in when the first open believer of a New Age tradition, European pagan, or Native American animist gets into noticeable office. I believe the only major candidate that ran recently from those categories is interfaith spiritualist Marianne Williamson for a House seat and President as of late. It’s kind of surprising to me that a major nonchristian person of an indigenous faith hasn’t ran yet in the Southwest already.

We probably will never have a Baha’i politician, as the faith bars people from getting involved in government and politics.

[PSOL]

In all honesty, I’m more interested in when the first open believer of a New Age tradition, European pagan, or Native American animist gets into noticeable office. I believe the only major candidate that ran recently from those categories is interfaith spiritualist Marianne Williamson for a House seat and President as of late. It’s kind of surprising to me that a major nonchristian person of an indigenous faith hasn’t ran yet in the Southwest already.

We probably will never have a Baha’i politician, as the faith bars people from getting involved in government and politics.

Interesting, I didn't know that about Baha'i.

I imagine that there could be members of state houses and senates in the Southwest that follow indigenous faiths. But I don't know if any of them have run for higher offices.

I think Faith Spotted Eagle follows indigenous Lakota beliefs, and she got an electoral vote for President, although she wasn't actually running for office.

Probably, but I don’t know of these politicians in my readings on this stuff. If anyone has any examples in more local offices, that be a nice thing to inform us all in this thread.

[PSOL]

Not an answer to your question ... but what source were you using?  Having recently compiled a list of the US Presidents by religion, I wouldn't mind reformatting my own list of Congress by religion.

Wikipedia and this site.

[PSOL]

Still, can we all say that it’s surprising we don’t have one person easily findable online that is a local officeholder from a new age, European pagan, or Indigenous spiritual background? Like that’s whack.