When can an atheist be a viable POTUS nominee

[America Needs a 13-6 Progressive SCOTUS]

What about those who go by the belief that religion is a scam, and treat individual religious people as people deserving of as much respect as anyone else while treating the religions institutions as institutional scammers deserving of condemnation.

[brucejoel99]

What about those who go by the belief that religion is a scam, and treat individual religious people as people deserving of as much respect as anyone else while treating the religions institutions as institutional scammers deserving of condemnation.

Literally multiple users answered your question (such as it is) before you even asked it:

They could probably be viable right now.

The main problem with athiests is that many hold other views that may or may not eminate from their athiesm that are considered quirtky.  The other problem is that there are many athiests that are flat-out intolerant of religious people of all stripes.  Many of these folks aren't the "live and let live" types.  But someone who was conventional in all ways that simply did not believe in any sort of Deity could be elected President nowadays.

I think this is actually a fair answer. As you said, it would depend on how an atheist nominee would conduct him- or herself. No chance if the candidate comes across as being anti-religious. But if he or she embraces religious diversity and realizes that churches have an important role for certain communities that goes far beyond faith itsself, then there could be an opening for such a candidate. Particulary if the candidate runs a good campaign with a powerful story that promises positive change to tell.

A militant atheist, not any time this century. A quiet atheist, maybe in a couple of decades, but I wouldn't count on that. We likely will see a non-Abrahamic theist sometime this century as at least as a serious contender for the Democratic nomination.

A John Dule type "religious people are stupid" atheist probably will never (and should never) be able to be elected POTUS. A moderate "I don't believe in god but if you do that's okay" type probably could within the next decade or two, if not already. Attitudes are changing pretty quickly. There's an argument to be made that the biggest barrier at the moment for an openly atheistic candidate to be a viable POTUS nominee is that there's a dearth of openly atheistic officials holding lower offices; I can't think of any that openly call themselves atheists off the top of my head.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Didn't we just have one? 

No.  Trump thought he saw God every time he looked in the mirror.

[Kingpoleon]

Didn't we just have one? 

No.  Trump thought he saw God every time he looked in the mirror.

I believe this form of atheism is called “New Atheism.”

[John Dule]

Didn't we just have one? 

No.  Trump thought he saw God every time he looked in the mirror.

I believe this form of atheism is called “New Atheism.”

Still preferable to the self-loathing atheists who promote veganism and anti-natalism.

[Kingpoleon]

someone who actually believes there is no Creator, no Supreme Being(s), who believe that everything was created from nothing by itself, and that the Universe means nothing, and proceeds nowhere.  How many of you know something who really believes all of that?  I have known 1 or 2 who truly met that criteria in a life that is 64 years and counting.

Chances are you've met dozens of people who fit this description, but they're afraid to speak their mind because they know they'll face your judgement.

Perhaps as acquaintances, but it’s extremely unlikely for secularists and religious people to mix in everyday life when those religious people’s lives are centered around their religion.

[emailking]

Maybe in like 20 years. There are probably already closet atheists that have been elected President. And every cycle there are probably people on the debate stage that are either atheist "higher power" types, if you could get them to really open up. So it's just a matter of when the social stigma of being atheist has subsided to the point that politicians can be honest about what they believe.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

someone who actually believes there is no Creator, no Supreme Being(s), who believe that everything was created from nothing by itself, and that the Universe means nothing, and proceeds nowhere.  How many of you know something who really believes all of that?  I have known 1 or 2 who truly met that criteria in a life that is 64 years and counting.

I know a few of that type in real life, and I've interacted with plenty more on discord at some point over the last 3 years.

[emailking]

someone who actually believes there is no Creator, no Supreme Being(s), who believe that everything was created from nothing by itself, and that the Universe means nothing, and proceeds nowhere.  How many of you know something who really believes all of that?  I have known 1 or 2 who truly met that criteria in a life that is 64 years and counting.

I know a few of that type in real life, and I've interacted with plenty more on discord at some point over the last 3 years.

I missed that post but I'm in that group. (At least with the sentiment he is getting at. I don't "believe" those things, just they are very likely.)

[Shaula🏳️‍⚧️]

Bernie Sanders is a secular jew and Trump clearly (despite not saying so publicly) is an atheist. I'd say right now.