Could An Atheist Be Elected American Idol? May 23, 2008

Could An Atheist Be Elected American Idol?

By Guest Contributor
May 23, 2008

Friend-of-the-blog Ken Jennings jokingly writes that David Archuleta lost to David Cook on the American Idol season finale because Archuleta was a practicing Mormon:

You remember those Romney poll numbers showing how many Americans wouldn’t vote for a Mormon president –- do we have higher or lower religious standards for our reality show winners? Maybe Mormons and beat-boxers are the last two okay-to-hate minorities. Look in the mirror, America! Would you vote a beat-boxer for president? I bet I could get a majority here for “No, unless Obama can beat-box.”

Of course, the percent of people who would vote for an atheist (46%) for president are far lower than the percent who would vote for a Mormon (80%), according to a Gallup poll from December, 2007.

So while an uncloseted atheist won’t be elected president anytime soon, maybe we can get one elected American Idol.

I’d be a part of that campaign.

Who among us can sing?!


[tags]atheist, atheism[/tags]

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What Are Your Thoughts?leave a comment

  • Hi. Thanks for the post on the atheist motivational poster contest. I really enjoyed them. I linked to you, and one of the pictures on my blog: http://www.avantgardefaith.blogspot.com

  • I can sing, but don’t think you will ever get me on stage with that philistine Simon Cowell.

  • Alycia

    I can sing as well, though I don’t want to sing pop music. I’d be the token rock chick that gets kicked off within the top 24.

    I’ve often wondered how a contestant would fare after singing a song like “Dear God” on the show.

  • Could an atheist be elected American Idol?

    According to rumor, one was. This week.

    Don’t know if there’s any substance to it, though.

  • Ubi Dubium

    I can sing, but not on that show. They don’t take dumpy middle-aged moms.

  • Amber

    I’m a choir student, I can sing well. But I’m only 14. I guess we’ll have to wait a few years before our American Idol is a nerdy, redheaded Atheist.

  • Daniel

    I care far more about the art than I do about the personal beliefs of the artist. I’d never want an atheist to win a competition that she/he weren’t the best at. IMO the best singer and probably only artist won the competition.

  • If they ever make an Atheist Idol, I’d LOVE to participate!

    I’d have everyone in tears with Vatican Rag. 😉

    Duke
    http://www.myspace.com/dukeb0x

  • Ben

    What’s the office of ‘American Idol’? Never heard of it. Legislative? Executive? Cheney-branch?

    🙂

  • David D.G.

    Hey, is that the Ken Jennings of Jeopardy fame? My late companion and I enjoyed watching that particular bit of television history being enacted!

    ~David D.G.

  • bernarda

    David Cook seems to be xian enough, singing “Without out faith, there’s nothing to believe in” and something about “this is what we’re preaching for”.

    As to David A, he is a hypocritical clown who left out John Lennon’s first line, “Imagine there’s no heaven, it’s easy if you try, no hell below us, above us only sky”. He also left out(besides some notes he couldn’t hit) “Nothing to kill or die for, and no religion too”.

    This twit says it’s his favorite song.

  • I don’t know for sure, but I’ve heard David Cook is agnostic. That’s based only on word-of-mouth, so I wouldn’t take it too seriously.

    I don’t think a contestant should use AI to preach their beliefs (regardless of what those beleifs are)so I wouldn’t expect an atheist contestant to make a big deal about his atheism. However, if someone did get up and sing, say, the first two verses of Imagine, or some clear atheist song, (just as many contestants have sung Christians songs) I bet it would cost them the title. Even worse, what if one of this year’s contestants had chosen to sit out that ghastly performance of “Shout to the Lord.” There’s no way they’d win!

    Sara
    http://www.skepticalmonkey.com

  • Maria

    As to David A, he is a hypocritical clown who left out John Lennon’s first line, “Imagine there’s no heaven, it’s easy if you try, no hell below us, above us only sky”. He also left out(besides some notes he couldn’t hit) “Nothing to kill or die for, and no religion too”

    You know it amazes me how many people are obsessed with this. seriously, get a hobby!

    he left out the first verse, not line. and if you had bothered to listen to him when he explained (when Randy asked him) why he did that, he said the second verse was his favorite. actually people on American Idol pick their favorite verses all the time-b/c they only have like 2 min so they sing their fav part. I’ve seen it happen several times, but of course you probably don’t care about the others. he can put in or leave out whatever he wants, for whatever reason he wants, it’s his choice. it’s the singing that matters, not the words. find something that’s actually important to go on about.