Atheists Should Not Get to Participate in Political Decision-Making
I just want to say no, you don't get to participate in this decision-making process.
In Douglas Wilson’s own words: 2 quotes from 2026, from Canon Press, each cited to the source.
Do you believe that a nihilist should lose his citizenship? [Paul D. Miller: "No. We did talk earlier about religious test for office and I said cautiously in a hypothetical future state maybe you can require office holders to affirm natural law morality."] But if he's a nihilist, absolute nihilist, why should he be allowed to be a citizen? Hasn't he denied the whole foundation of the state? Hasn't he rejected his own citizenship? [Paul D. Miller: "Because he's made in the image of God..."] ... But the state has the right to pronounce him wrong and say this atheistic nihilism, materialism, we're not going to base anything in our legal structure on that. [Paul D. Miller: "I think that's correct. Not to the point of suppressing his speech... The nihilist has the right to propagate nihilism."] Yeah. I'm distinguishing: you don't persecute the nihilist. I don't want to persecute the nihilist. I just want to say no, you don't get to participate in this decision-making process.
Do you believe that a nihilist should lose his citizenship? [Paul Miller: "No..."] But if... he's a nihilist, absolute nihilist, why should he be allowed to be a citizen? Hasn't he denied the whole foundation of the state? Hasn't he rejected his own citizenship? [Miller: "Because he's made in the image of God..."] ... But the state has the right to pronounce him wrong and say this atheistic nihilism, materialism, we're not going to base anything in our legal structure on that. [Miller: "...Not to the point of suppressing his speech."] No. [Miller: "The nihilist has the right to propagate nihilism."] Yeah. Yeah, I'm not— I'm distinguishing. You don't persecute the nihilist. I don't want to persecute the nihilist. I just want to say no, you don't get to participate in this decision-making process.