>>"Nearly 60 members of Congress were nominated. The coalition sent them surveys, and Kaplan said that when he interviewed the lawmakers, 22 confided that they did not believe in a god. Fearful of exposure, all but Stark told the group to keep quiet."
>>
>>A sex scandal can do less damage to a politician than atheism? Tsk, tsk...
>
>If a UK politician espouses any religious conviction its regarded with great suspicion.

So it should. All the religious people, at least the organized ones, have sworn allegiance to their religious organizations. Then they should swear allegiance to some abstract people, most of whom they don't even know. Conflict of interest, double allegiance... slippery.