Atheists & officeholding in North Carolina

Perhaps also refugees from the war on Christmas, opponents of Asheville City Councilman Cecil Bothwell argued that he shouldn't be seated because he's an atheist. All reported by the Asheville Citizen-Times, which also explains that Article 6, section 8 of the state constitution (a bootless anachronism) says:

The following persons shall be disqualified for office: First, any person who shall deny the being of Almighty God.

The U.S. Constitution supersedes any and every state constitution where there are conflicts. There's the First Amendment to consider, as well as Article VI, which says: “no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.”

Yet the opponents of duly elected Bothwell, author of "Pure Bunkum: Reporting on the Life and Crimes of Buncombe County Sheriff Bobby Lee Medford," persisted. And failed. For Bothwell was sworn in Tuesday night.

Thus the silly season came again this year to North Carolina, and passed.