"so help me god"?? separation of church and state, anyone??

[inna]

just caught Justice Sotomayor's swearing-in on CNN, and curious if i was the only one somewhat irked by the anachronistic refrain of "so help me god". i'm totally tolerant and respectful of other people's beliefs and religions, but does that kind of religious rhetoric really belong in the courtroom? let alone, the *Supreme* courtroom.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

1. did you ever consider SHE might believe? and that portion of HER oath

might mean something to HER? Hmmmm...I imagine if she wanted to go without it, she could have.

sP

[inna]

6. she was repeating, word in word, after Roberts.

that's my main objection - institutionalized religiosity.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

8. i would bet dollars to doughnuts that SHE had all the choice there

but you wouldn't even agree if she did. nice job of making an issue of a non-issue.

sP

[inna]

10. "I imagine if she wanted to go without it, she could have." - unfortunately, she could NOT have.

sorry, but your "imagining" has nothing to do with reality.


and like i said, i respect people's beliefs and religions, i just don't think they belong in the courtroom.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

14. there are atheist in congress who avoid the 'so help me god'

so why couldn't she? you don't respect shit...she made the choice; i guarantee it.

sP

[stray cat]

17. Are your sure she legally can't skip it word - my understanding is it was her call

and if she can be a member of the supreme court I think she should be able to choose the wording in this instance

[LiberalAndProud]

2. If there is God, I hope she helps Justice Sotomayor. (nt)

[inna]

24. so do i.

[Obamanaut]

3. If one is a believer, then what does it hurt, really? If a non believer,

don't say that part of it. Just simply swear to tell the truth, or whatever the oath of the moment is.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

4. Separation of church and state is DESPERATELY needed in this country! nt

[ProdigalJunkMail]

5. and THIS is NOT an example of where it is a problem n/t

[lib_wit_it]

9. I totally agree with you. It sucks that to make an issue of it, even to ask to have it left out, if

that;s even an option, would draw attacks. And that's due to the fact that the religiosity has been institutionalized into our government, in opposition to the supposed separation od church and state.

[stray cat]

15. Its actually pretty separate just as demanded in the constitution

freedom to believe and not just atheism is part of the constitution

[seeviewonder]

26. How is it "pretty separate?"

We do not tax the churches, their property, or their tithes. Can you even imagine how much money would be made by taxing their property/income? Let me give you a hint, goodbye deficit.

[BlooInBloo]

7. Oh awesome! Everything else in the country is absolutely perfect!

About the only reason I can think of to worry about *that* piece of small potatoes.

[inna]

12. lol! dearest Boo in Blue, your post makes absolutely no sense in relation to the op. nt

[WeDidIt]

11. It was HER choice

Sorry, buit your complaint is bogus.

[inna]

20. "It was HER choice" - prove it.

i didn't have a "complaint" btw, all i said was that i was somewhat irked by institutionalized religiosity.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

21. nah you just wanted to make a little stink...congrats

i love it...PROVE IT...the argument of a four year old who has nothing to go on...

sP

[inna]

22. lol, very effective riposte.

[seeviewonder]

27. I am with you on this even though the "righteous" among us on DU are not!

[stray cat]

13. Can't I swear by the most important thing I can personally swear by? -

[ProdigalJunkMail]

16. you could swear on the Oxford Dictionary of the English Language if you wanted...

the only people that give a shit are the people here who wish to make an issue of it...

sP

[Bucky]

19. I'm not sure. If I ever got appointed to the Supreme Court, could I swear on Sigourney Weaver?

It took me three minutes to determine that Google images does not have a jpeg that adequately illustrates this possibility.

[Bucky]

18. You are well within you rights to be irked by this. I'm within my rights not to be.

It's a matter of tradition, not oppression, that people invoke God in oaths of office. I'll bet you could name at least 100 issues that are more important than this part of the oath and on which it is actually possible to effect change. But I know how you feel and I'm sympathetic. I feel the same way about people who use the nonword "irregardless." And, like "so help me God", it hurts me not one whit that it goes on without my approval.

[inna]

23. "I feel the same way about people who use the nonword "irregardless."" - or, "anyways"!!

("anyways" always gets me.)

lol

[seeviewonder]

25. I don't think anyone should have to put their hand on a Bible because they are forced.

I am appalled at the idea of having this much religious involvement in government. Personally, I think she should have said "so help me flying spaghetti monster."

[cloudbase]

28. It doesn't acknowledge any particular religion,

so I don't have a problem with the usage. I doubt it was in any way coerced.

[GodlyDemocrat]

29. Maybe's she's a Catholic that believes in God

[Arkana]

30. Blame General Washington for that one.

He added it to the end of the POTUS Oath of Office, and it took off like Hannah Montana.

Not to mention that every President we've had has been a Christian of one denomination or another--hell, the most we've deviated from the formula was electing Kennedy (a Catholic) in 1960.

[BrklynLiberal]

31. That may be a genie that will not go quietly back into the bottle..

[Hekate]

32. She, like every other citizen, has the choice of "affirming." Some religions forbid oaths, too...

Mountain, meet molehill.

Quakers and Jehovah's Witnesses, among others, are forbidden by their religions to swear an oath. They have the option of substituting "and solemnly affirm" and leaving out the words "so help me God." Their interpretation of the Bible is that it forbids oaths as a form of taking God's name in vain.

This same option is available to atheists, and always has been.

Hekate

[sakabatou]

33. The line, "so help me God," doesn't need to be said

[Time for change]

34. I agree

Even if it's not required, it gives the impression that swearing to God is necessary to ensure that our government officials properly do their job. It therefore promotes the idea that those who do not believe in God are in a sense second class citizens IMO.

[backwoodsbob]

35. high school football starts in three weeks

and we ALWAYS have an invocation before games.

Do you suggest I jump up and down screaming *fuck Jesus on a pogostick*while they do it?

[seeviewonder]

38. As a matter of fact, I would love to see you do that.

Please get it on video!

[saltpoint]

36. Still she stays on with a love of some kind / It's the lady's choice /

Hear the hissing of summer lawns.

(J. M.)

[silverweb]

37. It's up to the person being sworn in.

Let it go. We have bigger fish to fry.

[Enthusiast]

39. I hate it but

nothing can be done. The RW cry babies are already claiming they are a persecuted minority.

Just look at this war on Christmas.