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

[Bucky]

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.