B.A. Bearacus said:

---

---

At risk of getting "war on Xmas" type responses, why do we use terms like "So help me God" as part of swearing in? They are not becoming Bishops, they are swearing to serve in government and defend the office and Constitution. Is that not the higher authority, and the people themselves, to whom they are accountable? Or are they supposed to only abide by their oath for fear that God will punish them?

Separation of Church and State aside (which is equally good reason for not doing this), this seems to be totally illogical and antithetical to the purpose of the swearing in. It in fact seems to justify the breaking or diminishing of the laws of man, or the laws of the land to which they are being sworn to serve, and instead ascribing their REAL responsibility to serving the laws of God (whose God, which faith?).

How about instead they do the job of serving the people and protecting the Constitution rather than serving religion, self-interest, money, or party over country, and swear to resign office if they violate this oath?

blungld said:

---

B.A. Bearacus said:

---

---

At risk of getting "war on Xmas" type responses, why do we use terms like "So help me God" as part of swearing in? They are not becoming Bishops, they are swearing to serve in government and defend the office and Constitution. Is that not the higher authority, and the people themselves, to whom they are accountable? Or are they supposed to only abide by their oath for fear that God will punish them?

Separation of Church and State aside (which is equally good reason for not doing this), this seems to be totally illogical and antithetical to the purpose of the swearing in. It in fact seems to justify the breaking or diminishing of the laws of man, or the laws of the land to which they are being sworn to serve, and instead ascribing their REAL responsibility to serving the laws of God (whose God, which faith?).

How about instead they do the job of serving the people and protecting the Constitution rather than serving religion, self-interest, money, or party over country, and swear to resign office if they violate this oath?

---

I completely agree. I was raised Catholic but knew religion was not for me in the third grade when my CCD teacher didn't adequately answer my question on where god came from. I consider myself not religious, and I don't like how religion is so ingrained within our society. Its all the minor stuff, like making kids say the pledge of allegiance everyday which requires the phrase one nation under god (which was added to the pledge in 1954).

Unfortunately, I believe this is a fight for the next generation. Institutional religion acts as a nuisance to the non-religious rather than an impediment to people, and I'd rather work on securing voting rights, equal protection and justice, and equal access for all instead of removing the words 'In God We Trust' or the bible from the institutional sphere.

golden sloth said:

---

I completely agree. I was raised Catholic but knew religion was not for me in the third grade when my CCD teacher didn't adequately answer my question on where god came from. I consider myself not religious, and I don't like how religion is so ingrained within our society. Its all the minor stuff, like making kids say the pledge of allegiance everyday which requires the phrase one nation under god (which was added to the pledge in 1954).

Unfortunately, I believe this is a fight for the next generation. Institutional religion acts as a nuisance to the non-religious rather than an impediment to people, and I'd rather work on securing voting rights, equal protection and justice, and equal access for all instead of removing the words 'In God We Trust' or the bible from the institutional sphere.

---

I don't like it for secular reasons, but more than that I don't like how it positions their accountability to a God or afterlife rather than serving us and working to ensure that our lives right now is protected by our Constitution. They are CIVIL servants, not apostles.