Taking the "so help me God" out of Barack's speech

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/31/inauguration.lawsuit/index.html

I found this quite interesting. I guess it all boils down to how you interpret Mr. Tommy Jefferson's quote:

Personally, I think there should be a restraining order placed on religion, as far as government is concerned, but if President-Elect Obama wishes to say "so help me God", he should be allowed... It's not hurting anyone; right?

 

As an individual he is allowed to display his religious beliefs in his speech. If he were to try to make a law requiring that another individual had to invoke God in some manner during their speech that would be infringement. Atheism is a religious belief. To impose atheism onto Obama would be the crime.

 

he can hold whatever religious position he wants in private, or even say it (in a 'personal' statement) but not making it part of his presidential exercise (his inauguration speech is supposed to be official).
basically saying "god help me" means he counts on god (a nonexistent figure for many) to fulfill a role in conducing the country.

 

Are these atheists growing intolerant of religion? Don't atheists want the religious to be tolerant of atheism or something?

What if we substitute "Chuck Norris" for "god" in the speech?

 

There would be 300 million people saying "what the hell have we gotten ourselves into?"

I understand what you're saying though, it's kind of the same as my view. I believe that him saying "so help me God" doesn't hurt anyone, so it shouldn't matter. As long as religion isn't used to force things onto others, no biggie. It's things like the religious excuse for not allowing gay marriage that gets to me.

 

you tell which of these would be more reasonable:

1-so help me god
2-so help me gods
3-so help me Chuck Norris
4-so help me the stars of --your favourite zodiac sign--
5-so help me the virgin mary
6-just don't say it

There is only one that's good for everyone

 

Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't see an inaugural speech being overly important. And, to me, I don't personally care what he says in his speech, as long as he executes the will of the people while in office.

 

Sure, but some atheists seem to be inheriting the worst traits of the ultra-religious, irrationality and fretting and fuming over little things.

 

is it a little thing that your president is openly saying that he needs supernatural intervention in order to lead the country?

nobody is saying that he has to say "there is no god". if it was like that then you'd have a case. That people are asking him not to say what he doesn't need to.

 

I think he should be free to say whatever he wants, that being said... if he honestly and sincerly admits that he believes in an invisible man that lives in the sky I would question his sanity and ability to run a country. The same as you would question my ability to run the country if I proclaimed that I believed in Care Bears.

I do see the doctor/lawyers point in having it removed as something that needs to be said. The US was build to have a speration from church and state, I think in all honesty they should have a law forbidding politicians from revealing their religions. People should not be voting on the people who run the country based on which imaginary things they do or do not believe in, they should be voting on them based on their ability to run the country.

The SAD, and I mean sad fact is that even though Obama has the highest support of a soon-to-be preseident than any other soon-to-be president has had in the last 20 years, if he came out and said I do not believe in God that support would be crippled down to athiests and agnostics.

Funny how someone who is athiest or agnostic is willing to vote for a religious person based solely on their ability to run a country, but a religious person voting for an athiest or agnostic... pffft no way in hell (pun intended).

 

Huh?

A symbols negativity, so Atheism means not-believing in at least one deity. It is by no means a religious belief.

 

WWSSAT

What Would StOx Say About This

 

he's probably passed out after a new years party at his london pub

 

Okay sure, that's like your opinion man
But what you are saying is not what the Constitution says.

 

Okay then...
Atheism is a belief about religion esp. God?
Feel better?

 

As an atheist, I think Obama is free to say whatever he wants to say. His belief does not make him any less qualified than his predecessors. So, even if he believes in tooth fairies or worships paper cups, unless he tries to make it part of the educational syllabus for children, he is free to do so.

 

I'd rather Obama didn't have a religious belief, But if he does it should in no way effect the decisions he makes as president, Which it obviously does if he is asking for help from his god. christ knows what this imaginary figure may tell him to do. He has already highlighted the importance of a secular government.

The thing i object to most is the way the religious try to crowbar references to their imaginary friend in to every aspect of government, Whether it be the ten commandments in courts, tasteless references on money (of all things) or sly mentions in official speeches and ceremonies.

believe in shit if you must, But keep it to yourself.

 

maybe next time, better elect an atheist for the president.

 

It would be nice if that were possible in america. Give it another decade or so and rational thinking will be something americans will want in their leader.

Currently though faith, Or the capacity to believe something for no good reason, is seen as a virtue and not the self serving vice of the intellectually lazy it really is.

 

maybe as a religious people , mr obama should keep on consults with his god on every decisions he want to make, whenever he should go to war with south korea, or make peace with the russian.
before he push the 'nuke the south korea', rather then asking his military experts, he will ask his god(s), 'god, should i nuke the north korea or not?'