Lawsuit to remove God from the inaugeration
Michael Newdow, a physician & attorney from California, has joined a legal fight to remove God ‘n’ the Bible from Obama’s inauguration. He and 17 other people, atheist and humanists orgs want to see “so help me God” and Rick Warren’s invocation removed.
Newdow already has a lawsuit cooking to remove “under God” from the pledge of allegiance, and previously sued to deChristianize the 2001 and 2005 inaugurations.
I hope Mr. Newdow is being considered for Humanist of the Year.
While I understand the reasons for doing these sorts of things, it just seems kind of petty to me. There are far worse ways that church asn state mingle that have real impact, while I see these things more as fluff.
Posted by Formo-Mormo on December 31st, 2008 4:21 pmJust as much, if not more, I would like to see the Bible removed from the courtroom when a witness is sworn in. I wonder if anyone has ever refused to swear on the Bible in that situation. Of course to most people in the courtroom, it would unfortunately reduce their credibility.
Posted by McBloggenstein on January 1st, 2009 11:01 pmSwearing on the Bible, saying ‘Under God’ and ‘In God We Trust’ etc are all seemingly minor and harmless references—but the repetition and acceptance of these ideas lets them be ingrained and made authoritative. God and the Bible are positioned as the highest forms of honour, truth and merit when we hold them up in a courtroom etc. That idea just doesn’t belong there.
Posted by Magdalene on January 1st, 2009 11:19 pmINAUGURATION CEREMONIES
Spring 2010 –Flavioos
Our Constitution is a governing Chart with the basic laws and fundamental principles that guide our country and protect the rights of its people. It is our “Magna Charta“, and the basic responsibility of our government is to protect that precious document and follow precisely the rules established therein.
Thus, why during inauguration of presidents and other federal and state officers, instead of using the book of Constitution, a bible is used for the Oath ceremony which closes with the words “So, help me God”? It contradicts principles of the Constitution itself when referring to the separation of church and state. Inaugurations should have a character purely patriotic, leaving religion strictly for the privacy of those who practice it.
Religionists contend that the bible is used because the United States is a Christian Country. But that simply sounds like a “tricking excuse” to preclude possibilities of a non-religious person taking office. In reality, being enriched by a large variety of cultural backgrounds, our Country is formed also by a variety of believers that includes those whose beliefs have nothing to do with church and religion and to whom, according to the Constitution, civil rights are equally granted. When a president (or other sworn officer) doesn’t perform his duties properly, the people fire him. But for a balance of justice, they should fire God, instead, for not helping that officer who, worrying about his coming responsibilities and general commitments, concluded his Oath by exhorting: “So, help me God”.
The truth however, is that religious or not, elected officers must strongly believe in themselves, the crew around them and the people at large because all they together — not deities — are the only ones responsible for the success and prosperity or the failure and disgrace of the country.
Posted by Westdude on June 9th, 2010 5:18 pm