RELIGION

Should 'So Help Me God' be in the President's Oath of Office?

Obama requested the phrase, but atheists have challenged it

Jan 20, 2013 by Mary Noble

Senior Editor t

Image: AP

When Obama was sworn in on Sunday, he requested that Justice John Roberts end the oath with "so help me God." The phrase is optional - it isn't required as part of the president's swearing in, but it's been used by every president since 1881.

Atheists have battled against the phrase, claiming that it violates the constitutional ban on government "endorsements" of religion. Activist Michael Newdow of California brought a challenge against the phrase that made it as far as the Supreme Court, who declined to hear the case in 2011.

There's a myth that "so help me God" dates back to George Washington's oath of office, but it's been debunked by historians at the Library of Congress.

However, there's always been a lot of mention made of God at inaugurations. George Washington's inauguration speech "began with 'fervent supplications' to the 'Almighty Being' and concluded by seeing God's 'divine blessing' for the nation, writes Cathy Lynn Grossman at Religion News Service.

Via the Religion News Service and CNN.

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?	Should "so help me God" be part of the President's oath of office?

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Yes, it should

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No, it shouldn't

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I have mixed feelings here

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Jan '13

thejimbo

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I hope God does help him....because he'll need all the help he can get in the next four years!
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Jan '13

mudzangandoro

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LOL...if God allowed him to get voted for a second term, I'm sure he will help him for the next four years. Great comment though!!
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Jan '13

marine1

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they just can't seem to find enough reasons to keep everyone at each others throat.
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Jan '13

cornell262

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God have no place in politics..history has shown us, since in the biblical days that the same politician we choose- thinking of good thoughts are the same politician that curpt the world more.
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Jan '13

Center

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@marine1 are you talking about atheist or the media? If I ever had to testify in court, I would not say "so help me god" I am not sure, but I think they removed that at least as far as TV court dramas say. people intent on lying on the stand have no qualms about lying whether it's on a bible or a blank book.
I find it disturbing that the Congressional house has a chaplain and they pray before most sessions including the fiscal cliff bill. I am an atheist who was religious at one point before I went to college. I don't believe in trying to convert people to my way of viewing things and I certainly don't want people trying to convert me. I believe in separation of church and state and believed that when I was religious and still believe it as an atheist. a true irony in life is that atheist usually do not try to convince people that there is no god yet religious people are constantly trying to convince people there is a God most likely because their faith is nothing but a feeling. The hypocrisy is blaring.
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Post @Center
Jan '13

marine1

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@Center i was talkimg about the media.
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Jan '13

Roco

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It's an option so I don't see anything wrong with it. As an option, it is not siding with any religion.
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Jan '13

Denizen_Kate

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Agreed. I'm an atheist myself, but Obama is a Christian and he wanted that in the oath. I don't have a problem with that.
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Jan '13

kamikat65

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@Denizen_Kate He is Muslim.
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Jan '13

Waynestew

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@kamikat65 Oh I did not know you were the Lord. I did not know you had the ability to search someone's heart. God, you being all powerful and all, I thought you would have come up with a better screen name.
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Post @Waynestew
Jan '13

kamikat65

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@Waynestew Can't you give me a break, besides I didn't mean anything wrong with what I posted. I was just stating what he admitted to! Also if you were a Christian, you wouldn't hassle people like you just did to me! I guess maybe you are young and haven't grown up yet, I forgive you!:)
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Jan '13

Waynestew

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@Denizen_Kate I swear if I were not already a believer these "so-called Christians" would not be able to convince me. These Christians are some of the most judgmental people on the planet. I wonder sometimes if they are reading the same Bible as I.0
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Jan '13

Libertyiskey

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It's optional now which seems to be the solution to me.
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Jan '13

Denizen_Kate

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One can only imagine the outrage if he had NOT wanted that in the oath.
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Jan '13

kamikat65

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@Denizen_Kate Agreed!
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Jan '13

Real4WheelDrv

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How many people knew it was optional? Of course he requested it. If it hadn't been included he would have been at the center of an even bigger controversy than having the REAL ceremony be private.
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Jan '13

dances-weebles

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it's up to the individual
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Jan '13

Raptor

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Again this has to with respect and tridition, and with that office you need all the help you can get.
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Jan '13

MrsM

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Amen to that.
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Jan '13

whataGOVwehave

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So help me god........with our debt.
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Jan '13

twinertia

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Let's see.....the country's in a painful freefall, and "God" allegedly controls everything (including Mr. Obama). Therefore, blaming Mr. Obama (or anyone else) for the downward spiral is quite misplaced. This would explain why intercessory prayer has no effect, too.
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Jan '13

Realthinker

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God controls only those who are obedient to His Commandments. That does not include Obama and the majority of the liberals.
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Jan '13

mudzangandoro

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@Realthinker What happened to "FREEWILL"? Hmmm????
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Jan '13

twinertia

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@Realthinker Congratulations! Not only have you totally rewritten the "christian" mythos in two (2) sentences, you've given every theist of that stripe ample cause to find something else to worship.
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Jan '13

Realthinker

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@mudzangandoro Precisely my point, thank you. God controls only those individuals who give Him permission to do so. That IS "freewill".
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Jan '13

Realthinker

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@twinertia LOL Really? Either you understand nothing about Christianity, or you have missread my comment.
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Jan '13

bsking

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It's tradition.
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Jan '13

MaxPain

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just think how much fun life would be if POLITIX would do News stories Instead of Inflammatory Political Crap......The Election is over Politix Mitt Lost.
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Jan '13

ST_Louie_Sue

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We all lost
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Jan '13

bsking

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@ST_Louie_Sue ain't that the truth
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Jan '13

ST_Louie_Sue

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@bsking Yes sir
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Jan '13

BrickInTheWall

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@ST_Louie_Sue Not as much as we would have if Romney had won. (Unless of course you're a billionaire)
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Jan '13

Realthinker

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I don't see an atheists being asked to take the oath, so while they are entitled to their opinion, those opinions are irrelevant.
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Jan '13

Denizen_Kate

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I would very much like to see an atheist get elected President, but with so many fundies out there insisting that their belief is the only true belief and that anyone who doesn't believe the same is evil, that isn't likely to happen, is it? This is a non-issue. Obama is a Christian, it's his oath, he can have that statement in there if he wants it.
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Jan '13

BrickInTheWall

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@Denizen_Kate We may very well have already had an atheist president. I know I've been an atheist for a long time but could never speak out about it until the last couple years for fear of enraging a few people that honestly don't even matter. Imagine trying to be taken seriously to an entire country after making it public. Massive headache.
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Jan '13

BelinKS

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I also do not see an athiest swearing in the oath of office. He was not required to lay his hand on the Bible, he actually used two Bibles. He was also not required to say "So help me God". He chose too. He has said from the beginning that he is a Christian.
So if an athiest doesn't like it, then don't watch it. You have absolutely no standing in eliminating this. Each President has a choice. Obama made his, may God bless him for it.
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Post @BelinKS
Jan '13

jessejaymes

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@Denizen_Kate The bible thumpers have a way of diverting the issue. It doesn't matter if Obama is a Christian, a Jew, a Muslim or an Atheist. It's a non Issue (according to law) if he's a moonie, a Mayan, a Krishna or a Scientologist.

I'm asking everyone to see a documentary Movie (now on Netflix) called "The House I live in". THIS is exactly what I've been trying to get both left and right to understand about what is going on in America.
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Jan '13

Denizen_Kate

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@jessejaymes - Went to IMDB and watched a trailer. Thank you, that definitely looks like a must-see for me.
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Jan '13

mtkopf

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It's all Bush's fault.
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Jan '13

Ashstop

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Lol!!
Standard answer!! He'll probably find a way to say it in the speech!!
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Jan '13

DARSB

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So sad...
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Jan '13

Jack-Black

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So TRUE and that is what is so sad.
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Jan '13

marine1

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i hope god helps all of us bacause nothing else seems to be working. I would like to see both sides come togeather and put this country back to work.
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Jan '13

RoyFloyd

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Required, certainly not, but if one taking the oath for the presidency or any other office chooses to do so, fine. An oath of "Insha'Allah", "Hare Krishna", or "All you need is Love" would also do. It's all good!
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Jan '13

Cheenoguy

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It seems stupid to say but no more so then swearing an oath on a book filled with lies.
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Jan '13

mudzangandoro

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I take it you are an atheist?
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Jan '13

Cheenoguy

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@mudzangandoro
I see no evidence that leads me to believe in a god. There could be one, but if there is he obviously isn't concerned with humans.
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Jan '13

DARSB

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Don't recall seeing God on the ballot.
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Jan '13

mudzangandoro

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He already knows who your president will be come 2016...
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Jan '13

bendrewhunt

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I see this as a non-issue. It should be left up to the personal preference of the president.
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Jan '13

SignifiedNBlue

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Athiests should have no opinion in the subject of God. They dont believe, thats fine, anything more than that is really none of their business..which is amazing because they dont believe, they arent believed and only the states of New Hampshire (.Im ashamed) & Oklahoma allow them to testify in court because, raising their righthand and swearing under oath, means nothing because if they're not swearing to God to tell the truth, who are they swearing to? Hmmmm
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Jan '13

Polusalo

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......

"they arent believed and only the states of New Hampshire (.Im ashamed) & Oklahoma allow them to testify in court because,"

Why do you insist on flat out lying? I can't even assume you misspoke because that's not misspeaking, that's a lie. The word "swear" means to bind yourself by oath. I haven't heard a standard oath mention God for quite some time.

"Do you hearby swear or affirm that the testimony you're about to give is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you?"

You're binding yourself to an oath, by punishment of perjury.
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Jan '13

DomesticG

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Now I just KNOW you aren't implying that those who do not believe in the Christian God are not as trustworthy as those that do.
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Jan '13

SignifiedNBlue

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@Polusalo you do realize, you used to put your left hand on the Bible and raise your right hand, while swearing to tell the truth? Lie? Not hardly. And NH and Oklahoma are the ONLY two states that allow Athiests to testify.. Remember though, not every Athiests openly tell courts, or prosecutors in states that dont allow their testimonies but thats certainly not a lie
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Jan '13

SignifiedNBlue

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@DomesticG Im saying NH and Oklahoma are the only two states that allow their testimony. Look it up. Its not me. Im making a statement
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Jan '13

SignifiedNBlue

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why would an Athiest even have an opinion on anything to do with God??? Its ridiculous to me
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Jan '13

DomesticG

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It's optional, and I think really a non-issue. One day we may have a prez who won't want to use it. Is there an option to substitute?
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Jan '13

Bobolinsky

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More atheists looking for a reason to be offended. I'm an atheist and I fail to see how getting rid of "So help me God", "Under God", or "In God We Trust" will make anyone's life any better.

I wonder why these peeved atheists don;t seem to care about the fact that President Obama hasn't done away with "faith-based initiatives."
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Jan '13

DomesticG

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As I see it.....who cares what *I* believe.....I'm not taking the oath! LOL If the person believes in God, and wants to include God in that oath...go for it!! More power to ya, you're gonna need all the help you can get!! I'd be more concerned if a believer WASN'T willing to do that!
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Jan '13

BelinKS

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As pointed out in an earlier post, "So Help Me God" is optional. President Obama has stated numerous times that he is a Christian. He is making an oath to our country and God. He actually used two Bibles of noteworthy men to be sworn in on. To a Christian, you can give no higher oath! To me those things he did mean a lot'. I am not a Democrat, but am a Christian and these things give me greater faith in him to do what is right.
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Jan '13

Denizen_Kate

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Well stated. I may be an atheist, but Obama is the one taking the oath, so it should be his choice.
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Jan '13

BelinKS

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@Denizen_Kate
Thank you. I think that deciding to be an atheist is deeply personal and that person should be respected in their choice. Just like I would want to be respected in my choice to be a Christian.
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Should "so help me God" be part of the President's oath of office?

Should "so help me God" be part of the President's oath of office?