Carol Cratty – CNN.com
WASHINGTON (CNN) — A number of atheists and non-religious organizations want Barack Obama’s inauguration ceremony to leave out all references to God and religion.
In a lawsuit filed Tuesday in Washington, the plaintiffs demand that the words “so help me God” not be added to the end of the president’s oath of office.
In addition, the lawsuit objects to plans for ministers to deliver an invocation and a benediction in which they may discuss God and religion.
An advance copy of the lawsuit was posted online by Michael Newdow, a California doctor and lawyer who has filed similar and unsuccessful suits over inauguration ceremonies in 2001 and 2005.
The new lawsuit says in part, “There can be no purpose for placing ’so help me God’ in an oath or sponsoring prayers to God, other than promoting the particular point of view that God exists.”
Newdow said references to God during inauguration ceremonies violate the Constitution’s ban on the establishment of religion.
Newdow and other plaintiffs say they want to watch the inaugural either in person or on television. As atheists, they contend, having to watch a ceremony with religious components will make them feel excluded and stigmatized.
Read the full article HERE.
One should file a lawsuit agianst athiests for infringing on our rights. What a load of bull manure to tie up the courts with such garbage.
We are all doomed!!! This country was founded on religion and GOD
If you do not like the fact that this country was founded on Christian beliefs. And the they phrases “In God We Trust”, ”One Nation under God” and “So Help me God” are used. You are free to go to any other country in the world. Why don’t you go to Cuba they don’t have any religious references to God!
When they say “athiests” they mean…the same guy who keeps losing lawsuits to take God out of the constitution, the pledge of allegiance, etc.
Time to open up your mind a little buddy.
You people are idiots. I’m not much on religion myself, but get a clue! Grow up! And argue about something that really means something like “what color shoes should you where today with my black anarchy shirt and does it go with the black sock and black eyeliner I have on today.”
GET A GRIP and come back to reality and stop wasting our goverments time. They are doing a very good job of wasting all of our time with the bailouts, ruining the stock market and how we can upset the country now.
I don’t believe in God, just as much as the next atheist. However, this does not take away the fact that many, many people in this country do practice their forms of religion that worship “God.”
It should stay.
I really do not care what peoples’ religious beliefs are or even if they have them. I must say though I do care when it comes to the very foundations that this great Nation was built on. In God we Trust and so help me God are part of our history and our future. Those that do not like these simple but powerful meaning are truly free to move to a country that will not use such phrases that they find so upsetting. Really for the love of GOD find something useful to do with your free time.
Jerry
Isn’t this the “tail wagging the dog” again? Come of folks, get a life. If you do not want to believe in God it is your choice. If you do not want to hear the word “God” then move on to some other planet. God the word exists, period. It is if you belive in your form of God that means anything. If you believe that you only exist because a sperm and egg got together and did some magic together that is your belief. Go and believe it, and leave the rest of the world alone. You are not the center of the universe, believe me there are a lot of other people that think they are an not all of you can be! So grow up, mind your own business and not everyone elses. Get a life, and ask yourself, by what rules do you rule your life. If you want others to respect you and your beliefs, then do the same and quit trying to change the majority to fit your needs. If this is not possible, may I suggest you go to some other country that will allow you to preach to them that your rights are more important than theirs.
The majority of americans believe in the existence of a superior being. What about our rights then? Should we sue the atheists for alienating our right to believe in God. This country and this society are on a spiral downturn. How can the rights of a few “soul-less” people govern what a whole nation believes?
Where does this nonsense stop? Why is it in this country we have to be tolerant of all religions, but Christianity is bigoted and stigmatizing? I don’t care what anyone chooses to believe, as I have my own beliefs. But, correct me if i’m wrong, catering to the atheist groups and forcing the ceremony to go on the way this doctor wants it to go, wouldn’t that be stigmatizing to the people who believe in God? I’m sorry this man feels “left out”, but let’s not forget that Barack Obama CHOSE Rick Warren, and he CHOSE a Bible and passage of scripture, as did SO MANY before him. We can’t cater to everyone, and this fool needs to get over it. He’s the one being intolerant as he has stated there is no place for God in this ceremony. Well Mr. Obama has made his beliefs clear and his choices clear, and this doctor is the one being insensitive and intolerant trying to make the future president cater to HIS needs instead of doing what he wants as incoming president. Absolute nonsense….
No one is forcing this person to watch or attend the inaugural. He is not forced to do anything.
Is he so dimwitted as to believe everything else he hears? “Oh, my, I saw such-and-such on TV, so I’ll file a lawsuit against the studio trying to FORCE my will on others!” News for you, dimwit – God doesn’t believe in athiests. Wait until you see THAT lawsuit!
The media shouldn’t be publishing these non sense views about the Atheists! All they want is to be shown in the news for publicity… Our government, our constitution was based on the bible. That is how it was, how it is, and how it will be. Freedom of speech for everyone! But the media shouldn’t have to do a news on these Atheists!!!
que ridiculos son!!!
Oh! America! You were born out of our fathers and mothers who honored God Almighty. In your first Prayers after landing on this land, you invoked the name of the Lord who sits on the throne, the most high God. Your constitution proclaims that we are created equal – by God! and in God we all trust. Depart from him and you will all perish. Obama! you are bless of God and appointed by him to lead this country. Continue to honor God in all your and it will be well with you. America will prosper beyond comprehension while you sit in White house lifting the name of God Almighty. Aleluhiah to the Lamb of God!
I dream of a truly secular United States of America, and Michael Newdow is doing a true patriot’s work.
The Constitution is followed by all people in America.
The Bible is not.
Only in a secular nation can freedom truly exist.
Atheist need to leave the U.S. if they can’t respect the rights of the people who live here. I am fed up with it, what is America coming too….people should be ashamed to even consider taking the word God out. Not because I am so over relentless Christian but because out country has survived up until now with it, no one has been hurt by it. Get over it and if you can’t keep it to yourself please. I wish this wouldn’t even be published because it lets the atheist have the attention. We should ignore them….what has come of out country, so sad.
If Newdow doesn’t believe in God, then why does he think it would be unwise for Obama to ask God for help?
Although the words “So help me God” are not part of the president’s oath as written in the Constitution – every Presieent starting with George Washington as added the statement to the end of the oath. They have done so voluntarily. It has always been up to the individual and so it should remain. Some may not like these words, but they are part of our nation’s history and tradition.
Also interesting to note – the Continental Congress on 21 October, 1776, before we even had a constitution or a president, approved an oath for officers in the military. It ends with “So help me God”. Our founding fathers were in agreement on this.
Col Larry Crockett, US Army (Ret)
To all that are insisting the world is spiritually flat and without God why do you not want any hope?
Does not the Constitution have freedom of religion meaning that if you practice religion is fine and if you do not it is fine as well? If God is used during the inauguration and it makes atheists and other non-relgious groups feel left out then removing God would make religious individuals feel left out as well. So do we cater to the non-religious or the religious? Do we go according the U.S. Constitution and cater to everyone? How do we cater to everyone? Well for the non-religious just do not attend the inauguration or do not watch it on television. If you do attend scientists and “evolution” have agreed with the Bible that as humans we have hands and so simply place your left index finger in your left ear and your right index finger in your right ear anytime the word God or any reference to God comes up. It is not very many times so you will not miss a lot.
-May God bless you.
It’s about 300 years too late to remove tradition from the Inaugural oath of office. Religious freedom applies to ALL of us – and if atheists are upset because they are outnumbered, too bad. They are interfering with the rest of us enjoying the traditions of our nation. We don’t interfere with their right not to believe, and as for being “forced” to watch the ceremony on TV, the set has an “off” button – they can use that or go to another channel.
Good for them! It’s about time somebody did something about Christians trying to force their ignorant nonsense on everybody. I hope they win the suit!
I think the best thing for the entire country is for the Atheists not to watch. If they are so offended it would certainly in their best interest to watch cartoons instead.
Perhaps they should stop forcing their views on me.
If the plaintiff cannot watch the ceremony because “so help me God” is the ending then perhaps they cannot spend any money either since “in God we trust” is on the note.
Another athiest a-hole getting his rocks off slamming God. I don’t go to church, or participate in organized religon, but hearing this stuff, as someone who believe in God, gets me upset. I’m tired of it, get a life already, and stop justifying making the majority give up everything for a slim minority. If you don’t like if Jerk-off, don’t tune in. It’s not like your living in N. Korea, or Iran – Oh, where are you brave protestors when it comes to standing up for real rights in REALLY OPPRESSIVE countries like the two I mentioned. Chicken Sh**!
You know, I keep reading all of the articles about the atheists and their suits to stop religion in most of the endevors of this country. If they don’t like or agree with it, then they don’t have to watch or participate.
Better idea! Maybe we should start filing suits against them for infringing on our rights to free speech and freedom of religion.
What’s good for the goose etc.
Ok my response to these atheists is just as this, may I ask that you are not thankful that you live in a country that promotes all kinds of religion or in your case of no religion? Let us not forget that we still live in country of free speech and if our president elect wants to speak about religion he has every right to address his beliefs as do you. I think you should consider your actions on this lawsuit and think about the repercussions it may have on your own beliefs. It may begin a movement where noone is allowed to discuss theier belifs at all in public and that would truly be terrible blow to our forefathers that worked so hard to make a truly free and wonderful nation that we all live in today. I make one suggestion and that is if it truly burns your ears to hear the word of god turn off your television. Don’t take something away from the people of this great nation because of your beliefs. We as a nation have not said you must believe in a god of any sort and are not punishing the rest of the U.S.A because of it. Believe what you want and let the people speak freely.
A truly concerned citizen
To deny God is to deny Truth. The Athesists would have Truth excluded. Exclusion of the Truth is a Lie. To whom do Athesists serve that would exclude Truth? Exclusion of the Truth is to serve The Liar.
A pro-abortion president is already dancing with The Liar, he needs all the help prayer and pennace can afford.
Wake up Newdow! You are not a minority. Look at this country. Look at how people are! You might be a minority among those who admit or claim to be “atheists” but I would bargain that you are not the minority among “unbelievers.” I would estimate that at least half of everyone who claims to believe in God are not true believers. A believer is someone who believes that Christ, the Son of God, died on the cross for our sins and because of that believe you desire to live a lifestyle pleasing to God. The definition of a ‘believer’ has been distorted. You cannot be a believer and continue to go about your sinful lifestyle. I pray with all of my heart that God will open your eyes to the Truth before it is too late!
Matthew 7:13-14
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
John 20:29
Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Non-believers have the right to not speak about or believe in God. Believers have the right to the opposite. That is true freedom of speech. Atheists shouldn’t be able to force believers in to abandoning their right to speak about God just as much as believers shouldn’t be able to force Atheists to believe in or acknowledge God.
I agree the Bible should not be used or religion, on the same basis that schools cannot say prayer.
If the Government can bring religion so should the schools be able to have prayer and religion like the good old days.
Could some please explain to me why it is okay for atheist to impose their views on believers of God and believers of God can’t impose thier views on atheists. Everytime I look around atheist are wanting references to God removed from everything. I believe that by catering to their every desire and beliefs, lawmakers are imposing their views on those who believe. I honestly don’t beleive that a reference to God could cause someone to stray from their religion or lack of if they are deeply routed in what the believe.
I am tired of the over spoken minorities, forcing the country further and further away from what it was intended to be. If they really want to get rid of this it should be left up to the people in a democratic vote, not pushed through on all by a few. This country was founded on Christian based morals and it allowed us to become the super power of today. People do have freedom of speech, their own beliefs without persecution, etc as it is. To take away reference of God in our nation would be spitting in the face of the founding fathers who set the foundation, and the beginning Americans who have fought and died for it. How many of those in the non-religious group have actually served or died of their country? And I’m sorry I do not seek advice from a lawyer for moral decisions in my everyday life, so why on God’s green earth are we letting reset the moral compass of our nation?
honestly, regardless of one’s religion, our constitution calls for the separation of church and state. i am not an atheist, or agnostic. i am a Christian and i feel it is wrong for Christianity or God to be included in any political, legal, or constitutional oaths, laws, what have you. our country is great because we are supposed to accept everyone, period. that cannot happen if the Christian God is incorporated into our fundamental governing documents and practices.
YOU KNOW THERE IS SUCH THING AS FREEDOM OF RELIGION. IF NEWDOW HAS THE RIGHT TO EXPRESS HIS DISBELIEF THEN CHRISTIANS HAVE THE RIGHT TO EXPRESS THERE BELIEFS.
It depends on the person taking the Oath, If you don’t like it move to CHINA.
Since Barack Obama was voted into office by the people, i believe that he should be able to say “so help me God” if he wants. He is the one taking the oath, not anyone else. I truly believe that he believes in equality and if he wants to add religion than that’s his choice. By them filing suit they are saying that he does not have the right to believe in God… now someone tell me how that is right for them to take away HIS rights?
The the part of the Oath of Office of the Swearing in of the President of the United States that contains “So help me God” is NOT dictated by the Constitution. It is in the Constitution under Freedom of Speech of the Individual and is a chosen Elective of the Person being sworn into the office. As is using the Bible. They are both personal choices of the individual and not of the Office of the President. The President does not lose his/her right to personal freedom of speech when he or she becomes President.
PS
I am an agnostic. But I believe that the writing of the Constitution was guided by Nature’s God in some fashion. More so than even the Bible.
I agree with Ginger completely. I am also Christian, but don’t understand how our constitution can reference separation of church and state, yet so many oaths, etc. contain “God”. Yes, our country was founded by Christians, but as a so-called “melting pot” it is a far different country than it was back then. I do, however think the president-elect should have the right to have a Christian blessing or invocation if he so choses…but it shouldn’t be mandatory. When will the US move toward truly keeping religion separate from our government?
I don’t think Newdow’s right. I don’t think the Pope is right. What I KNOW is I DON’T KNOW! When I do, I’ll be the first to “tell it on the mountain” one way or the other – God or no God!
Until then, our government – that is WE – respect no establishment of religion and neither do we prohibit its free exercise!
What this means is NEITHER religion – Theist, or Atheist (YES ATHEISM IS A RELIGION!) – is to be respected or prohibited by our government, PERIOD!
Is this so hard to understand?! Are we just doomed to fight on another 5000 years in the Gaza strip, in Waco, in Jonestown, in Salem, MA over something so idiotic?!
If it’s not E PLURIBUS UNUM, REMOVE IT!! From the currency, from the pledge, from WHAT THE HECK EVER, just remove it!!
Talk about bigger fish to fry . . .!!
I waiver between belief and non-belief in a higher power. Do I care if the word God is used in the oath of office. That would be a big, fat NO! Who gives a crap! Some people believe, some don’t. Some people say that they won’t be able to watch if God is used. Grow up! Do you drop a friend or family member because their beliefs are different than yours? I don’t think so. Just watch this moment in history and enjoy. If you don’t want to hear the word God, mute the TV.
Ok why don’t all the people with nothing else to do get a life, you want to sue but the money your spending has what on it ” In God We Trust” I mean really get a grip, trun off your TV that day, and while your thinking of other crap, burn your $$$
These people need to get a life and stop burdening our courts with this fluff. Our country has real problems, and this kind of sideshow does no one any good.
To begin, this implies that the atheist in question is so naive and susceptible to suggestion that merely hearing the word ‘God’ will cause them to become devote christians or suffer mental anguish.
I can’t help but wonder if these same athiests are practice abstinence so as to not be foreced to hearing ‘oh god’ during sex.
In retrospective view, by omitting God from the speech, it will also infringe upon me as a believer. This country is built upon God. The forefathers of this country depend upon God to create this wonderful nation. The pilgrims came to this land due to religious persecution in their homeland. If Mr. Newdow feels this sacred word will “harm” him, he should simply walk away prior to the conclusion of the speech. Why does he feel that it should be okay to impose his astheism upon us? What is the next step – remove word of God from US dollars? Mr. Newdow will surely fit well in communist countries where simply prayer can land a person in front of a firing squad. Please do not intrude on us – the believer.
This country was founded on the belief of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Many of the signers of the Declarattion of Independence were in fact Christian Ministers. This country is headed for a fall just like the one Nebuchanezzar Had in Daniel 4:19-34. At first we praised and revered God, but now we spit in his face and want to take Him out of everything because we think we achieved everything on our own. God have mercy on us all.
The seperation of Church and state was not to protect the state from religion but religion from the state so that people could worship as they choose.
If you do not believe in God, then I pray for you and your soul. This country was founded on Christianity and will continue to be so until it is no more. There will always be naysayers and non-believers who try to remove God from everyday life, but they cannot overcome the true power of our savior. I say to the atheists that the majority rules and even most non-christians believe in God, so they should shut-up and concentrate on living a happy life here on earth, because they will not be happy where they are going. Praise GOD.
When they say “athiests” they mean…the same guy who keeps losing lawsuits to take God out of the constitution, the pledge of allegiance, etc.
Time to open up your mind a little buddy.
Swearing on the bible during the inauguration should be solely up to the person who is being sworn in. If it is meaningful to him/her great…if not, then he/she should not pretend it is.
I think we should give them the whole force behind our constitution that they so demand all at once! This country was not built by whining atheist, quite the contrary! For those that lost faith get behind us then so those of us that have had more then enough can shine the light in their eyes.
The government has no business proselytizing for Xtianity, any more than any other religion. BUt listen to all the Xtians defend the Xtian references.
How would you feel if they were Satanic? Or Muslim references?
Every Xtian here would be up in arms.
Now you understand how many atheists feel, if you’ve bothered to open your mind the tiniest crack.
Botoom line is NO religion has ANY place in government. Not yours, not mine, not ANYONE’S. If you allow religion in government, you allow the toe in the door to have a government likes Iran’s, or Saudi Arabia’s. BAD IDEA.
If Obama wants to say something of his own accord, that’s his right, but there is NO right to use MY TAX DOLLARS to support your religion, just as I won’t take any of yours to support mine.
The seperation of state and religion was put in so the goverment could not control what religion a person believed in. But I really like when the athiest get on their pulput and preach their non belief to take away the freedom of the Christens.
Are you kidding? This country was founded on Christian beliefs by men who believed in God. I am an atheist and have absolutely no problem with those words being included because I am TOLERANT of other people’s beliefs. There are plenty of other problems that this person could be working on to make the world a better place. Oh ya I almost forgot….GOD BLESS AMERICA.
This country is going to hell in a handbasket becuase of people like these atheists. This country was founded on the basis of christianity. I am so sick and tired of people infringing on my rights. We should talk about God and be able to pray in the government, schools, streets, anywhere we want. If you don’t like it and disagree, GO LIVE SOMEWHERE ELSE.
God hasn’t anything to do politics, or who is elected president. People believe in God because they have no other answer to a related subject. God didn’t create the universe in 7 days. But if you don’t have any other explanation, I guess he did. One good example is Bill Clinton. He sworn in on the bible, the word God was used obviously in vain. He lied. The word God, and the bible need to be out of politics.
and to think we have had, and continue to have, brave young men and women sacrifice their lives in order for Mr. Newdow, to have the right to take my rights away from me. Yes, indeed, “God help this country”!!!!!!!
Athiests are involved in a religion, they just don’t know it. They all BELIEVE that there is no God. They all BELIEVE that faith is dead. Tehy all BELIEVE that other faiths are wrong. Sounds pretty religious and close-minded to me.
How can you ABSOLUTELY believe that there is no absolute truth in the world? Contradiction from the start.
I think it should be up to the president to make the call as to whether he wants to swear to God or not. It’s his oath… if swearing to the deity of his choice means he’s serious about the job, that’s fine with me. I don’t think it promotes any religions. However, if someday an atheist president gets elected (which would be fine with me), I hope he or she is not required to falsely swear to a non-existent being, which would be meaningless and a very sad way to start the job.
The guy has a right to sue, but he’s all wet. George Washington voluntarily added “so help me God” to the Constitutional oath at his first inauguration, and the subsequent Presidents have continued to say it as a matter of tradition. If Obama says it, he’ll merely be exercising his own personal freedom.
Many, who have not done the research, do not know that our Founding Fathers never meant that our leaders should exclude God in government, only that they exclude a specific religion. Also, why is it that atheists, and the like, expect the rest of us to adapt to their way of thinking, but will not do the same for the majority. The fact is that the majority of Americans believe in God- are we not to be allowed our rights? It seems to me I read somewhere we are in a democratic society where the majority rules. If that is so, then the majority should file a lawsuit against the atheists for a violation of our rights to hear “so help me God.” I’m sick and tired of changing what the majority believes and wants in favor of what a small number of people find offensive. I think it is offensive to not listen to what the majority of Americans beleive and want. This is what is called an oligarchy- the rule of the few over the many.
This makes Atheists look bad. Funny how these folks decry themselves to be “free-thinkers” when they don’t allow you to think if there is a God or not.
The Taliban was a theocracy. Our goverment is based on documents that were written and argued by men. When someone is speaking in a goverment roll they should honor the seperation of church and state as stated in the document the president elect is pledging. To not promote religion as a goverment represntative does not take away the rights of the believers.
According to a few web sites that I have seen (e.g. http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/thepresidentandcabinet/a/presoath.htm) the U.S. Presidential Oath of Office is simply:
“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
There is no “so help me God” phrase that is a required part of this oath to begin with, although it appears that it is customary for Presidents to include it. But, it is there choice.
It appears to me to be an issue of FREE SPEECH. The majority of Presidents appear to be have chosen to exercise the right to free speech as an expression of their faith and/or to maintain tradition, history, and custom.
No court will overturn the Presidents right to say “so help me “God” because doing so would be a violation of their Constitutional right to freedom of speech.