Atheist must swear to God -- or leave US Air Force
- Thread starter mentalfloss
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I think in any military organization you have to demonstrate your obedience/compliance to the chain of command in carrying out without question any lawful command.
And since the uttering of such words is not an illegal act...
Say the damn words, airman - that's an order!
And since the uttering of such words is not an illegal act...
Say the damn words, airman - that's an order!
Bit ironic that the ones on the ground under said air-force are cursing God for allowing them to exist. (brought on by a bunch of dead people around)
An oath is giving your word... Why would you as someone who puts importance on your words think that it's not retarded to force someone to say something they don't believe? An oath to something you don't believe is the height of trivial. It means nothing.
Like taxslave said, make the oath to your country. What's wrong with that? What's wrong with wanting to make an oath to something that matters to you?
"So help you god" is just a formula based on tradition .
Mayb e they should ad......Or any entity you believe in :lol:
I don't think it clears it up, maybe for some. The way I see it, tradition is broad and showy and often irrelevant, an oath is specific and it's supposed to mean something. I agree with DaS, words have meaning, and when I say them it's precisely because they have meaning that I'm saying them. Almost a Chretien comment that last one! :lol:
If I'm going to put my @ss on the line, whether it's my reputation or my life, whatever the oath or statement is for, I'm not going to swear to something that has no meaning to me. Besides, the tradition is the oath and the ceremony, and traditions change. To go back to the Christmas comment, I don't think many people here celebrate Christmas the same way it was celebrated a few hundred years ago.
Or don't, lol.
I think you're putting to much emphasis on the word itself, and not the context of the oath.
I don't believe in the Christian context of "God", but I get it and hence when sworn to, understand the impact thereof.
I am, I think that's the point. When the Air Force was unwilling to let the air man back, they were putting emphasis on the word itself. To me that one word seems like a bad reason to lose someone willing to put their butt on the line.
Actually, they're just putting the emphasis on the oath. Mr Atheist is the one with the problem.
Just how I sees it dude.
But what you believe is sacred stuff right? Countless times you treat us with your religious tidbits. Are you a victim of your own doubts or are you a perfected one who stands impervious against the winds of time and truth? I christen you WhipVanWrinkle the sleeping savant.
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You spelled secret wrong.But what you believe is sacred stuff right?
It's between us and the Heebs.
Includes all of the Americas, not just the US:
But we don't want to talk about that since we are soooooo benevolent, civilized and Christian.
Still trying to figure out where 100 million people would have come from.
Alas, it should remain a mystery for the ages
PS - Still doesn't answer to the original comment that religion is responsible for the biggest massacres... Stalin and Pol Pot lead in that category
Maybe the solution here is to have the atheists sign a contract with a big sollar value attached.... That would certainly be a tangible oath
As far as an oath is concerned, Giving my word is sacred as I was taught while very young.But what you believe is sacred stuff right?
If I ever went to the middle East and giving my word about something was saying "So help me Allah " I would say it because that is what they would recognize as me giving my word........It's that simple!
'So help me God' is just one part of the Oath. If they weren't going to let him take the oath without those words, it can't very well be just about the oath.
Also, I just learned that the original oath which was signed into law in 1956, didn't have any reference to God, until 1962. And, as of last year the Air Force had already made it optional for cadets at it's Academy.
Heh, good chat. Have to go pick up my car now, and re-caffeinate.
Why not do it the way the Courts do? You can 'swear' or you can 'affirm', they both mean the same thing and it covers Christians and anybody who is not.