Atheist Group Asks Obama To Omit “So Help Me God” From Oath Of Office

The Freedom From Religion Foundation has written a letter to the president asking him to omit “so help me God” during his second inauguration oath. Via the Christian Post:

“When you stand to reaffirm your oath, do so using the language of the Founders. Eliminate the religious verbiage. While you’re at it, why not place your hand on the Constitution instead of a bible?” FFRF attorney Andrew L. Seidel wrote in the letter. The words “so help me God” are not included in the oath as prescribed by the Constitution, the organization argues. The Constitution also does not require the president to place his hand on a Bible when taking oath, FFRF adds. FFRF argues that “so help me God” violates the Constitution as it alienates the nonreligious, which the organization believes is the future of America.

The FFRF adds that since the president is no longer “beholden to any future constituency” he risks nothing by changing his oath.