After the group American Humanist Association threatened to sue the Air Force on behalf of an atheist Airman, the Air Force immediately removed the requirement to say ‘So Help Me God’ from their enlistment oath.
The Airman was denied re-enlistment after crossing the phrase off the oath on Aug. 25th, prompting the suit.
“We take any instance in which Airmen report concerns regarding religious freedom seriously,” said Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James, Air Force Times reported Wednesday. The change in policy goes into effect immediately.
“We are pleased that the U.S. Department of Defense has confirmed our client has a First Amendment right to omit the reference to a supreme being in his reenlistment oath,” Monica Miller, an attorney with the AHA’s Appignani Humanist Legal Center, said in a statement Wednesday, Air Force Times reported. “We hope the Air Force will respect the constitutional rights of Atheists in the future.”
The Army, Navy and Marine Corps all give enlistees the option to say “so help me God.”
Horrible.
Not surprised, Seems this nation forgetting all about God! He will make those who don’t except him to those who will except him.
I will not deny God! Atheists, believe what you want! Don’t expect me to deny MY God!
Sure isn’t the Air Force we knew during my husband Ed’s career thru the 50s, 60s & 70s when God was a part of service life. So sad today.
Ignorant. Atheists need to stop getting butt hurt over something they chose. This country was founded on Christian principles. These people will understand what so help me God means on judgment day.
Gee and then we wonder why our nation is in the mess it is in. We have taken GOD out of everything.
When something bad happens to you all and the words that are blurted out are “Oh help me GOD”. , or “OH GOD” … That atheist doesn’t have any help for you and possibly doesn’t deserve to be in the AIR FORCE !!! I suggest you all think about this, the atheist doesn’t have to say “So help me GOD” …we will forgive him & exclude him from that part of the Oath !!! In retrospect, does this atheist believe in Hades ? If so then he/she must believe in Heaven and if so, each has a God !!!
Oh oh OH NOT
So horribly wrong!
why can’t the atheist say what they want and leave us alone so we can say what we want or is that to easy for dumb asses.