Apatheist: Washington (AFP) - The US Air Force has told a sergeant he will have to leave the military unless he agrees to take an oath with the phrase "so help me God," officials said Tuesday.

In the latest religious controversy to roil the air force, the atheist airman last month was denied his request to re-enlist because of his refusal to swear to God -- and he is now poised to take the military to court, his lawyer said.

"We have not received word from the Air Force regarding our letter. It has not indicated a willingness to settle out of court," said Monica Miller, an attorney for the American Humanist Association, which has taken up the service member's case.

With the deadline for re-enlisting expiring in November, the technical sergeant at Creech Air Force base in Nevada -- whose name has not been released -- will be forced to sue the government in a federal court, Miller told AFP.

In the past, an airman could opt for an alternative phrase and omit the words "so help me God," but the US Air Force changed its policy in October 2013.

The other branches of the American military do not require the reference to God and make the phrase optional.

"This is the only branch to my knowledge that's actually requiring everyone in all instances to use the religious language," Miller said.

The requirement violates the US Constitution, which bars religious tests to hold office or other positions, Miller said of the case, which was first reported by the Air Force Times.

"The government cannot compel a nonbeliever to take an oath that affirms the existence of a supreme being," she said. The sergeant's service expires in November and he has until then to re-enlist and take the oath, said US Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek.

In the meantime, "a written legal opinion is being requested" from the Pentagon's top lawyer, she said.

The air force has been plagued by controversy for years over religion and the role of Christian evangelists.

The US Air Force Academy in Colorado faced accusations several years ago that evangelical Christians exerted a dominating influence over the institution.

But attempts to counter the perceived bias in the service have sparked criticism from Christian activist groups, who allege a new rule stifles the religious expression of troops.

The disputed rule bars commanders from promoting their religious convictions to their subordinates.

Advocates of the policy say it protects troops who worry their careers could be jeopardized if they do not take part in their superior's Christian activities.

http://news.yahoo.com/atheist-must-swear-god-leave-us-air-force-232153866.html;_ylt=AwrTWf2zlg9UkzAA5rLQtDMD

tomiobj: ds guy has mind makn us look bad....helll be shocked when he slumps in his apartment tomorrow

AllNaijaBlogger:


Why would you say something like that? Do you want him dead? While I disagree with the man, I am not looking for him to die

FrancisTony:


All these religious fanatics and christian bigots.

I am a Christian and Last time I checked, no where is it stated in the bible that we should bully those who don't share our faith.

With this your comment, no wonder boko haram is killing christians in the north and Allah is blessing them.

logicboy01:


not only is the bold part irrelevant but it is also false.

You'd be hard pressed to find a secular government forcing christians to say "there is no God"

logicboy01:


not only is the bold part irrelevant but it is also false.

You'd be hard pressed to find a secular government forcing christians to say "there is no God"

Ubenedictus: that is only true because the so-called secular government are headed by people who profess religion.


Do you remember what happen when atheist gained control of governments?


Ohhh yeah, i remember... We had atheistic communism.

logicboy01:


See the liar?

1) The most humble president ever in this present time is an atheist- Jose Mujica (country flourished under him)
2) The former Australian prime minister is an atheist- Julia Gilliard
3) Communism is a religion. Are there not secular countries that are not communist countries?


Twisting and lying will not get you far.

logicboy01:



In short, you have argued that the military is still under the constitution. Imbeci.le

Again, point out where the military or airforce can circumvent the constitution

Even in this case, while the constitution grants power to the congress, it also limits that power by stating

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,...


Meaning that the congress in which you are trying to claim can circumvent the constitution to mandate a religious oath/test can not do it. The constitution forbids the congress from such


imbe.cile

Ubenedictus:

you realise that an alternate arguement can be made, that the oath isn't promoting any religion but is totally inline with the us constitution which seem to acknowlegde "God"?

Ubenedictus:

i still can't see where i lied....

You are very quick to scream liar and penned down your "facts" but unfortunately none of these prove i lied.

I said the last time atheist "took over" governance we had communism, then you give me examples of government where just one person is an atheist.

And you can checked again on atheistic communism.


Have a nice day.

davien: And they'll say, "when has religion ever forced you to do anything?" ...forgetting that the most part of human history was filled with religious zealots willing to kill and bash peoples heads' in for apostacy...

UyiIredia: The same applies to atheism and atheist zealots. I hope to God you aren't one: you and some atheist here seem like it.

logicboy01:

You must be a special kind of silly to talk about atheist zealots on this thread.

So, you went out of your way to ignore the christian bullying in the airforce to talk about extremist atheists.

You and Ubenedictus have serious mental problems

UyiIredia: buthurt!

logicboy01:


Dont lie...you dey smoke igbo.....talk true?

UyiIredia: I will never smoke weed in my life AGAIN

logicboy01:


Corrected

logicboy01:


U.S constitution supports a secular country. God is not neccessary

logicboy01:


Lmao...go and sleep

Ubenedictus: it supports a secular country didn't prevent it from mentioning God a few time...
If atheist can live under a constitution that acknowledges God then i have a feeling the issue of oath it just political correctedness.

EnlightenedSoul:

Those "personal sentiments" are valid. They infringe on his rights. This is a man who has served happily under the old pledge. His patriotism isn't in question here.

Let's agree to disagree..

emmatok:

We are talking about the MILITARY here, personal sentiments are not allowed.
You obey first before appeals.
As I said, if he doesn't like the rule he either get out of the Military or pressure legislators to change it.

Even lawyers have rules that override their sentiments.

logicboy01:

Like I earlier said, you are christian bigot

cold:
Yeah..also consider the hurricanes,the floods,the earthquakes,the conflagration,the tsunamis killing in their hundreds of thousands. Surely there must be a god behind all these.
Also consider the millions afflicted and dying of cancer,consider all the babies born today with congenital disorders,consider the thousands dying of the ebola virus,consider the millions of children that will go to bed hungry tonight and the million others that would die of starvation. Surely there's an awesome god behind all these.
Please also take into cognisance all the killings,bloodletting,decapitations,wars etc all in the name of some god or who has the more superior god. Surely a most high god must be somewhere pulling the strings and enjoying himself. No?
In conclusion,your god is no better than the other 5000+ gods out there. Only good enough for the rubbish heap. Nuff said!

makahlj2: Big deal. I'm an atheist and have no problem swearing to God, Yahweh, Elohim, Allah, Jesus, Jupiter, Zeus or everyone else. It's just that such an oath would be of no value for me and I wouldn't consider it binding at all. So, it would be not my problem but of the folks who would expect loyalty from me.

AdamuUcheOla:
Airmen No Longer Required to Say ‘So Help Me God’ During Oath

http://time.com/3394862/air-force-god-oath/


Sensible conclusion to a stupid debate! We would get there one day; might take a long time but we will.

logicboy01:


The decision has been reversed!!


Atheist winner!!


Wiinner....winner oooooo winner


Atheists we don win oooo winner

pata pata win go win forever

winner.