God is all over inauguration

[rug]

January 18th, 2013
12:03 PM ET
By Lisa Desjardins, CNN

CNN) – With inaugurations, U.S. presidents come and go. But through all of them, including the ceremony this Monday, God alone has maintained a consistent role.

This includes the oath of office, the bibles most presidents use in swearing that oath, and starting with George Washington’s first inaugural address, the speeches of the presidents.

Don Ritchie is the US Senate historian:
(3:06) “every inaugural address, except for (Washington’s) second inaugural address, has (a reference to God or an almighty power.)”

At least two presidents have said their own prayers at inauguration (listen to our story to hear which ones), and for decades inaugurals have opened and closed with prayer.

http://cnnradio.cnn.com/2013/01/18/gods-role-in-inaugurations/

6:13 video at link.

[Bluenorthwest]

1. The Constititon is the constant in all Inaugurations, not religion.

And to say 'God is present' because you have some hate mongering conman like Rick Warren up there is what it is. Of course the irony is thick because Jesus forbade both oath taking and public prayers and yet to make a Jesus show,it is all oaths and public prayers. How do you guys work that stuff out? 'Well he did die for me....but his teachings are stupid, we like to pray out loud and just because pissy old Jesus said only hypocrites do that, well who cares?'
They call it 'Christianity' I think, just to anger the Christ. Like calling a rack of ribs the Vegan Special.

[Shadowflash]

2. As an Atheist

I say that it's the President's big day and if his religion is important to him, why not?

He won't be making any laws today or doing any policy. It's s celebration and I have no issue with him doing things his way.

[longship]

3. As an atheist, I have a few issues with it.

Personally, I don't give a rats ass what people believe. I don't even mind too much when they express their beliefs.

But this inaugural religion thing sets a cultural precedent which becomes difficult to break, apparently.

Instead of bringing us together, it sets us apart. It's smarmy and turns the inauguration of a president into a fucking church service.

I just wish they'd stop, which they won't.

[cbayer]

5. I agree with this, but it's sometimes hard to distinguish between pandering

for political gain and expressing one's own beliefs because they mean something personally.

[skepticscott]

7. Obama is doing it

because he and his handlers know that if he doesn't kowtow sufficiently to "god" at his inauguration, he'll be attacked for it by religiously motivated people. Religiously devout Republican politicians and pundits are always looking for opportunities to paint their enemies as insufficiently pious or patriotic.

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

4. More whining by atheists about religious people actually displaying their religion in public

As I've said in other threads on this topic, stop whining.

[skepticscott]

6. Uh no...try again

And this time, think and be honest. Atheists don't give a fuck if Joe next door displays his religion in public, or buys billboard space with his own money to say "Jesus is Lord" or whatever, though we find it ironic and disturbing that religious folk are so horribly threatened when atheists do the same thing.

This is about a public official at an official government function shamelessly promoting and endorsing religion, something the law is supposed to prohibit the government from doing. If insisting that the the Constitution be adhered to is "whining" in your book, tough. You're free to keep having your own temper tantrums about it, but don't pretend you're being sensible, when this concept has been explained to you time and time again.

[mr blur]

8. What does being President have to do with "religious people"?

I thought your Constitution separated the two.

I know you have an MA in History of Religion (yawn) but perhaps you ought to study your Constitution. And I know you're from the UK but you live there so perhaps you should find out how it's supposed to work.

[dimbear]

9. President Obama to thank the Mormon god for sitting this one out. n/t

[Laochtine]

10. When we grow up

as a people this will not be so and I dream of that day