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| What Would Jefferson Do? (PD) |
Although certainly not all religionists are willing to swear to God (many citing Matthew 5:33-36 as their rationale), an atheist airman was recently denied re-enlistment because of his refusal to “take an oath with the phrase ‘so help me God.’”
Washington AFP reports that this “technical sergeant at Creech Air Force Base” will be forced to “take the military to court” if the Air Force does not change its stance on this First Amendment matter.
Attorney Monica Miller of the American Humanist Association asserts that the Air Force’s stance “violates the US Constitution, which bars religious tests to hold office or other positions.”
Not only that, Miller (who is involved in this case) explains that the Air Force is the only military branch she knows of “that’s actually requiring everyone in all
instances to use the religious language.”
This is far from the first time that the Air Force has been embroiled in religious controversy. Several
years ago, its Colorado Academy was accused of being overly influenced by evangelical Christians. When a subsequent
ruling was instituted, barring “commanders from promoting their religious convictions to their subordinates,” there was an outcry that this new limit was too stifling.
Resources
http://news.yahoo.com/atheist-must-swear-god-leave-us-air-force-232153866.html
Copyright September 10, 2014 by Linda Van Slyke All Rights Reserved
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