Our Theocratic Secular State

God was much on the scene during Wednesday's inaugural ceremonies. We had the usual opening and closing prayers and the swearing-in on a Bible. Prompted by Chief Justice John Roberts, Joe Biden continued the tradition, said to have begun with George Washington, of adding "so help me God" to the end of the oath. Those words are not in Article II of the U.S. Constitution. The oath there is only: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States." 

Maybe this tampered-with oath is a violation of the Constitution and therefore shouldn't count.

The religious stuff continued with Garth Brooks singing of "Amazing Grace":

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me

Wretch? Really? 

It should not go without mention that Capitol rioters on Jan. 6 paused to pray--"in Christ's name"--after breaking into the Senate chamber. They were led by some damn fool in a Viking costume. (Who suckered this guy into thinking it was a fancy-dress affair?) Vikings were pagans, right? 

Nationalism and religion don't just go together; they are variations on a theme. It's superstition all the way down.

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