Oh, and now that I think about it, North Carolina used to officially prohibit atheists and Catholics (and I assume Jews) from holding state office. And that was after the siging of the Constitution.

To Phillip, here’s a tongue-in-cheek essay claiming the legal profession has redefined “so help me God” to mean something entirely different from what you’d espect (like lawyers have done with several other words and phrases).

I think it comes from a time that people truly got scared when they swore to God.

I figured the Constitution fell under “rules applicable to the review” and “all the duties incumbent upon … a member of the review panel.” I would prefer to see the Constitution explicitly mentioned. Even soldiers, who already swore loyalty to the Constitution, do it when they become officers.

And, for the record, I moved from California to North Carolina. Here (NC) it’s common for the company picnic, dinner or social activity to include a blessing on the food. Not all “red states” are like that, but I don’t think any of the blue states are (I know California isn’t).

I do wonder why Arkansas can’t have a monument to the Ten Commandments in its Supreme Court rotunda, but the US Supreme Court’s opening message ends “and God Save this Supreme Court.” I wonder if Arkansas would have been allowed to keep its monument if it were a part of a museum-like exhibit named “examples of ancient laws,” and placed next to other ancient laws (eg., Code of Hammurabi).