I have people "affirm" instead of opening that can of worms.

people being sworn into office actually get an option that requires no diety or holy book.

Yup. Same with the enlistment/reenlistment oath. You have the choice to swear or affirm, no books of any kind needed. It's basically a matter of honor. Something that, it appears, had more meaning 200 years ago than it does today.

I just had my photo taken for work.

In my experience this never turns out well.

I have 42 chins. And my right eye completely shits when I smile.

I think the shit thing is definitely worse than the number of chins.

Happy birthday, shrift!

I think that the point could be made by the bigots that if you can't swear in on the Bible, you have no reason swearing in at all. Also because it's a heathen book that holds no magical power to bind you to the truth.

And my right eye completely shits when I smile.

Duck! Sophia's gonna wink!

I think that the point could be made by the bigots that if you can't swear in on the Bible, you have no reason swearing in at all.

Yep! If you're not Christian, you have no honor at all, so any oath you make is meaningless, no matter what. Plus if you're actually Muslim, well you're by definition a terrorist, right?

Also because it's a heathen book that holds no magical power to bind you to the truth.

One of the many many many many reasons I'm glad I'm an athiest. I do not need threat of permanent punishment in the afterlife to force me to keep my word. I keep my word because it's a good thing to do, and engenders trust in those I keep my word to -- feedback and reward in this life, thankyouverymuch.

Oh my word, I can't stop laughing, Sophia.

Bless you and your typo, because I think I needed the release of sweet sweet laughter, after a couple of tense days.

I can't stop. I just went to refill my coffee cup, and it was touch and go as to whether or not it was going to spill, because I was laughing so hard, while walking from the kitchen to the den.

One of the many many many many reasons I'm glad I'm an athiest. I do not need threat of permanent punishment in the afterlife to force me to keep my word. I keep my word because it's a good thing to do, and engenders trust in those I keep my word to -- feedback and reward in this life, thankyouverymuch.

I'm not an atheist, and I don't need the thread of permanent punishment in the afterlife to force me to keep my word. I keep my word because it's a good thing to do, and because it's my word.

Either way, people being sworn into office actually get an option that requires no diety or holy book.

People standing as witnesses in court get that option too, right?

signed, has never had to be in a courtroom for anything yet, but likes to cover all her bases, because she is a worrywart

If I ask you " Do you want the glrbfritz from List A or from List B?" the proper answer is List A or List B, not "List A on glrbfritz of List B." IT MAKES NO SENSE.

sarameg - look! a spleen! [link]

I think the fetal specialist guy we saw yesterday has this rockin' machine [link] Blows away our regular OB's u/s. He even had viewing glasses for Kat to wear so she could see the display. The image gallery is handy to help us make heads-or-tails out of what we saw. Also - freak-ee.

Also, thanks everyone for the good wishes!