Not So Polite Dinner Conversation – funny how the religion says no oaths

Fla. ‘Theocrats’ want all public school teachers to recite “so help me God”

“FFRF Action Fund’s “Theocrats of the Week” are two Florida legislators who want every teacher in the state to recite “so help me God” as part of a loyalty oath before taking on the duties of a public school teacher.

Florida state Sen. Clay Yarborough and state Rep. Tom Fabricio are leading companionbills in the Florida legislature that would require all teachers in the state to “subscribe” to a specific oath, which notably ends with a reference to God. The Senate bill modifies the oath so it would also apply to administrators, pre-K teachers and college professors. 

The oath, as written in the legislation, reads: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support, protect, and defend the Constitution and Government of the United States and the Constitution and Government of the State of Florida; that I am duly qualified for employment as a classroom teacher in this state; that I will well and faithfully perform the duties of a classroom teacher in a professional, independent, objective, and nonpartisan manner; that I will uphold the highest standards of academic integrity and professional ethics; that I will foster a respectful learning environment for all students which promotes critical thinking, civic responsibility, and lifelong learning; and that I will serve as a positive role model in both conduct and character, so help me God.” 

The oath’s end glaringly falls in line with the Christian nationalist movement to install religion at the forefront of our secular public school system, alongside the Trump administration’s efforts to politicize education and defund secular public education across the country. Its requirement for teachers to act in a “nonpartisan manner” points to the Trump administration’s attack on LGBTQ-plus or Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) materials in schools, demonizing any inclusive initiatives in education as political fodder. “

Strange on how the bible itself says don’t take oaths like this:

“³³ ‘Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, “You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.” ³⁴ But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, ³⁵ or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. ³⁶ And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. ³⁷ Let your word be “Yes, Yes” or “No, No”; anything more than this comes from the evil one” – Matthew 5

of course, lots of christians ignore matthew 5 since it has such things like:

“⁹ But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer.”

“³¹ ‘It was also said, “Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.” ³² But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”

“²⁹ If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. ³⁰ And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell”

and of course, “¹⁷ ‘Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfil. ¹⁸ For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished.  ¹⁹ Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ²⁰ For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Christians are quite the hypocrites.