Why shouldn’t Barack Obama say “so help me God” when he takes the oath of office on Jan. 20? That’s what I wondered when I learned of the lawsuit, to be heard by a federal judge this week, which aims to prevent him from doing so. Obama is a religious man who has spoken often and eloquently about God. It seemed to me reasonable that he would want to ask for divine guidance on this, the most momentous day of his life—at such a critical time for our country and the world.
About The Author
Lisa Miller
Lisa Miller is a domestic correspondent for the New York Times. She is a former contributing editor to New York magazine, the former religion columnist for the Washington Post, and former senior editor of Newsweek magazine. She is the author of “Heaven: Our Enduring Fascination with the Afterlife" and a co-author of "Take Up Space: The Unprecedented AOC."