Air Force to atheist Sgt.: "Recite 'So help me god' or get out"

[Cassius]

Why doesn't he simply cross his fingers (metaphorically). I mean, he's an atheist, so its not as if he's upsetting another God by swearing on this particular God (and even then, I'm sure 'other Gods' would take finger crossings as good too). In fact, the only people whom he's upsetting (who have the power to hurt him) are his superiors, who appear to want him to recite the 'so help me God' oath. This all begs the question; why not sign? If God is a nonsense, then it does not matter one way or t'other him reciting this oath, as, if God does not exist, that part of the oath is meaningless anyway. So why not just save himself a load of hassle and recite the bloody oath!? Unless, of course, he's angling for a support fund to be set up for him...