I would ask for Green Eggs and Ham . . .
2006-07-11 07:18:44 · 13 answers · asked by Kenny ♣ 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
really? I thought you had to put your right hand on the bible and swear an oath to tell the truth. Was L.A. Law wrong?
2006-07-11 07:22:42 · update #1
thanks whynotaskdon, that's the first time we've agreed.
2006-07-11 07:23:32 · update #2
Aesop's Fables.
2006-07-11 07:22:50 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
No one puts his hand on any book when he takes an oath in court.
The idea that people swear to God, or on bibles, is total fiction popularized by movies and bible thumpers.
I have been in many courtrooms and have never seen a bible in a courtroom. Nor have I seen anyone take an oath on a book. The usual procedure is to hold up your right hand while the judge or his appointed agent reads a statement, "Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth (sometimes "under penalty of perjury").
And you respond "Yes, sir." (or he will throw you in jail for contempt).
2006-07-11 14:20:58 · answer #2 · answered by Left the building 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I used to be a court bailiff. We didn't use a bible or any other books. We just asked the person, "Do you swear that the testimony you are about to give shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you god?"
If the person said it was against their religion to swear or to say the word god, the question was changed to, "Do you promise..... " and the words ".....so help you god?" were omitted.
The court believed that promising to tell the truth was just as good as swearing to tell the truth.
Hope this answers your question.
2006-07-11 14:31:39 · answer #3 · answered by Angry C 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Atheists cannot be compelled to swear to tell the truth on fear of retribution from a god they do not believe in. Would you trust the testimony of an Atheist who did so? An Atheist can be sworn in with this verbiage, "Do you swear to tell the truth under penalty of the law?"
2006-07-11 14:24:14 · answer #4 · answered by iknowtruthismine 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good question! Those that don't believe in God can easily lie in court. Pretty messed up, huh?
Green Eggs and Ham? Awesome!
2006-07-11 14:22:08 · answer #5 · answered by Kate 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The better one is what does an atheist use for money in this country since all of it says "In God WE trust"? If they really want to make a stand on this, they should get rid of all their money!
Seriously, atheists that try to enforce their lack of belief annoy me, but those who make their own choice and accept others' are fine with all this. In my experience, rational atheists realize this country was set up by mostly religious men, and was based upon the principle of freedom OF religion, not freedom FROM religion. They see the God references as historical, as opposed to dogmatic.
2006-07-11 14:24:13 · answer #6 · answered by But why is the rum always gone? 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
When I did jury duty last summer, they just asked me to "swear or affirm". No book anywhere.
2006-07-11 14:24:50 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'll take 'The Origin of Species' just to annoy the christians.
2006-07-11 14:22:07 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Les jeux sont fait by JPS
2006-07-11 14:28:23 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I put up my hand and say I cross my heart and hope to die, stick a needle in my eye.
2006-07-11 14:21:50 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋