I ask this because the government is not so suppose to be ruled in under religion so i don't think its right to have people swear on the bible or say ' "One nation under God", in the pledge of alligence. You can't say this is a free country if you putting millions of people under God. By the way I'm Christain i just don't like politically incorrect things or maybe its because I am only 14 years of age.
2006-07-12 09:48:09 · 35 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
You don't have to swear on a Bible. You can choose to simply 'affirm' if you'd rather. Also, no one makes you say the pledge of alliegance, and I know several people who choose not to. Nonetheless, I do agree that the Pledge ought to be changed back to the way it originally was, without the 'under God.' We ARE a secular nation, after all.
2006-07-12 09:53:23 · answer #1 · answered by Caritas 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First, I would like to clarify an apparent misunderstanding regarding what has come to be known as the separation of church and state. Regarding religion, the First Amendment of the Constitution states only:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof".
There is no federal law established by Congress requiring you to swear on the Bible in court. Some states have such laws dating back to the inception of the court systems and there was nothing specifically in the Constitution to prohibit them from doing so. If Congress had prohibited the states from making such laws it would have been considered "prohibiting the free exercise thereof" and so such prohibition would have been considered unconstitutional. The purpose of such laws was to encourage people, the majority of which were Christian at the time, to tell the truth.
Most courts these days do not ask that you swear on the Bible and no modern judge in their right mind would force it. As a matter of fact, some years ago, it was Christians that took issue with this practice since the Bible tells us not to swear at all (Matthew 5:33-37 for those who are interested in looking it up). Many courts no longer use the term swear and use terms such as affirm or promise instead.
I have been witness in a number of trials, served jury duty, as well as sat in on a number of trials during college. No court I have been in has asked anybody to swear on the Bible. Instead, you are simply asked to raise your hand as the judge asks if you swear to tell the truth and you answer "I do" (if you do, that is).
Here is an article from about a year ago that has some interesting information on the subject, including the controversy of using other religious texts for the same purpose:
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0720/p02s02-usju.html?s=zmf
2006-07-12 10:50:34 · answer #2 · answered by LovingMother 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, I think you're right. It's because you are only 14 years old. But age aside, I can't recall the last time I ever saw anyone swear on a Bible in court - and I am in court pretty much every day. Generally you raise your right hand to swear an oath that goes something like ... "do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Please state your name for the record."
2006-07-12 09:59:19 · answer #3 · answered by Samba Queen 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As an atheist, I have to say that neither thing bothers me much. As long as you respect the law, if they want you to swear on a copy of Mad Magazine, it should be irrelevant.
The pledge of allegience is hardly ever muttered outside of grade school... when kids are impressionable, but once you get older and apply a critical eye to religion, I think there's a good chance that you will come to the same conclusions I have.
It doesn't matter. Live and let live.
2006-07-12 09:54:52 · answer #4 · answered by hyperhealer3 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think anyone is forced to swear an oath on the Bible anymore. If they were, yes, I'd think it unfair and disrespectful. As for the post-1954 Pledge of Allegiance, I personally think it was better before the insertion of those two words implying a religious affiliation that is out of place in a nation dedicated to freedom of conscience for all its citizens.
2006-07-12 09:59:27 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A couple of facts:
1) You do not have to put your hand on a Bible when you're sworn in as a witness in court. You can ask to be sworn in without the Bible.
2) No one in the USA is required to say the Pledge of Allegiance. It's entirely optional.
I agree with you that it would be wrong to require someone to say the Pledge -- but on the flip side, it would also be wrong to require everyone to NOT say it. Having options is the key.
2006-07-12 09:57:35 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't agree with the court system of swearing on the bible. We all should be given a mere personal oath to swear instead. At the end of the day, your word is all you have to recommend you and if you show to give your word falsely, you don't rate much.
2006-07-12 10:10:53 · answer #7 · answered by debisioux 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think we should swear by anything because it says not to in the Bible . Matthew 5:34 God bless you
2006-07-12 09:53:45 · answer #8 · answered by robinhoodcb 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What is not fair is that you can't trust people to tell the truth. The Bible used to stand for something, now a lot of people just consider it a book. And if you don't believe, then why should it matter what your hand is on.
2006-07-12 09:51:56 · answer #9 · answered by Deborah 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
relies upon on the state. In my state, the classic oath remains administered, yet everyone who would not favor to swear can elect to verify rather. There are not any Bibles everywhere to be chanced on interior the court docket.
2016-12-10 08:36:31 · answer #10 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋