Does anyone agree that courtrooms should be a little more unbiased regarding religion?

Question

I was sworn in at court a few years ago & the woman actually watched to see if I put my hand on the bible...what if I had a different religion or don't practice any at all?

I'm in Canada...maybe it's different in other countries.

I should add that I wasn't asked about my religion ...they merely assumed that I was Christian.

Answer 1

The greatest threat to this country is the blending of religion and law.

Answer 2

You don't have to swear on the Bible in Canada. If you want you can swear on any other religious text of your choosing or you may merely affirm that you will tell the truth. The taking of an oath is not regarded as of much consequence now but you must realize that telling lies to the court is a criminal offence unless you are someone like Bill Clinton.

Answer 3

Let's see, our money says "In God we Trust", we swear on a bible to tell the truth, the whole truth, so help me God, because so many of us believe in a higher power. There's only 14% of the population that objects to this....in a court of law, judged by our peers, doesn't majority win? That's in the USA, not sure how much plays into that in Canada, but if you have a problem with it, the next time you're in court, bring your own book and see what happens. Just a suggestion! The entire court system can't accommodate everyone ya know, no matter what country you're in.

Answer 4

That's rather strange. In the United States, we don't use bibles in the court rooms any more (unless someone wants to swear on it).

Yeah, your courts should definitely be more unbiased with regards to religion. I'd recommend civil disobediance - refuse to swear on the bible.

But then, i'm not sure what the consequences would be for that in canada.

Answer 5

i was called for jury duty back in 95 or 96, i told the judge and the baliff before the selection that i was pagan and would not swear an oath on any book.

o offered to swear a public oath to my gods or to my country but at that time and in that backwoods area i was told that i had to swear on the bible...i refused and was fined 100 dollars for contempt of court...the fine and the charge of contempt of court were dropped less than 3 weeks later when the court recieved the paperwork from my uncle (the lawyer in the family)

i was called for jury duty again the nest year (because i was not selected at the previous selection process i was still eligible to serve) again i was told to swear on the bible but i told them of my religious beliefs and was allowed to swear on my country.

however i do feel that we need more rleigious tolerance in every aspect of our country...

Answer 6

I loved Thomas Cahill's 2 books, "The present of the Jews" and "choose of the eternal Hills: the international formerly and After Jesus". they don't look to be scholarly works, yet i got here across them to be very illuminating about the lasting cultural impacts Judaism and Christianity have had on the West. i trust that Cahill is a Christian, yet that would not end him from accepting the claims of modern-day-day Biblical scholarship which have raised issues for literalists.

Answer 7

Bibles are not used in real US courtrooms.

The British Empire has an official state religion (Church of England).

Answer 8

Then you would have to be honest based on your own good merits and not the fear that the Christian God will smite you down.

Answer 9

That I know of, we don't swear on bibles anymore, just to tell the truth (the US).

Answer 10

I always keep a few pages folded in my pocket cause that courtroom toilet paper is SO SCRATCHY!

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