How do you feel about this?

Question

On the news a few days ago, there is someone who has to be sworn into office, in the US. The US Constitutional ceremony includes being sworn in with the Bible. It has always been this way for everyone, since the beginning.
This politician does NOT want to use the Bible. He wants to use the Quaran.
I realize there are cons and pros, as arguments whether for it, or against it. Washington is not in agreement with his wishes.
My question is, as an American, how do you feel about this?
PLEASE...no religion bashing answers! I want only your opinions based on what you believe to be the right thing to do..
Thanks.

Answer 1

the story is a hoax. congressmen are sworn in en mass and there is no bible involved. we exposed this in the atheistempire yahoo! group.

Answer 2

OK, I'm not American. But.. The big problems with this world is the inability to accept other peoples; cultures, credes, colour. OK, to the general Christian, the Muslim religion does seem extreme, but, we think we deserve the right to be Christian, if that's the case, then the same should be applied to all other religions/beliefs. The person being sworn into office in the US, has the right to use the 'bible' he owes his faith to. If he didn't then how could you trust him?? He wants to swear by his own bible, what's so wrong with that??

Answer 3

Actually the Bible is only a tradition, not Constitutional. The Constitution goes out of its way not to mention anything religious. The very first act of Congress removed references to God from the oath that you take as well. Look it up, the founders really were not as pro religion as most Christians would have you believe.

Using a Bible is merely an undocumented tradition.

Answer 4

First of all it's been done before in some fashion or another I'm sure. We have several Jewish politicians in office in America,I find it hard to believe that not one of them used a Torah or used an old testament only since that would more closely fall in line with the Torah. I see no problem with it,just as I would see no reason why an agnostic or atheist might not do his swearing in with the Bible not in use.
My personal example would be in a court of law where many states want to use a Bible for swearing in,where as many leave you with the option of a personal affirmation. Most simply assume that you will swear in on a Bible rather than asking beforhand,that's what happened to me. I was to testify and I told the bailiff that I didn't need the Bible he was holding,it created a bit of an uncomfortable moment for some,not me however. I simply told the judge that if I were to swear in on the Bible I would have commited my first act of perjury before even one question was asked,based on how things went from there I have to assume he liked that answer whether he aggreed with my religious viewpoint or not.

And in reference to the first answer it might be nice to know that in fact the US govt is in the process of approving the pentacle for use on gravestones of wiccans as we speak,it's simply a matter of time since it has to go through certain legal procedures to be finalized. Funny since there is a variance of the pentacle on the Congressional medal of Honor.

AD

Answer 5

I think the person being sworn in should have the choice. What would be the point in swearing on a holy text that you don't believe in? And if someone preferred not to use any holy text, that would be fine with me too.

I like traditions but sometimes they need to change with the times when they become meaningless, socially unacceptable or ineffective.

Answer 6

If you believe that government should be concerned with which religion is
correct then I guess you should be upset. If you believe that government
has no right to tell people which religion is correct then you probably
believe that this is the moment to take religion out of politics or allow all
religions in. I prefer banning all religious hoopla from government. Isn't
that why the pilgrims went to the trouble of coming to america? To escape
religious prosecution?

Answer 7

i am not an american, but it is my understanding that american law makes the union of church and state illegal; the use of a religious text to "swear" someone into office has a long tradition (even though it is against Christian law to "swear" an oath!) I think perhaps the time has come to challenge this practice and to let it sink or swim depending on the voters' wish. I think ceremony and tradition have to evolve with a culture or become irrelevant.

Answer 8

Website for the Muslim program for black Americans.

We do not believe that after 400 years of free or nearly free labor, sweat and blood, which has helped America become rich and powerful, so many thousands of black people should have to subsist on relief or charity or live in poor houses.

8. We want the government of the United States to exempt our people from ALL taxation as long as we are deprived of equal justice under the laws of the land.

9. We want equal education--but separate schools up to 16 for boys and 18 for girls on the condition that the girls be sent to women's colleges and universities. We want all black children educated, taught and trained by their own teachers.

Answer 9

It doesn't matter WHAT book a person swears in on; if they are going to lie, they are going to lie. Look at Bill Clinton!
I think we should stick to the Bible. When was the last time a Muslim in a foreign country swore in with his hand on a Bible? Do we see them changing their customs & cultures to be more tolerant?
If this politician wants to swear in on a Koran, he should move to a country that uses it as their religious standard.

Answer 10

religion has no place in politics, but politicians don't want to offend anyone because religion is a good and effective mean to control the masses. it's really nothing more than a charade for the politicians. they'll play whatever game they have to trick people.