What do you think of public officials who want to take an oath of office on something other than the bible?

Question

Do you think it should be allowed? If you are not a Christian would you have a problem using the bible?

Answer 1

well i think you should swear on whatever you believe in. the point of using the bible, is that christians believe in what it says and you take your oath very seriously. if you believe in the qur'an, then you should swear on it because thats how you show that you take your oath seriously.

Answer 2

As far as I am aware, you don't have to use anything at all. A bible may be commonly used as a prop, but the oath of office--whichever office--only requires that the swearer vow to uphold and perform the duties of that office.

"All Debts contracted and Engagements entered into, before the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the United States under this Constitution, as under the Confederation.

This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.

The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States."

U.S. Constitution - Article VI
Debts, Supremacy, Oaths

So--both as an atheist, and an American, I would have a problem were I required to use a bible. Or anything else, for that matter.

Answer 3

UK: If, in a court, (or other circumstances as mentioned in the question) a person wishes to 'Aver' (To affirm positively; declare) rather than take an oath, the Judge will question the person as to their belief in God. If the person does believe in God but considers it against their religious belief to take such an oath, the Judge will usually allow that person to Aver. The affirmation is similar to the oath but all references to God are omitted, e.g., 'I do solemnly and sincerely declare, that I shall tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth - or in your case - serve the office of Mayor '. Persons other than Christians are allowed to take their own form of Oath on their religious book, Jews - Old Testament, Muslims - Quaran etc. An affirmation, as with an oath is legally binding and a person giving false witness can be prosecuted for Perjury. If, the method of taking the Oath is impractical, the person may also be permitted to Affirm.

The whole point of your question seems to me to be that if a non-Christian was 'made' to use a Bible to take the oath, it would, to that person, be the equivalent of asking them to use the local telephone directory.

Answer 4

It says in the bible not to take an oath so the whole thing is a hypocrisy

Answer 5

Take any uncomplicated type on American historic previous and you will locate out that the founding fathers of the united statesA. based our foundational government records on concepts from the Christian bible. as an occasion, the exams and balances gadget became set in place because of the fact they actually believed that guy became inherently evil and companies to corruption. The gadget became set in place to objective to stay away from complete corruption via having distinctive branches of government. As for swearing on the Bible, we've not had a non-Christian-claiming president yet, and we in all threat won't for a while. it may basically rock too many peoples' worlds. It took us this long to have a non-completely-white president, inspite of each and every thing. you're able to be kidding approximately human beings mendacity approximately being Christians just to slot in. Christians get greater crap than virtually anybody in the U.S. because of the fact they're possible in the majority. i visit permit you be attentive to, even nonetheless, that many people who're no longer Christians say they're because of the fact for many human beings, their faith is a family participants custom, a cultural element, no longer an honestly conviction or practice. you will locate this is lots greater uncomplicated than being a Christian to "fit in." I advise surely, you haven't any longer observed how uncool it somewhat is to be a Christian and how lots different human beings hate them? Yeah, those inconsistencies could properly be confusing to handle whilst you at the instant are not in the majority, however the reality of the difficulty is, regardless of if human beings provide you crap approximately your ideals, you're nonetheless unfastened TO practice THEM. this is u.s..

Answer 6

I think that either they don't honor the Holy Bible, or they don't take their position seriously. Personally I wouldn't want them to be any public official of mine if they did take the Bible seriously.

Answer 7

Swearing an oath to something other than the Bible should not be allowed and here's why:

The Koran teaches it's followers to make war against the infidels... Christians and Jews. That makes up about 75% of the U.S. population. Do you want one of your government representatives swearing to a book that commands it's followers to make war against the general populace? No way.

Unfortunately, I believe it will be the ACLU or other communist/socialist organizations that will come to the aid of anyone who swears allegiance to Allah at our government levels... eventually destroying America as we know it.

Answer 8

Let them take the oath of office any way they want.

Answer 9

Swearing on a holy book that means nothing to you is pretty much the same as swearing on a rock, who cares? If you are Muslim you should swear on your holy book. That way your promise might mean somethig where it would mean far less sworn on the bible.

Personally, I am not religious and could swear as easily on a pine tree. Its really the person and their character I care about, not a bunch of pieces of paper glued together.

Answer 10

I would think he was not serious about defending the people who voted him into office, that his intentions were not honorable , it seems to me this man is thumbing his nose at the American people and saying screw you I am going to protect my own, and to the hell with you ,