I am wondering if people must still swear upon a bible when they are admitted in court as a witness.
Further to this question, must they say something like "swear to tell the truth, whole truth, and nothing but the truth"... so help them "God." like on Perry Mason? If not, what does one have to say?
If one must swear on the bible, and/or swear an oath that includes God, then what about atheists or agnostics? For atheists, isn't it kind of pointless (or even in violation of their 1st amendment rights) to try to have/force them to swear an oath on a book, and/or with words, that they don't believe in?
Yes, I realize that, assuming an oath is still taken about telling the truth, breaking their oath by lying would essentially still be committing perjury (lying)... I'm not looking for a way around telling the truth in court; I'm simply wondering what our court system requires, and if that's a Christian or even generic "God"-based system why we still do that in our courts...
2007-01-03 20:19:10 · 10 answers · asked by Kimberley Mc 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
I would really appreciate you naming your source or background (e.g., you're a lawyer, in court a lot, or whatever. :)
2007-01-04 16:23:14 · update #1
The practice of swearing on the Bible has been removed from the legal setting as the result of challenges by those who practice other religions (ie. Jews, Muslims, Buddists, etc) as well as atheists. Obviously, the use of a certain religious text would be offensive to them for multiple reasons.
Nowadays, the common practice is for the person who is testifying to take an oath that is bound and enforced by the powers of the courts and legislatures that require them. Any mentions of God have been removed for the same reasons as listed above.
Point of information: In swearing in the President of the United States, the phrase "so help me God" has been included in the swearing in process. This would probably change with an election of one of the aforementioned groups, but it is still in practice.
2007-01-03 20:33:06 · answer #1 · answered by auken_hill 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
An atheist does now no longer incredibly be waiting to swear on some thing they have not have been given self concept in. it quite is a typical misunderstanding held by skill of skill of folk who don't understand what being an atheist is. Many Christian fundamentalists wrongly have self concept that if a guy or lady does not have self concept indoors the Christian god that they are loose to commit crimes. The regulation prevents human beings from committing crimes, now no longer the Christian god. In courtroom docket, there are techniques for individuals who do now no longer desire to swear on a photo of fundamentalist Christianity, such because of the reality the King James version of the Bible the u . s . isn't a Christian u . s ., and it somewhat is now no longer a call for to be a Christian with the objective to be an American citizen. the form of the rustic is the very staggering regulation of the land and ensures that the policies in this u . s . would desire to be the comparable for each guy or lady, now no longer basically Christians.
2016-10-29 23:18:38 · answer #2 · answered by bonanno 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. You just let them know that you will not. Swearing on the Bible doesn't mean a person will tell the truth anyway. There should be a greater physical or monetary punishment for people who lie in the courts as a deterrent.
2007-01-03 20:33:44 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A witness need not swear to God while in court as a requirement. All he has to do is to swear to tell the truth during the trial.
2007-01-03 20:32:16 · answer #4 · answered by FRAGINAL, JTM 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, one is not required to swear to god, one can merely affirm to tell the truth, and not say "so help me god" This is true of all oaths to include the oath of enlistment, etc.
2007-01-03 20:22:48 · answer #5 · answered by Charles D 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Definitely not I have seen so many people swear on their right hand empty hand. They only swear to tell the truth and there is no help me God clause
2007-01-03 20:23:59 · answer #6 · answered by Blessed TK 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I do not believe it is compulsory to swear on Bible only.
There are other provisions. I just read very recently that even some newly elected presidents did not swear on Bible during their inauguration
2007-01-03 20:25:32 · answer #7 · answered by Ottawan-Canada 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You may choose to swear just with nothing. But if you don't protest to swearing on the bible you will swear on it.
2007-01-03 20:21:45 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
no otherwise it messes with freedom of religion and that would piss alot of people off the court would have more suits against the state than anything
2007-01-03 20:27:16 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
no
2007-01-03 20:20:35 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋