I hate that filthy book, I don't want to even touch it. What happens if I refuse to swear with my hand on the Bible?
And if you swear with your left hand on the Bible instead of right hand, is it still valid?
2007-01-18 11:50:50 · 26 answers · asked by God Fears Me 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
You affirm yourself in court using no bible. An atheist's word is good enough on its own in a court of law.
2007-01-18 11:53:06 · answer #1 · answered by Bad Liberal 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I don't know about other states, but in California, no one swears on the bible in court. You just raise your right hand and swear to tell the truth. There may be a couple of states in the deep South Bible-belt where people have to swear on a bible, but I sort of doubt it. I don't think they could make a person swear on a book that he/she didn't believe in.
Damn, these Christians are sensitive. Why do you hate us, that one guy asked. Gosh, all you did was ask if you have to swear on the bible if you don't want to, that you consider it a filthy book and don't want to touch it. That's your opinion and you have every right to it. You didn't say anything about hating anybody.
2007-01-18 11:59:40 · answer #2 · answered by tychobrahe 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You swear on a Richard Dawkins book.
Actually, I am a law student. The real answer is that nobody swears on the bible (at least in California). That is just something used in movies. All you do is raise your right hand and swear. No bibles involved. Only public office people do that.
2007-01-18 11:54:44 · answer #3 · answered by Alucard 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
In Ohio, where I came from, you request the bailiff to give you a civil oath, which excludes the phrase "So help me God."
And swearing on a book of fairy tales doesn't guarantee truth in any case. However, going to prison for perjury is usually a pretty good deterrent.
*Edit* BTW, when you swear to your signature on a federal document, no bible is involved there, either. The United States is NOT a "Christian nation."
2007-01-18 11:59:41 · answer #4 · answered by link955 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, you don't have to use a Bible. Tell them ahead of time that you don't want to use it, and you can "affirm" to tell the truth instead of "swear."
But don't think you can lie just because there's no Bible involved. Perjury's perjury in any religion or lack thereof.
And about the right hand--it's "raise your right hand." Left hand on Bible.
An interesting sidenote--"testify" comes from "testes". Men used to swear with their hands on their testicles. I guess they put more stock in that than a book. Try that in court!
2007-01-18 11:56:23 · answer #5 · answered by SlowClap 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
In the district and superior court trials I've seen on jury duty, I haven't seen any bibles. People just raise their right hands. It may be different in the South but I suspect Bible-swearing is just for politicians in front of the cameras.
2007-01-18 12:03:58 · answer #6 · answered by skepsis 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I am a christian and to me it is actually against the teachings of christ to swear on the bible so if i was in court I wouldn't swear on the bible either.
2007-01-19 15:20:30 · answer #7 · answered by 6th Finger 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You don't have to swear on the Bible, in fact you don't even have to swear...you can just affirm. If they say you need to swear on the Bible, you tell them to read the Constitution.
2007-01-18 11:58:09 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Tell them you don't believe in the Bible and have an aversion to touching it. That would pretty much exclude you from any credibility given to most "swearing witnesses". They'll either exclude you as a witness, or make you swear on the Bible anyway.
2007-01-18 11:55:09 · answer #9 · answered by MyPreshus 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
would you rather pinky promise to tell the truth?
actually, I was doing jury duty not to long ago and I noticed that no one put their hand on a Bible, or was even asked to.
2007-01-18 11:54:41 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋