Oath of Office?

Question

If this truly is country where as church is seperated from state. Then why apon taking the "Oath of Office" does the incoming president swears on a bible instead of what he or in the case of the next prseident, she was put into office to uphould, the Constitution. And please no answers saying because it's tradition.

Answer 1

The whole separation of church and state is about the state not establishing a church (as it was in England), not that we should be devoid of any religion. The country was founded by christians and those traditions have been around since then.

Answer 2

It is only tradition, though. Nothing in the Constitution requires an individual being sworn in as president to place his hand on a Bible or to say "So help me God" after the oath.

Answer 3

An incoming official, president or otherwise, may choose the form of swearing in....can choose a Bible, Torah, Koran, Archie comic book or nothing.

Whichever symbol he/she feels represents his/her loyalty. They can choose nothing if they want. It has nothing to do with religion.

If you do a little research, you will find that the swearing in ceremony has seen many types of Bibles used from King James to Catholic to reformed.

Answer 4

I know you don't want that answer, but it really is the truth. We have many traditions in this country that come out of nothing more than tradition, many left over from the English influence upon our founding fathers.

Answer 5

Which brings up an interesting scenerio, if and when a Muslim gets elected as president of the U.S., will they use a Koran for him or her to make the Oath of Office?

Answer 6

there is no requirement to swear upon the bible one could use a dc comic book or nothing

Answer 7

Because it's tradition.